Chapter 3

Sienna

Today was the day I finally got to meet the man who would own me, and as Father put it very eloquently, I would be his bitch apparently. 

But I would rather stab out my own eyes and eat them than let someone own me. Who the fuck did these men think they were? 

I scowled as I looked into the full-length mirror. My attire didn't reflect what I thought, not in the slightest. My body was covered in a tight-fitting red silk dress. It had a deep v-neck and full-length arms. I wanted to hide my sore wrist, thanks to Father. 

The dress stopped at my naturally tanned thighs. Pairing the dress with red heels, I went for a simple look. Light makeup covered my face, and my dark hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail. 

There was nothing more powerful than dressing up. It made men weak, and I made men weak. I pressed my lips together which were painted with red lipstick. The red blended well with my tan skin and icy blue eyes. 

Cara entered my room after knocking. She eyed me and complimented my attire. I saw her fidgeting a lot more than usual and her eyes couldn't meet mine. Fuck, I felt like shit. Like meat on a platter. 

I sighed. "It will be all right, Cara. I'll be fine," I reassured. I didn't know whether I was reassuring her or myself. 

"Yes, I know, you'll be fine. You can handle yourself. I just wished you weren't forced to marry." Cara frowned as she fiddled with the gun in her pocket. I smiled as I looked at the floor.

"Your father is waiting for you," she spoke up as she held my bedroom door open for me. 

"Well I'd better go to meet this Eric fucking Connall," I said with no emotion. 

Entering the SUV, I inhaled deeply as I saw Father already seated inside. Why couldn't the bastard take another car? Fuck, he loved tormenting me. 

I took my seat opposite him and crossed my legs in the spacious car. Father smoked a cigarette and I watched the grey ashes drop to the floor. Even after being told that the damage to his lungs was irreversible and he should ease up on smoking, Father smoked as if it were his last day on earth, and I actually wish it were. 

His suit was grey like the ashes which matched his greying eyes. His face was aged and tired. I often wondered if I would end up the same. It was no secret that I smoked occasionally. There was also no harm in drinking every so often. 

I always got told I got my looks from mother. Unfortunately, I didn't have even a picture of her. Father burnt everything Mother owned was burnt to ashes after her death. I was sure he wanted to burn me too. 

After a few minutes of silence, Father spoke. There was no need to, yet he fucking opened his dirty mouth. "I am sorry to let my only daughter go." He looked at me, sneering.

I looked into his eyes unable to read anything. He was being sincere, and that was a first. He reached out and patted my hands which I kept on my lap. I scolded myself when I flinched at his cold touch. Fuck, when would this man even die?

Our SUV turned into a very upper-class area. The houses were not houses but mansions. They were also quite far apart from one another to allow privacy and to accommodate the large front lawns. The tall steel gates at the entrance of one mansion were promptly opened up and our car traveled towards the front door. 

The warm air hit my face as I stepped out of the car but I still couldn't help but shudder. Cara walked behind me as did several other guards. 

Father threw his cigarette to the ground and put it out. He was an uncaring vile creature. He led the way to the front door and I held my head up in an attempt to hide my anxiety. 

Shit, I had never felt like this before. What the fuck was wrong with me? He was probably a bastard. 

Upon knocking on the oak door, we were greeted by a petite brunette woman and a tall broad-shouldered man. Father smiled as he shook the man's hand. I was guessing those were the parents. 

Father nodded toward me. "This is my daughter, Sienna Zannotti. She runs the Italian mafia." 

They didn't hear the spite in his words but I did. Suddenly, all eyes were on me. Father didn't introduce himself which made me believe that he knew these people. The woman smiled as she looked me over. 

Her husband was the first to speak. "Hello Sienna, I am Arthur Connall and this is my wife, Martha," he introduced as he slightly lowered his rough voice. 

He placed an arm around Martha's waist and I didn't miss the subtle way Martha's first instinct was to pull away. 

I offered a small smile as I kept my mouth shut. I saw a young man leaning against the wall behind Arthur and Martha. His posture indicated his reluctance of being here, and I eyed him as he walked over to the door. 

He held out a hand and smiled, seeming quite friendly. "Hello, Miss Zannotti, I am Sean Connall." I shook his hand as I admired the various rings he wore. 

"Hello," I replied simply… 

"This is my youngest son, Sean, he is twenty-one. The elder is your fiancé,” Arthur said as he watched me. 

Fiancé. The foreign word danced through my mind and shocked me once more as I realized my fate. Fuck, I wanted to run but I couldn't. 

I smiled politely again and Arthur led us all inside to a dining room. They must have been thinking that I was shy or quiet but I didn't care. They would soon find out about me and my big mouth which spoke the truth. 

The room was large and beautifully decorated. We were served dinner on china plates and had a selection of three different vintage wines to drink. I only drank a glass as I needed to stay sharp, this wasn't the time or place to get drunk. 

Father was in the midst of a dull conversation with Arthur and Martha. I somehow felt disappointed that Eric was nowhere to be seen. This was his house, after all, and he couldn't be bothered to attend dinner with guests. 

For all, I knew he could be hiding upstairs like the idiot he was. At least, I found out that he was only twenty-five, and judging by what his brother looked like, he should be decent enough. 

I looked over at Sean whom I enjoyed talking to this evening. His dark hair was long and neatly combed back although it was getting beautifully messier as time progressed. 

He had a sharp jawline and was neatly shaven. His dark brows and eyes held a certain boyish charm. Sean seemed to smile an awful lot and it suited him. 

"My brother is not a bad guy but he can be an idiot at times. I do apologize on his behalf," Sean said as he sipped his wine. 

I smiled at his honesty. "I am just disappointed he didn't even show up for this dinner." I licked my lips now, feeling less anxious. 

"I will find him and make him clean up his act. Because you Sienna will be the best thing to ever happen to him." He nodded his head knowingly and I smirked. 

"You know how to make a girl blush. Tell me do you have a girlfriend or wife?" I asked him. 

He smiled lazily and used a napkin to wipe his mouth. "None, unfortunately." 

I dropped my fork as I tilted my head at him. "Why not?" I asked. He seemed like a very nice young man. Women would be foolish to let him escape. 

He chuckled and Martha turned to look at us with a scowl etched on her face. She soon turned away. I don't know what that bitch's problem was, but she had one with me. "Can't find that one special woman for me. I can tell you'll like Eric. You two have a lot in common." He smiled. 

I stifled a yawn as I used a hand to cover my mouth. "How so?" I asked. 

He smiled, his dark eyes shining. "You'll see… Remember Sienna, If he acts like a dick, tell me and I'll fuck him right up." 

"You don't think I can handle myself?" I chuckled and he hummed. 

"I think you can. But I'd like to fuck him up regardless." 

Once dinner ended, Father went for drinks with Arthur and Martha, and I was glad I'd be rid of him in the meantime.

Instead, I went for a quiet walk on the grounds of the house. I was accompanied by Cara who stayed at my side. My heels crunched on the gravel path as I walked. 

"The parents seemed nice and the son too," Cara noted. 

"There was something off about them. Sean was genuine but the parents, I can't figure them out," I said as Cara hummed in agreement. There was always something. 

I took a seat on a bench that faced a beautiful water fountain. I watched the water spill out from a beautiful fountain head into a pool below. The water shimmered white and reflected the full moon. 

I stared aimlessly as I got lost in thought. I had a shit ton of work I needed to do. And here I sat, wasting time. Eric didn't even show up. Perhaps he felt the same as I did. Of course, he did. 

Just then a husky voice spoke up, breaking the silence. "I'm here to see my fiancée." 

The bastard, I thought, snapping out of my daze and turned to see Cara with her gun pointed at a man. 

"It's okay," I said and Cara lowered her gun. 

A tall well-built man walked over and took a seat beside me. As soon as he did, I smelt his musky aftershave with a mix of cigarette smoke. 

I glanced quickly at him. He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. His dark hair was brushed although it remained unruly and some wisps of hair strayed. 

I wonder how soft that would feel if I ran my hand through it. His sharp jaws were covered in neat stubble and I could get lost in his dark eyes. And those kissable lips. 

Fuck get a grip, Sienna! I ordered myself.

"I'm Eric Connall. I do apologize for not attending dinner, princess," he said and gazed at me. 

I stiffened. "Don't call me that!" I snapped, my jaws going rigid. 

His eyes darted elsewhere before they rested on me again. "Well, what should I call you?" he asked, reaching into his pocket and taking out a cigarette. He lit it and began smoking.

Now I could see it: how he carried himself, how he spoke. He was a mafia boss through and through. 

"I'm Sienna," I said straight-faced. 

"Sienna…" He tested my name on his tongue. The moonlight hit his eyes, making them sparkle even more so. 

He leaned towards me slightly. "That's a pretty name for such a beautiful lady," he whispered close to my ear. I felt his hot breath fan my skin, the hairs on my neck rising. Any other girl would have found that to be seductive but I didn't. 

"Would you like one?" he asked as he held out his cigarette and I shook my head. 

"No." 

He chuckled and the sound sent tingles to the pit of my stomach. "Are you a virtuous girl?" he asked. 

The fuck? 

"What the fuck? Let's get one thing straight. I didn't get to where I am by being a good girl. This marriage is nothing more than an alliance on paper. Don't expect me to be some kind of housewife. I will talk back and I will not hesitate to fuck you up if you act indecently!" I growled lowly as my face remained stoic. 

He blew his cigarette between his lips and put it out by tossing it to the ground. He didn't seem to be affected at all by what I said or he didn't show it. He turned to face me, only looking at my face, and hummed. "I like you.” 

I furrowed my eyebrows. What was I supposed to say to that? 

He reached out and tried to place his hand on my thigh. I said tried because I grabbed a hold of his hand tightly, instantly twisting back, a move I learned from a young age. 

He hardly flinched or even showed an ounce of pain. Instead, he smirked. The fucker smirked, and God, he looked so devilishly handsome. I let go of his hand, pushing away the feeling of the tingles I felt when our hands touched. 

I observed him as he ran a hand through his hair. He certainly knew what boundaries were. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to see how you would react," he apologized casually. 

I narrowed my eyes as I pushed back my hair which fluttered forward in the gentle breeze. "My reaction?" I scoffed. "I would have cut your hand off." 

"Good answer," he hummed once more. 

I looked at him again. "What would you do if I touched you?" I asked. 

Oh fuck! My big fucking mouth. 

He grinned, showcasing his perfectly white teeth. "I'd let you," he breathed. 

I felt my cheeks burn up as I hoped the blush I wore couldn't be seen, then I chuckled. "Fuck, I should have seen that coming." 

He chuckled as he stood up and cracked his neck. He held out an arm for me. I stood up and refused his arm by walking away from him and towards the house. 

I also noticed his fine-looking guard who accompanied him. I also didn't miss how Cara's eyes lingered on him for a second too long. 

I heard footsteps behind me as we all made our way inside. Upon entering the house, Father wanted to leave so we said our goodbyes and left. 

Father sat in the same car as me this time too. "What do you think of him?" he asked. 

"Why do you care?" I scoffed. 

Fuck. I was in urgent need of sleep and I fucking couldn't stand the man. Fuck, I knew what was coming. 

Father quickly reached forward and slapped me across the cheek, and I let him. The pain was nothing to me. If I fought back, the aftermath would be disastrous. 

The piece of shit talked once more. "Do not speak to me like that. I am your father. You should respect me." 

I looked across at him. “Forgive me. I'm just very tired… I like him, he seems decent." I looked down at my hands. 

Father laughed hysterically at me. "Him decent? You really are a stupid whore. He didn't get to where he is by being decent," he mocked, his belly full of laughter. 

I looked away and wished I was anywhere but here. Soon enough we arrived at a hotel: a standard five-star. We got booked in and I took in the luxurious sight of the penthouse suit I would be sleeping in for the next two days. 

In two days the wedding was to happen. Two fucking days. I felt my heart race as the thought of running away crossed my mind again. Would I rather be free and not forced to marry? No, I'd be a fucking coward. I'd rather die fighting for my mafia than be known as a coward. 

I lay on the bed after I changed into comfortable clothing. I glanced at the time on my phone before tossing it onto the armchair beside the bed. It was just past midnight and I was wide awake. 

"Well, what did you think about him?" Cara asked me as she entered the room, knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep. 

Several guards were posted outside my door as usual. I smiled as I patted the space beside me, and she walked over and sat down… 

"He's a bastard just like all men are," I said as I looked up at the white ceiling. 

"I saw you blush, Sienna. No man has ever done that to you. I have a good feeling about him and I can read people pretty well." 

I hummed. "What about you and his guard?" I looked at her but she didn't meet my eyes. 

"I knew it! You find him attractive." I grinned. I could see why. He was really handsome in a laid-back sort of way. 

She smiled as she tried to brush it off by picking at invisible specks of dust on the bed. I rolled over to my side so I was facing her before speaking. 

"Truthfully, he is a fine-looking man. I'd have fucked him if he wasn't… Well… you know. It's too complicated." I pursed my lips. 

She smirked as she looked at her bare nails. "It's not complicated at all. You will be legally married soon so by all means fuck him." 

"It's a matter of principle, Cara," I said as I ran my fingers up and down the bedsheet. 

She nodded unconvincingly. "I truly want the best for you Sienna so at least try with him. Don't push him away."