Gia stood in front of the full length mirror of her makeshift dressing room. She assessed her wedding attire and it was beautiful. She had initially planned on going for something more simple but the Martinellis sent a dress to her doorstep the day before the wedding. It fitted so perfectly and she wondered how they got her exact measurements.
There was a knock on the door and Zara walked in. Her eyes glimmered with pride and adoration. She was dressed in an emerald A-line dress that reached the floor and a darker green veil wrapped around her head like a hijab. The only parts of her body revealed were her face and her hands from her wrist down. She barely showed off any other body parts.
"You look lovely," Zara said with a smile that lighted her eyes. She was happy and sad. She had always pictured how her baby would look in a wedding dress but nothing had prepared her for how beautiful she looked. She wished that the circumstances of her marriage were different.
"I'm sorry for making you cry," Gia apologized with teary eyes.
Zara moved the veil from her daughter's face, "I am not mad at you. If anything, I am proud of the strong woman that you've become."
She held Gia's face tenderly and Gia held her mother's hands.
"I understand the reasons for your sacrifice. I appreciate what you're doing for our family but it breaks my heart to watch you go," her hands trembled slightly as she spoke.
"I'm scared," Gia whispered, beads of tears falling from her eyes.
The fear of the unknown was eating her up, inside out.
"Me too. You can change your mind if you don't want to go through with this. No one will judge you. We will protect you with everything we've got."
"I won't back down now. I can't," Gia shook her head with tears running down her face.
"You are just as stubborn as your father," Zara said with a shake of her head. She didn't want to let her daughter go but the girl was pretty obstinate about protecting her family.
"Don't let anyone bully you and if they ever try to, show them never to mess with a Salvatore."
"We will get you out of there as soon as we can," Leo said. It was only then that she noticed him.
Theo hopped in with the aid of his crutches, Omar and Darius were just at his heel.
"You should have stayed at home," Gia admonished Theo.
"I couldn't afford to miss being here to support my baby sister," he replied with a smile.
"Make sure you kill those bastards in their sleep. Both father and son," Darius said.
"Of course, I will," Gia said with a laugh, more tears running down her face.
"We got a little something for you," Leo handed her a small wooden box similar but smaller to the one that her mom gave her.
She opened it and gasped. Her very own flame boomerang.
"Aww, you guys. You didn't have to."
Omar barely said much. His silence spoke volumes and Gia was grateful for his presence. He was the most reserved among the five siblings.
* * *
Gia stood radiant in her custom-made wedding gown, its ivory silk and delicate Italian lace glowing softly in the light. The fitted, strapless design showcased her toned physique, while intricate gold beading formed a floral pattern across the bodice, cascading down the mermaid silhouette skirt. Thousands of sparkling crystals scattered throughout the design caught every glance, casting a mesmerizing spell.
A traditional Italian veil, trimmed with delicate lace, framed her fiery red hair, and a diamond and pearl encrusted tiara, a family heirloom, sat regally atop her styled locks. Simple, elegant diamond stud earrings complemented the dress's opulence, and custom-made ivory stilettos with delicate gold buckles and crystal accents completed her breathtaking ensemble.
As she walked down the aisle, the dramatic train flowing behind her like a golden river, Gia embodied the essence of a mafia princess - elegance, sophistication, and a hint of untamed passion.
Capri subtly patted Gia's hands as she clung firmly to his arm as they walked down the aisle.
She released a shaky breath and dragged her eyes from the floor to Alvan's cold menacing stare. If looks could kill, she would have been at least ten feet below the Earth's surface.
He was wearing a navy blue three piece Armani suit with a white dress shirt inside. He had an ivory pocket square and a silver brooch with tiny diamond studs which had a crown that had a tiny snake on it.
His jet black hair was slicked backwards, he looked like the dashing predator he was.
Dread traveled through her veins. The pounding of her heart in her ears drowned out the wedding chorale. The thought of turning around and making a run was tempting but it would only put everyone she ever cared about at risk.
Like a predator, Alvan watched her every move. He could tell that she was scared. Her fear boosted his ego, and gave him a stronger sense of power.
Looking at her, he couldn't believe how dainty she looked in her wedding dress. A sharp contrast to a few nights ago when she looked like a grim reaper in the form of a Salvatorian mafia princess. He could still remember how swiftly she worked with a blade.
Everything seemed to happen in a blur. They both stared at each other most of the time. Physically accessing one another.
Alvan's best man passed him a tiny piece of paper that had his wedding vows written on it,
"Gia Lucia Salvatore, today I (Alvan Alessandro Martinelli) pledge to honor our agreement, to stand by your side through the challenges of our families' legacy. Together, we'll navigate the intricacies of power and loyalty. I vow to protect and support you, as you do me, in our shared pursuit of security and status."
When he was almost done, Gia's maid of honor, a girl she didn't know, gave her a piece of paper that contained her vows.
"Alvan Alessandro Martinelli, I (Gia Lucia Salvatore) promise to uphold our family's expectations, to be a loyal partner in our union, and to work alongside you to solidify our positions. May our bond strengthen our families' ties and secure our futures."
All of this felt so wrong. The thought of running away never left her mind. Her eyes kept darting to the door she had entered from.
Alvan noticed this and lifted a challenging brow at her.
He didn't want to go through with this either and he just prayed that she would flip and run away.
Gia closed her eyes and tried to calm her nerves.
She barely paid much attention to what was going on before her. When she opened her eyes, the celebrant was handing a silver ring to her. Her husband-to-be had barely said a word to her to put her at ease. He had this hard look in his eyes that made her reconsider everything.
After the exchange of rings and a bunch of nonsense that the celebrant said. He declared, "By the power vested on me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Gia froze, she hadn't thought it through. Her heart raced with anticipation and dread. Alvan's dark eyes locked onto hers, his gaze piercing through her mask of calm. Her palms grew sweaty, and her breath caught in her throat.
She couldn't remember at what point her veil was lifted. Whether it was as soon as she climbed the altar or just before the kiss.
Alvan wrapped a hand around her waist and pulled her flush against himself.
The moment of truth had arrived – their first kiss as husband and wife.
Gia's mind whirled with thoughts of her family's expectations, the weight of their arranged marriage, and the unknowns of Alvan's true nature. Her lips felt dry, her mouth parched.
Alvan's hands cradled her face, his touch sending shivers down her spine. His thumbs traced gentle circles on her cheeks, calming her frazzled nerves and for those few seconds, it felt like old times.
As he leaned in, Gia's eyelids fluttered close, bracing for the expected. The warmth of Alvan's breath caressed her skin, sending a flutter through her chest.
Their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss. Alvan's mouth moved slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the moment. Gia's initial tension melted, replaced by a spark of curiosity.
Her heart hammered in her chest from a feeling she was all too familiar with and it scared her. She was terrified by the power he seemed to have over her.
The kiss deepened, and Gia's senses came alive. The world around her melted away, leaving only the sensation of Alvan's lips, the taste of his skin, and the promise of their complicated future.
As they broke apart, Gia's eyes opened to meet Alvan's intense gaze. For an instant, they shared a connection that transcended their arranged union – a glimmer of understanding, a spark of possibility.
The moment passed, and reality intruded. Gia's anxiety resurfaced, but now, it was tempered by a newfound awareness: her husband's kiss had awakened something within her. Something she had chosen to bury a long time ago and keep for as long as she could.
In the corner of her eyes, she saw a woman get up from her seat and storm out of the church.
Alvan's eyes followed her and the look in his eyes spoke volumes.
Her future with him was going to be grim.