Prologue

She moved to the altar and smiled at everyone. Something will go wrong, was her only gut feeling even when her father had assured her that nothing will happen. There was tight security around, and she should have been satisfied, but it was not happening. Her heart was beating faster.

At the end of the altar, she saw her future, her to-be-husband, that her father had chosen for her. Was she happy? He was better than the other alternative who was trying to impose himself on her.

She faked a smile, and moved slowly towards him. The little altar of the church seemed as long as five miles and she felt as if something was about to happen. As if someone will jump out of the walls and stop it all. Or her bridesmaid will pinch her hard and she will wake up. She will be the same college-goer Natalie who was unaware of the world of people who knew how to take things by hook or crook.

She was not a part of the mafia world, but around her, everyone was a corporate mafia, trying to save their faces and asses. She was getting married so her father could save his face and the world would never know that a corporate hulk had kidnapped his daughter because he was obsessed.

Her father handed over her hand to Michael, and she stood there with a fake smile plastered to her face. He was not the man she would have chosen for herself.

The minister started the ceremony, and finally asked him, “Do you take, Natalie Greene, as your lawfully wedded wife?”

He smiled at her, clasping her hands, but before he could say yes, a voice echoed. “If you dare say yes, the first bullet will pierce your pea-sized brain.”

Every eye turned towards the man who had threatened the groom, but no one was courageous enough to threaten him, or even say a word. They waited with bated breath, and Natalie slumped to the ground. Her nightmare was right in front of her.

He was not a mafia lord. He was not a King either. He was the business tycoon, Theodore Gilbert, whom Natalie had dared to defy. He was a respectable man who was looking at her as if she was soon going to be cast away into hell.

He walked to her with slow, confident, panther-like steps, and crouched down to her level,

The silence in the church was deafening. Everyone waited with bated breath. Her father, her brother, or even the man who was soon going to take an oath of protecting her was standing like a statue.

And Natalie. She was calm as a pond water. Because her heart knew that he won’t allow her to be with someone else. He had claimed for himself and there was nothing anyone could do now. It was bound to happen.

“I had told you, Natalie darling. You belong to me. How dare you even let him touch you.”

Natalie was shaking now. He is here. He will destroy everything in his wake. He will take her away. Nothing, even the fear of his reputation was going to stop him, because he was obsessed.

Michael knew who he was, but he had to save his face. “What are you doing here, Mr. Gilbert? It’s our wedding ceremony. Please step aside, and don’t create a scene.”

Theodore stood up, and there was a sinister smile on his face. The minister crossed himself because he could see the shadow of devil in this man who had entered the premises with a gun.

Theodore took the groom’s hand, and twisted his fingers backwards. His face didn’t even show what he was doing to the poor man whose painful screams echoed in the church. There were loud gasps and murmuring but no one stepped forward.

The devil himself had entered the Holy Church.

He shot the groom’s hand and a hole was created in the palm which had held her hand a few minutes back. The man screamed painfully, but Natalie didn’t even stir. He was not hers to console, and even if she tried, the devil will make her meet the same fate. She looked up at him and saw him adjusting his cuffs. The gun had disappeared.

He made her stand up, clutching her arm, and spoke. “You belong to the cage, my little bird.”