[ Ella ]“Vincenzo, do you like my best friend?”I broke the awkward silence inside the car. We were stuck in traffic jam. Vincenzo was on the front seat while we were sitting on the backseat. I could notice him stealing glances of Lucy who was busy in her phone or rather trying to hide her shyness in his close presence.Their face welcomed redness. Vincenzo immediately looked out of the window to hide his embarrassment on my bold question.“Signora, I am calling another car, it’ll take you to the designer’s shop because this jam would take time to clear.” Vincenzo ignored my question whereas Lucy passed me a murderous glare.“I’ll talk to Mama. Don’t worry, we have plenty of time but you won’t be with us like this again. I know you, Mr. Mafia. You are brave, fight like an action hero but when it comes to expressing your feelings, you are worse than a shy high-school girl.” I teased him.“Ella, have you lost your mind?” Lucy whispered yelled at me.“Lucy, there’s no use of hiding your
[ Marcello ]“Edward, this isn’t something we must ignore. These activities in our territories are the warning signs that we need to reanalyse our strategies and recruit more trained men to encounter these situations. I can’t imagine that China also stepped into this drug cartel and they’re aiming at our markets.” I said to Edward who flew to Rome for our secret meeting. Nobody had any clue about our meeting because it will only give wind to chaos and distrust in the syndicate.“I completely understand, Marcello. The Mexicans and Columbians are also giving us headache. I want to roast those rats alive, bloody thieves.” Edward groaned, the frustration was clearly evident on the English mafia lord’s face.“They’re not our headache if they don’t dare to meddle in our business. Let’s Aitana Greyson’s syndicate deal with them. We should focus on the Chinese.” I offered him a drink which he gulped down in a go.“You’re right but I felt talking to her would create doubts between us and the D
[ Ella ]After the dress shopping, Mama insisted us to have dinner with her. I would be happy to dine with her in normal circumstances but Massimo was with us. He left no chance to taunt me in an indirect language and it made me miss Marcello even more. I tried calling him multiple times but his phone was switched off, I thought he was in the flight but when the clock hit nine in the night, my anxiety grew deeper.“Ella, he must be caught in work or his flight got delayed. Don’t think too much. He’ll be back to you.” Lucy said, who decided to stay with me until Marcello returns.“You know their line of work, Lucy. My parents were killed in mafia rivalry. I can’t help but feel really scared right now. I just want to hear his voice.” I shared my concern with her.“You can call Vincenzo and ask him. I am sure he knows where is Marcello.” Lucy suggested and I thought I should ask Vincenzo who is Marcello’s right hand man.I dialled Vincenzo’s number but he didn’t answer which only gave wi
[ Ella ]“Mama, how did it happen?” I asked Marcello’s mother in a low whisper because I didn’t want Marcello to disturb.She gestured me to come with her to the balcony. I gave him a painful glance before following her out of the room. The midnight moon was shining in the sky.“How did it happen, Mama?” I asked her again because it was important for me to know who could attack on the most powerful mafia man.She shook her head tiredly, “We don’t know, dear. Marcello went to Rome without any security for a secret meeting with someone. He didn’t inform anybody and see what happened.” She said and sobbed silently.I hugged her, we were going through the same phase of fear and grief.“Mama, he is fine and healing under our care, that’s all I care for. We need to be by his side and make him feel at home.” I said.“Ella, I want you to stay with him and take good care of my son. I can only trust a few people with my son and you are his fiancé. Will you stay with him until he recovers?” Mama
[ Ella ]“Mama, how did it happen?” I asked Marcello’s mother in a low whisper because I didn’t want Marcello to disturb.She gestured me to come with her to the balcony. I gave him a painful glance before following her out of the room. The midnight moon was shining in the sky.“How did it happen, Mama?” I asked her again because it was important for me to know who could attack on the most powerful mafia man.She shook her head tiredly, “We don’t know, dear. Marcello went to Rome without any security for a secret meeting with someone. He didn’t inform anybody and see what happened.” She said and sobbed silently.I hugged her, we were going through the same phase of fear and grief.“Mama, he is fine and healing under our care, that’s all I care for. We need to be by his side and make him feel at home.” I said.“Ella, I want you to stay with him and take good care of my son. I can only trust a few people with my son and you are his fiancé. Will you stay with him until he recovers?” Mama
[ Ella ]“How are you feeling now?” I asked Marcello after he woke up. His pain increased after dressing of his wound so the doctor gave him sedative to sleep.He looked more handsome in his after sleep. I combed his brown hairs with my fingers but what he did next, it made my heart flutter. He hugged my stomach and buried his face on my chest.“Just stay like this, I want to hold you close, mon cheri.” He hummed in a sleepy voice.“Marcello, you’ll hurt your arm.” I reminded him.“You’re my cure, Ella.” He raised his face and said this. A smile crept on my face.“You’re becoming more and more romantic by passing days, Marcello. I think you should change your profession and become a poet. I bet you’ll do much better.” I played with his soft hairlocks.“I can be anything you want me to be, a poet, a mafia, a lover or…” Using his other hand, he pulled me on his lap and I stiffened because I landed on his groin, “Anything you want me to be. I am all yours.” He said dropping a feathery ki
[ Marcello ]“I can’t believe, Marcello. Someone tried to kill you as soon as you left. I also left from the same way but there was no one. It means they targeted you.” Edward said. He came to visit me when he heard about the attack.“We’re looking into this, Mr. Whitford and we swear to bring hell upon them.” Vincenzo said coldly whereas I stayed quiet and allowed him to speak. We couldn’t show anyone our worries and insecurities.“Marcello, I have vowed my faithfulness in the peace pact I signed with the De Niro family and I am still your friend. I promise to help you find the culprit.” Edward said.“Let’s not talk about this on the dinner table, Edward. My mother and Ella don’t know anything. I do not want them to worry. I’ll fill you with the current information we collected on the attacker.” I said to him. At this moment, I couldn’t even trust him.He nodded, “Sure, you’re right. Your mother is a kind hearted lady. I don’t think we should discuss our business on the dinner table.
[ Ella ]I didn’t know how I should tell Marcello about Mama’s current health condition. I couldn’t believe what I heard from my friend who is practicing medicine. I made a shocking and grieving discovery about Mama’s health.After helping her in the kitchen, I went into her room to give her coffee when I saw her coughing badly and she asked me to bring her medicines from her cabinet. I checked the medicines online and found they were only prescribed by a few doctors. I talked to my friend about this and he said those medicines are mostly prescribed to people with lungs cancer. I confronted Mama and she told me that she was diagnosed with lungs cancer recently.“What’s going inside your pretty smart brain, mon cheri?”Marcello’s husky voice and his hand around my stomach from behind forced me to put a break on my thoughts.My heart clenched. I wish I could tell him that his mother’s seriously ill but it wasn’t my place and right. Mama took a promise from me that I won’t tell her sons
[ Ella ]“So, this is the end of the story. The prince married the princess in the end. They lived happily ever after with their little daughter who was just like you, my princess.” I closed the fairytale book that I was reading to the young girl who looked sleepy but she was still awake.“This is your and Uncle Marcello’s story, right?” She asked me cuddling into my lap.“Yes, our story is like a fairytale you can say. There were demons in our story too but your uncle fought with them bravely and we are together.” I said with a smile. She blinked her big blue eyes at me.“When will uncle return. I miss him.” the little girl pouted and I started tickling her to lift up her mood.“Your uncle is very busy in his work but he will come soon. I am also missing him but I think he doesn’t miss us or he’d come home early.” I pouted with her.“I heard you both.”Marcello’s voice drew our attention on the door where he was standing. He looked tired but his smile was radiant.“Uncle Mars!” Lila
[ Ella ]I tried to open my eyes but a banging headache forced me to groan in pain. I tried to move but I couldn’t because I felt my hands and feet tied up. I shot my eyes open and found myself in a ramshackle building, the plaster was gone, I could see iron rods on the ceiling and the smell was putrid. I was tied on a chair with no source of light except a small window.“Help!” I cried but I could hear my own voice resonating in the empty walls.I cried recalling the moment when Molly sprayed something on my face and I fainted, and now I am in a shabby place. Someone kidnapped me.“Who are you and why are you keeping me here?” I shouted and cried. I knew my kidnappers were there. They could hear me.A few moments later, I heard footsteps approaching and a man appeared first, behind them entered Molly. She was smirking. Anger rushed through my veins when I saw her. She deceived Lucy.“You bitch! I am gonna kill you.” I shouted and wiggled in the ropes.“I fear you won’t be alive by th
[ Marcello ]“Fuck! Why did I let her leave without security?” I punched the wall as there was no sign of Ella. we searched the whole area where the bar was located but the kidnappers left no clues behind.“I am asking you for one last time, tell me if you are involved with the enemies. Ella was with you two when she went missing.” Massimo pointed his finger at Ella’s friends. The girls were shaking with fear and also crying silently.I rubbed my temple and breathed deeply.“Massimo, don’t blame them. They have nothing to do with her disappearance. Just look at them.” I said and approached them calmly.“I swear, Capo. We don’t know where that girl took her. We were in the bar. Ella went to the restroom and Lucy’s girlfriend followed her. We had no idea that she was a spy who was with Lucy just to track Ella.” Rita cried and pointed her finger at a really heartbroken Lucy.She was dealing with heartbreak. She was betrayed by someone she truly loved and trusted so I had to talk to her v
[ Marcello ]The life seemed meaningless without her. I thought pushing her away from me will help me to clear my mind but I failed miserably. I still find it hard to accept that my brother and my fiancée had a past and he still harbours feelings for her.Does she also feel something for him?I don’t want to go down that lane. I love Ella and seeing her with another man makes my heart go restless. She left the estate with her family. I didn’t stop her because then it’d be impossible for me to keep my distance from her but my mind goes to her when I don’t have work.I haven’t talked to Massimo as well. I don’t know if our equation is changed or he is still my younger brother. He hides such an important truth from me.“Capo, Mr. Whitford is on the call. He says Billy is in Sicily. Why didn’t we see him?” Vincenzo’s voice broke the chain of my thoughts.I snapped my head in his direction. My senses got alert.“How can he be so sure?” I asked him.“Many informers confirmed it. We must be
[ Ella ]“Ella, let’s go for shopping. We know that you’re going to the city of fashion but we want us to hang out together before you leave or we don’t know when next we’ll get a chance to hang out, just three of us.” Rita said.After talking to Mama who encouraged me to keep faith in my love and prepare to leave for Paris because she doesn’t want me to give up on my dreams. Marcello wouldn’t want me to quit them either so the next morning, I woke up early and packed my stuffs.I decided to resume working in the café to fight the ache of heartbreak. I would go mad if I stay home any longer because with passing time, I am missing him more and more.“The café was closed for two days and now we have bulk of orders, flooding customers and no Enzo to manage the café with us. Sorry, girls but I don’t think we can leave the café today or we’ll be fired. Actually, you two because I am leaving tomorrow.” I answered her and put the fresh set of buns into the oven.“I don’t agree with Rita usua
[ Ella ]“Ella, my baby, please eat something. It’s been two days since you have touched a grain or left this room. I am worried about you. Life doesn’t go on like this.” My aunt rubbed my back.I was laying on my bed like a motionless vegetable for past two day, my tears have dried up. I didn’t expect Marcello to learn about my past in this way. In fact, I decided to tell him everything after our wedding and ask for his forgiveness. He didn’t try to stop me nor he said a word to me when I left his house with my family.Massimo Romano, you ruined my happiness. I didn’t hate you before but now, I surely do.“Ella, please... Mrs. Romano also called in the morning. She is worried about you. Why aren’t you telling me what exactly happened between you and Marcello. Did you two fight? Please, say something.“I want be alone, Aunt.” I said in a barely audible whisper. My strength had given up. I don’t want to live any longer.She sighed and gave me a helpless look.“I am putting the food her
[ Marcello ]“Why are you doing this, Ella? Can’t you see how much I love you?”Blood boiled in my veins. I felt betrayed by two people I loved the most. They were standing too close. She was wearing her bridal dress, she’s going to be my bride but she was in my brother’s arms. I could feel the pang in my heart. My vision became hazy. I didn’t want to believe on my eyes but they weren’t deceiving me but my bride and my brother.But must give the answer this time. I took long strands towards them and pulled Ella out of his embrace harshly. They were taken aback by the sudden interruption. Ella yelped but when she saw me, her eyes dilated in horror.My brother’s face was indifferent though.“What the hell is going on in here? Do not dare to lie or make an excuse because I have seen everything with my own eyes.” I dangerously whispered to them.“Marcello, I am telling you the truth. I haven’t done anything wrong. Please, trust me. I was asking him about you when you didn’t pick up my ca
[ Marcello ]“Why did you do it?” I asked quietly from the man tied in front of me.“I don’t know what you are talking about, Mr. Romano. You abducted me, forcefully keeping me here and you expect me to surrender and confess something I didn’t do.” Enzo Bianchi sneered, his eyes were red due to anger.I exhaled deeply and rose from my chair, I was treating him patiently but I was reaching to my limit.“Enzo, I do not want to hurt you. In fact, I will spare your life, today is the most important day of my life. I and Ella are getting married in a few hours. Ella and your family will be worried if you don’t join us soon. So, speak up. We won’t hurt you, I promise. Ella is too precious for me to lose and I don’t think I will harm her brother but you are leaving me with no choice.” I said and picked my gun.“You claim to love my sister but I think you are nothing but a vile and despicable man like other mafias. I wish my sister could see your true face.” Enzo spitted but it didn’t reach t
[ Ella ]“You’re getting married?” Uncle Rio frowned and looked at us.Marcello invited my family to the estate to break the news personally to them early in the morning. Except Enzo, uncle, aunt and my two cousins came.“Yes, Uncle. I am leaving for Paris in three days, it’ll be a long stay so I thought marrying Marcello is what I want. His name will give me protection if he has hidden enemies or your enemies there. I will no longer be an ordinary girl.” I said as Marcello taught me.It was necessary to lure my uncle since he can’t be trusted after he sneaked behind us to borrow money twice.“Honey, but why all of a sudden? You could do it earlier or give us some time to prepare for the wedding. After your parents, it’s our responsibility to act like your guardian.” Aunt said.“Don’t worry about the preparations, Mrs. Bianchi. We’re taking care of everything. Moreover, it’ll be a private ceremony. Only our families and Ella’s friends. It’s not in our favour to throw a big wedding in