I hate myself for raising my voice with Selena. It hurts to think that she thinks so little of herself. This is another reason that I would love to end George Mariani. But that’s for later. I called a meeting with my Capos about the Columbians. We need to handle this situation delicately. I knew that I had to go myself to negotiate with them, to ensure that Selena would not be given to them, not under any circumstances. I walked into the conference room, the heavy oak door closing with a thud that echoed the finality of my thoughts. My Capos were already there, waiting for me, their faces etched with concern. "Gentlemen," I said, my voice a calm contrast to the tumult in my chest, "We have a situation." The room grew tense as I laid out the details of George Mariani's treachery. I could feel their anger, their loyalty to the family, and the protectiveness I have towards Selena, who had so quickly become a symbol of innocence in our corrupt world. "We need to handle this with p
I chose Antonio to accompany me, not just for his loyalty, but because he was the only one who knew Selena's true value to me. "Remember, Antonio," I said, as we drove through the darkened streets of the city, "You are my right hand. Stay alert and do not react unless absolutely necessary." The warehouse was a grim place, which had long been abandoned. Torres was a snake, a man who got off on the misery of others, and I knew that this meeting would be a tug of war of words and power. Antonio and I arrived in a plain black sedan, the engine running quietly as we stepped out. We were met by a sea of armed men, their eyes cold and their intentions clear. We were searched thoroughly before being led into a dimly lit room where Torres sat, surrounded by his own men. The tension was like a coiled spring waiting to snap. As we approached, Torres's gaze swept over us. The corner of his mouth twitched upwards in a predatory smile. "Rossi," he greeted, his voice full of insincerity . "To
I was sitting on sofa in the library when Joseph walked in. He had been gone a while. I had stayed here in case I could see him again. We still haven't had an opportunity to have a talk about my whole situation here. I took one look at his face and knew something was wrong. "What is it, Joseph?" she asked, closing her book with a soft thud. He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for words that could convey the gravity of what had just transpired. "Selena," he began, his voice tight with tension, "I need you to trust me." Maybe Joseph has changed his mind about me taking my classes and I am going to be a maid after all. He sat down beside me, his posture stiff. "There's something I need to discuss with you, Selena," he said, his eyes avoiding mine. "It's about your future here." My heart began to race. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep the fear from my voice. "Have you changed your mind about me being a maid?" He took my hand, his grip f
As Don of this family, I should not care about a young girl's tears, but I do. Seeing Selena cry and know that I am the cause of it, tears at my very soul. There is a knock at my office door, and it has to be Antonio. "Enter." I wasn't really in the mood for a conversation, but it has been coming since we left the meeting with Torres. Antonio walked in, his expression a mix of concern and loyalty. He knew me well enough to gauge my moods, and he knew better than to say anything that wasn't necessary. "Don Joseph," he began, his voice formal despite our friendship. "The preparations for Selena's protection are in place. We have men watching the perimeter and the house at all times." "Good," I said, my eyes never leaving Selena's retreating figure. "I want her guarded 24/7, understand? No one, not even George, gets near her without my permission." Antonio nodded; his expression grim. "Of course, Don Joseph." He knew better than to question my orders regarding Selena. "May I spea
In three weeks, I am going to be married to Joseph. I have no idea what that really means. I have never had a mother around to tell me about relationships and how they work. I have never even been out on a date. I have never even really talked to a guy unless it was at the bodega, which really doesn't count. The only person I have to talk to about all of this is Marta and I hate to have to ask her about these things. It's embarrassing that I know absolutely nothing about men. But I need to know. I need to understand what is expected of me. So, with a deep breath, I sit down next to Marta in the kitchen while she is making dinner. "I need to talk to you about something," I say, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "Of course, mia cara," she says, setting down her knife and looking at me with kind eyes. "What's on your mind?" I take a deep breath, my heart pounding. "The marriage," I whisper, glancing around the room to ensure no one else can hear. "What... what does it mean?"
I have missed my mother so much since she passed away. Planning a wedding would have been something she would have loved. She would love Selena and be happy that I was settling down. The part she would not be happy about is the circumstances of this marriage. She would want me to find the love that her and father had. I think that could happen, but it is going to take a lot of work for me to convince Selena that I am a good man. I knew that Selena was feeling the weight of the situation, so I decided to give her space, hoping she would come around to the idea of marriage. But as the days passed, her anxiety grew, and I could see it in her eyes. She avoided me at every turn, and when she did speak, it was with a formality that felt like a knife in my heart. I knew that I had to do something to make her feel more comfortable. It was during breakfast that Marta approached me, her eyes filled with concern. She whispered, "Selena is not okay," and my stomach dropped. "What do you mea
The dinner was simple but elegant, and I began to relax the more we talked. I had never had wine before, and I was feeling a little funny. Joseph asked me to dance and I was embarrassed to tell him that I didn't know how. "Come, Selena," he said, standing up and holding out his hand. "dance with me." I stared at him, my heart racing. "I don't know how to dance," I confessed, feeling my cheeks heat up even more than the wine had made them. "Don't worry," he said, his voice gentle. "I'll lead." He pulled me up from the chair, his strong hands guiding me to the center of the room. He was so close that I could feel the heat radiating from his body, and I was suddenly very aware of his nearness. The wine had loosened my inhibitions, and I allowed myself to be drawn into the moment, closing my eyes and leaning into him. As the music filled the library, he began to move, and I stumbled after him, trying to keep up with the rhythm. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close as we
The days leading up to the wedding were a whirlwind of activity. Dress fittings, meetings with caterers, and endless planning filled every moment. Yet, amidst the chaos, I made time to check in on Selena, always asking if there was anything she needed. I wanted to do everything I could to ease any anxiety she was feeling. Antonio had been keeping his ears open for anything brewing with the cartel. Deal or not, I did not trust Torres one bit. "Selena, I have to go out," I told her one evening as we sat in the library, her nose buried in a book, and me, going through paperwork. I have been spending most of my evenings with her. She was only one more class away from finishing her studies. She wanted to get it done before the wedding. I was so proud of her for how hard she has been working. Her eyes looked up at me with a hint of sadness, "Where are you going?" "Just a meeting," I said, trying to keep my tone casual. "It's nothing for you to worry about." Selena nodded but I c
As the sun rose, we made our escape, Lorenzo bound and gagged in the trunk of the car. The city was waking up, oblivious to the war that had ravaged its underbelly through the night. The ride to the airport was tense, each of us lost in our thoughts. For Selena, it was grief and anger. For me, it was the need to end this nightmare and bring peace to our family.The aircraft was a stark contrast to the chaos we left behind—sleek, white, and gleaming. We boarded, Lorenzo still bound, surrounded by my most trusted men. The flight to Sicily was long and silent, the weight of our mission hanging over us like a dark cloud.The DeAngelo were waiting for us as the jet's engines roared to a halt. Their eyes fell on Lorenzo, and I could see the fury boiling beneath their calm exteriors. They knew the gravity of his treachery, the depth of the wound he had inflicted on our alliance. "Welcome home," Don De Angelos said, his voice cold as ice. "We have been waiting for this day."We escorted Loren
As dawn broke, the house was alive with the sound of preparations. The Capos had arrived, each one a grim reminder of the battle ahead. They whispered in hushed tones, their eyes filled with a silent vow to avenge my attempted murder. Antonio approached, his expression a mix of determination and sorrow. "It's time," he said simply, handing me a gun.The journey to Lorenzo's compound was a blur of adrenaline and rage. The streets of New York were a canvas of shadows and neon, the city's heartbeat pulsating through the car's windows. We were a convoy of darkness, a formidable force closing in on our prey. The compound loomed ahead, a fortress of concrete and steel, surrounded by a wall that seemed to taunt us with its impenetrability. But we had a plan, and we had the element of surprise.As we approached, the quiet was shattered by the roar of engines and the squeal of tires. The gates of the compound exploded in a shower of sparks and metal as we crashed through, guns blazing. The air
When the plan finally landed in Chicago, I was completely numb. How was I supposed to the raise the children without him? How was I going to survive without Joseph? When I saw him pushed into that water, a part of me drowned with him. But as the plane touched down, the reality of my situation slapped me across the face. I had to be strong for Isabella and Michael. They were my world now, and I had to keep them safe, just as Joseph had wanted. The airport was a blur of faces and noises, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the echo of his final words. I found Dante waiting for me, his expression a mix of relief and sorrow. "I can't believe it," he said, his voice thick with emotion as he enveloped me in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Rossi." I nodded, my eyes glassy with unshed tears. "Thank you for watching over the babies," I murmured, my voice barely audible. Dante led me to a black SUV, the tinted windows ensuring our privacy. Inside, the twins were
As we pulled up to the safe house, the headlights cut through the night, illuminating the tension etched into the faces of my men waiting outside. They had heard the news and knew the gravity of our situation. I could see the question in their eyes—what now? "Spread the word," I instructed Antonio as I stepped out of the car, my teeth chattering from the cold. "All Capos need to be here by dawn. We're ending this." Antonio nodded, his gaze serious. "I'll handle it," he said before disappearing into the night. The warmth of the shower did little to thaw the ice that had formed around my heart. The water pounded against my skin, but it was the images of Selena's distraught face and the twins' innocent eyes that haunted me. I had to be strong for them, had to keep the promise I had made. I had to end Lorenzo's reign of terror. As I stepped out, a towel wrapped around my waist, the cold air in the bathroom was a stark reminder of the icy waters that had almost claimed my life.
Now that Selena was heading out of town, I had to figure out what had happened to Joseph. I believe she saw him getting pushed into the water, but I will not accept that Joseph Rossi is dead until I see a body. I called my most trusted men, the ones that had been with me through thick and thin. We had to move fast. The docks were going to be a war zone if we didn't get to Lorenzo before he had a chance to regroup. As we approached the river's edge, my heart raced, thinking of my friend and his family. The thought of Selena and those babies alone in the world without him was unbearable. We had to find him. The water was a dark, ominous presence, reflecting the moon's glow in a macabre dance of light and shadow. My men fanned out, searching the banks with flashlights, their faces grim with the gravity of the task at hand. We had to find Joseph before it was too late. A splash, faint but unmistakable, broke the silence. My head snapped towards the sound, and I saw a figure strugglin
The water's icy embrace was a stark reminder of the promise I had made to Joseph. If something like this ever happened, if our world came crumbling down around us, I was to leave and protect our twins. The weight of his words from our last conversation bore into me, a promise that felt like a noose tightening around my neck. As I watched the dark river swallow him whole, the air left my lungs. The world around me grew hazy, the sounds of the city muffled by the roaring in my ears. I knew what I had to do, but the thought of leaving him, leaving this fight, was unbearable. Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the salty breeze. I took a step back, my body screaming to run to him, to save him. But the promise I had made to Joseph weighed heavily on my heart. He had made me swear to protect our children, no matter what happened. And now, as I stood there, my feet rooted to the spot, I knew that I had to honor that promise. With a final, desperate look at the churning river, I turn
Joseph should have been back by now. It has been two hours since we talked. I feel so helpless. I can't sit still in this house any longer, not knowing what's happening out there. I can't ignore the fear gnawing at my stomach, the cold sweat on my palms. I have to do something. Grabbing my phone, I dial Marco's number, praying for an answer. It rings once, twice, three times—then, finally, a crackling sound, followed by his labored breath. "Marco? Where are you?" "Selena...I'm...hurt," he gasps. "We need...help." My heart skips a beat. "Where are you?" I demand, fear lacing every word. Marco's voice is weak, but determined. "The warehouse...Lorenzo...got Joseph." My world spins as the words hit me like a sledgehammer. "No," I whisper, the reality of the situation crashing down on me. "Where are you?" "Alley," he manages to say, before the line goes dead. The weight of the silence is suffocating, my thoughts racing with fear. I can't lose Joseph. I won't. With t
Marco's footsteps grew heavier, his breathing more labored. "Boss," he grunted, "I can't go much farther." I knew we had to find a way out—for him, for Selena, for our twins. I scanned the room, searching for an exit, a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. Then, I spotted it: a faint light seeping through a cracked door at the far end of the warehouse. "Marco, hold on," I whispered, my eyes never leaving the light. "We're going to get out of here." We stumbled towards the light, bullets whizzing by like angry bees. The pain in my side grew more intense with every step, but I pushed through it, adrenaline coursing through my veins. We reached the door, and I kicked it open, revealing a dimly lit alleyway. The cold air hit us like a slap in the face, but it was the sweetest relief. Marco leaned against the wall, his face pale and sweaty. "We did it," he panted, his voice tinged with disbelief. But our victory was short-lived. The alley was a dead end, and the sound of footst
The world around us stilled, the echo of gunfire fading into the distance. His men had ceased their pursuit, their eyes locked on their leader's prize. I could feel the weight of his gun pressing into my back, the cold steel a reminder of the power he held over me. "Drop the gun, Joseph," Lorenzo ordered, his voice low and dangerous. "Or I'll make sure Selena watches you bleed out." My heart skipped a beat at the thought of Selena in danger. I knew I couldn't risk it. With a heavy sigh, I released my grip on the weapon, letting it clatter to the ground. The sound seemed to resonate through the alleyway, a symbol of my defeat. Or so Lorenzo thought. "Good boy," he said, his grip loosening slightly. "Now, let's go for a little walk." He dragged me through the alley, the cold steel of his pistol digging into my side. I had to find a way out of this. "Lorenzo," I said, keeping my voice calm, "You don't have to do this. We can end this now." He sneered in response, pullin