2

My head was racing. I snort looking at the ceiling and once again I became Celeste Brandão, just sixteen years old on a turbulent night...

Papa's soldiers quickly ascended the stairs. Victório, Papa's consigliere, followed by the telephone. I got scared with all that movement and preferred to lock myself in the library.

Celina was already keeping me company for a while, and now she sleeps in my lap. I sigh, unable to concentrate on the book I'm reading, knowing nothing would change, I put it aside. I rest my head on the armchair as the library door opens. Ginny walks in with a tentative smile on her face.

"Is there a problem, Ginny?" - I turned to her.

The tall woman had her hair down, something that revealed she was out of the house. Probably with Dad.

Ginny didn't deny or agree, moving out of the library without turning her back on me for even a minute and then her blue eyes fixed on me. "Your father wants to speak with you." Let's go.

I didn't.

I carefully lifted Celina's head and laid her down, getting up and following the older one.

Ginny was clearly tense. She'd ask me what the problem was, but I'd know she wasn't going to tell me. Fact, since when the "Boss" wants to say something, he is the only one who will say the reason. I learned this since I was little.

In the hallway, she stopped. I looked at her confused and Gina just motioned for me to follow. I went, even though it was worse for me to enter the beast's room without any protection. With every step closer, I feel more nervous, or worse, nauseous. I don't remember doing anything wrong, but any reason was a reason for slaps or curses, or painful punishments.

A chill ran through my entire body.

I took a deep breath and put my hand on the doorknob. I turned and opened the door, watching my dad finish running a hand through his slicked-back gray hair. The cigar soon extinguished, still had the odor in the room. I looked at my father after closing the door behind me and the oldest immediately pointed to the armchair in front of his desk. - Sit down.

I did what you asked.

I held my swollen hands and looked at my father. He didn't hesitate to look me straight in the eyes and with authority. Well, I just didn't expect the reason for such seriousness.

It was here that I found out about the attacks of Russian and Chinese mafias on our territory. Which was odd, since there was never any point in discussing business with a woman. Especially to me who never wanted to know anything about this organization.

But everything got more confusing when the name of Capo dei Capi from Washington entered the conversation. Dad's biggest rival and the man who has tried several times to kill him. It was a fact that they would never even be able to look each other in the face. But something had changed. This time they needed each other and their mutual mistrust threw me into their dark game like the missing piece.

- This means...? ' I ask tensely. My lips struggle not to tremble.

“That means to save us, you'll have to marry Kaanadan. You are the golden piece that will place us in the Washington famiglia. It will give us power, Celeste.

And after that day I couldn't dream anymore...

The engagement was two months later. I met Kaanadan for a few minutes in the main hall, where engagement rings were exchanged. My mind recorded only his dark eyes and his cold voice. He scared me and all those armed men scared me. But that wasn't the worst. That day I met the side I never wanted to see of him: The Knight of Death.

There was a reckoning in front of my house. And it was at the moment that a man dared to look at me, that Kaanadan without any emotion on his face stuck a knife in his back. Blood flowed in a huge puddle that kept growing as the man feasted on his end, and Kaanadan brought the knife down lower and lower, until I saw for the second time a cruel death. I don't deny that the man's gaze repulsed me, but I can't believe it's normal for someone to kill another person so coldly.

I would marry a monster. It was a fact.

And it was with that thought that his look and that scene haunted me for years in my nights, or days, when I imagined myself married to him. I tried to change that, I tried to enjoy a little free life. I almost graduated from college. I almost went to small college parties. I almost witnessed a title of best student...

Almost... since I was discovered in the worst way and paid dearly for it... very dearly.

There's a knock on the door and I snap out of my thoughts. I sat on the bed and looked at the door.

- In between.

It was opened and Gina emerged, with a large box in her hands. I assumed it was the dress Kaanadan sent.

"Is it already open?" — I asked and she left the box next to me, while she sat in front of me.

- Not yet.

I lifted the lid and set it in a corner. I pushed the thin paper away and picked up the beaded black dress. I lifted it up and saw it a little more than halfway up. He was beautiful, but not my type, he didn't usually wear very tight dresses. And this one was, having a thin strap and a mermaid tail.

— You can use it with the jewelry that Kaanadan gave you. The one from her last birthday fits a lot.

Yes. Kaanadan never failed to send me gifts for my birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day or even engagement anniversary. He always received something and out of obligation I had to choose something for him out of kindness.

The last gift was a set of earrings, necklace and bracelet, all made of crystals with the main stone being the rare black diamond.

- Could it be. - I say tense.

Gina touched my face and I looked at her. Her voice sounded gentle. “Just try it. It's never easy at first, but then...

"I hope you don't even have it later, Ginny." - I say firmly. — You know very well why I don't go head-to-head. You know what can happen... It happened once, didn't it?

She hesitates and gets up. She doesn't say anything, just looks at me worriedly and leaves.

I huff and look at the dress.

“Damn that ring.

***

I was already ready when Júlio looked at his watch and told me there were only 15 minutes left for Kaanadan's arrival.

I looked around, seeing the movement of cars on the street in the middle of the night. I'm totally nervous, I think it's been so long since I've seen Salvatore that he's stranger to me than he was five years ago.

I ask Julio to fetch me some water. I know there's more than one soldier watching me too. He agrees and leaves, which just proves my hunch.

A black car slows down near the hotel. I feel tense, made worse when the door opens and from there a tall blond man appears and walks towards me.

"Miss Savoia?"

I swallow hard. Hearing me called by my paternal last name is totally foreign to me. Especially when I was the one who decided to annul it by calling me.

“Yes,” I say and look around for Julius. None of the same.

"Follow me, I'll take you to the ball."

I narrow my eyes. - Prom?

It doesn't say anything. He looks around me and then looks at me again. "Is there no security?" Isn't yours called Julio? Where is it?

— Júlio went to fetch water for me.

"And left you alone?"

I don't know what to answer, I just knew that I would never be alone. He doesn't ask any more questions and walks towards the car. I follow, stepping into the car as soon as the door opens for me. Like in the movies, I'm afraid Kaanadan is in here just waiting for me, but no, I don't see him. I breathe relieved.

But then my cell phone beeps and I pull it out of my small handbag. It's him...

I'll be waiting. Do not give up.

I take a deep breath and look in the rearview mirror, seeing the blonde look at me quickly.

"Going straight to the place?" ' I ask tensely.

"Of course, your fiance is waiting for you..." He looks ahead and says it low, but not enough that I don't recognize his words. - Too much...

I feel distressed and the car soon takes off, worsening my tension.

***

Along the way, I don't recognize anything. No place or point.

Some lights illuminate a point ahead and a sound starts to intensify. I decide that it's the venue for the ball and I'm not mistaken, being absolutely sure when the car is stopped in front of the gate with open bars, with two security guards on each side.

The driver or soldier, whoever the blonde is, gets out of the car and turns around until he opens the door for me. He helps me out, perhaps realizing how tight the dress is and how much it hinders my walking.

I fix my hair, throwing it all behind my shoulders, and showing my ears. The door closes and I adjust the long dress. I follow and the security guards don't ask anything after seeing the blonde entering beside me. I exhale nervousness and swallow several times as I scan the area.

The grassy and illuminated backyard follows a typical well-kept stone castle, where people enter all well dressed and accompanied. The blonde stops me and I glare at him.

“Kanadan will meet you here. Wait for it.

He turns and walks out the side, his hands behind his back and his posture elegant.

I take a deep breath and look around. My tension rises and I know I can't stand here alone or else I'll have a meltdown.

I follow the opposite side of the blonde, walking and moving away from the meeting point. I find a stone floor among the lawn and hurry along. Now, being away, I feel like I have a great chance to find a way to come back and get out of this. Perhaps in anger, Kaanadan even gives up on me. By the way, we still have exactly five days until the wedding.

I look back as I walk as fast as possible due to the dress. Is empty. Nobody looks at me and it's not even possible. I breathe a sigh of relief, hurrying my steps into a near-run and I turn forward, braking when I find myself almost running head-on into a person.

I swallow hard and open my mouth for a quick "I'm sorry" and follow. But then everything hangs.

I lift my gaze, shifting from the handsome suit to the perfectly fitting model on his broad torso. I lift my face up more and see that he doesn't have a tie, just a well-worn shirt. But my breath catches when I see her face and the first thing I see are her cold blue eyes as clear as the Sicilian sea. A look I feared so much...

"Lost around here, Miss Savoia?" - The intense, cold and firm voice does not deny.

"Kanadan..."