Today was of those days when her monsters craved to be released to cause chaos. But Chiara had a better idea.
Hair covered her eyes as Prince galloped, making her regret not pinning them back before setting out to ride.
She gently squeezed his ribcage with the calves of her legs. Her grip on the reins tightened when all of his feet went off the ground. Feeling as though they were flying.
The thrill of this moment surged in her veins as the clatters of his hooves dominated her ears. She kicked, and Prince sprinted, becoming one with the wind. Just what she wanted; a perfect distraction.
A thunderous sound of gunshots echoed behind her.
Prince's abrupt halt came in sync with a slam of her heart against her ribcage, almost shoving her ahead. He stood on his hind legs and started to neigh while his forelegs kicked in the air.
Her body jerked back. "Shit!" Chiara uttered. And if it were not for her quick, tight hug around him… she would've kissed her backbone goodbye.
"Shh… we're alright. We're okay, Prince." She rubbed his neck while maintaining a tight grip with her other hand.
Her pulse and breathing became faster as Prince repeatedly dropped and stood. "Easy now, my boy." She chanted, sweat trickling on her back.
Prince finally dropped on his all fours, still whinnying. Navigating a safe hold on him, she kept rubbing until he slowly relaxed. "There, boy, there. Good boy."
She let out a deep breath and sat upright as Prince's head searched around. She glanced at the wood rail fence across the green field with her squinted eyes as the morning sun kept gracing them.
Luca freaking Marino, stood tall in all his deranged glory. He made a show of blowing out his gun. But it was the mocking smirk on his face that she'd truly love to wipe off with a hard punch just to see if he'll ever do it again.
The bastard has been traumatizing her horse as if he were paid to do so. And how she wished the tables could turn.
"Hey sis. Good ride, huh?" He shouted, waving with the gun. Was this amusing to him? Thought Chiara. Something hot and lethal boiled inside her. Gripping the reins, she leaned over Prince's ear and murmured, "Let's go."
Prince started to race right where she was leading. And instead of halting by the fence, she urged Prince to leap right where Luca was standing.
It was at that moment when her heart danced with so much joy at seeing Luca's widened eyes and the look on his face as he plopped down on his butts.
"You fucking bitch!" He drawled, muscles taut on his neck. Extremely satisfying. Thought Chiara as she looked down at him.
She pulled the reins, halting Prince, and watched as he dusted his hands. "Nice show, huh?" She said, the corner of her lips lifting. Then without waiting for Luca's other curses, she trotted to the stables. "Good jod, Prince." She kissed his mane lovingly and escorted him back inside his stall.
Chiara was just about to turn when her body was pressed hard against the stall rails. The cold mouth of a gun grazed her skin, and then traveled up her exposed arm. She fisted her hands.
"One day, I'm going to end that fucking pet of yours and make sure you watch it." Luca's hot breath hit her nape as he spoke. He took pleasure in tormenting her too. Always. Chiara was angered at the fact.
She attempted to push him off, but that only made him press her harder against the rails. She pursed her lips, huffing. "What do you want, Luca?" She said under her gritted teeth.
Luca nuzzled his face on her hair, sniffing like a dipshit that he was. Was he high this early in the morning? I wouldn't be surprised. Chiara thought as she fought to be released.
"My father has called for you." Luca informed, making her shake her head in response.
"Tell your father, I'm busy." Chiara knew no good ever came out of meeting with that man. And the worst part was that her mind still couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to use her for this time around. Sickening old hag. She seethed at the thoughts of him.
"You go and tell him yourself. Better hurry." Luca said and pushed her stumbling away before he walked back to the mansion. Chiara's heating eyes watched his tupid back, then padded after him.
She shouldn't have gone. Deep down she knew she should've just ran and never looked back. But then she couldn't do that. Not when he was the one holding the handle of the knife.
Left with no choice, she followed him to the garden. Antonio stood by the pergola gazebo. Its wooden beams casted shadows across the garden floor. His black and white curls were tied in a loose bun while he was busy on the phone.
Luca, a splitting image of his father, sat down on the sofa. He spread his legs and leaned back.
"You called for me?" Chiara walked forward, only stopping when she was standing under the gazebo's shade.
"Yes. Like I said, there is nothing to worry about. I'll keep you posted." Antonio hung up and turned to face her. "Sit." The man commanded. She did as she was told, for once in ages at least.
And for some obvious reasons, she could tell what he was up to even before he said it with his stinking mouth. This wasn't a first after all. Chiara processed in silence as she waited.
Antonio grabbed an envelope from the table and took out something. Whatever it was, she knew it was her doom. "Are you familiar with this man?" He placed the picture on the table before sliding it in her direction.
There was no need for mind loading as her eyes fell on the green-eyed man with black hair and a hardened face in it.
"Enzo Russo. Everybody and their mothers knows who he is in Italy. Why am I here again? Chiara raised a brow at him.
Antonio's forehead curved with two deep lines, but then he quickly switched and started laughing.
Chiara almost wanted to puke on his face at the sound of it. "Oh dear, seems like we're goind to skip the boring introduction part then." He said and took back the picture.
"From this day forth, Enzo is your fiancé. And the two of you are to be married in one month." He said calmly as he held the picture up. And there it was. Thought Chiara.
His devilish eyes and wrinkled face were too disgusting to watch, but she stared right bcak at him.
The old geezer couldn't wait to get rid of her. And she hated it because she couldn't leave the house. Not yet.
"None of this has ever worked before. Why keep bothering?" Her tone was deliberate as her index finger drew a cricle at the picture in his hand.
"Because this time around, we're doing it my way." Antonio looked at his wrist watch. Displeasure that she was breathing the same air as him was written all over his face.
"I'm not marrying anyone." She deadpanned.
The old man's face hardened. "But I wasn't asking, Chiara." He placed the envelope down and leanned forward.
Chiara fisted her hands, her heart pounded knowing what was coming.
"I know exaclty what to do to get you to dance to any tune I want. Stop pushing me." Said Antonio. Something gripped her tight at his words.
"Okay," she said without wasting a second despite the turmoil inside her.
"Okay what, Chiara?" He pressed. If only she could kill just by looking at people, then everyone there would've been long dead.
She swallowed hard. "I will marry him." He always knew when to use his trump card. This pathetic old man. Chiara glared at the man.
"Great. Just wonderful." Luca rose, clapping. "Here is a little present from your husband-to-be, sis." He placed a red velvet box on the table before her. "I hope you like it. Enzo said he picked it with love," He added, stressing the last word as he slumped on the sofa beside her.
Chiara clenched both of her hands before relaxing them the next second, puffing out. There was no ring in this game before. She was a little shooked at how doomed she was this time around. She slowly reached for the box, opened it, took out the diamond ring and wore it.
"See, it looks good on you." Praised Antonio, picking up his phone again and making a call.
She silently stared down at her hand, thoughts running in her mind. Just a moment ago, it was empty, and now… just like that she was branded.
"Congratulations, Russo. You got the girl." Antonio chortled.
Chiara scoffed. Just how easy for a man like Antonio to mess around with someone's entire life just to feed his greed wasn't fair.
He proved to her within a second that she would always be his play toy. Her life, entirely, wasn't fair. A familiar sting started to prick her eyes.
She couldn't say no, nor could she truly get married to that bastard. If she were to marry, she feard it was going to be the end of everything she'd worked hard for her entire life.
Chiara got up to leave since their family shit show was over. "Chiara," she paused, not turning to face him. How could she when she was on the brink of losing it, and Antonio would abosultely love to see that?
"I want you to know the weight of this matter. If you dare fuck this up too, then I promise you'll pay like you've never did before." He tapped the table as he spoke.
Threats? That too, wasn't a first. Antonio was getting miserably old.
She made her way to the mansion with heavy steps, and sat on the edge of the round fountain, on the lawn. Tears running free. This was going to be the last she'd shed because of him.
She gazed at the spilling water and imagined how it would feel if it were Antonio's blood someday. She roughly wiped her cheeks.
Chiara thought she may not know what the future held for her, but one thing was pretty clear to her. There was no way she was getting married to that devil. Come what may.