Emma
As my eyes flutter open, I am greeted by the sun's dazzling rays streaming through the two glass doors. These doors lead out onto a balcony ideally placed to face the rising sun, illuminating the multiple hills that rest beyond the locked doors. Despite the beauty of the outside world, I feel trapped and confined within these walls. I long to step out onto the balcony to inhale the crisp night air, but last night, when I tried the doors, I discovered they were locked. I could have tried to use the pins in my hair to pick the lock and escape, but the risk posed by the men guarding the house made me hesitant and the man who holds my heart even more so. As I lie here, I reminisce about the countries we have lived in over the years. The United Kingdom has always held a special place in my heart because of him, and I am grateful to be back. The cool English air is a welcome change from the hot and humid weather I have experienced elsewhere. The countryside here is unparalleled; even my home country, with its vineyards and scorching sun, cannot compare. Suddenly, I am jerked out of my reverie as the door opens with a soft click and the whoosh of air. A maid appears, pushing a trolley laden with my bags and a tray of food. My father has finally sent over my belongings. However, I would rather avoid unpacking them. So I remain rooted to the spot, leaning against the wall and staring out into the vast gardens beyond the house. I can't help but wonder if I can trust this maid. As I walk to the desk, the young maid brings me breakfast. She appears to be a few years younger than me, with brown hair and deep chocolatey eyes. I can tell she's full Italian, unlike me, who's a half-blood. Despite her understated beauty, I can't help but feel out of place with my blonde hair and blue eyes. My looks are a stark contrast to those around me, given my mafia family's dark heritage. My father always thought his DNA was strong enough to overpower my mother's meek traits. But he was wrong, and I ended up inheriting my mother's looks, much to his annoyance. My sister, on the other hand, didn't disappoint in the looks department. I'm not ugly, but I don't look like the typical mafia princess who's supposed to take over the family empire; hence, I'm being married off to Luca or so I presume. Once my father's problem, now Luca's, as he's told me many times. "Thank you," I whisper as the maid places the breakfast in front of me. I know she's heard me, but I speak softly nonetheless. "The boss won't be able to join you for breakfast, but he has requested your presence at dinner tonight in the grand dining hall at 6 pm," the maid informs me. "Until then, you are free to explore the house. But please keep in mind that the basement is off-limits. Only the boss and his men are allowed to access it." "Could you show me around? I don't know where the dining hall is," I ask, trying to assess her character. I would like to know if she's easily swayed and if she could be useful to me in the future. "Of course," she replies, smiling briefly. "My name is Anna," she introduces herself, extending her hand towards me. I decided that Anna was someone I could easily manipulate and befriend if necessary. "I'm Emma," I introduce myself, but I don't shake her hand. "Are you just a maid?" "Yes, just a maid," she confirms, gesturing towards the breakfast she's prepared for me. I grab an apple from the table before reaching for my pink suitcase, which is bursting with all my clothes. Despite the snag on the corner, I managed to unzip it and take out a few clothing items. I quickly picked up the first dress that came to my hand. It was a skintight black dress that fit me like a glove, making me feel like a modern-day princess. The dress was simple yet elegant, covering my body in all the right places. It was the perfect attire for someone like me who wanted to portray sophistication in every aspect of her life. I was no longer the same person that Luca knew in the past. I had transformed into a mafia princess, trained to be deadly. I had learned how to kill people with inanimate objects and was taught to withstand the worst torture known to man. All these skills were crucial to keeping the honour and privacy of my loved ones from the bad men, especially the secrets I had stored in my brain. After leaving the girl in the room, I entered the bathroom to dress up. I used Luca's toothbrush and comb to clean myself and make myself presentable. As I swept my hair into a high ponytail, my curls bounced with each movement, giving me a glamorous look. Anna was waiting for me where I had left her moments ago. She had a slight smile on her lips as she noted me ready for the day. Her eyes swept over my body as if approving the woman Luca would marry. "This way, my lady," she said. "Emma, please," I corrected her. "Emma," she repeated my name. Anna walked me around the house, showing me various rooms that she believed I needed to know about. On the ground floor, Luca's rooms took up the west of the house. His bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet occupied most of the wing. There was also a home office and a parlour along from his rooms, just before the grand sweeping staircase. To the east, there was the main kitchen, along with a few other offices and parlours that were mainly used for work-related activities instead of leisure. As we ascend to the second floor, I notice that the hallway was dimly lit with fluorescent bulbs. Anna informs me that the second floor is where his men reside. We don't visit the rooms since they are of no importance. Each bedroom houses three or more of his men, and according to Anna, there are about eighty of them. They rotate three times a day, ensuring that everyone is well-rested and able to train as needed. It's evident that Luca has built a trustworthy crew over the years. His father must have trusted him with some important jobs, which is why he has his own crew now. Moving on to the third floor, we come across two offices and a massive gym. Half of the floor is a communal area with a television, pool table, darts board, and sofa, among other things. I presume this is where Luca's men relax in their downtime. It's impressive to see how Luca has turned this compound into a home for his men rather than just a place of work. I appreciate that as a man is never more protected than by those who love him. As we sweep through the third floor, Anna brings me to one of the offices. Angelo sits at the desk, a grim look on his face as he follows the array of people on the monitors that line a whole wall. My eyes dart over the CCTV monitors as I note more than one hundred camera feeds are swapping and changing every few seconds. I can't help but feel a sense of hopelessness, knowing that any chance of escape has been dashed. However, I'm not even sure if I want to escape. "Ah, you're awake," Angelo notes without turning to us, obviously having been waiting and knowing my whereabouts since I left Luca's room. "It seems I am," I nod quietly. "I trust Anna has ensured your needs are met." "Again, yes." "Very good, get on with your tour," he points to the door, explicitly instructing us to leave. As I stand there, I realize that I want to have a conversation with Angelo. I want to open up to him about my worries and discuss how we should proceed, but he insists that our conversation must remain private and away from prying ears with a sharp shake of his head. So, I follow Anna as she leads me towards the stairs. Anna shows me around the sprawling gardens, pointing out the various features. We come across a beautiful pool, which is currently covered, and a hot tub nearby, which is on, the water bubbling below the cover as evidence. The house, nestled among the rolling hills, is adorned with arches made of roses and climbing vines, which serve to camouflage it even further. As we walked, I noticed three of my people darted around the balconies watching me. Despite feeling safe in their presence, I know that their traitorous behaviour will not be pardoned when the knowledge comes full circle. I need to tread carefully and ensure their truth remains a secret as long as possible, as I never know when I will need their protection. My people knew they were putting their lives on the line when they agreed to help me, yet they still did so without hesitation. But, with Luca's growing intelligence and ruthlessness, their loyalty might not be enough to keep them safe. Anna led me to the grandly stocked library as we continued our tour. I spend the afternoon lost in the pages of a few first editions, my mind sweetly occupied as I flit between two stories I've read on many occasions. However, I can't shake the feeling of boredom and the sense that I'm merely a sitting duck. My father has trained my sister and me tirelessly over the years to become the next Rossi women. But, I recently discovered that he never intended me to carry on the Rossi name. Instead, I am to take the Moretta name and help repair the fracture that has gaped open since we left London. It's a daunting task, but one that I am willing to undertake. So I turn back to the books, intent on filling my mind with make-believe love stories that have happy ever afters, just as I hope Luca and I's story will be.LucaAs I drive to the docks on the south coast, the silence around me is suffocating. My mind is a whirlwind of emotions, causing my outer layer to appear angry and agitated. The air feels icy and dry, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.Last night, I couldn't sleep a wink. I lay next to Emma as she slept peacefully, my fingers straying one too many times to the random silver scars glittering under the moonlight. As I traced them with my fingers, my mind was filled with questions—how did she get these scars? Who put them there? And why?With each new scar that I found, my anger grew more substantial. A hit list began to form in my mind - her parents for not protecting her, their men for failing to do the same, and the person or people who put those scars there to begin with. I'd miserably failed the one promise I made Emma when she was six years old."I'll always protect you, Blondie," the words return to me on repeat.I couldn't help but feel a desperate urge to shake Emm
EmmaThe pain I feel is not just physical. It's a deep emotional hurt that I'm struggling to shake off. The memory of his face twisted in disgust as he pushed me away still lingers in my mind. I can't help but feel hurt and rejected.But it's not just that. The sight of him covered in blood sent a wave of fear through me. I was scared that he was hurt and that he might fall unconscious at any moment. My heart raced as I tried to help reassure him as any mafia wife should, but he pushed me away like I was nothing.Our time apart has done more damage than I could have imagined. Our fathers' decision to separate us has caused us nothing but pain and heartache. It's unfair that we have to suffer the consequences of their actions.If they had left us alone, we could have lived happily together. We could have had a family, something that we've always wanted. We wanted to have a child before Luca was passed down the family business so that we could enjoy our young family without the fear and
LucaAfter taking that shower, I couldn't help but realise how much self-control I had to exercise to keep myself from getting too close to Emma; it would only take one small decision to fall at her feet and allow her the control she used to have over me. I know I shouldn't be feeling this way, but it's difficult when my heart tells me to give her another chance. The problem is that Emma seems to be hiding something from me, which is making it hard for me to trust this new version of her. Despite this, I can't shake off the feeling that she deserves a second chance after all.The pain is still raw, even after six long years. It's as if it happened yesterday, and the memories of her leaving me are still vivid in my mind. She ripped my heart out and splattered it on the floor, leaving me to pick up the pieces and try to make sense of what happened. And yet, here she is, acting like nothing has changed. Seeing her act like everything is fine is infuriating, as if she didn't just shatter
EmmaAfter being invited to breakfast, I stupidly thought perhaps things were changing and that Luca would now start to treat me as he should. Yet it was as if he had set out to hurt me, and I foolishly allowed him to continue doing so for the rest of the day. The pain was so intense that I retreated to his room, sulking and nursing my wounds alone. I even called out to Anna, treating her like she was only there to cater to my needs. I asked her to bring me mountains of chocolate, hoping to help ease the pain.As I sat there in bed, I devoured bar after bar, trying to find solace in the sweet and creamy goodness. The words that Luca had hurled at me kept playing over and over again in my mind like a broken record.I couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Does he really hate me so much that he doesn't even want to give me the wedding I deserve? Every girl deserves a wedding to remember..."I couldn't believe how ruthless he had become. It was as if I didn't even know him anymore.The night w
LucaAs I step out of my car, my shoes hit the pavement with a steady rhythm that synchronises with my heartbeat. I'm standing in the driveway of the house where I grew up, but I'm about to leave the comfort of the familiar behind and make my way to my father's office, where he summoned me earlier this evening. The halls of my parent's home are dimly lit, but the soft glow is enough to guide me as I walk towards my father's office, wondering what he wants to talk to me about this time. I've been meeting with him regularly lately, and while it's become routine, I can't help but feel a sense of unease every time I step into his office under his domain. You see, I've recently taken on the role of underboss in the family business, preparing to become the next Don of the Italian Mafia. It's a position I never expected to find myself in, having grown up as a half-Italian boy in London, feeling like I only fit in with myself. Looking back, it's clear that everyone was afraid of me and, mo
EmmaThis meeting went differently than I wish it would. Yet, as I listen to Luca hiss his annoyance with my presence, I internally laugh that this is precisely how I imagined he would react to me.After being told to sit back down, I internalise my musings, thinking back to that day six long years ago.As a child, I didn't understand the concept of love, I don't think any child can. That was until I met the boy who lived just next door to me. He was older than me, but we grew up together, and as time passed, my feelings for him only grew more substantial and more robust. He was an ever-present embodiment of protection, lurking often and saving me from myself just as frequently. I fell for him completely and utterly, with a deep emotion that I couldn't comprehend then.However, tragedy struck just as quickly as my love for him had blossomed. My father was threatened with a gun to his head by his very best friend and none other than Luca's father to get me away from the boy I was betro
LucaWhile driving, I made a terrible mistake by allowing one of my hands to stray from the steering wheel. Even though it was a minor lapse in judgment, I feel a sense of guilt and regret. However, I refuse to let the hurt inflicted by the woman sitting next to me control my thoughts and actions after all these years. As a soulless killing machine, I have long buried my emotions, but now they are resurfacing, and I won't let them consume me. It's clear to me that she took what wasn't hers and then ran away. Despite all this, we find ourselves betrothed to each other. I wonder if it's merely a coincidence. I think not; nothing in my line of work is marked down to something as simple as coincidence. But at least I won't have to lie to my father when I say I've taken her virginity on our wedding night; the only small white lie will be the timeline in which I had taken it.I am hesitant and taken aback by my thoughts as I consider the possibility of marrying this stunning yet untrustwort
EmmaLuca reacts abruptly, slamming his foot on the brakes with such force as if there was an imminent threat of a multi-car pile-up ahead. The car comes to a screeching halt in a matter of seconds, throwing me forward as the seatbelt tightens against my skin, crushing my ribs and causing me to let out a painful groan.I am still trying to catch my breath when we take a sudden left turn into a narrow single-track lane. The lane is covered with thick foliage of trees that wind around, obscuring the view ahead of us. As we continue down the lane, I realize that we are approaching a massive ten-foot wall. The wall is manned by at least five guards who seem to be on high alert at our appearance. The only way into the compound is through a wrought iron gate that is being guarded by these men.The term "compound" refers to Luca's place of residence, a secured and heavily guarded home where his men are constantly patrolling the perimeter.I have kept tabs on Luca's every movement and ability