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My God. I wanted to laugh. Who cared about the marriage in the first place?

I was positioned in the seat just behind the driver, Alejandro waiting to sit down until one of the men I didn’t know was positioned in the driver’s seat. Gio was behind me. When I glanced over my shoulder, I sensed the man was ready for an attack.

Suddenly, everything felt surreal, as if I was watching a movie instead of experiencing my wedding day.

I barely paid any attention as Alejandro offered additional instructions. As soon as the vehicle started moving, he sat down beside me. With only the slight rumble of the engine as well as other road sounds, I was lost in a sea of thoughts that could bring a panic attack to anyone.

“It’s going to be okay,” he said gently.

“You’re used to this, Alejandro. I’m not. At least not any longer. My son has never been forced to practice safety drills. He’s never been required to hide in a closet or in a basement surrounded by soldiers while monsters invaded our home. I left my family’s world because I wanted normalcy. But I guess I was fooling myself.”

“I may be used to the obligation of protecting those I work for as well as the possibility of violence, but I also can appreciate you longing for a normal life. I’m just not sure if that’s feasible.”

“Sadly, I think you’re right. But I will keep fighting for what I want and what I believe in. Where are we going? To a safehouse where we’ll be locked away until the end of time?”

He laughed, but the sound certainly wasn’t full of the same light and spark as moments before our wedding. “I wouldn’t deny my bride or her family a reception. I simply made more creative alternative plans.”

I lifted my head, studying his eyes more than anything. His actions hadn’t been about a power-hungry moment as I’d suspected. He was genuinely still on edge, remaining ready for the enemy’s appearance.

There was nothing I could do but wait as the driver weaved through the streets, finally taking an exit onto the interstate. I had no clue where we were going, barely able to see any road signs from where I was seated.

As I waited, I pulled my phone from my purse, almost shocked it remained in my possession. I wasn’t certain why. I wasn’t considered a prisoner except from the toxicity that enshrouded my life. Yet as I pulled up pictures of Gabriel, tears formed in my eyes. I missed him so much.

When I felt Alejandro’s gaze, I was almost angry with him for invading my privacy.

“He’s very much like you,” he said quietly, his voice so hushed I doubted any of the men could hear him.

“I hate to say I’m glad he’s not like his father.”

“Your ex?”

“I’m sure you know all the gory details about me. I think I was too young and naïve, looking for that perfect method of independence. I was blindsided by his good looks and that suave motive that managed to drag me into his bed after only two weeks. Everything was perfect until it wasn’t.”

“I’m sorry. He won’t be able to spend much time with Gabriel, at least not right now. Please don’t fight me on that.”

I found myself laughing. How ridiculous. “Don’t worry. I won’t need to fight. Derek couldn’t care less about his own flesh and blood. He made that perfectly clear when he demanded I get an abortion. I almost cut his dick off instead. Now, I wish I had.”

He chuckled. “I can see you doing that.”

“You have no idea what I’m capable of. Since then, he’s not once tried to see Gabe. Not once. He hasn’t sent a Christmas or birthday card and certainly isn’t interested in paying child support. Why do you think my son has my last name?”

“Did you take him to court?”

“Do you honestly believe my father would have allowed that to happen? Up until a few days ago, I was fairly certain my father had paid the man off to stay away from me and Gabriel.”

“What happened a few days ago?”

“You weren’t told?” I found that tough to believe.

“I don’t understand.”

My laughter sounded maniacal. “Dear ole Daddy explained in no uncertain detail that if I refused to marry first Dion then you, then not only would my sister at seventeen be forced to take my place, but that my son would be turned over to Derek. His worthless piece of shit father.”

Alejandro’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching. He’d even fisted one hand, but the most impressive change if not terrifying was the growl he emitted from deep within him. Low and slow as if a predator in the wild.

When he looked away, a distinct chill coursed down my spine. “The way of the world of mafia from the daughter’s perspective. Tried and true methods of control. Perhaps now you understand why I want my son to have nothing to do with what had already been touted as his legacy. But I suppose you’ll attempt to steer me in another direction, demanding my son become a little foot soldier by the age of eight.”

There was no real reason to take out my venom on the man other than I needed some sense of release. He was as good a subject as any.