Vicenta stood in stoic silence as Rosana's words sank in, her expression betraying nothing of the inner turmoil that raged within her. Despite her best efforts to remain aloof and detached, she couldn't deny the truth of her words—that her parents had loved her, and had sacrificed everything for her, even if they had made mistakes along the way.The mistake had claimed her father's life and she could still remember the way the knife sliced through his neck before his lifeless body fell on the ground. She could still remember how Carmencita had tried to shield her from the horrible sight but it was too late, she had seen it all. And what had she done at the end? Reject the same woman countlessly without even trying to listen to her. Wait, was she crying? No, she couldn't show weakness, not now. She had built her entire identity as Sergio's mistress around being strong, around never letting anyone see her vulnerable side. So she kept her face impassive, her posture rigid, as she turned
Lucretia stood at the bow of the boat, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The sky was a riot of orange and pink, the colors reflecting off the calm surface of the lake. Finally, she said yes to him after weeks, not because he didn't give her an option but because she also wanted a chance with him, she wanted more of what he had to offer. Over the weeks, he had showed up at her doorstep with a bouquet of her favorite flowers and a heartfelt letter. He sent her a heartfelt text message first thing in the morning, telling her how much he missed her and how he wanted her. That was followed up with a surprise lunch, custom-made desserts, flowers, gourmet chocolates, love notes, and gift baskets. He even went as far as to organize a picnic in the park, complete with her favorite foods which she rejected all the time. Despite his efforts, she remained distant and guarded, unsure of what she wanted with him. But Enzo refused to give up. He knew that winning back her heart would take ti
"Are you happy with him?" Rosana finally asked after some time. She had been silent since they left the room and tried to process everything. "Yes, I am""What changed? You did not sound so enthusiastic when we last spoke about him"Lucretia nodded and took a deep breath. "He gave me enough time and space to realize myself and what I wanted. He knew about my past but still accepted me without thinking about my class or if I had a fucking degree or not. He accepts me the way I am"She explained how everything started and how it ended with them confessing their feelings and fears on a boat. She was happy and Rosana could see it but despite the heartbreak and the shock, she couldn't bring herself to hate them. Her best friend was happy and that was all that mattered. Lucretia may have lied to her, but she also willingly told her the truth. The only reason they made an unprompted confession like that was because they realized something—That they were in love and wanted a fresh start wit
As Rosana gracefully settled into the car, she turned to Ville with a mix of curiosity and excitement. "Where are we going?" She was dressed in an exquisite white gown, a gift from Sergio that had arrived with a note. In the note, she was instructed to put on the elegant fabric and meet Ville. Her hair was arranged in an intricate updo, with a few soft tendrils framing her face, and her makeup was expertly applied to highlight her natural beauty. And now, as Ville shut the door and settled into the front passenger seat, she couldn't help but feel anxious. Was this the surprise Sergio had hinted at some nights ago? Good Lord, she couldn't wait to find out!After what seemed like an eternity, the car finally pulled up in front of a building. Rosana furrowed her brows and looked around. Surely, Sergio had not ordered Ville to bring her to the same church their wedding ceremony had taken place. As she kept looking around, she couldn't help but feel a wave of emotions wash over her. Memo
TWO MONTHS LATER•••"Oh, aren't you the luckiest woman in the universe?" One of the women who sat with Rosana, watching the ongoing chess game asked. "Just take a look at those muscles...""Too late, we already concluded he's a god amongst men""He certainly is. If he was mine, I would keep him locked up forever. Can't have women like us swooning over him" Another woman added and they laughed. Just then, Sergio claimed another victory and everyone in the room couldn't help but express their disbelief and admiration. As they all congratulated him, Rosana smiled and sipped her lemonade. It was always a thing of joy to see him progress.When he first began playing chess, he was a complete novice, his lack of experience leading to defeat after defeat. But over a month, he had devoted himself to mastering the game, studying strategies and tactics, and honing his skills through countless matches. "I can't believe it!" One of the men exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief."He's done it
As they kept strolling along and enjoying the warm weather, the beautiful moment was shattered as Sergio's gaze landed on a small boy, cowering in a corner as his drunk father rained down blows and angry shouts.The boy's mother, a baby in her arms, tried desperately to intervene, only to be shoved aside by the man's violent rage. Sergio felt his body freeze in place, his mind hauled back to his own childhood, to the years of fear and pain he had endured at the hands of his father, the notorious Mafia Lord.As he watched the heartbreaking scene unfold, the boy's cries and the mother's pleas echoing in his ears, Sergio was confounded by a sense of helplessness and despair. It was as if he were that child again, trapped in a world of violence and cruelty, with no escape in sight."Sergio... Sergio, are you alright?" He didn't hear her, nor did he respond as memories from the past crashed over him like a tidal wave, threatening to pull him under."Sergio...""Wait here, Bambolina." Was
"Come with me!" Rosana led him to the bed and made him lie down. After securing herself on top of him, he gently guided her hands to his bare chest, his eyes locked onto hers. As her palms traced the contours of his muscles, he slowly lowered them down to his stomach. Despite the tattoos that covered his skin, her fingers instinctively found the raised lines of the scars."Oh my god!" Tears welled up in her eyes, but she remained silent, not wanting to probe further into the painful memories that lingered beneath. She had already heard enough about his father's cruelty, and the thought of revisiting those horrors was too much to bear."After I killed my father, I took control of the Mafia. I was just a little boy, inexperienced and underestimated by many. They thought I was too young to lead, and numerous plots were fucking hatched to overthrow me. Some hired skilled assassins to take me out, while others attempted to do the job themselves. The rest tried to exploit those closest to
FIVE YEARS LATER•••"Just one more spoon, okay?" Munika said to the boys as she gave them one spoonful of dessert each. "We do not want Mommy to be upset so wipe your mouth and run along now"The little boys did as instructed and Munika chuckled lightly. She never hesitated to spoil her grandsons with candies and desserts even when she knew Rosana was against it. And because of that, they loved her so much and rallied around her all the time. "I'm more powerful, Uncle Enzo, I can defeat you!""No, you cannot" The eldest twin, Alessandro countered. "But I can""Confident, are we? Come on, let's see about that" The twins, full of energy, laughed and tackled their uncle the best way they could. They were five years old and looked exactly like Sergio, taking in all his handsome features."Look, Mommy, we won, we won!" The boys yelled in excitement when they successfully had Enzo on the ground and his back.Lucretia smiled as she watched the scene unfold and turned to look at her best fri
Enzo's mind reeled, struggling to process the revelation. The past and present collided, threatening to upend everything—the secrets she'd kept, the lies she'd told, and the truths she'd hidden, partially exposed. What more could she have hidden from him?Rio, oblivious to the turmoil raging within Enzo, happily jumped up from his seat. "Catch me if you can!" Then, he ran off.Enzo, familiar with the game, stood up and ran after him, trying to catch him. The sun-drenched playground echoed with Rio's laughter as they chased after each other. Suddenly, Rio's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he waved enthusiastically."Mammà! My Mammà is here!" As Enzo's gaze followed him, his blood ran cold. Frozen in place, he watched as Lucretia walked towards the playground, her strides elegant, as always. She scanned the playground and once she found Rio, she smiled softly. "There you are!" The boy sprinted toward her with a ball in hand. "Mammà, come see! I made a new friend, he saved me from
Rio stepped out of the room, his small frame trembling. He had watched the scene unfold through the window and though he hadn't seen everything, he knew the unknown man had saved him. He had defeated the bad man who now lay motionless on the ground.Enzo, sensing his presence, shifted his gaze from the lifeless man. His eyes locked on Rio and for a moment, he froze. Those eyes... They were identical to Lucretia's, deep green.His expression faltered as a flicker of emotion crossed his face. The resemblance was uncanny—the same deep green that had haunted him for months. Memories came flooding back, but he locked them away and hardened his expression."Are you okay?" He asked and Rio nodded, taking small steps forward. "You should not be out here""Yes. Nana Silvana said to stay inside, but then, the bad man came." Nana Silvana? Enzo had thought the woman was the boy's mother. "You are safe now.""And the... And the bad man?"Enzo's expression softened. "He will never harm you again,
"Once I'm gone, lock the door from the inside," Silvana instructed Rio, her expression serious. "Do not go outside. Do you understand?""Yes, Nana." He nodded solemnly."Remember, do not open the door for anyone except your Mammà or me." "Yes, Nana," Rio replied, his brows furrowed with concern. "Is Mammà alright? I saw bruises on her face this morning"Silvana's face softened. Despite Lucretia's attempt to hide from the boy, he had noticed the bruises anyway. "She is... alright, dear, you do not have to worry about her. That is why you must stay safe inside and keep the door locked. I will be back in no time"With a reassuring smile, Silvana departed and Rio obediently did as instructed, his mind filled with worry. His mother's changed behavior troubled him and the fact that she wasn't herself anymore. The past few months had been filled with hushed conversations between Aunt Silvana and his mother who often whispered of "Paying the price" and that "He's coming for her." Rio could
NEXT MORNING~Lucretia stood at her kitchen sink, bracing herself against the cool countertop. The trembling of her hands subsided slowly as she gripped the edge of the sink, her head bowed in exhaustion. She couldn't sleep the whole night as the image of the men who had attacked her kept flashing in her mind, including the mysterious man who had saved her. Her thoughts swirled, reliving the terror of the alley. Each memory triggered a fresh wave of fear that made her stomach churn. She retched, but nothing came up. Her fingers instinctively went to the tender skin of her neck where Domingo had gripped her and she winced at the haunting memories it brought back.Enzo should've killed her at once, instead of letting her live. She had felt the life draining out of her when he encircled his fingers on her throat, but then his hands had fallen limp as he slipped away.Attempting to calm her racing heart, she forced herself to breathe deeply. If not for the mysterious stranger, she'd be g
"No, it isn't!" Lucretia gritted and darted towards the narrow gap between two dumpsters. Before she could make it through, she was grasped by the hair and tossed harshly to the ground."Always thinking you're fucking smart" Domingo laughed and walked over to where she was now struggling to raise herself from the ground. He crouched in front of her and grasped her hair, pulling her head backward so she was now looking into his face."But you're not!" He added and landed a hard slap on her face that sent her back to the ground."What the fuck do you want from me?!?""From you? Oh, everything!" He replied languidly and grasped hair one more time."Why? I did as you fucking asked!""That's what I thought. Until I found out the mission was unsuccessful, you fucking failed" He responded and smacked her on the cheek once more. "And he is alive!"Lucretia spat our blood as she struggled to get up from the ground. "He's fucking dead, I saw it, you saw it. Unless you were fucking blind"Domin
The leather strap cracked against Alberto's back, the sound echoing through the room. His cries were all that was heard, his pleas for mercy drowned out by the relentless cracking of the belt. "You should have taken the throne," Sergio repeated, each word punctuated by another strike. His expression remained impassive, his eyes glinting with cold intensity.In rapt silence, the men who had been ordered out of the meeting room and the soldiers watched, witnessing Alberto's public downfall. They all knew Sergio was merely toying with him. An actual fight would've ended in minutes, with Alberto broken and covered in bruises. But instead of using his fists, the Don had chosen to wield his belt as a tool of discipline.The measured strikes, the steady pace, and Sergio's unruffled demeanor served as a potent reminder of his unshakable power and authority. This wasn't about vengeance, neither was it a punishment. It was a deliberate showcase of his supremacy."Please... forgive me! I am you
•••TWO WEEKS LATER••• ☠️🏴☠️THE CAPITAL🏴☠️☠️The door to the meeting room swung open, and Sergio walked in, his presence grasping attention. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his shirt crisp and white, his tie knotted to perfection. But it wasn't his impeccable attire that drew the eye. It was the cold aura that swirled around him like a dark cloud.As he entered, the room seemed to grow colder, the air thickening with an almost discernable sense of fear. The mafia members, dressed in tailored suits, felt a shiver run down their spines as their hearts raced in unison.Hastily, they scrambled to their feet with their heads bowed in terror and their eyes fixed on the floor. Not a sound was made and not a muscle twitched, as they froze in place. Sergio's gaze swept the room, his eyes lingering on each member. His face remained calm, but his eyes burned with an icy intensity that seemed to pierce the very souls of those before him.With deliberate slowness, he made
"It's a miracle!" The Doctor exclaimed, snapping him out of his thoughts. "The Don is awake, and we owe it to these two little champions"A sudden shiver ran down his spine, as though a cold breeze had swept through the room. But it wasn't the temperature that caused the shiver—it was the unmistakable sensation of being watched.He could feel a pair of eyes digging into his back, boring into his skin. The sensation was familiar, yet it sent a trail of shivers down his spine. Without turning around, Sergio listened to the Doctor who continued talking. As Sergio finally turned to face the room, his breath hitched in his throat. His eyes locked onto Rosana's, and time seemed to stand still. She was standing just a few feet away, her teary blue eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. The children were with her, but his gaze was drawn only to Rosana—his Bambolina.In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the questions, not the doubts, not the fears. All that
In the depths of Sergio's subconscious, he had heard a faint whisper that echoed through the darkness. It was a soft, insistent voice, a gentle tug on the seams of his mind."Papà!""Daddy, wake up!" "We want you to eat lunch with us!"The voice was like a ray of sunlight, piercing the fog that shrouded his awareness. His subconscious stirred, ever so slightly, as the twins' words resonated deep within him. The voice grew louder, urgent, and more like a chorus."Please, Daddy, wake up! We miss you! We miss sharing your favorite sandwich with you!"Sergio's subconscious began to stir, like a sleeping giant awakening from a deep slumber. Memories of laughter, sunny days, and family meals together began to surface, tantalizingly out of reach.The twins' voices grew more insistent, piercing the veil of his unconsciousness. "Daddy, we love you! Come back to us!"At that moment, something shifted deep within his mind. A spark of recognition. As he slowly emerged from the darkness, it felt