Marked By The Mafia

The morning sun rose far too fast. Serena stared at her reflection in the mirror, her hands trembling around the bouquet of white lilies she didn’t remember picking out. Her makeup was flawless, her hair pinned perfectly, the dress a vision of lace halter-neck gown that clung to her frame like a lie she couldn’t take off.

Everything was ready.

Everything was wrong.

Rachel stayed with her throughout the preparation, trying to calm her, to make her eat, to stop her from pacing the length of the room like a prisoner waiting for a verdict. But no amount of comfort could quiet the voice whispering at the back of her mind.

He will know.

Luca always know.

Now, as the string quartet tuned softly in the church courtyard, Serena’s pulse refused to steady. Her wedding was supposed to be simple—family, close friends, no press. A quiet restart. But even as she smiled weakly at her reflection, she couldn’t shake the crawling sensation that she was being watched.

Rachel appeared in the doorway, radiant in pale blue. “You look like a dream, Reni,” she said softly. “Nathaniel’s waiting. You ready?”

Serena’s lips twitched into something that might have been a smile. “As I’ll ever be.”

Rachel stepped closer, studying her. “You’re pale. Did you sleep at all?”

“Not really.” Serena forced a small laugh, but her throat felt tight. “Just nerves.”

Rachel hesitated, clearly unconvinced, then squeezed her hand. “He loves you. That’s all that matters, okay?”

Serena nodded, but the word love felt heavy. Once, she’d thought love was safety, warmth, trust. But Luca had shown her another kind of love—possessive, consuming, the kind that burned everything it touched. And now, standing on the edge of her new beginning, she didn’t know which kind terrified her more: his love or the echo of it she still felt inside her.

The ceremony was beautiful.

Too beautiful.

White roses lined the aisle, the scent thick and sweet. The guests smiled as the music swelled. Nathaniel stood at the altar, handsome and composed, his eyes full of hope.

As Serena walked toward him, her heart twisted painfully. His gaze softened when he saw her, and for a moment, everything else blurred—the chaos, the fear, the shadow of Luca Moretti’s voice in her head.

You’re mine, Serena. You just don’t want to admit it yet.

She blinked, forcing the memory away.

When she reached Nathaniel, his hands found hers. “You look incredible,” he whispered.

Her smile wavered. “So do you.”

The priest began to speak, words flowing like a hymn. Promises, vows, forever. Serena’s chest tightened with every phrase. Nathaniel’s voice was steady when he repeated his lines, eyes never leaving hers.

Then it was her turn.

“Do you, Serena Reyes, take this man—”

Her throat closed. For one heartbeat, she couldn’t breathe. Every instinct screamed run.

But she looked into Nathaniel’s eyes, and what she saw there—faith, forgiveness, love—anchored her in place. She forced the words out, voice trembling. “I do.”

A ripple of applause followed. The priest smiled, lifting the final blessing. “If there is anyone who objects—”

The doors at the back of the church slammed open.

Gasps erupted. Heads turned.

A man stepped inside—tall, sharp-suited, flanked by two others in black. The sound of boots against marble echoed like a drumbeat.

Serena’s blood turned to ice.

Luca.

He walked down the aisle with the slow confidence of someone who owned the room. His gray eyes locked on Serena, ignoring the chaos around him—the shouts, the movement, the whispers of who is that?

Nathaniel stepped instinctively in front of her. “Who the hell are you?”

Luca’s mouth curved, not in a smile but in something far more dangerous. “Someone who’s here for what’s his.”

The air shifted. Tension rippled through the guests as one of Luca’s men blocked the door, the other scanning the crowd. Rachel’s hand flew to her mouth.

“Luca, please—” Serena started, her voice a frantic whisper. “Don’t do this here.”

He didn’t even look at Nathaniel. His gaze burned into her. “You thought you could just marry him? After warning you last night?” His tone was quiet, almost calm—but the danger threaded through every word.

Nathaniel turned to her, confusion and betrayal flashing in his eyes. “Last night? Serena, what is he talking about?”

Her heart cracked. “Nathaniel, it’s not—”

Luca’s voice cut her off, low and venomous. “Tell him, cara mia. Tell him how you moaned when you let me touch you.”

“Stop it!” she cried, trembling. “You don’t get to—”

“Enough!” Nathaniel’s shout echoed through the church. “Someone call security!”

But no one moved. Everyone was frozen, trapped between curiosity and fear. Luca took another step forward, eyes narrowing. “You think security can protect her from me?”

The priest backed away, clutching his Bible. Rachel moved toward Serena, but one look from Luca’s men stopped her cold.

Serena felt her world collapsing. “Luca, please. Don’t do this. You’re going to destroy everything.”

He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “Everything?” He stepped closer until they were a breath apart. “No, Serena. I’m saving you from a lie.”

Nathaniel’s hand shot out, grabbing Luca’s arm. “Stay away from her.”

Luca turned his head slowly, eyes glinting. “You should rethink that.”

The tension broke like a storm. Nathaniel swung first, fury overriding reason. The punch landed hard, snapping Luca’s head to the side. Gasps filled the church. Before anyone could react, Luca’s men moved—swift, silent, lethal.

Serena screamed as chaos erupted. Chairs overturned, people shouted, someone shouted to call the police. Rachel tried to reach her, but a guard shoved her back.

Luca wiped the blood from his lip, expression unreadable. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—conflict, pain, love twisted into obsession. His jaw clenched.

“You made me a promise, Serena,” he said softly. “And you broke it.”

Nathaniel moved, trying to pull her behind him. Then, almost casually, Luca pulled a gun from beneath his jacket and aimed it at Nathaniel.

“Luca—no!” Serena’s voice cracked. She stepped between them, tears streaming down her face. “Please don’t do this!”

A shot rang out.

Everything stopped—then, in the next heartbeat, the world shattered in a scream.