"The queen is awake and very much alive. Bow b*tches!" Enzo burst into the room with a wide smile on his face. "I almost strangled that maid of yours because she would not let me come in and see you. Such a killjoy!" Disappointment flashed across her features but she forced a smile. "She was just doing as told" "Hey, I'm VIP, okay? I should be given special rights when it comes to you." "Alright, fine, tough guy!" She answered with an eye roll. "Besides, I owe you one. I was told you were the one that called the doctor" "You owe me nothing, Sister-in-law." He spoke with arms sprawled apart as he approached the bed. He picked some blackberries from the tray and threw them into his mouth. "Besides, that f*cker is one of us. And as a f*cking Doctor, he must provide medical services" Rosana mouthed an 'Oh' while he chewed on the berries. "Damn, this sh*t is good. I bet you like my brother's gifts" She sneered and looked at each of the items on the bed. The fresh flowers, Chanel bags,
Rosana had fully recovered and was now back to training. She fought more, learned how to fire a gun quickly and more precisely, and also used other weapons like blades. She was given a little introduction into the Mafia world by Enzo who took his time reading out the codes and conducts, as well as the rules. "No one has broken the rules in years." He told her, puffing out smoke from his mouth and nostrils. "It equals death" Rosana scrunched her nose and shook her head. "Why does everything end in death? They are humans and are bound to make mistakes" "Sorry, My Lady, mistakes are not allowed in this world. You either stick to the rules or die. Painfully" She shook her head and looked around, imagining everyone dying if they made a single mistake. No doubt, Sergio would not waste time ending any of them. He just had to put them in his cell or the freezing room, or the white room. How many more rooms did he have? She wondered. "Is there no other way around it? We do not have to ke
"I do not want to be a Mafia Queen!" Rosana announced after barging into Sergio's study. He was working but paid attention to her at the same time. "I cannot agree to your rules and watch people die all the time. They are humans and make mistakes. I cannot be your queen if I have to be heartless and do the things you do" "One of the things I do is give you org@sms, Bambolina." He drawled lazily and looked up from his laptop. "Do you not like it?" Her cheeks flushed and she instantly felt nerves swimming in her stomach. She held her breath and looked around, just to be sure no one heard him. Damn him for always getting the best of her, she gritted inwardly. "I... We are not talking about that right now. The point is..." He raised one of his brows and cut in. "Do you not like it, Bambolina?" How was she going to admit that she loved everything she did to her and craved more? No, not her, her body! Cause if it was up to her, she would never have anything to do with him but here she
Vicenta stood in the middle of Munika's room, dressed elegantly in a white dress and red heels which clicked on the floor whenever she walked. She had a shapely figure, her waist, tapered. Her crescent-shaped eyebrows stood above languid eyelashes and honey eyes. She looked around the room lazily and stifled a yawn. That was the last place she wanted to be in but she had to act like she cared for the future grandmother of her child. She had learned from one of the maids that Munika had fallen ill and decided to finally pay a visit. "What are you doing here, Vicenta? Should you not be whøring my son?" A tinge of exasperation crept into her face but she smiled all the same, exposing her shiny, halo-white teeth. She had long decided not to be affected by her words and actions. "He is preparing for the introduction tomorrow night, Mammà" "You know nothing other than throwing your legs open for him" Munika spat and walked over to the window. "My son does not prepare for anything or any
Sergio got into the limousine and sat down beside Rosana, his presence dominating the vehicle. Their bodies were slightly touching and it caused heat to bubble in her veins. Her throat felt dried and her heart wouldn't stop thumping against her ribcage. She gulped and looked out of the window, remembering the first time they sat together in a vehicle. That was immediately after they had exchanged their vows with no celebration, no music, no dance, no nothing. He had waltzed her away just like that. She hated him so much and couldn't look at him without seeing a monster staring right back at her. For months, she fought him and tried to escape his hell but now, here she was, living the life. In a few hours, she was going to be one of them, she was going to be announced Queen of the Mafia. "What are you thinking so hard about, Bambolina?" Rosana snapped out of her thoughts and inhaled sharply before turning to look at him. "Nothing!" "I can tell you are lying" he said, his voice frig
Everyone in the room couldn't help staring at Rosana. It was hard to take their eyes off such beauty. The men stared with lust in their eyes as their inner beast growled and the women stared in jealousy. Why was she so beautiful? They wondered. Flawless skin, pretty face, cute smile, shapely figure... She was too good to be in there and she was lucky to have someone like Sergio all to herself. They couldn't help but wonder what it felt like. To own the King, the devil. While others stared in admiration and lust, the others tried to find a flaw, a weak spot, something they could use against her. Just as Enzo had said, not everyone in the room liked her. They didn't like Sergio very much so how would they like her? "You are doing great" Enzo smiled and pecked her on both cheeks. He was wearing a black suit like the rest of the men and looked very handsome, the ladies could not take their eyes off him. "All thanks to you" She smiled in return and looked around. "I guess I had been wor
Rosana was shocked when all their knees hit the ground immediately without reluctance. She stared at them in shock, her eyes almost popping out of her eye sockets. When they didn't get up or move an inch, she turned to look at Sergio who had been watching her."Tell them to rise""Fallo da solo" [Do it yourself] He responded and her heartbeat skipped. How was she going to speak to these people? What was she supposed to say? She didn't have a deep or cold voice like Sergio or Enzo, she couldn't give a command like them either."Rise!" She blurted out and was shocked at how firm her voice turned out to be. The men were surprised too. They had not expected her to sound so fierce and powerful, almost like Sergio."Cheers to Donna, Long live the Queen!" One of the men proclaimed, raising his glass in the air."Cheers to Donna, Long live the Queen!" The rest chorused, raising their glasses in the air. Most had a smile on their faces while the others looked indifferent."Now the loyalty test
Rosana fought everything.The overwhelming sensations. The tightening at the bottom of her stomach. The knot in her chest. The anger. The hate. The jealousy.She got angry and jealous whenever Sergio was with his Mistress and soon realized that. Why was she there? What was she doing there? Rosana wondered angrily. This was her introduction, Sergio would've respected that and kept her away!Damn him!Sergio and Enzo had returned to the hall. While one had a cold-blooded look on his face, the other looked like he was going to tear the walls down."And there is the b@stard!" Enzo gritted, glaring daggers at a man who stood at the other end of the hall with a lady dressed in Red. "Grasso Romon!""Invite him over" Sergio ordered and Enzo did as told. He couldn't hide his hate for the man who aimed to take his brother's life."Don!" He bowed and turned to Rosana. "My Lady!" "Sit beside me and have a drink while we talk business" Grasso was shocked but he did as told without questions. His h
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