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
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
Standing on this stage on display was so humiliating. I have had to endure Torres being inside of me every night and now I will go to some man that will most likely be worse. The auctioneer called for bids on me, and the room grew quiet, but it was like the silence before the storm. The anticipation was thick, and I could almost taste it in the air. The first bid came in, and it was high. I was worth a fortune to these perverts. The bids grew higher, and I felt a strange sense of pride that I was worth so much to them. As the numbers climbed, so did my anxiety. The thought of leaving this stage and going to some stranger's arms made me sick. The bidding grew frantic, hands shooting up in the air, each bid a declaration of ownership over my body and my unborn child. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the final price called out. Five million dollars. For me. It was an astronomical sum that seemed to echo the gravity of the situation. The room was tense, the silence so thick y
I wanted to go back home with Selena, but I had promised myself and the other families that Torres would be dealt with. We were all on the same page as far as the sex trafficking was concerned. This was not a business we would allow to happen in our city. I had vengeance that needed to be delivered to Torres. I watched Selena disappear into the night in the back of the SUV, her eyes filled with fear and hope. My chest tightened, but I knew this was the right choice. I turned back to the room, my gaze finding Torres'. His expression was a mix of shock and anger, his plans unraveling before his eyes. The crowd parted for us as we made our way back to the stage. "We have unfinished business," I said to him, my voice echoing through the stunned silence. The guards looked at Torres for orders. He stepped down from the stage, his eyes never leaving mine. The tension in the room was a living, breathing entity, wrapping itself around us like a python. "You're a dead man, Rossi," he spa
Being back home, feels so good. I feel like I have been gone for a lifetime. Marta was the first to greet me when I walked in the door. "Thank God, you're okay!" she exclaimed, her eyes brimming with tears. "I have been so worried about you!" Her warm embrace was healing all the way to my soul. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to lean into her comfort, the weight of the past few months momentarily lifted from my shoulders. "Let's get you cleaned up," she said gently, her eyes scanning my bruises. "You need rest, and then we'll talk about what happened." Her kindness was needed after the horrors I had endured, and I felt a surge of gratitude. I allowed Marta to guide me to the bathroom, her strong arms supporting my shaking body. As I stepped under the hot shower, the water washed away not just the grime of my captivity but also the fear and anger that had been my constant companions. The warmth soothed my bruises and eased the tension in my muscles, allowing me to breathe
Finally, things are right again. Selena is home where she belongs. I am finally able to see how she is growing with my child in her belly. "Selena," I whispered, my voice hoarse with emotion as I held her tightly. Her eyes searched my own, looking for something. Assurance maybe. "I killed him," I said, my voice low. "Torres is gone. He can never hurt you again." The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Selena just stared at me, her eyes wide. Then, she collapsed into my arms, her body shaking with sobs. I held her tight, feeling her warmth, her heartbeat, and the life growing inside her. The baby we had made together, the one that had kept me going through all this. We stood there, not moving, just breathing, feeling each other's presence. The smell of gunpowder still clung to my clothes. But for now, all that mattered was Selena and the baby. "He told me that you were dead. I didn't want to go on without you." Her voice was muffled against my chest, but the pain in her wor
But tomorrow came too soon, and with it, Selena's nightmares. They plagued her sleep, leaving her screaming and thrashing in the night. Each time she woke up, I held her tightly, whispering reassurances into her ear, feeling her body tremble with fear and pain. The house was silent except for the occasional hushed sobs that Selena couldn't hold back. I knew she was trying to be strong for me, for us, but the weight of her ordeal was too much to bear alone. Her nightmares were a constant reminder of what she had suffered, a dark stain on the fabric of our happiness. Both Marta and I are very concerned as to how this is affecting the pregnancy. Selena is only a couple of months away from delivery. "We need to get you some help," I said to Selena one morning as she sat at the breakfast table, her eyes dark from another restless night. "You can't keep going like this." Her hand tightened around the mug of tea. "I'm okay," she said, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her. "You'
I found Antonio in his office, his eyes weary from the constant vigilance that came with being my right-hand man. "We need to talk," I said, my voice low and urgent. He looked up from the documents scattered on his desk, the concern in his gaze immediately evident. "What's going on, boss?" "What have you found out about Salvatore? Is he still in Sicily?" Antonio nodded. "Yes, boss. He's laying low, but he's definitely there. We've had eyes on him since he left." "Good," I said, my hand clenching into a fist. "Let him stay there. I don't want any trouble before Selena gives birth. After that, we deal with him. But I want to make sure he doesn't leave Sicily alive." Antonio nodded solemnly. "Understood, boss. We'll keep tabs on him. In the meantime, we've been strengthening our alliances with the other Families, ensuring everyone knows we stand united against any retribution from Torres's men." "And the ports?" I asked, my mind racing with the strategic implications. "Has th
The night before the meeting with the De Angelos, Selena and I sat on the balcony overlooking the city we had sworn to protect. The stars above were a stark contrast to the shadowy streets below, a reminder of the dichotomy of our lives. "We can do this," she said, her voice soft but strong. I took her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin against my own. "We will," I promised. "For our children, and for the future we've worked so hard to build." Our gazes locked, the love between us as unshakeable as the concrete jungle beneath our feet. Together, we had faced , and we knew this was just another challenge to overcome. The following day, the De Angelos arrived at our mansion, their presence a stark reminder of the alliances we had forged over the years. Their leader, Don Carlo De Angelos, walked in with an air of authority that matched my own, his eyes taking in the tension that hung in the air. "My dear friends," he said, his voice filled with concern. "What brings y
We sat in the nursery, holding each other, until the early light of dawn began to peek through the windows. The storm outside had passed, leaving the city washed clean and ready for a new day. Our hearts, however, remained heavy with the weight of our son's words. The following days were filled with tension, as Selena and I navigated the delicate dance of family dynamics and mafia politics. Michael was distant, often leaving the house early and returning late, his mind clearly preoccupied with the burdens he felt as the soon-to-be Don. Isabella, torn between her love for her brother and her loyalty to us, tried her best to mediate, but the divide grew wider with each passing moment. In private, Selena and I discussed our strategy, our voices hushed so as not to carry beyond the confines of our suite. "We must be firm," she said, her eyes gleaming with determination. "We can't let him believe that love is weakness." "Agreed," I replied, stroking her belly gently. "But we must
Isabella looked between us before slowly leaving the room, her gaze lingering on Michael, a silent plea for her brother to come to his senses. The moment the door clicked shut, the dam holding back my anger broke. "You dare to question my love for your mother, for our unborn child?" I roared, slamming my fist on the desk. "You dare to speak of survival as if love and family are weaknesses?" Michael flinched but held his ground. "Father, you're not seeing the big picture," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "This isn't about us, it's about the Family. We need a leader who will make the hard decisions, not one who is blinded by emotion." I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. "You think I don't make hard decisions?" I leaned forward, my eyes boring into his. "Every day I wake up with the weight of this city on my shoulders. Every day I make choices that could mean life or death for those I love." "But this isn't about you," Michael said, his voice ris
The whispers grew into a murmur as the Families watched the confrontation unfold, the room buzzing with tension. Selena’s eyes searched mine, her hand trembling as she tried to process Michael’s outburst. The baby, once a whisper of joy, had become a battle cry for a struggle we hadn’t anticipated.I hated the sadness in Selena's eyes. She was holding up the best she could until the guests started to leave the party."Let's go to our room," I suggested, my arm around her waist. She nodded, her steps heavy with the weight of Michael's words.Once we were alone, Selena sank onto the bed, her hands covering her face. "I can't believe this," she sobbed. "Our own son, telling us to... to end our baby's life."I sat beside her, pulling her into an embrace. "He has some explaining to do to me, my love. I have not completely stepped down as Don, and will not allow him to talk like that to you."Selena's sobs grew quieter, her body relaxing slightly into my embrace. "Joseph, make love to me?
Selena and I turned to face the twins, our hearts racing with excitement and trepidation. Their eyes searched ours, looking for the answer to the unasked question. With a deep breath, Selena announced, "Michael, Isabella, we have something to tell you." The twins looked at us, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. "Mom, Dad," Michael spoke first, his eyes searching ours for a clue, "what is it?" Selena took a deep breath and spoke with a smile that could illuminate the darkest of nights. "We're going to have another baby," she said, her voice filled with a softness that seemed to make the very air around us quiver with joy. Michael's expression froze, his eyes widening slightly before a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. He was silent for a moment, his gaze flitting from Selena to me and back again. "Another baby?" he finally echoed, his voice low and measured. Isabella, on the other hand, lit up like a Christmas tree. "Oh my God!" she squealed, rushi
Selena and I dance, our hearts light despite the gravity of the day's events. Our eyes meet and we share a knowing smile, a silent acknowledgment of the journey we've taken together. The whispers of our love story have grown into a legend that has inspired not just our Family, but the entire city. Our partnership, once a secret, is now the foundation upon which our children will build their reign. The whispers of change continue to echo through the grand hall, a gentle reminder that our work is never truly done. The city is safer, the Families more united, but there are always those who seek to disrupt the peace. Our children will face challenges we could never have imagined, but we have faith in their strength and wisdom. They have been taught to rule with love and compassion, to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to never lose sight of the legacy we've worked so hard to forge. But amidst the celebration, Selena pulls me aside, her eyes filled with a secret she can n
It’s time for me to step down as Don and let my children take over. He and Isabella are now twenty-one and it’s time for them to take over the Rossi family. Over the years, sometimes against Selena’s wishes Isabella has been trained to be an equal with Michael in running the family. Selena’s gaze meets mine, filled with a mix of pride and fear. We’ve raised them to be strong, to be leaders, but the world is still a dangerous place. The whispers of our past are now just whispers, but we know the reality of the mafia is never truly silenced. We’ve built a legacy of peace and prosperity, but the shadows of our history lurk, waiting for an opportunity to reclaim what we’ve worked so hard to change. The twins stand before us, poised and ready. Michael, with his sharp intellect and unyielding resolve, a mirror of his father. Isabella, with her mother’s grace and strategic mind, a force to be reckoned with. They are the embodiment of our love, our hope for the future. Together, they will
The room fell quiet as the gravity of his words sank in. Selena's hand tightened in mine, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Our love had been tested by fire, forged in the crucible of fear and betrayal, but it had never wavered. From the moment I claimed her as my own, she had been the beacon that guided me through the darkness. One by one, the Family members approached us, their expressions a mix of awe and gratitude. They had seen the horrors of the mafia firsthand, the lives lost and the hearts broken in the quest for power and vengeance. But our story, our unyielding bond, had given them a glimpse of something else—a possibility of redemption and peace in a world that seemed to offer only bloodshed. Selena's eyes met mine, and I knew she felt the same hope swelling within her chest. Our love had been a catalyst for change, a reminder that amidst the chaos, there were moments of purity and beauty worth fighting for. We had survived the storm, and now, together, we would lead
"Marta, how am I supposed to go on without Joseph? The babies will never know how wonderful he was." I was trying so hard to hold back my tears, but they just would not stop flowing. "Selena, you're stronger than you know," Marta's voice was firm yet gentle. "You have the twins to live for, and Joseph's spirit will live on in them. Besides, we still have hope." Her words lingered in the air, hinting at something unspoken. My eyes searched hers, looking for a glimmer of what she wasn't saying. "What do you mean?" "The twins are a part of him, Selena," she said, her gaze never wavering. "And as long as you carry his legacy within you, so does he live. You must find the strength to keep going, not just for them, but for yourself." Her words resonated within me, a gentle reminder of the resilience that had carried me through so much already. I took a deep breath, willing the pain to subside, and nodded. "You're right," I murmured. "For Isabella and Michael, I will." "Marta, we need