Chapter 13: Open the door

"Wife, we are finally here. I told you two days ago that you would return soon," Santino said as the car finally entered through the gates.

Soraya ignored him. Now, she was focused on the estate’s grandeur.

Last time, she didn’t have a chance to check this place out because she was desperate to leave this place.

No doubt, the Selvaggio mansion was huge, even bigger than the Dalias Family house. Fountains sprayed water softly in the front yard, and bright, green gardens spread out everywhere.

Finally, the car came to a halt. Santino stepped out of his side first. The door from Soraya’s side opened when she found Santino extending his hand for her. She placed her palm over his and finally climbed out of the car, holding her gown.

The earlier shock from seeing the giant mansion was completely replaced with the fear of living with Santino now.

"Do you like your new home, Mrs. Selvaggio?" he asked intentionally as if he was trying to press a nerve on her, reminding her how she ran away from this place two days ago.

"It’s just a bigger cage for me," she replied bitterly.

Santino didn’t mind her cold response. He simply chuckled, taking her hand anyway and locking his fingers with hers as he guided her toward the double doors of the mansion.

"A cage fit for my queen," Santino whispered near her ear as they hadn’t even crossed the hallway when he suddenly carried her up in a bridal style.

"Put me down!" She yelled and punched him in the shoulder.

"I will, once we are in our bedroom," he answered.

The moment they crossed the threshold and she was on the bed, Soraya lost her cool.

All the suppressed rage, betrayal, and humiliation from the past two days exploded out of her. She balled her hands into fists and began punching his chest with all the strength she had left.

"Don’t even think of coming near me! Get away from me!" she screamed, her voice breaking as her fists slammed repeatedly against his hard chest. "Did you think that just because you married me forcibly, I’ll become yours?" She gritted her teeth and continued, "Never! I hate you and I will continue to do so!"

Santino didn’t respond, nor did he flinch. He simply let her vent her anger, watching her with an amused expression.

Realizing her punches weren’t doing anything, Soraya grabbed a large pillow from the bed and used it to hit him this time.

"Ahh!" Santino screamed intentionally this time. However, he felt the strength of her anger now as he neared the door.

Seeing the chance, Soraya grabbed his blazer and shoved him out with all her force. Before he could react, she slammed the door shut right in his face and locked the room from inside.

Just as Santino stood outside the door, adjusting his blazer with a slight sigh, a maid came walking down the hallway carrying a silver tray with beverages.

She froze mid-step, her eyes wide with shock as she witnessed the formidable Santino Selvaggio getting thrown out and locked out of his own bedroom by his wife on the very first night of their marriage.

Santino turned his head slightly, his dark gaze landing on the maid. The calm expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a deadly glare that made the temperature in the hall drop to freezing.

"Leave," Santino ordered.

"Forgive me, master," the maid apologized and turned around so fast that she almost dropped the tray, hurrying away as fast as her feet could carry her.

Santino shook his head with a faint smirk.

"Soraya, just open the door," he requested softly.

But he got no response. Abandoning the locked door for now, he headed down the grand staircase toward the living room.

Downstairs, his closest friends, Marco and Leo, were lounging on the leather couches. They had just watched the maid run down the hallway in utter terror.

"What happened to her?" Marco murmured. His eyes landed on his boss and stood up immediately. Seeing him, Leo also left the couch only to find Santino walking into the room.

The Mafia King poured himself a glass of whiskey and sat on the couch.

"Well, well, well," Marco chuckled, feeling amused. "The mighty mafia king, the feared Boss of Underworld, Santino Selvaggio, just got kicked out of his own room on his wedding night!"

Leo joined in, laughing softly as he took a sip of his drink after sitting down. "Look at you, boss. The entire underworld trembles at your name, but it turns out you’re scared of your own wife."

Santino took a slow sip of his whiskey, looking at his laughing friends with an amused glint in his dark eyes.

"What man is not scared of his wife?" Santino said, a small smile spreading across his lips. "If he does not then... they are not fit to be a man!"

"Pfft!" Marco almost spewed his drink hearing such words coming out of Santino’s mouth. "Fuck!" He cursed under his breath, "Do you want to get me killed, Boss?"

Santino didn’t mind as he continued. "Either way, who told you I was kicked out of my room," he said, smoothing his blazer. "I came here to honor my guests, you two. But seeing you guys making fun of me, you guys don’t deserve it."

Setting down his whisky glass, Santino headed upstairs but he could still hear the laughter of his friends from behind.

Rubbing the top of his eyebrow, he stood closer to the door.

"Sora," Santino called out once again. "Your husband is waiting for you, love. Let me in." He said in a gentlemanly tone as if he wasn’t the ruthless mafia. "I promise, nothing will happen, except sleeping."

"Fuck off!" Soraya’s loud voice came from the other side.

Santino pressed his tongue to one side of his cheek as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Darling, open the door before I break it," he warned.