ROSALINA'S POV"Should I consider this a date?" I asked Sebas as he pulled the chair for me to get comfortably seated."You told me you were hungry," Sebas replied dryly before taking a seat across me from the table."Oh, I'm starving!" I picked up the menu and browsed for something vegetarian, most probably salad since I was cutting carbs to lose a few more pounds. Madam Marisha wanted me to be as light as a feather so I could glide freely in the air like a petal on the wind as I performed Giselle.As I was deciding which salad to order, the waiter came over to take our orders. Sebas ordered a steak, medium rare, and I finally decided on a mixed greens salad with a side of grilled vegetables.Once the waiter left us alone, I felt a sudden itch at the back of my neck. My eyes aimlessly darted around the people huddled around the tables having a good time, when my eyes landed on a familiar face. Actually two familiar faces. Without sparing me a glance, Leonardo continued his conversati
ROSALINA'S POV"I Got You Under My Skin" by Frank Sinatra played on my Nonna's beloved radio as I placed the porcelain plates and silverware on the long patio table. I never actually caught a glimpse of Lily's fiancé. As it turns out, he had visited our home earlier, but I wasn't present as I had left for my dance rehearsal. According to Sebas, Vincenzo Salvadori used to be the capo regime before becoming the "Boss" or "Capofamiglia" after Elena Salvadori, the Godmother, passed away.I had never seen that woman in my life, but suddenly I had grown respect for her. I mean, she single-handedly controlled the whole family like some Queen Bee. A Godmother was unheard-of in our world because they never trusted women with positions of power. I wondered what sort of a person she was.As Leonardo made his entrance at the table, clad in a pristine white shirt that accentuated his toned chest, along with tan pants and dress shoes, I stood out in a pink, sleeveless crop top that hugged my curves
ROSALINA'S POVNow "Paint It Black" by Rolling Stones was tuned on the radio. Nobody bothered to shut the damn thing off so I did it myself. Earlier, Lily had a panic attack and threw up her lunch in the toilet because of the shock. I had tried to comfort her when Vincenzo showed up. I was going to fight him to stay the hell away from Lily if only Nonna hadn't pushed me out of the kitchen.The corpse of Marco Salvadori stared expressionlessly at the bright blue sky while we kept eating brunch. Nonno believed that wasting food was a terrible sin. Matteo Russo wasn't always a wealthy gangster. He grew up in poverty after he lost his father in the war, but he possessed a powerful sense of pride and an unshakable desire to succeed. He ultimately achieved his goals, rising to become one of the era's most notorious mobsters.I didn't argue with him and finished my lunch, which tasted sour in my mouth knowing there was a literal corpse laying in our backyard. Vincenzo talked about putting Ma
ROSALINA'S POVThe reason I hated this life was not because of how men killed each other without a second thought, but it was the apathy toward taking a life that bothered me. I hated to admit this, but I had turned numb to murders and killings, so much so that I could binge-watch serial killer movies without getting uncomfortable. I even found it more entertaining than a rom-com.Maybe it was because my first witness to murder was at the age of six when Papa shot a man inside the basement. That image had burned into my mind and stuck with me ever since. I was shocked at first, disgusted even, but I came to accept it little by little. That my Papa was a killer.For someone not familiar with our world, what we saw as normal would likely have seemed like a crime thriller to them. This was because the La Cosa Nostra operated in a manner where we may have appeared as a blameless, white-picket-fence family on the outside, but in reality, we only reached the top by using our enemies' corpse
LEONARDO'S POVI sat in Enzo's opulent office, surrounded by the familiar scent of aged leather and the faint sound of Sinatra crooning from a hidden gramophone. My brother was truly an old soul at heart as his taste for old classics, something he inherited from our Nonna.Enzo, dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit, sat beside his mahogany desk, engrossed in the papers he held in his hands."So, what's the deal?" I asked him, leaning back on the sofa.Enzo's piercing gaze met mine as he looked up from the papers spread across his desk. His dark eyes, framed by a pair of meticulously groomed eyebrows, held a profound sense of authority. Enzo leaned back in his plush leather chair, his body straight and composed."We need to tighten up the security for the wedding," he began, his voice low and measured. "I want you to gather our most trusted men and coordinate the security measures. No detail should be overlooked, no vulnerability left exposed. Our reputation rests on the succes
ROSALINA'S POVAs I sat in front of my vanity mirror, I could feel the soft touch of the makeup brushes against my face. The heavenly scent of my favorite rose-scented foundation filled the air around me, mingling with the faint aroma of the lavender-scented candles that adorned my room. I took a deep breath, attempting to ease my troubled mind before breaking the news to my cousins. Elizabetta, always the studious one, was at my desk, engrossed in her books. Her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose as she furrowed her brows in concentration. Isabella, on the other hand, sat on the bed, texting someone on her phone, completely oblivious to the world around her and Lily was busy painting her toenails white.I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my heart heavy with worry as I brushed a delicate layer of blush onto my cheeks. The rhythmic back-and-forth motion of the brush against my skin was strangely soothing, but it couldn't mask the anxiety that gnawed at me from within. "You
LEONARDO'S POVI stepped out of my car and offered my hand to Selena, my date for the night. She smiled warmly, her dark eyes sparkling under the streetlights of bustling New York City. Tonight was supposed to be a special evening, a date night in the city that never sleeps. But deep down, I was feeling a little bad for using her to get close to Rosalina. I knew I had to stop, and I was going to come clean tonight and break up with her.As we strolled down the vibrant streets, the scent of hot pretzels and roasted peanuts filled the air. Selena held onto my arm, her fingers delicately brushing against my leather jacket. She seemed genuinely excited, her laughter echoing through the night as we passed by the brightly lit marquees of Broadway theaters.I didn't love Selena. Our relationship had started as a mere charade, a ploy to maintain appearances after Tristan cheated. She wanted to get over Tristan, and I was the easiest route.As we turned a corner, a familiar figure emerged from
LEONARDO'S POVDazed and disoriented, I found myself submerged in a neon-lit haze, the pungent scent of alcohol clouding my senses. Sweat trickled down my forehead, mingling with the sheen of arousal that coated my skin. My limbs felt heavy, as though anchored to the plush leather chair beneath me, while the thumping bass from the speakers reverberated through my bones. Amidst the raucous cacophony of the strip club, the curtain of my drunken stupor lifted slightly, allowing me to take in my surroundings. Blinking back the blur, I focused on the figure dancing on my lap.Hazel eyes, brunette and so fucking seductive. I blinked a few times to realize that it was Cherry, the stripper who looked like her... A mere imitation.I turned to see my ever-so-sober brother watching the circus around him with a glass of whiskey in hand. Our cousins had been acting like a bunch of dogs in heat. Shit, I was no different.Enzo looked rather bored being here, at his own bachelor party, surrounded by