6: Wild Decision

Alessia's POV

"Alesa, don't you dare."

Gabriel groaned a resounding warning, loud enough to knock the nasty idea building up in my head.

I ignored him totally and darted my gaze from him to Rylan. The soft murmuring the church was equally dead to me. Catching a glimpse of Ruby, she looked stunned to the core, confused on what was happening as much as everyone else.

"Can you focus?" 

He reached for my hand, desperate to seal the union, but I yanked myself free from his grip. 

The murmuring in the church had intensified, with the guests too stunned to even speak. The same goes for the priest. 

Keeping my eyes fixed on the entrance, I watched Rylan wheel himself down the aisle, so unbothered about the stares he got and whispering flying above his head. 

He came for me.

This might be a deal, one that benefited me more than him, was enough reason to feel tingly.

First, I was certain he was doing this to avenge for my father's sins... or probably worse. Trying not to focus on the reason he had chose to save me, and possibly walk down the aisle with me, I blocked the thoughts out of my head, focusing on him once more.

"Alessia,"

My father's voice pulled me back to reality. Fixing my gaze on him, I still felt flushed. 

"The priest will resume the vows, you say yes, and we will put an end to this charade."

He tapped me gently on my arm. 

That was enough words to push me to obedience, enough to make me cower and do his bidding like I had always done in the past, but this was different. It was forever of my freaking life that would be tied down to a grumpy hippo.

"Sir," my father looked from me to the priest. "Go on."

Showing his terror, he looked from my father to Rylan, and back at George, the frustrated groom. He wasn't sure who to listen to, to save his head. Rylan's stern gaze made up for his unspoken words, causing thick beads of sweat to drip down the priest's chin, soaking up his cape.

"You should go on, now." My father instructed him over again.

With a quick nod, the priest began to rap the words, needing all the drama to end right away.

"Will you, Miss Alessia Torres, take-"

"Stop."

The icy command caused the priest to freeze. For a few seconds, he remained in that state and progressed to mopping and shaking, as though he was suffering from epilepsy. Right now, it was impossible for him to hide his fear, so he hopped to the side, sitting it out.

Angry, my father headed towards Rylan who was now in front of everyone. His shoulder roughly brushed against mine, but he didn't care. 

"Listen up, you'll leave this minute." 

My father stood squarely in front of him. 

He raised his hand, stopping his right-hand man from jumping on my father. With him down, my father's men kept their distance, but alert, regardless. 

"Mr. Eduardo, don't you think you owe me so much to order me around?" 

His tone was flat, with a weird smirk causing his lips to twitch.

"I do not owe you anything." He groaned. 

Rylan scoffed. "So quick to forget. A man of your age should stay off muddy water."

"You will watch your tongue, young man." He vibrated with each warning.

"Or?" Rylan chuckled. "I bet you don't remember the last orders you gave."

"Enough!" 

The loud cry of my father, caused everyone to jolt upward, with the guards from both worlds clutching down on their weapons. At this point, war seemed inevitable, and sadly, it was one that would claim both the innocent.

Blood and battles, and sword, my father made sure that i abstained from the darkness of his world, but it all came with a price, him imposing his decisions on me.

Dear Lord.

I pressed my eyes shut. I only want freedom, not any of their blood spilled, especially not on my account. 

"Last time, you were lucky to not get killed in my home."

Rylan looked around and shrugged. "Well, this is not your territory. And even if it were, I came to collect my debt." He stated boldly. "Either I leave here with my bride, or your head. Which would it be, Don Eduardo?"

Noticing my father's hands clenched beside him, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before they hauled themselves at each other. 

This wasn't the plan. 

"I will not repeat myself." This time, the words were to me and the priest. 

Following my father's warning, he finally caved in, running out of sight with his pretty little feet.

"What's going on, Alessia?" 

I recognized the frail voice from behind to be hers. Looking at her directly, she had gone pale like a leaf.

"Here."

I laid the bouquet on her, getting a strong wave of adrenaline course through me. 

"Be his bride or find your groom. Just do whatever makes you happy."

Abandoning Ruby with those words, I ran toward Rylan and my father. 

His blazing red eyes locked with mine. It was obvious that I pushed my father beyond his limits. 

"No, father." 

Acting on impulse, I closed the gap between Rylan and me, and stepped on the rest, putting my leg in between his. 

He had that mischievous smile on, one that fueled my rebellion.

"This is where I want to be, father." 

Finishing what I started, I sat on Rylan's lap, causing the buzz to intensify. 

"Alessia-"

"I'll make sure you pay for this humiliation!" Gabriel's growl stopped my father. 

He was focused on me, charged as a bull, but heaven knew he was anything but stupid to come for Rylan. A few inches from us, he noticed Rylan's unwavering gaze pinned on him, and he carved out another route almost immediately.

Charging down the aisle instead, he exited the church, with his family following behind. 

"Mr. Torres."

My father abandoned the awful sight of Rylan and me and hurried walked after the old pompous man, trying to fix my mistake for the second freaking time.

Their voice dwindled, and so were their footsteps, as they vanished out of the church. 

Left with the congregation and Ruby, I turned to see her in shock, with mouth wide agape. 

She had so much to say, but no words formed. Instead, her frail hands let go of the expensive bouquet, letting the fine rosebud roll down towards the congregation. 

Taking my eyes off her, I focused on my savior, letting a warm smile spread across my lips. 

Free and fulfilled, I threw my hands around Rylan and leaned against his bosom, leaning the side of my face to his.

"You came." 

He didn't smile. Didn't show any sign of empathy.

"I don't forgive debts, Lessi." 

His words grew on me like cold, causing thick goosebumps to sprout and crawl all over my bare skin.

"Damn."

A soft hand gripped my hand and yanked me off Rylan, taking us all by surprise. 

Ruby. 

She was still quivering from the thought of matching Rylan but was red with anger.

"What are you doing?" She groaned, trying to shake me out of my madness. 

"Escaping that arrogant pawn."

"By going away with a stranger? Christ, Alessia, you don't even know him."

"I will choose him a million times over that punk. Besides, he's not a stranger."

She batted her lids, shocked by the revelation. 

"Shall we?" 

Answering Rylan's call, I left Ruby to mop in shock and returned to my initial position, right on his lap, with my hands to my side this time around. 

"So?" 

His breath was warm on my skin, and he paused, giving me ample time to rethink my chaotic decision, to fall on my knees before my father, repented, but I was far gone.

Nodding vehemently to his offer, I gave him full permission to do with me as he pleased. 

"I'm all yours, Mr. Mafia."