"Antonio, gather everyone we can trust," I instructed, my mind racing with the potential consequences of this war. "We need to be ready for anything." The house was a hive of activity as the loyalists of the Rossi Family descended upon the safe house. The air was thick with tension and the smell of fear. We had to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. "We need to get the twins out of the city," Selena said, her eyes wide with fear. "They're not safe here." I nodded, my thoughts racing. "I agree. We'll send them to my aunt's in Chicago. They'll be safe there, and it'll be harder for the Sicilians to track them." As we made arrangements for the twins' evacuation, the gravity of the situation settled upon us like a dark cloud. The war was no longer about just the Family's power; it had become personal. The safety of Selena and the twins was paramount. The house phone rang, and the room went silent. I picked it up, my hand shaking. The voice on the other end was cold, calculated,
Selena Mariani I wonder if I will ever be delivered from the hell that I have to live everyday. My dad has been a drunk ever since my mother walked out on us. I was only five when I realized that my dad was not like other dads. I had to clean up his messes. There were times I could not even go to school because I did not have any clothes to wear that fit. I knew that if social services got involved my dad would be angry and take it out on me. Things got worse when my dad became involved with the mafia. It was a way to work off his gambling debts. I was worried that one night he would not come home because he had gotten into deep with the mafia. That fear became a reality when my dad walked in with Joseph Rossi, the most powerful mafia boss in the state. “Selena, pack your things, you are going to be living with Mr. Rossi from now on.” I did not understand what was going on. “Why dad? I do not understand why I am going to live with him.” Mr. Rossi cleared his throat “You are going to
I have never understood the saying ‘Heaven on Earth.’ I know that I am in my own living hell. Ever since my mother walked out on me and my dad when I was five years old, life has been a struggle. I cannot even count how many times that I went to bed hungry. The only meals I would get would be at school. I may have been too young to understand a lot of things, but I knew that my life was not like the other kids in my class. My clothes were always too small or dirty. The kids were always so cruel to me in school because of my appearance. There were more times that I care to remember of just hiding in the closet in the classroom during lunch because I was the only one without anything to eat. I was laying on my small bed just staring up at the ceiling. How could I have ended up living a life like this. I am eighteen years old, and I have no way out of this life. I will never understand how a mother walks away from her only child. I understand, after living with my dad, as to why she wo
When Selena walked into the room, she took my breath away. I had seen her countless times walking outside of her apartment and I was attracted to her. Now that I am this close to her, I can see her real beauty. She had the most beautiful black hair, big green eyes, and porcelain skin. She had the rare natural beauty that did not need makeup. She looked perfect in my eyes. Just thinking about her being sold to the Colombians creates a rage inside of me that makes me want to kill her father right here. I would enjoy slitting his throat and watching his blood stain the carpet. He does not deserve to be a father to Selena. “Dad, what is going on?” I could hear the quiver in her voice. I guess it should be expected. I doubt that she had figured on her father coming home with two very large men. Her voice may show her fear, but her eyes showed a strength that has taken me by surprise. For a girl so young, she has a fiery spirit. Just the thought of that fiery spirit beneath me in my bed
Just when I thought my life could not get any harder, it just did. My father would never win any parent of the year awards, but this was beyond anything that I thought he was capable of. I am being used as collateral for his gambling debts. I am basically being sold into servitude to a mafia Don as a maid. Considering dad’s debt is pretty large, I will be a maid for the rest of my life. I could feel Joseph’s eyes on me the entire drive. It made me a little nervous but also gave me a warm feeling deep in my core that I had never felt before. I had never been alone with a man before. At least not this close together. I had been alone in the bodega with Mr. Antoine but that was pretty much it. I did not have any friends since I was no longer going to school. I never even spent time with any of my neighbors because either I was either working or I was at the library working on my courses. I am sure he was looking at me out of pity because of my circumstances, but I did not want
I hate to see a look of defeat on Selena’s face. She must see me as her captor at this point after everything that just happened. If she only knew the real truth. Her father did not deserve the protection I was giving him. I was only sparing his life because of his daughter. There was something that I could not figure out that was drawing me towards Selena, giving me this strong desire to protect her. To protect her even with my own life if necessary. It did not make any sense to me as to why I was having these feelings. I have had my share of women over the years, but I have never had any strong feelings for them. Never had I felt the need to protect any of them. Looking into her eyes I saw a fight in her that I think rivaled my own. I never want to see that fight in her eyes disappear. I needed a woman like her by my side that would stand up to anyone. So far, she seems to have come to terms with her fate, but I have a feeling deep in my soul that she truly has not come to term
Capo Vincent walked in and he did not look happy. "Don, I have spoken to our contact, Rafael. The Columbians are not backing down. They believe Selena is part of the deal. They're demanding she be handed over to them, or else they will consider it a breach of contract." His words sent a cold shiver down my spine. "What do they want in exchange?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. “Do they not understand this was not a deal brokered by the Rossi family?” Vincent took a deep breath. "They want what George promised them. They want Selena." My fists clenched under the table, the wood groaning under the pressure. The audacity of the Columbians was unbelievable. To think they could just come into my city and demand Selena like she was a commodity to be traded... it was infuriating. I had to keep a cool head, though. The family's future was at stake, and I couldn't let my personal feelings cloud my judgment. "Tell them they're wasting their time," I said, my voice a low growl. "Sele
Once we were upstairs, Marta showed me to the guest bathroom. The bathroom was bigger than my bedroom. I could have never even dreamed about anything like this. The warm water from the shower washed away the grime and fear of the day. I felt the tension in my muscles begin to ease. I had never smelled something as nice as the shampoo and body wash that was in the shower. My mind was racing with thoughts of escape, but she knew it was futile. The house was too secure, too many eyes watching my every move. Plus, I was so tired, tired all the way to my bones. As I stepped out of the shower, Marta handed me a soft towel. She was kind, her eyes filled with a motherly concern that was foreign to me. "Here, let me help you," she said, her voice gentle as she wrapped the towel around my body. She led me to a room that had been prepared for me, the bed freshly made with clean, crisp sheets that smelled of lavender. The room was the polar opposite to the cold, unfeeling apartment I was use
"Antonio, gather everyone we can trust," I instructed, my mind racing with the potential consequences of this war. "We need to be ready for anything." The house was a hive of activity as the loyalists of the Rossi Family descended upon the safe house. The air was thick with tension and the smell of fear. We had to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. "We need to get the twins out of the city," Selena said, her eyes wide with fear. "They're not safe here." I nodded, my thoughts racing. "I agree. We'll send them to my aunt's in Chicago. They'll be safe there, and it'll be harder for the Sicilians to track them." As we made arrangements for the twins' evacuation, the gravity of the situation settled upon us like a dark cloud. The war was no longer about just the Family's power; it had become personal. The safety of Selena and the twins was paramount. The house phone rang, and the room went silent. I picked it up, my hand shaking. The voice on the other end was cold, calculated,
The ride back to the city was a blur. My thoughts raced with the fear for Selena and the twins, and the anger at the audacity of the Sicilians to invade my home. My grip tightened on the gun in my hand, the cold metal grounding me as we sped through the early morning streets. When we arrived at the house, it was a scene of chaos. Men in black suits swarmed the property, their faces twisted in rage. "Take them down," I ordered my men, and the night air was filled with the roar of gunfire. The battle was intense, the sound of bullets whizzing by, the smell of gunpowder stinging our nostrils. We fought with everything we had, our loyalty to the Family fueling our every move. The Sicilian mafia was formidable, but they had underestimated our determination. As we pushed through the house, I could hear Selena's cries for help, echoing through the halls like a siren's call. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a drum of rage and fear. We found the panic room, the door splintered
The capos looked at each other, their expressions a mix of anger and sadness. The room was thick with tension, and I could feel the anticipation building like a storm about to break. "You both leave me no choice," I continued, my voice hard as steel. "For the crimes you have committed against the Rossi Family, I hereby sentence you to death." Vincenzo's smirk fell, and for the first time, fear flickered in his eyes. "You don't have the guts," he murmured. "You're wrong," I said, my voice cold and unwavering. "I have more than enough." With a nod to my most trusted capo, the two men were forced to their knees, the blindfolds secured tightly over their eyes. They had no idea what was coming, and that was the way it had to be. The room was silent. The only light came from a single bulb swinging overhead, casting shadows across the concrete floor. I stepped closer to Vincenzo, my hand reaching for the gun at my side. "This is your last chance," I whispered. "Confess your si
Eleven hours later, I had Vincenzo and Salvatore back in New York. I had called ahead for all of the Capos to meet. This is the first Il bacio della morte (kiss of death) that I have seen in my lifetime. I had heard rumors of a few during my grandfather's reign as Don, but none since. The jet's engines wound down to a quiet purr, and the door opened, letting in the cold night air. The two traitors stumbled out, bruised and beaten but still alive. The other capos had arrived, and they watched in silence as Vincenzo and Salvatore were brought before them. "This is not how we do things," one of the capos spoke up, his voice filled with disgust. "This is not our way." "Our way is to protect our Family," I said, my tone leaving no room for debate. "And they," I nodded towards Vincenzo and Salvatore, "have betrayed us all." The capos murmured among themselves, but I could see the understanding in their eyes. They knew what had to be done. They knew the gravity of the situation.
Vittoria's smile was knowing. "There's always a catch," she said. "But I believe our interests align, Joseph. For now, let us focus on the task at hand." The plan was simple yet risky. We would strike at night, when the guards were least expecting it. We would have to be swift and precise, leaving no room for error. Antonio and my men nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "We leave at dusk," I told them. "Be ready." The hours ticked by, each one feeling like a year as we waited for nightfall. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we made our way to the warehouse where the shipment was rumored to be hidden. The tension was palpable as we approached, our footsteps silent on the cobblestone streets. The warehouse was a fortress, surrounded by armed men. But we had the element of surprise and a map of the premises provided by Vittoria's spies. We moved with the shadows, our eyes peeled for any signs of danger. Inside, the air was thi
That night, I went to our room, where Selena was cradling Isabella and Michael. They were both fast asleep, their tiny chests rising and falling in unison. Selena looked up at me, her eyes filled with love and warmth. "Selena, I have to leave for Sicily tomorrow," I said, my voice thick with dread. Her eyes widened in shock, and she sat up straighter. "Why?" she asked, her grip on the babies tightening. "We have to find Salvatore and put an end to this," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Vincenzo has been working with him. They think I'm dead, so I have the element of surprise." Selena's eyes searched mine, a mix of fear and confusion. "But what about us? The babies? Why can't we come with you?" I sighed heavily, stroking her cheek. "It's too dangerous for you and the twins," I explained. "This is something I have to do alone. But I promise I will come back to you." Selena's eyes filled with tears, and she leaned into my touch. "I don't want you to go," she
George swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for a way out. "Salvatore has a mole," he began, his voice low. "Someone inside the Family has been feeding him information." My heart skipped a beat. A mole? This was new information. "Who?" George smirked, enjoying the power of his words. "Someone you trust." My mind raced through the members of the Family, trying to pinpoint who could be capable of such treachery. "You need to be more specific," I growled. He leaned back in his chair, his chains rattling against the metal frame. "Someone very close to you," he taunted. "Someone who has access to your every move and decision." I felt a knot form in my stomach. Could it be one of my own? Someone who had been by my side all these years? "Name them," I demanded, my voice like thunder. George took a deep breath, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "It's your uncle," he said, watching my reaction closely. "Vincenzo Rossi." The room seemed to
"I need to go deal with George," I said, reluctance heavy in my voice. Selena nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know," she whispered. "But promise me one thing." "Anything," I said, kissing her forehead. "Promise me that you will make him pay for what he did to me and my mother," Selena's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes pleading. I tightened my hold on her, feeling her pain. "I promise," I said, my voice filled with resolve. "He will pay for his sins. He will never harm you or our family again." With a final, lingering kiss, I pulled away from Selena and dressed, my thoughts already racing to the task at hand. Having to deal with George was inevitable, but now it had a new edge of personal vendetta. I knew Selena's history with her father, and I knew the kind of man he was. The thought of him anywhere near our children angered me. As I walked through the quiet halls of the estate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of victory and relief. We had him. The man who h
The next few days were a blur of strategy and tension. We moved from the bunker to a safe house in the countryside, far from the prying eyes of the city. The twins were blissfully unaware of what was going on around them, cooing and crying and filling our lives with a love that made the darkness outside feel a little less overwhelming. I have always had the Family to fight for but now I had more to fight for - Selena and our children. "Antonio, what's your opinion on our next move?" I asked, pacing the living room of the safe house, my eyes never leaving the baby monitor. Selena was finally asleep. The love I feel for this woman is more than I had ever expected to happen. Antonio looked up from the map he was studying. "We need to draw him out," he said, tapping a spot on the map with a thick finger. "He won't come to us willingly." "Agreed," I said, my eyes narrowing. "But how?" Antonio leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "We need bait he can't resist. Som