ROSALINA'S POV I grew up in what most would think of as a typical Italian family. An extensive family that included my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. I had no siblings growing up, so my cousins were my siblings. My mamma wasn't too happy about the family arrangements. The place was too cramped for her and she gasped for freedom and—privacy So, my parents and I moved out to live as a small family when I was six. Papa wasn't too happy about this and neither was my Nonno, who was the head of our large family. My mamma and Nonno never got along well and they always ended up arguing. Mamma was the only daughter-in-law who showed the grit to speak her mind, unlike Aunt Fiona and Aunt Maria who turned into voiceless dummies in Nonno's presence. Soon I saw Nonno was happy Mamma was gone, but what he didn't like was that she took his son with her, too. I didn't like our new house. Not even a little. It was too dead. Too quiet. Too dull. It was then I realized how much I missed
ROSALINA'S POV (Eighteen years old) After Papa's death, I spent the rest of my years with my grandparents. The warmth that I had felt in our home faded away over time because I was discovering more about the illegal activities my family did to earn money, to bring food to our table, and to provide for me. My whole life was practically built upon piles and piles of blood-money. The more I learned about my family's wrongdoings, the more I figured out why Mamma left us. Nonna was the only one who ever talked about her when we were in privacy. Otherwise, Nonno would get livid for uttering her name. My Mamma was the bringer of shame to our family and to my Papa, and Nonno regarded her as good as dead. That's how Nonno expressed his hatred, by forcing everyone to forget about the person who crossed him. Because they weren't worthy of living, not even in our heads. I was dying to see my mamma. Not just because I still loved her, but because I needed answers for why she did what she did
ROSALINA'S POV Mark kick-started his Harley, and we sped off. I glanced back at my picturesque home, which diminished as we rode further down the road. I felt a prickling sensation in my chest—guilt. I didn't want to imagine how my family would react when they find out I was gone. Especially Nonna and Lily, who cared for me the most in that house. Nonno would probably go berserk upon hearing the news and comb the entire New York City to drag my disobedient ass back home. But that shouldn't concern me right now. What I should be concerned about was how I was gonna find my mamma in Chicago. I had booked my flight tickets and a hotel room a week ago and I had enough money that I saved up from my allowances so I can travel. If only Mamma had given me her number too so that I could contact her. Only the home address was given to me in the letter. Regardless, I will find her. "You sure as hell got a lot of balls to do this," Mark commented. I could tell he had a smirk on his face insi
LEONARDO'S POV I pulled out my car keys from my back pocket as I stepped down the hotel's front entrance. New York looked depressing because of the layer of dark, damp clouds hovering over the place. I wasn't fond of monsoons because of the cold, deathly atmosphere they created. It reminded me of the day of Mamma's untimely death. Shaking off the sore feeling up my chest, I approached my flaming red Ferrari that was parked near the sidewalk. As I was about to open the door, someone slammed into my side and I almost dropped my keys. "Hey! Watch where you're going—" I stopped mid-sentence when I looked down at the person who bumped into me. It was a woman—A short one. She wore a black cap, a mask covering up her mouth, and sunglasses. Who the hell wears sunglasses in the monsoon? The attire she wore made her look like a street punk, yet it suited her perfectly, hugging her flawless, curvy little body. The short leather skirt gave a generous view of her long, slender legs, and I won
LEONARDO'S POV I revved my engine, feeling the power of my red Ferrari seething beneath me. The Lamborghini behind me was no match for my speed and skill. "Whoa!" The girl gasped as I sped up the Ferrari to 150 miles per hour. I smirked as I took a sharp turn, feeling G-force push me into my seat. The Lamborghini tired to keep up, I knew I had the upper hand. It was then I spotted a narrow street up ahead, barely wide enough for one car. A mischievous grin spread across my face as I gunned the engine, determined to overtake the Lamborghini no matter what took. I weaved through the traffic, my senses high on adrenaline. As we approached the narrow street, I heard the girl's breath hitch in her throat. "What are you doing?!" "Brace yourself, babe." I said as I gripped the wheel. It was too late to turn back, I shot through the narrow streets, barely missing the walls on either side. The Lamborghini tried to follow, but it crashed the brick wall and I emerged on the other side, winni
ROSALINA'S POV"What's wrong?" I frowned at him for stopping the car in the middle of the highway like this. I was getting late for my flight dammit! Where did all that hype and energy go?"What did you say your name was?" His face scrunched up like a raisin in the sun.Was he seriously pissed off by my name?No, he was actually pissed off by my surname. The name Russo used to have a notorious reputation in this city. However, that reputation was snatched by the Salvadori crime family a long time ago."Rosalina," I said, backing up to the door while I sneaked my hand around the door handle."Russo." He finished with gritted teeth.Wait, he didn't have a reason to be so offended by my surname unless he was a..."Salvadori." Hate coated my voice.The hate for snatching my Mamma away from me.The hate for killing Aunt Ariana.The hate for killing my beloved Papa.He gave a sarcastic smile at my quick guess. "You guessed it right, Russo."I pulled the door but it won't open."Who's the gu
ROSALINA'S POV Saint grabbed my elbow and dragged me inside the house where all of my family members were waiting. The stares aimed at me caused my pulse to quicken with anticipation, as though I were an animal on display at a zoo. Nonno scrunched up his nose upon seeing me and Nonna, who stood right beside him, shook her head in disappointment. "I'll talk to her." My Uncle Ricardo offered. Among my three uncles, he was the most caring and patient one, and he understood that my Nonno's temperament could harm me if no one intervened. Uncle Ricardo halted in his tracks as Nonno gave him a lethal, gray-eyed glare. "You got something to say, young lady?" Nonno asked gruffly, pinning those steely eyes on me and raising his cleft chin up a little. Did I really have something to say after being caught red-handed? Nope, not at all. So I kept quiet. "I asked you a fucking question!" Nonno's sudden outburst caused my shoulders to jump. My body shook so much that only an earthquake match
ROSALINA'S POV I spent the week investing most of my time inside my room, on my pink bed, binge-watching several TV shows on Netf*ix or else, I would have plucked out all of my hair and gone crazy out of boredom. The reason I was so upset was not just because of my house arrest. My Nonno found me a fiance who was a decade older than me. From what I heard, he was the senator's son, Italian, and needed my Nonno's connections for the upcoming elections since my Nonno was well-respected among the Italian community here in Brooklyn. My Nonno could easily help them out without an alliance, but of course, he wanted to punish me in another way instead of beating me up. I'd grown a thicker skin over the years and I got beaten up more than any other male cousin in the family. Not flexing, but it was a fact. Nonno believed in gender equality only when he had to punish his grandkids. He never showed me any mercy because I was a girl. But did that stop me from calling him out on his B.S.? Abso