“Does it hurt?” Her eyes become watery. She can’t watch someone in pain because of her clumsiness.“N-No.” The boy looks away, and doesn’twant to see her cry because she really is about to tear up at any moment.“Let’s go. Let me clean your wound.” She gently holds his hand and is about to pull him inside the villa but he stops and withdraws his hand covered with dust.“I c-can…” He clears his throat. “I can handle myself. Just lead the way.”"If that's what you want." She said in a small voice, embarrassed by what happened.Mariella walks first and the boy follows him, silently handling the pain in his arm."I'll just get the first aid kid. You sit there." She points to the sofa near them. The boy watches her run towards somewhere.He looks around, only the large photo of Mariella is hanging on the wall across from him. No family photos. The boy unconsciously smirks when he sees the yellow balloon tied up on the corner. Like what she said, it's not floating anymore. While waiting fo
“Do you wanna die?”“Papà!” “Elmo!” Tears fall on Mariella’s eyes when she sees hope. Hope that there is someone to protect her.“Papà, what are you doing?” He walks toward his father, Eduardo Giordano, Enrico’s first cousin. “Pointing your gun at Mariella? Really? You’re scaring her!”“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me, Elmo.”“I’m sorry, papà.” He lowers his voice. “Please papà… put the gun first.”“She’s supposed to be dead.”“Papà!”“Leave, Elmo. I’ll deal with this.”“But papà… someone might see you.” Elmo doesn’t know what to do. He can’t just let Mariella die on his father’s hand.“I said leave!” Elmo is horrified when Eduardo yells at him. Elmo steps back, looking at Mariella and his father back and forth.“Elmo…” Mariella is afraid to be alone with her uncle who wants to kill her.“Señor,” Leo joins the picture as soon as he finds them. “Señorito Marchetti,” Eduardo is surprised to see the heir of Marchettis. He immediately hides the gun at his back and simply looks at
More practice and you’ll master it.Mariella can’t take off the words Leo uttered last time in her mind. She becomes interested in playing violin because of his influence. He’s really good at it though, and it inspires her to do what she thinks she can’t and doesn’t like before.“Piccolina,” Marcella catches her attention. “You’re going to attend school next school year.”“School, mamma?” Her eyes shine when she hears about school. “So… I will meet a lot of kids? We will play, learn how to read and write, and do a lot of things? Right, mamma?”“Yes, piccolina.”“Yay! I want to go to school.”“You will, piccolina. You will. Now… finish your food.”“Okay!” She puts a spoon of food inside her mouth, and slowly swallows it. “By the way, mamma—”“Piccolina, what did I tell you?” Marcella wants to remind her daughter of something. “Don’t talk when your mouth is full.”“Oops.” She covers her mouth with her little hand and quickly swallows before continuing what she is supposed to say. “Can y
CHAPTER 10She smiles like crazy."Are you that excited to go to school, piccolina?" Marcella notices her daughter's bright morning. "It's just your enrollment day. The classes will start next month.""I'm just happy to go, mamma." She responds though the truth is… she can't move on from the magical moment last night."Finish your food, piccolina." Marcella wipes the dirt beside Mariella's lips."Yes, mamma.""I'll just check on your sister." She puts the spoon and fork neatly on her empty plate before standing. "I expect that you're ready to go when I come back.""Yes, mamma."Marcella kisses the top of her head and leaves the small villa. "Is this school, mamma?" Mariella asks while looking at the colorful buildings."Yes, piccolina. Let's go." Marcella holds her daughter while entering the school premises.The teachers like Mariella very much. She's a smart, kind, adorable, and bright kid. Even though they only accept kids, six years of age, she becomes an exception."Thank you."
August 11, 20238 P.M.Never in her entire life did she miss a shot.Marcella’s aiming for her target that is approaching. Leonardo Marchetti, ten years of age, is her target according to the order from higher-up. Regardless of age, gender, and status in society, Marcella doesn’t mind. She’s a sharp-shooter and the most famous in the organization she belongs to.She is about to shoot the boy in the chest when gets distracted by a familiar voice. Marcella accidentally pulls the trigger and shoots the boy in the shoulder.“Ahh!”“Leo!” They hear another gunshot that almost hit Mariella. Marcella immediately roams her sight and notices someone hiding from afar. She points her gun at him and shoots the guy in the hand. The guy shouts in pain before escaping. Marcella gives her daughter a quick glance before taking her exit.‘How come you’re here, piccolina? Damn it!’Leo cries in pain while Mariella’s eyes are bloodshot and cannot think straight. It’s her first time seeing someone bein
"Señor… an accident." One of the guards is in a hurry to report. "The Giordanos.""Call for a rescue immediately!"Ambulance arrives at the scene and gets Enrico's half conscious body. He's groaning in pain while searching for Mariella using his blurry sight."M-Mariella… my daughter." He mumbles while the surrounding spins in his perspective. Another stretcher is being taken to the van. It's Mariella… covered with blood and wounds."Señor… Señor… do you hear me?" The medical assistant asks while waving his hands but Enrico cannot respond anymore. Everything went black.+++"Fratello…" Lean checks on his older brother while the others are outside for some reason. "Does it hurt, fratello?""Fratellino…" He says in a tired voice. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in your bed sleeping.""Does it hurt?" Little Lean asks while staring at the bandage where blood is marking. Leo's bleeding."N-No…" He utters contrary to what he really feels. "Go back to your room.""I'm not s
"... Do you hear me?"Leo is in complete silence waiting for Mariella to respond but she is still in deep sleep."Mariella," he holds her warm little hand. "Please… wake up." He lightly shakes her hand.'Who dared to do this to you? Hm?' He says in his mind."Mariella—"He hears footsteps outside the room and the clicking of doorknob. Leo immediately hides on the other side of the bed.Under the bed, he sees a foot wearing slippers and hospital pants. Also, an IV stand. Curiosity kills him so he takes a peek of the man standing at the other side."You haven't woken up yet?" He utters in a sad tone. "Too weak to survive this world."Leo widens his eyes when he witnesses what the man is going to do."This is for your sake, for the Mafia." "Señor!" Leo reveals himself and the man, in his surprise, accidentally drops the syringe in his hand."Who… what are you doing here?!" Anger is written in the man's face."Señor Enrico…" There is no fear in Leo's face while clenching his fists. "What
“Fratello,” For the nth time, Lean talks to his older brother. “We’re going to be late.” “Just a moment, Fratellino.” He watches everyone outside the car, waiting for someone to arrive. “There she is! Wait here.” Leo goes outside and crosses the street. He is smiling from ear to ear while following small steps. “Mariella,” Leo calls but she doesn’t turn to face him. “Mariella!” He sighs when she still walks toward the school gate. “Mariella Giordano!” He says her full name but she seems to not hear him at all. “Mariella Bernardi!” Smile plasters on his face again when she finally stops and confusedly looks at him. Mariella just watches him slightly run towards her. “Hi,” He waves his hand but she doesn’t respond. Mariella looks around but the boy in front of him is really talking to her. Leo slightly leans to level their heads. “Good luck on your first day of school.” “Who are you?” Leo’s eyebrows furrow after hearing that question. “Didn’t you know me? I am—” He stops himse
“This is an unannounced visit, Marchetti.” Enrico said, signaling his men to leave them two in the room.“Pardon. I have an important matter to discuss with you, Mr. Giordano.” Leo sat on a single sofa like a king. He doesn’t mind how intimidating Enrico’s presence is. He is not called Marchettis’ Mafia Boss for nothing.“What do you want?” Enrico asks while lighting his cigarette. “Your daughter Mariella…” “Mariella?” Enrico creased his forehead. He didn’t expect his daughter to be involved with—wait. “Haven’t you moved on yet, Marchetti? My daughter forgot about you. Leave her alone.”“She signed a contract with me.”“Signed a contract? She’s just a f*cking twelve-year-old girl. How can she sign a contract with you in the first place? She’s under my custody—”“But never prioritize her. I get it,” Leo sarcastically said. “I’m just informing you, Mr. Giordano. In exchange for teaching my little sister in academics, I will start the renovation of her old villa which is within your pr
CHAPTER 24“Then… You’re hired.” “Hired?” Mariella asks in disbelief. “I haven’t agreed yet. No, scratch that, I already refused so…” Mariella grabs the box of her half-empty Cannoli, and is about to leave when Leo talks again.“What do you want for you to accept being Luna’s tutor?”“I don’t want anything.” Mariella firmly uttered.“Money? Own a car? A piece of land? A renovation of your villa? Name your price.” Leo starts negotiating. He does not want to let this opportunity slip away from his grasp.When Leo mentioned the villa, Mariella was tempted. She misses the old times, especially her mother. She sighed heavily, her thoughts were fighting whether to accept the offer or be firm on her first decision, ignore it. “I will… think about it.” Mariella said before leaving the bread shop. Leo, on the other hand, followed her using his gaze. He doesn’t know if there is a higher chance that Mariella will accept the offer because her back was on them when she answered.“I really hope t
The night is deep and it is time for Mariella to sleep but she first ensures that the door and windows are locked. Even if she uttered words like she’s ready to die, as a twelve-year-old girl, fear still seeps throughout her well-being that someone might enter her room and hurt her or at worst assassinate her. Mariella heard heavy and in a rush footsteps, and also muffled voices on the ground floor. Seems like they are having a chaos. When she looks through her window, many men in black, probably Giordano's men are going inside the vans. Despite the curiosity, Mariella just let it slide because it is definitely none of her business.The next day came, Mariella’s ready to attend her classes when she heard two of the family servants talking in the hallway.“Are they dead?”“I heard they are in a critical condition but still alive.”“For sure, the family will be thrilled and threatened. It’s an uproar to the Giordanos.”“You’re right. We might get involved if something worse happened.”
One afternoon, Mariella arrived at Giordano mansion after school. She stares at the mansion for a moment feeling a bit uncomfortable since she felt living in a strange house. Noise from the field not so far from the entrance caught her attention. Mariella's cousins are playing around with guns and other dangerous equipment. Mariella's day was disturbed when one of them saw her. "Hey, b*tch! Come here!" Mariella ignored."I said, come here!"She walked faster."Get her!"The man in black grabs Mariella's arms and drags her until they reach the open field. "Let me go!" Mariella tries to free herself from their grip but what can a twelve-year-old girl do against those strong muscled men? Nothing.They throw Mariella in front of the five young Giordanos who are older than her. She's the youngest among their generation. "You," Elio, the eldest and Elmo's older brother, grabs Mariella's collar and pulls her to stand. "Don't look at me like that."Mariella does not notice how her eyes
“Good morning, senorita.” The servant gets inside Mariella’s room and puts the tray of breakfast meal on the round table near the glass door which is connected to the balcony.It’s a usual day for her, waking up in the morning, one of the servants delivers her food whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner, then prepares for school, and a guard assigned to her drops and fetches her at school. It’s been a dull cycle in her everyday life since she stays in the mansion.Mariella usually spends most of her time inside that room for the fear of her family members who aim to slay her. She always feels anxious and cannot sleep peacefully at night.“Hi,” Mirabella is all smiling while peeping at Mariella’s door. She doesn’t even knock but Mariella ignores it and just focuses on eating her breakfast.“Can I join you?” Mirabella asks while holding her tray. She puts the tray across Mariella’s without waiting for her permission as if she’s not asking but just informing her.“Papa’s went somewhere
“Whoa…” Amusement dances in Marcello’s eyes while scanning his niece from head to toe. Mariella’s just wearing a simple knee-length peachy dress, bought by her mother a month before her death. “You look stunning tonight.”“Uh… Thanks.” It feels like she was complimented by Marcella because for the record, Marcello looks like a boy version of her mother.“Let’s go?” Mariella nods and follows her uncle to the back gate where his car is parked. “Hope you like what I’ve chosen for you. Not good at picking perfect restos.” He laughs at his own thoughts. “Just doing this for the sake of your mother’s wish, ugh… didn’t know it’s her last though.” Marcello gives Mariella a quick glance before turning his sight on the road. She’s not talking and just looking somewhere, nowhere but she’s listening.“Wishing her to be here.” She whispers but enough for Marcello to hear her.“Not good at comforting but… yah know, at least… she’s still in your heart, right? Don’t miss her too much, kid. It will
“Mamma…” Mariella touches Marcella’s gravestone. Tears keep running down her cheeks and she doesn’t bother to wipe it. She is left alone with her uncle in the cemetery since the rain starts pouring so hard as if the sky feels her sorrow, and wants to join Mariella’s grieving heart.“Let’s go,” Marcello said while holding a black umbrella to cover Mariella who was kneeling on the mud. He ignores the fact that he starts getting soaked. “Get up. You’ll get sick.” He pulls her and with lifeless eyes, Mariella just stares at the gravestone. She lets her uncle pull her away until they get inside the car.Silently, she watches the rain sliding through the car’s glass window. Due to the heavy rain, the surroundings got kind of foggy. Marcello doesn’t utter a word while driving. He knew his niece. She needs quiet time to think. She just lost her mother.“Let me live with you, uncle.” She said while still looking outside, silently hoping that her beloved uncle would agree to her wish.“Sorry, k
“Run.” “Ah!” —“Ahhh!” “Señorita! Señorita!” Two of the servants immediately ran when they heard Mariella’s scream. “Mamma! Where’s mamma?” She’s out of control. “Let me go! I don’t need you! Where’s mamma?!” “Señorita, calm down! Señorita!” “I said, let me go!” Mariella snatches the bread knife on the tray beside her and sways it into the air. Out of fear, the servants step backward while shockingly looking at Mariella. They gulp and beads of cold sweat form on their foreheads. “Get out!” They almost stumble to rush outside the room. Mariella’s fuming mad and throws the knife and it jabs into the wooden frame of a large portrait inside that room. Her eyebrows furrow when she stares at the portrait in front of her. It confuses her, is it she or her twin sister Mirabella? Her eyes look around and the room is very unfamiliar. She sets her feet on the carpeted floor and begins to walk but she falls on the ground when she feels her knees weaken. Mariella’s sight doubles so she sh
"Your birthday's around the corner. What do you want?" Marcella asks while having breakfast with Mariella. She's turning twelve and she can't think of the gift."Just a simple celebration, mamma." She responds since Mirabella will celebrate too and it will probably be grand because she's the heir."Sure, whatever you want." Marcella smiles at her daughter before finishing her meal and leaves Mariella to take care of.Mariella always wonders if her mother doesn't get tired of taking care of the two of them."I'm gone for a week to do business stuff." Leo suddenly appears in front of her and speaks. She just got outside the campus after a long tiring day.Mariella just raises her eyebrow, looking at him who is waiting for her response, while her arms are crossed on her chest."You might think I ditch you—""I don't have to know your whereabouts.""You might miss me, you know?""As if." She slightly scoffs and starts walking but Leo follows her."Wanna have some Cannoli?""No thanks.""C