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Drake leaned toward her and whispered, “What’s with the veil, principessa? That dress isperfezione. I can’t wait for the ceremony to end, so I can take you back to the bridal suite, tear your clothes off, and fuck you dirty.”
It was shocking that he’d say such a thing in front of a priest inside a church. Drake’s dirty promise licked fire through Alessandra’s veins. She bit her lip to keep from begging to hear more.
The priest raised his hands for the congregation’s attention. The ceremony stretched around them, but everything became a blur until Drake leaned in and lightly chuckled in Alessandra’s ear.
“It’s your turn, bella,” he whispered as he gestured at the priest.
Alessandra was suddenly aware of everyone silently waiting on her. “I do!” she spluttered.
The priest pronounced them husband and wife moments later. Permission was granted for Drake to kiss his bride. Alessandra’s breath hitched in anticipation as her husband reached for her veil. She licked her lips and puckered up, only for her fairytale bubble to burst when Drake barked.
“What the fuck!”
Gasps and uncertain words rang through the church. Even the priest recoiled at Drake’s outburst.
Drake grabbed Alessandra’s arm, but not hard enough to hurt her, and dragged her down the aisle. She struggled to keep pace with his long strides in her Jimmy Choos. The church erupted in noise the moment they were out of sight.
Drake didn’t stop until they entered the bridal suite, and he slammed the door behind them. Alessandra gulped when his finger flicked the lock. Fire flashed in his chocolatey gaze as he angrily undid his tie and pulled his collar open. She watched breathlessly as he discarded his jacket on the settee and removed his cufflinks in a seamless move. She practically swooned when he rolled up the sleeves of his starched white dress shirt to reveal muscular, corded forearms.
“Che cazzo, what the fuck is going on here?” he growled. Alessandra flinched at Drake’s furious outburst.
His handsome face twisted in anger so intensely that he resembled the men who plagued her nightmares. She backed away from him, bumping into the vanity, and grabbed it with her hands to steady herself.
“What do you mean?” she stammered. “We just got married. Why are you so upset?”
Drake scoffed. “Why the fuck wouldn’t I be? What kind of sick joke is this? Where is Riley?”
“Who’s Riley?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Drake didn’t hear her, or if he did, he didn’t care. He paced, running his hands through his wavy hair before suddenly halting. He darted to grab Alessandra, and she cowered before him.
“Please don’t hurt me,” she pleaded.
Drake immediately dropped his hands and stepped back from Alessandra, studying her intently as if seeing her for the first time.
“I’m not going to hurt you, bella. I’m just trying to make sense of what the fuck is going on.”
“Please calm down. I think I deserve answers too, Drake.”
Alessandra couldn’t wrap her mind around everything. She waved the emerald-cut diamond ring Drake had placed on her so gingerly just minutes before. It fit her manicured finger perfectly as though it was meant to be hers. Drake tenderly took her hand and played with the ring on her finger.
“First, tell me how the hell this happened,” Drake cajoled.
“My father brought me here to get married. He told me it was time for me to do my part for the family.”
“So you set me up?” he snapped.
“What? No! Of course not! My father arranged the marriage. I didn’t know who the groom was until I saw you standing at the altar. I thought you were expecting me,” she said, gazing timidly from beneath her lashes.
Drake deflated slightly. “Alessandra, what happened to your cheek?” He gently grazed her cheek with his fingertips, causing her to wince in pain. His eyes darkened.
“When I told Papà I didn’t wish to marry, he struck me.”
“Bastardo!” Drake dropped Alessandra’s hand and began pacing once more. “Tell me just one thing, and be honest, please. What happened to Riley?”
“Who’s Riley?”
“My fiancée!”
