We sat at the dinner table, Selena's creation before us. I took a bite, savoring the taste of my mother's recipe, made with Selena's love. The lasagna was perfect, the layers of noodles, sauce, and cheese melding together. It was as if my mother had returned to bless us from heaven. "This is amazing," I said, looking at Selena. She glowed under my praise, her eyes shining with happiness. It was moments like these that made me forget about the bloodshed and betrayal that often accompanied the mafia lifestyle. Selena took a bite, watching my reaction closely. "Thank you," she murmured, a shy smile playing on her lips. "It's like having a piece of home," I said, feeling the weight of the past and the warmth of our future intertwine. We ate in companionable silence, the comfort of our shared meal acting as a balm for our troubled souls. As we finished dinner, Selena looked up at me, her eyes shining with hope. "Could we maybe start trying for a baby soon?" she asked softly. I
It has been a few weeks since George has been being held at the warehouse. Matteo would give him a few days to heal from his "questioning" and then start again. This has been very effective in the past when there was information needed. My phone vibrated on the nightstand, pulling me from my thoughts. It was Matteo. "Boss, I got what you wanted," he said, his voice tight with excitement. "George finally talked." My heart skipped a beat. This was it. The truth about Selena's mother's murder was finally within reach. "What did he say?" "Antonio is on the way to the estate with all of the information. He feels you need to hear it in person." I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. "I'll be waiting," I said, my voice a low growl. Antonio arrived shortly; his eyes tired but determined. He handed me a manila envelope with papers inside. "It's all there," Antonio said, his voice heavy. "The details of Arianna's murder. And... something else." I read through the pages, my
Joseph should have never taken over as Don. I worked too hard to get rid of his father and I should be at the head of the table. Now he has a wife and I am sure he will have an heir before they reach their one year anniversary. I need to get my hands on George before he tells Matteo everything he knows. I knew George had a soft spot for his daughter, Selena, and that was my leverage. I had to find a way to use it against him. If he knew the truth about Arianna's death, it would surely push him over the edge. But if I played my cards right, I could use Selena as a pawn in my game against Joseph. I had to find a way to get him to turn against her. The thought of Selena carrying Joseph's child only fueled my anger. She was meant to be a tool for power, not a breeding mare for the next generation of the Rossi family. I couldn't let that happen. I had to find a way to twist the knife deeper into Joseph's back. As I sat in my personal study, the walls lined with books that had seen more
We had only found out a few days ago that Selena was pregnant. I had already made an appointment for us at the obstetrician that Marta had recommended. Selena's hand was cold and clammy as we sat in the waiting room. She kept looking around nervously, as if expecting someone to jump out and take this happiness away from us. "It'll be okay," I whispered, squeezing her hand. She smiled, but the fear in her eyes didn't go away. The doctor's office was filled with the sounds of babies crying, mothers-to-be laughing , and the occasional voice of a doctor giving instructions. Selena looked at me with wide eyes as the nurse called us in. She was nervous, but I could see the excitement in her eyes. I knew she had been dreaming of this moment since we first talked about starting a family. The doctor was a friendly woman with a gentle way about her, which helped to ease Selena's nerves. She went through the usual questions about Selena's health and the pregnancy. Then she led us to th
The next day, I called for a meeting of all the Family members. The room was tense as they awaited my announcement, whispers of uncertainty and speculation swirling around the room like a storm before it breaks. I stood before them, Selena at my side, her hand in mine. "Brothers," I announced, my voice echoing through the grand hall, "we are expecting a new addition to our Family." The murmurs grew louder and then silence fell as they processed the news. Selena's eyes met mine, a silent plea for strength. "Now, more than ever, we must stand together," I continued, my voice strong and unwavering. "Selena's safety, and that of our unborn child, is of the utmost importance. We will increase security measures at the mansion and all of our businesses. Any signs of Torres's men, any threats, must be reported immediately." The room was a tableau of stoic faces, each man nodding solemnly in agreement. They knew the gravity of the situation. The Columbian Cartel was not an enemy to be
We left the mansion, the weight of our conversation heavy in the air between us. The drive to the warehouse was silent, both of us lost in our own thoughts. When we arrived, the scene before us was not what we had anticipated. The warehouse was eerily still, which made no sense. Matteo would always have his classical music playing. Antonio and I exchanged a glance, and we both knew that something was wrong. The door was ajar, and the music was silent. The smell of blood hit me before I even stepped inside, a coppery tang that made my stomach lurch. My heart racing, I pushed the door open with my foot, and what we saw made my blood run cold. Matteo lay in a pool of his own blood, his eyes open and unseeing, staring up at the ceiling. The sight of his lifeless body was a punch to the gut, a reminder of the brutal world we lived in. Antonio cursed under his breath, his hand reaching for his gun, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement. "Where's George?" I demanded, my v
The drive to the safe house was a blur of headlights and dark streets. I sat in the back, my eyes glued to the passing scenery, my thoughts were racing. I did not want to be anywhere without Joseph. I was also scared about his safety. Antonio said he had called ahead to ensure that Dante and a few of his most trusted men were already there, waiting for us. When we arrived, the safe house was about a quarter of the size of the estate. It was a simple house nestled in a quiet area. The lights were on, and I could see the silhouettes of men patrolling the perimeter as we pulled up to the garage. The garage door opened, and we drove inside. The door closed behind us, cutting off the outside world. Dante was waiting for us inside. His expression was tight, his eyes scanning the room as Antonio and I stepped out of the car. "Sir," he said, his voice gruff. "The house is secured." "Good," Antonio said, his eyes never leaving Selena. "Take her inside." Dante nodded, his expre
Antonio met me at the warehouse after dropping off Selena. We both had known Matteo since we were children. Now I was going to have to call his mother and let her know what had happened to her son. The cleanup crew had already removed Matteo's body, leaving the room empty. The bloodstain on the floor was the only evidence of the brutal scene that had unfolded hours before. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic. "How could he do this?" I murmured, my eyes scanning the room. "He's desperate, Joseph," Antonio said, his voice tight. "He knows his power is slipping away." "I know he believes he should be Don instead of myself. But this is more than I would expect out of Salvatore." Antonio's eyes were hard, his jaw set. "You gave him too much rope," he said bluntly. "He's always been power-hungry. This is his way of showing you he won't be silenced." "He'll regret it," I vowed, my eyes dark. "He's just signed his own death warrant." Antonio nodded, his express
I had not slept much in the last few days. I couldn't close my eyes and not see Selena. I have missed so much of her pregnancy because of Torres and my uncle. I will deal with each other them swiftly. Antonio had brought me the first piece of good news that we have had. The Mancini Family has one of the best computer hackers and he found the location of where the auction will be taking place. It was amazing at how quickly he was able to hack into the city records. The Garabaldi Family has a lock on all of the caterers in the upper west side of the city. Torres has no choice but to use outside caterers for the auction. He doesn't have the staff to handle it. Another thing in my favor. Angelo Garabaldi was able to obtain two tickets to this auction. I would be accompanying him to the auction. Both the Garabaldi and the Mancini families have agreed to go against the cartel with me. They stand a lot to gain if Torres is no longer above ground. I wanted to get Selena out before the
I am over halfway through my pregnancy, and it terrifies me to think of having my baby here. I hate being held prisoner. I did not want the same fate for my baby. I was being raped daily by Torres. I had tried so hard to just block out every thrust and every ounce of pain that he would inflict on me. He enjoyed giving me pain and I have the marks to prove it. As I lay in bed, my belly aching from his rough treatment, I hear a faint whisper. "Selena, it's Anna." I sat up, my eyes searching the darkness. "What is it?" "I found out something," she whispered urgently. "They're having an auction really soon here at the house." My heart sank. I knew what that meant. I had seen the way Torres looked at me, the way he talked about me to his men. I was going to be sold. "When?" I asked, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. "In two days," Anna said, her own voice shaking. "What can we do?" I whispered, my heart racing. Two days. That was all the time we had before I would be han
Thankfully, all of the Capos had remained loyal to me. There was no evidence of them conspiring with Salvatore. The meeting was tense, with everyone aware of the gravity of the situation. We discussed our options, the tension in the room thick as we weighed the risks and potential rewards of each plan. We needed to find Selena and crush Torres without igniting an all-out war with the Columbian Cartel. "We have a lead on a warehouse they use for storage," Antonio spoke up, his eyes never leaving mine. "It's a good place to start." I nodded, the room spinning slightly. The painkillers were wearing off, and the pain in my side was a reminder of the bullet that had nearly killed me. "Call a meeting with some of the other families," I said through gritted teeth. "We need to move quickly and quietly." Antonio nodded, already on his phone, arranging the meetings. I knew that Selena was strong, but each day that passed was another day of hell for her. The thought of Torres's touching
I never thought I could feel like a slave, but that is what I have become. Torres enjoys humiliating me every chance he gets. I walk around naked more than I have on clothes. Torres has been true to his word so far. No one has laid a hand on me, except for him. His touch is cold and calculated, as if he's trying to claim me in a way that goes beyond the physical. The other men in the house are allowed to look but not touch. It's like I'm a piece of meat in a butcher's window, displayed for all to see but only the highest bidder can take home. But even as I follow his rules, I'm planning. I have to find a way out of here. For the baby. Every night, after Torres has visited, I lie in the darkness, my thoughts racing. The room is cold, and I pull the covers tighter around my body, feeling the soft swell of my stomach. The baby kicks, a reminder of the life that grows inside me, a life that deserves a chance at happiness, not a future in this hellish world. I want better for he
I feel like a weight is holding me down. I am trying so hard to open my eyes. All I can hear is this loud beeping. "Mr. Rossi, wake up," a voice says, and suddenly, there's a hand on my shoulder, shaking me gently. My eyes crack open, and I'm greeted by a blur of white lights and concerned faces. The pain is a dull throb now, the fever's grip on me loosened. I blink, trying to focus, and see Antonio leaning over me, his expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Welcome back, Boss." Antonio's voice was a welcome sound, the first sign that I wasn't hallucinating. I managed to croak out a response, "Selena... where is she?" "We don't know," Antonio said, his expression grim. "But we're looking. We've got everyone on it." I nodded, feeling the heaviness in my chest lift slightly. The doctor hovered at the foot of the bed, his face a mask of professionalism. "You need to rest," he said firmly. "You've had a close call with sepsis. You're not out of the woods yet." "How lon
I lay on the bed, my body trembling with the aftershocks of what had just happened. The dress felt like a prison, sticking to my damp skin. I needed to get out of these clothes, out of this room, out of this nightmare. With shaking hands, I untied the dress and let it fall to the floor. The fabric pooled around my feet, a sad reminder of the violation I had just endured. I stepped into the shower, the water scalding my skin as I tried to wash away the doctor's touch. I scrubbed until my skin was red and raw, the tears mixing with the water as they streamed down my face. When the hot water turned cold, I stepped out, wrapping a towel around my shivering body. I felt exposed, like every inch of me had been laid bare. I needed to find a way out of here, to escape this hellhole. Our baby deserved a future, and I would not let anyone take that away from us. I sat on the bed, my eyes scanning the room for any hint of a way out. The walls were bare, the window too high to reach,
**Parts of this chapter may contain triggers for some readers of reference to a sexual assault. Discretion is advised** I have been tossing and turning for hours. I have been praying that Torres was lying about Joseph being dead. We are supposed to be together to raise this baby. How could our lives be turned so upside down? I heard the lock click on the door and a young girl walked in with a tray of food in her hands. She looked no more than sixteen, with wide eyes that had seen too much and a tremble in her step that betrayed her fear. She paused just for a second before she set the food on the table. "They told me to give you this." I sit up slowly and take the tray from her. "Thank you. What’s your name?" "Anna. Please don't tell anyone I talked to you." "Of course, Anna. Is there anything you can tell me that might help me get out of here?" Anna's eyes widened, and she took a step back. "I-I don't know anything. I'm just here to work." The door clicked shut
By the time Antonio and I got back to the estate, I was beyond exhausted. The only thing keeping me standing was pure adrenaline. "Joseph, you need to rest," Antonio said, his voice thick with concern. "Rest? How can I rest?" I snapped. "My wife is out there, pregnant with my child, and all we have is a boat that's been turned into a floating morgue." Antonio sighed heavily. "We'll find her," he assured me, his own eyes filled with a steely determination. "But you're no good to her if you're dead." I knew he was right, but the thought of Selena in the hands of those monsters was eating me alive. I stumbled into my office, the room where I had made countless deals and taken so many lives, and slammed the door shut. I needed to think, to plan, to find a way to get her back. "If I don't have her Antonio, I might as well be dead. She taught me how to live life. She is carrying my child. I promised her that I would protect her and I have failed her." Antonio nodded, understandi
Regardless of how much pain I am in, the only thing I can think about is Selena. She is innocent in all of this and so is our baby. Salvatore will pay for what he has done to me and to my family. When we arrive at the warehouse, it almost looks abandoned. My men, armed and ready, fan out around the perimeter, each one sticking to the shadows. My breath is ragged, my chest a constant throb of pain, but the thought of Selena and our baby pushes me forward. The sound of distant voices and the occasional shout echo against the metal walls. We move swiftly and silently, the tension thick. As we approach a side door, I catch the faint whiff of something sweet—Selena's favorite perfume. A flicker of hope ignites within me. "Break it down," I whisper to the men surrounding me. The door gives way with a crash, the sound echoing through the silent warehouse. We spread out, our footsteps barely make a sound as we search the vast space, our eyes peeled for any sign of her. The first fe