ARIANA’S POV~
“My father is a beast, yes I said it, a beast and a terrorist, a rapist and every other evil and vile thing the criminals do in Italy! I hate him” I said, holding the paper in my hands and shaking with anger as I ruffled it and threw it to the floor.
“I hate home, and I never want to go back, my life since moving to Malta has been nothing short of beautiful, the handsome waiter I met last week, finally wants to take me on a nice date, somewhere fancy but instead I've been summoned home by my father,” I said as I threw my handbag to the couch and slumped into it.
“TONIGHT!” I screamed, “And that ASSHOLE will also be there”
My cousin and best friend in the world, Fiona sat beside me as I cried continuously.
“If you refuse this, I'm sure you will be dragged to the plane” she said, sounding sorry for me as she picked up the paper to read its content.
“I thought when my father said ‘Do whatever you want, I don't want to see your pathetic face around.’ He meant it, what could this man need me for, I'm done with that life, I want to be done Fiona” I cried into the couch pillow.
“Look on the bright side, at least he will unfreeze the account now, and we can pay for the apartment we wanted, just go to the party, and come back, it's just tonight right, it doesn't say you have to sleep over,” she said rubbing my shoulder lightly before lying on it.
“I know it's hard girl, but you will get through it, c’mon let's help you get a dress, you are still the beautiful eccentric Ariana Rinaldi, you have to stick it to your stepsisters, you know they will be there, with their gawking eyes,” she said ruffling my hair and pulling me to stand on my feet,
Which I did reluctantly.
“I don't want to go, I wish I could tell them a train hit me or something” I said, shaking my head in protest.
“Not a chance, come on, let's go to La Perla Maltese boutique” she said, coming to pull me to the door.
3 hours later I was heading home to Italy to attend this party my father had decided to throw for my asshole adopted brother Matteo.
His name sent waves of pure irritation down my spine as I shrugged the thought of him from my mind. I hate him, with every fibre of my being, he is an asshole and I'm glad everyone sees it now.
A rotten bastard, my father would call him in secret, so why is he throwing this elaborate party for him and why should I be in the midst of all these old vile men?
I picked the invitation that had visibly been crumbled badly, and straightened it again, I read its content again, this time more clearly
You are cordially invited to an evening of intrigue and indulgence at the estate of the esteemed Don Vincenzo Rinaldi.
date: 30th of January 2023
Time: midnight until dawn
Location: Villa Rinaldi, nestled away amidst the shadows of Marina Verde.
Dress code: black for men, women are free to choose what enthrals them, with a hint of mystery.
Join us under the shield of the night, as we celebrate loyalty, life and the bonds of our fraternity. Revel in the finest cuisine, exquisite wines Sicily has to offer, and the temptations of forbidden pleasures.
But remember, within these walls, restraint is paramount, and the currency of the night is secrets, trust only those you know, for treachery carries severe consequences
The Rinaldi Family.
I looked at it with annoyance, these fake parties these men throw just to show who is more powerful, I was immediately disgusted.
It used to be my father, but now it seems Mateo is the new hotshot Don in town, calling all the shots, and my father didn't like it.
That must have cut deep into my papa, so why would he throw this party in his honour? And why do I have to be there?
Not after the last time he and my stepmother tricked me into offending Papa so much that I had to decide to leave Italy.
My father is like a vulture, he waits for you and then strikes.
Long after, I stepped out of the plane that I’d finished the process and I was home free.
All I could imagine was how I'd react to meeting that lying asshole again, and how fast I can't wait to get out of there.
My dad just picked the wrongest day to do this to me!
Just when Enzo finally asked me to be his girl, something I’d been hoping for.
I walked past the baggage claim and headed for the airport door.
As the door opened I took a deep breath, let out all the negative thoughts in my head and embraced a positive aura.
I smiled and as I did, a man carrying a fan passed me blowing the invitation from my hand.
I shrieked and leapt for it, I caught it before it could fly off and I steadied myself to land.
As I did I landed in the firm grip of a male airport police officer, his grip was much too tight to be friendly.
“Let go of me! what is this?” I inquired, my heart suddenly beating out of my chest.
“Are you Ariana Rinaldi?” he asked, looking intently at me, I looked at him in fright.
Do I deny my name right now or is this one of Papa’s men?
I decided to go with the daunting hope that it was the former.
“Yes, I am, what the hell is this?” I asked, jerking my arm from his grip, I watched as two female officers joined him, the blond one reached into her pocket to bring out what I hoped she was not!
“You are under Arrest for conspiring with Italian criminal and mafia don, Mateo Donatelli, to intentionally distribute hard drugs, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law” the male officer announced, gesturing to the blond officer to place the handcuff.
“What! He is just my adopted brother! I don't know anything about this!”
But they didn't care, I was already getting hurled out and tossed into the police car.
I haven't even properly landed, Mateo, you slimy piece of shit, and I already want to murder you!
Mateo’s pov~“Who arrested my useless daughter?” I heard my adopted father, Don Vincenzo Rinaldi thunder as I walked into his office.I stood far from his line of sight, I was not going to soil his mood further just when he was about to acknowledge me among the brotherhood.“What do you mean! What?” he yelled again slamming his cane on the glass table shattering it.I knew something would happen the moment I called Interpol officer, Pius Asissi’s bluff, it was good fun, something to irritate my father but I didnt know he would blow it out of proportion.He slammed the phone on the table, turned and lunged at me almost immediately.“You bastard! You got my daughter arrested!” he growled, “fix it! You get her out and bring her back here tonight! I will not be ridiculed by the other families, calling me weak for not putting my house in order! Or worse think im a snitch! Get her out and quietly, Or else you can kiss your recognition goodbye” he added before releasing my shirt and throwin
Ariana’s Pov~There he is again, in the shadows, peeking and lurking as always.He hasn't changed a bit.The sight of him irritated me I couldn't linger, I walked past him after a nice heartfelt “congratulations”I may be wearing just my undies but I'll make damn sure I move past him in demure.“You haven't apologised for pouring that distasteful coffee at me”I ignored him.He grabbed my arm and pulled me to him, “don't walk away from me when I'm speaking Bambino” he said holding my face in his big gruff murderous hands. I pushed him and he grabbed me again.“You asshole let me go” I grunted trying to free my arm from his strong grasp.“Why? Why should I let you go? you have grown over the years” he said looking at my chest and licking his lips.I used all my strength to evade him as I yanked myself free and bolted.A deranged Asshole, he smelled like alcohol too.Thankfully far away from him, I went into a spare room to change into the red gown.I straightened the red fabric to hi
Ariana’s pov~An hour later, Mateo walked out of my room without so much as a backward glance. the past 1 hour of my life had been a whirlwind I chose never to revisit, but I can't help but think that my body will not soon forgetThis man just left so casually after violating me.I held on to my pillows, sweaty and naked on my bed, my hair badly ruffled and the sheets torn beyond recognition.What just happened? Did I let this man do this to me? I just surrendered, just like Chaira did,I felt so sick to my stomach as a sudden feeling of nausea overtook me.This asshole, heartless bastard has just taken my virginity.Like it was nothing! I boiled inside me, I clenched my pillow tightly as I cried into it, I hate him so much, I wish he would die!I quickly gathered myself from my bed and went to the bathroom to soak myself in my own self-loathing.Moments later, I heard a loud knock on the door. I tied my towel and went out, curious to find who was at my door.“Open the door” my step
MATTEO’S POV~Just as swiftly as I heard Ariana’s voice, I turned around in time to catch the knife mid-air before it landed in my back, i hit it out of the hand of the brunette-haired girl that had escorted Silvio’s sister Sophia to this party, my “FATHER” threw for me.I quickly incapacitated her and grabbed the kitchen knife on the feast table and grabbed her hair, my bodyguards seeing this quickly armed up and pointed their guns at the Argentos.They feared no one, after all, I paid them heavily just to fear no fucking person.I knew my enemies would come, I expected it and I'm Always ready.Taking sips and Pretending to be drunk all night has been fun until I really got drunk, I slipped up and now I can't remember the last hour and a half.Silvio’s bodyguards had also drawn arms and faced me and the Rinaldi family, and in retaliation theirs also drew arms. , the entire room was now still as all three houses were now armed and fully ready for war, I smirked, I thought we had come
ARIANA’S POV~Let me give you light details of how the last month of my life felt like, I helped plan Mateo's wedding if you would imagine that, and all the while he didn't as much as look at me, I felt used, like a fool, I expected an apology for taking me so violently, but just like Chiara, I believed he had some sort of empathy in him.But he was a hateful scum, that God Fiona came back, she got an apartment out in the town, thankfully within visiting range. Mateo’s wedding had taken a very sad turn, his fiance Becky whom my stepmother had trained in the way of ‘I HATE ARIANA’ suddenly fell at her wedding, my father says it is some sort of autoimmune disease that creeps up on you and now she's in a vegetative state. father said it broke him, he started acting like the king of the world, fucked anyone he wanted, killed anyone he wanted, and bought whatever he wanted.After the trauma of seeing a woman’s throat get slit in front of me, it left me awake, dont get me wrong, I've seen
ARIANA’S POV~Not even my cousin Fiona was allowed to see me that week, she had been texting a lot since I shared the news of my pregnancy, and my phone was eventually taken from me.In a bid to search for the father of my child, but no luck.Oh God, I'm carrying Mateo’s child, I touched my belly in the mirror, closing my eyes and imagining an instant connection with my child.Tears started to stream down my face, this child will be born into chaos.What happens when Silvio finds out I'm carrying another man’s child, I'm probably going to be skinned alive.I had been locked in since the doctor left, my father deciding what to do with me since I'd refused to tell him the father of my child, imagine his fury if he found out his ‘SON’ had done it.I walked to the window and pressed my hand on the glass, my room didn't have a balcony like the girls’, courtesy of my stepmother, I've always felt like a prisoner, this was nothing compared to the misery of existing in Villa Rinaldi, but it's
ARIANA’S POVI needed to leave, i felt this choking feeling that crept into my soul as soon I opened my eyes in the morning, im afraid for myself and my child, I needed a plan fast, my door opened and the bodyguard assigned to me came in. “ Good morning, Miss Rinaldi, your father has instructed you to meet him in his office,” He said gesturing to the door, I took a step forward but then my light flowing gown caught on a chipped part of my chair, it pulled it and exposed a very impressionable amount of breasts in his face, which caught him by surprise, he stood there transfixed, unable to move away from the enticing view of my full breasts.I cleared my throat as I moved my dress back in place, “I apologize about that,” he immediately said gesturing to the door.“I never got your name, you just started following me about” I inquired as I moved closer to him, “um… im Lorenzo” he stuttered, clearly indicating that he just started this gig new, and he must have pulled a lot of strings to
MATEO’S POV~I watched him, ready for him to slip up, as Silvio’s gait shifted, he had already pulled Ariana behind him as though I was going to hurt her, which angered me, I've never thought of harming her, but torture was something she deserved, she was like a porcelain doll, if handled incorrectly, you will find her broken on the cold floor.“You are out of control Mateo! I understand your grief but…..”“My Grief?” Mateo cut him short, repositioning the gun to his face, “you know nothing of my fucking grief! your pathetic relative on my wedding day showed his displeasure for my bride, and a moment later, she was on the fucking floor!” I continued moving closer to him, I didn't fear him. He was insignificant to me, like every one of them.I'm the boss now.“There are other ways to show your grievances, Mateo, you cannot go about murdering our business partners, for a woman” Silvio retorted, cocking his gun in my face.The nerve of this rat! “My woman! And anyone who has anything to