CH 1-10

Summary

Alessa was born mafia royalty, but will Antonio be able to tame the beast?

Chapter 1

My name is Alessa Greco. I was born into a life of privilege, a life of glamour and a life of unadulterated violence. My father, Lorenzo Greco, is the head of the Italian mafia in Foster City and he’s a force to be reckoned with, but truth be told, I’m no better. At the age of fourteen, I had already taken the blood oath and my first kill was a man named Ezra Contraletti, the man who murdered my mother. I have a reputation for being cold, heartless and cruel and I’ve earned those titles time and time again.

This month, I was entrusted with taking control of one of my father’s largest companies, one of the few ‘legal’ businesses he owns, an Architect firm. He figured that turning twenty-five means I’m responsible enough to handle more responsibility, but I honestly find it to be tedious work. Today will be my first day in the office and I have a staff meeting right off the bat. With my father’s approval, I’ll be weeding out some of the unworthy staff whose work has proven to be subpar.

“Alessa? We need to get going.” Enzo shouts from down the hall. I take a final look in my full-length mirror to make sure I look the part of the big, bad CEO. I’m wearing a pair of form fitting black slacks, a white silk button down shirt that only buttons to just above my cleavage, a black blazer and black stilettos. I’m wearing my long dark brown curly hair down, letting it cascade down my shoulders where is stops at my waist and my makeup is light with my long lashes being accented with a quick swipe of mascara and my eyeliner in a cat eye, drawing attention to my large golden eyes. I quickly apply a layer of lip gloss then head out of my room.

“You look amazing, Alessa. Your father would be proud.” I smirk at his comment as I walk past him, knowing he’s not wrong.

“I want Carlo and Liam to be in my office at 1pm today. I expect them to have an update on the situation I asked them to handle.” Enzo grabs his phone, firing off a text message then placing it back in his pocket.

“I have the employee list you sent to me. Are you sure you’re wanting to cut this many people in one go?” Is he really questioning my decision?

“These people have failed to perform even their basic duties for the last six months. My father allowed them to become lazy and complacent. I won’t have people working for me who aren’t there to get the job done.” Enzo nods in understanding as we reach the car. Toni opens the door for us to climb in and just like that, we’re off to the office. When we arrive, I walk into the building with Enzo at my side and feel all the eyes on me as we stroll through the lobby to the elevator.

When the doors open, we step inside and I see everyone’s eyes glued to us as if they’re frozen in place, all but one person who brazenly steps into the elevator and flashes me a smile before turning to face the doors as they close.

“Mi sono assicurato che ci sarà un caffè ad aspettarti quando arriveremo nel tuo ufficio. Hai bisogno di qualcos’altro prima dell’incontro? (I made sure that there will be coffee waiting for you when we get to your office. Do you need anything else before the meeting?)” Enzo reverts to our native tongue for privacy.

“Il bar è completamente rifornito? (Is the bar fully stocked?)” I smile as I watch his eyes roll.

“Sì, principessa. (Yes princess.)” I shoot him a sharp glare.

“Non sono una principessa, Enzo. (I am no princess, Enzo.)” My tone holds an unspoken warning, one I know he’ll heed without question. The doors open and the man who entered stands at the doors to ensure they stay open while Enzo and I exit.

“Thank you.” I hum the words as I walk by and follow behind Enzo to the doors to my office. I enjoy a double shot espresso while we wait for the meeting, hoping the caffeine will help wake me up enough to face the employees that will be leaving with a pink slip and their final paycheck. At 9am sharp, we exit my office and Enzo leads the way to the conference room where thirty people are seated around the table with envelopes sitting on the table in front of them with their names printed on them.

“Ladies and gentleman, some of you know me, but for those who don’t, my name is Alessa Greco. I’m the new CEO and I would like to inform you that we’ll be making some very necessary changes. Everyone in this room will be offered continued employment with us. In front of you are envelopes with incentive bonuses based on your personal work. All employees not present are currently being escorted off the premises. Of ninety-seven employees, only you thirty have proven to be of any value to our company.” My eyes land on the man from the elevator who I now realize is Antonio Bernoulli, one of our best architects. “I understand that this likely comes as a shock to you and if any of you feel that this isn’t a change you can be a part of, there’s the door.” I point to the door to the conference room, but not one person rises.

“We have a meeting in thirty minutes.” Enzo speaks in barely more than a whisper.

“If there are no questions, you may all return to your offices and get back to work.” Everyone rises and exits, with the exception of Antonio.

“Ms. Greco? I can’t accept this.” He holds out the envelope in his hand which has already been opened.

“Mr. Bernoulli, you’ve more than earned it. As I’ve made clear today, I’m strict, but fair.” He slowly lowers his hand.

“So, you clearly plan on making changes around here. I have some plans that I had wanted to show your father, but he never had time to see me.” I look to Enzo who gives me a nod.

“Be in my office at 3pm.” Without another word I exit the conference and return to my office. I’m on my second espresso when Wade, the soulless sack of shit that my father appointed as his second in command during his time as the CEO, comes walking into my office. Not only does this asshole not knock, but he strutted in like he’s the king of my castle, plopping his filthy ass into one of the chairs in front of my desk.

“Good morning, Alessa. I see you’re already making waves.” His smug look immediately sets my soul ablaze.

“I don’t make waves, I’m a fucking tsunami.” I step out from behind my desk as Enzo steps in front of the door. “Wade, We have a little problem. A $2.5 million dollar little problem.” I watch his eyes go wide and smile as he begins to squirm. “You see Wade, my father trusted you. He let you off your leash, but you were a bad boy, weren’t you?”

“I…I can explain. It isn’t what it looks like!” I walk closer until I’m able to bend down and be face to face with the asshole with my hands braced on the armrests of his chair.

“A lesson you should’ve learned by now…it’s always what it looks like. Where the fuck is my money Wade?” For fuck’s sake…is he fucking crying?! What a weak little piece of shit.

“I don’t have it! But…but I can get it for you!” I stand to my full height and look down on this man who should already be nothing more than a rotting corpse in a ditch.

“Oh, but Wade…I don’t think you will. While I love my money, I love the idea of punishing you for stealing it even more. You’ll serve as a reminder to anyone who dares to think they can steal from me. Enzo, get him to the warehouse. I’ll deal with him after I’m done here.” Enzo springs into action, giving Wade a mild sedative in his neck before dragging him to the service elevator at the end of the hall. It’s moments like these when I have to truly appreciate my father’s need to be prepared. My meeting with Carlo and Liam is unfruitful and has, quite frankly, left me in a sour mood, but then I hear a knock on my door and realize I had another meeting…Mr. Bernoulli.

“Come in.” My voice is much sterner than I intended, but he’ll have to get over it. My door opens and he walks in with a large file in his hand and a nervous smile on his face.

“Thank you for seeing me today.” I nod and motion for him to have a seat on the couch. I pour myself a glass of water and walk over to the lounge, seating myself across from him.

“So, tell me about the building plans.” His face lights up and I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips as he dives right into explaining the designs he’s drafted for several of the new accounts we’ve acquired. His enthusiasm and skill are unreal as he walks from one plan to the next.

“This one’s my favorite. I tried to pitch it to your father on multiple occasions, but he said it was too modern for the client’s taste.” I look over the client file and then his design and it looks perfect. It has a modern edge, but you can still see a lot of the original design seeping through.

“Did he show this to the client?” He sighs and I can see him growing nervous.

“No, I don’t think he’s submitted any of my designs for review.” My father can be a real asshole sometimes, a fact I’m all too aware of, but as Mr. Bernoulli is about to find out, my father isn’t running the show here anymore.

“Mr. Bernoulli, I’ll set up a meeting with the client for the Burkshire account tomorrow, but only if you’ll pitch your design personally. Please, calm your nerves. My father’s a dick, no need to act like I’m unaware.” He gives me a surprised look, but I don’t miss the slight curl at the corner of his lip.

“I’ll be more than happy to present it. Thank you so much. Should I hand my presentation to Wade for review when I’m finished?” I lean forward and smile.

“No, Mr. Bernoulli. Wade is no longer with us. I believe he may have been part of the reasons that your plans never made it to the submission process. From now on, everything you have will be run through me directly.” I carefully stack the folder neatly on the table.

“I’ll have everything ready by morning. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity.” He reaches for the folders and I place my hand on top of them.

“I would like to take a look at the rest of these. If any of them are half as good as the one you just showed me, we may need to contact some of our other clients.” I find his look of shock somewhat amusing.

“I don’t know how to thank you.” I wave my hand dismissively at him.

“Just keep doing your job, Mr. Bernoulli. I don’t give praise or credit unless it’s earned.” A sudden knock at my door draws me from our conversation. “Enter.” Enzo walks in with Liam and Carlo.

“We have an update on…” Liam ceases speaking as soon as he realizes I’m not alone.

“Mr. Bernoulli, I’m afraid I have an urgent matter to address. If you need anything further, you can contact me directly.” He nods and thanks me again as he walks out of my office.

Chapter 2

“Alessa, we got him. He’s being taken to the warehouse as we speak.” Liam is clearly pleased with himself, as he should be.

“Looks like it’ll be a full house there tonight. Let’s go. I’m ready to have some fun.” We exit the office and head to the elevator where several employees are waiting, including Antonio. Enzo turns to me and shakes his head.

“Aspetteremo la prossima. (We will wait for the next one.)” I nod as people start filing into the elevator, but Antonio stays back. He glances back at me as Enzo’s eyes narrow at him.

“Sembra che qualcuno abbia il caldo per il capo. (Looks like someone has the hots for the boss.)” Liam spews out through his laughter.

“No signore. Non sono un fan dei piccoli spazi affollati. (No, sir. I am just not a fan of small crowed spaces.)” Antonio blurts out causing me to burst out laughing while Liam stands there with his mouth pulled into a frown.

“It’s fine. You can ride down with us.” I smile then look to Liam and give him a wicked smirk. “There should be plenty of room now that Liam’s ego has deflated.”

“Very funny, Comare.” I give him a sharp glare at the use of my unwanted title. I see Antonio’s body stiffen as he fixes his gaze on the floor. The elevator doors open and we all file inside. The ride down is silent as the elevator descends to the first floor and once the doors open, I’m the first off as all the men step to the side for me to exit. Liam and Carlo rush ahead to get in their car and I see Antonio stop by the doors and pull out his phone.

“I need a cab at 4376 Grand Avenue.” I give him a pointed look, walk up to him then grab his phone from him.

“Cancel that. Have a nice day.” I hang up the phone and hand it back to him. “Give Enzo your address.” I walk out the door and climb into the back seat of my Escalade, leaving the door open for Antonio. Enzo guides him out and points to the backseat while Antonio climbs in hesitantly and pulls the door closed.

“I really don’t mind taking a cab.” I smirk at his persistence, knowing it’s likely in part to his realization of just who the hell he’s working for.

“And I really don’t mind driving you home.” He falls silent while I fire off a round of text messages in preparation for tonight’s activities.

“He called you Comare…” His voice is soft and I can’t tell if he’s making an observation, or asking a question.

“Liam is…well he’s an idiot.” I set my phone down and I watch his expression as he desperately seeks understanding.

“So, you’re not what he says you are?” I smile as his nervousness becomes undeniable.

“What is it that you think I am, Antonio?” He lowers his gaze as I openly dare him to speak the words.

“I…I don’t know.” I snap my fingers, bringing his eyes back to mine.

“I think you do, Antonio. I need to know that you’ll not allow this to affect our business relationship.” His face grows pale and while it wasn’t my intention to scare the poor man, I need to know he understands how I expect things to work.

“What are you going to do to me?” Why does everyone think I’m kill happy? I mean, maybe I’m a little trigger happy when people cross me, but seriously!

“I’m going to drive you home, Antonio, and tomorrow I’m going to set up a meeting with a few of our clients and we’re going to do our jobs, business as usual.” He looks at me in disbelief, but I have no doubt he’s waiting for my demons to rear their ugly little heads.

“So, you aren’t going to hurt me?” Oh, for fuck’s sake!

“Do I have a reason to?” He quickly shakes his head, not even allowing himself a moment of hesitation.

“No, but isn’t it an issue that I know?” I laugh at his response, genuinely finding it amusing.

“Do you really think that no one else knows? My life is no secret, Antonio. What you choose to do with your knowledge is what will determine how things play out for you. Keep doing your job. Keep being the same person you have been for the five years you’ve worked for my father. If you can do that, then you have absolutely nothing to fear.” We pull up outside his apartment building and he opens the door and quickly hops out, but before he closes the door he gives me a small smile.

“Thank you, Ms. Greco.” He closes the door and rushes into the building. Now for some fun! Enzo pulls out and heads to the warehouse on the outskirts of the city. When we arrive, Enzo opens my door and escorts me through the doors and pauses once we’re inside.

“Who are we going to see first?” Oh, I love this game!

“Let’s go see Wade.” He takes a left and stops at the end of the hall where he opens the large steel door to reveal Wade hanging from the ceiling by his wrists.

“Oh, Wade, you look awful. I see my friends have already started the fun without me. What do you have to say for yourself?” An inhuman groan rumbles out of him as he struggles to raise his head until his eyes lock on mine.

“Please, you don’t have to do this. I can get you the money, Alessa.” Oh, this guy…of course I don’t have to do this!

“Oh Wade, I know I don’t have to do this…” I grab a knife off the table and turn back to him with a mischievous smile. “But I really really want to.” I thrust the knife into his stomach and turn the blade then I stand there and watch as he screams and begs for me to spare him until his body becomes too weak and he slowly slips into the icy hands of death.

“Mr. Sadiir is in the back storeroom. I’ll have this trash cleaned up.” I nod and leave the room to go tend to my guest of honor. I enter the storeroom to find Mr. Sadiir strapped to a chair in the center of the room. Now this, this one is special. My men were strictly instructed to leave him unharmed and they did just that. I step around the chair until I’m face to face with him.

“Good evening, Amal. I’m so glad you could join me this evening.” He stares at me with hate filled eyes which only heightens my excitement.

“You didn’t exactly give me a choice.” Well, he’s right about that.

“So, Amal, we have a little problem here.” He tries to shoot forward, but is halted by his restraints.

“I’ve done nothing but follow your father’s orders. He’s going to be pissed when he finds out what you’ve been doing behind his back. Little mafia princess is going to be taught one hell of a lesson.” He laughs as I stand before him and shake my head, loving how they never seem to catch the fact that I always have an ace up my sleeve.

“Papà?” His smile fades into a look of horror as the echo of my father’s Italian leather dress shoes can be heard throughout the room.

“Amal, did you truly just threaten my daughter?” Amal’s face is the most priceless thing I’ve ever seen. An intoxicating mix of terror, anger and guilt.

“Don, I don’t understand! What the hell did I do?!” Really? Why does everyone play dumb?

“You raped and assaulted seven women, Amal. If there’s anything I despise, it’s a man who harms women and children. The only thing I hate more is a man who does these things while working for me.” Just like clockwork, he’s crying and mumbling his pathetic apologies. I grab my gun out of my waistband and press it to his head, instantly silencing his cries. My father gives his nod of approval and I squeeze the trigger, the gunshot tears through the room as his lifeless body slumps in the chair.

“You are doing well, principessa. I have another meeting, but I’ll see you tomorrow for dinner.” My father leaves and Enzo enters immediately after, not even hiding his smile when he sees the blood and brain matter splattered on the wall.

“This was a productive evening. Let’s head home. The cleanup crew is on their way.” I follow him out of the warehouse and climb in for the drive home.

Chapter 3

The next morning I arrive at the building thirty minutes early to find Antonio waiting in the lobby for the elevator.

“Good morning, Ms. Greco.” His voice is soft and his eyes are focused on his phone.

“Good morning.” We climb onto the elevator and head up to our floor in silence. The doors open to Liam and Carlo standing there waiting for me.

“Alessa, your father sent us here to have you review some documents.” I nod and motion for them to follow me. We enter my office and Liam quickly closes the door.

“Hand them over.” I hold out my hand and Liam quickly pulls out a folder and places it in my hand. I open the folder to see several photographs with target lists.

“Tell him one week. Thank you, Liam.” Both men exit my office and I take a seat behind my desk to check my emails. The first email I open is for a new account that we’re trying to secure while the client is requesting design plans to be presented and I know just the person for the job. I grab my phone and contact Sasha, the front desk receptionist.

“Hello Ms. Greco, how can I help you?” What a kiss ass! She speaks to me in a syrupy sweet voice like it’ll somehow soften me up toward her…how foolish.

“I need to be transferred to Mr. Bernoulli’s office.” I lean back in my chair as I wait for her nasally voice to respond.

“Yes, I’ll transfer you now.”

“Antonio Bernoulli, how can I help you?” His voice sounds much more calm and confident…I’m going to fuck that up real fast.

“Mr. Bernoulli, I need you in my office immediately.” I hear the deep breath he sucks in on the other end and smile.

“I’ll be right there, Ms. Greco.” I hang up and patiently wait for him. His soft knock at my door makes my lips curl.

“Enter.” The door opens slowly as he steps inside and closes the door softly behind him. I motion for him to take a seat in one of the chairs in front of my desk then wait patiently until he’s seated.

“We have a client we’re trying to secure and they’ve requested that we submit plans for the building they want to have completed in a twelve month time frame. I have their specifications and would like for you to take the lead.” I watch as several waves of excitement and shock crash into him.

“Are you sure? I know there are others with more experience.” I raise a brow at him as I lean back in my seat with my elbows on the arm rests and hands clasped in front of my chest.

“Mr. Bernoulli, I wouldn’t be offering you this opportunity if I didn’t think you were suitable for the job. I’ll email you the specifications and client information. We have two weeks to deliver the plans, will that be an issue?” He smiles and shakes his head quickly.

“No, not at all.” His excitement is winning the war with his nervousness and it’s oddly amusing.

“I’ll be staying late this evening. Would you be able to stay and go over your plans for the presentation? We meet with the first client at 2pm on Thursday.” He grabs his phone and begins typing and responds a moment later.

“Yes, I’ll be here.” He rises from his seat and exits my office in a hurry. The remainder of the day passes quickly with meetings and calls from Liam and Carlo with updates on the target list they’re working on. It’s just past 4pm when Antonio returns to my office with several files and his laptop.

“Glad you could make it, Mr. Bernoulli.” I motion for him to take a seat at the couch in the lounge area while I make my way to the bar. “Would you care for anything to drink?”

“I’m fine, but thank you.” I pour myself a glass of wine then head over to take my seat across from him.

“Our first client meeting is Thursday and it’ll be with Mr. Davenport. Do you have the presentation prepared for his account?” He shuffles through his files and slides one out, opening it and placing it in front of me.

“So, the design I have for them is modern, but I also took into account all of their requests and I think they’ll really be pleased with what we’ve done. It’ll use mostly recycled materials which is something they put a lot of focus on. It’ll also be a very open layout to prevent overcrowding and allow for their max capacity cap to be slightly higher. The estimate for materials and construction is under budget as well.” I can hear his pride and, looking at his work, it’s more than justified. We go over the other files that have much of the same basic information, with only the designs being different. He’s put a lot of time into his designs and each one is tailored to the client’s specific needs and demands while keeping everything under budget. This man really has a knack for pitching his ideas in an alluring way and I think it’s a shame that my father never acknowledged that. By the time we finish reviewing the final file, it is 9pm and I’m famished.

“Alright Antonio, you’re clearly prepared and should be very proud of the work you’ve put into these accounts. Tomorrow we can practice your pitch if you’d like.” His face lights up and his cheeks are slightly flushed.

“I would appreciate that, Ms. Greco.” I roll my eyes and give a coy smile.

“After hours, it’s Alessa. I hadn’t realized how late it is, but I need to get something to eat. Are you hungry, Antonio?” I see his hesitance as he considers what it would mean to eat with the mafia princess. Why the hell do men over complicate everything?

“I can just grab something on my way home.” I stand up and walk to my desk, grabbing my phone and text Enzo to meet us downstairs.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Leave the files there and let’s go.” He quickly stands and follows me out of the room to the elevator. As we stand there, I see him fidgeting and can tell there’s something on his mind and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little curious. “Out with it, Antonio. What has your mind in knots?”

“Oh, um…nothing.” the doors open and we step inside. As soon as the doors are closed, I corner him and hit the emergency stop button causing his eyes to go wide.

“I don’t like being lied to, Antonio. If there’s something bothering you, or if there’s something you want to know, then ask. I don’t bite.” I see a slight curl at the corner of his lips.

“I don’t wish to offend you. I was just asking myself what the odds are that you’ve killed people.” What exactly did he think a mafia princess does…pick flowers and wait for her mafia prince charming?

“No offense taken and the odds are overwhelming. Would it put your mind at ease to know that every person that I’ve killed had committed acts of unspeakable evil?” It surprises me to see the look of curiosity wash over him.

“What kind of evil?” I turn and press the emergency stop button again and the elevator purrs to life.

“Rape, murder, child abuse, human trafficking and most recently there was a situation of someone endangering the financial wellbeing of hundreds of people by embezzling money from their accounts.” His look of surprise is amusing.

“So, kind of like vigilante justice?” I laugh at his basic explanation, but I don’t necessarily hate it.

“It’s guaranteed justice. Take Amal Sadiir for instance. Brought to trial on seventeen counts of Sexual assault, rape, sexual assault of a minor, unlawful imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon. He got off on a technicality. There was no justice for the women and children he harmed. They would forever be tormented by his actions while he continued to harm others. He was their worst nightmare and was allowed to roam freely.” The doors to the elevator open and as we step out, he places his hand on my arm to stop me before we reach the doors to the exit.

“So, you delivered justice for his crimes. Do his victims know?” I see his concern for those the monster had hurt and it’s fascinating to me.

“Yes. I delivered the news personally.” I feel an odd sensation when he smiles warmly at me, lowering his hand back to his side.

“You’re not what I was expecting. I thought a Comare would be a heartless, ruthless criminal…no offense.” I chuckle softly at his naïve admission.

“A common misconception. For the record, my mother was the Comare, I’m more of a mafia princess. I inherit my father’s empire when he passes on, not that I necessarily want it.” We walk out to the SUV that’s parked on the curb with Enzo leaning against it as he waits for us.

Chapter 4

We arrive at one of the many restaurants owned by my family and are immediately seated in my personal booth in the back, one that’s blocked from the view of the other guests. It seems that my warning to him about being direct was taken rather seriously as he hasn’t stopped asking questions since we got into my car back at the office.

“You said you don’t really want to take over. Why?” I smile at him, glad to have someone who’s willing to think of what I’m feeling, even if it’s not something I’m usually comfortable with discussing.

“I won’t lie to you and say I don’t like the violence, or even feed you some other crap that will mislead you. I’m a violent woman, I was raised to be one. I always wanted to create something of my own, to live my life, not the life that someone else chose for me. I may thrive in this life, but I didn’t choose it.” He nods while his eyes reflect understanding and maybe even a little sadness.

“How old were you the first time you took someone’s life?” Ah, now we’re getting down to the dark and dirty details, yet the fact that he actually wants to know, it’s a pleasant surprise.

“I was fourteen.” I can easily tell he wasn’t expecting that answer, but I doubt most people would be.

“But you were just a child.” I smile at the sound of concern in his voice, but he doesn’t need to be concerned, not about me.

“I stopped being the child the moment I watched the light disappear from my mother’s eyes.” In a single breath, I’ve told this man something that only one other person in this world knows.

“You were there when she was killed?” I nod as I fight back the emotions that are threatening to invade my mind. There are very few things in this world that will provoke an emotional reaction from me, but my mother…now she’s a weakness I don’t think I’ll ever be able to shake.

“I was. She was shielding me from the gunfire. She died…protecting me.” Neither of us speak another word while we finish our meal. The silence is filled with unwanted tension. When we finish our meal, we’re slowly sipping the remainder of our wine when he chooses to break the uncomfortable silence.

“Who was the first person you killed and why?” I had figured he’d ask eventually, thought I had actually thought it would’ve been much sooner.

“I killed the man who murdered my mother.” He doesn’t seem bothered by my answer, not really.

“Alessa, you’re an amazing woman. You’ve been through things that most people could never imagine and rather than letting it make you weak, you found strength in it all. I understand why you adapted to this life so easily…this life claimed you at a young age.” I sit back, arms crossed over my chest as I look at this man who sits in front of a killer with a look of admiration painted on his face.

“Doesn’t it bother you to know what I’ve done? What I still do?” A smirk forms on his full lips as his eyes focus on his nearly empty glass and he slowly shakes his head.

“It probably should, but no.” What a crazy man. We both finish our wine and I stand up and motion for him to follow. “Don’t we need to pay?”

“That’s what we’re doing.” He follows me to the kitchen where we find Marta, Sergio’s short portly wife, standing at the sink washing dishes. She stops when she hears the light creak of the door.

“Oh, Alessa! You look lovely dear!” I step into her outstretched arms and give her a warm hug.

“Dinner was perfect, Marta.” I hand her several folded $100 bills.

“No, it’s on the house. I was hoping you could help Lorenzo with finding work. I’m worried he’s getting into trouble with those Moretti boys again.” She tries to hand the money back, but is met with my stern glare.

“You’ll not refuse me, Marta. Take care of Sergio and send Lorenzo to my office tomorrow first thing in the morning.” She nods her head, placing the money into her pocket before returning to her dishes. I lead Antonio out of the restaurant and into the SUV.

“You know the owners?” I nod in confirmation,

“Marta and her husband, Sergio, are part of the family. Sergio had a minor heart attack a month ago and Marta had to call both of her daughters in to help out until he’s back on his feet. I come in a few times a week and make sure they have enough money to cover their expenses on top of what we give them monthly to cover his medical bills.” His brow raises as he sits back in his seat, clearly surprised by the information I so freely gave him. Most people don’t realize that in our world, family is everything. There’s nothing we won’t do for them.

“It’s amazing what you do for them. They’re lucky to have you.” I shake my head to this because it’s not just about me, it’s what the whole family does for our own.

“We take care of our own and even if I weren’t here to help them, someone else in the family would’ve stepped in.” His bright smile is not the usual reaction someone would have after having spent the night with me, listening to me spilling secrets about my past.

“Where to?” Enzo asks once we finally fall silent for a few minutes.

“We’ll drop Antonio off and then I need to speak with my father.” Enzo nods and begins the drive to Antonio’s building. When we arrive, I watch as Antonio hesitates to get out.

“Alessa, thank you for tonight.” He climbs out and I watch as he disappears into his building.

“He seems…different. He’s not your usual type.” Enzo smirks at me through the rearview mirror while I narrow my eyes at him.

“He’s not my type, but perhaps that’s a good thing. For now, he’s just…interesting. Now, let’s go fill my father in on everything so I can get home. I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow which, in turn, means you have a busy day.” Now it’s my turn to smirk while he rolls his eyes. We pull away from Antonio’s building and head to my father’s house, but my mind is stuck on an architect who’s liknothing I could’ve expected.

Chapter 5

The next day holds much of the same business dealings. Lorenzo showed up at my office around 9am and I quickly got him set up with a job working closely with me on a few side projects that’ll not only keep him busy and give him a great deal of money, but it’ll also help him to keep himself clean. Once 4:30 hits, I can hear the sound of everyone leaving for the day and I wait patiently for Antonio to arrive. A soft knock at my door alerts me to his arrival and I’m shocked by the rush of excitement that rips through me.

“Enter.” I stand from my desk and take my seat at my usual spot across from his as he enters the office.

“Thank you for doing this for me, Ms. Greco.” I respond with a soft scolding voice.

“It’s after work hours, so Alessa is fine. I’m more than happy to help you prepare.” He pulls out his first file and jumps right into his presentation. I give him a few notes to help smooth some things out and he adapts his presentation to them quickly. Within an hour, it’s clear that he’s more than ready to blow the clients away with his work. He’s about ready to dive into the second presentation when Enzo bursts into my office and by the look on his face, I’m not going to like what he’s about to tell me.

“Alessa, we need to get down to County General.” I jump to my feet and look from Enzo to Antonio.

“What happened?” Enzo’s also looking at Antonio now, likely wondering how much he should disclose in front of him.

“It’s Carlo.” I feel the rage filling me and I can tell by Enzo’s stance that it’s shining brightly through my eyes.

“What about Carlo?” His gaze shifts once more to the man on the couch.

“He was shot.” I rush to my desk, grabbing my bag, phone and unlocking my bottom drawer to pull out my 9mm and slide it into my waist band.

“Antonio, you need to come with me.” I see the shock and confusion in his eyes, but don’t have time for an explanation right this second. Luckily Enzo steps in and leads him to the elevator. I pull out my phone and dial my father.

“Papa, we have a big problem.”

“I know. They’ve been watching you closely, principessa. “

“Who?”

“Francesco. Is Enzo with you?”

“Yes, papa. We’re going to see Carlo now.”

“Don’t leave Enzo’s sight. Liam is already at the hospital.”

“I’ll be home after I see Carlo. I love you, papa.”

I hang up my phone as the elevator doors open. The ride down is quiet and I’m sure Antonio’s mind is reeling with questions. We exit the elevator on the first floor and Enzo leads us to the SUV with his gun drawn. I can see Antonio growing more nervous by the second as he slides into the car beside me.

“Antonio, I’m sorry you’re caught up in this. I’m going to need you to stick with me for right now, at least until we resolve this issue.” His eyes slowly find mine and his expression is unreadable.

“Am I in danger?” I sigh and place a hand on his shoulder.

“Yes. Unfortunately, my movements have been closely watched and that in itself puts your life at risk. We have several guest rooms in my home and I would suggest you stay with us until we’ve dealt with the threat, but if that’s not suitable to you, then you can stay in your home and I’ll have a few of our men stand guard.” It bothers me to know that I’ve put Antonio in danger by simply being near him, but this is an unfortunate and all too common situation in my line of work. This is the exact reason for why I’ve chosen a life of solitude. My day to day activities put the lives of everyone I care about at risk, just as my father did with my mother. She was a casualty of a feud between him and Ezra all those years ago. I never wanted this for Antonio. It was selfish for me to allow the fact that I enjoy his company to affect his safety. I’ll never forgive myself if he comes to harm because of me.

“I’ll do whatever you think is best. Would I be able to get some of my things?” I don’t know why, but I hadn’t expected him to be so amendable to our situation.

“Enzo can take you to get your things after we visit Carlo.” He nods and then directs his gaze out the window. The rest of the ride is quiet, but the state of unease has subsided. We pull up to the hospital and Enzo quickly ushers us out of the SUV and through a side door that leads to the first floor patient rooms. As we approach Carlo’s room, I can see Liam posted outside his door, only nodding to me before continuing to focus on the other end of the hall. We walk into the room and my heart sinks at the sight of Carlo lying in the hospital bed with tubes and wires going in every direction. His eyes open once I’m beside his bed and he gives me a weak smile.

“Comare, I’m sorry. It all happened so fast.” I place a finger gently on his lips to silence him. He’s not aware of the fact that I was already sent the security and dashcam footage from the shooting. I have yet to review it, but I already know who’s responsible, thanks to my father, and have men tracking his movements.

“Carlo, you need to focus on your recovery. We’ll handle everything from here. Lucky for us they hit the stronger target. If it were Liam in this bed, he would be a blubbering mess.” Carlo chuckles softly causing him to wince from the sudden jolt of pain.

“He has eyes on you. He was tracking your movements. He had pictures of you, your father, Antonio, Sergio, Marta, Enzo, Liam and I. This asshole was thorough.” I nod in understanding then place a gentle kiss on his forehead and lower my lips to his ear.

“I’ll find Francesco and I’m going to make him suffer until he begs me to end his miserable life. I swear this to you.” Carlo places his hand over mine and nods. We exit Carlo’s room and head directly to the SUV and begin the drive to Antonio’s apartment.

“You love him, don’t you?” Antonio’s voice startles me from my thoughts of vengeance. A sad smile pulls at my lips as I formulate my answer.

“I do. Carlo is like a brother to me. We grew up together. I was there for him when his father died when we were eight and then he was there for me when my mother died. Same with Enzo. We all grew up together. They’re the only two people that gave me any semblance of a normal life. They didn’t see me as the mafia princess. To them I was just Alessa…a spoiled brat with one hell of a mean streak.” He chuckles as I slide through memories of my less than typical childhood.

“You know, if you had told me two months ago that I would be sitting next to Alessa Greco, mafia princess of Foster City, in danger of being executed by some psychopath…I would’ve told you that you lost your damn mind.” I shake my head and laugh at his lighthearted tone.

“You’re taking this extremely well, all things considered.” He sighs softly and turns to face me.

“I probably shouldn’t say this, and I sure as hell shouldn’t feel this way, but this is kind of exciting. Am I terrified? Sure, but I see how protective you are over your family. I know that somehow, if I’m with all of you, I’ll be safer than if I were on my own. I trust you, Alessa. I trust that you know what’s best in this situation. I’ve never dealt with any part of this life. Hell, I’ve never even shoplifted for fuck’s sake. If you say I’ll be safer with you than in my own apartment, then I’ll stay with you.” There’s so much conviction in his voice and it’s surprising to me. Maybe Antonio has a dark side lurking deep down.

“I do think it’ll be safer.” He nods his approval as we pull up in front of his apartment. Enzo and I follow him to the second floor and down the hall to his door. Once inside I remain by the door with Enzo while Antonio packs what he needs for his stay. It takes him around fifteen minutes to finish then we head down to the SUV and climb in while Enzo places his duffel bag on the passenger seat. The drive to my home is quiet while I message my father to inform him of our new guest and Carlo’s condition. As we enter the gates to my house I watch as Antonio’s face goes from complacent to shock in the blink of an eye.

My home is a white two story house that most would consider to be a mansion. It has a large Veranda with stone columns on either side, six windows on either side of the bottom floor, two large black doors with stained glass windows and flowing bushes lining the entire front. The second floor has a balcony that spans the entire length of the second floor with three sets of French doors, one in the center and one on both sides of it. The house has eight bedrooms, nine and a half bathrooms, a large living room, entertainment room, two offices, a gym, a large kitchen and the foyer with a large staircase to the second floor where the bedrooms are located.

When the car stops, we exit the vehicle and I lead Antonio into the house, giving him a quick tour of the downstairs before showing him to his room. I choose to have him stay in the east wing where my room is located since my father and Enzo’s rooms are in the west wing. Once he’s settled in his room, I let him know that my room is two doors down and instruct him to let me know if there’s anything he should need. I retire to my room for the night here I fall into a turbulent sleep that’s laced with the memories that have haunted me for the last decade.

Chapter 6

‘Go Alessa! You need to hide!’

‘I’m scared mama!’

‘I know principessa, but you need to be strong. I need you to go hide!’

‘Mama, please come with me!’

‘They’re looking for me, Alessa, but if they find you, they’ll hurt you. Now go!’

‘There’s no use in running, Bianca.’

‘No one’s running Ezra. I’m right here.’

I’m in the hall closet watching as the tall man approaches my mother. I’m terrified, but she stands firm as he grows closer every second. He stops in front of her and I see the light flash off the barrel of the gun in his hand. My body moves on instinct while my mind is frozen. I dart out of the closet and quickly place myself between the man and my mother.

‘I don’t enjoy killing children, Bianca, but I think I’ll make an exception.’

I watch in shock as he raises the gun and my mother moves so quickly that I can’t process what’s happening until it’s already too late. She wraps her arms around me and twists her body as the sound of gunshots echo through the room and we both fall to the floor, her body on top of mine, still shielding me from the wrath of the tall man. I stare into her eyes that are overflowing with tears and I lay there, still as the dead and I watch as my mother slips into the darkness, drawing one final trembling breath as the sound of footsteps fade out through the front door.

“Alessa?” A soft voice calls out through the darkness while hands gently shake me.

“Antonio?” My eyes slowly focus on his figure that’s barely illuminated by the light of the moon shining through the glass doors in my room.

“You were screaming.” I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes.

“It was just a nightmare. I’m sorry if I woke you. What time is it?” He runs a hand over his tired face.

“It’s 3am.” I shake my head and slowly climb out of my bed.

“I’m ok. You should go back to sleep. I promise I won’t wake you again.” I walk over to my dresser and pull out a pair of leggings and a t-shirt.

“Where are you going?” I turn and give him a soft smile.

“I’m going to hit the gym and chase the demons away.” He’s still clearly concerned, but he nods and exits my room so I can get changed. I make sure to keep quiet when I walk down the hall and down the stairs, heading straight toward the one place where the demons don’t dare follow. I’m halfway through my second set of reps on the leg press when I hear shuffling footsteps enter the room and I look over my shoulder to see Antonio standing there with a tired smile.

“Is this a regular thing for you to be doing at 4:30 in the morning?” I shrug as I return to my workout.

“Most days, yes.” He takes a seat at the bench beside me.

“300lbs?” I smile as I finish my last rep and slide into a sitting position.

“Yes.” I grab my bottle of water off the floor and watch as he studies the room.

“Do you often have nightmares?” My shoulders slump slightly and I pull my legs up onto the bench until they’re crossed in front of me.

“Only when I close my eyes.” His face is a mangled mess of emotions that’s only further complicated by his clearly tired state.

“What do you have nightmares of?” I draw a deep breath as I prepare for our conversation to take a dark turn.

“The night my mother died.” I watch as he furrows his brows and leans forward resting his elbows on his knees.

“How long has this been happening?” I give a sad smile as my head lowers, my eyes focused on the wall behind the leg press.

“Since the night she died.” He releases a heavy sigh and I can see him gently shake his head out of the corner of my eye.

“That’s awful. I’m sorry that night has haunted you for so long.” I want to smile and tell him it’s ok and that I’ll be fine, but I just can’t. I don’t know if it the years of sleep deprivation, or if it’s just the strange comfort I get from talking to him, but I want to tell him…I need to.

“She died protecting me. She had told me to hide and I did. I hid in the closet and watched from the door that was cracked open. I should’ve stayed there, but I saw his gun and I panicked. I ran out and stood between them. I tried to protect her, but then she used her body to shield me. The gunshots were so loud. I thought my ear drums were blown with the way everything went silent after. When she collapsed, she took me down with her.

“Even as she lay dying, she was still protecting me. She landed on top of me and stared into my eyes, pleading with me to continue laying there and be still. She protected me until her very last breath, but I failed to protect her. I had asked her to come with me…to hide with me, but she wouldn’t.” I feel the warmth of the tears streaming down my cheeks and quickly wipe them away.

“Alessa, she did what any good mother would. She gave everything of herself to protect her child. What you went through was unimaginable.” I smile softly at his attempt to comfort my heavy soul.

“You’re the only person I’ve told this to. Even my father doesn’t know that I was there or that she died trying to protect me. The only other person who knew was Ezra and I saw the fear in his face the night I killed him. He was so sure that he had killed me that night. When I walked into the room, it was like he had seen a ghost. I made sure that my mother’s name was the last thing he heard before he died.” I half expect him to run or at least look shocked by my confession, but instead he moves onto the bench in front of me and puts his arms tightly around me. Since my mother’s death, I’ve not allowed anyone to hold me aside from Marta, who’s much like a mother to me. I’ve not welcomed the affection of another, but right now there’s no where I would rather be than here in his arms. What the hell is this man doing to me?

“Your secret is safe with me, Alessa. At the heart of it all, we’re all twisted fragments of shattered lives and we’re all just trying to pick up the pieces.” His hold on me loosens as he slowly pulls away.

“But what do we do if some of the pieces are missing?” My voice is weak and the sound of it makes my blood boil.

“There’ll always be pieces missing. We can never rebuild what once was. We have to piece things back together and create something new. It may not be what we’re used to, or what we think we want, but it can be beautiful all the same.” There’s a sadness in his voice that tells me he’s all too familiar with running from the ghosts of the past.

“Who broke you?” As I speak the words I feel a chill when his expression hardens, revealing the darkness that I had correctly assumed he had within him.

“A man named Gregory Kline. He was the drunk driver who killed my mother and father when I was a child. I was never the same after that night.” I place my hand on his and gently squeeze.

“Since you know who he is, I assume he was sentenced for his crime?” He shakes his head as he focuses his gaze on our hands.

“He spent seven months behind bars and was then set free. Me, my brother and sister lost our parents and he got to go back to living life as if nothing happened. He’s still alive to this day. Still drinks, drives and lives his pathetic life as a waste of flesh and air.” The cold and bitter tone of his voice is all too familiar. It’s the same tone I used when I spoke my mother’s name to Ezra before I pulled the trigger. I was able to face my demon, but Antonio…his demon still walks freely, torturing the people left behind by his victims.

“If you could face him now, what would you do?” I watch as he carefully considers my question before responding.

“I would make him suffer like he made my family suffer.” Oh, Antonio…your darkness is magnificent.

“Would his death bring you closure?” I watch as he suddenly realizes the weight of my words.

“I honestly don’t know, but I think it would be a start.” His voice is firm and unwavering, perhaps we’re not so different after all.

“What if I could give that to you?” His eyes meet mine and for a moment I think he’s going to refuse me…thinking I’m psychotic for even offering, but his next words are like music to my ears.

“What do I have to do?” I search his eyes for any signs that he may regret his decision, but there’s nothing but darkness.

“Nothing that you don’t want to. We can locate him and we can handle everything else if that’s what you want.” His eyes wander for a moment as he considers my offer.

“I want to be there. I need to look him in the eye. I need him to know what he did to my family.” I nod my understanding.

“Give me twenty-four hours.” He stands up and exits the gym quietly while I grab my cell phone off the shelf and text Enzo with instructions for our newest target then I finish my workout before taking a shower and getting dressed for work. Antonio is quiet the entire drive and I can’t help but wonder if he’s having second thoughts.

We finish out our morning meetings with Antonio blowing away our clients with his presentation and quickly agreeing to his designs. For the first time since our conversation this morning, Antonio is smiling and I hadn’t realized just how much I had missed his smile. If he follows through with this, will he still be able to smile after?

Chapter 7

I am lost in my thoughts when I hear my ringtone going off inside my desk drawer.

“Alessa, we got Gregory. We’re on our way to the warehouse right now.” I smile as Angelo delivers the news.

“Thank you, Angelo. I have to finish out the day here, but make sure out guest is comfortable until I arrive.” I end the call and sit back in my chair. I wait out the rest of my day as I try to prepare for how the coming events will play out. At 4:30 Enzo enters my office with Antonio following behind him.

“Alessa, are you ready to go?” I grab my phone and exit the office without a word. No one speaks until we’re all seated in the car, but the air is charged with the emotions of what’s about to take place and I can tell Antonio feels uneasy.

“Enzo, we need to stop at the warehouse.” He nods and gives me a sinister grin. Enzo is one of the few men I work with who truly loves his job. He enjoys the violence in ways that most would think are unnatural. When we arrive at the warehouse, I motion for Enzo to wait and turn to Antonio who’s drifting in and out of thought with his gaze fixed outside the window.

“Antonio?” He turns until our eyes meet and I see the nervous grin on his face. “You don’t have to do this.” He shakes his head and climbs out of the car without a word. We both follow Enzo into the building as he guides us through the halls until we reach Angelo, standing outside a door with a warm smile on his face.

“Good evening, Alessa. He’s ready for you. I must warn you, he’s a vile piece of shit.” I nod and push open the door, revealing a middle-aged man who could easily be mistaken for a homeless person with his filthy clothes, unshaven and dirty face and the stench of alcohol that seems to permeate every one of his pores. He’s bound by his wrists that are pulled tightly above his head by a chain that’s attached to a large hook in the ceiling, his toes barely touching the floor.

“Hello, Gregory. You’re probably wondering why you’re here.” He mumbles something as he struggles to lift his head.

“Do you recognize me?” Antonio steps forward, his voice firm and movements steady.

“Should I?” I watch as Antonio clenches his hands into fists.

“You should. Do you remember Alessandro and Maria Bernoulli?” The man chuckles as his eyes search Antonio’s face.

“I do. You must be their kid.” Antonio smiles wickedly and it send delightful chills up my spine.

“I’m one of them. You killed my parents and you got away with it.” Antonio steps even closer.

“Shit happens kid. You think I’m like this because I had a perfect childhood?” I hear the taunting tone in his voice and I watch Antonio’s body react, his muscles tensing, his knuckles now white and his jaw ticks with his rage.

“Yeah, we all had fucked up lives, but not all of us dealt with it by killing innocent people.” The man laughs insanely and I feel my heart skip a beat when Antonio draws back his arm and slams his fist into the man’s face, sending him flying off his feet as he swings from the chain. Before he can get his footing, another fist connects with his jaw, blood flowing freely now from a cut on his lip.

“Do you feel better now kid?” The man spits out the words with a smile on his face.

“No, Gregory. I’m just getting started.” Antonio’s eyes fall on the table against the wall and he smiles when he sees the instruments displayed upon it. He slowly walks over and searches for his weapon of choice, settling on a short, curved blade. He turns back to Gregory and I’m surprised when I see Gregory smile at Antonio.

“You ain’t got the guts kid.” He then looks at me and a sinister grin pulls at his lips. “Your girlfriend there…now she would use that and I’m willing to bet she’d even enjoy it.” I smile at how true his words are. I lean back against the wall and watch Antonio’s movements closely and I have to admit that a big part of me isn’t sure he can go through with it. Antonio stops in front of the man and his smile is pure evil as he thrusts the knife into the man’s stomach, twisting the blade once the hilt meets the flesh. He pulls the knife out slowly, never breaking eye contact with Gregory.

“I think you’ve sorely misjudged me, Gregory. I’ve spent almost twenty years thinking about what I’d do to you if I were ever given the chance. When I first found you…I had hoped to see a changed man. Someone forever altered by his actions, but you know what I saw? I saw you leaving a bar, barely able to stand. You climbed into your car and took off, nearly hitting a pedestrian. That was the moment that I knew I would end you. I would be willing to darken my soul if it meant removing the stain that you’ve become.” He thrusts the knife in again and I see it…I see the moment he breaks. His hands are shaking and his shoulders slump. I walk over to him and pull him to me, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

“It’s ok, Antonio. You don’t have to do this.” He pulls away from me and wipes the tears from his eyes then looks at Gregory who’s slowly fading in and out of consciousness.

“I though…I hoped that I could do this. I wanted to destroy the monster that’s destroyed so much in my life. I don’t want him to live, but I don’t think I can do this.” His words are full of emotions that I understand all too well.

“Every time you take a life, it destroys a piece of you…a piece of your soul. Once it’s gone, there’s no going back. You don’t need to do this. I’ll make sure he never hurts anyone again.” He gives me a slight nod and lowers his head, eyes closed as he braces for what he knows is coming. I knock on the door and Enzo opens it with a raised brow. I grab the gun from his belt holster, flip off the safety, turn and fire one round right into Gregory’s head then hand the firearm back to Enzo. I grab Antonio’s arm and lead him out of the room and back to the car where he remains silent until we’re nearly back home.

“You said you lose a piece of yourself with ever kill.” I turn to him with a soft smile.

“Yes.” I watch his posture shift slightly as he raises his eyes to meet mine.

“Then how do you do it?” I’m caught off guard by his question, but the answer comes so easily.

“Because there’s nothing left of my soul to lose. Every bit of innocence I had died with my mother.” There’s a small flicker of sadness in his eyes that makes my heart drop.

“There must be something left. What you do…who you are…you help people. Whether you realize it or not.” I digest his words slowly and a smile pulls at my lips.

“You just watched me kill a man and you’re trying to defend my actions?” We both laugh softly as the car pulls up in front of the house.

“I guess I am. There’s more to you than what you let people see.” I raise a brow and shake my head at him, but say nothing. We both exit the car and enter the house with me veering toward the entertainment room to get a glass of wine. I didn’t realize that Antonio had followed me until his voice breaks the silence in the room.

“Is this how you cope with what you do?” He gestures to the glass in my hand and I laugh softly.

“No, but it helps me unwind.” I pour a second glass and hold it out for him. He approaches me slowly and I can see the questions swirling in his eyes.

“What do you feel when you…kill someone?” The hesitance in his voice causes me to pause.

“Well, it’s kind of a rush. I think it’s exciting. I know that sounds crazy and makes me sound deranged, but it’s how I feel.” He nods as he takes a sip of his wine.

“How many people have you killed.” I walk around the bar and make my way to the large black leather couch, sitting down with my left leg tucked under me.

“As of tonight, thirty-five.” His eyes go wide, but he quickly recovers as he walks over and takes a seat at the other end of the couch.

“Have you ever killed someone who wasn’t evil?” I smile at his simplification of human values and virtue.

“Everyone I’ve killed had committed heinous crimes. I remember every name, every face and every crime. No one’s innocent, Antonio, but some people are just worse than others.” The corner of his lip pulls up slightly.

“Thank you…for what you did. I really thought I’d be able to do it.” I smile and drop my head back on the couch.

“I’m glad you didn’t.” I turn my head and watch the confusion on his face which causes me to smile.

“Why?” I sit forward and set my glass on the table.

“If you had pulled the trigger, you might have felt better for a minute…but once that high faded, you would’ve felt regret, heart ache and you would have to bear that burden until the day you die. It would’ve eaten at you. The ghosts of the people you kill are ones you can never break free from. You’re a good person, all the way to the core. I would hate to see that piece of shit rip away the last of your innocence for a brief moment of relief. It would’ve been the ultimate way for him to win.” He sits back and looks at me with a look of surprise.

“So instead, you have to live with it?” I grab my wine and down the rest of the glass.

“He can keep my other demons’ company.” We both smile and I pull my phone out of my pocket.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.” He nods in agreement then finishes his wine.

“I probably shouldn’t be, but I am.” I order us a pizza and we spend the rest of the night talking and enjoying the comfort of each other’s company. We finally head to bed just after 10pm and I fall asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Chapter 8

My father told me to stay in the car, but I heard him talking to Uncle Mateo and he said he was going to deal with the man who killed mama. I sneak out of the car and into the warehouse, turning right as soon as I hear my father’s voice coming from down the hall to the left. I hear footsteps coming closer and I know papa will be so mad, so I hurry into one of the rooms and close the door.

I turn around and there’s a man hanging by his wrists from the ceiling. I slowly walk around him until I can see his face, but I feel my stomach turn when I find myself staring into the eyes of the man who murdered my mother. My eyes search the room as I begin to panic, but the light glints off of something on the table and I find myself walking closer. I should hide…I should run, but I can’t. I stand in front of the table looking at the assortment of knives, bats, saws, garden sheers and a single pistol.

I try to stop, but my hand reaches for it even though I’m screaming in my mind to put it down. I walk over to the man who’s smiling at me. I raise the gun to his temple, but he just…keeps…smiling. I feel my mind and heart both unite for the first time since I walked into this room. I stare into his eyes and my mother’s name rolls off my tongue just before I pull the trigger.

I watch as his body goes limp, still held up by the restraints around his wrists. The door flies open and my father rushes in, pulling the gun out of my hand and wrapping his arms tightly around me. I thought he would be so angry, but his emotion is something I’m not familiar with. 

“Principessa, you did well. I’m so proud of you.”

“Wake up, it is just a bad dream.” Antonio’s soft voice pulls me out of the all too vivid dream.

“Shit, did I wake you?” My voice is hoarse and still laced with sleep.

“You did. I don’t know how you didn’t wake the others. Scoot over princess.” I give him a confused look as he stares down at me with a smile. I slowly slide over and he climbs into the bed beside me.

“What…what’re you doing?” I rub the sleep out of my eyes as he lays his head on the pillow and lays his arm over his eyes.

“I’m going back to sleep and so are you.” I watch him for a few more seconds before laying my head down, staring at the ceiling. After a few moments I hear his breathing become soft and steady and soon after I drift back to sleep. For the first time since my mother died, I don’t dream of her death. I don’t dream of the lives I’ve ended. I don’t dream of the faces of those I was too late to save. Instead, I dream of her love, her kindness and her warm, kind smile.

Chapter 9

I wake to the faint light of the sun breaking over the horizon, Antonio’s soft breaths still filling the air in the bed beside me. This is the first time I’ve ever allowed someone to share my bed and it’s certainly a strange feeling. I slide out of my bed slowly so as not to wake him and hurry to my bathroom to shower so I can get ready for work. After I’m showered and have brushed my teeth, I put on my white satin robe and exit the bathroom to go in my closet, but I stop dead in my tracks when I see Antonio sitting up in the bed watching me with a devilish grin.

“Good morning, Alessa. How did you sleep?” I offer a warm smile as I realize that in all the years since my mother’s death, this was the first night I slept for more than a few hours.

“I slept well, thank you.” I walk into my closet and pull on my black lace underwear with the matching bra, a pair of fitted black slacks, a gray silk button down shirt, black blazer and black stilettos. I walk out just as Antonio is climbing out of bed and he gives me a soft smile as he exits my room. Thirty minutes pass before I head downstairs to find Antonio and Enzo talking in the foyer, but Enzo falls silent as soon as he spots me coming down the stairs.

“Good morning, Alessa. Your father would like to arrange a meeting for 10am at your office.” I nod my agreement and offer a soft smile. It’s still strange to me to have my own father scheduling meetings so he can see me.

“Any news on Carlo?” His lips pull into a sly smile.

“He’s been harassing all the nurses and threatened to castrate the doctor, so I think he’s feeling better.” We all laugh, shaking our heads at Carlo’s shenanigans.

“He’s such a pain in the ass. Let’s get to the office so I can sort my emails before papa arrives.” Enzo escorts us out of the house and into the car.

“It’s rare for Enzo to converse with people outside of the family. He must like you.” Antonio flashes a smile at me and shrugs.

“He’s a good man. He cares deeply for you.” I raise a brow and look him in the eye.

“He wasn’t a dick to you, was he?” He chuckles softly, shaking his head.

“Not at all. He actually was telling me about his sister and how you all used to get into trouble for sneaking desert from the kitchen.” I have to admit that I’m surprised. Enzo has always been a very private man and it took years of knowing him before he felt comfortable talking about his family to me.

“We were partners in crime, that’s for sure. Nothing much has changed there. No matter what, he always has my back and I’ll always have his. It actually made my father quite angry when I insisted on having Enzo be my personal guard. He wanted someone more seasoned and with no emotional attachment, but it’s our emotional attachment that allows us to work so well together. I think that he’s more likely to protect me if he’s protecting family, just like I’m willing to sacrifice everything to protect him.” Antonio nods and leans back in his seat.

“Maybe that’s what worried your father. The fact that you would sacrifice yourself to protect him, I mean. He just wants to keep his daughter safe, so you can’t be mad at him for that.” I shake my head and furrow my brow.

“What kind of person would I be if I allowed others to die for me if I wouldn’t be willing to do the same for them? One day I’ll take over this family, but how could they respect me if I expect them to make sacrifices that I, myself, wouldn’t be willing to make?” I didn’t realize how harsh my tone had become until I see him raise his hands in surrender.

“I completely agree. I was just trying to see it from his perspective and I mean…I get it. If I was a father, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my child.” I slump down in my seat feeling slightly defeated.

“I know, but I’m not his little princess anymore.” We fall silent for the rest of the drive. We pull up to the building and make our way upstairs, separating to go to our offices. My father is as punctual as ever, arriving at 9:55 for our meeting.

“Alessa, I spoke with Angelo this morning. We apprehended two of Francesco’s men and I’ll be going to the warehouse to see if we can get information on what Francesco is planning. I don’t want you to go anywhere without Liam and Enzo.” I sit forward in my chair with my brows furrowed.

“Liam needs to stay with Carlo.” He slams his fist on my desk and leans forward.

“You may think you have a say in how I run things, but make no mistake, principessa, until I die, these are my men and I they’ll do as I ask. Your safety is my top priority, not Carlo. He knew the risks of working for me when he took his oath.” His scolding tone sets my very soul on fire.

“He was shot while trying to do your bidding. Liam will stay with Carlo. This is not a request. If you try to pull Liam from his post, I’ll go stand guard myself. These men are my friends…my family. They are not disposable and their lives are no less valuable than my own.” I see the flames in his eyes, but there’s no way I’ll back down now.

“Your disrespect will not be tolerated, Alessa. You’ll do as I say, do you understand me?” I shoot up out of my chair and slam my fists onto the desk in front of him.

“I’m not some lap dog who’ll follow your orders without question. You’re mistaken if you think I’ll put my safety above that of my men.” I stand up straight and run a hand over my face in frustration. “Leave Liam at his post and send in Frankie to help Enzo.” He pauses for a moment before nodding.

“Ok. I’ll agree to this, but in the future, you need to trust that I know what’s best. It’s my job to protect you and I’ll do that at all costs.” He rises from his chair and exits the room without any further discussion. I try to bury myself with work to help drive away the anger that’s been burning since my meeting with my father, but I’m ripped from my work by a knock on the door and look at my clock to see it I already 2pm.

“Enter.” My voice is cold and as soon as I see Antonio’s face I feel the flames die down into nothing more than embers.

“Is everything ok?” I sigh and slump down in my chair, dropping my head back to look up at the ceiling.

“It will be.” I close my eyes and listen as his footsteps grow closer.

“Alessa, what’s wrong?” I smile as he speaks my name, it’s such a heavenly sound that seems so strange in my hellish world.

“It’s fine, really. Just more of my father’s nonsense. How’s your project coming along?” I can see he picked up on my sudden change of topic, but I’m thankful when he goes along with it.

“The client made some last-minute changes, but it’s coming along nicely.” I smile and roll my head to the side to look at him.

“I figured it would be. What would you like to do this weekend?” He sits on the edge of my desk and gives me a thoughtful look.

“What do you usually do in your down time?” I chuckle softly, turning my chair to face him.

“I work…and I work out…and I spend a lot of time out by our pool reading.” He smiles and slowly nods his head.

“Well, let’s remove work from the equation and it sounds like a good time to me.” I fold my arms behind my head with my hands resting on my neck.

“Ok, Mr. Bernoulli. So, a weekend of kicking back by the pool. I bet you never realized how exciting the mafia life could be.” We both laugh as Enzo walks into the office.

“Your father has requested that I bring you home immediately.” I sit forward and give him a look of concern.

“Did his meeting not go well?” He lets out a ragged sigh as his eyes shift from me to Antonio.

“It brought some things to light that have him a little on edge.” I see the way his muscles stiffen and realize that the situation is more serious than I was willing to believe it to be. I grab my phone, open my locked drawer and remove my 9mm and slide it into the waistband of my slacks. I grab Antonio’s hand and pull him out of the office where Frankie is waiting in the hall. Both men escort us to the service elevator and down to the car. Once we’re seated, I notice the concern on Antonio’s face and place a hand gently on his knee.

“Breathe, innamorato. This is just a precaution.” I watch as he draws in a deep breath and exhales slowly. He continue his deep breaths until we’re stopped in front of the house. I take his hand and guide him out of the car and into the house then ask him to go upstairs and relax while I go speak with my father. I walk into his office without knocking and let the door shut behind me.

Chapter 10

“Papa, whet the hell’s going on?” He motions for me to have a seat, so I drop myself into one of the chairs right across from him.

“Principessa, one of Francesco’s men informed us of his intent to take you. He wants to use you to break me, but I can’t let that happen.” I sit up straight and fold my hands in my lap.

“So, I’m going to be held prisoner so that I can’t be used as a pawn in this fucked up game of chess?” My voice is harsher than I had intended.

“You and your little friend will remain here while we try to negotiate with Francesco.” I quickly stand and storm out the door, slamming it behind me then rushing up to my room. I strip out of my work clothes and pull my bikini out of my drawer. The bottoms are black with gold embellishments on the hip and the top is a black halter style top with a gold clasp in the front and has a band that crisscrosses around my waist. Once I’m dressed in my bikini and have my robe secured around me, I head to Antonio’s room and knock softly. He opens the door and I feel my breath hitch as he stands in front of me with only a pair of black athletic shorts on.

“Are you ok?” fuck…I was staring!

“I’m going to head down to the pool. Did you want to join me?” He flashes an ear to ear grin and steps out of his room, slowly closing his door.

“Lead the way princess.” I give him a playful glare and lead him down the stairs and out the door to the patio. When we reach the pool, I grab two towels out of the cupboard and toss them on one of the loungers. Antonio wastes no time as he runs and jumps into the crystal blue water, making me laugh as the water splashes the ground around me. I untie my robe and slide it off my shoulders, laying it across the back of the lounger then remove the hair clip to let my hair cascade down my back and enter the pool using the stairs. Antonio’s eyes are locked on me, watching my every move from the other end of the pool. I dive under the water and glide slowly to the other end, emerging beside him. I pull myself to the edge, crossing my arms on the warm concrete and resting my chin on my arms. Antonio pulls himself up beside me and gives me a concerned look.

“Tell me what’s bothering you.” He gently brushes my hair behind my ear and my body shivers in response to his touch.

“I’m so sorry you got dragged into all this, Antonio.” I look over to see him smiling, not at all the reaction I was expecting from him.

“I’m not.” He slides one arm around my waist and pulls me against him, his lips crashing into mine with a feverish need. My arms wrap around his neck and our tongues battle for dominance as he presses me against the edge of the pool, hands holding the edge to keep us afloat. As we break from our kiss, we’re both panting with his forehead pressed against mine.

“If this is how my apologies will be responded to, I’ll have to apologize more often.” He chuckles and places a tender kiss on my lips.

“You don’t need to apologize to get me to show you affection.” I feel my cheeks flush. What the hell is wrong with me?

“You’re a glutton for punishment, Mr. Bernoulli.” He gives me an evil grin that send heat through me in the most delicious way.

“Only when it comes to you, Ms. Greco.” His lips overtake mine again and I eagerly submit to him. I pull away when I hear the sound of someone clearing their throat above us. I open my eyes to see Enzo with a shit eating grin.

“Your father left for a meeting and won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon. Would you like me to order dinner?” I look at Antonio and he’s sporting a shy smile.

“I’ll cook tonight, Enzo. Thank you though.” He nods and walks away, gently shaking his head.

“I guess we should go make dinner before the boys waste away.” Antonio releases me and I climb out of the pool then grab my robe, putting it on and securing the tie around my waist. We walk back into the house together and go to our rooms to change. I dress in light gray lounge pants and a loose black t-shirt then head down to the kitchen to get started on dinner, farfalle pasta with a sweet Italian sausage and creamy parmesan and sundried tomato pesto sauce. I’m preparing the table when Antonio enters the kitchen and leans against the door, watching me with a smile on his face.

“It smells delicious.” I set the last plate on the table and head back to the kitchen to bring out the food.

“It’s something my mother and I used to make.” He steps in front of me and takes the bowl from my hands, placing a kiss on my cheek then takes the bowl to the table. I fire off a text to Enzo and Frankie then take my seat at the head of the table with Antonio at my side. It only takes a few minutes before the other men join us and we proceed to eat our meal while Enzo and Frankie tell us stories of their childhood antics. When everyone is finished eating, I begin to clear the table and clean the mess when Antonio jumps in to help and together, we get everything cleaned quickly and retreat into the entertainment room.