Chapter 11 - Her Love Is Back

[In the Marino House ] 

"Don Marino, we searched the nook and corner of New York but weren't able to find Miss Marino." 

"Could it be that she is not in the state? She must have been taken to another state if we weren't able to find her in New York." 

"You must punish the apostate who aided the opponent in abducting the bride." 

"Abducting the bride from the church is sacrilegious. Those wicked Irish or Russians must be the one behind the whole charade." 

"Our daughters and wives are afraid to even go out of their homes. What should be done to lessen the panic among them? If they can steal Don's daughter, what don't they dare to do?" 

Alesandro Marino sat on the majestic modernised throne and heard what his subordinates had to say about the matter. Those people who dared not to open their mouths before him earlier now we're indirectly calling him weak. He failed to protect his daughter. His daughter was stolen before his nose by an unknown enemy and he couldn't do anything about it. 

He glanced at his consiliere, who was usually quiet today. Then, his gaze settled on Nico, the man who was supposed to officially become his son-in-law today but wasn't able to because he, Alesandro Marino, failed to recognize the danger lurking around him. 

And now, not only the outfit but also the family was in shambles.  

He wouldn't forgive the person who dared to lay his hands on his daughter. 

The kind of punishment which his daughter's captor hadn't fathomed even in his worst nightmare was awaiting for him. 

They hadn't touched his daughter but his esteem and position in New York. 

His eyes turned cold as he vowed in his heart to bring back his daughter to him at any cost with her honor intact. 

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"Sofia!"

Just when Sofia Marino thought that no one was watching her exiting Persephone's bedroom, Nico's voice rang, startling Sofia to the core. What was he doing on this floor of the Mansion? No man with the exception of her father and brothers were allowed to enter this part of the mansion. Then, again he was Persephone's husband… No..No...to be husband. 

"Stop right there, Sofia!" Nico's voice consisted of the authority that his soldiers were used to hearing. The voice of a roaring tiger. He was a dangerous man and so, Sofia couldn't take the risk of offending him as she knew if he chose to complain about her to her father, the outcome wouldn't be so favorable for her, given the situation they were in...

Sofia slowly turned to look at Nico but not before tucking something under her bra. Her movements were too quick for Nico watching to catch all the details. 

"Y-yes?" Sofia said in a very hesitant voice. Damm, why couldn't she speak normally to him for once in her life. Only if she could know why….

Nico watched the woman before him averting her gaze to avoid looking into his eyes. 

Sofia Marino was a petite woman with an abundance of curves at the right places. Marino women were not particularly tall. Her glassy green eyes slowly met Nico's as she realized that he didn't say a word to her yet and was gazing at her intensely as if…. as if he went to bore bullets into her skull.  

Nico cursed as he realized what he was doing. He glared at Sofia and said," What were you doing in Persephone's room? Out of all the people, you know better how much she despises people entering her room. Why must you do things which you aren't supposed to?"

Sofia felt as if her breath was cut short. She couldn't believe her ears. He had the audacity to remind her…

'Damn you, Sofia! Why did I glare at him!'

'No. No. I must not curse. It's now how a catholic girl is raised.' 

"Answer me. Now!" Nicolas's thunderous voice rang and Sofia trembled with evident fear. 

"I-I was just missing her," Sofia replied, her body trembling."I was missing my sister, Nico. She despised everyone who would dare to enter her room without her permission. But never me!! We used to sneak out to each other's room at midnight when Papa locked her in the room because we weren't supposed to be close. Like you think , I would never dare to hurt my sister even in dreams. I love her, Nico." 

Inhaling for forbearance, Nicolas took a loud breath as if dealing with her was worse than dealing with his offenders. A warm rush of shame ran down her spine as she met his heavy gaze. It was really written in his whiskey eyes that he knew that she was hiding something from him. She could also read in his eyes that if she ended up hurting her sister in the process, he would never forgive her. 

"You better be telling the truth, Sofia. Or else…" 

Without bothering to complete the sentence, Nicolas Scunderi left her standing alone outside Persephone's room in the same way he appeared. 

Not desiring to waste any time, Sofia ran inside her room and locked it quickly. She pulled out a piece of paper from her bra which she had hidden earlier. 

In her hand was a sketch that Persephone had drawn many years before. A stunning pair of pale blue eyes. The same eyes which were tattooed on Persephone's heart. 

'I'm sorry, Papa and Nico. Love can't be forced. Persephone never loved Nico and it is clear to everyone that she wouldn't even try to love him in the future. To all of you, love carries no significance but to Persephone, it's her whole life. 

I saw that man abducting her with my own eyes. I didn't shout nor did I bring any attention because I knew that it was the only way for her to resist this undesirable wedding. 

Your love is back, Persephone. I pray that you will not let it go this time. If I can remember these blue eyes, I guess you will too.' 

'I'm sorry, Nico. You can't control who you love. ' 

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A/N: Sofia doesn't know that the Santiago Persephone loves is dead according to Persephone as she never told Sofia. That's Why Sofia thinks that the man was there to elope with Persephone rather than kidnapping her. She recognized his blue eyes because Persephone used to sketch them.

Apparently, Persephone had done something very gave in the past that made Sofia believe that her sister is capable enough of pulling Kidnapping stunt as she neither fears her father nor Nicolas.

Fathom, what must have Persephone done in the past?

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Please support me with powerstones and by adding my book to your gallery. Read a few chapters before judging it. The story hasn't opened fully yet. I really, really hope that you will give my book a chance.

One more thing I wanted to add is that I won't be doing a slow burn romance. Apparently, I don't know how to write slow burn. More than the main characters, I'm excited to write romance.

Thus, I will be dropping doses of smut in the next few chapter.