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
As I took a seat at the table, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the family on my shoulders. The Rossi name was synonymous with power and responsibility, and now Selena was part of that burden. Yet, every time I looked at her, I felt something different. It was a warmth, a feeling that was alien to the cold, calculating world of the mafia. Her beauty was undeniable, but it was her resilience that truly captivated me. Despite the hand she'd been dealt, she remained strong. The urge to protect her, to claim her as mine was growing stronger by the second. It was confusing, to say the least. As Don of the Rossi family, my life had always been about power, loyalty, and control. Emotions were a weakness, something to be kept in check. Yet, Selena had waltzed into my world and thrown it into chaos. I couldn’t ignore the way my heart raced whenever she was near, the way my body reacted to her presence. It was like nothing I had ever felt before. I sat at the head of the table, my t
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