My heart beats hard as paranoia begins to fuel my adrenaline. The first thing I do is grab the burner phone from my side dresser. Then I grab a pair of my skinny jeans with a red rose colored t-shirt before I grab a cotton black bra and pantie set. I dash to the bathroom and make sure I lock the door. My hands fumble with the phone. It’s a black flip phone that brings me back to being a teenager for a moment before the panic of my reality takes back over. I flip the phone open and text Anthony.
911! Nico just showed up in my apartment while I was sleeping. He’s forcing me to leave with him. What should I do? I hit send and set the phone on the counter and begin changing my clothes while I wait for Anthony to text me. Why am I texting Anthony? I have no fucking clue, but I feel like a stray dog who just got caught by animal control. As I finish dressing, the phone lightly vibrates. I snatch the phone up desperate for a way out.
Of course he fucking did He’s impulsive when it comes to you it would seem. Try to keep this phone out of his hands so we can stay in touch. I’ll do my best to help you if I can.
Well, fucking great! That’s not helpful.
Uh, that does not help me! I will do my best to keep this phone, but I make no promises. Oh, and this doesn't mean I trust you, I’m desperate. That’s all this is. Desperation to escape a ate we both know I can’t out run.. I hit send before turning the phone off and tuck it in my front pocket.
I quickly brush my teeth before running a brush and some detangler through my wild hair. After that, I head back to my room and grab my on call backpack that I have ready. I toss all my scrubs and whatever else is in there out and replace everything with regular clothes and daily things I need. I do end up placing a pair of scrubs and my stethoscope in the bag. I can’t help it and I need it as a reminder that just because Nice is taking me back to his family home doesn't mean my fight is over.
Reluctantly, I pull out the burner phone and toss it in a secret compartment in the backpack before I swing the backpack over my shoulders. I walk out of my room and down the small hallway before I find Nico sitting on my couch. Shit, he’s handsome. His medium olive tone skin perfectly comment his warm chocolate hair that is a bit on the shaggy side. Nico makes it work because his hair is just the right light wave to make his shaggy hair sexy. His hazel eyes narrow in on me. His light facial hair indicates he hasn’t shaved in a bit, or maybe that’s how he keeps his facial hair now.
“Ready Little Dove?” He questions as he rises from his seat.
“It’s not like I have a choice. So, sure, but I better get coffee and a damn chocolate croissant.” I grumble back as I moved toward the door.
I hear Nico chuckle behind me before he strides past me, using his damn taller length against me. I’m a short Italian woman who barely reach five two. I’m used to most people being taller than me, but both Nico and Anthony are closer to 6 foot so they tower over little me. Begrudgingly I follow Nico downstairs into the black SUV. Nico opens the door for me before he takes my backpack. I slide in to the back set and make sure I move in so Nico can sit back here with me. Sure enough he climbs in and places my back pack on the floor between us. Nico shuts the door.
“Where to Mr. DeLuca?” The driver asks. looking in the rearview mirror at Nico.
“How about Belisimos? I know you just woke up, Little Dove, but I want real food. I promise tomorrow you will have your mocha and chocolate croissant.” Nico answers looking at me.
“You got it, Sir.” The driver replies with a nod before he rolls the black divider up.
“You look like you need a break. I’ve never seen such dark circles under those blazing honey brown eyes.” Nico comments.
“Cut the small talk bullshit, Nico. I don’t want to go to some early dinner at our favorite spot. Let’s not pretend I have a say in a damn thing that happens next. So, whatever romantic bullshit you are trying to pull, I’m not in the mood. You better plan on getting that food to go.” I state folding my arms under my breast as I look out the tinted windows.
“Violetta Amelia Calla, I’m not in the mood for your defiance right now. We can get the food to go, I don’t fucking care. I’m trying to be nice, but you are making it difficult.” Nico states clenching his fists in his lap. That’s my que to back off. Nico has never hit me. No matter how pissed I’ve made him, he’s never hit me. Even with all his anger issues, not once has he gone to strike me.
“You're on edge and tense. What, Madam Connie doesn’t have good whores anymore?” I question looking at Nico.
Madam Connie owns the legal burlesque club where the mafia runs their illegal brothel in the basement of the burlesque club. It’s like a speakeasy, you need the password to enter Candy Land. Madam Connie helps manage the girls who work in the brothel as well as her club. Nico and many of the men who work for the DeLuca family get serviced at both establishments. It’s also sometimes a place business is conducted depending on who they are entertaining. I know more about the mafia world than I will ever care to admit.
Nico snorts. “You think I would stick my dick in one of those whores? I have standards. Besides, now that you are home I’m sure you will be very good at keeping me entertained in our bed.”
I feel my cheeks heat at his comment. “I don’t have experience like them so I doubt I’ll be able to keep you entertained.” I snip back trying to deny the fact that being close to Nico is dangerous. I missed him. He’s a comfort to me when he shouldn’t be.
“Oh, Little Dove, I can train you to be what I want when it comes to my pleasure. You have no idea what I have planned for you. I wouldn’t have that attitude when we visit Madam Connie. I need her to give you some direction sexually, and I can take it from there. Don’t worry, I won’t fuck you until our wedding night.” Nico informs. My core heats at his words. Fuck, I hate that he does this to me. I want away from him, but is running to Anthony wise? What if I don’t want to run to Anthony, but instead join Nico and I? Here I am wanting my own life away from the mafia yet I’m entertaining being owned by two men. What the hell is wrong with me?
“You have everything planned out. Good for you. I guess just let me know what the plan is because I clearly get a say in nothing.” I spit at him before I go back to looking out the window. I hold the tears that threaten to spill in my frustration.
Fear fills me. The fate I thought I could escape has come knocking on my door in the form of the man my heart still yearns for yet now my heart is tempted by a new man. That might offer me exactly what I want. However, I don’t know Anthony, but I want to. He peaks my interest, but I have to be cautious with both Anthony and Nico. There is one thing I have to remember. This is all a game and I’m a pawn being moved between two kings who both want me to be their queen. I can’t trust either of them. I have to view everything as a potential trap because I’m now surrounded by enemies. There’s one thing I won’t forget and neither will Nico and Anthony; and that’s that our three families are supposed to hate one another. The question is how many lives will the hate claim? Well, that’s to be determined I suppose. The illusion of freedom has been shattered, and I’m sorely once again reminded of my very harsh reality. I’m back in a world where men rule and women do as they are told or pay the price. A world painted in blood and hate. A world that is nothing more than my gilded prison.
I sorely underestimated how quickly Nico would react to me visiting Violetta. He’s desperate to marry her, but why now? I think it has something with him getting Don from his father. It makes the most sense. It’s not ideal that my violet is back with Nico. At least, she had the good sense to text me on the burner phone. She might not trust me, but she did reach out to me in desperation. So, I’ll take it. Nico acted impulsively, which means he must be feeling desperate. I might be able to use that to my advantage. The hard part is going to be getting Violette away from him. I know he is going to keep her under lock and key. I might have a chance to steal her back at Nico's grand birthday party, but that’s months away. Even then it might be hard. He clearly knows I’m in pursuit of Violetta. The feud between the three families has been going on for decades. The three Italian families have been fighting for control over the Italian parts of the city for far too long. The Russian, Japan
Against my better judgment I let Nico take me out to dinner instead of getting the food to go. I realized that would mean going home sooner with Nico, and I prevented that for as long as I could. However, now we are home, well, Nico’s home. Nico has four homes. One, a condo in the best part of the city. It’s his private place and that is where he has has taken me thankfully. The Second home, is also in the city, but it’s the Ronka home where his parents reside. Nico is an only child which is partly why I think he liked having me around when we were kids. I'm an only child as well, so I guess in some way we bonded over having no siblings . The third, is the Ronka’s family manor in the country. It’s beautiful. The fourth is the Ronka family villa in Italy. Nico takes my backpack and begins making his way to his bedroom. I know the lay out of this condo well. Part of me thinks Nico intends this to be our place. When he bought it he made sure I liked it. He has brought me here every chan
The melancholy sound of beeping machines almost sends me to sleep, but I fight the urge and take a sip of my canned espresso. Night shifts in the ER are no joke, but it was the first job I was offered out of nursing school so I took it. I took it because I’m determined to earn my freedom from the man who keeps me as his ward. Enzo DeLuca is a man my father worked for. He was Enzo’s second in command of the DeLuca mafia until my father betrayed Enzo to the rival mafia family, the Ronkas. Instead of killing me or selling me into sex slavery, Enzo took pity on me mainly because his son Nico advocated for me to be his father’s ward. Nico DeLuca is determined to make me his wife, and maybe there was a time I wanted that. However, I want my freedom more. Whatever plans Nico and his father have for me are purely for their gain only. I don’t want their plans. I want my plans. I want to be free from the violent world the mafia is shrouded in. I want to help people, maybe even become a doctor
Violetta Calla stands next to me as we wait for our order. She’s on edge as she nervously plays with the black stethoscope around her neck. Her celine blue scrubs hide her coca cola shape figure as well as her nice sized breasts. I’ve been watching Violetta from an affair for years. Her father said she was to be my wife, and I want her to be my wife. I wanted to claim her when her father died but the DeLuca’s claimed her first. War isn’t something I wanted to start. Besides, she was only fourteen at the time and I was already eighteen. I figured it was best to let her be with them until I could reclaim her as mine. Violetta going off on her own was a good thing. However, it was clear she was on a mission to separate herself from the mafia underworld. Nico gave her that space so I decided to respect it as well. I’ve been waiting for the right chance to approach and now it’s time to make my move. “You can relax, Violetta . I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to talk.” I inform her.
Sitting at my desk in my large office in the back of the casino looking over the books as I drink a very expensive bottle of Merlot while puffing on an expensive Italian cigar. It’s about four am. I’ll be leaving soon to go rest in the penthouse suite of the hotel that the casino is located in. That’s where I’ve been living since Violetta went off to do her own thing. I didn’t like the idea of her breaking free on her own, but I needed to let her spread her wings or my little dove would be a sad little caged bird. So, I let my little dove spread her wings and fly knowing one day I’d have her as my wife. I’m about to turn twenty-seven and I plan to bring my little dove back home for my birthday which is in exactly three months from today. There’s a huge party planned at the casino. All the guests will get to play on the house. It’s going to be a night to remember because that is the night I also plan to put a ring on my little dove’s finger. I have everything set in motion, and I’m an
I’m thrilled when my shift ends at seven am. I waste no time going to my locker, grabbing my things and hightailing it out the door. I take the bus to my little one-bedroom apartment in an average part of town. I try to avoid the wealthy part of the city and the not so wealthy part of the city. I find the average parts of the city are where I prefer to hideout. I have a cozy standard one-bedroom apartment with a bedroom, kitchen, full bath, and a living room. There’s also a small dining area that I have set up with a small table and one chair. My little apartment is my safe place. My mind is spinning, so I need my safe space so I can come down from the adrenaline pumping in my veins from tonight's shift.. Once I enter my apartment, I lock my door and drop my backpack by the front door before I kick my black sneakers off. I make my way to my bedroom and grab my cotton cream nightgown and a pair of fresh panties before I head to my bathroom. I pop on my shower, lay my clothes and fresh
I’m running on four hours of sleep, but I don’t care. I’m going to Violetta’s apartment. I hate where she lives, but of course she would pick some cheap, basic ass apartment complex to live in. Violetta has always been a stubborn dove. She would defy her father at every turn. Her mom died when she was young in some mafia involved violence, well, that’s what Mario claims. My theory is that Mario killed his wife because after Violetta was born, her mom started fooling around with one of the men under Mario. I don’t know all the details, and to ask my father about it now, I doubt I would get the truth. My father used to tell me everything. I was in on all his plans and secrets. Two years ago my father started to become paranoid that everyone was trying to kill him, even me, which at the time I thought was crazy. Over time, it’s gotten worse. I think he’s losing his mind from years of doing terrible deeds. My father has done some serious fucked up things that I never agreed with. My fath