《Capo Dei Capi (Secrets of the Famiglia Part 1)》


 Chapter 1 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 1 (Aliyana)


    There is hope in all of us. A small glimmer of it even in the evilest of viins to walk the earth.


    And love, oh love, a human emotion that is reckless, wild, and free as it paints you into the promise of


    its false truth, that is our fail switch.


    Then there is humanity, one emotion that is weak - the reason we fall so far, we be blinded. Well,


    at least that is what my papa says.


    We sacrifice so much for it; in the end, we are a mirror of our suicide.


    I, Aliyana Capello, am not immune to the dealings of the heart when ites to one man.


    I am as vulnerable as if I have already slit my own throat.


    ¡°He is so handsome,¡± I say, staring at the guy walking in front of my sister and me.


    Leonardo Catelli, third son of our Capo, Marcello Catelli.


    Today is a special day for the Famiglia. Marco and Deno Catelli will be choosing their brides. The future


    heirs of the Famiglia.


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    ¡°Gli scihi si innamorano Liya.¡± Fools fall in love Liya.


    ¡°Sono una scia in amore,¡± I am a fool in love, I inform my eldest sister as we walk to the back of the


    hall, to drop off thest batch of biscuits my stepmother made for this evening''s dinner.


    Neither of usined when we were tasked with the 50-minute drive there and back. Any chance to


    get out of the house. One of the rare asions we get to just be.


    Guiliaughs, her ck hair shaking as she tries with no reprieve to silence her loud disy of


    emotion.


    I don¡¯t understand why she bothers. She is loud, so what?


    My stepmother has tried for years to tame Guilia, but her mother, my papa''s first wife, was a free spirit.


    She died not long after giving birth to Guilia.


    Guilia is just like her mother, with light hazel eyes and a brilliant smile that lights up any darkness. My


    papa told me that he liked Guilia and Filippo''s mothers'' spirit. She never backed out of a challenge.


    But like her mother, my sister would never get to choose whom she loves.


    Guilia will never experience the joy of a kiss with her first crush.


    Because for ones like my sister, love will be something that will grow, and die a sudden death. A


    tragedy.


    ¡°Do you find it strange that he sees you almost every day, yet, still looks right past you?¡± Her strong


    ent voices out the words I ask myself a thousand times a day.


    Her eager eyes make me want tough as the hollow feeling of want sucks in my stomach.


    I smile, knowing full well the implications my sister will face in the wake of her marriage. The closest


    thing she''d ever get to a romance would be through my attempts, even if it is unreciprocated. For now


    ¡°Yes, but when the timees, I will eventually make him see me.¡±


    ¡°When the timees, you¡¯d be grey, and I¡¯ll be dead.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, very funny.¡±


    ¡°You are 19 Liya, Papa won''t allow you to pass another birthday without an engagement. You are


    freaking lucky Papa has given you the option to choose. I say you snatch Leonardo up before someone


    beats you to it.¡± Words cane so easy, but the truth is he is a Catelli, a Pure-blood. He will never


    choose me.


    I need to be more logical in my choice.


    ¡°I am half Russian Guilia," My nonchnt words have her rolling her eyes, as she shuffles one of the


    coconut and cream biscuits.


    She holds me on my shoulders and looks at my short form, giving me a little shake and those stern


    eyes,


    ¡°A beautiful half Italian woman who is educated. Any man would be happy to have you, Liya. No more


    negative talk.¡±


    ¡°Guilia, Yana.¡± We hear the sound of our namesing from a man behind us. Guilia drops her hold


    on me and begins arranging the four trays of biscuits on the wooden counter.


    A huge grin brightens my face as the man walks closer to us, not paying my sister''s ringing phone any


    heed. The stainless-steel equipment and light tan mmine wood finish cupboards and rustic


    countertops behind him highlight his appearance as he makes his way over.


    Watching him in thest few years, shooting up, broadening in every way that says he is not a boy any


    longer still, has me questioning science.


    ¡°REN!!!¡± My sister practically screams as my brown-haired, grey-eyed, and profoundly tanned best-


    friend shows himself.


    Lorenzo (Ren) Catelli is that guy - When he walks into a room, you know your day just got a fuck load


    better. He exudes confidence, screaming to the world that he is ¡°That¡± guy.


    His light blue jeans are filled with holes that show his bare knees every time he bends his leg. A white


    shirt hangs loosely around his torso but sits well on his waist, revealing his toned, 4 pack stomach.


    The promise of his shoulders and chest broadening in a few years isn''t hidden by his tee that sits tight


    around the top parts of his body.


    His bridged nose scrunches up when I arch my eyebrow at how long he is hugging Guilia. I want to


    snort, but I refrain. Ren''s prominent Italian features are robust to his bloodlinepared to his brother,


    Leonardo, who is the split image of his grandmother. But where Leonardo dresses the part, with suits


    and shiny shoes, Ren''s dress-code is college good-boy. Aplete opposite until his mouth turns up


    into a lopsided smile, then you see that he is undoubtedly a Catelli.


    Then you know, without a doubt, Ren is a true Italian man, just without the dress code.


    I whistle as I throw myself in his arms when hees to hug me.


    ¡°ck and red Jordan¡¯s. You pulling out quite the stops today, is Diamond here?¡± I look behind him as


    he hugs me back, lifting me up a bit. An easy aplishment, considering my short form.


    My feet hit the ground, and I take a step back as he stands in his typical Ren fashion.


    ¡°No,¡± he muses as his lips touch me gently on my head.


    It isn''t the first time I wish he was the brother I wanted to marry. We are so much better together.


    Marrying Ren will be as simple as looking at him.


    Ren will be easy to love. His heart, however, belongs to a friend of mine, Diamond. A biker Princess


    from Liston Hills and the only one he loves, now and forever.


    When he met Diamond, I was there. I didn''t need a microscope to examine their chemistry. I knew. His


    eyes never left her. He spoke to her for hours that night, both of them wanting the other. Ren being the


    ¡®nice guy'' he was, didn''t say no to what she was offering because it was bad manners.


    She was his.


    I will never admit it aloud, but I have always been jealous of the way the two of them could just be. I


    think I resented him more as he was my friend, and we were from the same world. The idea of his dick


    being the deciding factor of why he got to live a normal life, and I didn''t, did not please me in the least.


    And I knew I sounded like a bitch for even thinking it, but luckily it was stuck in my head and nowhere


    else.


    The men in our world dated a lot of women before they got married. Some of them had long-term


    rtionships with these women, and when the time came, they married us.


    The 5th State women are the ones who got stuck with the Made-Man. The man they all eventually


    be after surviving their 10th gun down still standing. We get the leftovers while those normal


    shy women taste fresh candy. Minty.


    Ren, however, has no intention of leaving his diamond lover, ever. And though I''m jealous and envy


    them, I have every intention of helping him.


    ¡°My father insisted I attend alone or with an Italian beauty. I hear Leonardo got his eye on someone.¡±


    Ren makes a funny pout and waggles his brows, swiping a biscuit from one of the trays. I smack his


    arm.


    ¡°Diamond isn''ting?¡± I am surprised, she said she''ll be there tonight. It''s the reason I extended the


    invitation to Kylie Bray. There''s something the three of us need to do. Something I could never tell my


    sister, not even Ren.


    ¡°Of course, she¡¯sing. Kylie is bringing her as a plus one.¡± He rubs his shadowed beard as he looks


    behind me at the biscuits with longing. I swear he doesn''t get any food with the amount he eats.


    Shaking my head, I roll my gaze to the ceiling and back.


    ¡°You can take a few more, but if ria finds out, you¡¯re on your own.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know why we had to do it here in Seattle. Why not New York?¡± Guilia groans as Ren fills his left


    hand with an assortment of biscuits.


    She didn¡¯t likeing to this side, but my sister wanted the man who controlled the State. A man I


    have never met. She saw him once up close.


    Sometimes I wonder how women fall victim to a man with just a glimpse.

 Chapter 2 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 2 (Aliyana)


    His crimes, faults, and every lousy habit hidden behind that need entrap her.


    Marco Catelli, I am sure, is a man with a lot of faults, and my sister is one of the many women who¡¯ve


    fallen for his charms without understanding how deep his crimes go.


    Is that our curse? Eve was made from Adam''s rib. She ate the forbidden fruit, luring him to do just as


    she¡¯d done. He forgot it was forbidden. The first trickster.


    ¡°Marco and Deno take residence this side,¡± Ren exins as I catch a glimpse of Leonardo jumping in


    his silver two-door SLK through the window. Do my faults way up to his? Do my secrets match his? His


    sses are slipped on his face as he reverses out of the parking lot, giving me a perfect view of his


    sculpted sinful face.


    I am doomed, not only by the faults of my family but by the extent of my love for one boy.


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    ¡°Capo Marcello lives in New York,¡± Guilia points out as I turn my head back to Ren, who is watching me


    with keen grey eyes. I give him a slight shake of my head. I don''t want to talk about it. I already know.


    His expression changes when he turns his head to my sister, ¡°My father wants to see how the other


    cities are doing since my brothers took this side up with Vince. Seattle is thriving, and if all goes well,


    my brothers will control more ces and make the family stronger. We already own Washington State


    as a unit. Why not use it?¡±


    Guilia''s eyes sparkle with the glistening thrill of knowing something so secretive.


    Ren¡¯s honesty has always baffled me. In our world, we are raised to hold our secrets until the grave. At


    first meeting Ren, you can read him like an open book. If you are looking for an answer, all you need do


    is mention it to him. He will tell you exactly what he knows. You will believe everything he says. But


    open books show you what is in the book. It doesn¡¯t exin much, just tells you the story.


    My Papa told me that sharing too much is as good as asking for an early grave.


    If what he says is true, has Ren always had a death wish? Or is my friend whom I have grown up with a


    master of lies. Has he told me what he thought I wanted to know instead of what really was the truth? It


    isn''t the first time that question sticks in my head.


    I am afraid of the correct answer to that question. It might just be the tool I need to dig into Ren''s head,


    and I know I won''t like what I find.


    He touches Guilia¡¯s nose when she scrunches it.


    My sister, like most of the women, knows nothing of the dealings of our men. I have never been one of


    them. The dealings of our men were something I knew way too much about. Knowing was never a


    choice, but something I stumbled upon at an early age. And like an addiction, I made it my business to


    know as much as I could.


    Sometimes our enemies were also our allies. Knowledge could be a powerful tool in the game of war


    and power.


    We talk about College, Diamond, and all our other friends.


    Ren¡¯s charm is infectious, and his I don¡¯t care attitude makes him Guilia¡¯s focal point for the next 40


    odd minutes. She loves hearing about our College stories.


    Guilia didn¡¯t see the need to apply for college when she finished school. And now, with her impending


    engagement to whomever Papa chose tonight, it¡¯s far toote to change her mind. That choice will


    soon be the man who will own her.


    When she was younger, Filippo refused Papa¡¯s suggestion that she gets married when she turned 18.


    Those few months Filippo and Papa fought a lot.


    The disagreement between Filippo and Papa subsided when Guilia helped our Capo''s wife, Nicole,


    while she was ill.


    Capo Marcello asked Guilia what she wanted in return. Guilia asked for time. Her one wish was that


    Papa not marry her off before I finished school.


    It was a year back when my Papa fulfilled the promise he agreed to.


    Guilia knows her time hase. And I think secretly she wants to get it done. At 23, she''s considered


    a ripe age to marry.

 Chapter 3 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 3 (Aliyana)


    Papa has kept Guilia on a very tight leash. She has responsibilities I would never have.


    I wonder if my other sister, who was taken by my mother¡¯s people, the Bratva would be like Guillia,


    trapped.


    Or as a half-blood like me, have the freedom I do, one of choice even if that choice is limited.


    Guilia hardly got to talk to men. She came across as na?ve when she did. Especially with ones as


    handsome as Ren.


    I am not surprised that she dotes on every word Ren says. Nor am I shocked when her longing gaze


    stares at him without blinking either.


    These moments, I am d I am not a full-blooded Italian woman born into a powerful family. I am the


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    half-breed.


    Sometimes I question myself, if my father¡¯s decision to send me away was based solely on my


    stepmother¡¯s dislike toward me, or was it also the blood running through my veins.


    Growing up, I hardly ever saw my family. I was in Chicago, attending school, trying to stay alive. When I


    was home during break, my Papa allowed me freedom my sisters never got. I always ended up


    spending it with Ren, Gabriel, Michel, and Mero. That list extended in thest few years to a few others.


    Even now, Guilia and my younger sister, Serena spend most of their time with my stepmother taking up


    the house or attending G''s and functions in New York. I hardly ever get to see them.


    I feel sorry for my two sisters. They will never know the joys of walking with friends on Campus or


    attending Parties with football yers. Small things which make life a bit better when you think back on


    it while living as a prisoner in your own home.


    A bit of happiness to store for those days you turn a blind eye to your husband''s infidelity.


    But I ache for my other sister more, the sacrificialmb given to my mother¡¯s people.


    The Bratva are dangerous even in the 5th State. They trained some of their women to be killers and do


    unspeakable things. The more I knew about them, the deeper that ache grew.


    ¡°Do you remember our first night in Chicago?¡± Ren asks me.


    ¡°We snuck up to the rooftop and Michel got drunk on cheap vodka,¡± Iugh, shaking my head.


    When I was younger, Papa sent me to school in Chicago after he witnessed my stepmother¡¯s deep


    hate for me. I was the reminder of my mother¡¯s existence and my father''sck of one.


    Leaving my stepmother would have made Papa look weak, so Chicago was his solution.


    I knew Papa hit her, and I didn¡¯t like it then or now.


    But there are times when I secretly wish I could slice her throat myself.


    I still begrudge her for all those years ago, when she pushed me down the stairs. It was a Friday


    evening, I was watching reruns of Friends and painting in my bedroom.


    Guilia was making popcorn when it happened. She found me at the bottom of the staircase. It was the


    one time I saw my sister lose it.


    She dialed Papa, and he came home that evening in a bad mood. He carried me to my bed and called


    for our house maker, Katherine, to pack my bags. It was the next morning when I found out I was


    leaving for Chicago. The day my entire outlook on life changed. The day I changed.


    ¡°I remember you joining him.¡± Ren smiles as I groan from the memories.


    It was a bad day. Papa exined to me the morning before I left, about the group of kids selected to go


    to Chicago as a peace offering between two Italian syndicates, the Russo and the Catelli family.


    It was the first time my father called me into his office for something besides a hug. He was letting me


    go.


    What he failed to mention was that I was the only girl amongst four boys.


    What I learned after that was the gossip Papa had to deal with.


    The questions that came from his decision followed his shadow for years. The implications it caused in


    our family was no small thing. But I knew why he did it, the alternative was worse.


    All he ever wanted was to protect me. Well, that is what he told me the morning I left. Didn¡¯t mean it felt


    right at the time.


    I was only 11. Barely of age to take care of myself.


    ¡°We felt like we were pawned off,¡± Ren admits as his smile dims, reminiscing the memories the five of


    us will never talk about. Sometimes silence is voice enough when it¡¯s painted solely in fear.


    ¡°We were. I never thought we¡¯ll be a family of our own,¡± I tell him as I touch his arm. A small


    My sister remains quiet. She doesn''t know what we did to survive in that ce. Ren and Gabriel took


    most of it. But we all took the scars that came with our price of survival. We just handled it differently.


    For seven years, we stuck together. Romero, Michel, Lorenzo, Gabriel, and I. We didn''t have a choice.


    Our bond was forged in blood and war. There was no power on the table.


    Our parents will never know what we endured. They think the Russo family are their allies, but the five


    of us know different. The Russo family has no allies.


    We knew that making the swap work was not an option. We had no choice but to be inseparable.


    My father was unknowingly the reason for our strong rtionship getting forged in the first ce. Our


    strong bloodlines and thirst for time made us unbreakable. After all, the five of us were the best of our


    family names.


    The Capo sent his own son, Lorenzo Catelli.


    DeMarco sent their future heir, Gabriel.


    The Moretti sent their Capo¡¯s son, Michel, and the Raseto sent their only pureblood son, Romero.


    My Papa sent me, his reminder of what he lost.


    The 5 best families in the Catelli Famiglia.


    In return, the Russo sent their own. One of them was their Princess, Elisa. Our Capo insisted a girl be


    left in the care of the Famiglia, as I was.

 Chapter 4 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 4 (Aliyana)


    The Catelli¡¯s were kind to the children, raised them as they would us. But for us, it wasn''t the case.


    We weren¡¯t epted in Chicago as our parents had hoped. I was treated the worst and called a whore


    for staying with four boys.


    They didn''t consider that we were staying with their Capo¡¯s sister and husband. Well, they just didn¡¯t


    care. It wasn''t the Adults that made us miserable, it was their kids.


    Our Famiglia killed a lot of their family. They wanted to do the same, but their hands were tied, and


    payback wasn¡¯t off the table.


    What the other kids hoped would make us miserable and easy targets made us stronger.


    ¡°Yes, indeed we are,¡± Ren touches my head. His gaze straining far away. I don¡¯t need to be his mind


    reader to know the night he is thinking about. The night we were saved by a Di Salvo.


    ¡°Now, you all join the same University. One day your kids will be just as close,¡± My sister says.


    To the people in the Famiglia, these four boys are my brothers. After seven years, the stories amongst


    our kind became history, and Papa''s choice of sending his half-blood daughter was regarded as an


    honorable action, not a suicide to his name.


    But unfortunately, marriage to any one of the boys would be a scandal. It was the one rule Papa


    couldn¡¯t be clearer about as I got older.


    The thing is, I didn¡¯t care, the lot of them were not him.


    It was 2-days after my 15th birthday and the first day of summer vacation when I fell hopelessly in love


    with the handsome Leonardo Catelli.


    The sun was zing, giving his skin that extra golden glow as he stood in the Chicago heat.


    He was moaning to Ren and Gabriel about having to fetch us. He was 19 and the epitome of bad-boy.


    And I was a 15-year-old girl with crazy hormones. The poster girl for all things wrong.


    He looked right past my short form as I stood gawking at his tall one. ck sses hiding the eyes that


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    woulde to haunt me in the days that followed.


    I never existed then, and I didn¡¯t exist now. I was Yana, Ren¡¯s friend. Leonardo greeted me when I went


    to his home after that day. He spoke to me when he had to and I always froze. Only with him.


    I - A little cat with a distinguished surname and him - A lion raised to rule a territory of his own.


    It¡¯s my own personal brand of torture that Leonardo Catelli is the only one for me. Maybe it¡¯s his voice,


    or broad shoulders, or the fact that he¡¯s always smiling.


    Or the few moments we shared on those rare asions. Moments, I convinced myself a man like


    Leonardo Catelli could actually know I exist.


    Whatever the reason, it was my driving force to get into University. The reason I choose to stay in


    Seattle, far away from my family.


    One look at him in the morning as he crosses the Campus grounds and a few more when he attends


    frat parties is the perk me up, I need. A link. Even if it is all in my head.


    Sometimes I wonder if he is the sole reason I chose to study business?


    My Papa was proud when I announced that I was going to further my studies.


    He always empowered me in more ways than one.


    Except when it came to matters of the heart. I am clueless as my sister. My father still preaches to me


    that love will not guarantee me a stress-free life.


    ¡°I have not met your brother, Marco. Is he as charming as Deno?¡± I question Ren, changing the topic of


    conversation and quietening my mind.


    I am aware that my sister is hoping to get chosen by Marco. I have not seen the man in person, but his


    brother, Deno, is a regr when Ren is around.


    His dark humor, always weed.


    If I could say it aloud, I would call him a friend. But Deno once told me that his friends were actually the


    enemies, he would one day kill.


    I don''t want to be his enemy.


    It has been a while since I have seen him. There are rumors that the Famiglia is shifting power. And


    Deno Catelli is the name whispered as the leading yer.


    Unlike my sisters and most women of the Famiglia and even the ones that make up the 5th State, I say


    again, I know the dealings of our men. Not the false stories that are told to the women in attempts to


    keep them happy.


    Growing up, I was always ashamed of having only half Italian blood. My Papa told me to be proud of


    the Bratva''s blood in my veins. He said our women were strong, but the Russian''s made their women


    unbreakable.


    He said I am unbreakable. I like to believe that is true.


    However, the bit I havee to know of the Bratva isn''t something I want to be known for.


    ¡°He''s hard work, thank fuck you don''t have to marry for power, or you might just be stuck with one of


    my n.¡± Heughs as I smack his arm, knowing he is teasing me because of Leonardo.


    Ren has known my affections for his brother from that first day. But he also knows the chances of me


    marrying his brother is in the negative. Marcello Catelli won¡¯t let his sons marry a half-breed, no matter


    how prominent my surname is.


    Ren¡¯s phone rings. I know the ringtone all too well, his fathers.


    He doesn¡¯t answer it, just frowns.


    ¡°I have to leave youdies now. Guilia, it was lovely seeing you again. And my Yana Banana, I''ll be


    your plus one tonight. I''ll see you there. Wear something short and fleshy.¡± He winks at me as he


    saunters off to do his father¡¯s bidding.


    ¡°He has a sexy butt, your friend must sleep really well.¡± My sister sighs as she watches Ren leave.


    ¡°It''s the hormones. Control them, we have three hours. Our stepmother will be bitching a fit if we¡¯re


    ¡°Why do you care so much about what she thinks?¡± Giulia asks.


    ¡°She is Elia and Serena''s mother. We don''t have a choice,¡± I tell her.


    A valid reason but a lie.


    My sister opens the ck Mercedes as she takes off her light blue heels and throws them in the back


    of the convertible.


    Her skin-tight jeans and Blue top screams sexy. She is so tall that I know she could have done well in


    modeling.


    My short form, pale skin, green eyes, and ash blonde hair is everything that sets us apart.


    Our slim figure is the one thing we share from our father.


    ¡°There is always a choice. We can go Gunzo on her and Zap-zap, ditch the body. Who would know?¡±


    Guilia says it like that can be an option as she starts the car.


    I m my door closed.


    ¡°ria is Papa''s wife, and a DeMarco, we can''t go Zap-zap, or someone would Zap-zap us,¡± I inform my


    sister.


    We both hate the woman but tolerate her, I more than Guilia. The only difference is, I try to do as she


    says in hopes she will shut up about my extramural activities long enough. She has for now, but I think


    ria''s reasons are selfish and have nothing to do with me.


    My sister is lucky when ites to ria. She is the eldest daughter, and my eldest brother, Filippo, will


    never let anyone harm our spirited sister. ria included.

 Chapter 5 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 5 (Aliyana)


    We get home after 2-hours due to traffic. The familiarity of home is weed to me. I have lived here


    for a while, with Papa around for most of it.


    This house is one of my father''s many properties. Like most in the Famiglia, Papa has legitimate


    businesses and The 5th State ones.


    The 4-floor Mansion my sister and I walk into is one of the legitimate things he owns - Real Estate.


    ¡°Hello, siamo a casa Papa,¡± We are home papa, I yell.


    Papa doesn¡¯t respond.


    He is either busy or out back in the gardens. I am guessing the former.


    ¡°You two are quite cheerful today, excited for tonight?¡±


    Filippo, my eldest brother, walks out from the open arch-way leading to the study. His voice is deep and


    loud as his big smile makes us giddy. I haven¡¯t seen him in months. Staying this side has a few


    downsides when ites to my family. But I have never had a close rtionship with any of them


    besides my father.


    Filippo looks handsome and refined in his navy suit and grey tie. Guilia and I picked it out for himst


    week as his birthday present.


    We both say my brother is the Italian version of Christian Grey. He has grey/brown eyes and dark hair,


    which is almost ck, like Papa. My friend Kylie says he is a clich¨¦ of bad-boy heartbreaker. Too hot


    for his own good.


    His jaw is clean-shaven today. I prefer him with stubble. He smiles at us, showing the dimple just under


    his eye.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were here. Papa said you would make it only tonight,¡± I say as my brother kisses me


    first on my cheeks, then my sister.


    ¡°Ah. Papa wanted to surprise you. It¡¯s been a few months since I have seen you, you shoulde to


    New York more often.¡±


    I don¡¯t respond to Filippo, he knows the chances of meing to New York to see them are slim to


    none with ria¡¯s hatred for me.


    Here, I have college and friends. I could escape at any time I want. This very home I live in was the


    home my mother and Papa chose to raise us in. Seattle is my home, New York is my prison.


    Papa understands it.


    He spends most of his time here with me than he does in New York. Guilia doesn¡¯t mind that much


    because she has Filippo and her own friends to keep her busy.


    Elia and Serena don¡¯t have the same feelings as Guilia does.


    I knew this because they always act out when they''re here. I feel terrible that we are all divided.


    Papa doesn''t share the sentiment. He once said that ria was a great mother, and his time was more


    valuable than using it to raise kids and ying house.


    Filippo ces his arms around the two of us,


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    We know Filippo has got us something. He is always giving us presents. Sometimes I wish he¡¯ll get


    married and settle down. He¡¯s almost thirty.


    Papa told me Filippo once fell hard for a woman, but in the end, she chose to live a life of loneliness.


    Papa said they were both fools falling in love, now they live like fools, alone. I wonder if I would end up


    like my eldest brother. A jaded person who hides behind fake emotions.


    I asked Papa what her name was, but Papa simply said her name didn''t matter.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing the sound of my other sister, Serena, scream at my brother as we pass the back door leading


    to the pool, I groan.


    Guilia likes to call them the devil twins. They could burn the house down without a match stick.


    ¡°She sounds like a banshee,¡± Guilia mumbles under her breath. I shake my head, smiling as Filippo


    pulls us forward.


    Guilia doesn''t like the twins very much. I know her dislike toward them stemmed from her deep loathing


    of ria. I try to spend time with them when I can, knowing that they are as much my siblings as the two


    who now walk with me, but I only get to see them a few times a year.


    Elia once said I was like a ss of juice, one minute there and the next gone, but I always left the after


    taste.


    ¡°Do you know where Papa is?¡± I ask my brother.


    ¡°He has gone out, should be back in a few. I got something for the two of you,¡± He says while the


    garage door opens.


    I see it first and squeal, jumping like a mad untamed creature. It is a Lime Green Ashton Martin


    Vantage.


    My sister takes a few seconds to realize that this is the car we have both wanted since we went to the


    Stone Heart Pce Hotel with my friend Kylie and saw the beauty parked in the parking bay


    downstairs.


    My brother never sheds an expense when ites to his family. I guess it is his way of making up for


    theck of actual time he spends with any of us. Except for Guilia, I knew he made an effort to see her


    at least once a week.


    Guilia starts jumping and screaming. It isughable how easy we are pleased by the material life has to


    offer. Shallow happiness is as sudden and spectacr as it is fleeting and hollow.


    I hug Filippo, ¡°Thank you. You didn¡¯t have to.¡±


    Heughs as Guilia throws herself on both of us. My brother is big, but with Guilia jumping up and


    down, he has trouble trying to hold both of us.


    ¡°I ordered two, the other one is going to be a couple of weeks, so in the meantime, you have to share.


    It¡¯s a good thing, we¡¯ll be in Seattle for the next few weeks.¡± His face is pensive as he regards us. I am


    smiling and thrilled, but I admit I am not as crazy about it as my sister. Material things are important to


    me; however, I won''t lose sleep if I don''t have it. Guilia will.


    She is the poster cover for Mafia Princess. She wants it, she must get it.


    Her teeth are on full disy as she remains smiling, but stops jumping around when Filippo lets us go.


    The sun is so bright out today that it reflects directly onto the dream machine that has cost my brother a


    dent in the bank. I would never waste my money like he does. Every cent would be well spent.


    ¡°I love you like fifty times more now,¡± Guilia muses, pping her hands together.


    ¡°Only fifty?¡± My brother asks in a teasing voice. It baffles me that our men can be so normal and yful


    with us but so deadly to the ones who cross them.


    I have seen the temper of our men. It scares the crap out of me that one day I might get the end of that


    deadly temper. My secrets have guaranteed that.


    Guilia moves toward the car. Her hand touching the bo as if it were a child. I remain standing next


    to Filippo, watching her.

 Chapter 6 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 6 (Aliyana)


    She spins to face us, one step closer to where I am currently standing to the left.


    ¡°So,¡± She says as shees closer.


    One second Guilia is smiling wide, next she is losing her bnce, not seeing Serena¡¯s skateboard and


    going down.


    ¡°Guilia,¡± I scream, jerking my body toward her as she slips.


    Someone stops her face nt just in time as I let out a shrill scream, digging my blunt fingertips into my


    brother''s arm when he grabs hold of my waist, wrapping me into his chest.


    Guilia makes a funny noise, which has me releasing my ws from my brother''s arm. Staring up into


    my brothers'' now straight face, my shock wanes to a keen curiosity. Any yfulness in my brother''s


    mood now brimmed with concern.


    I turn, hesitant to look at my sister as the sun shines on this beautiful Saturday. I feel a knot bury itself


    within my belly. Why? How? I can''t say, yet, when I turn to see my sister and the man who has his arm


    around her waist, there is one emotion I can say that is dominant right now, FEAR.


    His ck gaze levels with my fearful one. Only his is filled with a storm that has been brewing since


    before he was born.


    Who is this man?


    He has light lines around his eyes and forehead, and a small crease in between his brows. His face is


    carved from stone. My fingers itch for my paintbrush to copy the curve of his jawline, the indent just


    beneath his chin. His face is harsh, and oh, what a primal view it will make mirrored on my canvas.


    He is older than Filippo, maybe early to mid-thirties. His shoulders are too broad to be confined in the


    prison of his Suit jacket, no matter how well-tailored.


    Recognition shes in his unwavering gaze. Does he know me? Surely not. I would remember him.


    He resembles a demon trapped by an enchanted chain. A predator, untamed. I wonder if Kylie will call


    him a clich¨¦ too.


    He is tall, close to 6 ft. 1 inch, even as he stands with his long legs slightly parted. I am not certain as to


    the reason my heart rate is so loud and feeling. I can''t exin why the pulse on my neck is beating with


    such erratic thumps that I hear the sounds in my ear. No, I don''t understand any of it.


    I can feel the drumming of the organ, which is my heart pumping blood through my body.


    I frown as I remain looking at him, stuck.


    The familiarity of him is uncanny, apart from his onyx gaze staring at me, challenging me. But for what?


    Why?


    He might not look like Ren. However, Deno and this man are definitely a match. DOES he know I am


    friends with his brother? Is that why I am the pawn who got his attention right now?


    His ck gaze pierces me as a breeze covers me. I shiver.


    My eyes, I''m sure resemble someone who just witnessed the end of the world in 4D Xtreme.


    The longer I stare at him, the more my flesh heats up, hyper-aware of this man, standing in front of me.


    None of these feelings is good or weed.


    My sister takes a step back, breaking my concentration as that small voice in my ear whispers, The


    eyes of a killer.


    A dark shadowed face and unkempt ck hair, unlike a Made-Man I know. Yet everything else about


    this man screams Mafia. Right to the bridge of his nose and his dark deadly presence.


    From the shiny tan shoes to the tailored cream pants and matching jacket.


    He is a Made-Mad-Man. Yes, he is mad.


    I have always been attracted to a man with big hands. No matter who the man is, the need to look at


    his hands is a habit. We all have habits, right? That is the excuse I tell myself when my eyes drop to his


    extended one. Veins around his knuckles bulge out. Thick long fingers.


    A long angry scar covers most of his forefinger. It makes me swallow hard at the thought of the reason


    behind its existence.


    His hands can easily wrap around my neck, overpowering me. The hands of a killer.


    I frown, looking at his hand because he is currently holding that hand out, waiting for me to take it.


    Everything in me is screaming not to touch him. My body wants to run, so why is that I can¡¯t drop my


    eyes from his monstrous ones when I look up again.


    I don''t want to be rude and disrespect my brother, is the lie I use as I put my big pants on and my small


    hand in his.


    He closes his fingers around my dainty ones. His fingers are so big.


    His touch is rough and firm, and his hands are neither cold nor warm.


    I don¡¯t appreciate my body¡¯s reaction to him. My pulse beats on my wrist, the flushing to my


    cheeks. The heat I feel emanating from his eyes. It''s all wrong.


    He is too much.


    He is staring, Aliyana. Don¡¯t let him know you are affected by him in any way. ALIYANA.


    Words are screaming in my soul, head, and through every small sliver of being.


    ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you.¡± His voice is deep, too deep. I don¡¯t like it. I hate him on site.


    He senses my need to remove my hand and grips it tighter. The action has my eyes stabbing right


    through his. ck, ck eyes. Evil.


    I hope he can read the loath I feel for him. How dare he touch me in this way! Who the hell does he


    think he is?


    But even evil is beauty. I deny the slight kick I get as his mouth twitches at the hard glint I am currently


    holding.


    He is waiting for my name. I need to tell him. Say something Aliyana.


    ¡°Aliyana, Filippo''s sister.¡±


    ¡°Aliyana. My name is Marco Catelli,¡± He replies in that deep voice.


    He drops my hand, but not before brushing the inside of my palm as he does. The touch is intimate.


    This is not good.


    The most intimate thing I have ever experienced, without a doubt, in my sheltered life. And it ising


    from this man. The man, my sister, is hoping will marry her.


    This is so not good.


    Living with four males didn¡¯t allow me more freedom to explore as I would have liked. In fact, it made


    any privacy impossible.


    I take a step away, removing myself from our close proximity and behold my eyes, walking closer to us


    is Leonardo. Could this day have any more surprises? Twice in one day.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He is a mystery to the Catelli bloodline. Where his brothers are dark, he is light.


    ck depths remain unwavering, but mine finally stare at familiar brown ones as it draws itself closer to


    our small ¡®get together,¡¯ and as always, I stand like a statue.


    Marco is tall, but Leonardo is much taller than his older brother. Less lethal too.


    ¡°You two go inside, we need to talk business. The keys to the car are on the dresser in my room, you


    can drive to Azure tonight.¡± Filippo orders us.


    I kiss my brother as my sister moons over Marco.


    I have to pull her arm, so shees inside with me. And even then, she turns her head around at least


    a few times. I do it once, as I close the door to our home, making sure the Devil knows it¡¯s not


    wee.


    One day I would ask myself why my gaze is drawn to Marco Catelli, a man with mad eyes and not the


    one whom I want. Dark vs Light. One day, just not today.

 Chapter 7 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 7 (Aliyana)


    ¡°We are stalkers Yana,¡± My sister mumbles from next to me as we crouch on my bed, looking through


    the double windows.


    I don''t miss Leonardo watching us with a small smile on his thick lips. His sses have long since left


    his wandering gaze for our perusal.


    We''ve spent thest twenty minutes peeping from the top of my bedroom window at the three of them.


    They have taken their discussion to the patio. Sitting on therge outdoor beige and blue lounge suites,


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    we purchased just two days ago. This is great, as it makes it easier for us to see them. They are


    sipping on beers, and while they seem rxed in the soft outdoor chairs, Marco¡¯s face is harsh as he


    listens to whatever Filippo is telling him.


    The two of them look rather close, very familiar. I didn¡¯t know Filippo and Marco were on close terms. I


    guess staying home for the next few weeks with my family, there is a lot I am going to find out.


    Including who Marco Catelli was.


    I usually try my best to not be home on the days when ria is around, but Papa asked me to be home


    this week.


    ¡°Make an effort, mia, your whole family is here. Your sister is getting tied soon. You can spend time


    away from your friends for a few weeks, no?¡±


    ¡°Si Papa.¡±


    Papa never asked me this before. I understood his sudden need to do so. Guilia didn¡¯t like Seattle, it


    brought back memories of my mother¡¯s death.


    And though she wouldn¡¯t openly admit it to me, for fear I would be jealous, or ask questions I shouldn¡¯t,


    she missed my mother and my sister. My sister¡¯s name wasn¡¯t a name spoken in the family. My father


    forbade it. Her memory, something he wanted everyone to forget.


    I knew it ate at him like a cancer.


    I knew it hurt him more knowing his wife was gone too. His fear was not for nothing.


    Papa knew I would seek her out. The absence of a name would not stop me.


    Leonardo stands and lifts his white shirt sleeves up, revealing the beginnings of his tattoo that starts


    mid-arm.


    Ren told me Leonardo, Marco, and Deno shared the same tattoo. He mentioned it was something that


    bound them together. I asked him what it was, but he said he couldn¡¯t tell me exactly.


    So, one day he managed to get Deno to let him take a picture of it, and showed it to me. The art was


    crossed between a Latin ancient runguage and a beast with a rosary around its chest. The tattoo


    started on the left side of his forearm and ran down half his torso, the limbs of the beast-like creature


    went further down to ces I still blush thinking about.


    Deno is built in a way that says, ''I don''t get these muscles pumping iron.'' His strength is something


    which came naturally with his kind of work.


    He wasn''t punching iron, he was punching bone.


    Leonard sits down as he lifts his chin up toward us again as Marco barks, ¡°Fuck Administration.¡±


    His voice scares me at the threat lurking in his tone.


    Leonardo tells them something softly, his face curving in a small smile when Filippoughs, and Marco


    takes a sip of his beer, shaking his head.


    Gosh, Leonardo is cute.


    ¡°You and Leonardo will make a great couple Aliyana. Imagine what your babies would look like? And


    Marco, ah Yana,¡± She groans, using my nickname Ren calls me. Nudging me to move up on my king


    size bed.


    I chuckle and snort at my sister¡¯s dreamy gaze. Her eyebrows are arched in a way that reminds me of


    Papa¡¯sst month when Gabriel and I got caught making pocket bombs in the basement for a prank


    party we were throwing at Romero''s apartment.


    It wasn¡¯t so much as the bombs that had us lying, but the fact we didn¡¯t go for sses and we were


    using gun powder.


    Well, if I am honest, my father''s anger stemmed mainly from the smell of the basement. Which stank


    like a breeding ground for weed, thanks to Michel and Romero, who smoked a bomb while we were


    busy prepping the stuff.


    Papa didn¡¯t believe a thing we said and had me take a drug test after Gabriel left. He was happy with


    the results and dropped it, but I did get the receiving end of his arched brow look that said he knew that


    we were up to no good and spewing shit.


    ¡°When are you going to make your move?¡± Guilia asks me the very question I never asked myself.


    I sigh, throwing myself t on the ck and purple bedding while looking at the white crafted ceiling.


    The white roofing is crafted with stars and a moon in what resembles ivory, but in the dark, it glows


    blue. It was a present from Ren and Gabriel.


    Papa helped by keeping me away from home for the weekend doing errands. That was almost a year


    ago, yet, the beauty of the sculpted stars still amazes me when I look at it, hoping answers would fall


    from the ceiling. It never does.

 Chapter 8 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 8 (Aliyana)


    ¡°Tonight, at Azure. I am going to make him notice me, I promise.¡± I am not sure who I am trying to


    convince, me, or the ceiling? There is no way I am going to be able to even say hello to him. Even the


    roof knows that.


    ¡°We need to go shopping,¡± My sister deres, eyes widening with glee. Turning my head, I see further


    than the front-end smile and big sparkling eyes she is currently staring at me with.


    Even now, with the man she wants right in reaching distance, Guilia can¡¯t hide her fear of tonight.


    Wanting or not, she will be betrothed to a Made-Man of my father''s choosing.


    Who? I don''t know, my Papa has not mentioned it.


    After tonight my sister will prepare for her engagement. The only thing that keeps us sane about this


    night is the knowledge Papa will choose well.


    Marco and Deno will be choosing brides of their own, so maybe there is hope for her to at least get


    what she wants.


    My sister is hoping Marco will choose her, but Deno is a better choice, in my opinion. My forehead


    scrunches into a frown reliving that split second when Marco touched my palm. It was a graze, but I


    can¡¯t shake the sense it means something more.


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    This doesn¡¯t bode well for me or my sanity. I wish it was Leonardo who touched me, not the Devil


    himself with mad eyes.


    I had never seen eyes that ck before on anyone besides a woman I met once many years ago.


    She, however, was smiling at me. Not giving me a look that held a thousand words I didn''t want to hear.


    I stare at my sister, knowing what lies ahead. My sister should get to choose the man she¡¯ll have to


    wake up next to for the rest of her life. The man who will eventually be the father of her children should


    be someone she loves, not the one with a big title or number of kills under their names.


    Every family has their fortunate ones and the unfortunate. For mine, it was my parent¡¯s marriage been


    that of the fortunate.


    My mother was a woman of high status, a 26th generation member of the Bratva, Zasha Vasiliev. A


    Russian royal in the underworld. She was also the love of my father¡¯s life. So, he says.


    My father, born and raised to be an influential member of the Famiglia, the future heir to the Consigliere


    of the Capo Dei Capi. The boss of all bosses


    The Capo Dei Capi controls the entire 5th State, or asmoners know it, the Underworld. The most


    powerful man in the world, and he is undoubtedly a man.


    All the Capos, regardless of whether you¡¯re Italian or Irish, answer to him.


    Whoever he is, nobody knows besides a select few. My father is one of those few.


    When the Russiansnded in New York, they agreed to a peace offering. A marriage between my


    mother and Papa was negotiated, and after a short meeting, it was decided, they would marry within a


    month.


    My parents were young and fortunate. Papa had two kids and was already a widower before 30. My


    mother was a young woman with a reputation that made a lot of enemies in her 24 years.


    Yet, they fell in love with each other after a few short weeks following their shared nuptials.


    Everything was right then, simple.


    In fact, Papa said it was terrific. How true the story is, I am not sure, but the few pictures I¡¯d seen said


    he spoke the truth. Then again, secrets hid well behind a choreographed smile.


    There was one picture Papa kept of my mother in his office, on the desk. She was not smiling, she was


    staring out the window by the breakfast nook downstairs, lost in her mind. The rain droplets evident on


    the window as the dull light from the winter season showed her make-up free face in another light.


    Her eyes sunken, her cheeks dusted with light specks of freckles as her curly long ash-blonde hairy


    wild as though she¡¯d just woken up and didn¡¯t bother to brush it out.


    She was just in in that picture, a lot like me. I wonder if the picture was taken before they lost my


    sister. Was I born then?


    Papa told me my mother had a way about her that just drew you in.


    He told me, no one could refuse her when she wanted something, she¡¯d get loud and harp on the same


    thing every day until someone relented. When I was much younger I tried to picture her, but I couldn¡¯t.


    Eventually, I stopped trying altogether.


    My parents remained fortunate for years but like everything in our world, it was tainted by one use.


    The Bratva and the Famiglia were happy until the time came to fulfil that use.

 Chapter 9 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 9 (Aliyana)


    The Bratva agreed to peace with my parent¡¯s marriage on one condition - the first child, which the


    Famiglia hoped would be a boy, would be given to my mother''s family at age 5 to raise as Bratva so


    they could continue the Vasiliev bloodline.


    See, the thing about my mother¡¯s family and the Bratva, was their women, unlike the Famiglia, were


    very important. Without a Vasiliev heir born from the womb of a Vasiliev female, my mother¡¯s family


    would have a hole in their armor.


    It was theirw that the eldest child, male or female, be raised to take over. A female would not only


    produce and heir but rule the Vasiliev family one day.


    Thews are sacred in the 5th State. We are bound by those traditions. Some of them fall on all of us.


    One of those traditions shared amongst the leaders of the 5th State wasmon. Sending your sons


    into allies territory to finish out their schooling years. It proved the strength of the alliance. It meant that


    your allies were in charge of the safety of your future. If they fucked up, it would be war. So, they took it


    very fucking seriously.


    The Russo¡¯s took seriously to a whole new level.


    Then again, we broke tradition when they sent me to Chicago and Elisa here. The first girls to make the


    exchange.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    But even with us, the tradition proved sessful, and for so long has been honored.


    Our scars would not be of the visible kind unless you knew the horrors that hid in the depth of our eyes.


    Only then you would see and understand the meaning of the term ''deep-rooted wounds.'' They are still


    that, wounds, not fully healed, but bearable.


    All for what? The symbol of unbreakable connections.


    The thought of it all makes me want to shake my head andugh at how absurd it all seems in the


    brighter mornings now that we are home.


    My mother, for all her fortune, ran out of luck when she bore a girl and when the time came, my parents


    couldn''t do it. They agreed to allow her to attend school with the Bratva''s kids, but the Bratva retaliated


    by killing my Papa¡¯s sister. Still, Papa refused and dered war.


    I sometimes question myself, if my sister crossed his mind when he did to me the same thing he


    wanted to do to her.


    Only difference is, in my case, sending me away was for my own safety, and in hers - to prevent a war.


    After my aunts death and Papa¡¯s deration of war, the Famiglia stood together as is the way of our


    world and protected her as they knew how.


    A lot of people died, and more enemies were forged in the time as a lot of allies chose to not stand with


    my parents. Things were terrible during that time. Dark times in the 5th State.


    Until the Capo of the Famiglia dered an end to his reign, and the new Capo rose.


    The decision was not made by the Capo Dei Capi as my sister''s life wasn''t that important that they take


    it to the true-head of the 5th State. And my father wasn''t the Consigliere then, so his war was only


    extended as far as the Mafia men he called his people.


    Our new Capo, Marcello Catelli seemed to have frozen his heart and gave my sister away. ''A deal is a


    deal,'' he said.


    She, a sister I never had a chance to meet, who remained nameless was the unfortunate of my family.


    Her departure damaged my mother and father in ways that made them crazy.


    Filippo once let spill that my parents started their own war and looked for her until my mother was


    gunned down. He never told me the entire story, but he did say my mother was the message that Papa


    received and his push he needed to take his rightful ce.


    I, however, am the only fortunate sibling.


    I was too young to remember any of this. I¡¯ve never met my sister. I was thest of my mother''s


    children to be born. The story of their horror, just a scary bedtime story growing up, told to me by my


    siblings and my stepmother.


    My mother died when I wasn¡¯t even three, murdered, so I don''t remember the bloodshed that came


    after my sister was traded like cattle.


    My father remarried after a year, as is custom in our world. And finally managed to produce another


    male, Elia. His marriage was arranged, and ria though beautiful and eager to please, never lived up


    to my mother in Papa¡¯s eyes.


    Of that, I know.


    ria hates me for it. From that moment, she stepped foot in our home, she saw me as the girl who


    wore the very face of the woman responsible for her husband¡¯sck of affection.


    That hate grew as the years piled up. Because, unlike my siblings, my birth granted me the freedom of


    choice to whom I would marry, as long as he is in the Famiglia.


    Something ria never had and Serena will never have.


    I always wished to be with Leonardo. Staring at my ceiling, I have to admit that when I saw him today,


    my attention was not the one he sought.


    And it isn¡¯t the first time when that ache in my heart bes a bit too unbarring that I think of ria and


    her unrequited love for Papa. I understand her pain.


    I know how painful it could feel if the one whom he wanted was someone I had to look at knowing that I


    would neverpare.


    I understand it too well, I have been doing it for years.

 Chapter 10 (Marco)

    Chapter 10 (Marco)


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, man, he makes the devil look good when he¡¯s pissed. I don¡¯t know why I did it. Well, I


    kinda do know, I was curious, and I thought breaking into Michael Stones shit will be so cool. But when


    I saw the money, fuck man, they say he has a couple of billions, he has way more than that. I didn¡¯t


    think he¡¯d mind it disappearing. I was going to put it back after a week, I swear to you, Marco. I just


    wanted to make a few quick investments and a big turn, then put it back, I swear.¡±


    I tilt the bottle, staring at the amber liquid moving to my will. It has no choice but to do as I want


    because the bottle holding the liquid is a puppet in my grasp. Like all material things in my possession


    and those not so material things, it shows its potential when put to use. In the case of this bottle of


    great alcohol, its use is to allow me to borrow happiness from the next day on days like these.


    In the case of the man yapping away, well, humans all have many uses. Each man to their own. But


    this one is a bit more special, a rare find.


    He just doesn¡¯t realize it yet. I do, and is the only reason why he is here begging for my help. Lured to


    me by a sick fuck, Roberto Cavalier. My hands have itched to kill the Capo since I was twelve, the first


    time I set my curious gaze on the fucker. But he is loyal, so he stays alive, for now.


    It always fascinates me, how easily humans can be manipted even without pulling any strings. You


    just have to have a good marketing strategy in ce.


    My surnamees with an 88% guarantee of sess. My first name attached to it, though, well, that


    leaves the 12% of failure a non-existent thought left at the door when you enter my office to talk


    business. I never fail, especially when I have a piece on the board. I am a greedy man, and I always


    win in the long game.


    ¡°He is going to kill me if he found out what I did. No, no, no, no.¡± He grips his messy hair that is spiked


    in some goth look the youngsters are going for these days. His purple top hangs loose on his long


    The kid is pale, and probably can¡¯t throw a punch to save his life. Pulling at his scalp, he wears out the


    red and gold Victorian carpet in my office, pacing. He¡¯s been this way since his arrival, two hours ago.


    Leonardo in typical fashion, stayed for all of ten minutes and left with a promise of shutting him up if he


    didn¡¯t zip it by the time he was back.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Deno smiles, watching the new entertainment as he sits on the edge of my desk. His suit jacketys


    across the rustic sofa on the other side of the room. The ss that was filled with three fingers of


    Brandy now sits empty next to him on the dark wooden desk.


    My brothers all have a part they y in keeping our family name, my sister too. Deno is the logical one,


    the future Capo of The Famiglia. He is patient and wise but can be a ball-buster when he wants to get


    his message deep in your head.


    Leonardo is short-tempered, my father¡¯s perfect replica, but where my father is all about the game,


    Leonardo stands for more. He is more than the whores he chooses to fuck and the choices he


    sometimes makes that seem cruel to most. I know different, and one day I am confident he''ll find his


    way.


    My sweet sister, dear darling Anya, the rule-breaker who refuses to conform to anything of our family.


    My father¡¯s goodness all wrapped into one.


    Yet, even she can¡¯t help the evil lurking in her blood when faced with a choice. Murder by option is her


    motto.


    Andstly, our Lorenzo, the youngest of my siblings, the one good thing we have done in our family.


    The normal brother, the vignte who wants to save the innocents and help his little n of friends.


    Lorenzo, my loyal brother, and the reason why the others are so fucked up. Ironic, but it is our burden,


    not his. A choice we made a long time ago.


    ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll forgive me if I write him an apology? Of course not, he is Michael Stone, he doesn¡¯t


    know forgiveness. He is going to make mincemeat out of me, I know it,¡± The young man babbles on.


    I remain standing by the small bar, ying with the Crystal bottle. My face impassive, waiting for him to


    get his hysteria out of his system so we may get down to business and discuss his new permanent


    position.


    ¡°Stone doesn¡¯t have a mincer; I¡¯ve seen his kitchen, so I think you clear there.¡± Deno rifies with that


    smile of his waning patience.


    The door opens, and the three of us look at it, watching as my youngest brother walks in with his iPad.


    He ignores the guy in the room and heads toward me. His face still in that tight scowl he left here with


    an hour ago when I refused his suggestion that he talk to our father about Deno and I choosing a bride.


    The truth is, the rumor is fucking fake. My brother and I are not going to be choosing fuck all besides


    the color of the tie we will be wearing tonight, and even that is asking for much.


    My father knew that when he started the rumor and told Lorenzo that he¡¯d be next. I wasn¡¯t opposed to


    marriage; in fact, I made two choices, the one is still in the pipe, and worth my efforts. The other is a


    backup that would take careful nning to acquire.


    Obviously, my father knew this, but he found it amusing to start the rumor knowing it will bug the crap


    out of us, Deno especially been as my brother has no intention of staying married once he ties the knot.


    ¡®till death.


    Lorenzo passes me the iPad, which I take, my eyes darting from his boyish face to the pictures. I swipe


    across the screen with my index finger as I see the men and the long line of people moving into the


    containers. The next image shows a small child getting carried. I have seen many bad things in my life,


    horrors, that nothing shocks me any longer. Sadly, not even this.


    I swipe the screen again to the next picture, then the next, and I stop at this particr one.


    Green eyes scrunch up, as big white teeth dig into a piece of chocte cake that is stuffed into her


    face from Gabriel DeMarco¡¯s hand, as he stands behind her with Lorenzo behind him, showing a big


    fuck you sign on top of his head to the camera.


    Aliyana Capello. Sartini¡¯s little treasure, but she isn¡¯t so little any longer.


    ¡°He''s correct, the shipment is in our territory. What do you want me to do?¡± Lorenzo asks as I look


    down at the picture of Aliyana again before I swipe it back to the ones that were takenst night.


    Putting the crystal bottle on the bar countertop, I give the images onest thorough look. The pictures


    were takenst night before our little friend, currently standing in the middle of my office, confirmed


    something I was dreading.


    ¡°Nothing for now. Let them getfortable,¡± I hand Lorenzo back his iPad.


    ¡°They shipping children, women. What the fuck Marco? Since when did we allow that shit in our


    territory? We don¡¯t dabble in livestock.¡±

 Chapter 11 (Marco)

    Chapter 11 (Marco)


    His grey-brown eyes frown at me, jaw ticking. Lorenzo is young, with lots of potential, but hot-headed


    and hot-head people get killed.


    I happen to need him alive and well. He is the good son. He is going to be awyer. We never have


    enough of those. Deno has already done 6 months in prison while we found a soldier to take his ce


    and plead guilty. It was a small-time away from home, and he needed it at 21, but still shouldn¡¯t have


    happened.


    Deno walks toward us, and I see the young man has stopped moving altogether, openly watching us. I


    don''t mind as he is the one who offered me this information for protection.


    Such protection was costly, especially from a Stone. The Stone family is one of The Elites. A group of


    powerful families who own their own town and live by their own rules.


    They also paid handsomely for artifacts and other stuff we felt needed to stay in safe hands that didn¡¯t


    sweat when a CIA agent came peeping, or some bad men decided they wanted something to sell.


    The Elites belonged to their own, and we kept ties with them open.


    But Michael Stone isn¡¯t just a Stone, he is a genius technologist with a liking for valuable pieces and


    Luke Lore is very valuable, much more than any penny or pound. Which is the reason I allowed Luke to


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    wear out my fucking carpet while I savored a few sses of brandy enjoying his show.


    Deno holds Lorenzo''s t-shirt covered shoulder, his ring sticking out.


    ¡°Oh, brother, how do I exin it to you? These men are like mice who just made it past the door, if we


    strike now, they¡¯ll scurry away and hide. Mice are hard to catch when their guards are up. So, we leave


    it alone, make them think we know shit, so they getfortable while wey our traps¡­¡±


    ¡°Then we strike to kill,¡± I end for Deno.


    Every enemy has a weakness, and every territory has its games, because that is precisely what it is,


    one big fucking game.


    Our territory, especially Seattle, happens to be a popr game these passing years. There were 3


    kings, who owned a bit of everything, a few Princes, who held the promise of future leaders and an


    army waiting patiently in the shadows for its Queen. Then there is me, I rule over the Kings, control the


    Princes from afar, and wait patiently for The Shadows and Queen to belong to me.


    I am the viin with devils'' eyes, and unlike many, I have a prize jewel in my possession.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you put that nice suit Amberlo made for you and get ready for tonight. Vince is bringing your


    show him his room, will you?¡± I say knowing the hard look he is blessing me with is the silent fuck me


    he wants to say but wouldn¡¯t because I will smash his fucking teeth if he did.


    I wait for Lorenzo to storm off, the door mming behind him only to open again as thenky young


    man leaves too, closing the door softly.


    Deno shoves his hands in his pocket, his hazel gaze stuck on me. The slight tilt of that fucking shoulder


    of his as he ces his elbow on the bar. He looks like my father when he does that shit pose.


    ¡°We were just like him, he¡¯s going to start shit. You do know DeMarco is going to be swearing a fucking


    storm when Gabriel and Ren start huge fucking shit with these fuckers, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. All I know is that I told him to get ready for tonight, what he does after that isn¡¯t our


    fucking business.¡±


    ¡°Fuckin¡¯ hell Marco.¡±

 Chapter 12 (Marco)

    Chapter 12 (Marco)


    ¡°He needs his balls to drop, give him a fucking break. If it gets bad, we¡¯ll intervene from the sides. He is


    only half as fucked up like us, leave him be. I mean it, Deno.¡±


    ¡°Okay, jeez, you¡¯re a fucking asshole when you want.¡± Deno shakes his head and smiles, taking the


    crystal bottle that is only half-filled with the deep amber liquid we both love.


    ¡°You know that fucker¡¯s hacker name is The Air?¡± He asks, referring to Luke.


    ¡°I know that he is the fucker Michael Stone offered me 5-mill to find.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess, you got nothing?¡± Deno chuckles as he pops the lid back on the bottle.


    ¡°Yeah, got fuck all. He doubled it an hour ago.¡±


    ¡°Still got nothing?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Luke is going to make me much more than 10-mill. Stone insults me with his small number of


    pocket change. Luke cleaned him for 200-mill. Got it back, but Stone wants his lifeline.¡±


    ¡°So you let himy low, soon Michael will focus on something else, the man¡¯s known not to take shit


    personally for too long. Will join Vince in New York next time he is stopping by, and way the field.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like a n.¡±


    ¡°How was the meeting with Sartini? DeMarco say what he wants?¡± Deno asks.


    ¡°Aleksei and his men want clear passage for the two shipmentsing from the North. DeMarco wants


    The Shadows to oversee it runs smooth. Nice ammo, I agree with him on this. The Bratva are good


    businessmen, but smooth and simple isn¡¯t their way. The Shadows, on the other hand, don¡¯t seem


    keen to y bodyguard to Aleksei even if it¡¯s for peace of mind. The Ghost told Filippo to go get fucked


    when he called him.¡±


    Denoughs, ¡°Should¡¯ve got Vince to give him a call, he¡¯d given Vince at least a few more words than


    that,¡± he suggests.


    "What''s the good news?" He asks, as I take the bottle from him and fill my own ss up. Taking three


    ice cubes from the silver bucket behind me, I stand in front of my brother.


    ¡°The Cartel wants open gates on the South. After the stunt they pulled in The Satan Sniper¡¯s territory,


    Paulo better start preparing for war. The MC owns that shitty town now. DeMarco also lives in the


    South, he is close to the Elites, no way they¡¯ll get open any fucking thing without a fucking war. His


    words. He wants Filippo to send the message. With their recent activities, that conversation will be


    happening in another form, and Filippo won¡¯t be the one delivering the message.¡±


    ¡°No, he won¡¯t,¡± Deno promises before he sips his drink. The ring looming on his index finger. The Onyx


    square stone, the tinum craft holding it has been in our family for generations.


    ¡°Thought as much. I saw Sartini''s little hellion today,¡± My lips tug up on the side at the memory of her


    ring at me. She is shorter than I thought. I always thought she¡¯d be taller. She certainly seems taller


    with the stories I have heard around my table.


    ¡°Did you manage to frighten her away already?¡± My brother¡¯s brow quirks.


    ¡°Actually, I think she left imagining what it would feel like to gut me.¡±


    Heughs, ¡°Maybe we should actually be on time for this asion. I think a little fun, brother, might be


    what we need tonight, all of us together under one roof.¡±


    ¡°Almost everyone." I correct, "Our sister will not be attending tonight.¡±


    ¡°Interesting you should mention that,¡± Deno¡¯s lips tighten, ¡°Gabriel said she called him yesterday to


    take over for the evening so she could attend tonight¡¯s activities.¡±


    I sigh, pulling out my phone. I dial the number on myst call log.


    ¡°Marco. I thought you¡¯d be powdering your balls for tonight,¡± Stephano DeMarco says.


    ¡°I just finished dust it off. Got some math I need to run by youter.¡±


    ¡°You call me, I know it ain¡¯t for no fucking math. You are a patient man. What is it?¡±


    ¡°Gabriel needs to be around tonight. He made prior arrangements that cause conflict.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I get you. But your sister is not going to be pleased by this, no?¡±


    ¡°Precisely. My sister needs to learn the ropes I will allow her to pull are long until I cut them short,¡± I


    exin to him, only because I am asking him to pull rank and with Gabriel, which is not going to go


    down smoothly.


    The group that was sent to Chicago were not the kids my father and his members sent to school in


    Allie''s territory. They were different.


    They didn¡¯t do well with authority. Gabriel was the worst when it came to following orders, he was the


    leader.


    ¡°Consider it done. How is my nephew doing in Seattle? His little gang keeping out of trouble?¡±


    ¡°Deno is keeping them close, not too much excitement. Sartini keeps his daughter home on the


    weekends. They don¡¯t move without her.¡± This, I knew, we all knew.


    Heughs, ¡°I told Sartini he needs to change his mind about that daughter of his marrying Gabriel. My


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    nephew needs a girl like her in his life.¡±


    ¡°That will cause too many ripples. While Aliyana remains in his sights, she is still the girl we sent to live


    with 4 boys. And she is a Vasiliev, are you sure you want the headache? She¡¯ll be 21 soon.¡±


    Heughs, ¡°She is more Capello than Vasiliev, but I see your point. Sartini hasn¡¯t told her anything as


    yet, he¡¯s stalling.¡±


    I knew this, but DeMarco knew more, the two of them were close.


    ¡°Maybe he is bracing himself for her reaction to the knowledge that her freedom is a chain in itself.¡±


    ¡°Or he is hoping his lost daughter will decide to make an appearance. That girl is difficult to find!¡±


    DeMarco confesses.


    ¡°Should I clear a flight n for you around 5?¡± I ask him, changing the subject. I didn¡¯t want to talk


    about Capello¡¯s daughter, my father gave away.


    ¡°No, we¡¯ll be driving. I have a small matter to attend before I arrive.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget the ice-cream. She¡¯ll be expecting it,¡± I say as heughs, ending the call.


    ¡°We need to do something about our sister.¡± Deno doesn¡¯t waste time getting down to the reason


    behind my call. I ce my phone on the bar counter, rubbing my hand over the scruff on my jaw.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

 Chapter 13 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 13 (Aliyana)


    ¡°Aliyana,e on.¡±


    My stepmother screams from the bottom of the staircase. My brothers and sisters are standing next to


    her waiting for me.


    Papa left an hour ago to tend some business before the function started. I barely got a few minutes


    with him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me the bitch is ranting again,¡± Mero (Romero) grunts from the other end of my earpiece.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to, she is loud enough that you can hear it yourself.¡±


    ¡°When you''re done with Kylie and Diamond, meet us outback. Ren needs all of us.¡±


    ¡°Gabriel is busy tonight,¡± I remind him.


    ¡°Aliyana, get your ass down,¡± Filippo screams as I roll my eyes.


    ¡°They are so impatient. Gabriel will catch up, I¡¯ll see you soon, I need to detour for a quick stop then I¡¯m


    there,¡± Mero informs me.


    Something was not right, I didn¡¯t share this with Mero, but Papa was agitated today when he got home.


    Something was making him restless. I didn¡¯t need anyone to tell me that shit was stirring in Seattle. I


    had a feeling by the end of tonight Mero, Ren, Gabriel, Michel and I were going to jump right into the


    middle of it all.


    My brother gives me his ¡®older brother¡¯ death re as I begin to run down the staircase only after I see


    them all standing by the bottom.


    ¡°Coming,¡± I tell my family.


    I rush down the stairs as my sister¡¯s giggle when they see the still open bottle green dress barely


    covering my ass as I slip on my peep-toe green heels I left by the bottom of the staircase.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there. Drive reckless.¡± Meroughs at my words, cutting the call.


    Guilia zips me up as I wiggle my left foot into the 6-inch heel.


    She neatens my curled hair while my stepmotherins,


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything with your hair after Marissa left. She told you to cover it, now it is full of paint.¡±


    ¡°She has beautiful hair, the paint adds character,¡± Guilia points out in my defense.


    ¡°And no make-up?¡± ria continues with her rant ignoring Guilia.


    ¡°You have paint on your cheek Liya,¡± Elia notices as his brown keen gaze smiles shyly at me.


    ¡°You look very handsome, is that tailored?¡± I ask him as Guilia pulls the stitch of my dress to the side of


    my body.


    ¡°It¡¯s an original, Filippo, and Papa took me.¡± His dimpled cheeks flush a dark pink.


    Elia is the shy, timid twin. Theplete opposite of his twin Serena who is ring at us in her blue and


    gold dress.


    ¡°Papa and Filippo should definitely take style tips from you.¡± I wink at him as Filippo messes up Elia''s


    gelled light brown hair. Elia loves fashion, and he has a skill with a sketch pad when ites to suits.


    ¡°Don¡¯t encourage him. He''s already getting bullied at school without you adding to it,¡± ria snaps.


    My hand itches to punch that twitching re right off her fake face.


    My brother, Filippo, checks himself before he goes Zap-Zap and kills my father¡¯s wife. Which is what I


    want to believe is the reason he shuts up and res at the big-nosed wench. Why would Papa marry


    such an awful bitch?


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, you''re the one who iste.¡±


    ¡°I never asked you to wait for me.¡±


    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t, lucky I don¡¯t take orders from you then,¡± She snipes as her long nose crinkles. ria is


    beautiful. That is something I can¡¯t deny, but her ways have twisted all the beauty on the inside and


    reced it with something nasty that no amount of pretty flesh can disguise.


    I remain silent, she is right, and her anger is partially warranted.


    Honestly, I did get a bit lost off track. While everyone in the household was getting dressed, I got stuck


    in colors.


    It wasn¡¯t something out of the ordinary. My loss of time is the norm. Painting is something you can¡¯t just


    leave and go back to. Once inspiration sucks you in, I find it best to purge it to where it wants to go.


    Today it was my canvas.


    Once I start something, my mind rides me hard to finish it.

 Chapter 14 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 14 (Aliyana)


    Which is why Papa did not take me to functions that weren''tpulsory. Most of the time, he sent his


    wife and Guilia. When people asked for me, they simply said the invite wasn¡¯t unlimited. Code for ¡®mind


    your own fucking business.''


    Guilia walked into my room an hour before we were due to leave. She lost her shit upon seeing the


    state of my room and my messy clothes. To say she started rushing me for time is putting it mildly. But


    all her yelling and pestering flew out the window when I got a call first from Ren, then Mero.


    Ren sounded disturbed, which had me worrying about him. He wasn¡¯t the happy Ren, who left Azure


    with promises of a goodnight. No, the Ren on the phone was the Ren who at 15, put a gun to my


    science teacher''s head when Mr. Rajan offered me a higher grade if I¡¯ll let him ¡®touch¡¯ my ass.


    Mr. Rajan vanished two days after.


    Mero called soon after Ren and stole what time I had remaining to get ready.


    Mero was the chatty one in our group. He¡¯d hold me in a conversation that flowed so smoothly from the


    time he said hello.


    I was always left stunned at how many hours the two of us spoke every day. Ren preferred text and


    always about something relevant, but today was something else.


    Michel was the ¡®I¡¯ll call you if it¡¯s important or when we going to meet up?¡¯ kind of guy. Gabriel was a


    show-up, and let¡¯s talk face to face. He knew where I was, and if he did text, it was usually to tell me to


    open the gate or hurry up.


    Mero was the glue that kept us attached when we would have got caught up in life. He called all of us,


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    every single day. He¡¯d talk more to me than the guys, but he¡¯d meet Gabriel at least once a day if they


    weren¡¯t spending the day together already.


    With me, it was a call whenever he had something to tell me, which was every single day or the others


    wanted to meet. Today was no different. The timing HOWEVER sucked. Not only did I miss the rm


    clock I¡¯d set to remind me to get ready, but after my sister took it upon herself to y the whining


    mother, I still managed to be 30 minuteste. Well, maybe 40 minutes, or an hour.


    My stepmother knew that I wouldn''t be ready by 6 like she knew I¡¯d forget to put make-up and tie my


    hair. The paint on my cheek wasn¡¯t anything new, either.


    When I was growing up, I wanted to have a hobby. Papa suggested painting, and after that, it stuck.


    I was good at it, so Papa sent me for professional sses, and before I knew it, I was painting pictures


    that most people thought were taken from a camera.


    Painting is the one hobby I enjoy doing. My pass time when I am not with my friends. I suck at sports,


    so art became my sport.


    But on days like these, it consumed me.


    I hate pretending and acting like I care how big your bank bnce is or how much your shoes cost.


    Pretending to care about whether ¡®she¡¯ had a nose job or not.


    But missing Guilia¡¯s engagement announcement and the Catelli brother¡¯s choice of a queen is not


    something I could do.


    My Papa hardly asked me for much. He gave me everything withoutint.


    On a few asions, he told me to do something, I did. No questions asked.


    I don¡¯t think my Papa has ever heard me say no.


    After the ongoing bitching fit of ria, we are finally ready to leave.


    My sister and I take the twins with us in our new car. One of the SUV¡¯s with our soldiers drive in front of


    us and the other at the back.


    Today we have four guards for each of us besides Filippo, who has two.


    Something is definitely wrong.


    My stepmother, Filippo, and their soldiers take the Bentleys.


    I drive, knowing the curves of the road, taking it at a fast pace,ughing with the twins as they scream,


    ¡°Faster, Faster.¡±


    Guilia yells at me to slow down.


    This is normal when the 4 of us are in the car with me behind the wheel.


    Our men keep up with my reckless nature on the road. I have always had a friendship with speed, and I


    have never hidden my taste for danger. I am my father¡¯s daughter, after all.


    The road is filled with shy cars seen from the distance as we drive closer to the venue. People walk


    to Azure from the top of the street. Azure is a top-ss restaurant and hotel owned by Deno Catelli.


    The original venue for tonight was supposed to be the Catelli¡¯s Mansion, but due to unknown reasons,


    they changed it to Azure.


    I rev the car¡¯s engine when I spot the car guard waiting to take the car. All these people should be


    familiar to me by now, but they aren¡¯t.


    It wouldn¡¯t stop them from opening their mouths about me or talking to me.


    Deciding to calm my nerves a bit, I make a big show as I do a three-point turn and park my own car.


    Guilia and I decided I would keep this one, as it is already here. Guilia would have the oneing in a


    few weeks delivered to New York.


    My sister mumbles something about me showing off as I cut the engine.


    ¡°A car this sexy is meant to be driven fast, Guilia.¡±


    ¡°Not when we have the twins,¡± She retorts.


    I roll my eyes, looking at the number of people around,


    ¡°Are you ready to get engaged?¡± I question her.


    She looks stunning in a red dress and dark shadowed makeup that makes her eyes sparkle. She is


    dressed to impress her soon to be husband, that''s for sure.

 Chapter 15 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 15 (Aliyana)


    I hope Papa picked a man who will love her, even if it is just for the sake of his children. I still believe


    Deno will be an excellent match for her.


    He has crimes, but I have witnessed the way he treats a woman who he beds.


    Guilia''s chest expands as she inhales a deep breath. I smile, hoping my eyes give Guilia thefort I


    know she needs.


    I love my sister, all of my siblings, really, but I am d I am not too close to any of them. I wouldn¡¯t be


    able to handle this unknowing.


    The faith thatys before her is going to be determined today, in front of all of these people.


    Yes, I am grateful I am not close to my family. Very d indeed.


    When my sister visits, we are like longst friendsing together for a short time. We share that time,


    having ourughs, but my secrets remain my own.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    There is an unspoken rule between us, lines which we don¡¯t step over. We are our father¡¯s daughters,


    yet, our choices remain a big difference between us. Our history, our path.


    I stare at her, unblinking, waiting for a signal. She nods her head, keeping her eyes on the people


    outside. The road is filled with cars. Everyone knows that something big is happening at Azure tonight.


    It is no secret that Deno Catelli is a prominent businessman. Azure is the ultimate venue in Seattle.


    We open the car door and jump out, getting the twins as a few cameras sh. I wonder what this event


    is going to be called in the tabloids tomorrow? The thoughtes to my head as a soldier blocks one


    of the cameramen with his big stocky shoulders. His back is faced toward me, but the sense of


    familiarity hits me, regardless. I frown as a thought crosses my mind.


    It couldn¡¯t be.


    ¡°This weather is not good for my hair,¡± I spin around at the sound, a familiar voice, and beam.


    ¡°You made it!¡± I hug Gabriel DeMarco.


    Ren, Gabriel and I were particrly close growing up. When we got to high school, we¡¯d sneak fire-


    crackers every year into the school¡¯s premises. Gabriel would take the me, knowing Ren and I


    would get into big shit with our fathers.


    ¡°You said you weren''ting.¡±


    His stubble brushes my cheek as I let him go and take a step back. I look up, because, like Ren,


    Gabriel is very tall. But where Ren is showing the promise of a man¡¯s body, Gabriel is very much a


    man. His haunted, dangerous blue eyes that smile at me proves he is a Made-Man with very dark and


    evil crimes.


    ¡°I know, I know. I wasn''t going to, but I couldn''t let Ren have all the fun now. Plus, I missed you a bit.¡±


    He winks as my face goes red.


    My stepmother hisses behind me, as Gabriel engulfs me in his arms againughing.


    ¡°Aliyana, let''s get inside,¡± My stepmother says in a firm voice, as I take another step back from Gabriel.


    His dark olive skin, and narrow, sharp features, with those almond-shaped eyes, have caused his uncle


    a lot of headaches over the years.


    The DeMarco family is married into the Catelli family. My Papa once mentioned that Gabriel¡¯s uncle


    married our Capo''s sister.


    Ren told me once, they had a daughter. However, I am not so sure how true it is.


    Rumors get people killed in the Mafia. We shouldn''t start them unless we have facts.


    My Papa instilled in me the art of silence and not starting rumors when I was still young, untainted by


    the reality of the cruel world I live in. It was the first andst time he ever hit me. I have never been the


    target of his violent temper since.


    And I have done much worse than start rumors. Much worse, indeed.


    I spot Gabriel''s uncle, Stephano DeMarco, at the back of us. He has three times more guards. I don''t


    know him very well, apart from the few times I attended a function with Gabriel at his mansion in the


    South. The way he scans the open road tells me that I don''t wish to.


    Stephano DeMarco could very well be the Capo Dei Capi. But not many people know for sure. I wish I


    knew who he was.


    ¡°Why are you staring behind me when I am standing right here, Liya?¡±


    I roll my eyes at Gabriel, as his brown gaze twinkle in mischief.


    ¡°I am looking at your uncle; he is always so heavily guarded.¡± Gabriel''s mood switches from my


    lighthearted friend to a closed-off stranger at the mention of his uncle.


    Maybe I said too much.


    ¡°My uncle is just a bit cautious. Why do you say such random stuff? You should be careful in ces like


    these.¡± He shakes his head in amusement. I notice a girl standing, watching us with envy or hatred.


    I don¡¯t know her enough to distinguish between the two. If I had to guess, maybe a bit of both. The


    turmoil in her gaze paints her pretty face in intense emotion.


    She would make an excellent piece for my art ss. Her blue dress, however, doesn¡¯t match her face


    at all. Although it matches her re perfectly well.


    Such is the thing I don¡¯t get with a lot of young women.


    They wear their emotions for everyone to see at the worst of times. Capturing such rawness has


    always been my passion when I put my brush to the canvas. The small piece of devil hidden in all of


    us.


    "Deno has at least five more soldiers than my Uncle," Gabriel point''s out.

 Chapter 16 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 16 (Aliyana)


    I turn to look at the man, jumping out of a ck Maserati parked directly behind mine.


    Deno Catelli is our underboss, today he fits the title well. His ck suit has silver linings on the edges.


    His shoes glimmer under the nights sky. I tilt my head as the soldiers surround him, yet still keep their


    distance. Yes, he fits it quite well.


    All the people around him stop and stare in awe as his presence surrounds everyone on the street.


    Deno Catelli is a man born to be Capo of the entire Famiglia. Maybe he could even be the Capo Dei


    Capi? I know my desire to know who is the man my father answers to and advises is not the smartest


    thing to know. Knowing such a secret in the 5th State is like getting infected with a fatal virus.


    Deno¡¯s strong jaw loosens as his gaze is drawn to me. He grins. I smile, aware it has been months


    since we have seen each other.


    Not for hisck of trying, but the guys and I have been quite busy with our things thesest few months.


    Thest time I was in our future, Capo¡¯s presence was an amusing memory. It involved me, a bottle of


    tequ and his bar counter. The thought makes my skin fluster.


    Everyone knows Deno is next in line to be Capo. What I want to know is why Marco isn''t.


    Deno gets ushered away as the soldiers walk him inside.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember him being so heavily guarded before.¡±


    ¡°I heard Marco and Marcello flew in with a jet.¡±


    I frown just thinking about him, Marco Catelli. He stole that touch from me, and now I hear his name


    wherever I go, why?


    He isn¡¯t a man I knew before today. Yet, he has crept his way like a thief into my thoughts. His ck


    eyes, a haunting promise in my mind. I¡¯ve only met him once, but it feels like I have seen him before


    today. An unwanted thought crosses my mind and I do well to push it back.


    One time in that man''s presence is more than enough to know seeing him again in one day will be too


    much.


    I don''t question why my eyes do a quick sweep of the men around. I am too scared of the answer.


    My Papa says that sometimes ignorance is the most significant defense we have in this world if we


    want to stay a bit longer. Ignorance is bliss.


    "Aliyana, let¡¯s go." My stepmother holds my elbow, not giving me much of an option but to follow.


    Gabriel walks behind us, not saying a word. He is aware of my she-demon stepmother. She is his


    father¡¯s sister, so like I do, he puts up with her shit. But Gabriel DeMarco is a man who I know won¡¯t


    think twice of zapping his father¡¯s sister if she pisses him off.


    ¡°How are you going to find a husband if you are always hugging different men?¡± She scolds me.


    "Guardando." By looking


    She drops my elbow as we step inside.


    I spot the twins and my sister talking to Aunt Fay. The olddy is close to 70, but she doesn¡¯t look a day


    older than 55.


    My stepmother dislikes the woman. Talking to Aunt Fay always gives Guilia a lot of satisfaction when


    my stepmother shoots her daggers.


    "Looking isn''t going to get you married."


    "Why are you so worried about me getting married?" I ask her, it is all she ever talks about since she


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    has arrived. In fact, my sister has hinted it a few times as well. It''s almost like they''re forcing me to


    make a choice soon.


    Papa said I have time.


    Is there something I didn¡¯t know?


    The restaurant nightclub looks fantastic. The chandeliers are dimmed to a warm glow as the roof lights


    remain warm blue with a few bright lights in the center of the room creating a whimsical ambiance.


    The ss tables line the two walls, as smaller tables are arranged around the big hall area. The navy


    carpet creates a walkway to the stage in front that is currently upied by a group of teenage girls on


    one side and two young boys on the other.


    I smile as I think of Guilia and I spying on the men today from my window.


    The doors separating the conference room have been opened to cater for the hundred and fifty people.


    Kids run in circles around the chocte fountain on the left with their marshmallows falling all over.


    Cleaning this ce is going to be a bitch. I make a mental note to offer Deno some help. I know he


    won''t employ a cleaning service but get some of the women to assist.


    ria touches my shoulder. I stare at her, waiting,


    ¡°Your father isn¡¯t going to let you stay single for long. It makes us look bad. You have ruined our name


    enough over the years. Even lucky people can¡¯t beat fate.¡±


    I smile, there ites.


    ¡°I was wondering when your true self was going to show. Tell me, ria, is it my half Russian blood that


    makes you look bad? Or is it that I remind you of why Papa will never love you like my mother?¡±


    ria''s eyes widen as I wink at her. Ignoring the nosy woman behind ria staring openly at our little


    scene. That is precisely what it is, a scene.


    My need to get out of here is potent. If I don¡¯t leave now, I will do something that will really get people


    talking. Something that will have me put in an early grave.


    ¡°Aliyana, get back here!" I ignore her as I should have done when she ushered me inside. It isn''t


    difficult when I do so now. I hate her so much.


    I leave the gathering of people and go through the hall, barely even ncing at Leonardo.


    Taking a sharp left by the white doors that lead to the back of the restaurant, my legs carry me past the


    guests that lurk in the passage.


    I release a sigh of relief when I pull the familiar door open and make a quick exit to the emergency


    regr at his club.


    There''s a helicopter always on standby in case they need to evacuate.


    But evacuating isn''t what I intend to do. The idea holds appeal, but escaping for a few stolen moments


    is the only option I¡¯ll ever have. In reality, I can never escape my life for more than a moment.


    I push the door ajar and inhale the dense, cold fresh air as my strappy heels click on the tarred rooftop.


    Spotting the greenhouse in the distance, I rush forward. Ignoring the two guards near the helicopter


    who acknowledge me with a nod. They perpetually just nod anyway.

 Chapter 17 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 17 (Aliyana)


    I have no idea why they don¡¯t just talk once in a while.


    My mood lightens at the thought of how stupid it is to work in a job where you can¡¯t talk to the people


    you are protecting unless they deemed it so.


    It feels like they¡¯re selling their souls.


    An unexpected breeze brings a weing chill seeping through the silk wrapped around my body.


    I knew I would end up here tonight, it¡¯s one of two ces in Seattle I feel alone and safe to just let go.


    Be me.


    Never has it crossed my mind, I¡¯d seek this familiar ce so early on in the evening. Today is a big day


    for my sister, I should be down there with them.


    I feel like a fraud.


    They think I am a chatan, and they are right to believe I am a fake. I will never be like them, the


    Italians. I will never have their pure-blood.


    I know my thoughts are unwarranted.


    My father has always looked at me with pride. He once confessed in a drunken state that I was ¡®The


    reminder¡¯ that my mother existed.


    What if I resembled him, reminded him of himself? Would he look at me the same way, like I was more


    than just something?


    It was the question I asked him that night as he stared at me but didn¡¯t open his mouth to speak.


    His silence told me more than his words could.


    I was nine.


    I open the ss door, removing my heels. It''s unfortunate to say that it isn¡¯t the first time my mind goes


    to that one thought.


    My father¡¯s love for me, so great, so powerful that I would never doubt it.


    But even his love runs on a condition.


    My friend Kylie told me once, she loved her family unconditionally, whether they felt the same or not.


    Would I ever experience something as meaningful as just hearing those words spoken about me?


    Or am I not born so lucky, as fortunate as I like to believe.


    Is my curse loneliness?


    Will I ever belong?


    My dress drags on the floor as I wander to the far side of the green room. A room that is made of ss


    and filled with white, yellow, and peach roses.


    A beauty to the sightless eyes, but to tainted ones like my own, that has measured beauty and lived


    through pain can see what this ce represents - A memorial room for all those innocent lives lost in


    the games of power and war.


    The beauty, uncanny, but trapped in a magical ss castle only to die in that same castle, a gruesome


    death.


    I was once an unseeing eye until I noticed a w in the picture, red roses.


    Deno hates red roses. I asked him why, he said, ¡°I don''t want this ce tainted by death.¡±


    I argued, telling him it represented love, heughed and shook his head,


    ¡°To love is to die painfully. There is no love without loss.¡±


    That day I honestly stared into our future Capo¡¯s eyes, and I swear I saw a longing for something more


    than what made him so powerful. But when I blinked, he was as emotionless as the day I first met him.


    The nippy air brings a cooling sensation, as I wee the bliss of the cold deep in my lungs. I embrace


    the chill sliding intimately within me.


    Scented roses follow as I breathe deeper, weing the silence. The stars are myfort as I gaze


    into the darkness. I smile, knowing for this moment I am not Aliyana Capello. I am just a barefoot girl in


    a greenhouse, wearing a beautiful dress staring at the stars. Free, yes, I am free.


    A chilly breeze teases my skin.


    I rub my cold fingers along my bared arms. Free


    ¡°Aliyana,¡± My eyes close, as that voice slices my thoughts of freedom, stealing this small moment.


    Sucking in a sharp breath, I straighten my back. Saying nothing for a moment is all I am capable of


    doing.


    ¡°Go away,¡± Two words finally spill out of my mouth, knowing it won¡¯t work, yet still hoping it would.


    ¡°That was the n until I spotted you.¡± I hear his footfall, just one as ites closer.


    ¡°I will leave.¡± I don¡¯t make a move, even as the words leave my lips.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t leaving what you did, when you raced all the way up these stairs?¡±


    I spin around at the deep masculine voiceced with sarcasm. This man


    My heart picks up speed as a rush of energy hits my nerve endings when I see him so close. I heard


    one footstep. How did he get so close?


    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± My voice shakes, as the saliva in my mouth hits my throat harder than it


    usually does when I get nervous.


    I hate it.


    I am not meek, but this man. The whole demeanor belonging to him scares me. My feet want to march


    up to him and trample on his shoes, while my soul screams at him.


    Except, like the good, well-trained, scared mouse I''m ought to be, I STAY.


    ¡°Talking? We practically know each other, Aliyana. We¡¯ve met twice in one day. A lot of women would


    be d our paths have crossed, but you are not one of those women! It¡¯s a pity, really.¡±


    ¡°The only pity is youing here, spying on me like this.¡±


    ¡°You remind me of something right now.¡±


    Darkness envelops him as he advances closer toward me.


    I should''ve turned on the lights.


    However, would I need them? His presence, danger, and power radiate off him in waves. It burns my


    body from the inside out. He should not be here, alone, with me.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ah. That''s it, you remind me of a little bird caught in a lion¡¯s den,¡± His deep voice emanates the space


    between us.


    ¡°Birds fly. They also go for the eyes when they attack,¡± I inform him. My apparent tone mocking. A man


    as egotistical as Marco even can''t deny the little threat.


    Heughs, surprising me, ¡°Tell me something, Aliyana, your mother is the....¡±


    ¡°The Russian, yes,¡± Iplete his sentence.


    Most people who know of my family are aware of my mother. Sadly, I, her child remembers only her


    absence.


    ¡°It''s amazing how time goes. It isn¡¯t easy growing up without your mother.¡± Marco steps into my vision


    as his words leave his mouth. Such amon thing to say, yet the current behind those two


    statementsing from him, hold such truth.


    ¡°It¡¯s manageable,¡± I say, knowing the lie behind the words I speak.


    I offer him a small smile, examining him up close, I can''t deny that right now, Marco Catelli is much


    more imposing than when I saw him this afternoon.


    The darkness wraps around him like a well-fitted nket. He is drowning in it as his own wickedness


    pushes through.


    Two negatives equal a positive.


    His cologne hits my nose as he takes one smaller step this time.


    Closer to me. I didn¡¯t hear him approaching earlier, but now this man is everywhere. Marco Catelli is


    the center of all my senses.


    The thought, his presence, creates a flutter within my belly, angering me, yet, awakening something


    else.


    I should not be this unraveled by a man. He should not be the one, he is not the brother I want.


    ¡°I am sorry.¡± That rough voice, wrong. All wrong


    ¡°It was a long time ago. I don''t even remember her, so saying sorry for a mother I never knew, is just a


    wasted apology,¡± I snap at him, but my voice betrays my false bravado for what it is, hurt, confusion


    and maybe even a bit of defeat.


    The emerald green dress wrapping my body is supposed to make me feel like I am covered, yet, I turn


    to face the lights of Seattle feeling exposed. Naked


    If I am that transparent, I rather he sees my back. Marco Catelli has already stolen enough from me. A


    thief.


    I am grateful the sky has the extra radiance to it tonight. The streets below dimming the night''s sky''s


    true potential, as it buzzes with cars and people.


    ¡°Apologies are never wasted if you mean them,¡± He responds in that deep voice, fast bing


    ingrained in me, as I feel his orbs secure me to the ground with sheer will.

 Chapter 18 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 18 (Aliyana)


    He is standing behind you ALIYANA, I scream in my head.


    ¡°Why would you apologize and mean it if you don''t even know me?¡± My questiones out as a


    whisper, confusion apparent in every word uttered.


    He stands next to me, on my left. Everything about Marco Catelli is wrong, evil, deadly, and wrong.


    ¡°I do know you.¡± His answer, simple, a fact.


    I should not be drawn to him, not like this. But in this ss cocoon, surrounded by peach, white, and


    yellow roses, with a made-mad-man next to me, I can¡¯t deny the feelings I am experiencing right now.


    Belonging.


    Peering from the corner of my eye, I tilt my head slightly to the right and stare at his suit pocket. The


    urge to touch him takes me on. His scent ingraining itself in me.


    My body burns as he brushes his arm against mine. It is the second time he has touched me without


    consent. It feels forbidden yet, not mistaken.


    ¡°We are practically attached to the hip now, Aliyana. How about a wager?¡± He slips his hands in the


    pocket of his cks.


    His words take me off guard.


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    ¡°A wager? What does that have to do with anything?¡±


    ¡°You question my honesty and sincerity. I, well, we can say I am a man that doesn''t like to be


    distrusted!¡± His answer holds more than the exnation he gives me.


    ¡°Okay, fair enough, what kind of wager, we talking about?¡±


    ¡°How about I give you a clue?¡± He asks, but is it really a question?


    I can feel him watching me as the light breeze of The State he controls with his brother, blows my hair


    back, cooling the heat this man is festering in me.


    Did he know he was going to affect me like this?


    I feel betrayed by my own body, for even staying here.


    Why is Marco here with me? Does he feel the same way I am currently feeling? Or is he like Gabriel, a


    man who just wants to live in the moment, an impending death, an early grave? Or like Mero, a quiet


    fox, with a deadly n.


    ¡°You want to spoil my virtue?¡± It is a rhetorical question and earns me augh when I say it. Not sure


    why I say what I do, but they are now words between us. Hisughter sounds nice, but I will never


    admit that to him. There is a lot of things I would never tell a soul.


    How I really feel right now, is one of them.


    ¡°You aren''t too far off the mark. Better me than some strange man downstairs."


    ¡°Why is that? Do you crave the kiss of death?¡± My sarcasm is unbidden.


    ¡°A kiss of death is not a bad way to leave this world.¡±


    I grin as I bite my lip, ¡°You have an answer for everything. If you want me to even consider a wager


    with you, I¡¯ll need more than just sweet words.¡±


    ¡°How about I make an honest woman out of you and show you more than just sweet words?¡±


    I snort at how absurd that sounds.


    He is a Catelli.


    There is no way a Catelli would marry a half-blood Russian woman who is easily 10 years younger


    than him. I am tainted-blood. And there is no way Papa will even consider it, he hates the Catelli Family


    for what they did to my sister.


    ¡°My father will have the honor in that if I don''t choose a man soon.¡±


    ¡°You aren''t like other girls, Aliyana.¡± My name rolls off his tongue, putting my heart in overdrive and my


    conscience in turmoil at what he just said.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not. I actually have a brain.¡±


    He chuckles again. This man isn¡¯t serious, is he? Of course, not Aliyana!


    ¡°You sound like you have too much faith in your father. It makes me question if you have any faith at


    all.¡±


    "Faith. It''s the only thing I can have. I''m the lucky girl of my family. The Russian half-blood.¡±


    Marco is quiet as I voice out the obvious, he already knows, no need to sugar coat it.


    "You will get an option. You are a lucky girl. Men don¡¯t even get such options in our world any longer."


    His voice is soft when he talks, and his eyes drift to the lights from a distance. I know because I am


    looking up at him. His eyes are so ck, unique yet fitting for a man as mysterious as him.


    ¡°Options,¡± I mutter.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want the option, do you, Aliyana? You fear rejection, loneliness, you crave to just belong.¡±


    His words are so urate and brutal that I feel it inside my very being. The parts of me that I keep


    hidden only toe out when I am weak. I don¡¯t want to be vulnerable. I hate it, always have.


    ¡°Everyone deserves their share of happiness, what I want is nothing more than everyone else.¡± My


    answer is a fact, we all want a bit of ordinary in this world.


    ¡°You are not everyone else, look around you, this very building you stand on, that holds your life on its


    very foundation was built with blood money, and I can tell you the souls that died didn¡¯t do so


    smiling.¡±

 Chapter 19 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 19 (Aliyana)


    He is right. There is no denying it, so I say nothing.


    ¡°This world will never offer you thoseforts for very long, Aliyana. Sooner orter, your luck will run


    out, and all you¡¯ll have left is yourself. You should find someone to love while you can and enjoy the


    beginning of that love because, if there is one thing I can guarantee you, Aliyana, is that love will end


    as fast as it began.¡±


    I have never met this man before today, and our brief moment is just this moment.


    But there is something in the sky at work tonight because when he stands next to me, I can sincerely


    say that I feel safe. And his words have more truth to it than I will confess to even myself.


    I shrug, digesting his all too knowing words.


    "I should. But the one I love will be promised to my sister soon. It took me 5 minutes in hispany to


    see, I am not the one he wants, and I have spent 5 years loving him.¡±


    It''s the truth I had to confront today. I have known it for a while. My sister is clueless, and her innocent


    attraction to Marco has made it easy to turn a blind eye to the facts.


    I am good at pretending blindness, I have done it my whole life.


    "I gathered as much when I saw you earlier today. My brother has never been the smartest Jack when


    it came to choosing anything. You might just get better. So how about that wager? And no, it isn¡¯t sex."


    ¡°If not sex, then prey, do tell what is this wager that has you so anxious you are practically screaming


    my name?¡±


    His one side of his face pulls up into a crooked, yet utterly wicked smile as he slips his ringing phone


    from his pocket, silencing the call.


    It rings again, and I watch his screen sh ¡®Killer¡¯ as he puts it on flight mode. All the while, I remain


    aware of how devastatingly evil his eyes remain as they watch me with mischievous intentions, I should


    know all too well.


    My nerves heighten with the knowledge of how corrupt all of this is.


    Him.


    Me.


    Us.


    He walks across the room, putting a few UVA lights on.


    Brightnesses from the far left of where I am standing barefoot.


    His steps are slow, as he advances closer to me, giving me no option but to nce up into his onyx


    orbs.


    My mind is thoughtless, my body attuned to his inaudible steps.


    ck depths stare unblinking.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    But where I have seen many eyes, none as full as this man has ever held me at a standstill. Until now


    Chaos undisposed.


    A war aze in a fire couldn¡¯te close to what I see in his unspeaking irises. The roses sweeten the


    air as he draws closer, while I stay, remaining here.


    Memories are going through his head as I remain stuck to the ground by just knowing he is walking


    toward me.


    For the first time since I have met Marco Catelli, I wish to know just how far his crimes go.


    He is a killer, Aliyana, does it matter?


    My mind screams to walk away, but here I am still, gawking at a made-mad-man.


    ¡°You look at me as though you have seen all the ones I haveid to the ground.¡± His observation isn''t


    far off.


    ¡°Perhaps I am just thinking how deep a hole would I need to dig, to fit them all in.¡±


    He smiles, his mouth twitching to the left, ¡°Or, you¡¯ve figured it out, and now you just crave the words."


    My teeth sink into the inside of my cheek, as his jaw flexes under my silent scrutiny. He is right again.


    "Tell me, Aliyana, is that what turns you on? Is that what keeps all those boys wrapped around your


    little finger waiting for you to whisper their names?¡±


    My mouth tightens, as my eyes get smaller, ¡°Ren never mentioned you being the jealous type.¡±


    He circles me slowly, as his finger twirls around my hair, ¡°I¡¯m surprised he mentioned me at all. I was


    under the impression I wasn¡¯t up for discussion and gathering by that assessing look you so innocently


    gifted me minutes ago, I would presume I am correct.¡±


    ¡°You know I might look at you in assessing ways, but you look at me knowing more about me than I of


    you, yet you still stand here, staring at me, talking to me, unafraid that I just might burn you.¡±


    His ck depths pierce me with something so dark, it''s bursting to be set ame, and I hope to all that I


    believe is holy I am not the one on the other side of that blizzard.


    ¡°The word is ¡®hoping¡¯ you would burn me.¡± He grabs my upper arm spinning me to face him.

 Chapter 20 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 20 (Aliyana)


    I want to keep my attention on his chest, but my chin lifts up to face the harshness of his masculine


    face.


    ¡°Dance with me, Aliyana.¡± He doesn¡¯t allow me an answer as thick fingers wrap around my naked flesh


    as the music ys. A familiar tune, causing my eyes to widen in recognition. My heart races in


    assumption. He knows me.


    ¡°You were there, but...¡± My words die as his eyes boil me alive with an intensity so unravelling to my


    minuscule mind I forget to inhale.


    He cups my elbows and pulls me closer toward his heat. The dark gaze of a killer, never leaving mine.


    He bends his head.


    His nose right next to my own. Flesh to flesh, breath to breath.


    Rough, thick fingers restrain me. I breathe painful gulps of oxygen. I don¡¯t take shallow gulps, no I take


    big chunks of air. My chest expanding and contracting. He must notice it, but all he does is slides me


    deeper toward him. Closer but still not close enough.


    ¡°Ba con me, Mezzosangue.¡± Dance with me half-blood.


    He doesn¡¯t wait for me to reply as Nina-Simone sings feeling good. Marco¡¯s hands travel, gingerly


    down my arms. Sure, secure fingers touching my pulse.


    Warm, rough hands engulf my dainty ones. Taking my left hand, Marco ces my palm t on his


    chest. I have always felt short and invisible around people, but here, now, with this mad-man, I am so


    much more.


    His warming hold leaves my own as his fingers spread across the bare part of my back.


    Flesh to flesh.


    Breath to breath.


    I move my left foot to take a step back, away from his temporary prison of seduction. I inhale a lungful


    of air, hoping to leave this. Whatever ¡®this¡¯ is. He is too much.


    Marco uses my escape-move to dip me down.


    An intense frown mar his features as he brings me up again, and digs the tips of his fingers in the flesh


    of my back.


    This is sinful, and not the way it was supposed to go. He is not the one.


    But like a subus, born to lure you into its temporary will, I am only a human being held by a demon


    whose wants right now is all I can think about as the music ys on.


    ¡°Dance,¡± He whispers, and I finally surrender to the devil who holds me under the night sky.


    My feet move as the song ys on repeat, my body releasing itself,ing alive at this moment. My


    eyes sealed as my body''s awareness remains heightened by every touch Marco Catelli ces on my


    skin. I surrender to him. His breath, hot against my cheek as he draws me closer to his tall form. His leg


    rubs against my own. The soft satin of my dress grazing the pebbles of my breast as his arm persists


    pressing against my erratic beating chest. Every sense intensified as I close my eyes taking it all in.


    His scent- rich, spicy, and earthy. The small pokes from his jaw against my soft skin, rough.


    Is this belonging? A sinful promise? Or is it a stolen moment by two people who are wrong together,


    meeting in a perfect setting, that the who''s no longer matter, but the where, is an ideal match, lined up


    into one small paragraph of your life? A sudden urrence meant tost for just a moment, even if the


    people don''t match up.


    Because that is what it is, a magical ce, surrounded by roses, but him and I, there is nothing right


    about us. Why does the thought sound like a lie? As if he senses my mind''s corruption, he tightens his


    hold on my back, eliciting a small gasp to leave my lips.


    The strength of his leg sends shivers along my spine when he slides his thigh between my own,


    millimeters from the part of my body inmed by him. This all feels like a dream. Something is at y


    tonight because, in our world, I know this doesn¡¯t happen without repercussions.


    A forbidden moment, a wrong turn, always has deadly consequences.


    Forgive me, father, for this sin.


    As Marco Catelli dances with me, I wonder, what is the extent of his crimes. Is it coincidence when that


    ring that makes him who he is, scratches my cheek as his knuckles brush my face?


    He is a man that is made in blood, grown into power by the art of war, and right now, I am the woman in


    his arms, looking into his soul. I, Aliyana Capello, am the one at his mercy, and what a sinner I am.


    A phone rings, another phone I didn¡¯t even know he had, and like all experiences, this momentes


    to an end. It feels like the spell is broken, the after-effects fading fast, taking away all it allowed in the


    few short minutes we stood with our bodies so close, connected.


    The moment now ended as he lets me go. I take a few steps backward, curious to who would be


    phoning.


    Who and what has interrupted this moment? Should I be d? Or angry?


    I watch the imposing man that just danced with me as his face turns ashen. His fingers tighten around


    the phone attached to his ear. All this time I think, how bad could it be.


    I should have known it would be critical, life-altering.


    But as I said, hiding from the truth is something I am good at.


    It takes a simple decision to turn your life around. For me, it''s a moment of weakness.


    I walk toward Marco Catelli''s frozen form.


    And then ites.


    My betrayal.


    My biggest moment.


    A kiss,


    like Judas had done to Jesus when he betrayed him, I bestow upon myself as I kiss Marco Catelli.


    I ce my lips on his cold ones, as his haunted ck depths stare at me, imprinting his obsidian gaze


    in my head as a reminder of this moment. Under the moonlit sky, inside a sshouse.


    On this day, I, Aliyana Capello, change my fate in a greenhouse owned by Deno Catelli as I kiss his


    brother, a made-mad-man.


    He kisses me back for a second, it is so quick that his tongue touches mine for just a small moment, a


    promise.


    If I were wiser, I should forget about it, only I won''t. I would remember it all, even when it consumes me.


    Deno walks in.


    I jump back as Marco faces his younger brother.


    ¡°Marco, we need to go.¡±


    He left me on the rooftop that day without a backward nce and no clue that my best friend, his


    brother, was killed.


    Gunned down by the Scottish.


    It was hourster when I found out.


    And a few seconds after, when I tripped down the stairs of the house owned by my father, screaming.


    Falling in my haste to escape my brother¡¯s words as he told me that the boy who wiped my knees


    every day for three years while I learned to rollerde was dead.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I confess, on this day, I chose a different direction in my life. Lorenzo Catelli¡¯s death twisted my


    sister tried to calm me, and my brother and father just stood there, watching me.


    It was on this day that the chain tying me to Marco Catelli was made in blood. The war was still


    <ping.

 Chapter 21 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 21 (Aliyana)


    6 years ago


    The brush in my hand is like a wand, it takes me to ces, filled with color and spaces that are far


    away from here. A ce I can create with a dip of color and a glide of my hand.


    Usually, my ces of choice are twisted. The hells of my mind, finally leaving its confines. This one is


    different.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    There is no murder, death, betrayal, or heartache in this project. This beauty is not about the darkness


    that lingers in my head but by the mind''s ability to keep it at bay. Magic


    Magic is potent, and all that I desire shalle true. In this painting, a happy ending cane in the


    form of what I decide. I am the creator now, and I am free to create the end I choose. I have a choice


    as I paint my creation into life.


    If only my reality bore simrities to this art piece.


    ¡°Why do you spend so much time here? It is so dusty. Icky. Have you thought about painting in the


    garden like a normal painter?¡± The female voice whines from the chair in front of me as I dip my brush


    in the yellow and brown pallet wobbling on the old wooden stool next to my board.


    ¡°Why do you insist on following me when I want to be left alone?¡± She¡¯s like a pesticide that won''t go


    away.


    ¡°I have my reasons. I saw your sisterst week. She was in Seattle, what''s her name? She isn¡¯t very


    friendly.¡±


    I press my lips together as I focus on the trees I am currently filling. I know all about my sisters not so


    friendly demeanor. And it has nothing to do with the brown-haired Barbie sitting in the old wooden chair


    in the center of the attic, disturbing my peace.


    ¡°Guilia.¡±


    She is quiet after I answer, and I get to lose myself in my work, finishing the forest. I start with the eyes


    of the wolves. My attention to detail is not where I want it to be. Mrs. Lana said it wille in time. Now


    I am just finding my style.


    The colors I have used are dark, and the yellow from the leaves is a bit too light. I am going to have to


    change it once I am done with the wolves.


    ¡°You don''t talk very often, do you?¡± I jump at the sound of her voice right behind me, and my paintbrush


    goes across the canvas ruining theke. I''ve spent a week perfecting.


    ¡°What the hell is your problem, Elisa? Why are you even here? Your house is next door, not here. I


    don''t even like you. I would think considering the excellent grades you are constantly bragging about,


    you''d have figured it out by now,¡± I snap at her.


    Those big light brown eyes of hers widen at my outburst.


    I usually keep my temper in check. But this girl is making it really hard since she came homest week.


    My school is closing only on Friday, and ordinarily, like her, I returned home before thest day, but Ren


    and Gabriel have a big game tomorrow, and I want to stay. Why she thought to follow me up here in an


    antic filled with junk and dust, I have no idea.


    I stare at her when she remains standing there, looking at me. Her hair is brown and curly, she is


    gorgeous and a pure Italian princess. We are so different, I don''t understand her desire to spend time


    with me. I like my space, she craves attention.


    ¡°My cousins aren''t very nice to you, are they?¡± I frown at the question that isn''t really a question. It is a


    fact.


    The Russo boys weren''t exactly familiar with the word ¡®nice.''


    Turning to my ruined canvas, I say nothing as I survey the damage, seeing it isn''t as bad as I thought.


    It will take me a few hours to fix but nothing major.


    ¡°Sorry, I frightened you.¡± There it is again, she is so nice, and it makes me seem like a horrible person


    because I am not ''nice.'' I am my father¡¯s daughter, there is nothing warm about me besides the blood


    in my veins.


    Even my hands remain cold throughout the year.


    ¡°It''s okay.¡± I should apologize, but I will never say sorry to a Russo, no matter how big her smile is.


    She nods her head as if understanding something I have no clue about and walks back to her chair,


    sitting down. Her light perfume hits my nose for a hundred time since she decided to cramp my style.


    She is the only clean ¡®piece¡¯ in the room. I wonder again the reason she is choosing to sit with me here.


    I know it isn¡¯t for my chirpy personality. I have zero to none.


    I¡¯ve been saving my happy go lucky charm for the days I''d have to start ¡®Adulting''. Papa says smiling is


    a chore at times, and I understand what he means.


    The attic is filled with boxes. I am confident there are rats in here as well as other living creatures. I''ve


    seen and heard a few on a number of asions. Elisa Russo does not strike me for the tomboy rat


    chasing kind.


    She¡¯s the more dolls and dress-up type of girl who goes to the toy store on weekends to purchase new


    Barbie clothes.


    Not saying I am the rat chasing type, or the doll type either. The attic, however, doesn¡¯t faze me, nor do


    the creatures living in it. The spider¡¯s webs and the dusty furniture and boxes made the ce creepy at


    night, but nothing about it has sent me running out of here.


    It¡¯s the one ce I found in this house where I could paint and not worry about being disturbed. Well,


    ¡®didn''t¡¯ worry being the operative word as now I¡¯ve been troubled by a living Barbie doll.


    The door opens, and I re at another intruder. Sheesh, can''t a girl get a break?

 Chapter 22 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 22 (Aliyana)


    ¡°Have a bath Yana, we going on a little trip. You might want to carry a jacket with you, it''s going to be a


    long night.¡± Ren rushes in, dictating without looking away from his phone and his moving fingers.


    ¡°Also, have you spoken to that Christy girl? Mero won''t stop nagging.¡±


    I clear my throat. My face, hands, clothes, and shoes are colored in paint. My hair is on top of my head


    with a paintbrush stuck in the center, holding the thick mass up.


    I look like a mess. Also, I am not in the mood to clean up and go out. Nor am I in the mood to talk to the


    female version of Hitler, Christy Perkins.


    I ignore thest part as I have already exined to Mero that I will not be hooking him up with our


    school''s most irritant girl.


    Not only was she a staunch Catholic, but Mero is also an Atheist and a Made-Man. He already got


    made, and like the rest of us stuck in this City that kept us as a Prisoner, his hands were filled with


    blood. He was a sinner, and the ring on his finger proved it.


    ¡°Why don''t you go without me? I need to finish my painting, and I still have an assignment to get done.


    It''s Math.¡±


    Now he chooses to look up, his face is still red from the skin peel he had yesterday. I spent three hours


    with him while he was getting it done. My Papa¡¯s orders.


    His grey, brownish eyes are heavy fromck of sleep. His thin body drowning in the jeans he insists


    needs to be a size bigger than his waistline and the XL white Levi tee that hangs just above his knees.


    Ren has no fashion sense.


    Elisa giggles when she nces at him, probably thinking the same thing I am.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hello, Russo.¡± That is all the time he will give her because she is a Russo. If she believes I am mean,


    she is yet to find out the meaning of it when she meets Michel.


    ¡°Hi, Lorenzo. I am going to ah, leave you two alone. Thanks for letting me sit with you, Aliyana.¡±


    She gets up and walks herself out the door. Her bright floral dress and the pink belt around her waist is


    a girly piece of clothing. Something Guilia would wear. Something I would never even think about


    putting close to my body. See, the opposite.


    ¡°Fraternizing with the enemy now, Yana? I leave you alone for three hours, and you decide to bring a


    Russo to your secret ce?¡± His voice is cracking; therefore, his snipe doesn''t sound as threatening as


    it once did.


    I roll my eyes as I grab a small brush from the stic cup of water. My attention goes back to my


    canvas as I dip the brush into the blue palette.


    ¡°Not that it is any of your business, but she found it on her own. She''s a nuisance but harmless,¡± I


    inform him as he shuts the door and shuffles closer.


    ¡°None of them are harmless, Yana. Elisa might be living with one of us but doesn''t make her family.¡±


    ¡°It also doesn''t make her an enemy. Sometimes it is nice having a girl to talk to.¡± This is all lies. I don''t


    like Elisa, and we hardly speak.


    She¡¯s the one who does most of the talking. I am the one who usually listens and answers when she


    asks a simple and sometimes stupid question.


    But Ren thinks he is the boss of me, and I am in no mood to be bossed around today, hence why I tell


    him jack shit. He is a Catelli, I am a Capello, our family is both powerful.


    ¡°We should go,¡± He says, and I look up at him as he examines the rusty attic with mild distaste.


    ¡°I don''t wanna go.¡±


    ¡°Really, Yana? So, you don''t want to find out where your sister is?¡± He stands right behind my painting,


    his eyes wide and face red as he waits patiently for my answer with that arrogance a Catelli is known


    for.


    If I was able to freeze into one spot andpletely blow up from disbelief, I would have been frozen or


    scattered in bits and pieces on the floor by now.


    My smile is slow and hesitant.


    ¡°How?¡± I ask him as the brush remains in my hand, painting air as I look at him disbelieving.


    ¡°Well, that is what we need to find out. Gabriel was the one who made the call to a guy named Sal, and


    Sal knew someone who does things like that. Mr. Kent was the name given. His son is attending our


    school part-time for extra cred, guys'' name is Dexter. Michel said guy seemed cool when he asked him


    to ask his dad to meet us.¡±


    My smile is huge, as I put my brush into the water. Ren shakes his head and rolls his eyes to the


    ceiling.


    ¡°30 minutes Yana.¡± He leaves me in the room as I stare at my impression of a midsummer dream. The


    painting needs a lot more work if I am going to graduate from my first year of art ss, but I know I can


    get it done.


    Seeing my sister, finding her, and just spending time with her is something I won''t get another chance


    to do this year. I am thirteen, I know thews we are breaking by doing this. My sister is a member of


    the Bratva, an enemy.


    Papa said that an enemy is an enemy. The Famiglia and the Bratva are just that, sworn enemies.


    A few months ago, Michel, Gabriel, Ren, Mero, and I were at the park not too far from here. Gabriel


    asked me what I wanted to do once I got older, seeing as he was writing an essay about ambition, I felt


    obliged to answer.


    I could have said a lot of things. A painter was one of the many but really, I just wanted to find my


    sister. I wanted to know if she''s alive. She is the other one like me. A half-blood.


    It was silly at the time to confess it, and I left it at that, but Gabriel obviously didn''t.


    He is the eldest by 7 months and the broodiest amongst the 5 of us. He is also the rightful leader


    amongst the lot of us. But telling Ren as such won''t be the smartest thing to do.

 Chapter 23 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 23 (Aliyana)


    We''ve been stuck together for thest year and a half.


    I had school most of the days, and it was far from the boy''s high school, which meant I didn''t spend


    much time with them. Next year that will change.


    Michel and Ren suggested I attend their school because of the art program. Ren was prepared to go to


    Papa and ask him.


    Something that made me like the pimpled face boy, yet, find him annoying. Arrogance is dangerous,


    and we are kids. Papa doesn''t like arrogant people.


    I exined this in the morning before we all left and again, once I got home today, but Ren refused to


    hear a word of my exnation. It went through one ear and vanished.


    Simmone, Capo Stagio Russo''s sisterughed when I made a sound that should never be made while I


    colored her house with words no youngdy should say, storming out of there in frustration and up into


    the attic.


    Which is the reason I was snippy today. Now, I am not so sure about my insolent snappy attitude.


    Thirteen is hard as it is. Add in the facts- I was pawned off to live in Chicago, my mother is dead, and I


    have no one to admit to that recently I got my period. I''m rethinking my decision to keep to myself. A


    lot.


    Ren and the others only want to be my friend. I need friends, and they are going to be significant men


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    one day, so they are excellent friends to have in this world. I think this as I head on to my room to


    shower and change my clothes, which consist of distressed ck denim pants, a well fitted white soft


    cashmere tee, and ck suede Corvette shoes.


    My hair takes me ten minutes to brush out, and I think about Mero¡¯s request to get Christy''s number. If I


    am going to be these guys friend, then I am going to have to do my part too. They want me in their


    group. A woman born into our world didn¡¯t get an opportunity like this, ever.


    My thoughts carry on when I see they are all waiting for me downstairs, and I am 15 minuteste. None


    of them utter a word.


    I think on it, even more, when Gabriel introduces me to a boy in his ss that indeed knows a lot more


    about me than I do, including the knowledge of my sister or should I say, siblings.


    ¡°So, tell me, Dexter Kent, are the rumors true about your father?¡± Mero asks the Texan, blue-eyed boy


    staring at Mero in open amusement. Light brown hair floppy as it falls partially into his face. He is


    wearing an Armani suit, and while most boys look at these guys in awe and fear, Dexter Kent seems at


    got him instead, I knew this was not a surprise, but a nned urrence on his part.


    ¡°It depends on who is asking,¡± He says in a still very young voice.


    ¡°How old are you?¡± I ask him.


    ¡°Eleven.¡± The 5 of usugh at his confession.


    ¡°You are tall for such a young boy, your father must be a big man.¡± Michel voices what I am sure we are


    all thinking, he is the same height as Michel and Mero, and his face is mature. I would have thought he


    was 13 or 14, but he is younger than all of us.


    ¡°Tell me what you know about my sister.¡± I get down to the reason we are in the Yogi bar and the


    purpose of why Ren and Gabriel¡¯s soldiers have closed the ce for us.


    Dexter smiles, revealing the promise of his charm as the smile directs itself to me.


    ¡°Well, for starters, Miss Capello, did you know that your mother was a very active member of the Bratva


    even after she married your father?¡±


    The silence amongst the 5 of us bes thick with tension as he continues,


    ¡°Your mother chose to remain a member of her family after your sister was taken into the fold, but then


    your sister disappeared. I tried to get a name, but I couldn¡¯t. It¡¯s like she vanished. But, I asked around,


    and it seems like your father wasn¡¯t as forting about his trips on business as he led many to


    believe.¡± His face scrunches up in a way that, at another time, I would have thought cuteing from a


    boy as charming as him, but now it just makes my gut clench as I frown, my heart beating faster.


    I almost jerk when a warm hand curls around my own, Ren. I curl my fingers in between his,


    understanding the meaning as Mero, who is on the other side of me, puts his hand on my shoulder.


    Dexter Kent sees it, and a look akin to respect infiltrates his features. They are there for me, my


    people, we are the same.


    ¡°Tell me.¡± Two words were spoken.


    I didn¡¯t know as I said those words how they would link us together, and the implications it will have on


    all 6 of us.


    That day on a hot summer¡¯s afternoon in a Yogi bar, as Mero, Ren, Michel, Gabriel, and I sat across a


    Texan boy named Dexter Kent as he told us things about my father, our fate was sealed. Our


    allegiance to each other made by the sins of my father and our alliance with Dexter Kent now


    something that would one day have us picking sides in a war we will all y our part in.


    We left Yogi Bar that afternoon, with Dexter Kent, our new friend, and went to Nicko¡¯s Pizzeria, our


    silent pact made.


    And one day would be sealed not just in secrets, but in blood too.


    I should have known as I looked at the pimpled face, Ren, as he ced his arm over my shoulder,


    Because goodness and happiness never existed long enough in our world to make a name for it.


    Lorenzo Catelli was so much more than that. I knew Gabriel, Mero, and Michel were already tainted


    like me, but not Lorenzo. For some reason, his family kept him 13 going on 14. Even Dexter Kent, as


    he ate his pizza, had darker secrets than Ren. I knew this because how did an 11-year-old boy know


    so much about my family? My father was not an easy man to find much less get that kind of information


    about. My father was a monster wrapped in a costly suit and a fancy job that made him not only elusive


    but disguised as a savior.

 Chapter 24 (Marco)

    Chapter 24 (Marco)


    Time, it alwayses down to time. The amount of it can make a small inkling of a difference or the


    deciding factor between life and death.


    ¡°2 days and all we have is a fucking bullshit story ming the Irish. We all know the fucking Irish didn¡¯t


    whack Ren. The Cartel isn¡¯t going to admit to fuck-all if they did it. Aleksei sure as shit has no beef with


    us. His fight has only ever existed with the Cartel and La. We can''t just go guns zing, killing


    every fucking man that happens to sound like a foreigner because we want revenge. We need to think


    when it''s all clear, let the dust settle,¡± Vincent states from the big screen in my boardroom.


    The high-rise building is a ce I conduct legal business. It''s owned by the Delroy family in Texas.


    The Delroy''s hold the biggesttexpany in the world.


    The building hosted their offices and a few ¡®silent partners¡¯ like myself. I didn¡¯t deal intex. However, I


    did have a few hands in their other ventures, like artifacts and rare gems.


    But the two floors I currently called mine were for the Real Estate agency I kept for legal purposes of


    my own.


    This meeting, however, is not a legal matter or a civilian one. But I needed it to be done here. There are


    things I don¡¯t want anybody finding out apart from the ones in attendance.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Which drew the reason as to why Vincent is on a skype call.


    My brother''s death came sudden, too sudden. We are all in mourning, some more than others. His


    death is ourmon ground for this evening''s meeting.


    A lot of people liked Lorenzo, some of those people extended into unchartered territory. We didn¡¯t talk


    much about his extra murals with his friends when the 5 of them lived in Chicago. Or the few times


    people they knew disappeared after an altercation.


    In return, he never questioned me or the reasons I asked him to do random shit, like making sure Kylie


    Bray and Aliyana met. And the idental meetings he stumbled upon between Gabriel and his uncle.


    Except for a few days ago. He questioned my judgment, he was going to go behind my back and make


    things right. I was proud of him for standing up to me. I love my siblings, and Ren was the best of all my


    father¡¯s children. He was the sacrifice that tied the rest of us together.


    He killed only when he really had to, he loved without any preservation. Yes, Ren was a Made-Man,


    and like all of us, he had his fair share of enemies. But, with all those who would want revenge, there


    weren''t many of those who wanted him dead. The handful of people was small but significant. Finding


    his killer would be the walk in the park. Taking care of the one responsible is going to take a patient,


    well-boarded game of chess.


    The opposition already has one little w - We know our brother''s enemies.


    The Russo¡¯s are one of them, and though none of us have mentioned their names, they are right on top


    of that list. My brother neverined much about Chicago on his weeks back home, but when he


    did, it was always a fucking Russo. I was gone for most of his time at home; like him, I was pushed into


    war. But where mine was self-decided, his and the other 4, war was forced upon them. Those kids


    never stood a chance of getting out of the Russo''s territory without blood on their hands.


    Somehow by sheer luck, my brother came out the least scattered. The others protected him. To what


    extent? I don''t know, but judging by the lost girl who kissed me on that rooftop, I can only guess it was


    a big fucking sacrifice.


    It''s funny how his friends did for him, what his siblings did for him. Yet, still, he has fallen. The first of


    my father''s children.


    Marcello Catelli is not a bad Capo, but over the years, like any leader, he made mistakes. He caused


    riffs between those the Catelli''s called allies. He almost started a few turf wars, onending Deno in a


    prison cell.


    My father made choices that snipped many families from that unquestioned loyalty they once had for


    us. But over the years, my siblings and I have forged our own alliance with people, while tying a few of


    those parted bridges, creating something stronger.


    We¡¯ve kept him out of it and, at many times, intervened when my father made the wrong move that


    stirred us a bit further from our own goal.


    Marcello Catelli knows he isn¡¯t the one in charge.


    He was well aware, Ren was going to be a Capo of his own turf once Deno took over. And


    Leonardo, dangerous as he is, my father won¡¯t even sit in the same room as him for longer than an


    hour.


    We love my father, but he had his turn, and it was ours now. Of that, we have made clear.


    I want to believe my father is innocent, but I wouldn¡¯t be the man I am if I didn¡¯t suspect him for


    murdering my brother. It won¡¯t be the first time he has killed his own blood. Take out the weakest link to


    rile the rest up. It could be his move, only I hope I am wrong.

 Chapter 25 (Marco)

    Chapter 25 (Marco)


    Then there is the Cartel, Outfit, and Irish, who have sat on our shit list for a while. The Outfit Boss,


    La, for all his fucking antics, would never kill Ren. Even he had more sense. Not much considering


    what he''d done to my cousin, Amariya. But then, we all knew his beef with her father was no


    insignificant matter. She just happened to bear the brunt of the sins of her father.


    And there was Vincent, who La wanted dead more than his desire to make Amariya suffer. 3 years-


    ago in the middle of an abandoned parking lot, La had a clear shot of Vincent.


    His gun pulled, and Vincent unarmed. La chose to not pull the trigger that night. He turned his back,


    lit a cigar, and walked away.


    Two men who fell in love with the same girl. A tragedy that was so cursed, none of us want to recall


    those times. Though I often wonder when I look at my cousin, Vincent, and the darkness which


    consumes him, if he remembers her smile or the tears when she screamed his name the night, he took


    her life. And La, did he love Katrina even after knowing she was the one who took his family from


    this world?


    In a world where viins are Gods and Heroes are enemies, a tragedy is needed when a romance as


    twisted as theirs are concerned. Even an ending as painful as what transpired all those years ago.


    La wouldn¡¯t kill Ren, he was there when Ren was born. He taught him how to throw his first punch.


    No, La Sanati woulde for me, the man who had the one thing he truly wanted above all else.


    After all, in La''s mind, I am the old friend who holds his redemption in my grasp. I am the only


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    enemy he really has.


    Which left the Cartel, who just hours before my brother''s death, lost a shipment of trafficked humans,


    cocaine, and guns. The ship was blown up from the inside. They were too enraged to go after my


    brother so soon. No, they wanted me and my brother¡¯s death was not the message they¡¯d send. 200


    million is too big of a number to retaliate without thinking. ording to general knowledge 101


    pertaining to ''myself,'' Marco Catelli, my weakness is myself.


    I''m the epitome of ex-soldier who lost his way and lives with the demons of his wars. All false if you ask


    someone who truly knows me, but as rumor''s go, I am the unstable insane son of Capo Marcello


    Catelli.


    ¡°There¡¯s also a big point we¡¯re missing,¡± Vincent remarks staring at my currently seated form, ¡°Lorenzo


    was shot three streets away from Kylie''s house.¡±


    ¡°A house owned by Marcus Bray and protected by the Satan Snipers. Both having a slew of enemies


    but nothing that¡¯s going to get Ren killed, they¡¯d go after Kylie,¡± I end, brow furrowing as another


    thought strikes me,


    ¡°Tell me, where did you pick up Diamond and Kylie?¡±


    ¡°The Pce, Michael, wanted them out of the house so he could install a new oxygen regtor in the


    venttor. Which is the reason I was chaperone that night! Also, they were still under the impression


    that the dinner was going to be at the Mansion. The two of them were up to something. They were


    wearing the exact same outfit right to the Tee,¡± Vincent answers as he stares at the tall figure standing


    by the ss floor to ceiling windows in a charcoal shirt and ck stone denim.


    ¡°What was Ren doing near Kylie''s house if Diamond was all the way over there? He was supposed to


    meet Mero and the others at Azure. He said he was going to do something about the Cargo leaving


    tonight. The Shadows were going to be watching.¡± Leonardo voices out from the end of the onyx table.


    Deno is silent as he remains facing the long ss tinted windows watching the traffic 14-feet below us.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t get a chance to, I took care of it myself.¡± My mouth tightens just thinking about the number of


    kids we saved and all to protect my brother from the same fate he ended up meeting. The only thing is


    the Cartel was not his killers. Fuck!


    ¡°Do you have any idea what it was they were nning?¡± Leonardo queries as he rubs the scruff around


    his jaw.


    ¡°Certainly not an excuse for Ren to die. Kylie keeps her shit tight unless she''s helping someone else,¡±


    Vincent replies from the screen.


    Kylie Bray did indeed keep her shit tight. Her father, Marcus Bray, has a reputation in both worlds, and I


    believe his beautiful daughter is well on her way of filling his shoes. The girl is Vincent¡¯s stepsister. I like


    her a lot.


    But Vincent has a stick up his ass when ites to her. We are aware she has a little crush on him,


    but I have a feeling there is a fuck-load more to that statement.


    ¡°Ren was going to help Michael. It was an excuse to get into the house and spy on Diamond. Ren was


    worried that Diamond was keeping something from him and Kylie. Kylie was also suspicious, so they


    agreed he¡¯d sneak into theb on the bottom floor and find out what it was," Deno fesses up for the first


    time since we arrived in the office.


    ¡°Still, it isn¡¯t a reason Ren would be gunned down,¡± Vincent voices out what we''re all thinking.


    ¡°Fair enough, but I''m not ruling it out. Right now, everybody who is not in this very room is a suspect,¡±


    Leonardo quips, ring at Vincent. His white tee creased as his sour face scowls at Vincent. His threat


    is clear, but I leave the reprimand casually ying on my tongue for another space.


    Our brother is lying in a morgue while policemen and jackass detectives watch as a forensic doctor


    opens him up. I think Leonardo gets a slide today.


    ¡°Do you know what Kylie and Diamond were up to?¡± I ask Deno, who remains with his back to us. We


    all have our way of dealing with loss, and Deno did it living within his head.


    ¡°Aliyana, Diamond, and Kylie were supposed to sneak Elisa away that night and have Dexter meet


    them on the rooftop with a helipad to take her to Liston Hills. Diamond and Kylie were decoys wearing


    the same dress as Elisa. At the same time, Aliyana was going to get Elisa to the Helipad, swap


    dresses, and get back to the party before Filippo got back. The n was going to be brilliant. Michel


    and Ren nned the entire thing. But maybe Stagio found out about Elisa.¡± Deno confirms my


    suspicion as he remains a lone figure by the window.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t motive for murder,¡± I say, remembering the evening.


    ¡°I agree, Stagio won¡¯t start a war because of an illegitimate child he never wanted in the first ce,¡±


    Leonardo asserts, frowning as he stands up and walks over to Deno.


    ¡°Is Elisa still around?¡± I ask Deno as Leonardo joins him by the window.


    ¡°Not sure, I told Anya to find out.¡±


    ¡°Aliyana didn¡¯t leave the rooftop for another hour after we left, and when she did, it was Filippo who


    escorted her home. No one saw her even talking to a Russo. And Kylie and Diamond went straight to


    the hospital with Vincent,¡± Deno shares.


    ¡°Elisa is still in her penthouse. Stagio won¡¯t risk a war with DeMarco. We still don¡¯t know if Stagio has


    any knowledge about his wife''s whoring ways. Aliyana is a smart girl,¡± Anya speaks as she barges in


    the office.


    I give her clothing a once over, which consists of a white jumpsuit and sky-high ck shoes, before


    ring at her in disapproval.

 Chapter 26 (Marco)

    Chapter 26 (Marco)


    She brushes it off as her brown gaze glints when she stretches her mouth into a full-blown smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look, I had to leave thefort of my home and drive all the way to Aliyana¡¯s ce


    then all the way here. I needed to befortable.¡± Anya flicks her hair back from her face and ces


    her left hand on her waist.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t look remotelyfortable, I can see everything.¡± Deno grunts walking over to her, kissing


    her on the cheeks.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s just pretend we already had this conversation, and I won, shall we?¡± Anya surmises as


    Leonardo also goes around the table to greet her.


    Shees to my chair and kisses my head as my brothers round the table. Deno heads for the


    cognac, and Leonardo goes for the wooden door that hides the fridge, pulling out the tonic for my


    sister¡¯s drink.


    She sits next to me, her golden skin shines in youth, as her hard glint eyes remain on mine.


    ¡°So, you found anything else out?¡± I question her.


    ¡°Aliyana was a wreck, as you can imagine I ran into Filippo and resisted digging his eyes out, I settled


    with a few words and I might¡¯ve tried to un-man him.¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t be the first time.¡± Deno chuckles as he ces her gin and tonic down on the table in front of her.


    ¡°Aliyana didn¡¯t say much at first. Gabriel decided to pop in, and her father left as Mero and Michel were


    arriving.¡±


    ¡°Did any of them know anything?¡± I query.


    ¡°Oh, they knew a lot, they just didn¡¯t tell me any of it. So, I got a bit creative.¡±


    ¡°Why do I get the feeling we are not going to like this,¡± Vincent mutters from the screen.


    ¡°Hey, Vincey. I didn¡¯t see you there, Sweet-cheeks. How''re things on that side of the street?¡±


    ¡°Stop stalling,¡± Leonardo says, calling her out.


    ¡°The word is greeting, dear brother. Now, where was I? Oh yes, Aliyana and the boys refused to


    answer me, so I got a bit creative and went to see someone else.¡±


    ¡°Tell us, Anya,¡± Deno says.


    ¡°Fine. I paid Elisa a little visit, she refused to talk, so I might have threatened her a bit, but like they all


    do, she eventually started spilling.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Leonardo asks her.


    ¡°She is in a bit of a jam, that has nothing to do with our brother¡¯s death or her father, real or fake. Let¡¯s


    just say she needed to be out of here weeks ago.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t help us,¡± Deno barks in frustration.


    ¡°Well, she did mention something helpful.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Leonardo asks, getting up, walking closer to us.


    ¡°Aliyana and Gabriel said they¡¯d be busy tonight. Elisa said it is code that they were up to something.¡±


    ¡°Yes, they are meeting me tonight,¡± Deno says.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Anya says as she picks up her ss and swings the drink back.


    ¡°I will be on my way then. I would suggest you look closer into that girlfriend of his, Diamond, and her


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    daddy¡¯s biker crew. You¡¯ll be surprised what you might find.¡± Anya walks out.


    I end the call with Vincent soon after agreeing to meet him before the funeral.


    ¡°You think she knows more?¡± Leonardo asks.


    ¡°She¡¯s a Catelli, of course, she fucking knows more. Call Patrone, tag her,¡± Deno orders Leonardo.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to do this one on my own. I¡¯ll call if I need you.¡± Leonardo leaves us alone. I''m


    confident he will keep an eye on Anya. My sister is going tond herself in some rough waters if she


    isn''t careful.


    ¡°Who do you wanna call for this one?¡± Deno asks, leaving the choice to me.


    Our suspects are close to home, who we call in is going to be necessary.


    ¡°No one.¡±


    ¡°Then how do you want to find out about Diamond?¡± He looks at me, frowning.

 Chapter 27 (Marco)

    Chapter 27 (Marco)


    ¡°The Air,¡± I say as the memory of that morning with Ren shes in my head.


    ¡°Her name is Dakota Larken now. He should get more with that. Are you ready for tonight?¡± Deno


    questions.


    ¡°They are, so we''ll have to be. I¡¯ll get our hacker on this stuff before we go. If there is something to be


    found linking Ren¡¯s death to his girlfriend, we need to know. Ren could be the first target. I learned a


    long time ago the lengths people are willing to go for a brainy little girl.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the same brainy little girl. We can¡¯t deny it no longer. Anya is digging. Our sister will open a can of


    deadly worms if she continues to do so. A new name doesn¡¯t make someone different.¡±


    ¡°No, it does not, but it gives her a fighting chance. As for Anya, she will do no such thing. Our sister will


    be dealt with swiftly. She needs a little yanking. We made a pact to protect that girl and her sister,¡± I tell


    my brother.


    His jaw ticks as his hard re simmers through me, ¡°We made a pact to protect our brother too.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but the difference is, Ren chose her a long time ago. He chose her knowing the consequences,


    you warned him, I warned him. Fuck, we even tried to force the issue.¡±


    ¡°What about us? We were warned, yet here we are having this conversation. What choice do we get,


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    brother?¡±


    I stare at Deno, seeing the mask of my brother falling with every tick of the clock as he stares at me,


    waiting for me to answer him, even knowing the answer I give him will not be the one he wants.


    ¡°We don''t get those luxuries.¡±


    He swallows, and I watch his jaw tick as he breaks our eye contact, facing the door,


    ¡°Then I guess we better get to that fucking meeting, shall we?¡±


    ¡°You can leave without me, I have a few things needing my attention. I¡¯ll meet you there.¡±


    ¡°Sicuramente Capo.¡± Certainly Boss


    "You know brother, Ren loved Diamond, and he believed she deserved our protection. With his death,


    there are only 4 of us left who knows who she really is. And 1 of them happens to be her sister, who


    hasn¡¯t shown herself for a few years. Do you remember the girl who stole your heart? Or have you


    forgotten?¡±


    His back stiffens, shoulders square, as he stands by the door for a beat of a second before marching


    out.


    I drop my shoulder, bend my head, and allow the weight of everything ced on my soul to weigh me


    down physically as well as emotionally. My hands lift to cradle my face as my elbows bnce the


    weight of the position, digging into the table.


    My brother died almost 48 hours ago, in my city, while I danced with the very girl he begged me to stay


    away from. He always knew Aliyana¡¯s part in my n, yet, even knowing it all, he chose her freedom


    over the safety of our own blood. Always his Yana.


    On the night he was gunned down, I was doing exactly what he didn¡¯t want. The truth which weakens


    me at this moment is knowing all of this, I would do it again. I would choose her lips on my own, her


    body in my hands.


    I am a sick man that never imed to be anything sane because I wasn¡¯t in the business of lying to


    myself. Aliyana is a young 19-year-old girl, and maybe she knows how to pull a trigger, but she''s


    innocent when ites to matters of desire and sex. A sane man would stay away from the


    Mezzosangue.


    Yet, the 15-years difference between us doesn''t faze me. Then again, I live in a world where men marry


    a woman regardless of her age. My own father married his wife, 20-years his junior. Aliyana¡¯s father


    wasn¡¯t far off that mark with ria either.


    Sartini, I forgot about him today.


    I rise from my weak position and walk toward the window, the lights of my city basking under the night


    sky. It glimmers, as I watch a few lights going off on the building not too far from the one I currently


    stand-in.


    Power is an essential tool in our world, and unlike money that can be taken, power is something that


    has to be earned by blood, intelligence, and sheer will. To survive in the 5th State, your armor needs to


    be imprable. Sartini Capello has made his armor in Lava. Nobody, not even the Capo Dei Capi


    would stand against him without careful thought.


    His one weakness has always been the image of his wife, his precious daughter, Aliyana. My father


    believed Sartini''s love for his wife was the sole reason for that kind of loyalty and love for his daughter.


    Aliyana is convinced that her father loves her for that very reason, even knowing what she knew about


    her parents. Call it denial, or maybe survival, but she knew deep down there was more to his love for


    her than the flesh she was born with.


    His love for his daughter stems from more than his wife''s face.


    It''s far more profound than the flesh. No, Sartini Capello loves his daughter because of the promise of


    power she will one day soak in. He loves her because he is afraid that if he doesn¡¯t, one day, she''ll find


    his armorcking and strike.


    What he doesn¡¯t know is the secrets he hopes to keep from his precious daughter is the very thing that


    will keep him alive.


    Could he have killed my brother? It would be a pity to spill my maybe future wife''s fathers'' blood before


    the nuptials.


    Did he suspect Aliyana and Lorenzo to be more than friends? No, if there was one of the boys anybody


    suspected, it would be Gabriel.


    I watch the cars drive, the people walk the streetsughing. None of them aware that their youngest


    Prince has fallen, and the bloodshed soon to follow would cause ripples in their innocent dull lives.


    There was a time in my life where I would have cried in the face of loss, but as I stand here, my gaze


    looming over my city, the emotions I feel are not sorrow, but determination.


    Whoever killed my brother would meet a fate worse than the quick death they gave him. Of that, I am


    certain.


    They will pay with not just their lives but all of those linked to them. I would not rest until he is avenged,


    and then I will live with the guilt of his shadow looming over me when the day came, and I had no


    choice but to marry Aliyana Capello. And I know that day wille, where she will know me as the


    demon, which is her husband.


    Unlike my siblings, I could sleep knowing my sins were never meant to be for the good of anybody, not


    even the person I am doing it all for.

 Chapter 28 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 28 (Aliyana)


    ¡°Yo Yana, things aren¡¯t looking too good. I¡¯m being followed, I¡¯m going to park my car and jog to Di¡¯s


    house then head back to you guys. I¡¯m tired of the lies Yana, we should tell the guys the truth when I


    get back. They might be a target too. I''ll face the consequences. Get Elisa far away from here


    soon. I¡¯m¡± He stops, his breathing defeated, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Yana, I don¡¯t know why it happened. I¡¯m so


    sorry, I don''t know why I did it... Yana.¡± Message ended


    The urge to y it again grips me hard, but I refrain as Gabriel, Mero, and Michel stand by my bedroom


    desk, the phone- Our sole object of attention.


    ¡°So, you were just going to hide it from us?¡± Michel barks, his voice hitting me like a rod against my


    cheek. His once calm facade now filled with murderous intent.


    There are times when I wish I could take it all back, the hurt, pain, and evilness that lives within us.


    But nothing is going to bring him back. No amount of sorrow, tears, or honesty.


    "Ren is gone."


    "Gone or not. What the fuck happened, Capello?" Michel yells.


    I have never seen him so enraged, I''ve never seen him so scared either.


    "What happened is not going to change the oue of anything," I warn him, but I don''t know who I''m


    trying to convince him or myself?


    Pain and loss- There is heartache in that. And the sorrow when someone dies - it''s felt deeper when


    that someone is somebody you love.


    It gets worse when that person is such a deep-rooted part of you, that you feel arge portion of


    yourself has died with them.


    "I never wanted any of this to happen," I confess in a hollow voice I have be ustomed to these


    "Yet, you let it happen," Gabriel uses me, in a quiet timber voice.


    I am too scared to look at Mero and Gabriel, afraid I would find the same look currently on Michel''s face


    mirrored on theirs.


    There are times when I regret my choices, times when I wish to take back my words, my actions, and


    one of them is this, a secret that got spun out of control.


    I close my eyes, my throat thick as the saliva stuck in it remains seated, like an irritant pesticide.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t up to me,¡± I defend myself. Liese easy in situations like these.


    Gabriel grips my jaw, lifting my chin to meet his cold expression. I see the betrayal in his gaze, but the


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    deeper I search, I witness the understanding too, before pity and disappointment. Sometimes it isn¡¯t


    such a blessing to know someone so well that all they feel is stuck inside of you.


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing Liya, it¡¯s always up to you.¡± Gabriel drops his hand from my chin. The touch of his


    fingers, his displeasure stings my skin even after his back turns to me.


    "Not this time." My confession makes me weak. But it is true.


    Gabriel sits on the bed, far away from where I am currently standing. Holding his head in his hands and


    just remaining there. I never wanted this, no, never.


    ¡°Either way, we need to know now. What was the big secret?¡± Mero asks, and his voice may be calm,


    but I know he is anything but.


    My mouth begins moving as my mind drifts to the day that changed so much.


    ***


    2 years ago


    ¡°How many hours does it take to put on one dress, Yana?¡± Ren moans as his head or something hits


    my door.


    Elisa giggles as she stands on the opposite end of my bed, slipping on her red bow tie shoes.


    ¡°Is he always this impatient?¡±


    I smile as I stand in front of the mirror, appreciating the light dust of make-up I applied to my face.


    Today will mark the first time I have ever stepped foot in a fraternity house.


    The party happening tonight is the added bonus and thepany- the cherry on the top.


    Papa would beat me until I was 3 shades of blue and 6 of purple if he knew. I am almost certain of that,


    and the thrill of doing something like angering Papa to such an extent is an aphrodisiac meant to make


    me shiver.


    My fear of getting caught is as real as the beating I''m confident Papa would give me.


    My only silver lining is the 2 girls sitting downstairs. One is Kylie Bray. I met her a few weeks back


    when I was at UW. We were both applying on the same day. Ren knew her from the day before that


    and introduced us.


    The other girl is her cousin, Sienna Bray. I liked her instantly, and Papa seemed to like them straight off


    the bat too. He was thrilled when I told him I was invited for a sleepover.


    He agreed, I could go if Ren escorted me, so naturally, I agreed.


    ¡°He¡¯s the only guy amongst 4 girls. He gets a pass today," I dere, making Elisaugh.


    ¡°A pass until we get to the house, which I''m sure is packed with boys. I can''t believe I am actually


    here,¡± Elisa ps her hands together, twirling around in an overly cheerful giddiness I know is real.


    ¡°Believe it. Nowe on, or I''m leaving you both here.¡± Ren bangs on the door as Elisaughs.


    I take the few steps opening the white wooden door separating Ren and us.


    He gives me a once over and shakes his head when he sees the red D&G high-tops I¡¯m wearing


    instead of a high heel that should have been worn with the little ck dress.


    His fitted blue denim and the red-ish blue tee is all casual and screams nothing of the boy who wears


    them.


    Ren turns his attention to Elisa. His eyes shift from mildly surprised to something I ignore more in


    disbelief as I wasn''t in the habit of understanding Ren. Nobody could wear that title.


    A few years ago, Ren wouldn''t have even acknowledged Elisa''s existence, now she''s almost one of us.


    More like me, but we share pieces of ours with her. The parts we know she can handle.


    The 5 of us in Chicago were named the misfits. And though the name was meant as a reminder that we


    were unwee in Chicago, we wore the name with pride.


    We were misfits and above thews that were sometimes used to try and rein us in. The name carried


    us through high school and stuck even after we left our hellhole called Chicago. Now the name is


    whispered, feared. One day the name will be as dangerous as the Shadows our world faced.

 Chapter 29 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 29 (Aliyana)


    ¡°You both look ready, maybe I should pack my Glock in case some line-backer decides youdies need


    some tackling.¡± His face is all kinds of serious, but I know he''s talking smack.


    ¡°Yellow. Lady of the house, if your ass isn''t down here in 20 secs, I¡¯m going to finish ole daddios scotch,


    and Mr. Catelli is going to have to carry my ass to this dig,¡± Sienna screams from the bottom of the


    staircase.


    My eyes widen as I move past Ren, to rush down the carpeted stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready, I''m ready. Sorry I kept you guys waiting.¡±


    ¡°How many years did you say this whiskey is again? I forget.¡± Sienna takes a sip of an almost full ss


    of Papa¡¯s scotch. He hardly ever drank it. I knew there was a reason behind why he kept it at the back


    of his shelf. But he said I should make the Bray girls feel wee and drinking his scotch is making


    them very wee indeed.


    I don''t know much about them, but Sienna and Kylie are so alike in personality. I wonder who calls the


    shots between the two. Though they look entirely different. Sienna is a light brte, long-haired


    Texan. She has a wide, full mouth that resembles Angelina Jolie. Her cheeks are thin and jawline


    sharp.


    Sienna¡¯s brown eye twitches as her red lips thin in what I would say is more of a pout.


    Her eyes have been bugging me the whole day, it just seems off, unfitting. Almost as though they''re


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    contacts, color ones. But who would want brown eye contacts? Sienna obviously! I shake my head at


    the random thought and shake my head again, cringing when she takes another big sip.


    ¡°30 odd years, I think.¡±


    ¡°It''s 45, my dad has the same one. It''s meant for special asions,¡± Ren corrects me as hees


    down the stairs with a quiet Elisa behind him.


    ¡°Well, I''m here, that is one huge fucking asion right there." Sienna winks at me when I start


    ¡°Kylie!¡± Sienna screams as she shoves the almost full ss to Ren''s extended hand.


    ¡°Give me a minute!" Kylie yells back from the lounge area. I can hear her on a call.


    ¡°Kylie Bray, get your ass here now, tell that uncle of mine we''ll be home before the roosters croak.¡±


    ¡°It''s Momma, she wants our asses in Church tomorrow, you still wanna bitch and moan?¡± Kylie fires


    back in a deep Southern twang that is amusing as well as refreshing as her tall, lithe form walks


    through the archway leading to us.


    Sienna¡¯s golden skin takes a whole new shade as her big eyes widen when Kylie hands her the phone


    with her brows arched as if to say ¡®you started it.''


    ¡°Hello, Aunt Hue.¡± I watch her thin cheeks get tighter as her small eyes get smaller, and full lips pout as


    she res at a smiling Kylie who seems unfazed.


    Ren hands the ss of Papa''s whiskey to Kylie, who takes the offering and downs the remainder of the


    whiskey. As in, she swallows at least two fingers of potent whiskey as if it''s water.


    Her eyes lock on Elisa, who is silent behind us.


    It''s surprising when someone initially meets Elisa, and she chirps their ear off for a full hour then


    practically draws in on herself until she''s just a piece in the room. It took me a while to figure out why,


    well, it took Gabriel a while. He was the one who made sense of Elisa''s weirdness.


    Turns out, Elisa has a mild case of schizophrenia. I can''t really exin this to the two overly confident


    Bray girls.


    ¡°She''s shy,¡± Ren exins.


    I am relieved when neither of the Bray girls say anything about Elisa''s silence after Sienna gets an


    earful from her aunt.


    ¡°Let''s get the hell out of here,¡± Kylie announces as I see for the first time she has a helmet with her.


    ¡°You not riding a bike, we''ll go in my car, I''ll pick you up in the morning to get your bike.¡± Ren stops


    Kylie in her tracks. Her shoulder-length hair flips as she spins around. Her ck vest and ripped loose


    denim makes her look like a biker as she leans on her left side, jutting out her hips. Kylie is the girl who


    exudes confidence. She is the girl in school who keeps a tight circle, but is loved by everybody. Kylie is


    the one who is too good to bully someone for the sake of it. She is a lot like us, except we kill our


    enemies.


    ¡°You say the sweetest things, sugar.¡± Kylie winks at him as she makes her way to the passenger seat


    of his jeep. No questions asked.


    ¡°I thought you need to be 21 to drink or buy alcohol,¡± Elisa says as Kylie and Ren jump out of the car


    and head to the bottle store.


    ¡°We''re from the South, if you don''t have a drink by 13, then there''s something fishy going on. It''s the


    unspokenw of the South,¡± Sienna tells Elisa, who is sitting between us.


    ¡°I''ve never heard that before,¡± Elisa mumbles as I hold my tongue.


    There''s one thing about Elisa that a lot of people caught on too quickly - She''s easy to fuck with.


    ¡°Now you have. If you ever in the South or near Liston Hills, you let me know. I still got another 18


    months of school left.¡± Sienna shifts her body to face Elisa as I see Ren and Kylie walking toward us


    with lots of booze.


    ¡°Liston Hills? Okay, now you talking shit, that town is a myth,¡± Elisa uses as her brow furrows.


    ¡°Na ah, it''s pretty darn real. Our whole family lives there, we heading on over tomorrow. If your folks


    say it''s good, youdies are wee to join. It''s church and lunch. Uncle Marcus ising back this


    side. He''ll drop you home after.¡±


    Before we can answer, Ren and Kylie, jump in. Ren hands three bottles of Jack to Elisa as Kylie ces


    the two bottles she brought on the floor by her feet.


    ¡°I''m telling you that it was unnecessary, a hundred dors for a tip is too much,¡± Ren argues as he


    ms the door and starts the car.


    ¡°And I''m saying it''s fucking paper, worthless,¡± Kylie fires back.


    ¡°I don''t see how it''s worthless if you just used it to bribe a 60-year-old man,¡± Ren informs her in a


    sarcastic tone, he usually used with Mero when he spoke shit - Which was a lot of the time.


    Kylie puts her seatbelt on as the car makes a noise indicating she needs to straps in.


    ¡°It''s money, rule number 1. They don¡¯t teach this stuff in school. Money is paper. It has no value, it''s just


    a false way of brainwashing people. If you want to know value, show me your assets. Silver, gold,


    diamonds, andnd is just the start. Now, to taste the bliss of real money, I say you get into software


    development or better yet find minerals.¡±


    ¡°There she starts,¡± Sienna mutters, making a frustrated sound at the back of her throat.


    ¡°Well, somebody needs to enlighten you guys about finance. You wanna be better, you oughta think


    better. If you not smart, then how the hell do you expect to beat the taxman?¡± Kylie rambles as we drive


    to the fraternity house filled with footballers.


    I¡¯ve never been privy to any kind of sports, but Landon Walker is ourtest football sensation. College


    football is my dad¡¯s thing. And Landon is a big deal.


    After another 40 minutes, we finally arrive at our destination. My cheeks hurt from theughing, my


    ears ringing from the aftermath of Sienna''s screaming when she and Kylie got into it on the way.


    Sienna didn''t have any qualms about telling Kylie to shut her big mouth, her words not mine.


    I jump out first and wait for Elisa and Sienna, who are both straightening their dresses. Sienna has on a


    flirty knee-length blue cotton dress that does wonders for her breast while still screaming ssy.


    Elisa is wearing a check ck and white skirt with a Chinese cor ck vest.


    The outfit looks great paired with ck stockings and a t red leather pump. Elisa''s newly red hair is


    the highlight of her outfit.


    I catch Ren¡¯s eyes on her before he walks up to me, flicking my nose, ¡°Don¡¯t get into any shit, have fun,


    but not too much. Oh, and Leonardo is around, you should talk to him.¡± My face heats up as my vision


    goes red, followed by a burst of life and nerves.


    ¡°You failed to mention that this morning,¡± I hiss, whisper as my fingers pinch his arm.


    ¡°Ow, what the fuck Yana?!¡±


    ¡°And she got ws; you seem to amaze me Liya," Kylie muses as she saunters over to us.


    ¡°This is not over, you lied to me.¡± I re at him as he leaves to get the booze from the car.


    ¡°Evading and lying are two different things, Yana.¡± He says as he walks toward me with four bottles of


    whiskey.


    ¡°Yes, and you were lying,¡± I point out.


    ¡°Whatever you say, Yana,¡± Ren mutters. His smirk is screaming, ¡®he doesn''t care how pissed I am.¡¯


    My eyes roll, feigning disinterest as my stomach twists in knots. I have the biggest crush on Leonardo


    Catelli.


    I wish there was a way I can talk to him without sounding like aplete idiot.


    Tonight might just be the night to change that. Maybe, he will finally notice me, and when he does, I


    won''t make a bigger fool out of myself as I have done in the past. Yes, today will be the beginning of a


    new chapter in my life.

 Chapter 30 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 30 (Aliyana)


    My small pep talk now over with, I survey the area around us. Spotting a jock walk out of the white


    mansion, I can''t help the smile on my face as the excitement of standing here fills me with the same


    adrenalin rush as the thought of Papa catching me.


    The musicing from inside is a mixture of techno and house. The jock guy finishes the drink in the


    red cup and throws the empty onto the hedge, which I notice is filled with red cups. A tall brte


    wearing a white vest and tight jeans walks up to him and kisses his cheek. He slings his arm over her


    shoulders, half hanging on her, half hugging her. She repeats his earlier action, throwing her cup on the


    hedge before walking back inside with him.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°The designated bin. I can¡¯t wait for college.¡± Sienna¡¯s voice goes wistful as Ren, Elisa and Kylie start


    talking about Landon Walker. Kylie apparently knows the guy from a racing event she attendedst


    year.


    "I was looking for an in with Mercedes Benz, so I could get blueprints to one of their unreleased cars,


    and then bam, I met Landon. His dad builds Mercedes engines," Her voice rises the closer we get to


    the noise.


    ¡°He''s the clich¨¦ version of Small-town boy gone pro,¡± Kylie finishes as I stare at her a bit lost.


    ¡°What does that look like?¡± Elisa asks, loving the story more than me.


    ¡°Sex on sticks and a double shot of strong good ole fashion Moonshine,¡± Sienna responds seconds


    before she startsughing, Kylie following in on her joke.


    ¡°He''s like that hottie you were talking to the other day,¡± Kylie exins as she clicks her finger, but I


    draw a nk.


    ¡°The one with the ck and red mustang,¡± Kylie rifies.


    ¡°Deno? I highly doubt he can be a Deno. Maybe a Gabriel,¡± I tell her.


    Our world is different, but Deno is different in our society. Our future Capo, and the underboss. He¡¯s the


    2nd eldest brother from Capo Marcello Catelli.


    Deno isn¡¯t a man youpare anyone with. Something is missing in him, he is warm but hollow at the


    same time. His smilees quickly, as the small pinpricks of fear, he instills in many by just his


    presence alone.


    He spent 6 months in a prison cell, and while he''s been on the news one time too many, part of me


    knows that it''s more than his time in the pent that defines him.


    No, there''s something he keeps locked away, and every day it eats him a bit more inside.


    The eldest brother akin to a ghost, Marco, who no one really speaks about him, not even Ren, and it''s


    his brother, remains a mystery. He¡¯s either really scary or not important. I''m going for thetter. I''ve


    been friends with Ren for years, and I¡¯ve never seen him. My Papa mentioned Marco was a soldier.


    Maybe he chose a different lifestyle for himself. That was an impossibility even as the thought fitted into


    my head. No one in our world had such power, not even a devil without a face.


    ¡°Maybe a Gabriel without the brooding mood swings. But Landon is scorching. Too bad he ain''t my


    type.¡± Kylie voices as she puts her arm into the side of Elisa''s free one.


    ¡°Can you get me an autograph?¡± Elisa asks her as Ren, Kylie, and her walk down the manicured


    garden.


    ¡°Have you decided what you gonna study?¡± Sienna queries as we walk behind the trio.


    ¡°I''ve been considering business or ounting. My father suggested I major in art, but art is more of a


    hobby to me.¡± I study the house as the music gets louder, my gaze drifts to the sky, and the light dust of


    stars visible, yet, hidden with the glow of the full moon.

 Chapter 31 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 31 (Aliyana)


    A chill in the air nips at my naked flesh as Sienna grabs my hand and pulls me into what I would say is


    chaos.


    The whiff of alcohol, weed, and cigarettes hit me as I take my first inhale of the indoors. The ce is


    filled with people.


    Less than a meter away from Sienna and I is a set of stairs leading up to the top floor where Elisa,


    Kylie, and Ren seem to be heading.


    I hear the catcalls as Kylie¡¯s name is screamed by various people. Unfamiliar hands touch my own,


    which is still locked on to Siennas''. She is pulled to the side by a beautiful girl with thick red and blue-


    braids capsuling a fine-boned face.


    ¡°Sin, what on earth are you doing all the way over here?¡± The girl yells loud enough to be heard over


    the music.


    ¡°Mason wanted toe and watch the game. Kylie and I joined for the after-party.¡± The girlughs as


    Sienna turns to me, those brown eyes still not looking right as she tilts her head in a notion for me to


    ¡°This is my friend Liya, she¡¯sing to UW next year,¡± Sienna introduces me as the music goes quiet


    for a few beats before the next song ys.


    ¡°This is Makena, she¡¯s a 3 times state champion in the National Cheerleading League.¡±


    ¡°Hey.¡± I move my hand to shake hers, but she has other ns as she hugs me. She¡¯s super tall, like


    Sienna and Kylie, so my short form has my face by her very well-endowed chest.


    ¡°Come on, let''s go upstairs, I can¡¯t even hear myself breathe. I¡¯m d we met Liya. I¡¯ve seen you


    around at Azure a few times. Nice ce.¡± My cheeks heat up as she gives me a confused yet knowing


    look. I''m not precisely Italian looking, taking in my straight nose, pale skin, green eyes, and blonde hair,


    but my chin and the slight ent I inherited from the Italian part of my bloodline isn''t totally lost. And if


    that didn''t give it away, thepany I hang around with, sealed the deal.


    We take the stairs, pushing our way through. Two guys make out on the left as a really wasted girl


    sleeps on the top two steps. The rest of the people scattered around the upstairs area remain by the


    corridor and one of the rooms.


    The music dies as the strong whiff of weed hits my nose.


    ¡°If my uncle smelled me now, I don''t think any amount of holymunion and repentance is gonna be


    saving my hide when he gets a hold of it,¡± Sienna whispers in my ear as we walk down the corridor to


    the end door that¡¯s currently open. Iugh because I understand exactly what she means. My Papa will


    turn my skin rainbow.


    Another staircase which leads to the bottom floor is made visible as a light is switched on.


    ¡°Kylie''s hide might just be next if she''s caught smoking.¡± The male voice from behind us has a distinct


    tone to it. Sienna spins around so fast she almost trips.


    I barely catch her in time with both my hands wrapped on her upper arms and my tiny body pushing her


    up.


    ¡°Whoa. I wouldn¡¯t want you falling on the face now, Love.¡±


    I look up at the guy, and I want to fall at the square jaw and full thick lips, I¡¯m sure has caused many to


    fall in his presence. Short, light brown, unkempt hair glows under the warm lighting meant to map our


    route through the corridor.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce me to your little friend?¡± His dark green eyes pierce me, as a small smile


    ys on his lips. I hear the hint of an ent I can¡¯t really ce, however, if given a chance to guess, I


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    would say Scottish.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Sienna walks up to him and pulls the guy by his grey V-neck t-shirt.


    ¡°I thought you noting this side until next fall,¡± Sienna carries on talking when he doesn¡¯t respond.


    His eyes stay on me, and for some reason, I can''t ce, there''s this nagging sense in the pit of my


    stomach telling me this moment is essential.


    ¡°Actually, funny, you should mention that. I had a bit of an emergency, you see,¡± He exins.


    Sienna frowns, releasing his clothes from her tight grip.


    ¡°Is everything alright with Maralese? I spoke to her this morning, she seemed good.¡±


    I watch as his gaze softens when he studies Sienna. He taps her nose in a familiarity that can''t be


    reced for anything besides intimacy. She is almost as tall as the mysterious man.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine, Sin. I¡¯m here to see Aliyana.¡± If I didn''t before, I now have his full attention, as my heart


    rages war equal in fear and nerves. Those eyes of his don¡¯t help.


    Breathe Aliyana. Breathe.


    What would he want with me?


    ¡°Why would you want to see Liya?¡± Sienna asks as my concentration turns to the one walking up


    behind the mysterious stranger who knows my name - Ren.


    Though, I have to wonder just how mysterious he really is.


    He must see my question in my gaze as it settles back on his smiling one.


    ¡°Where are my manners, I¡¯m Xander Moretti. A half-blood like you, except my mother, is Scottish.¡±


    ¡°Well then half-blood, What business does a Moretti want with a Capello? Because right now, it looks


    like you are trespassing on our side of the streets,¡± Ren interjects, still stationed behind Xander. If


    Xander Moretti is scared of Ren, he doesn''t show it.


    Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa- One Kiss starts ying through the surround-sound, causing the people


    around us to explode with life. It also reminds me of where we are.


    We are supposed to be partying. Why is it that a Moretti is out to get us?


    "Well?" Ren questions Xander who doesn¡¯t turn his head to acknowledge, he heard Ren behind him, or


    that he has a Catelli at his back.


    I have to give him points, he has balls. Balls I would love to cut off.


    ¡°Alec Russo. My cousin disappeared a couple of months back, his parents think he jumped ship, but I


    happen to believe someone helped him over. I¡¯m here to get answers. You know, the usual.¡± He tilts his


    head to peer at me from an angle. He is handsome, I give him that, still, there is something I recognize


    in him. Something innocent. Something unlike me and a lot like Ren.


    ¡°And what does that have to do with Liya? Surely you have more sense than to insinuate she knows


    anything about your cousin''s whereabouts?" Ren points out.


    "Xander, Alec was and still is an asshole, and I have only met the guy once,¡± Sienna defends me by


    pointing out a mutual fact.


    She also unknowingly reminds me that we have a lot of witnesses, and the reason I liked her off the bat


    - She¡¯s loyal as a fault.


    But shouldn''t her loyalty stand with this Xander guy? Unless I have read their rtionship wrong.


    My attention doesn''t deter from Xander''s perceptive one still on me. Yet, I don¡¯t miss the shadow of


    Ren¡¯s head jerking.


    ¡°Alec was never my friend if that¡¯s why you here. You should ask Matteo, they were attached to the


    hip.¡± Even as his name leaves my lips, I know the words for the lies it truly tells. Forgive me, father, I


    have sinned.


    ¡°I did, he sent me here. I wondered why until I saw you. Tell me, Aliyana, where¡¯s the rest of the


    Misfits? Did your little crew finally split?¡± Xander questions as it takes every bit of my will to remember


    to breathe, to look at him dead in the eyes, and to not slice a de across that mouth.


    Sometimes the past is only forgotten for a short while. In our world, the past can be the only reason for


    a thousand lives to be lost. This isn¡¯t one of those times.

 Chapter 32 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 32 (Aliyana)


    ¡°Since Matteo knows so much, you should run to him. Maybe he''ll do a better job at answering your


    questions.¡± I shrug my shoulder, as my heart races in my chest, just thinking how easy it will be to end


    him. I know my anger is misced, and Xander Moretti is not the root of it.


    No, my deep loathing is for Matteo Di Salvo. The stupid fool who saved my life.


    How could Matteo know? How did he know we were here?


    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s say I believe you, which I don¡¯t!¡± Xander pauses a beat, making it known he doesn¡¯t believe


    me, ¡°Tell me why he sent me here, there has to be a reason, right?¡±


    I arch my brow, silent. Truth is, I am at a loss myself.


    Matteo was as cunning as a fox hunting its prey. He didn''t show his cards until everyone else held out


    theirs- A trickster in suit


    ¡°He sent you to find me.¡± That voice, that distinctive fucking sounding from behind me, is the


    reason I close my eyes for a beat.


    ¡°We haven''t formally introduced ourselves. I''m Alice. You are more charming than your pictures,


    Xander.¡±


    Her tall thin body walks in front of me. Alice is tall, confident, and everything I despise in this world. But,


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    there is one problem with this entire picture.


    She beams at him, as a small dimple under her eye transforms her face from mildly irritated to utterly


    amused when Xander frowns.


    "Why would Matteo send me to find you?."


    ¡°I told him to. My brother has a thing about manners, if you have them, you get your way, if you don¡¯t,


    well.¡± She purses her lips, pretending to think, ¡°Let¡¯s just say we don¡¯t disrespect my brother.¡± Her hand


    makes a dismissive re to it.


    "Okay, so why do you want me here?"


    "Isn''t it obvious?" She side-steps and looks at me, then back at him.


    "No." He answers, "It isn''t obvious. In fact, I am lost."


    A small smile ys between her lips as she stares at Xander. Amused.


    She twists her head to face me, "Are you going to tell him, or am I?"


    "Please don''t," I beg, and it isn''t the first time sheughs that fakeugh.


    Alice is a demon wrapped in bronze skin, and short ck curly hair, that shapes a face meant to fool


    you into believing she actually has a heart.


    "Aliyana is my sister, of course. Get it? Daddio was a very naughty boy." Sheughs again, and I close


    my eyes as the dread wraps around me.


    Yes, Alice, for all her evilness, her demon ways, and games she ys with everyone, is my sister. A


    powerful, maniptive bitch.


    Her Grandfather raised her after her mother passed and what a job he did too.


    "So she is your sister, what does this have to do with Alec?"


    "Nothing, this has to do with you asking questions about Aliyana."


    Believe it or not, I hate her. I have known Alice is my sister since Dexter Kent came into my life.


    I''ve kept my distance not just for my good but for hers. I knew there was something not right about


    Alice from the day I saw her face to face.


    Since then, staying away from her has been the best decision I made. Didn''t help, her stepbrother is


    the boy I''ve hated since the day he shoved me in a pool in the middle of winter.


    ¡®Cool off¡¯ were the words he said to me that day.


    Alice was never supposed to find out we shared DNA, but she knew, she always knew more than she


    said.


    How much did she know? Did she know she is not my father''s only daughter from another Famiglia?


    No, Papa surely knew how to be unfaithful and fuck it up.


    Not only did he get Alice''s mum pregnant while my mother mourned my sister after the Bratva took her.


    A few yearster, he got Elisa''s mum pregnant. A year younger than I am.


    The only difference is, Alice wasn''t Capo Russo''s wife''s child. Alice was Marianna Russo¡¯s daughter,


    and her brother, Matteo Di Salvo, was the boy I hated most of all.


    "Is it not obvious?" She questions him as Kylie makes an appearance. Her body stiffens as she takes in


    the scene. Alice standing two steps in front of me, the center of attention as she likes it.


    Xander is directly opposite her, seconds away from exploding. Sienna leans against the small wooden


    frame, curious. Ren behind Xander, no doubt ready to slit his throat if he makes one wrong move. And


    me, the short girl, the unassuming one, seconds away from throwing my sister over the balcony.


    Kylie Bray''s wariness is not unwarranted. She should be scared. In the room, now, is three different


    bloodlines. And one of them is lying.


    "If it was obvious, I wouldn''t be asking you questions now, would I?¡± Xander points out, but his tone has


    a bite to it that raises my shackles.

 Chapter 33 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 33 (Aliyana)


    "Considering you dare to question my sister, I would think the word obvious is a foreign concept to


    you." Her voice slices the air, and I don¡¯t need to look to know more than a few people heard her


    through the music.


    "Why would you think that, sweetheart?" His sarcastic tone hits a nerve.


    "Because foolish man, it is obvious that right now, you are royally screwed.¡± Alice ces her hand on


    her skirt covered hip. The diamond bracelet glittering around her wrist.


    "Why would you think such a stupid thing like that?"


    "Oh, I did not think anything. I knew that a fool like you would do exactly what my brother told him.


    Leading you right to me. Maybe I haven''t introduced myself properly, but you see upon my mother''s


    death, my Grandfather took it upon himself to raise me, many people know my mother as Marianna


    Russo because she took her mother''s surname, but my Grandfather , well he was insistent I take his.


    You see, Mr. Xander, we seem to have something inmon."


    "What is that?"


    "I''m a Moretti too. And my Grandfather is your Capo''s brother."


    Alice stands in front of me, her short ck hair shining under the reflection of the lighting from the


    ceiling.


    Kylie observes Alice with an almost bored look, which I know is an act because she has stood on guard


    since she walked into the door. There''s something about Kylie Bray that tells me she''s no ordinary rich


    girl.


    ¡°Well, why all the effort to lead me right to you? If you want me so bad, Principessa, all you need do is


    tell me.¡±


    ¡°My taste buds are very peculiar. Let''s cut to the chase, Alec is not dead, he¡¯s missing. It seems


    someone wanted him dead, but he managed to elude them. Isn¡¯t that right, Elisa?¡± Elisa stops walking,


    I didn''t even notice her arrival.


    Her eyes - wide and scared. I want tofort her, but I do well to remain standing in the same spot.


    There¡¯s no way Alice could know about Elisa. No way.


    ¡°And you, dear Xander, aren¡¯t here to make sure he is safe, are you? You want him dead, so let¡¯s cut


    the bullshit, shall we?¡±


    Ren frowns, as my heart beats harder in my chest. He is worried, just like me. How did our night turn so


    bad so fast? This is not good.


    Alice turns to look at me, "And dearest Aliyana. Maybe I am a bitch little sister, most of the time, and


    yes, you and your misfits want to kill me the other half of it, but that..." She points at Elisa, "She makes


    me look like a fucking saint. She has you all fooled. You im THAT devil as your sister, but you don''t


    know the ws she''s hiding. Alec deserves what''sing to him, but she deserves a fate far worse


    than a quick death."


    I didn¡¯t care about Alec¡¯s whereabouts as much as the woman standing in front of me, staring at Elisa.


    What was she talking about? Elisa didn''t hurt a fly. Was it jealousy?


    ¡°I think this conversation hase to an end darlin¡¯. Now since we are all talking about what¡¯s ours. I


    should mention that this house belongs to the Stones, and like your family shenanigans, the Stones


    happen to be my family.¡± Kylie stares at Alice, who still has her gaze on Elisa.


    ¡°Which means that it is protected by The Satan Snipers and The Catelli family so, you two sweethearts


    need to get the fuck out,¡± Sienna finishes for Kylie as both cousins move closer toward each other.


    Standing side by side, looking at Xander and Alice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck about the Satan Snipers or The Catelli family.¡± Xander snarls, getting pissed off.


    ¡°You should if you care for your life. The shadows don¡¯t take likely attacking their own,¡± Leonardo walks


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    up from the stairs, and if looks could be given a name, I¡¯d call his ¡®the Reaper¡¯ as he stands on thest


    step, behind Kylie and Sienna.


    Whoever the Shadows are, Xander and Alice seem to back down. Kylie¡¯s mouth gets tight for reasons I


    am sure has to do with the Shadows.


    I didn¡¯t know much about them, but as I stand here, it isn¡¯t the first time that name has cooled off a hot


    mess.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t over.¡± Alice turns after delivering her promise to all of us, and it isn¡¯t a coincidence when her


    gazends on me. She winks and walks past Leonardo. He grabs onto her arm, saying something to


    her. She pushes his chest, rushing down the stairs.


    ¡°Xander, as much as I am happy to see you, you should leave too.¡± Sienna¡¯s voice is almost sad. She


    likes him, but even she knows that this isn''t going to end well.


    ¡°Certainly, but just so you know Aliyana, your sister has just been marked, you should tell her to watch


    that pretty back of hers. I don''t appreciate her little antics,¡± Xander walks away.


    He walks by Leonardo, who gives him a chilling re as Xander heads down the stairs. I know I will


    see him again.


    Fuck you, Matteo, fuck you.


    If Alice knew Elisa''s my sister, what did that mean for us? Did I go back to ignoring her, or should I be


    concerned about Elisa''s safety? What would my father do to the daughter he never wanted? What will


    he do to a bastard child that proved to everyone that he didn¡¯t love my mother as much as he wanted


    people to believe?


    What did it all mean for me?


    What did it mean for Elisa?


    And why would Alice say that shit about Elisa?


    I look at Elisa, she is so innocent and good. I shake my head in confusion more than anything else.


    Someone must have said something to Alice that made her say those things, I would know if I needed


    to keep a watchful eye on Elisa. I have known her most of my life.


    I don¡¯t see Alice as the person who¡¯ll let things slide. If she knows what happened with Alec all those


    months ago, did it mean she¡¯lle after us? Surely not, I wouldn¡¯t want to stain my hands with the


    blood of my sister to protect the ones I loved. She is, after all, as much my father''s daughter in blood as


    I.


    "Well, now that we have all that out of the way. We should really get back to the reason we are here."


    Sienna breaks us all out of thought. She pulls my hand, and I follow her as the others step in behind us.


    And for the rest of the night, we drink, smoke pot, and dance.


    Ren leaves the open balcony for an hour, and I think nothing of it. My phone rings as I watch Sienna


    grind herself against one of the football yers.


    "What is it?" I ask the caller, my voice loud to overpower the music and catcalls ring in my other ear.


    "Alec is dead, consider this your only warning, an eye for an eye. I won''t be there to save you this time,


    darling." The line to the other end goes dead, as Matteo Di Salvo''s voice tilts my world on its axis.


    Ren walks in seconds after, and as I stare at him, I see the guilt, I see the death on his face. Forgive


    him, father, Lorenzo Catelli has just started a war.

 Chapter 34 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 34 (Aliyana)


    Present


    "We agreed to keep it quiet. Nothing happened, no retaliation, nothing until recently. Ren was visited by


    Xander, seems like Alice was wrong, Xander very much wanted to protect Alec that night."


    ¡°What the fuck Liya, we are supposed to be a fucking family. Shouldn¡¯t we have gotten a say too? We


    could all be dead by now.¡± Gabriel yells as I look to the carpeted floor. Yes, they should have had a say.


    But at the time, it seemed best to keep it between Ren and me.


    ¡°Ren didn¡¯t just put himself in danger, he put us all in danger. Xander Moretti is a fucking snake, he¡¯ll slit


    your throat if it meant proving himself worthy of his father''s fucking approval. And Alice, fucking Christ,


    Aliyana. If she knows Elisa is your father¡¯s daughter, we are fucked. She¡¯ll know we are up to


    something. Point be damned if Elisa is a fucking devil in disguise or not,¡± Michel barks as he bangs his


    hand on the wall, making me jump.


    ¡°We should¡¯ve never allowed the two of you to go alone. If the Russo family are on to us, we need to


    make a stand Xander will choose the side that has the best perks for him. Alice is a fucking bitch, but I


    don''t see her wanting to kill Ren. She wouldn''t admit it, but Matteo is important to her, and you, are


    important to him for some unknown reason,¡± Mero voices out what they all were thinking that same day.


    ¡°And Di Salvo already imed Matteo as future Capo. His father is known to dislike his dead wife''s


    family," Michel informs us.


    "Either way we look at it, Ren is dead. We need to decide how we¡¯re going to handle it. This is all


    pointless when there''s no proof they did it. A lot of talks are going around the State. People are still


    ming the Irish, some are saying the Cartel could¡¯ve whacked him as a message to Marco. But, we


    all knew a Russoing after us was a possibility," Gabriel is saying what we all already know.


    "Deno warned us when we made a choice all those years ago. We need to see this through, especially


    if they killed Ren,¡± Mero, always our voice of reason, and facts.


    Gabriel stands, his presence is a consumption of power. He will make a great Capo one day, soon,


    when his uncle steps down.


    ¡°What you did was wrong, let¡¯s hope it teaches you next time not to overthink. We are in this together, it


    was our choice as much as it was yours. And we all know you chose to let it slide. I would¡¯ve killed your


    sister, blood or not and probably agreed with Ren and killed Alec too. Elisa is innocent; she''s still here,


    in danger. If she dies, her blood is on our hands.¡± Michel res at me, a nerve in his neck ticking.


    ¡°I know,¡± My voice is soft, but my eyes aren''t.


    ¡°We should head to the Warehouse and get this shit done. Deno won''t wait forever.¡± Michel storms out,


    leaving the 3 of us in the room.


    ¡°He¡¯s hurting Liya, we all are, and if Alice killed Ren, you need to ask yourself how far you are willing to


    go. We started this years ago, Alec was just a pawn on the board. Alice is a knight on the wrong side of


    the board fueled by vengeance. Your father¡¯s love for you doesn¡¯t help ease her hate. Add in Elisa, who


    you have unted in her face like a red-g, tempting a bull, she is our prime suspect.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill her if I have to. I''m still my father¡¯s daughter; I will protect him. What I won¡¯t do is allow anything


    to happen to Elisa in the interim, we need to get her out.¡± I can honestly say at this moment, I ce my


    first step away from the Misfits'' ns but, at the same time, closer to Mero. He loves her, after all.


    Sweet Elisa.


    I just hope he will love her regardless because as I stare into my friend''s eyes, I know the secret I keep


    will very well end his affection for her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring the car around,¡± Mero gives me a stiff nod, understanding we are both here to keep her safe.


    He walks out of my bedroom, leaving Gabriel and me.


    My head lifts up to meet his tall form, his eyes intense, assessing as they stare at me for a few beats


    before his nostrils re as he looks to other parts of my room.


    This entire room is all Ren. The art which shapes my ceiling was made by the two of them. The framed


    canvas on the wall next to the door leading to my en-suite was my first painting. I threw it in the trash


    can. The same portrait Ren and Gabriel dug out of the bin.


    I close my eyes as shes of his smile in this very room be more than a memory. The sound of


    his voice as he yells, ¡®Yana Banana.¡¯


    I have lost many in the 19 years of my life, but this is the hardest of that loss. I feel the change in the


    tide, the weight of it all befalling on my very being.


    Ren, my precious friend, brother, other half, now gone.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    The warmth of Gabriel¡¯s finger on my cheek undoes me, and for the first time since those stairs two


    nights ago, where I cried for the boy he was, I cry for the man he will never get to be.


    Gabriel grabs me into the heat of his chest as my mouth opens, and I let out the sound of my breaking


    heart.


    ¡°My beautiful Liya, you are stronger than this,¡± Gabriel¡¯s words in my ears, meant to silence my pain,


    reminds me of all I have lost as his hand rubs my head.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone, Gabriel, gone. He was good, and my choices could be the reason he¡¯s dead. How do I live


    with that? If Alice killed him, how can I kill my own sister? Tell me!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he was good, but with all your choices Liya, we don¡¯t make a killer, we can only be one,


    Ren chose to leave the party, he chose to kill Alec, not you.¡± Gabriel holds me as his words y in my


    head, and my tears dry out.


    ¡°If Alice is the one, then I''ll be there with you, whether you choose to pull that trigger or not. Always or


    never Liya.¡±


    ¡°Always or never,¡± I whisper.


    I am not sure how long we stand here, in a room that has more memories of the one we mourn than


    either of us know. There were nights when I¡¯d leave my bedroom as Renid his body in my bed.


    Times when I chose to remain in the confines of the garden, and he¡¯ll sit up here in his mind. I smile at


    the thought.


    Weeks during our holiday, the 5 of us would lie on that very bed seething about all the reasons we¡¯ll


    one day take down the Russo family. In this very room, we devised a n that could have ultimately led


    to Ren¡¯s death. One loss, so much pain.


    Mero hoots, breaking us apart. I wipe my tears and choose to say nothing to the redness in Gabriel¡¯s


    own.


    We head downstairs to the car, away from all the memories of the boy who fell too soon.


    "When will you tell Mero the truth about Elisa?" Gabriel asks the question I have asked myself a lot


    recently, but in the end, always arriving at the same answer.


    "Sometimes, denial is for the best. And lies are a necessary evil."


    We are born with an end date, an estimate. Lorenzo Catelli stood too long in the hot sun, and that


    estimate expired way before its due date. I can¡¯t say for sure if it was the past of the Misfits which


    brought him an early grave, or his own demonsing back to haunt him. Or merely the sins of his


    father, or brothers, but as I jump in the car and Michel faces me from the front seat, I know I will avenge


    his death. We all will.


    Even if it meant killing my own.

 Chapter 35 (Marco)

    Chapter 35 (Marco)


    My hand remains a temporary fixture to the open door of the warehouse. I listen attentively as I''ve done


    thesest 10 minutes to the lot of them let Deno in on the little scene Leonardo witnessed a year ago.


    Alec''s deathes after. Only one thing here, which I find fascinating, is Alice''s insinuations about


    Elisa.


    Alice Moretti is a fucking bitch, a cold-hearted one at that, but she isn''t stupid, and killing Ren would be


    a dumb move. Xander Moretti works for me, and he is loyal to a fault. His rtionship with Alec took a


    considerable turn after he found out about his cousin''s likings to young girls.


    Deno has had every opportunity to inform the group in the room of these facts, but he simply listens.


    And as much as I want to end their story and my torture of having to listen to them, I don''t.


    ¡°I say we kill Alice and get this fucking shit over with,¡± Michel says for the fifth time. The boy is out for


    blood, which could be a problem. We don''t need the youngsters acting out of anger. After the Cartel¡¯s


    shipmentnded on the news just days before, we were under scrutiny. The cops believed our smaller


    Capo''s were the big guns. It kept ''the businessmen'' safe but hot smoke was hot smoke, and I didn''t


    want my city filled with red-tape, it was terrible for business.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No. We can¡¯t just kill her without knowing for sure. She¡¯s my sister.¡± Yes, now this is something to


    smile about. I had my suspicions for a while now, but I never knew for sure.


    Elisa, well, that''s a different story.


    I know things about her that not many do. And those things I''m counting on were going to cause a


    ripple in the already suffocating air.


    ¡°You can''t expect us to do nothing. Dammit Liya," Mero is the one screaming this time. The boys were


    a hot breed of testosterone. How Aliyana, the small ample chested girl handled four of them, were a


    mystery unto itself. But she did.


    It always held me curious and now is no different.


    Gabriel has not said a word since they arrived. Interesting, but not surprising. His father is known for


    his silence.


    "Exactly. Everyone will be watching us, waiting for us to do something. Our people will expect it, you¡¯re


    telling me that Alice wouldn''t? What if she is carrying out the Russo¡¯s orders? Or, as Gabriel pointed


    out earlier, she is looking for vengeance. We can¡¯t just be brain-less, we need to be smart."


    My phone rings, and I slip it out of my jacket pocket.


    ¡°What do you have?¡± I ask the man on the other side.


    ¡°Your hacker is right. I¡¯m in Ka, doing shit for the club. Rib is on his way to you with the stuff you


    wanted.¡±


    ¡°And the Shadows? Will they stand with me?¡±


    ¡°If the threat extends to her, then yes. The Shadows protect their interests. I suggest you make sure it


    doesn¡¯te to that, or it will get ugly fast.¡± The ghost ends the call, and I let out a sigh before pushing


    open the door.


    ¡°Waiting is our only option,¡± Aliyana voices out again, with a lot more anger than she had in her voice a


    minute ago.


    "Aliyana is right." She frowns as I step into the warehouse. Her shocked expression showing when she


    changing at my arrival. I am used to it.


    The young men stand a bit taller as the quiet tall girl in the corner gives me a salute in greeting. It''s


    been a while since I''ve seen the girl, she is taller than I remember. When I called her, I was surprised


    she agreed to meet. The Ghost would not be happy with her so close to his sister.


    ¡°Why do you look so surprised? He''s my brother." I am not sure why the need to exin my presence


    is such an intense emotion, yet it is.


    ¡°Who invited you?¡± Aliyana asks as her denim leg changes from the crossed leg pose to a more put


    together one. I suppress the urge to smile at how she guards herself with her body, yet gives so much


    away by her words.


    "I did," Deno interjects, "Marco will have thest say before any of you make a move. This is a lot


    bigger than you think."


    Deno pulls his sleeves up, as I inhale the cement scented air that is mixed with hints of smoke.


    Aliyana drops her gaze as I openly stare at her breast, confined in a small blue and white vest. Sartini


    knows how to breed. All his daughters were beautiful, with a unique quality that would make a king


    notice them from a crowd of millions. But, Aliyana and Alice were rare, they both possess more evil


    than good.


    "It¡¯s simple, The Russo..." Mero says


    "Are innocent of this crime. I thought it was them too until the Bratva showed up asking for Diamond.


    After some digging, it made more sense that we were looking in all the wrong ces. And Stagio was


    very generous with his offer to help avenge Ren¡¯s death." I stop his words with my own.


    My eyes remain fixated on Aliyana, standing in the center of the warehouse surrounded by four guys


    and a girl.


    I walk toward her, stopping only when we are barely

 Chapter 36 (Marco)

    Chapter 36 (Marco)


    I walk toward her, stopping only when we are barely three feet apart. She reminds me of a small


    lioness I once saw in Africa when I was touring. So little, but filled with so much potential.


    Her very being is designed to kill. The world she lives in is akin to a jungle, where only the most brutal


    of viins make it just a day longer. Everybody for themselves. Yet, looking at her now with all these


    people around us, I can see her need to just belong. Sad girl.


    "So what? Now you ming my mother¡¯s people?" Aliyana fires back. So much spirit.


    "He isn''t ming anyone Aliyana. Give him a chance." Deno reasons, but I know it isn¡¯t really a


    question.


    "Your mother''s people didn''t kill Ren either. So sheath those ws. What they did do was open our


    eyes to a muchrger picture. My brother was loyal to everyone, but he was never openly honest with


    anyone. Not fully anyway. There are a few things you all need to know, which is why Deno decided on


    this meeting. If you decide to avenge his death, you should know who you are up against."


    "As much as I love this little conversation, I want to know how we are going to get justice. The who, is


    the least of my worries, I got shit to do," Sienna points out, ncing at her nails, but those keen blue


    eyes of hers see way more than she''ll confess.


    "We will get to that. This is moreplicated than you guys think," Deno says.


    "Fine, who is it?" Sienna asks with a groan.


    "We think it''s a little closer to home, but not too close that we need to clip your wings and tell you to


    stand the fuck down," I answer.


    "What my brother is saying, we need to be sure. Which means we are going to get substantial proof


    before we act. We want you all to get close to someone."


    "Who?" Aliyana asks this time. And I would never confess this, but looking at all these youngsters, I


    can honestly say that I am rethinking my decision to tell them.


    "His name is Dn Creston. His father is a scientist, works for the Government testing high-end drugs


    on soldiers. He recently bought himself a restaurant uptown. I''m sure you all have heard of it, Cristen."


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yeah, GABRIEL, and I frequent the ce. Why would they want to kill Ren?" Michel questions.


    "That you can ask your pretty friend here," Deno points to Sienna.


    She looks at all of us, and a small smile dances on her lips. The girl is a lot like her mother. Pity, she''ll


    never know the woman who gave birth to her.


    "I was wondering how long I had before you figured it out."


    "Was it up to your speed?" Deno smirks.


    "Maybe, although, I do prefer it slow. Keeps the mystery alive," She winks at him.


    "I''ll let Mason know," He winks back.


    "Can we get on with this? I don''t want to watch you two eye-fucking," Gabriel says, which is the first


    thing I think I have heard him say all night.


    "As you all know, Lorenzo was dating Dakota. He loved her a lot. Six months back, Dakota''s father


    made headlines for some serious arm deals gone bad. Ren obviously didn''t take the shit very well and


    contacted my uncle, who told him Dakota was under his care until she turned 18. Ren wanted Dakota


    to live with him, he was afraid that her father''s enemies woulde after her. But it wasn''t her father''s


    enemies my uncle was worried about. Dakota is special, with a rare gift when ites to warfare and


    human DNA."


    "What kind of warfare?" Gabriel inquires, turning to face Sienna, who moves slowly toward Aliyana.


    "The kind, corrupt people will sell their souls to have. Now, before I say more, do we have a deal,


    Marco?"


    She waits, staring at me. Decisions, decisions.


    I give her a crisp nod. We have a deal.


    "Dakota is the genius, the Government and other significant groups keep hidden. Her mind is beautiful


    yet, dark and cruel. She is destructive to anyone around her. Except for Kylie, no one is safe."


    Sienna lifts up her top, revealing a scar on the side of her stomach, her eyes downcast, saying a million


    things she''ll never allow herself to admit. The exiled daughter.


    "Her mind is aplex ce, it creates stuff that is godlike in nature, but like nature''s way, always has


    a dual purpose, and in the wrong hands can destroy countries. When she was younger, the things she


    made were small. Mostly pranks, but as she got older, she started making ammo for her dad and them


    to sell. She wanted to help him raise enough money to expand his shop, as you can imagine, daddio


    didn''t see anything wrong with that. But Diamond got it into her head that a walking man-machine was


    better for her dad''s market. She didn''t consider what implications that would entail or the fact that


    daddio would get caught for selling high-end guns. But Ren did. Ren stole the drug back from the only


    client who got his hands on it, but the man already started testing it."


    "Mr. Creston?" Mero queries.


    "Yes."


    "So you telling us he killed Ren?"


    "She''s telling you that the Government could have killed Ren. Mr Creston works in the military, for the


    special ops. If Ren found out about the drugs and stole them, then it means they saw him as a means


    to an end and also a threat to what they really want," I tell them, which is true, but there was one more


    thing missing in this puzzle, and that is why Ren believed the Russo''s were following him. Everything


    that my hacker has found leads to the Government. What am I missing?

 Chapter 37 (Marco)

    Chapter 37 (Marco)


    "They''ll want us to me the Irish, or Bratva or better yet, the Cartel since they already on our fucking


    wish list," Gabriel growls.


    "Or the Russos," I finish.


    A phone rings. Sienna pulls it out from between her breast,


    "As much as I would love to stay, I need to get my ass back to Liston. My Uncle is gonna have a few


    things to say when I get on home, might as well get it out and over." Sienna leaves us in the room as


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    she answers her phone.


    "What do we do about Alice in the interim?" Mero asks Aliyana. This is surprising since I know Gabriel


    is their leader. I remain silent, waiting.


    "Nothing for now. Alice is a pain, but I won''t kill my sister for making a few threats."


    "I agree," Gabriel states. Michel''s anger is not missed by Deno or myself.


    "We get the proof we need to avenge Ren''s death and bide our time. We can''t bring the Government to


    our heals, but we can cut them down a few notches. Everyone in this room is a power in their own right.


    It is time the Government learns the error of their ways." Aliyana''s words make me smirk. I say nothing


    as the young men she calls her friends simply fall in line.


    Odd.


    "The rest of you can leave. Aliyana, we need to talk before I get you home," Deno says, and though


    they look to each other in confusion, the boys leave.


    "What do you want to talk to me about?" She asks as Mero ms the door to the warehouse close.


    "All our evidence points to the Government , but there is more you should know," Deno confesses,


    walking closer to her and myself.


    "My brother''s killer had to have been someone he trusted if he sensed danger, he would have had his


    hand on his pistol. We had the area looked at by some trackers we know, there were no cars besides


    Michael Stones in the area that night. And he was there 2 hours before Ren arrived. The person who


    shot him did so at close range." Her confusion as to what I am telling hersts a second.


    "You sure?" She asks me.


    "Yes, it has to have been one of you. The only reason you are standing here now is that you are the


    only one of your friends who could be ounted for, and that is because you were with me."


    "And Gabriel. I spoke to him when I arrived at Azure," She says, so ready to defend.


    "I''m not ruling him out, everybody is a suspect. If anybody can figure out which of your friends could


    have killed my brother, or be behind it, it will be you. I suggest you get cracking," Deno says, all


    business as Aliyana undoubtedly goes to war with her loyalty to her friends and the realization that one


    of those friends could be Ren''s killer.


    "Ren was friends with a lot of people, it could be anyone," She argues, ring at me, her cheeks


    flushed with a tint of pink. Anger suits her well.


    "Tell her," I say to Deno without taking my inquiring gaze off Capello''s daughter.


    "The video footage we managed to get shows the same ring all the boys wear on their index fingers."


    "You asking me to betray my friends!" She yells, breaking our standoff, showing me her back as she


    walks a few steps to the warehouse wall.


    "I''m asking you to avenge my brother," I correct her, ignoring Deno''s re as the harsh tone in my


    words leave my mouth.


    "And what? Kill myself in the interim! It''s a suicide," Her snarly remark is expected.


    "If I wanted you dead, I''ll do it myself." My voice slices through her anger like a whip would do to her


    skin.


    "You forget who you are talking to Mezzosangue."


    "Now, now, both of you calm down. We need you to just be aware, no. We aren''t asking you to sacrifice


    your life. But, if one of them is working for the Government or acting out of their own free will, we need


    to know. These are trying times, Aliyana, in the State. My brother''s death has made my family very


    angry. To go, unpunished will be an insult to the Catelli name, and I can''t have that," Deno reasons. He


    fits his role well as the logical brother and future Capo.


    However, defusing our argument is not going to get Aliyana to co-operate.


    "I won''t betray my friends, but I also won''t let Ren''s death go cold. I''ll find out who it is, and then I will let


    the other ones know. We''ll decide how to deal with a traitor."


    She turns to Deno, a small piece of hair falls in her face. She bites her bottom lip, and I watch her with


    mild amusement.


    "My father once told me that the obvious reason pointing to one''s guilt is often the only reason that can


    determine one''s innocence." Her eyes never waver from my brothers as she talks to him, and call me a


    fucking pussy, but I am jealous he has her eyes and lips directed on him.


    "And mine says, friends are just a means to an end, sooner orter they betray you and bang, bang


    you dead," No truer words have been spoken todaying from my brother''s lips.


    "I''m sure he does. Your father wears his betrayal as a second skin." Aliyana is not wrong.


    Deno nods, and we all stand here, in this fucking warehouse that has no purpose of existing but does.


    "We should head to Azure, have something to eat, your father won''t be home tonight. ria and the


    twins are at her mother''s house for the time." I break the silence and wait for Aliyana to walk in front of


    me before I tilt my head to my brother.


    My eyes say it all.


    Aliyana''s hate for my father and her loyalty to hers is understandable. Until her sister returns home, this


    will always be a problem. No one knows where Azure Capello is.


    My brother named his Club Azure as a reminder of a name we don''t speak about, but the one person


    we all remember. I promised Aliyana''s father, no one will ever utter Azure''s name in Aliyana''s


    presence. No one has. But even a Viin like myself, can''t keep that promise. Sooner orter, Azure


    will be found dead or alive.

 Chapter 38 (Marco)

    Chapter 38 (Marco)


    "No, we were at the sunbathing ce, near Ricky''s Pub and grill. Ren was watching the door for Ms.


    Jane and Calum, while Gabriel and I threw the stink bomb in her car." Aliyana speaks as I take the turn


    to the residential areas.


    "But Gabriel took all the me," I finish for her, knowing about their antics and the DeMarco boy taking


    the brunt. Aliyana didn''t know this, but Gabriel''s uncle wasn''t as forgiving as his shitty dad. Gabriel had


    it hard, he just learned to hide it better. Why he chose to take the fall for it, all didn''t matter. The fact he


    did, well, that spoke volumes of the type of Capo he''d be one day.


    "Yeah, he did, except for the few times Ren and I got caught with our hands in the cookie jar. My


    father''s wife caught us once sneaking into one of Deno''s clubs in New York. It wasn''t thest time she


    caught us either. I guess when I think about it, maybe her hate for me doesn''t stem from just my


    mother. Maybe it''s warranted."


    "Hate you? No, she doesn''t hate you Aliyana, she envies you. A girl born in our world with the freedom


    your father has given you doesn''te by often. ria loved a soldier before she was forced to marry


    your father," I respond as I speed past the ck BMW hogging the road.


    "I never knew that."


    "Now, you do. Tell me something, Aliyana." She doesn''t respond, and I take my eyes off the road to see


    her staring outside the window. Lost.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "My brother, was he good to Diamond?"


    "Yes," Her voice drops, and I wish I could stare into her emerald gaze, "He loved her from the moment


    she fell into him, she was all spirit, and he was her ve."


    "Can you tell me about him when he was a kid?" The question takes me by surprise, I go quiet for a bit,


    caught off guard as I take the longer route toward her house.


    How do I start? Where do I start?


    "I wasn''t there enough to tell you the type of kid he was. I joined the army straight after boarding


    school. But, I can say that Lorenzo was my family''s redemption. The start over the Catelli''s needed. I


    was there the day he was born. I was 15 and just got back from boarding school. I went straight to the


    hospital with Deno and Anya. We flipped a coin who would go into surgery with Natasha, Deno won,


    but my father stole our thunder when he arrived. Anya, Deno and I waited for almost 3 hours before we


    got to see him. When I looked into his scrunched up face, I knew he was the better brother. I vowed to


    keep him safe as I''d done with all my siblings. But I failed him. I wonder if I made the right move leaving


    him in Chicago or did Deno''s coddling and attempts to protect him from all the horrors of the 5th State


    weaken him."


    "The only fault is the one who pulled the trigger. Ren was the better of us all. And maybe that made him


    weak, or perhaps, it made him stronger. Either way, he knew the risk in his actions, whether it was a


    Russo or the Government or one of the people he loved who pulled that trigger, he knew the risk was


    death."


    I look at her as I get closer to her house. It is said that the eyes are a window to the soul, Aliyana''s


    eyes are a mirror to mine.


    "If you died tomorrow, Aliyana, would you say that you are ready?"


    She drops her gaze and turns to face the window again.


    "No, but like Ren, I know that every action in my life leads me closer to the inevitable."


    "You are wise for your 19 years," I state. I didn''t get enough time with Aliyana during dinner as I


    expected.


    Deno got an urgent call and left to attend business. Half-way through our meal, my own phone began


    chiming. Kylie Bray showed up minutes after, and before we knew it, my idea of enjoying a meal with


    Aliyana before we put my brother in his grave to rot became just an idea.


    What I did do was realize why Ren loved her.


    Kylie did most of the talking, and while she could be entertaining, she wasn''t in a humorous mood. She


    was snippy, going on about Sienna not visiting her when she got into town after Aliyana told her,


    Sienna stopped by for a visit.


    Kylie went on toin about Diamond not eating and how worried Diamond was since Ren passed


    on.


    She had no idea, we knew about Diamond, so though sheined about her, she didn''t divulge


    anything that could discriminate Diamond in any way. Kylie was Marcus Bray''s daughter for sure.


    Maybe she spent more time with the Stones, but she''s his kid through and through.

 Chapter 39 (Marco)

    Chapter 39 (Marco)


    "Thanks for dinner and entertaining, Kylie. She isn''t like that. Well, not usually. Ren''s death has


    affected more than just the ones closest to him."


    "No need to thank me. Marcus Bray is a man I respect. Kylie is a lot like her father, never a dull


    moment."


    I pull my car up to the front of her gate, signaling the soldier in the guardhouse to open up.


    The ce has a decent size driveway. The manicured garden and rosebushes are just how I remember


    it when I first came to this house. Aliyana was eight at the time. It was the first time I saw her, the next


    time was a memory I wish to erase.


    "She''s also stunning."


    "Never knew you to swing both ways." I switch the car off and park in front of the stairs.


    Herugh is hypnotic, carefree, and I find myself smiling even as dark clouds nket this moment with


    the memory of my brother''s recent death.


    "I''m not, but you already know that." Will this be like this forever, if she was mine? Would she remain


    lost, and stare at me as she is right now, with her hand on her mouth and that glimmer in her emerald


    eyes? Are her curls going to touch her ample breast like it belongs there? Would I get lost in her?


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Are you okay?" She asks me with genuine worry. I must be frowning.


    "I''m fine, just got lost in thought for a moment. You should get inside, tomorrow is going to be a long


    day."


    And like that, the spark leaves her beauty alone for now. So easy it is to add ruin to perfection.


    She has answered my question without even knowing I was asking.


    ¡°Goodbye, Marco.¡± She jumps out of the car, leaving me to watch her walk away from me.


    How is it that my brother''s body lies in a morgue waiting to be buried, yet, I sit here, watching the very


    girl he wanted me to stay away from, and all I can think of is kissing her. All I can imagine is her legs


    spread on my carpet floor, her eyes heavy with desire, as her body waits to be owned by me - The


    Viin.


    ¡°Aliyana, wait.¡± I leave my car door open, heading toward her. She doesn''t turn around, so I grab her by


    the waist and spin her around. Look at me, Mezzosangue.


    She gasps, and there it is, those green optics, mesmerizing yet utterly darkening, gawking at me.


    "Kiss me, Mezzosangue." She lifts up her head, tilts her chin, and closes those beautiful eyes.


    Surrendering.


    I bend my body, grab her closer into me, wanting her to experience the man who''s holding her, as I dip


    my head to meet those lips. The forbidden always tastes better.


    Her tongue touches my own as she did on the night of the rooftop. Only this time, I take it and demand


    more as my hand wanders to her round ass and my other to her neck. I consume her exotic vor of


    forbidden essence.


    A deep-heated, intense kiss from a girl as innocent, yet deadly as this one, tastes like the finest


    whiskey. Smooth until it gets to the inside, then it burns, and that burn eventually bes your


    addiction. An addiction I shouldn''t want.


    I pull away, holding her shoulders, her lips swollen from my kiss, her cheeks flushed from the feel of my


    dick against her stomach. My breeding deeper than I show her. Hers erratic.


    Sometimes in life, we are given tests. While most of them are obvious, there are those rarities that are


    not.


    Today, I stare into the eyes of the girl who could one day be my wife. The night is silent, the air-


    stagnant, and all those nightly sounds not existing. It is almost surreal, us standing here, right outside


    her door, where the soldiers could see our sin. This, us, now, a hellish test I have failed knowingly.


    My sensese to me in a wave. I watch her face change from wanting to cautious.


    My phone rings and I leave her standing on the step to get to my car. I grab the device from my


    console.


    "What''s wrong?" I ask my soldier, dread filling my body.


    "Tuo cugino, Massimo e stato trovato dal molo signore. He''s bad." Your cousin Massimo was found by


    the docks, sir.


    "Take him to the hospital, I''m on my way." I clip the call and turn to Aliyana, still standing exactly where


    I left her.


    "Thest time I kissed you, my brother was killed. Today my cousin gets attacked outside my fucking


    dock." I squeeze my phone in my hand, my need to smash something takes over. How I refrain is


    unknown to me.


    "Maybe you shouldn''t kiss me then," She says, stepping toward me.


    "There is no maybe about it. Get inside, Aliyana."


    "Aliyana. Marco?" Her sister''s voicees from the top of the window. The same window Aliyana and


    her sister stood by just a few days ago, carefree, watching us while giggling so loud, Filippo wanted to


    tell them to shut up. Now, look at her, standing across from me yet again, tainted. But, there has never


    been anything carefree about Aliyana Capello. I know this, but why do I feel guilty, like I made her that


    way? When the very man she calls her father did that to her.


    Should I have stopped him? Is that why every time I get too close to her, someone I care for dies or


    gets hurt? Is she my family''s downfall? My ultimate destruction?


    "Guilia, I''ming now, wait for me," Aliyana tells her sister.


    "You should go, Marco, thank you for tonight." I give her a stiff nod and watch her walk away from me.


    Sometimes the pill of truth is hard to swallow but necessary. I leave Aliyana''s house, but my mind


    remains there throughout the night. It remembers our kiss, her stories in the restaurant, her careless


    quirks, even as I look at my cousin in the hospital bed.


    Her loud feminine voice follows me as I am forced to relive the nightmare my cousin had endured from


    the video footage.


    Seven men attacked him, beat the fucking shit out of him. Is it rted to my brother''s murder? I think


    not. This is the work of someone who wants revenge. The question

 Chapter 40 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 40 (Aliyana)


    Death is final.


    We all will meet the same fate as the boy who now lies in the ck coffin, his face cold, hollow, the


    mask of all that made him left for us to mourn.


    Lorenzo Catelli was a boy filled with love and life. He made me believe I was more than just the face of


    a woman I never knew, yet so many feared and loved.


    He made me see, I was deserving of my own identity, and he loved me regardless of who I found once


    I opened those gates and found myselfcking. Lorenzo Catelli looked at me and saw me with a knife


    in my hand, as the man who dared touch my sisterid beside my feet on the floor bleeding to death.


    I am a monster, a killer, and I will kill again if it means I protect the ones I love, and Lorenzo, my


    beautiful friend, loved me regardless of what he knew. I couldn¡¯t protect him, there was no way I would


    have known he was going to die.


    After Marco left, I made a vow to end the one who did this to him. No matter what.


    The funeral is filled with people, some who shed fake tears, and those like me, with real sorrow.


    Most of the people in attendance today only got a glimpse of Ren. They never knew him, not like the


    few of us who could say different.


    My attention takes me into the distance away from all of us. Standing by an old tree is Kylie Bray, and


    Vincent Stone arguing. Vincent- A man of power, a far-removed rtive of rias¡¯ through marriage.


    Kylie Bray- A Texan heiress, a close friend, and woman who has been in love with him for years.


    Kylie is a friend who is as loyal as the man she calls father.


    And Vincent, the faithful cousin of the Catelli siblings, the Stone brother born in our world. Vincent is


    the 3rd son of Victor Stone, but Vincent¡¯s family, love, and loyalty belong to the Catelli siblings. His ties


    to them are forged by strong bonds, and the territory he owns and runs by their side solidifies that


    bond.


    But that isn''t what makes Kylie and Vincentplicated. It''s the fact that on paper, they are step-


    siblings who are caught in the web of love and hate.


    His hate for her is so cruel, and her love for him, raw and real. When she looks at him, it sends shivers


    in my body. I doubt there''s a word to describe the way those two look right now. Not even my brush


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    could perfect that scowling hardened face of Vincent, or self- hating gaze Kylie watches him with.


    ¡°Stop staring, it¡¯s rude,¡± Guilia whispers as she nudges me.


    I drop my eyes, and as they have done this passing hour, look at Marco. My lips remembering our kiss


    The dance we shared, our forbidden moment that happened while Ren was getting shot at. The


    beginning of one story, and the ending of another. How Ironic is life, it gives you greatness, teases you


    with possibilities of tomorrows, but never grants you forever.


    In one night, I went from dreaming of Leonardo Catelli to kissing his brother. From one night, I went


    from having Ren in touching distance to mourning him. And 5 dayster, here I am burying him, a 19-


    year-old boy who didn''t deserve this.


    There are always consequences to our actions, I wonder which of Ren''s actions led him to a coffin.


    I see my friends, in their suits, resembling equal parts of hate and pain. If what Deno and Marco say is


    true, one of them could have killed Ren. Could the others be guilty too? The thought makes an already


    sinking pit in my stomach twist. Betrayal is not a natural emotion to swallow. When it stems from those


    you hold close, betrayal is not an option until its evidence is staring you right in the face.


    Deno, Marco, Gabriel, Romero, Michel, and Leonardo step forward to throw a handful of sand on the


    coffin as the scream of Lorenzo''s mother calls to the god we pray to. Nicole Catelli is a strong woman.


    It is sad to see her so fragile and weak.


    Early death is the one thing in this world, I was born in, I loathe the most. We are all doomed. Thews


    of this world don''t give a fuck if you deserve it or not.

 Chapter 41 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 41 (Aliyana)


    I spot a man walking toward me, my breath betrays me as recognition res within my mind¡¯s eye.


    Blonde hair falls carelessly in his vision as his tall, lithe form approaches me. I thought I recognized him


    at Azure the other night. But I didn¡¯t know the blue-eyed man would have such a strong death wish. Not


    after all the shit, he caused.


    He stops next to my sister. His unconcern for the people looking at him is not something that surprises


    me.


    ¡°What are you doing here, Matteo?¡± I ask as my sister observes him with curiosity. His confidence can


    be a bit intimidating, but so can most of the people standing here. The difference is Matteo Di Salvo


    doesn¡¯t know the meaning of personal space.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy to see me, Little-flower?¡± His British ent asks in that sinister way of his.


    ¡°You should leave,¡± The warning is evident in my voice.


    I ignore my sisters gasp at the chilling from my voice.


    ¡°I am not here to fight with you, Little-flower. Regardless of our disputes, Ren was a worthy opponent.


    He didn¡¯t deserve what he got.¡±


    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t.¡±


    He puts his hands on my sister¡¯s arms, moving her to the side. A few people notice, thankfully, Papa


    isn''t one of them.


    I doubt my father would be forgiving today of all days. He''s in a foul mood, and I suspect it''s centered


    on Ren''s death.


    Ren was family, and Papa, with all his secrets, protected his family. Blood will be spilled.


    ¡°I want to apologize for what happened a few years ago. We were young. Alec went too far, his hate for


    your father was no excuse for what he did to you or Gabriel. He deserved what he got.¡±


    ¡°It''s a little toote for apologies, I hear Gabriel has already carved your name on his list.¡± This is not a


    lie, and we both knew intimately the nature of Gabriel¡¯s promise was not something to toss aside.


    ¡°That is if you don¡¯t get to me first.¡± This also is not a lie, I have my own reason for his demise.


    ¡°We are the same, Little-flower.¡±


    ¡°I am nothing like you! I don¡¯t hide behind my name when things get dirty, sending Alice to clean up


    your mess. It must have hurt when she called you out on your shit.¡± I re at him, voice low, but my


    meaning is as bright as the death of my friend.


    How dare hee here on this day and even consider me in the same sentence as him. Ren¡¯s body is


    not yet covered with soil, and already a Di Salvo taints this gathering.


    ¡°Fair enough, Little-flower. Have your victory for now. But know this, your father has offered me a


    position today as your head guard while I finish my studies this side. I am going to ept it. So, I best


    you get used to it because I have a mouth, and I happen to love the sound of my voice.¡± Matteo leaves


    me with my mouth hanging open and a tyrant of hateful emotions.


    How easy will it be to just end him? I fume silently as I watch the people mourn the loss of a man most


    of them didn¡¯t even know. But, Ren was such a man, you didn¡¯t need to spend days with him to love his


    soul. He was a big part of the good we had in our world. And like all things good and pure, he was


    taken.


    Sometimes I wonder if the 5th State is cursed. Are only the wicked sinners allowed to blossom in the


    dark? I spot Matteo on the other end as he stops and stands close to Elisa. Her eyes face me for a


    moment, I hold them before I re at the boy who stands next to her. Matteo might not be a Russo by


    name, but he is a Russo all the same.


    I hate the Russo family. Matteo, I hate even more.


    ¡°We should go home. I don¡¯t want to go to the Catelli house, Guilia.¡±


    ¡°It''s not a good idea Liya, we need to pay our respects, Papa will look bad if you don¡¯t go. Who is that


    boy, Matteo? He is trouble. You should tell Papa not to give him the job,¡± My sister whispers from next


    to me.


    ¡°Not that simple, Guilia. Papa seems to trust him enough for the task. I want to leave now, COVER for


    me, tell Papa I was feeling ill.¡±


    Papa stands with a few of the soldiers talking as my stepmother, and the twins stand next to Maria


    Catelli, cousin of our Capo. Filippo is on the other side with the DeMarco family.


    I don''t see Ren¡¯s sister, Anya. Her visit the other day to my house didn''t bode well. Anya didn''t visit, and


    death was something she didn''t bat an eysh about.


    Andreya Moretti is even present, the beauty of the Californian Famiglia. Alice''s cousin. I wonder if she''s


    as bitter and cruel as her family. I have only seen her a handful of times, unlike Alice, Andreya prefers


    istion. I don¡¯t get it, but whenever I see her, she looks at me like I''m a ghost she never wants to see,


    and that sends chills down my spine.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    ¡°I need to see someone. Tell Gabriel I left if you see him,¡± I say to my sister, and is true to a sense.


    There were a few others I needed to see.


    ¡°Go then, but go now. I''ll tell Gabriel. I¡¯ll get Filippo to cover for you, at least Papa won¡¯t be too mad.¡± I


    smile at my sister and kiss her cheek. I leave the burial site, backing away just as Ren''s girlfriend,


    Diamond, walks toward Kylie.

 Chapter 42 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 42 (Aliyana)


    The two of them appear to be having a tense conversation, and Vincent looks like he is ready to


    explode when Kylie says something to him. I frown, hoping they are okay.


    My heel sinks into the grass. Cursing under my breath, I pull it out. These shoes prove a mission to


    walk toward the ck Mercedes I drove here in. My car is the only part of today I had a say over. The


    ckce dress and headpiece I pull off my head, to the high-heel ck pumps and makeup-free face


    was all my sisters doing.


    I haven''t attended a funeral since I was 12. We lost one of our own then, my small niece, Geneva, and


    her mother.


    It wasn¡¯t long after did my cousin Rosco disappear. Then, nobody cared about a 12-year-old part


    Russian girl and what she wore to the funeral. I was as invisible then as I am now. Then it bothered me,


    my invisibility was something I hated, but now I am d because I can leave without the worry of


    someone giving a fuck where I''m going.


    Ren cared.


    The thought makes me suffocate with sorrow. He''s gone, my Ren is now never. I lose my bnce,


    bending down to ce my hands on my knees, taking a deep breath.


    What happened, Ren? Who wanted you dead?


    Warm, rough fingers wrap around my arm, pulling me up.


    ¡°Let me go,¡± I hiss as I re to whoever has stolen this moment.


    ¡°Walk with me, Aliyana,¡± Marco pulls me, and I find my feet going with his. Not by choice.


    ¡°I want to leave Marco!¡±


    ¡°So, do I! Now we can leave together.¡±


    ¡°I want to leave alone.¡± I turn my head to the crowd of people, afraid of who might be looking. Now is


    not the time to be taking chances. The wind chooses this moment to blow my hair back, with it the


    stench of death.


    I hate cemeteries.


    ¡°Sure, you do.¡±


    My father will not be pleased if he saw me even talking to Marco Catelli. My father didn¡¯t like the


    Catelli¡¯s, he kept a civil rtionship with them as we were part of the Catelli Famiglia, but where my


    brother remained close to the brothers, Papa didn¡¯t bother. Ren was the exception.


    ¡°I want you to let me go.¡±


    My sister will hate me. She wanted to ask me why he was herest night, she didn''t, but her eyes said


    all the words she chose not to. People will talk if they saw me walking with Marco. I am sure they


    already are. He is single, older than me by centuries, I am sure. And he is Ren''s brother.


    "I want..."


    ¡°We don''t always get what we want, so walk.¡± He interrupts any attempt I have of redeeming what little


    of my reputation I have left.


    I re at him, but I say nothing, he just lost his brother.


    We stop by the line of cars parked on the side of the gravel and guarded by our soldiers. One soldier


    who happens to belong to my father.


    Shit.


    Marco signals one of them as we walk toward a ck two-door convertible. Please, god, don''t let


    Thomase over.


    Marco pulls my arm, he is not hurting me, but making it known that I am going to be leaving with him.


    ¡°Marco, this is reckless, you can''t be serious.¡±


    ¡°Aliyana, you either drive with me, or you stay here. Choose now, Mezzosangue.¡±


    ¡°Papa won''t be pleased,¡± I say, deliberately ignoring that word.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s pleasure is not my concern.¡±


    His eyes stare intently at me.


    Every decision we make in life takes us further to that unknown road. Our only hope is that we get to


    stay on it a bit longer before we are taken off.


    ¡°Straight home,¡± I say the words like a warning. I should have known better; Marco Catelli doesn''t take


    warnings.


    He is quiet as I slip into his car and fasten my seatbelt. His deep masculine scent is potent, wrapping


    itself around me.


    "This is the third time in two days I''ve been in this car." Not sure what I expected him to say in response


    to that.


    But, with Marco Catelli, I am learning fast ¨C Don''t expect anything.


    The car''s phone starts ringing as he drives down the open road exiting the graveyard.


    ¡°Where the fuck are you?¡± Deno¡¯s voice breaks the silence of the car.


    ¡°On my way to the Penthouse, dropping Aliyana off first.¡±


    ¡°See you there.¡±


    He clicks the phone off, and I make a mental note to check the Guinness world record for shortest


    conversations.


    ¡°Is there anyone at your ce?¡±


    The liees to the tip of my tongue, but I simply shake my head.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be alone right now, is there anyone else I can take you to?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my friend Josey, she¡¯s at the dorms.¡±


    His knuckles go white as he flexes his grip around the steering wheel. I find this odd.


    ¡°There is Gabriel¡¯s ce, his housekeeper is there...¡±


    ¡°Josey is fine.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry about Lorenzo.¡±


    ¡°It is what it is, Aliyana.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°What I want to know is why Matteo Di Salvo is standing next to you, then storming off? I thought you


    agreed to not draw attention to yourself for now.¡±


    "My father hired him as an extra soldier for me while he finishes his studies."


    "And Matteo decided he''ll break the news to Sartini''s daughter. That is a brave move. Is there


    something going on with you and him?"


    I gasp as my heart ricochets with nervousness.


    "Yes. I should confess something."


    "What?"


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ren wasn''t alone the night he killed Alec, he had help."

 Chapter 43 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 43 (Aliyana)


    2 years ago


    ¡°Mero, Micky!¡± Gabriel yells as Ren, and I stand by the door of their tech-ss with our backpacks,


    waiting. Bunkingst period wasn¡¯t the best decision we were making today with finals approaching


    soon. We were all epted into University about a week ago. Since receiving our eptance letters,


    Gabriel has not lifted a book to study.


    I informed my friend, finals were still a big part of getting in. To say he didn''t care, was the


    understatement of the year.


    Then again, I am here with the brooding bunch as always.


    ¡°I am done with Matteo fucking Di Salvo, why couldn¡¯t he stay in Ennd like a good fuck boy?¡± Gabriel


    states as he walks out with Mero and Michel joining us.


    ¡°Because pussies don¡¯t know how to stay in one ce,¡± Michel responds, as he slides his hand through


    his gel brown hair. He is the shorter of the four boys, and the most muscr.


    ¡°That pussy better be careful,¡± Mero says as we allugh.


    ¡°So where to? We should sneak Yana in the gentlemen¡¯s bar again, that was funny,¡± Ren suggests,


    earning him a smack on his arm in response. The sneaking part wasn¡¯t much fun when I had to creep


    in through the men¡¯s bathroom window.


    Gabriel puts his arm over my shoulders, reminding me of how short I actually am and how tall he is.


    ¡°I was thinking of somewhere a bit further,¡± He says as his usually straight face mutates into a smiling


    one. I love these guys.


    ¡°Where?¡± I ask him as my stomach twist with an anxious thrill of what we were going to do.


    ¡°My Uncle is around attending some business. He¡¯s given us free rein of his Jet until 7 this evening. I


    took the liberty to have Constantine clear a flight n for us to Seattle.¡±


    ¡°What are we going to do there?¡± Mero queries as his brows furrow in an almost hesitant wonder.


    Vincent Vasati, Deno, and Marco Catelli ran Washington State. It was also Ren¡¯s and my home.


    Well, for the most part. I didn''t really have a home.


    ¡°Deno has the new exclusive club opening this weekend. The bottom floor is a restaurant, thought, we¡¯ll


    christen the ce and enjoy a meal.¡± Ren¡¯s glee is unmasked as Gabriel lets us in on his little n.


    Ren loves Deno.


    Marco Catelli is the only brother I haven''t met, and from the little Ren has let slip about him, it is a good


    thing I haven¡¯t. His sister, Anya, I liked the least out of his big family. She was false and always had an


    agenda. I didn¡¯t like people who could do something cruel to those they imed to love.


    ¡°Don¡¯t we get an invite?¡± I hear that voice, and we all freeze at the sound.


    Straight ahead of me, and down the hall is the Russo boys and their new BFF, Matteo Di Salvo. Alec


    and Matteo stand side by side, while the twins, Cassio and Camelid, take the back.


    ¡°No,¡± Gabriel responds, his fingers tensing on my arm as he stiffens next to me, all casualty gone.


    ¡°Too bad, I was hoping to see my cousin,¡± Alec says as his evil smile implies otherwise.


    ¡°Yeah, too bad. We''re full up, try the airport,¡± Ren rmends.


    Mero nudges his head to say let¡¯s go and I think his timing is impable.


    ¡°We will do just that. I should probably call your brother too, wouldn''t want to start a war now,¡± Alec


    yells as the othersugh at his stupid joke.


    ¡°I am not sure which one I hate more, Matteo or Alec,¡± Michel mumbles.


    "I thought Di Salvos are supposed to be our closest allies," Mero states as his brows draw down into a


    scowl I know too well.


    "Allies? What the fuck is that?" Ren''s sarcasm makes us burst outughing.


    We ignore the irritant foursome as we turn our backs and walk toward the exit.


    I should¡¯ve have known it wasn¡¯t over. Far from it.


    "I can¡¯t believe he actually asked to join us." My temper is still boiling after our flight. We jump out of the


    ck Mercedes as the six soldiers Deno sent for us surround the vehicle.


    The building, known as Azure, is a tall face brick architectural dream. Dark-tinted ss going right up to


    a 5-floor height serves as a front wall. I am sure it is bulletproof.


    "He''s a Russo. What do you expect? There is a reason they are our enemies," Gabriel replies as he


    slips on a ck zer over his white school shirt.


    To the passersby, we resemble a group of wealthy kids. We are, but the four-boys, are all Made-Men.


    They have killed, and the ring on their index fingers show they would do it again.


    "It looks like there is a drop zone on the roof. Why couldn''t wend there?" Mero asks as he


    straightens his tie.


    "It isn''t ready. Deno is making a greenhouse," Ren answers.


    "What green are we talking? In house? Purple heads?" Michel goes from mildly interested to very


    interested. Big hazel eyes widening with glee. His hair is cut short, and his once baby face has nowContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    sharpened over thest year. His jaw still not quite as sharp as the other boys, but Michel¡¯s hardened


    exterior in certain ces gives off ''a don¡¯t fuck with me'' vibe that closely matches Gabriel¡¯s.


    "I should have stayed in a girl¡¯s only school," I mumble as I push my hair back from my face.


    "And miss the time of your life? I doubt you would. Your father almost castrated my father when he


    asked him. He almost castrated me for even talking that day, fuck, my nuts still twitch from that." Ren


    shakes his head in mock horror as the 5 of us walk toward the doors of the massive clubughing.

 Chapter 44 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 44 (Aliyana)


    ¡°But he still agreed.¡± I point out as Gabriel opens the door when the soldiers line up next to the


    entrance.


    ¡°Yes, he did, and thank fuck for that,¡± Ren¡¯s deep voice is loud as we enter the dark ce.


    ¡°I am calling dibs on the sound,¡± Gabriel deres as we enter the Azure.


    ¡°As long as I don¡¯t have to listen to that damn ssical shit,¡± Ren says, putting on the lights. The smell


    of new leather and paint hits my nose as the blue glow brings life to the darkened space.


    ¡°The ss is remote controlled. I need to get the remote, give me a minute. Help yourselves to a drink,¡±


    Ren states as he disappears to what looks like a big ballroom.


    ¡°I have a little present for you guys. Wait here,¡± Gabriel deres, and I watch him walk with ease and


    familiarity through the back of the club. His big shoulders and tall body are a wonder to the short kid,


    with keen eyes I met all those years ago. It isn¡¯t the first time I consider how lucky I am to be one of


    them.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ¡°What are we drinking?¡± Mero asks as his big muscr bodyes closer toward me. He is built like a


    linebacker, but he doesn¡¯t just y football like the other guys, he is a professional boxer. His family is


    big on cage fighting and martial arts.


    ¡°I think brandy to begin with,¡± Ren replies as he walks back into the room with a familiar guy following


    carefully behind. It still surprised me at times, especially ones like these on how in-depth to the inner


    circle of the next generation of Capos I was.


    If my father found how I spent my free time I was not supposed to even have, I don¡¯t think he would


    share in my gratitude that I was, in fact, the only girl amongst four dangerous guys.


    Right now, I wasn¡¯t just alone with them, I was in thepany of my future Capo, the Underboss to the


    Catelli Famiglia, Deno Catelli and it wasn¡¯t the first time.


    ¡°Aliyana. You are always a sight when I see you.¡± Deno Catelli¡¯s voice is loud as he opens his arms as


    his dramatic entrancees to aplete stop when he gathers me in a big hug.


    I am short, and he is an important, dangerous man, well over 6-ft tall with hard, sinewy arms that have


    brought many men to their deaths, and right now, he is kissing me on the cheeks and holding me


    toward his hard chest.


    Yes, I doubt my father would be pleased by this; then again, the thrill is something I find quite liberating.


    ¡°I am d someone remembers I am ady,¡± I point out, knowing Mero and Michel can hear. Deno


    winks at Mero as he releases me when Mero groans.


    Mero greets Deno with a hug and kiss before Michel.


    ¡°When Gabriel called me this morning, I was fucking d you misfits were showing up. Until I got a call


    informing me the Russo boys were joining. I suppose you don¡¯t want theming by?¡± He gives us a


    knowing look that is evil in intent, and I am d he is on our side.


    ¡°Well, considering they are the reason we are here, no.¡± Gabriel walks in, there is something about his


    voice that is different, but I hear the note of badass he is giving off.


    Behind him walks in a familiar boy, though we never got to see often enough I squeal as I run and


    throw myself in the arms of an old friend, Dexter Kent.


    As I predicted thest time when I saw him, 6 months ago, he was now as tall as Gabriel, if not a bit


    taller. Dexter Kent was hardly a boy any longer, he walked with an air that screamed he came from old


    money and a powerful family.


    ¡°Fuck, Dixie, you''ve grown so tall. You are like Captain America after his transformation,¡± Mero informs


    our outsider friend as he extracts himself from me, long enough to shake hands with Mero, Ren, and


    Michel.


    Dexter puts his arm over my shoulder, ¡°It has been a while, but considering the call I got from Gabriel, it


    was time we have a little reunion.¡±


    ¡°Can Ie out now, or have you forgotten about me?¡± The female voiceing from behind me has


    all of us jumping into action, walking toward the sound, behind the bar.


    I hug her close, and the guys follow.


    ¡°How could we forget a beauty like you,¡± Deno responds as he epasses her into his side and


    touches her nose lightly with his finger. That is odd.


    ¡°How did you, I thought you were... when did...¡± My words are alling out half said as I am


    speechless. I thought she was halfway to Europe by now.


    I stare at her, it has been so long, a year almost, and I want to cry, but I don¡¯t. We have kept this secret


    for so long. Her life was counting on it.


    "No, my father changed his mind, I''ll be staying here and finishing school and if I am lucky, maybe


    study English."


    ¡°That is great news, Elisa,¡± I say with a big smile that I hope tells her exactly how I missed her.


    ¡°It has been a long time. I''m sorry, I couldn¡¯t see you sooner.¡±


    ¡°No need to be sorry, Eli, Aliyana knows that your cousin is around.¡±


    Yes, I knew all about Alice. She was around, and where Elisa was a good thing, Alice was terrible. Both


    my father''s daughters. But Alice, there''s no denying the proof, she looked just like him. We lived in a


    world where fools were few and far in-between. Our men were not stupid, and everybody wanted to


    know your weakness, and my father¡¯s bastard Russo daughters wasn¡¯t just a secret but his kryptonite.


    They were proof that my father¡¯s love for my mother wasn¡¯t as real as he led many to believe. It hid


    something else entirely. A secret that both my parents kept and my mother died with.


    It was something a lot of people would want to know because my father, the advisor to the most


    powerful man in the world was/is the 2nd most powerful man in the world and his secrets, his life and


    anything that could be used against him was information no one would pass up.


    And one of those people was the man who helped us when we needed Elisa to remain safe, Deno. But


    Alice, she was a different ball game altogether. She didn''t know that we shared a father.


    So far, the only people who knew the truth were in this room, and the fact that we were all standing


    here told me that this was no casual visit, and knowing Deno Catelli, he was not here to shoot the shit


    with us. This was something serious.


    ¡°Well, now that we got all that out of the way, let¡¯s begin, shall we?¡± Deno voices this as his eyes stare


    at who I can only imagine is Gabriel.


    ¡°We need to take out Alec,¡± Gabriel says and we all look at him.


    ¡°And I am going to help you.¡± Matteo says as he walks into the restaurant.

 Chapter 45 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 45 (Aliyana)


    I jerk back from the past as a loud honk of a car shocks my senses. Marco drives with a casual shift in


    gears, flying at an insanely illegal speed I know too well.


    "So?" He asks, patiently waiting for my reply.


    "Matteo devised a n to kidnap Alec. Alec escaped with Alice''s help, we weren''t going to kill him. She


    told Matteo, believing he was on Alec''s side. The night of the Fraternity party, Matteo sent Xander to


    us, knowing Alice was there."


    "So, Xander was a diversion?"


    "Yes, he was keeping Alice upied, well, all of us upied while Matteo got Alec. Ren slipped out


    after Matteo sent him a message. They were close enough that Ren could walk back to the party and


    far enough that nobody saw them. I didn''t know any of this until Ren got back and told me."


    "And I supposed the others don''t know?"


    "No, they didn''t trust Matteo. Deno is the only one who knows Matteo''s involvement."


    "Sure, he does." I ignore Marco''s sarcastic reply.


    "Papa is getting old if he thinks Matteo is going to keep me safe."


    "Or maybe he sees an opportunity," His words have me frowning.


    "For what?"


    His lips thin as his mind works.


    Marco doesn''t answer my question.


    "Have you decided how you''re going to find out which of your friends killed my brother?"


    "Maybe after you tell me why you told us about Diamond and the drug, knowing that this probably has


    very little to do with Diamond?"


    "I''m not, but I have my reasons. This, it has everything to do with Diamond, she might not be the


    reason he is dead, but she is the reason Lorenzo lived." I don''t ask him to borate, sometimes even I


    know when to leave certain things alone.


    "I was thinking of a direct approach," I answer him.


    "That won''t work. Have you considered it might have been all of them?" Yes, but I don''t say the words.


    They are my friends, and right now, they are innocent.


    "What do you suggest I do? Hold a s¨¦ance?"


    "No. I''m going to talk your father into hiring them as soldiers. That way, you can be more hands-on.


    With Matteo in the picture, it might be just the trigger we need."


    "And he would listen to you, why? You do know my father doesn''t enjoy getting told what to do,


    especially from a Catelli."


    "Your father and I share a mutual interest, he would listen. Now, get yourself inside so I can leave."


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes, sir."


    He parks the car next to the entrance of the dorm. I don''t inquire how he knows where Josey stays. He


    is a Catelli, there isn''t much he doesn''t know. Josey was Ren''s friend too. Ren spent quite some time


    with her shooting the shit and getting his assignments done since they both shared a chemistry ss


    together. The Catelli''s didn''t invite her to the funeral. I doubt she would have joined if they did. Josey


    hated funerals. Didn''t me her, when her kid brother was killed at a gravesite.


    "Thank you."


    He turns his head to face me. I stand with my hand on the open door doing the same, except Marco is


    frowning, and I am trying not to drown in the weight of it all.


    We have both lost, for Marco, it''s a brother, a sibling.


    Me? I lost a friend, my person, one who I have chosen to be a part of my life.


    Sometimes I wonder what hurts more, letting go of someone you are rted to and obligated to love or


    someone you choose, and start to love.


    Only those who have had both and lost them could tell you, and even then, the answer changes from


    person to person.

 Chapter 46 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 46 (Aliyana)


    "Be careful, Aliyana." I nod my head slightly, understanding that this is our goodbye until we meet


    again, which I knew would be soon.


    I walk toward Josey''s Fraternity house, remembering,st minute she''s staying there and not the


    dorms.


    "Aliyana." I spin around at the sound of the man in the dark suit walking closer to me.


    His strides are so long. Powerful. Marco''s face is set in a harsh scowl as his eyes burn with so many


    emotions that I can''t pinpoint just one.


    He cradles my face in the palm of his hands. I surrender as his lipse in contact with mine.


    Standing on my toes, I kiss Marco.


    His lips consume my senses as he glides his tongue into my mouth, touching my own.


    My hands grip his forearms, digging my fingers into the suit jacket. The sun is bright as his lipse


    apart with my own. I never kissed a guy before Marco Catelli. I always thought my first kiss would be


    with Leonardo. I imagined it would be in the corner of a building or behind a big tree, hidden from


    prying eyes. Never did it cross my mind that I, Aliyana Capello, will be kissing Marco Catelli under the


    bright sun, in broad daylight with people strolling past us, and he would be kissing me back. iming


    me, a half-blood. Mezzosangue


    His kiss is felt down to my core, my body warming under the heat rushing through my veins like tiny


    bursts of static. My lips move with his, as his tongue demands more, sucking on mine. A forbidden


    happening, with the sun bearing witness to another stolen moment with the brother I didn''t choose. Yet,


    every time it feels as though he chose me. I feel wanted. Is that why I line my body, stepping into his as


    our lips move together as two lovers unite.


    He pulls back, and I look into his eyes. A mad man.


    Death.


    Marco Catelli feels- The haunted look in his eyes that never had a chance to be a child, born amid


    bloodshed undoes me.


    "Your soul brings kings to their knees, Mezzosangue."


    "And what about a mad man?" I don''t say made, I say ''mad'' and the smile dominating my attention,


    disregarding where we are is enough to bring me to my own knees.


    "His death."


    My father would think me a foolish girl falling so fast. Gullible.


    I know my eyes stare intently into Marco''s burning gaze. If we could swap thoughts right now, I wonder


    what his would say.


    "Marco!" Deno''s voice booms like a whip behind us. Cutting this moment.


    "Go away, Deno," He says, not releasing his hold on my face. His chest blocks Deno from my view.


    It''s the first time I really notice how big his build is. I am a cat trapped in a bear''s cave by just his will,


    and his hands that I am positive have snapped many necks. Is this how it feels to be held by a killer?


    "This is not the way, Marco." His eyes turn tortured, I know, because they closely resemble my own


    when I looked in the mirror this morning. It isn''t easy burying someone you love, especially when the


    person is the only one who really saw you. No, it''s like they are dying all over again.


    Whatever his battle raging in his head, wins over him. He releases me and takes a step back.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    "Go Mezzosangue, I''m not leaving until you do." One would think the word is meant to hurt me. When


    he says it, his focus is dead set on me. The tone of his voice dipping in darker territory. His Italian


    heritage dominating, when that word is spoken.


    He says Mezzosangue with affection, but right now, I sense his darkness, his need.


    Marco Catelli wants me. There is something about that which makes me heat up inside like a reckless


    inferno as I stand and stare at him.


    "Go, Aliyana." His orderes out like a whip. I jerk out of the small frozen state I''m in.


    I don''t question Marco Catelli further. I listen to his order, turn my back, and walk away from him.


    I didn''t turn my head. I was confident I would be seeing him soon. I didn''t know the circumstance would


    be different.

 Chapter 47 (Marco)

    Chapter 47 (Marco)


    I was raised to like what I do. To be proud of who I am, A Catelli.


    The day I killed my first man, I wasn''t even 9. A burr got into our house and held a gun against


    Deno''s head. My mother tried to get the burr to take her. The asshole shot her. My mother was


    brave and managed to get him on the leg. Deno ran away from the intruder, but I was so filled with


    anger that I took my mother''s Glock and clipped him 5 times.


    Only to get outside and find the soldiers who were protecting our home, sleeping. My father killed them


    once he got home. I stood there and watched. My mother survived only to die 3 yearster by a bullet


    to her head.


    My brother was barely 8 at the time, and Anya was just a baby. Deno remembers it in his dreams. I


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    have lived that fucked up day for years.


    My father told me one saying that helped him along the years to deal with the nightmare, ''it is what it is.''


    Today those same words came back to me; only I wasn''t burying my mother.


    There is no excuse for what happened to my youngest brother, Lorenzo. He was the untainted one


    from all of us. His future was supposed to be bright. He was going to be the normal one, well as normal


    as he could be in this dark, twisted world, we were cursed into.


    Deno and I knew he was different from the rest of us. Lorenzo wasn''t perfect. His hands were tainted


    with death at a young age. A young Prince protecting his friends in another King''s territory didn''te


    without a bloody price.


    Deno kept tabs on the 5 sacrificialmbs who were sent to Chicago to prevent a war my father started.


    My brother survived that fuck fest only to die in the ce he was supposed to be safe.


    Deno and I would find the ones responsible and make them pay. Even knowing the blood we''ll spill in


    his name is something he would detest to, won''t bring him back, we will get our revenge.


    It will make Deno and I sleep better. Revenge was never meant to cate the dead but used as a form


    of therapy by the ones alive.


    I didn''t see the need to verbalize all of that to Sartini''s daughter. When she said sorry, the only thing I


    thought about saying was, ''it is what it is!''


    I wasn''t going to lie to her. Nor was I going to inform the half-blood that I loved my brother, but never


    got the chance to really know him. Deno took on the role of big brother. Truth is, I couldn''t look at


    Lorenzo without seeing the reason behind Deno''s misery.


    "What the fuckin'' hell were you thinking, putting ims on Aliyana?" Deno says in his low, bored tone,


    as he hands me some Brandy.


    Knowing by the end of the night Deno and I would be borrowing happiness from tomorrow one way or


    the other, I take a big sip of the smooth dark liquid.


    "I''ve waited long enough. Moretti doesn''t want the deal. He''s stalling."


    Deno takes a seat on the rust-colored leather sofa. I''ve just arrived at my Penthouse, and already I


    want to leave. The modern man cave is not the most desirable ce to spend my time, considering it


    was designed by Lorenzo.


    The drive to my Manor and back to see my father, however, isn''t going to work for me today. I needed


    to be close to the city. By the end of the night, if all panned out, I would know who beat my cousin by


    my fucking dock. Which means I would have to make an appearance at the warehouse once they pick


    the fuckers up.


    "Give Moretti time. You can''t marry Aliyana, Marco. If I was Capo, sure, but our father is. DeMarco isn''t


    going to give a fuck about who you marry so, don''t waste your time with him either. And Sartini will


    never agree to you marrying his daughter. The leverage we got on him won''t sway the fucker, not yet.


    She''s our second choice."


    "She''s promoted to first."

 Chapter 48 (Marco)

    Chapter 48 (Marco)


    "Marrying you is a guaranteed death sentence to Sartini''s daughter. You know how he feels. The


    Famiglia won''t be happy with your sudden choice of bride, no matter your fucking reason. I say she is


    fine where she is."


    "Why, because she''s a half-breed? Just say it, brother!" I stare at the bare grey walls, a mirror to


    everything that surrounds this entire fuck up we in.


    "I am not going to say what you already know. Wait for the Moretti girl, have a son. Once you take over


    from DeMarco, divorce her, hell, force a marriage with Sartini''s daughter. I don''t care. But, right now, I


    am not in the mood for another war. Remember Vince and La? All over fuckin'' pussy, look where


    that ended up? 6 years of fuckin'' headaches. The damage it has caused our family, still is causing our


    family, look at what La did to Amariya, Mischa."


    My brother is acting logically. That is Deno, always thinking of everything from all angles. But logic is


    my brother''s strength and weakness. And that will be his downfall.


    I am proud of him, he turned out better than the rest of us. He is the wiser out of my father''s 5 children-


    strong, brave, intelligent, and deadly. The things we need to survive in our world.


    Now we were down to four.


    I get up and walk toward the ss windows looking at just one of the Cities soon to fall on my


    shoulders. The weight of it all has been sitting on my shoulders since I got back from the Navy. Taking


    over territory is one thing, ruling an entire Continent is another altogether. I never wanted to be the


    Capo.


    I never wanted the life gifted to me on my birth.


    Refusing it wasn''t an option, but life had a more challenging road for me when it took the decision out


    of the equation. I am not sure when I decided to tempt fate andnded up with all of it.


    Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    But here I am, the un-wanting heir, the Future King of Kings, and all I can think about is a face of a girl


    in a green dress, standing barefoot in a ss cage staring at the stars with a challenge in her gaze, yet


    so lost, empty.


    "Do you remember the day when we first saw her? How old was she?" I ask Deno.


    "Twelve, where are you going with this, Marco?"


    "Sartini handed her a Glock; she didn''t need words. She shot that man. You said she wouldn''t, but she


    did. Do you recall her pause, her face, do you remember that?"


    "Yes, she looked like killing him was logic. He killed her mother, she was exacting revenge."


    "A Mezzosangue," I say.


    "Sartini should have never let her do it. He was crazy, still is. He holds her in high regard. Everyone


    knows she''s his favorite, but he puts her life at risk as is. Aliyana doesn''t deserve the fate you want for


    her, or the one her father has thrown at her, and she certainly doesn''t deserve the fucking mess she


    will inherit from her mother." No, she doesn''t


    "In the Bratva, when a person kills your parent, their life and death belong to the first child. Sartini was


    teaching her. How many women in The Famiglia can kill someone?" I ask Deno.


    "A handful. Our dead mother being one of them, but Aliyana isn''t the firstborn."


    "No, she''s not. She is, however, half Russian. The Bratva, at least the ones in Manhattan and Canada,


    consider her family. They will be loyal to her no matter what. Aliyana is a perfect choice. A wife who will


    protect Mischa at any cost."


    "She is a child herself, barely out of her teens. You think you are going to convince our father that


    Sartini''s daughter is going to make our family stronger?" Denoughs.


    "I don''t need to convince anyone. He isn''t going to agree. You know how he feels about the situation,


    and Sartini will never forgive our father for what he did."


    "We won''t give her away Marco, Mischa is family. I will go to war with La if I have to, fuck Amariya


    will kill anyone who gets too close. But, Sartini will never let you marry his daughter, especially if he


    finds out you only doing it for gain. He has given her a choice, and whether he likes it or not, her


    mother has made sure that Aliyana will always have a choice."


    "Not entirely. Mischa needs protection. I can''t do it like this much longer. La is looking for Mischa,


    and Amariya has disappeared, probably hiding in fuckin'' DC again. Anya is up to something, I don''t


    trust our sister not to do something stupid."


    "Let me ask you something, when your tongue was down Aliyana''s throat, did it cross your mind that


    you would have to marry her for life? The Bratva won''t take likely their own getting divorced by us.


    They would want you to bare an heir or two."


    "Yes, I have."


    "So, you okay with handing them your first child? And what about the future heir to our family? Which


    needs to be 100% Italian! Which was the reason we asked for Moretti''s granddaughter." Denoes


    to stand next to me as we both stare at the buzzing city in the distance. Knowing our future ahead of us


    is no fairytale.


    Two brothers born to be leaders.


    "An illegitimate Italian child will be just as good an heir as any. We both know that more than anybody.


    Like we both know I have no intention of having any kids, that is what we have Leonardo and Anya for."


    "You think Aliyana is going to be okay with having no kids? Or her husband fuckin'' his way through


    Seattle while she sits at home and raises someone else''s child?" Denoughs, but I am notughing.


    Nothing about this is funny.


    Dante Moretti was thest Capo Dei Capi, he is one of the most feared Capo''s in the world at 87. He is


    the Godfather of all Godfathers and his granddaughter; Cami Moretti is the apple of his devil eye and


    the most protected woman in America. She is also the first person I chose to marry.


    Well, ''did'' want to marry.


    Since I saw Aliyana up close and smelt her innocence mixed with something dangerous. That kiss, her


    bottle-green eyes, when she stared at me, having her, is a need. She is no more the sacrificialmb I


    saw with a gun in her hand. She is something dangerous, something I want. Cami has protection, but


    Aliyana will have power.


    "I think she will do the right thing and protect the ones she loves," I tell my brother.


    "Aliyana will gut you in your sleep and feed you to those wolves she keeps around. The only thing


    small about her is her height. Be careful, brother."


    "You know her so well."

 Chapter 49 (Marco)

    Chapter 49 (Marco)


    "Yes. Ren and I have been the ones doing your dirty work for years. While you yed soldier, I have


    protected her father''s spawn. Cleaned up her mess after the 5 of them decided to get fucking trigger


    happy. And the little temper tantrum she had a year back with that Spanish boy? Remember that


    fucking mess? All at your fuckin'' bidding. So yes, I know her well, and she might look weak, but she is


    as made as the men we pay for their loyalty."


    "I never asked you to encourage her behavior or get involved in their affairs, nor did I ask Ren to


    be her partner in crime. You taught her how to aim for the head, and the others encouraged the


    rest. So, don''t me me for that. I asked you to watch her and keep her safe. I told Ren to find out


    what her father was hiding that he put his daughter in danger on purpose. I said nothing about


    bing BFFs with her. That was all you, and I''m notining. I needed five minutes in her


    presence, and I could understand why."


    "If she ever finds out, Ren started hanging out with her because he had to, it will kill her. I happen to


    like the little she-devil."


    I turn to face Deno, and I usually would twist his balls, getting wussy on me, but I don''t.


    "She won''t, the only people who know anything is in this room."


    "You told me Aliyana will be ast option. Now you are making out with her on the rooftop, dancing to


    sappy songs, having fucking dinner? Want to tell me what''s really going on in that head of yours?"


    Yes, she was thest option. Three girls were important in our world. Two of them were Cami and


    Aliyana, both of who had a lot more than their virgin bodies to offer a man. Both protected by their


    family. The third one was protected by me.


    I study my brother. He is watching me - waiting. I show him what I would never let many see as I say


    the words, I would never be able to take back. Something, not even Aliyana knows yet, and I only


    figured out a few days ago.


    "She quietens the noise."


    "Fuck. You should have said that in the first ce. Now I feel like a puss. I''lle with you to talk to our


    hard-headed father." Yes, Fuck. We both remain still, staring at our city, drinking brandy, as the ring on


    our index fingers sits heavy on our hands.


    My confession so short, but holds so much current, can never be taken back. My brother and I have


    always stood side by side. The bastard sons of Capo Marcello Catelli.


    Even Viins fall in love.


    "I will never be like you, Marco." His words are true and hang between us. It is the difference between


    Deno and I.


    My choices are based on emotion, it is my strength. One day it will also be the reason for my early


    grave.


    Maybe even Aliyana''s too.


    "Let''s eat, I''ll make some wraps, you can cut the veg," Deno deres. I put my arm around his


    shoulder and squeeze his arm before we head to the kitchen.


    For a split second, I imagine my siblings and Mischa in this kitchen prepping lunch. One day.


    I leave soon after we eat, Deno and I agree to meetter.


    The drive to the suburbs is long and needed to clear my head.


    But my mind keeps shing back to another time, long ago.


    War, soldiers and blood, lots of blood, everywhere. The screams of kids, the howls of women, the sand


    in my eyes, the stench of death, and poverty.


    Going to the Navy is a tradition every first son has toplete.


    My father told me that killing a man wasn''t so difficult, but killing many men in war, serving your country


    was something only true brave men came out of.


    I did 4 tours.


    The 1st one was for tradition. My 2nd for my friend, Stringer, who died saving a kid only to be blown up


    with the same kid.


    Then came the 3rd for all the brothers who lost their lives too soon. And the 4th one, my final tour, was


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    for me. By then, I just wanted to kill as many of those fuckers as I could. After my time ended, I was


    epted in the special forces, I refused. I was done with that shit and ready to take my ce.


    The Special ops didn''t take no for an answer, though, and called me a few times. When the price was


    right, I agreed to do an odd job, but, mostly I said yes because I had a particr skill, not many


    possessed these days. I never failed.


    My father said the war didn''t change me like it did him. Truth is, it changed me a lot. I just became a


    master at hiding all the rage burning within me. Now, I am always on fire. Waiting to kill, snap. All I


    need is a reason.


    Aliyanaes to mind as I take the corner toward the gatedmunity. I should let her be, make


    Leonardo marry her. That is what she ultimately wants. The Bratva will still assist us.


    Family is Family. She has gone through enough, and her need to find her sister will only cause her


    more pain when she learns the truth.


    Deno is right, my wife would be a queen, but she will also be the most wanted woman in the world. An


    early death sentence is almost guaranteed.


    I didn''t get this life ying war games. The Shadow is a name too feared to be even whispered as a


    horror story.


    Knowing all of this still won''t change my mind.


    I''ll never earn Aliyana''s love, and hurting her is something I know I will do. But eptance from her is


    something I¡¯m certain I can have; she will walk by my side, epting the blood on my hands. The rest


    we will figure out, but one thing is clear,


    I have to have her.

 Chapter 50 (Camilla)

    Chapter 50 (Cami)


    My heels click on the tiles of the long corridor. The smell of pine fills my nose as the dark shiny wooden


    beams hold my interest. My ck pencil skirt and jacket not long enough to shield me from the meeting


    I have been dreading since my Grandfather had called for me. The call came in the form of a phone


    call for a change and not a nuclear Armageddon. Regardless, I had to drop everything and get my ass


    here as soon as possible. Or my Grandfather would dere a world war 3.


    I knew he was in a crappy mood when he called me himself. It was not a ''how is my granddaughter


    doing'' type of phone call. This particr phone call was a summons.


    Which meant he had reached his decision.


    So to say the corridor I walked through was long, and it should be longer was not me understating it.


    I get to the brown wooden door as the soldiers who stand on either side tip their heads in greeting.


    I''ve never wanted to be the center of my Grandfather ''s world. But, choice and want in the 5th


    state are not words often used by a woman. In my case, bing my Grandfather ''s property was the


    only thing that kept me alive. Almost 16-years-ago, someone gunned down my parents and eldest


    brother. It was all because of power.


    They hit my Grandfather where it hurt, they wanted him to step down. No one cared that I was the one


    who was left without a parent. They never stopped and said, ''hey Cami, sorry we killed your parents


    and your brother, it was business.'' No one did that.


    As young as I was then I hated my life, I hated my Grandfather , and I hated the people who took my


    family from me because they left me behind.


    My resentment grew for my Grandfather as the years went by, and when he stepped down years after


    my parents died, I despised him even more.


    Growing older and seeing the things I have seen, I don''t resent the people who wanted him out of the


    leading position.


    My Grandfather Mario Dante Moretti is a cruel man, a sadistic fuck with no soul. And I am his most


    precious treasure and greatest weapon in his arsenal.


    I am also the closest thing to an heir he has. What he doesn''t know is I am also his greatest enemy.


    Come an early grave or a victory to celebrate, I will end his life.


    Pavlo opens the door for me, and I walk in. My tall form and power suitpared nothing to the man


    sitting in the ck leather chair, cigar in hand, peering at me step toward him from across the room.


    I am an ant, and if I am not useful, then I am an ant to be squashed. His words, not mine.


    Lucky for me, I am very useful. Right now, I am the most important person to this man across from me,


    I call Grandfather .


    "Grandfather ." I smile as I move to his side and kiss his ring before touching my mouth to his forehead.


    "Cami. My favorite."


    "Your only." He smiles at the reminder as I round the old wooden desk that has seen many Moretti


    bloodlines over the years.


    I seat my ass in the chair, I have sat many times in. And I take a cigar out of the silver tray and clip it


    before lighting it up, which I have done before. I hate every part of this. He makes me sick.


    "You havee to a decision." I get to the point as I am aware of my Grandfather''s need to not beat


    around the bush. Time is something we do not take for granted in our family.


    He smiles at me as he takes a puff from his own cigar.


    "We have. And I think you will find this decision beneficial to both of us."


    For the first time since I heard I WAS summoned, I smile.


    I doubt that very much, old man. I am going to find this very beneficial to me, and when the time


    Painfully. Then I am going to take everything you''ve earned sitting on that chair, including those men


    you keep on your speed dial. And that little bitch you like so much, I am going to take everything she


    loves dearly before killing her too.


    "When would I be leaving? Would you like me to attend the g in Cambridge before I go?"


    "Yes. You will stay with your cousin when you arrive in America. 20 guards will go with you. I suggest


    you prepare."


    "I already have." I smile big, making sure my teeth are on full disy.


    "Send Pavlo in when you leave." And like that, I am dismissed. When I was younger, I hated it, but as


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    the weeks went by, I started dreading my time here.


    I get up and walk out, Pavlo already knows he is wanted and heads in after me.


    My phone starts to ring. I slide it out of my skirt pocket,


    "And what happened?" Xander asks, impatient as ever.


    "You know patience is a necessity in business."


    "Yes, yes, I am aware of the unfortunate habits of society. Now, don''t keep me waiting."


    I sigh.


    "Ohe on, Mills, the suspense." I can imagine his square jaw and lips tightening.


    "Fine, yes, he has agreed, and I will see you soon. I suggest you kick out any bimbos you have


    sleeping with you in the meantime."


    "Of course. I wonder how my boss will take it when he finds out his future wife is, in fact, my cousin."


    "Perhaps give you a promotion." I doubt his boss would be delighted to see me. He was going to be


    pissed, and that is something I am looking forward to.


    "Maybe, you should call Alice and Michel; let them know youring," Xander suggests


    "Alice is a bitch, she can find out like everybody else. I''ll give Michel a call before I leave."


    We talk the entire way to my car, and I am d Xander likes the phone, or else the walk to my car


    would have been a mood killer.


    Tonight is going to be myst night in London, there¡¯s a lot to do and people to see. Murders to plot.

 Chapter 51 (Marco)

    Chapter 51 (Marco)


    "Marco. I wasn''t expecting you so soon. You couldn''t wait ''tillter?" I kiss my sister on her cheek.


    Grinning as I stand in the foyer of the white Victorian-style home. It''s a suburban housewife dream. And


    a sick joke of my sisters.


    Anya picked it out because it was identical to most of the homes secured behind this gatedmunity.


    "I know you weren''t going. I was shocked; you even made an appearance at the funeral. Did you


    manage to shed a tear or two?"


    "Very funny, I loved Ren, in my own way." I ignore her ring gaze, but I can''t ignore the bright yellow


    dress she is wearing.


    "We all did," I correct her, "What the fuck are you wearing?"


    "What the fuck are you doing at my house?" She questions me back, already knowing the answer.


    I roll my eyes, "I''m not going to the reception, where''s Mischa?"


    Anya''s eyes remind me of my father when her face gets pinched, but the rest is just like my mother.


    I''m the only one of us that got my mother''s eyes.


    "Looking for a yellow dress, we were going to y dollhouse." She answers with a sneer.


    I smile but say nothing when her eyes arch as if to say ''Comment, and I will p you,''


    "Is Deno going to do your duties again?"


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    "Yes, Leonardo and Deno would be just fine on their own."


    "Leonardo will be drunk before he even gets to the house, and dad will keep a wide birth as usual.


    Deno will probably spend his time warding off wandering hands. Yeah, I think you right." Her sarcasm is


    warranted but still not wanted.


    "Papa." A small voicees from upstairs, and I step inside, my smile wide. Finally.


    My sister rolls her eyes and gives me some way as I hear those little feet hit the staircase.


    "Wow, you get bigger every day," I say as she runs and hugs my waist.


    I lift her up, as a whiff of her watermelon scented ck hair envelops my senses. Big ck marble


    eyes and cute dimples smile at me.


    "Papa." She ces her small hands on my cheeks and gives me a wet kiss.


    My heart squeezes with so much love for her, it physically pains. She looks so much like her mother.


    No one can question our rtion with her ck eyes, the one thing she has of mine.


    "Aunt Anya and I make ice-cream."


    Her big eyes and pale skin remind me of her mother. Her toothless smile is so innocent, carefree.


    How could someone want to hurt her?


    How can I allow anyone to harm her?


    How do I not protect her? My sweet Mischa.


    From the first day I walked into that hospital with Deno and lifted her up, she became mine.


    Deno and I swore an oath to protect her, no matter the cost.


    "Made ice-cream Mischa. You want to do something with Papa?" Anya asks as Mischa rests her cheek


    on my shoulder.


    Her head lifts up, and her face transforms into a toothless smile, "Movies, toy shop, and ice-cream,


    chippies, pic and, and ice-cream." Her face scrunches up as she thinks of what else.


    I pinch her small nose.


    "You can decide on your way, go put your shoes on and bring a jacket; maybe we can do ice-cream


    first." I put her down and watch her rush up the stairs. Her legs are so long.


    She got little calves now.


    Kids grow up so fast. I don''t like her staying here, but Anya is the only one besides Deno and myself


    who could keep her safe and happy at the same time.


    Mischa isn''t an easy kid, and I like it that way. I raised her to be shy and not talk to strangers. I, rather,


    she turns out to be a stuck-up princess and safe than a dead one.


    "Any word about La?"


    "No, Amariya is hunting them down. She''ll find him eventually." I don''t mention anything about her


    ''extramural'' activities, or the fact Amariya is missing again.


    My sister is a Catelli too, dangerous and deadly, I have done well to remember that growing up. I know


    she''s up to something, and I''m going to find out what it is before I react.


    "Gabriel came by earlier to see Mischa. He isn''t taking Lorenzo''s death well. You need to keep your


    eye on him, he is our family." My sister, ever the wise one.


    My father has one soft spot, and it belonged to his only daughter. My virgin, 26- year-old sister, never


    married, but piss her off, and she''ll kill you with a nail file in seconds.


    She lives her life as she wants to, in the shadows.


    There was once a guy I thought she''ll choose until she met another. Tragedy always ends a fairytale


    when a Viin is a leading role.


    "Lorenzo''s death is going to cause ripples in the Famiglia until we find out who wanted him dead," I


    warn Anya.


    "If my suspicions are correct, I believe Ren''s biker girlfriend would know the answer to that."


    "Leave her alone, Anya. She''s under my protection."


    "I suppose someone is going to be getting married in the next few months now," She says, ignoring my


    warning.


    "Probably." I hope for my sister''s sake it isn''t her.


    "Salvatore Moretti ising from New York as we speak. He is going to keep close tabs on the young


    ones; they all want revenge." You included little sister, but I know you will find your way to get it.


    Her face is nk, which is not something unusual when ites to Anya.


    "I''ll see you when you get back. You can stay for Dinner. I''ll call Deno and Leonardo, see if they want to


    join. Xander will be stopping by."


    "Sound''s like a n. I''ll fetch Mischa this weekend, you shoulde with us to the Manor."


    "Of course, I''ming. I think I''m getting suburban lice. How far do you live from Aliyana''s house?"


    "20 minutes, why?"


    "She invited me over for a few days, I said yes." This is new to me, Aliyana didn''t mention anything, but


    why would she?


    "She keeps wolves for pets," I tell my sister as I kiss her cheeks.


    "I know." She winks, and as I usually do in my sister''spany, Iugh.

 Chapter 52 (Marco)

    Chapter 52 (Marco)


    Mischa rushes down the white-tiled staircase. Her eyes as ck as her mothers'' and my own - A trait


    only one bloodline in the Catelli Famiglia has.


    Her ck curly hair and naughty dimpled smile, including her wolf nose, is the epitome of her father,


    La.


    There''s no denying who her parents are. No denying the venomous bloodline running through her


    veins and the enemies she''d inherit because of it.


    One thing is certain- there is goodness in her. Her father was once a good man, I know, because not


    too long ago we were friends. Katrina was the poison that slipped into his mind. She turned him evil.


    All for pussy. Deno''s words y in my head as I smile at thest goodness of my friend, La, and the


    product of my cousin''s Amariya''s torture, Mia figlia. My daughter


    I smile wider, the closer she gets to me. Her little legs tiny but steady, and I open my arms, bend my


    knees as she reaches thest two steps. She is the only reason keeping me from killing everybody in


    the 5th State.


    Reining war is what I should do to all the fuckers who stood by and watched what my brother went


    through, by the hands of my Grandfather . My father included.


    My only wish now is, she''d be rushing down the stairs of my Manor all the time like the princess she


    ought to be. Not in secret locations in fuckin'' suburbs. One day soon.


    The few hours I spend with Mischa go by fast.


    Most of our time is spent at the toy shop. One thing she learned from my sister is how to shop. I get


    back to Anya''s ce after 6. The two cars in the front, tell me I am just in time.


    My soldiers who kept an eye on us while we were gone remain at the back of my car.


    "Uncle Deno and Leo are here, Papa," Mischa beams as she opens her own door and runs toward the


    house as I take a minute to collect myself.


    It is always hard for me to let her leave and harder when I know she isn''t going to see me for another


    few days.


    We have no option but to rotate her. Deno, Anya, and I switched her every few months.


    Deno, however, kept Mischa the most since he had more time. It made it easier for me to see her since


    we lived together.


    Anya kept Mischa when she could. My sister owned a boutique and a few spa''s, which she


    micromanaged. She was constantly busy, but her businesses made her time worth it.


    I acknowledge the soldiers on the left of the house as I jump out of my car, signaling them to get the


    stuff from the boot.


    We spend the evening with my sister as Xander entertains us with stories of his years in Liston Hills.


    None of us gets emotional when we talk about Lorenzo. We have all mourned him in our own way this


    week. My siblings would miss him more than me.


    I never really got to know my brother as well as I should have. I loved him, and he will be missed, but


    I''m not crippled by his permanent leave.


    Leonardo stays behind when Deno and I make our excuse to leave. After tucking Mischa in for the


    evening, I say my goodbyes to my sister. Xander gets a phone call and leaves straight away.


    I follow Deno on the freeway as we head over to our father''s home. We take the roads steady, no rush.


    Both of us dreading the meeting in more ways than we will admit.


    Cami Moretti pops into my head. Unlike my first meeting with the young Aliyana, I''ve known Cami


    since I was a boy, we were raised in DC together. My father''s greed for power then still fresh. His love


    for my mother, a genuine feeling.


    Then shit happened, and Cami''s Grandfather took her away and moved to New York first. Her


    parents died soon after, they were murdered brutally. It was a message that even I at 11 understood


    the meaning of. Her Grandfather gave up his ce as Capo Dei Capi, and took his entire army of


    soldiers and businesses and fled to London.


    My father moved us here, to Seattle in the very house my mother died six monthster.


    Cami was a spoilt brat then, who didn''t know the difference between ankles and elbows. A feisty little


    creature that went from free beast to a guarded Princess. I liked her a lot. But she left, and her


    Grandfather kept her hidden. Not many knew what she looked like or who she was. He changed her


    name, and with all my attempts to find her, I couldn''t.


    Eventually, I forgot about her until recently. My quest to find a suitable wife for not just my sake but a


    mother for Mischa is the reason I remembered the feisty girl that kissed me under the dinner table.


    She was the perfect option. Cami would be a wife who didn''t offer me just a warm body but someone


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    who could give me a strong army. But, her Grandfather has been stalling. I asked for her hand 6


    months ago. In a way, I''m d, because I would have never tasted Aliyana Capello''s lips, or heard her


    sigh as her breath tickled my cheeks if Dante Moretti agreed to my marriage.


    The man in me wants Aliyana, there''s something in her eyes, something I know too well. Whatever it is,


    it will soon belong to me.


    I should feel guilt, knowing my brother lies dead in a grave, and all he asked was for me to let her go.


    But I can''t summon up any right now. I never believed in honoring a dead man''s wish.


    The ck gates open as the 6 soldiers in the front greet us. Green hedges and palm trees pave our


    way. Bright fluorescentmps running down the driveway gives us a proper grand entrance.


    I never understood the need to have so much luxury afforded to one person, all because of a title. My


    father, however, doesn''t share my perplexion.


    One of these days, my brother will take over. Even this house will belong to him.


    How will my father feel when he finds out my brother ns to turn our home into a Gentlemen''s bar? I


    would pay good money to know the answer to that.


    I park my car next to Deno''s ck Audi as the butleres toward us.


    "Hello, Sir Marco, Sir Deno. Your father is waiting upstairs in the main office." The butler, Cedric bows


    and walks away.


    Deno looks at me to say, ''what the fuck is he still doing working here'' and I just shrug as I tie the


    buttons of my suit jacket. The man was given many chances to leave, why he chooses to stay is


    beyond my understanding. Loyalty can sometimes be your worst enemy, it traps you in the worse of


    ces.


    I spot Natasha''s paintings as we enter the foyer. The gold and brown furniture, reminding us of our


    mother. How does Natasha do it? She doesn''t have a choice, that''s how. When your choice is gone,


    you learn to adapt just so you can breathe one more day. I learned that in the army, we were 3 months


    in Iraq, my second tour. We were ambushed.


    ''Sir, get out of here.'' The cries of my men, the gunshots. So many innocent lives lost. Heat exploding in


    my torso as a bullet hits straight in my sternum, taking me to my knees. ''Get out of here, run'' useless,


    it''s all useless.


    "Marco." Deno shakes me out of my trance, standing by the stairway. I rub the area where I still feel the


    remnant of that fucked up day that almost cost me my life. I wish I was fucking killed.


    "I''m fine."


    "Let''s get this shit out of the way, this house gives me the fucking creeps." Deno takes the stairs as I


    follow behind him.


    This night is just getting started.

 Chapter 53 (Marco)

    Chapter 53 (Marco)


    "Absolutely not!" My father yells from his brown leather chair.


    Deno and I are seated on the two front chairs, studying the man who raised us from afar after my


    mother''s death.


    In thest hour, we have exined the situation to him. I told my father about Amariya, who has gone


    AWOL. Deno informed him about La, who''s now actively looking for Mischa. Andstly, a possible


    marriage between Aliyana and myself happening in the near future.


    And like we predicted; he wasn''t surprised Amariya was gone. He lost his shit about La, calling him


    an ungrateful brat and banged his hands on the table. And now, he has refused my marriage to


    Aliyana. My father is predictable and a hard-headed man.


    "We had an agreement when you came in this door 6-years-ago with the same story about that fucking


    woman you met. What was her name?"


    "Jane Doe," Deno answers, with a smile as I re at him. She was a hot woman, and I met her once.


    Once was all it took then to have me hooked even though I never did get the woman''s name.


    "I told you, give me a fucking grandson. Then you can marry whoever the fuck you want. Now you are


    what? 34, still no grandkids. I am an old man, I want fuckin'' grandkids. Deno is already plotting the


    death of his fucking wife. Leonardo is a sick fuck, and Anya, my precious daughter, is more dangerous


    than my toughest soldier. Also refusing to marry so she can run her fucking shops. What kind of kids


    have I ended up with?"


    "I''m sure Leonardo will give you grandkids, soon," Deno states in mocking sarcasm.


    "Mischa is part DeMarco and Catelli. Her blood is our blood. We''ll protect her like we promised." My


    father rubs his hand down his face.


    I should feel some remorse right now that he lost a son, and his other son wants to marry his ¡®enemy''s¡¯


    daughter, but I can''t find any for him.


    He started this shit with Sartini when he gave the man''s daughter away to prevent a war.


    Now, I am asking to marry Sartini''s other daughter to start one.


    "You say that like you know something we don''t," Deno voices, "Because right now, as we sit here with


    you old man, we know that La has got a fuckin'' number on Amariya''s head. She''s gone so deep in


    hiding I can''t even fuckin'' find her, and it alles down to Mischa. He wasn''t sure that his baby


    survived, but whoever is feeding him shit has made him fucking sure now."


    "What does Stephano say about it?" My father asks, bing alert.


    "Whether he wants to acknowledge it or not, Mischa is his only fuckin'' heir. I want her to have what is


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    due to her,¡± I tell him.


    "Gabriel can be head of the family when he''s older by all means, but byw, Mischa will inherit


    Stephano''s fuckin'' money, businesses, and his soldiers thates with it. La is not getting that,"


    Deno responds.


    "No, he can''t have so much power," My father says in a agreement.


    "So, if going to war is what we need to do, then so be it. The eye of assassins is a tempting reason for


    Marco to marry Cami, but Dante is wasting our time. Aliyana marrying Marco means he has ess


    to the Shadows, then that is what we need to do. The shadows are unrivalled and feared by everyone


    in the state."


    "But, she will still control them, not you. With Cami, the assassins answer to you." My father points


    out something I took into ount, and the reason I kept Aliyana as a second option.


    "Cami is heir to a bigger army, but not stronger. Dante is wasting time we don''t have. If La finds


    out Mischa is his daughter, and we''ve been hiding her, he will attack. He has a fuckload of allies and


    ruthless ones at that." Deno''s reasoning makes it all sound logical, but we both know that logic got fuck


    all to do with my sudden reason to marry Aliyana.


    My father studies Deno, and I see the flicker of pride in his gaze. He faces me, and I know the


    circumspection and fear he hides as he stares.


    I don''t mask the truth on my face, I let him see it.


    My father, for all his faults- foolishness and stupidity, is something he has zero of. It takes him a minute


    to see the truth my brother has attempted to cover since we walked in the door.


    Marcello Catelli is no fool, and I am his son. He frowns as his gaze hardens, and lips tighten.

 Chapter 54 (Marco)

    Chapter 54 (Marco)


    "You care for Sartini''s daughter. Fuck, Marco, why!" It is not a question but an usation.


    "Sometimes, we have no choice," I say quietly, knowing he understands too well the words I speak and


    the honesty behind it.


    He gets up from his chair, his tall form, and broad shoulders, the two things I inherited of my fathers.


    My mother''s eyes will always be what holds me. I am the w in my father''s secret and my mother''s


    betrayal.


    The fault of their love.


    It is why he doesn''t stare too long. Unlike Deno and Anya. I am the image of my mother''s bloodline. I


    am also the true heir to the DeMarco name. The eldest son of the eldest child. And as of three years


    ago, when I stepped forward, I am the future Capo Dei Capi, The Boss of All Bosses. And right now,


    the most powerful person in this room.


    I, Marco Catelli, am the bastard son of my father and my mother. In the Famiglia, I am considered a


    nothing, but in The 5th State, I am powerful enough to rule over all of them. And as the eldest son, and


    product of two influential families, I have proved myself more worthy than just my name.


    A curse, a gift, and all for love. I am not as different to my father as I would like to be.


    My father takes a moment to answer a call. I use the time to get myself and my brother a drink.


    Leaning against my father''s desk as Deno runs his hand across the books on the dark wooden


    bookshelf. I enjoy the glide of the amber liquid going down my throat.


    "If father agrees, how are you going to get Sartini to say yes?" Deno asks as he lifts up a picture of us,


    from the bookshelf.


    I haven''t considered it, but my conversation with Aliyana earlieres to mind, and I smile as I take


    another sip of my drink.


    "I thought I''ll start with a more direct approach first."


    "Seriously? Just mentioning Aliyana''s name will have the man in a shouting fit."


    "I know, which is why I''m going to ask him after he agrees to something else."


    Deno turns to face me, and we stare at one another.


    The door to my father''s office opens, and we both move toward our seats. Our conversation on hold for


    the moment.


    "Mi dispiace. Dante Moretti has epted the marriage to his granddaughter. ''Till death do you part,


    were his words. I agreed. Cami is on her way." His words take a full 5 seconds to register.


    He has epted, ''till death.


    She ising? I frown in confusion. I was confident he was going to refuse. Six months and nothing.


    Now all of a sudden, I get this? So, what changed his mind? No, this can''t be.


    "I will marry Cami," Deno says in a rush.


    Dante''s warning rings in the room and, like my brother, always ready to be the one to sacrifice.


    "If shees to Seattle and I don''t marry her, it will be a direct insult to the Moretti''s, and a big fuck up


    we don''t need with La''s shit to deal with and Lorenzo''s death, plus the fucking docks."


    "I''ll make her choose me," Deno says again.


    And subject his life to torture and the possibility of someone finding out the things that shade him? I am


    the eldest son.


    "I was the one who asked for her hand all those months ago and continued to press it."


    I am also my brother''s protector, whether he wants it or not. A promise I made to my mother more


    times than I could count.


    She made me promise that I will keep him safe, and always choose him even if it meant I had to


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    sacrifice myself. It was a promise I made to her, a living one. The one promise in my life I won''t break.


    "I am many things, but I won''t go back on my word." I will have to go along with it for my brother''s sake.


    "You would choose honor over all you can have? Do you know what you agree to?" I can feel my


    brother staring at me as I look at the empty brown leather chair that belongs to my father. My mind


    empty, afraid of all the thoughts it will bring up if I allowed it free for even a second. But as much as it


    kills me, I lie.


    "Yes. Divorce is off the table. Aliyana is a half-blood, you said so yourself. Cami is a good choice, for


    Mischa and our family. A big army is what we need to protect Mischa, and Camies with just that.


    A small price to pay."


    "You are making a bad decision, a mistake. Aliyana can give you more than just an army, fuck Marco.


    You know what I''m talking about, you have spent time with her."


    I look at my brother, his cold gaze stuck in the past he will nevere out of. I''ll turn this world upside


    down and burn every fucker whoever takes his choices from him again. Myself included.


    "If she is so great, why don''t you marry her? This conversation is over. I won''t have you question me on


    this. My choice."


    "You are making the wrong choice," Deno barks.


    "I will sleep with my wrong choices." My phone rings as my brother breaks my eye stare.


    I''m aware the conversation isn''t over.


    I don''t expect anything less from Deno, but his reasoning will not change my decision. Not on this.


    My body hardens, as my mind goes to war with itself. Mario Moretti''s threat is no small matter, and my


    want for Aliyana is not worth the lives I''ll lose if I refuse.


    I slip my phone out of my suit pocket, ''VINCENT'' shes on my screen.


    "Who died now," I say in all calmness when dealing with my cousin.


    "The Bratva is going to be soon if we don''t talk with Aleksei."


    "What happened?" I am already dreading whatever it is he is going to say.


    "They kidnapped my brother, Jace, from his school trip. I think it''s about that fuckin'' biker girl Lorenzo


    was fuckin''."


    I close my eyes, and a heavier weight falls on my shoulders.


    This is not good because I have a feeling Vincent is correct. They have been asking about Diamond, by


    name.


    "Did you call anyone else?"


    "No, why?"


    "Because it''s a sensitive matter. I''ll handle it."


    My cousin Vincent Vasatti is a Mezzosangue. His mother''s short affair with Victor Stone produced my


    cousin. We epted him as a Made-Man because Victor is a quarter Italian, which meant my cousin


    wasn''t totally a half-breed.


    Over the years, when I was away, it was Deno and Vincent who held our territory, did all my father''s


    dirty work. While Deno did his share, our name protected him, but Vincent didn''t get such luck. His


    family is strong, but like most of our n, they''re tied to Catelli''s through marriage.


    He had to earn his stripes in blood and war. Power was something he took. And my respect is


    something he still needs to earn if he wants to be part of my circle when I take over.


    "The Stones were looking. Hold on, it¡¯s my dad.¡±


    I hang on the line for Vincent. A minute goes by, ¡°My father said Diamond is going to give herself up."


    Fuck.


    "I¡¯m on my way." I signal Deno that we have to move. I don''t bid my father farewell as I walk out of his


    office. Deno follows close behind.


    Dante Moretti has twisted my hand, and my father had epted it when he agreed to Dante''s condition


    ''till death. I asked for this, but one thing my mother taught me is seeds grow silent. The power of that


    seed is the thickness of its branches and the stubbornness of its roots.


    I am Marco DeMarco Catelli. Heir to The 5th State, and it is time I sent a message to all those who will


    answer to me.

 Chapter 55 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 55 (Aliyana)


    ¡°Aliyana, your father has been calling you, where are your ears?¡± ria yells from the ss door


    leading to the pool I¡¯m currently floating in. The sun has not shied away since Ren¡¯s death. I still can¡¯t


    believe it¡¯s two weeks. It feels longer, but not so long that I''ve forgotten him, but long enough that I


    wake up thinking about seeing him, only to realize he isn¡¯ting.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear him. I¡¯ll be in now.¡±


    ria doesn¡¯t say anything else, nor does she move. She has acted strange since the funeral, almost


    sorrowful. I received no snarky remarks from her, or bitching fits. But, like now, she stares at me. I find


    it strange, but also hopeful.


    Since my conversation with Marco, and what he said about her, I pity her in a way. How must she feel


    to be stuck with an entire brood of kids who aren¡¯t her own, or forced to sleep with a man who has


    nothing left to give her but a bank card and some empty sex.


    I sink into the water, and my body glides easily across the pool. The coldness wee, as my lungs


    scream for release. There is peace in water.


    Taking my time, I get out of the pool and wave at my sister who is lying down, reading a book under the


    umbre. The back yard is huge. This property was designed for my mother, and changed to keep my


    wolves happy underground and free on top. My father expanded the ce years ago, when he bought


    the essnd from our neighbors who didn¡¯t need so much space. The wolves were my touch. There


    was nothing friendly about them, they existed to keep me safe.


    Well, that is what I told my father. It is a lie. I kept them because they¡¯re vicious enough that If I needed


    to send a message then I would do so by putting my ¡®message¡¯ with the wolves.


    I always wanted to say ¡®feed him to the wolves.¡¯ The thought of one day having to put one of my friends


    in that den or my sister doesn¡¯t seem as appealing right now. If what Marco and Deno said is true, one


    of the boys who I call my family could very well be an enemy.


    The question is what kind of enemy would he be, one who I would destroy, or someone I would


    spend most of my life trying to ruin? It doesn¡¯t sit well with me! Why would one of the others want to kill


    Ren?


    ¡°ALIYANA!!! Make quick,¡± Filippo yells from his balcony.


    I look up at him, wearing a cotton shirt and flower swim shorts. His sses are covering his eyes. He


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    looks like he is on holiday. I want to roll my eyes at his choice of attire.


    ¡°What does Papa want that I am getting nagged like this? If he¡¯s asking me to babysit, I¡¯m not doing it.¡±


    I looked after the twins 3-days in a row and they fought constantly.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you hurry your ass up and go see?!¡±


    I roll my eyes and put my towel around my body securing it around my breast as I make my way into


    the house. More like storm inside.


    ¡°Arina, could you iron the top I put on my bed please?¡± Arina, our housemaid is my favorite out of the


    staff. She wasn¡¯t an Italian but her mother was married to one of my father¡¯s soldiers.


    ¡°Of course. You look like you need some aloe for your skin Miss Capello.¡± I touch her arm, as I walk


    past, where she is currently sitting and knitting.


    I skip down the passage and around the corner, opening the kitchen door. I walk around the opposite


    side of the house leading to Papa¡¯s office. Normally, I went through the lounge and behind the


    staircase, but I have been trying to avoid that side since it had a picture of Ren and I.


    I knock on my father¡¯s door. The white door doesn¡¯t hint at what you¡¯d find inside. No clue at all.


    Sometimes doors could be ignorant too.


    I shake my head at my stupid silent rambling of wayward thoughts.


    ¡°Come in.¡± I look at my bare feet, red and blue beach towel wrapped around my body and long blonde


    hair wet around my shoulders.

 Chapter 56 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 56 (Aliyana)


    Puffing my chest, I straighten my back as I put my hand on the gold handle and twist.


    My father¡¯s head lifts from hisptop. His desk is full of paperwork. A frame of his children and one of


    my mothers sit on the far-left corner. A snow globe Guilia got for his birthday and a few other trinkets


    make up the top right side. A family man.


    I want tough at how stupid it all seems as I round his desk to kiss him on the cheek,


    ¡°Yes, Papa.¡± I say to him with a small smile as that familiar scent of his surrounds me.


    ¡°How¡¯s the pool?¡± He asks, as he pulls off his sses, ¡°I was hoping to enjoy the sun with you and


    Guilia but too much to do. Your sister tell you she racked up a bill at one of those boutiques owned by


    Marcello¡¯s daughter?¡±


    ¡°The pool was great. So, I heard, Guilia has been gripping about it since yesterday. You know she¡¯ll just


    get Filippo¡¯s credit card, right?¡±


    ¡°No, Filippo already told her no. I pity the man she marries; he¡¯ll be bankrupt by the first month.¡± I snort


    as my father¡¯s burlyugh lights up my day. But I say nothing in response, because I know Filippo told


    my father one thing but always did what he wanted. And giving Guilia money was something he¡¯ll want


    to do to make her happy. The two had their own secrets, and I never made it a priority to find out what


    shaped them.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    In return they never made it there¡¯s to find out too much about me. I preferred it that way.


    ¡°I need to leave and get the twins settled. I wanted you to do something for me today,¡± He asks.


    ¡°I¡¯m not babysitting. Anything else, sure.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t babysitting. You shouldn¡¯tin about spending time with your siblings.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m notining, but they fight like they are sworn enemies.¡±


    ¡°They get that from their mother.¡± I frown at my father¡¯sment, because we both knew that wasn¡¯t


    the truth. They fought because of my Papa¡¯s absence.


    He smiles, choosing to be oblivious to the look I am giving him.


    ¡°Before we talk about why I stripped you of your morning, I have a few minutes. Come sit down.¡± I do


    as he says, knowing my ass is going to leave a butt imprint once I get up. I can already feel the


    wetness of the towel. And inside I am smiling knowing my father will not be impressed but it would


    make him smile and shake his head.


    ¡°How are you doing with everything since the funeral? I worry about you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Sort of. I thought about Ren often, but my thoughts weren¡¯t of the sweet kind! No, they were


    tainted by the things I would soon find out about his killer.


    ¡°Fine? You don¡¯t resemble my fine daughter. Where¡¯s the mischief, the raised brows? Something must


    be wrong.¡±


    "Yes, Papa, there is a lot that¡¯s wrong. Ren is dead and we don¡¯t know who killed him. It¡¯s not easy but I


    am your daughter. So, I¡¯m fine.¡± My fatherughs before his eyes dig deep into my soul. My father is


    perceptive like that.


    ¡°You should let Deno and Marco handle it.¡± Easier said than done.


    Deno and Marco needed me to handle it. How did I tell my father that one of my friends could very well


    be the person that killed Ren. I couldn¡¯t.


    My father would make sure that I never saw them. And if my father dug deep enough, he¡¯d know what


    we were up to and what led Ren to his death wasn¡¯t something he could just let slide.


    ¡°They are.¡± With my help.


    I say nothing but his querying gaze says more than enough. He knows.


    ¡°You are so much like your mother.¡± His eyes settle on the picture of her on his desk, and I watch his


    utter longing. A tug in my chest pulls me in when I think of ria and how she must feel.


    I can¡¯t see myself with a man who loves his dead wife so much, there is no room for him to love me.


    But, I wonder, if he loved my mother so much why cheat? Why would this powerful man, who is my


    father betray his wife? The same wife he imed to love even after he buried her.


    He senses my observation, he always does, and when he stares at me I sometimes, like now wonder, if


    he knows, I know his secrets. I¡¯m aware of the faults which made his perfect love story not so perfect.


    Yet, I love my father and I will kill to protect him. I already have


    "There''s been a problem at Azure. The guy who handles Deno''s books is missing. He needs someone


    to do his financials and get it handed in."


    He was dead.


    I knew this as I knew that the guy who killed him was alive! He wasn¡¯t just alive but he was probably the


    real reason I¡¯m sitting in this chair across from my father right now having this conversation. Marco


    I smile, but it is a tight smile the man sitting across from me knows all too well.


    "I''ll sort it out."


    My father looks at me for 9 seconds. I know because I count it in my head. I wonder if he is seeing me


    or the shadow of who he wanted me to be.


    "Matteo will meet you outside! Go shower and I''ll tell Matteo to take the Vantage.¡±


    Not again. Matteo Di Salvo is a pain I couldn¡¯t get rid of.


    "Why can''t Romero join?" I get up as I ask this, my towel loosening.


    "You''ve been spending a lot of time with him."


    "He''s my friend papa." That was one of the reasons I wanted him to join.


    "I know but he is my soldier first. And you are my daughter, no?"


    I purse my lips but say nothing. My father can change his mood as fast as a shark can bite and spit you


    out. Only once have I been the center of his anger to the extent, he hit me. I learned after that to listen,


    ask a question and then shut up and ept his answer.


    "I''ll let Deno know to expect you." I walk out of the office, my mind working per the second.


    What did Deno want? Or better yet Marco. We agreed to take our time figuring this stuff out.

 Chapter 57 (Marco)

    Chapter 57 (Marco)


    "If I have to sit with another Moretti again in the next year, I''ll kill the fucking lot myself," Leonardo


    grumbles from the sofa that''s flushed against my office WALL by the door.


    For once I didn¡¯t me my brother for his bad mood. Leonardo liked toin. Most of the time it


    was aint not warranted but today was that odd asion where it was more than warranted.


    "It was negotiations! They''re over! Today we''ll meet our stubborn brother¡¯s future bride and possible


    future end, h h h." Anya makes a wavy notion with her fingers as she turns to face us.


    "Cami sounds like a Crue or Druze! It doesn''t scream Cindere or Belle," Anya points out, as


    her ck dress kisses my carpet when she spins to face me.


    ¡°More like the evil witch from Snow White.¡±


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Touch¨¦, didn¡¯t know that you watched that sort of thing,¡± Anya mentions with a chagrin smile.


    ¡°You know I watch that shit with Mischa.¡±


    ¡°Keep telling everyone else that, maybe they¡¯d believe theme excuse but we both know you watch it


    alone.¡± Anya can be royal bitch when she wants to.


    ¡°Anya,¡± I say with little to no effort in my voice.


    ¡°Back to what we were initially discussing before we were Disney interrupted. Yes, your future wife is a


    royal bitch, full stop no pun intended.¡±


    "And that''s a bad thing?" I query from my sister who was no Teressa.


    "Yes! Marco, this is an awful idea. You¡¯re marrying a woman you''ve never met?"


    "And what you have me do? Marry Aliyana? ¡®Cause I seem to remember just a few short days, you


    tryna threaten our brother here into marrying her." She gives me those sheepish eyes as I arch my


    brow.


    "We don''t know her! Let''s not judge until we see her," Nicole says as she leans her silver suit covered


    body against the window pane of my office. I forgot she was even here.


    "Whatever the reason if it isn''t love I think it is a lie," Anya adds.


    "It is for love. Just not the kind you want it to be, doesn''t make it any less as great."


    "I know. But it doesn¡¯t make it any better either. It feels like you have been sold to a fucking nosey spoilt


    bitch for pocket change."


    ¡°Since when have you ever cared about anyone but yourself?¡± Leonardo asks her.


    ¡°I care about Mischa.¡±


    ¡°We all do, which is why we are going to go through with this ridiculous notion.¡± Deno walks into the


    room as Nicole finishes her sentence.


    ¡°For now. None of us like the idea, but Marco made a deal, and we don¡¯t need a fucking war in our


    hands with the godfather,¡± Deno interjects.


    I arch my brow in surprise because just this morning he was moaning about it. I wonder about his


    sudden change of mind but I say nothing, we will talkter of that I¡¯m sure.


    There were perks living in the same house as my brother. One of them was his inability to keep


    anything too long to himself. With Ren¡¯s death he has been dealing with it quietly, but everything else


    stilles out.


    I didn¡¯t need to treat him like I did Anya. He was straight up and I was aware that one day those lines


    would be darker and we would eventually not be able to tell each other everything but today was


    not that day.


    ¡°Anyway we look at it, the girl would be here soon. I might as well pretend to make an effort.¡± Nicole


    says her piece as she walks past Deno and leaves the room. The three of us all stuck in the silence.


    We know what this could mean and we also know that our game has just begun.

 Chapter 58 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 58 (Aliyana)


    6 Months Later


    "Do you think this one is going to get his attention?" Guilia asks me for the umpteenth time, facing the


    long narrow mirror and striking some really sexy poses.


    "If Papa saw you in that you would get HIS attention.¡± She flinches, scrunching her nose. Yeah, I feel


    you sister.


    ¡°Why are you so obsessed with getting Marco to notice you? He is dangerous. Why can''t you just go


    for Deno, he is a better option than his brother. Trust me on this."


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Since Ren passed away, Marco avoids me like I carry a bad case of herpes. I see him but only when


    he is stopping by to see Papa. There¡¯s quite a few of those ¡®stopping by¡¯ urrences. In fact they are


    almost 4 times a week now. They used to be more infrequent and I also used to get a nod OF


    acknowledgement then.


    Now, it¡¯s like he is apletely different person and while I am no saint either, I wasn¡¯t the one who led


    him on, promised him things only to announce the very next time I saw him that I would give those


    things to someone else. That was him.


    Well, he didn¡¯t really announce it, but the pictures of him kissing the cheek of that woman spoke in loud


    volumes.


    I fume silently because even now, 6 monthster I want to tell him that he has made promises, call him


    a liar. But I remain silent hoping there wille a day I¡¯m courageous enough to stand in that foyer as


    he walks by me. When I do, my eyes will never waver from his, then he will know the meaning of hurt


    and pain. He will see how he has tempted me to indulge in the forbidden. I am now tainted, filled with


    the emotion of heartbreak yet again. A sinner.


    Only this time I have touched him, tasted him and he has imed me only to throw me out like the half-


    blood I am meant to feel like.


    Deno makes an effort to keep in contact with me. Not that he has a choice, since Gabriel, Michel and


    Mero are set on vengeance and the only thing stopping them from causing ripples in a very shaky


    moment of silence is Deno and I. Plus there was still the possibility that one of them was in fact Ren''s


    killer.


    Salvatore Moretti had the job of keeping them on a leash but the guys didn¡¯t like him and made that


    clear when they cornered him in a gentlemen¡¯s bar.


    Mero, Michel and Gabriel, were the same age group as I, but none of them had my calm rational mind


    when it came to avenging Ren and their anger didn¡¯t help me determine which one of them killed Ren.


    Deno and I agree on this one thing. Well, if I am honest, we agree on a lot of things. Including our


    growing friendship.


    Thest time I saw Deno was three days ago. I was leaving Campus grounds when my phone started


    buzzing with that irritant ringtone he put on my phone. Believe me, the feeling wasn¡¯t just mutual. The


    people walking around me scowling, andughing told me how not mutual the feeling was, as I dug for


    my cell in my leather satchel bag, as The Chipmunks yelled about big booties from my phone.


    I smiled at the olderdy, who was the Calculus professor, giving me the stink eye as my hand finally


    grabbed onto my cell.


    ¡®KINGMAN¡¯ shed on my screen. And I will never admit the smile it brought to my face after the shitty


    day I was having. The wind was chilly as it blew my long hair back as my gloved hand, with rubber


    fingertips swiped the screen to the right.


    ¡°Hey there, Kingman.¡±


    Heughed, ¡°Like your new ringtone?¡±


    I groaned in mock horror, ¡°Don¡¯t start. I see 5 missed calls with your name on it, really smooth


    Kingman.¡± Deno and I had grown close these past 6 months and my rxed charm came natural to


    me. There was no need to keep all my walls up around him. He knew I was not like the other women. I


    never got the chance to be, my Papa made sure of that.


    I didn¡¯t see the man as a Capo, and he didn¡¯t see me as just a female. He saw me as Aliyana Capello,


    a friend that wouldn¡¯t be his enemy. I still found him scary when he got pissed off with Gabriel and


    Mero, but I knew he wouldn¡¯t hurt me.


    ¡°Got a bit of an issue, I¡¯ming to pick you up, be there in 20 seconds.¡±


    ¡°18 seconds, Ciao.¡±


    He coughed trying to stop theugh I was certainly threatening toe out as I clipped the call. Phone


    in hand, bag slung over my shoulder, I walked toward the parking lot where I saw Jere and the


    unmistakable Matteo.


    I signalled them with my chin, as true to word, Deno¡¯s ck and red detailed Mercedes zipped into a


    free parking spot, two cars away from Matteo¡¯s scowling face. Gosh, Matteo was annoying.


    I ignored him and took my overly dressed body over to Deno as he jumped out of his car, his face


    covered with a pair of Harley Davidson sunsses I loved.


    The man was sex on sticks, and it was a shame, that he wasn¡¯t the brother I kissed or the one I lusted


    for all those years prior.


    Why do I always choose the wrong guy? This thought was not something I thought for the first time, try


    more like the thousandth and one time.


    ¡°What can the awesome Aliyana help your Majesty with today.¡±


    His face was sexy under the darkening cold sky as he blessed me with a grin to end all grins. Matteo


    walked closer toward us, but Deno flicked his wrist sending him away. I sent a silent thank you to the


    demon who thought one of his own should be named Deno Catelli.


    His clothes, cream Italian cotton pants, a linen shirt that was a few shades lighter, open on the chest,


    and rolled up on the sleeves said that, number one, he wasn¡¯t working on anything too serious today.


    Number two, he was having a rxing day and something changed that he was here, at my school.


    Correction, already almost here at my school before he even spoken to me.


    ¡°Why do I have a feeling this is not good news I am going to be hearing?¡± I said as he just stood there


    looking at me in a Nike tracksuit, and Asis Sneakers. I was not dressed to meet a Made-Man. I was


    dressed to go to sses and meet Kylie at the gym to rx in a hot tub.


    ¡°You guessed correct, it is going to blow your fuckin¡¯ mind. Get in the car, I¡¯ll tell Russo to follow.¡± His


    words broke no argument from me, when he ordered this and I did what I was told in a quick


    session of throwing my bag in the backseat of his car and sliding my ass in the warm seat, seatbelt


    on. All this done, like I have done this every day. I didn¡¯t, but I have been in this car enough times that I


    knew the drill of putting my stuff in the backseat.


    He drove in the opposite direction to my home and he drove fast. I expected a lot of stuff to happen, or


    the problem he had to be about Mero or Gabriel.


    What I didn¡¯t expect was for him to stop at a small Estate two hours away from Campus. I am not sure


    how he managed to do it, but when we got to the gate of the ce, Matteo and Jere were nowhere in


    sight. The thought made my pulse race at the idea I was alone with our soon to be Capo, and a part of


    me was screaming in horror, while the other part of me reminded me that I wasn¡¯t a pissy and Deno


    wouldn¡¯t hurt me.


    Another part of me, and it was a very tiny dark part, admitted as I jumped out of the sexy car driven by


    a really hot and dangerous Made-Man, looking up at the four-story monstrosity, that being alone with a


    man as dangerous as Deno Catelli sent a sick thrill through my body.


    It was a taste of power and I loved every minute of it. He showed me around the house and his request


    that came after that was strange but something I agreed to do after he shrugged his shoulder and said,


    ¡°We¡¯re practically family.¡± Yeah, I didn¡¯t believe he was buying me a house and wanting it in my name


    because we were ¡®Practically¡¯ family.


    But we were friends and pissing off a bad man like Deno and refusing his gift was not something I was


    going to do. Friend or not. So, I smiled and said thank you. And now three dayster I am the proud


    owner of a huge mansion bought for me by Deno Catelli because we are ¡®Practically¡¯ family.


    I have not told Papa about any of it during his 1-hour lecture and 2-hour interrogation on why I


    ¡®disappeared¡¯ as he so loudly pointed out with ¡®Fuckin¡¯ Deno fuckin¡¯ Catelli¡¯ (Papa¡¯s words, not mine).


    Obviously, it took a lot of covering up and my lying skills were put to an ultimate test calming Papa


    down.

 Chapter 59 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 59 (Aliyana)


    Luckily Papa didn¡¯t hold grudges for very long and he dropped the subject after he made it crystal clear


    that under no circumstances was, I allowed to ¡®disappear¡¯ with ¡®Fuckin¡¯ Deno fuckin¡¯ Catelli¡¯ again.


    Filippo been my father¡¯s sessor heard all of this. He was also not pleased, when he came to my


    room and asked me point nk, if something was going on between ¡®Catelli¡¯ and I.


    I cringed because something did happen with ¡®Catelli¡¯ and I, but the Catelli was not the one he was


    talking about and I was in no mood to learn what happened to the daughter of a Made-Man who stuck


    her tongue down another Made-Man''s throat.


    SO, I smiled at my brother, after cringing and said, it was nice to have Deno around after Ren. Filippo¡¯s


    face softened and I felt terrible but I told myself that what I said was true, and it was a better reason


    than the alternative.


    Obviously, I didn¡¯t get away scot free. Papa has refused anyte nights for mepletely, and with


    Matteo ¡®freaking¡¯ Russo around it hasn¡¯t been easy to sneak off. Not impossible, but I had to be smart.


    Thest thing I need is Papa thinking I¡¯m running around with Deno behind his back.


    I exined this to Deno yesterday when he called me informing me that I was now the owner of the


    home, and invited me to Azure for a drink. Heughed over our hour conversation and thought it was


    hrious that my father thought I was possibly sneaking around with him, when I in fact snuck around


    with Marco.


    He knew my father loathed his family, well almost all of them. Apparently Deno let slip that Marco, his


    father and him were the only ones my father didn¡¯t like and it was for good reason.


    He also let slip when I exined to him that I was not allowedte nights at all, that he told Marco


    about what happened and Marco thought it was just as funny. I didn¡¯t say anything to that and he must


    have sensed the end of our conversation because he ended the call soon after that. It was thest time


    I heard from Deno.


    My feelings for Marco Catelli hit me like a heat wave since that kiss in front of the dorms and grew


    every day since, but my hurt at his rejection after has been killing me. It killed me more because he


    was around, but not around the way I wanted him to be.


    Our kiss thatst day was deemed nothing more than just that to him. He is everywhere but nowhere at


    the same time. I know, even as I look at my sister that I need to let him go.


    My sister has still not gotten engaged as yet. But Papa sent for her yesterday which meant he had


    news. I could tell she wanted to get married, ria was not making my sister¡¯s life any easier and Guilia


    looked like she was going to explode soon.


    She did not stay away from Marco when he came by yesterday hoping that his meeting with Papa


    meant he wanted to marry her. But that was not the case, even as na?ve as I was to believe he wanted


    me, knew that while he entertained Guilia yesterday, he has eyes for a certain brte head, brown


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    eyed Moretti. A true Italian goddess.


    Cami Moretti showed up a day after Ren¡¯s funeral. My sister told me that Marco and her had history.


    They grew up together until her parents died. I wasn¡¯t someone who gossiped but even I was intrigued


    by the story.


    Her arrival came at an impromptu time. It hurt me when I found out that he was dating her from a


    Gossip column my sister put on my phone. It gutted me when I had to look at a picture with the two of


    them gazing into each other¡¯s eyes and admit that he was never meant to be mine. He was hers.


    Until a few months ago, I waited for the chance to see him from afar. A part of me hoped he would look


    at me and realize what he was missing out on. But one Friday I didn¡¯t see him walk into our home.


    I was standing by the front door with my back to it. Still wearing my pj¡¯s which were a loose white vest


    and sleep shorts with lord of the rings written on the ass,pliments of my friend, Diane who was a


    kickass wedding nner and one of the few ¡®Normal¡¯ friends Papa actually liked.


    My hair was piled up onto the top of my head with a paintbrush holding it up and my feet were bare and


    a bit dirty from lounging at the pool while I waited for my Painting to dry so I can do touch ups. It was


    just after 2 in the afternoon.


    Papa had called me and asked if I could open the door for his ¡®Guest¡¯. I decided to do it on my own,


    rather than call one of our housedies. I was notzy and I thought this guest could be Filippo or


    Guilia. This was not the case.


    When I opened the door, and looked up it was none other than Marco fucking Catelli. He was looking


    delicious and I wanted him to be there to whisk me away and do dirty things to me that I saw Lucifer do


    to Eve on Netflix the night before.


    But instead of greeting me and doing those things, he stood there staring at me. His gaze dropping to


    study my entire body, from my dirty size 6 feet, to my bare legs and knees that must have been


    shaking, to the vest that belonged to my brother until I swiped it, and my bra less pointy breast which I


    was certain dimmedpared to his lovely Cami.


    Which was the reason as to why I watched him, silently fuming and cursing the day he was born as I


    gave him the death re to end all death res in my mind. Obviously, in reality I didn¡¯t have the


    courage to lose my shit with him, and secretly I was hoping he would say something. Anything.


    He didn¡¯t.


    He tightened his jaw, grabbed a hold of my hips,pletely not caring about ¡®boundaries¡¯ and moved


    me out of the way. I did re at him then and he arched his brow as to say ¡®What are you going to do


    about it?¡¯


    Papa came in then, and I rushed away after he informed me that I had paint all over my cheek.


    Since then I ducked when Marco was near, and I avoided him like he was infected with the coronavirus.


    I still saw him from my window, or the security room which was packed with surveince cameras. So


    maybe I was exaggerating a bit about him avoiding me, okay well maybe a lot. But he knew I was


    around, he could havee to find me. He didn¡¯t.

 Chapter 60 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 60 (Aliyana)


    I¡¯m not sure why I care so much for the mad man, but I do and I can¡¯t tell anyone, even Deno who


    knows that I still harbor feelings for Marco. He spoke about him often enough, and even suggested that


    Marco and I should be friends, but I never said a thing, not even to agree to it.


    Sometimes secrets are what keep us alive.


    This is for the best.


    Our moments are nothing more than a memory. Fleeting. I say those words when I hear his name, or


    see him from the safety of my window as he steps into my home. A lie I havee to believe at least


    where Marco is concerned.


    Guilia spins around and rolls her eyes at me when I throw my white and pink emoticon pillow at her


    when she sticks out her butt.


    She barely manages to walk toward where I am sitting on my bed before falling t on her face.


    Iugh, my words are choked as I say, ¡°You look ridiculous, you can¡¯t even walk.¡±


    She makes a deep throaty sound of frustration, which causes me tough louder, ¡°At least tell me you


    will consider Deno?¡±


    "No, Yana. I like him Marco. He is a much better option than anyone Papa would choose and I am a


    better choice than Cami. She isn¡¯t sweet enough, she reminds me of an evil viin. I don¡¯t trust her."


    She smiles at me, as she moves her hair out of her make-up free face, giving me that look that I know


    isn¡¯t going to go away because she believes in what she says.


    ¡°You only don¡¯t trust her because you want her man,¡± I tease her as she manages to turn on the side,


    facing my sitting form.


    She touches my nose when I scrunch it up knowing she is not going to be happy when he breaks her


    heart like he broke mine. But nor am I able to take Guilia serious with her wild hair failing all over her


    face, or her crazy eyes that are suddenly looking at me as if I stole her favorite shoes. Considering she


    loves all of them, in fact Guilia loves all things fashion. Opposite to me.


    ¡°Maybe you shoulde with me for Lunch with Deno, he is really nice.¡± I suggest it as I stare at the


    seam of the pink dress, looking ready to rip off her body. She has filled out these passing months. My


    sister has a curvy body nowpared to 6 months ago, where she was almost straight with a bit of


    ass. She is all woman now. Ready to be a wife.


    "No, we all can''t be a second daughter and sneak around with a group of very sexy, dangerous Made-


    Men. Or be friends with our future Capo, while he whisks you away to some romantic secret ce to


    devour you. If I even visited Azure, Papa will not think twice about turning my ass a few shades of


    purple, that is after Filippo gets to me."


    "You mean a half-blood daughter, and you are too old to get a hiding. Plus I didn¡¯t get devoured. I told


    you Deno and I didn¡¯t sneak off. He was driving really fast." I rify as my sister flicks her dark hair out


    of her face trying to get up from the bed and failing. She huffs and I chuckle at her position. I am not


    helping her.


    ¡°So you say, but I don''t believe you, and you will never admit it, I was surprised when you called to tell


    me you¡¯ve been ducking around at night. And I know it is for my own good even though I am older than


    you. But, either way you look at it, you can sneak out at night, meet a hot man and fall deep in love with


    him, I can¡¯t. I can''t even leave our home without ria asking me a billion questions. I wish I was you.¡±


    The true reason why Papa would let me marry whom I choose was only because I was part Russian. It


    wasn''t my age, but the other half of my gics that allowed me options and that is something Guilia


    always forgot.


    ¡°No you don''t, trust me.¡± There are pros and cons to being me. The pros is my freedom to an extent as


    Papa recently reminded me, I still have chains.


    The other pro is not getting married to some ugly old fat man because I have a duty to my family and


    that is about it.


    The cons are more. One of those cons where the fact that I had to marry a Made-Man, and he had to


    be of high rank.


    Which I thought would be easy a few months back. But considering that I have given an eye to a


    number of guys from Campus I knew were made. Well, more than a few times in my attempt to rid


    myself of my Catelli addiction which I admit failed miserably, I had to rethink things.


    What I found was that my father''s restrictions to my eventual marriage was going to leave me without a


    husband.


    A high rank Italian Made-Man didn''t want a Mezzosangue as Marco called me, as a wife. They wanted


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    a nice Italian beauty who wore fancy dresses and sky-high heels like Cami and my sister. I hated


    heels, and dresses were something I only wore when I had a bikini underneath or I was attending the


    rare function with my family.


    And I was not someone who smiled when I didn''t want to. I also had an education that I would one day


    like to use. Yes, a high rank Made-Man would not appreciate any of that.


    Another thing was my rtionship with Mero, Michel, Gabriel and Deno. I couldn''t see a life without


    them. And the asional visit from Dexter, or Elisa.


    Getting a guy who is going to love me, and still get the approval stamp from Papa is something which is


    not going to be easy, for a list of reasons. One of them being the sole fact that our kid will have Bratva


    blood in their veins. That isn''t going to go down well, as my first child will also have to be given to that


    said Bratva. Which meant a war as I would not allow that to happen.


    The other reason is the part where I am Sartini Capello¡¯s half-blood daughter. My father is a scary man,


    and the scowl on his face he manages to keep inpany doesn''t allow for an easy conversation to


    say ¡®I want to marry your daughter.¡¯


    Well, marriage for me was not going to be easy, and I am relieved Papa hasn''t broached the subject.


    He seems content to have me home, unmarried for now.


    On one side I am d but, on the other, there is this part that wants something I can''t have and I wish


    my father could give it to me. Marco was right when he said I didn¡¯t want the choice. The choice or


    choices didn¡¯t want me either.


    Maybe that is the reason I always chose to take risks.


    Papa has loved me from the day he saw me, and he has imed me as his favorite from then too. A


    Russians'' daughter.


    But I knew if it wasn¡¯t for the mask, I wore of my mother that would not be the case.

 Chapter 61 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 61 (Aliyana)


    My mother was killed years back in a gun down. It was the one time, Guilia ever saw Papa cry.


    Some med the Irish, others med the Russians, and the Germans but no one knew who it was


    besides my Papa who was set on revenge. With Ren it was a simr death, a gun down. The worst


    way to die.


    After Capo Marcello lost his son, our men were going wild. For the past few months they have hunted


    down and I am certain, killed many people. But they don¡¯t know who is responsible. I do, as well as


    Deno, Michel, Mero, Gabriel, begrudgingly Marco and an old friend, Dexter. Michel, Mero and Gabriel


    wanted revenge, but Deno had a n and acting out isn''t part of it. I was still uncertain which of my


    friends were behind it. Or if any.


    My sister¡¯s butt sticks out as she finally manages to get herself off the bed from wiggling her stomach


    down the mattress. She looks crazy.


    Regardless of how my life has been these past months, I sit on the edge of my bed and Iugh as I


    smack her butt - hard.


    Guilia grabs my small cream throw pillow and hits my head with it. I grab the big continental behind me


    and fling it on her head. She flops back on the bedughing.


    ¡°Not funny Yana.¡± Her carefree, untarnished eyes smile at me. It makes me a bit jealous of her. I would


    never have that.


    I never got the chance to be so innocent. Papa made sure his favorite daughter knew no such luxury


    when he decided to send me into Russo territory and then decided he would teach me a Bratva


    tradition.


    When I was twelve my Papa found one of the men who killed my mother. He kept the guy locked up for


    weeks.


    I was home for winter break, my mind was stuck on the Harry Potter books and the painting I was


    working on was my vision of Hogwarts.


    Papa called for me, he always sent our housedies. This time he sent a soldier to call me, Quintin. I


    followed him down to the study unaware of what I was walking into. When I knocked on his door, he


    told me toe in.


    It was the middle of winter and I had this baggy old t-shirt Filippo gave me, with sleeping beauty


    painted on it in mixed colors.


    Papa told me to hurry up, and I knew he was in the secret room behind the bookshelves. The one we


    were forbidden to go in.


    He told me toe, not be scared. I was twelve, he was allowing me into a forbidden room, how could


    I not be scared. I was clueless as I stepped into the room. I was the same age a male man bes a


    Made-Man.


    And like a right of passage for our men, in secret with people I can¡¯t remember, in the middle of winter,


    my Papa gave me mine when he ced a gun in my hand and told me that the man on the chair


    bleeding in the middle of the room, was the one who killed my mother.


    I knew what he expected me to do, I didn¡¯t need to be told and I didn''t hesitate as I put those bullets in


    the man''s head. One for every time Guilia had heard my father cry out my mother¡¯s name. One for my


    sister who will never know the love of her parents and one for my Papa, because unlike me who had


    never tasted the sweet bliss of my mother¡¯s smile and witnessed her vibrancy he spoke about, he did.


    I expected something reverie to happen after I killed him, satisfaction. Something that would tell me this


    day was something special, even if it was from horror stories whispered to little kids, but I felt nothing.


    The gun was loud and it hurt my ears, maybe a bit heavy too. The man¡¯s body jerked with every shot


    and I might have heard a few gasps, but me? I felt nothing. Maybe nothingness is a feeling.


    Papa told me to leave after that and I did. I went back upstairs to my room and finished my painting.


    Since that day I have lived up to my name. I am a killer, and my father¡¯s daughter. I am also the one


    who knows his secret and it is not Elisa Russo. My father¡¯s secret is much bigger than his infidelity and


    the punishment for those crimes are death.


    "Aliyana, drivers here" Papa screams from the bottom of the staircase.


    ¡°Coming old man,¡± I yell back. Yeah, I am my father¡¯s daughter.


    My long hair brushes my back as I jump off the bed. I grab my ck converse shoes thaty on


    opposite ends of my bedroom. They are a bit dirty, but I love them.


    Shoving them in myptop bag, I grab my leather satchel. Turning in time to watch my sister on her


    phone, in that pink tight dress.


    "Guilia?"


    "Yeah," She looks up to me, and smiles.


    "You always look best in blue." I wink as I open the door and rush down the stairs barefoot.


    "Did you remember to take your shoes?" Papa says as he walks into the entrance way opening the


    door for me.


    I smile, "Yes Papa. Love you, old man," I kiss my Papa on his cheek and rush toward the Bentley


    double checking I packed my shoes in my bag just in case.


    "Morning Jere," I say to the driver. Since the death of Ren my father and siblings have relocated to


    Washington State, I¡¯m just d it isn¡¯t with me, they were living in Kirnd. My Papa said I could


    continue with my studies as long as I came home before 7. The drive from my University to Bellingham


    is a distance so I understood his paranoia.


    What I didn¡¯t like was Matteo Di Salvo in my space. Today he wasn¡¯t with us for the drive, but true to


    word for thest 6 months Matteo has been my new soldier. And he has a voice he loves and I despise.


    I had to beg Papa to send Jere and let Romero and Michel guard me today so I can fetch my friends


    without his interference.


    Matteo was of no use to me, just a hindrance I wanted to get rid of. My night time activities hade to


    an almostplete stop even before Papa punished me.


    Which meant I didn¡¯t see Elisa as often as I wanted to, which wasn¡¯t often at all.


    I still snuck out to the guys, and Deno covered me at other times but since Papa has now stated he


    didn¡¯t want me ¡®disappearing¡¯ with Fuckin¡¯ Deno fuckin¡¯ Catelli, Deno covering for me didn¡¯t seem like a


    possibility in any near future.


    I had to give Matteo points for his loyalty to Papa though, but I wanted that loyalty aimed to me. I


    needed it to be.


    "Morning Miss Capello, shall we go fetch Miss Bray?" Jere is a 40-year-old soldier. His father and


    brothers have been protecting the Consigliere of The Capo Dei Capi for years. In our world, trust and


    honor goes along way. He isn¡¯t an Italian but to be a part of the The Capo Dei Capi¡¯s people Papa said,


    breed was not something taken into ount.


    "Yes, and Josey too please."


    "Yes ma''am."


    ¡°Jere, do you think we can stop at Kylie¡¯s house for a bit after Ie home and change?¡±


    ¡°Sure, your father said he didn¡¯t mind you going out Miss Capello, he just wants you home before it


    getste.¡±


    ¡°I know, but sometimes what my father says and ends up doing is theplete opposite.¡±


    ¡°Mr Capello just wants you safe Miss Capello.¡±


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    I sigh, as a textes to my phone.


    Where are you, what did guard boy say?


    Leonardo will be there ;)


    .KB


    Kylie¡¯s text makes me smile for 2 reasons, 1 because I still had her thinking I waspletely hooked


    on Leonardo which I was nning on rifying soon. The 2nd was because she was Kylie Bray, and


    an awesome friend with a personality as vibrant as the smile she always blessed you with.


    I don¡¯t respond to her because we are already at her gate. Kylie used to drive to campus every day, her


    ce isn¡¯t very far from mine, so recently I started fetching her after Vincent gave me a call. Why he


    chose to treat her like nothing but behind her back keep her safe was something I didn¡¯t understand


    and didn¡¯t want to understand since I gave him a wide berth and he did the same with me. For good


    reason.


    Diamond, Ren¡¯s girlfriend couldn¡¯t stay with others due to her destructive temper and her mind. I knew


    she was a genius but I didn¡¯t know how dangerous a genius she was until I found out she was the


    reason the Bratva kidnapped Kylie¡¯s brother, Jace Stone. Diamond was also the reason Kylie gave up


    the sorority life and chose to drive an hour and a half to Campus every day. This I found out from the


    guys, meaning Mero, Michel and Gabriel, and a bit from a very drunken Kylie.


    Diamond and Kylie are close, closer than sisters. I envy their bond. They would never feel loneliness


    because they will always have each other.


    I will never have that, I was born in a lonely world, where every move has to be precisely orchestrated if


    you wish to stay just a bit longer and though I have the boys and Deno they were getting older. Soon


    their loyalty will change, and so would mine.

 Chapter 62 (Camilla)

    Chapter 62 (Cami)


    ¡°Why can¡¯t she stay here now? One weekend isn¡¯t going to put her in danger.¡± My feet follow the tall


    man as he walks around my bedroom putting his shirt over his naked back.


    I know what I look like, my hair is wild, my face in a tight scowl as I remain a tail on his back. It is in my


    DNA to be pliant, to follow the lead of a man. But this man, knows there is not a pliant bone in my body.


    I have shown him all of what makes me, I have given myself to him and he has epted me.


    My Grandfather had instilled in me, my route of survival in this wicked world I was born into was my


    ability to remain unseen unless spoken to. That was never me and the day I saw the man he was, he


    knew.


    I knew eventually my time woulde to get married, I am 29 hardly young in our world of crime and


    blood. In fact I am old. I should be a mother by now.


    I was hoping when the time came to sacrifice my soul and body, I would at least have some choice, but


    my Grandfather , thest remaining piece of my father decided for me.


    And right now, 6 months after I arrived in Seattle, the Catelli¡¯s district, turf. I still don¡¯t understand why


    my Grandfather chose this man. When I sat in his office all those months ago, I thought he would have


    chosen a Capello or Vasati. Not a Catelli, especially not the boy I once loved.


    My Grandfather basically pawned me off to a Catelli. The Catelli are known for their ruthless control of


    what they deem as theirs. They are one of the most powerful families in America, controlling most of


    the North, and part of the South.


    Some of those ces they took once belonged to my family, before they took it. My Grandfather was


    still powerful in his own right and feared, he was after all the Capo Dei Capi once upon a time and now


    the Godfather of all Godfathers and I am the sole heir to everything that is his.


    Obviously because of the way of our world, that power will go to the man who married me, the man I


    am currently ring at. The boy I once loved, who is now a man I am deeply inlove with.


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you even reply me? A simple no Cami will suffice.¡±


    ¡°You look too cute when you angry. I like you cute,¡± He says as he gets his watch off my white night


    stand next to the bed and though I want to be angry at him I lose it.


    Marco Catelli is a lot of things, but he is a man I havee to love deeply in thesest 6 months. More


    than the boy I once loved.


    ¡°And you frustrate me when you ignore me.¡± I cover the two steps between us and he spins around


    sensing my body heat, his dark ck orbits stare at me, as my pulse races. HE IS MINE


    His armse around my body as his shadowed cheeks stretch into a smile.


    This is happiness and I have it with him. Marco believes it is temporary and soon it will be destroyed.


    How could something so right, and full be destroyed?


    ¡°Once everything is sorted, we can move to the manor and she¡¯ll be with us, for now I need her safe.


    Once we have your Grandfather off our backs and stuff with La out of the way we will all be a family.


    Have you spoken to Salvatore?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, I hear he is getting hired by Sartini Capello as a soldier for his daughter.¡± I tell him and I don¡¯t


    bare it any mind when Marco¡¯s jaw flexes.


    For some reason he spends a lot of time with Sartini Capello. It isn¡¯t my business to know these things,


    but sometimes I can¡¯t help but be made aware. After all, Salvatore Moretti and Michel Moretti happen to


    be my cousins and familyes first when we are nning our allies.


    ¡°Did he mention which daughter?¡±


    ¡°How many does he have?¡±


    He ignores my question and releases me with a peck on my nose. I roll my eyes as I pick up my phone,


    I discarded on the bed in our frenzy to get our clothes off. Gosh, I love him.


    The thought of what we did has me smiling as I dial Michel watching my very sexy man getting


    dressed.


    ¡°Hey cuz. Congrattions is in order, though I will be there for the dinner this weekend,¡± Michel says as


    he answers on the third ring.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I look at Marco as he stands now fully clothed in my bedroom with that sexy smirk on his


    face looking at me still naked. His eyes are heated.


    I ampletely naked apart from the big rock on my wedding finger.


    I love you Cami. No one will take you away from me. Those words whispered to me early hours of


    the morning, as he took my body in a way that will haunt me. His vow, so vulnerable, just for me. No


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    one will take him away from me either.

 Chapter 63 (Camilla)

    Chapter 63 (Cami)


    ¡°What can I do you for? Or do for you?¡± My cousins voice has matured thesest years.


    ¡°A quick question, I hear Salvatore will be working with you.¡±


    ¡°Yup, Aliyana is going to be 21 in a year. Exciting times cousin. Sartini is not too keen on marrying his


    girl off, so he wants a full on soldier petrol for his daughter until then. She doesn¡¯t know it yet, but word


    is Deno was the one who suggested it. The two of them are very close.¡± I heard about the girl, she was


    a half-blood and seemed harmless enough but also scarce. Almost like a ghost who you only knew by


    name.


    ¡°Poor girl, it isn¡¯t easy been the apple of a bad man¡¯s eye. I hope I get to see her soon.¡±


    ¡°Why do you wanna do that?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s never at any of the functions.¡±


    He pauses, I know my cousin has a close rtionship with this Aliyana, but I am not sure how far his


    loyalty with her goes.


    ¡°Yeah, be thankful she isn¡¯t.¡± Wow, okay. He was very loyal to her. Interesting.


    ¡°Why is that?¡± My light moodes to alert at the slight jab my cousin just gave me but my curiosity is


    peaked.


    ¡°Ask your fianc¨¦. I am sure he will have a few words to say about that, he does after all see her every


    day.¡± He clips the phone off and my entire face gets red as I stare at Marco slightly fuming that my brat


    little cousin just cut the call.


    Michel¡¯s words sour in my ears. I want to ask him, but I am not a fool, I am 29 years old and I have


    lived with killers my entire life, I know how this game works. Aliyana Capello is a little girlpared to


    me. She doesn¡¯t stand a chance. Marco loves me and she spends time with Deno not Marco.


    Obviously, I don¡¯t think Marco would appreciate my thoughts so I close it up and smile at him.


    ¡°Aliyana. Apparently Deno suggested she has her own little army of soldiers at her beck and call. Her


    and I seem to have something inmon. I would love to meet her.¡±


    I watch his face, but he gives away nothing as he stands and watches me but those eyes, ck pools


    of depths that belong to me, say a lot of stuff. I just don¡¯t know what.


    I feel vulnerable, naked as I stand across from him fully clothed.


    ¡°I have business to attend. I¡¯ll see youter.¡± He doesn¡¯t kiss me goodbye as he normally does and I


    don¡¯t move from where I am standing as he leaves me alone in my bedroom. Something about what I


    said affected him. I need to know what.


    Marco loves me.


    I go to my phones search engine and type her name. There are so many. I sit on the corner of my white


    unmade bed and go to Michel¡¯s profile on Instagram, and scroll down. A smile ys on my lips as I see


    the name Yana. I open it but I see it is a private profile.


    I stare at her face. She is blonde. I frown, she looks nothing like an Italian woman, nothing like me.


    I type in her name and scroll through pictures, hours pass by, as I sit here in my bedroom and spy on


    this girl. Naked.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Eventually I find her on Facebook through another person¡¯s profile. The famous Kylie Bray. The Texan


    woman is a high-profile socialite and billionaire. She keeps her private life private but for some reason


    a few years ago we connected on Facebook. Not sure who friended who.


    I look through her photos and like predicted is the girl who has now caught my attention for thest two


    hours.


    ¡°What is your story Aliyana Capello and how are you connected to my man.¡± I whisper as I stare at the


    group photo, with three girls, Kylie Bray in a purple cocktail dress with a whiskey in her hand, a younger


    girl with blonde long hair, crazy blue eyes holding a pop in her hand wearing a blue dress that is


    identical to Kylie, and the now mystery Aliyana Capello who is sitting on Gabriel DeMarco¡¯sp


    formal clothes she is wearing a ck t-shirt that is filled with paint stains and a ripped jean. A child.


    Feeling better once I see the few pictures with Aliyana again but this time with Marco¡¯s deceased


    brother as he holds her in a bride style, and another with her ring at a smiling Lorenzo as she points


    a paintbrush at his face.


    I release a sigh of relief. And my cousin¡¯s rtionship to her making more sense. They were close


    because they went to school together. She was probably in love with Lorenzo. It makes sense after


    Michel got defensive and also could exin why he suggested asking Marco. I know the boy¡¯s death


    wasn¡¯t an easy one.


    I saw pictures Marco showed to me, surprising however, if Aliyana was so close to Lorenzo why did


    none of the pictures Marco showed me have her in it. I frown.


    I won¡¯t be asking him anything, but I want to know more about her, call it my curiosity.


    I dial a number I use often since I moved to this part of the world.


    ¡°Yes Madam.¡±


    ¡°I need you to look into someone for me, Aliyana Capello, Sartini Capello¡¯s daughter.¡±


    He is quiet, and I frown.


    ¡°Constantine,¡± I say into the phone.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that. Sartini Capello will kill you and I for even saying her name, but I can tell you that she is


    half Bratva and protected by people even your Grandfather can¡¯t protect you from.¡± He clicks the call off


    and I inhale a deep breath as my pulse quickens. He is the 2nd dead end I havee to when


    mentioning her.


    I stare at the door in my room as my mind runs wild at how the fuck, am I going to do this and who the


    fuck is this young girl.

 Chapter 64 (Marco)

    Chapter 64 (Marco)


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we at least give him a thumbs up?¡± Deno says as we leave the car with our men behind us.


    The doors mming shut are louder in the quiet neighborhood.


    ¡°No. He¡¯s going to fuck up anyway. This way his fuckup can get me what I want.¡± I close my button of


    my suit jacket as we walk toward the house. I click my neck as the sharp pain pulling the muscle on my


    shoulder contracts.


    ¡°Told youst week to go see Sherry about that neck of yours.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°Stubborn man,¡± He mutters as we round the corner of the empty street.


    My phone chimes and I slip it out already knowing who is calling.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°She did as you said she would, she¡¯s been on the inte searching for Aliyana and went to Kylie


    Bray¡¯s Facebook, which might I just add, that Texan girl is smoking. I also managed to get all the


    pictures of Aliyana cleared off the other list of profiles you sent through and kept the few you wanted


    shown on Kylie¡¯s Facebook. I took the pictures with your brother and her and also disyed them


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    under Kylie¡¯s profile. I also made Aliyana¡¯s Instagram profile Private which was a good thing, since she


    has a picture of you staring at her in the background. Thought that might piss off the she demon.¡±


    Iugh at hisment, ¡°Good job Luke.¡±


    ¡°I thought when I started working for you, I¡¯ll be hacking into the Pentagon or decoding stuff that is


    important, not spying on a spoilt woman who has nothing better to do than spy on other people, sorry


    Mr Catelli.¡± I smile at the young hacker¡¯s tenacious personality.


    ¡°You will soon get your hands dirty once it is all over. I told you working for me will keep you safe.¡±


    ¡°Did Vincent say anything about Michael Stone still looking for me?¡±


    ¡°No, Stone has his hands full, he has forgotten about you, good work. Block her from finding anything


    else on Aliyana.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, but there was something else, she called a number I linked back to a Constantine Ferriera,


    would you like the details.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I cut the call as we get to the side of the house, slip my phone in my jacket pocket, and pull out


    my Glock. I turn silently to position my men with a few hand signals, grin at my brother when he shakes


    his head. Today is going to be a good day.


    ¡°She demon,¡± Deno murmurs as I clip the safety off my piece and shake my head.


    ¡°Cami is digging her nose in ces it doesn¡¯t belong. We need to get this shit done fast,¡± I say to


    Deno as I kick down the door of the house, aware the ce is empty but we can never be too sure.


    ¡°Gather all the papers you can find. I want this room immacte. Don¡¯t fuck around,¡± I tell my men as


    Deno and I stand around the kitchen area of the house La Sanati was supposed to own via an


    offshorepany we knew belonged to him.


    ¡°Got a lunch date with yours truly tomorrow. Why don¡¯t you stop by, say hello, be friends. Or better yet,


    leave Cami, marry Aliyana,¡± Deno suggests as we walk through the kitchen looking at the pictures of


    our cousin stuck on the wall. She has lost a lot of weight.


    ¡°Not happening. She hates my fucking guts, should see the way she res at me from that fuckin¡¯


    window of hers,¡± I pause, ¡°And I love Cami.¡±


    I ignore the pointed stare he gives me as I frown at my cousin¡¯s photo on the wall. The pictures vary,


    but she is in that god damn hooded jersey in all of them. She wants to be caught. Why?


    Her location varies. One in particr catches my attention as Deno removes the one above it probably


    noticing something on that one too.


    ¡°I don¡¯t me Aliyana. You made fuckin¡¯ promises. Kissed her on my rooftop, then again, the day we


    put our brother to rest. iming her, then throwing her aside. Now you marrying Cami, the she


    demon as Luke clearly stated. I would be just as pissed off.¡±


    ¡°Get to your point,¡± I keep my voice low as I examine the picture in his hand.


    ¡°You fucked up, acting without thinking, now I am the one scraping up the fuckin¡¯ pieces, while trying to


    prevent a group of power hungry, revengeful youngsters from starting a fucking war with her help.¡±


    Pause , ¡°She''s grown on me.¡±


    ¡°I never asked you to pick up anything, you walked into that all by yourself. You choose to be her


    ¡®friend¡¯ and mend her ¡®broken'' soul as you put it. You also choose to engage in their plots and schemes.


    When we both know if you wanted, you could simply order the entire bunch to stand the fuck down.


    You like it, they keep you young,¡± I inform Deno of what we both already know. I do it calmly, as we


    both remain staring at the pictures of our cousin. Better yet, La Sanati''s wife, and Mischa''s mother.


    Deno smirks and I know this conversation is not about his sudden interest in Aliyana but his dislike for


    Cami.

 Chapter 65 (Marco)

    Chapter 65 (Marco)


    ¡°If you touch her, I will not be happy,¡± I warn him not for the first time. Both of us knowing who we are


    talking about.


    ¡°Sometimes you make it hard to love you brother.¡±


    I tighten my jaw still staring at the picture of Amariya, her face under the ck hoody as she walks in a


    dark alley.


    Where the fuck are you, cousin?


    ¡°Not impossible. I am happy with Cami. You know that, her and I have history. Aliyana needs to move


    on without you ying knight. It was never going to work with her. She is a Mezzosangue.¡± My voice


    remains just as calm and soft but my words are not. My brother is close to Aliyana. Too close and


    people were asking questions. My father one of them. Those questions weren¡¯t of the nice kind that


    would easily be put to rest. Sartini wasn¡¯t a man who let things slide easily away. He took the smallest


    thing fucking seriously. For good reason. In our world you had to be cruel to remain alive.


    Her father called me a few days ago, requesting I remind Deno of the lines he crossed ¡®disappearing''


    with Aliyana. What I wanted to know was why Deno found Aliyana a point of interest since Ren passed


    on. One can never know with my brother.


    He gets up into my face and res at me as he ms the picture in his hand behind me on the


    counter. My face remains impassive while my brother¡¯s scowl says how not impressed he actually is.


    He looks like the fucking Capo he was born to be with his death re aimed at me. He is pissed. Not


    something new, rather something I was expecting when I sent him a message informing him of my


    engagement. If he just smiled and gave me a pat on the back, then he would not be my brother.


    ¡°Keep telling yourself that. You know what pisses me off about this entire fuckin¡¯ thing? Is the fact that


    you stand here spilling out fuckin¡¯ bullshit. You go to Cami and fuck her, whispering those fuckin¡¯


    sweet nothings in her ear, professing your love and devotion, but yet the first thing you do when you


    leave her house is call your little minion. You spend more time at Aliyana¡¯s house waiting to see her


    even if it is a fuckin¡¯ re she¡¯s aiming your way from her window, for those seconds you pass her.


    Then you warn off every fucker that wants her? Yeah brother, I know what you told Piero when he


    mentioned her at the g. The only person you are fooling is your fuckin¡¯ self. If you want her then


    fucking take her, but don¡¯t keep her in your back pocket, hurting, when you and I both know she


    deserves much better.¡±


    I take a deep breath as I glide my fingers through my hair. I need a fucking haircut and a stiff drink. One


    thing my brother knows how to do is give me a fucking headache.


    ¡°I am a fuckin¡¯ Catelli, we don¡¯t go back on our word. What the fuck do you expect me to do? Start a


    war over pussy?¡±


    He puts his finger on my suit jacket,


    ¡°You¡¯re also a DeMarco, we take what we want, and Aliyana Capello is what you want, a


    Mezzosangue. Take her, or let her go, but let me tell you something Marco, I have spent time with


    Aliyana and I have spent time with Cami and if I have to choose, I would start a fucking war any day.¡±


    I have never seen my brother so worked up about something unless it was worth something. I know


    what he is telling me, but it won¡¯t change my mind.


    ¡°Cami is going to be my wife, it is what it is. I know your feelings toward Cami isn''t misguided. Six


    months ago your were telling me I shouldn''t marry her and I should marry Cami, now you have


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    important thing. Try to be happy for me.¡± I keep my voice low, exining things to my brother.


    You keep the nightmares away Marco. Cami''s words y in my head and that feeling around my


    heart tightens.


    ¡°Sir.¡± Comes my soldier Sandro, his ck suit and white shirt fit him like he is a model, not the killer he


    was trained to be or the right-hand soldier to the most dangerous man in the State.


    ¡°What?¡± I ask him as he turns and walks down the hall with Deno and I following behind, side by side.


    ¡°Proud of you.¡± Only Deno hears me as we turn into the room. The four men all standing looking at the


    wall.


    I move them away slightly by my presence and my gut clenches. On the wall is pictures stuck to a


    fucking pin board, pictures of the girl I have spent thest five years protecting. Mischa


    And in one of those pictures is something else entirely.


    My body is still, and everybody in the room remains silent. The six of us here in this room, all have a


    story to tell behind our rtionship with Mischa.


    My men here, now, have watched her grow up, helped fucking make bottles, carried her on their


    shoulders. They weren¡¯t just on my payroll, they were family and Mischa, my fucking blood.


    ¡°Clear everything you can find.¡± I spin on my heel and get the fuck out of there. I have seen war, been


    in it, tasted the smell of death, seen kids die for nothing but existing in the wrong ce at the wrong


    time.


    Nothingpares to what I am feeling now, knowing La and what he is about, knowing that he is


    looking for Mischa.


    ¡°He has fucking pictures of her in the mall. I was with her.¡± Deno says nothing and there is nothing else


    to say.


    The soldiers take an hour to pick up all the shit and load it up. An hour I stand outside under the


    Autumn breeze and contemte how the fuck I am going to keep Mischa safe, keep Cami happy


    and protected from her Grandfather , catch Lorenzo¡¯s killers and protect my brother who is going to be


    the head of the Famiglia sooner than he knew.


    I had one y and Aliyana Capello¡¯s happiness was not part of that n.


    I slip my phone out of my pocket and dial a number I am not keen on dialling.


    ¡°This better be important.¡± The clipped response is something I expect.


    ¡°We have a problem to discuss.¡± The silence on the other end is also expected.


    ¡°Roof top, Azure 8.17.¡± The call ends as I stare at my brother who is giving me his worried look.


    I was not bound by thews of my brother, my contact list did not consist of the Famiglia and their


    allies. Mine was much longer and darker. I had a lot of blood on that list, a lot of people willing to bend


    to my will. But just as many enemies who were willing to die so I can fall.


    My father told me that power is the greatest weapon one can hold in our world, but with poweres a


    lot of darkness, corruption and gruesome horrors we need to ovee, because like everything in life,


    getting so much power doesn¡¯t mean you get to keep it for nothing. Ites with a high price.


    Sacrifice.


    Amariya DeMarco daughter of Stephano DeMarco our Capo Dei Capi paid the price of her father when


    her mother chose the life of a beggar on the streets over him. Mischa paid the price further when


    Amariya fell in love with La Sanati, got pregnant with his child. She paid it further when her mother


    left her, gave her to us to raise and protect and if I don¡¯t do something now, Mischa will continue to


    suffer a faith no child should ever have to, her psychotic father.


    No child needs to learn that their father is a monster, a boogeyman, even if she has the protection of


    the DEVIL himself.

 Chapter 66 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 66 (Aliyana)


    ¡°Have you seen the new La Crosse coach? He is sex on wheels, he can rub me up any day,¡± Kylie


    says in her Southern twang. Her long ck hair and deep honey eyes keep you entranced by her


    natural beauty. Right now, it is keeping meughing, as she wiggles them in the crazy way only Kylie


    can pull off.


    But it is her light olive skin and feminism that really hooks a person. I recall the day when I met Kylie.


    We were younger then. It was months before we started attending University. She was dressed in a


    short pink dress and heels so high that when she marched over with Ren to introduce herself to me, I


    had to look up.


    When she hugged me, I had my face in her boobs.


    That day still brings a smile to my face. I never had a female friend before her. Especially one as


    famous as she was. Her name was always in the news, not often in the tabloids.


    The Bray family were one of the richest families right up there with Delroy, Stone, Bezos and Gates.


    Her father was a respected man all over the world. When he spoke, everyone listened. He was a


    ruthless businessman known for his smart mind when it came to business. I know because I did an


    assignment on him for my Eco ss a few months ago.


    It wasn''t long after I met Kylie did, she introduce me to Diamond. Where Kylie is night, Diamond is the


    star that lit her up.


    She has white golden hair, as long as my own and the biggest eyes that you can''t forget, they are so


    blue.


    Her skin is so pale but it is the way she stares at something or someone, that leaves that impression


    which really gets a person hooked. She caught the eye of Ren and my friend was hooked from that firstContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    day. It was like a meant to be moment. I knew, he watched her and I felt it deep inside. Beautiful,


    forever.


    The thought of Ren causes that ache in that familiar ce to pain. Reminding me it never went away.


    The pain felt from losing someone never goes away, it bruises you, but it gets easier because you learn


    to live with it. Sometimes, like this moment, it reminds you that it is never going to fade.


    Diamond is a known genius, but one with a lot of secrets and one of those secrets I know is the reason


    my friend is dead. I knew more than she would allow any body to see because my extra-mural activities


    might have been on hold for now but I had friends that knew me, friends that knew they wanted to stay


    friends.


    She rolls her eyes when Kylie takes her phone out and starts showing me pictures, I can¡¯t help but look


    at.


    Josey remains upied with the gaming app she¡¯s been creating. Josey, I met recently. A few months


    in College and there she was at the bottom of the staircase. We became close and though her offer of


    bing my lover if I ever wanted to swing her way was always open, she didn¡¯t suffocate me with


    that knowledge.


    Kylie shows me a particr picture of a zoomed shot of the coach¡¯s butt in shorts.


    ¡°An ass that tight, you needa grip it hard and dig deep,¡± Kylie says in a husky voice as my skin turns


    beet red, knowing that Kylie has had sex many times.


    One night after Ren¡¯s passing, I visited her and Diamond. We got drunk on shooters and long ind ice


    tea. The sex topic came up and my friend was very descriptive when I asked her what it felt like. She


    was also thorough with the different ways it could go down and how it worked. At the time I was still


    hoping I would get the chance to test out all those things with Marco. So, I soaked it up and took mental


    notes, even going as far as to research some of the stuff.


    ¡°What time did we say we starting?¡± Josey asks Kylie.


    ¡°Any time after we open the door, Sugar.¡±


    ¡°Can I use yourptop quick?¡± Josey queries.


    ¡°Of-course, just mind the porn,¡± Kylie answers winking as Diamond opens the door to jump out already


    over the conversation of Kylie¡¯s dirty mind. The two of them are so far from having anything inmon.


    If you didn¡¯t know them you would think they were sisters and put up with each other. I knew different.


    I leave Kylie, Diamond and Josey at the mansion. Watching Kylie in her distressed denims, Jordan''s


    and loose vest waving her bangle arms that were covered with bracelets and leather straps she called


    mourning bands, flirt with the guard in front of her door.


    I don''t confirm whether I will be attending the party as I leave the houseughing.


    Truth is? I am not sure if I want to go any longer after hearing Leonardo was going to be there. I avoid


    him, like I wished Marco bodily harm whenever I saw him.


    ¡°Jere, you know if Papa¡¯s home?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss Capello, he is in a meeting with Mr Catelli.¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡± Jere doesn''t say anything about my million questions, as I have asked this many times


    before. Matteo normally asks me questions on top of mine giving me nothing. I normally proceed with a


    few very colorful words Papa would not be thrilled about hearinging from my mouth.


    ¡°Marco.¡± The name brings my nerves to an all-time high, and I hate it. His name just makes me mad.


    But also it is not surprising in the least, he is there.


    ¡°Can you wait for me to get dressed and take me back to Kylie¡¯s house Jere?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss Capello. Mr Deno Catelli will be joining your house too.¡±


    My face gets red as I see Jere smile from the rear-view mirror. The people in the Famiglia are nosey,


    and because Deno was a Catelli news spread like wild fire of my not too personal or private tonic


    friendship with Deno. But then, nothing about that particr Catelli was private except for the


    conversation we needed to discuss.


    ¡°He is just my friend Jere,¡± I rify before I jump out of the car and rush inside ignoring Jere¡¯s chuckle.


    It takes me thirty minutes to change. Guilia and Filippo are gone out so I don¡¯t need to make chitchat


    which works for me because I want to get out of this house before I see Marco and lose my shit. Today


    my temper seems to be riding on the surface. And I knew it was because of the man who was currently


    in my home, down the hall locked in an office with my father.


    Papa doesn''t leave his office, but I know he has been alerted of my arrival and departure.


    Barely 20 minutes have passed since I got here. The bottom part of Kylie¡¯s ce is filled with our


    Campus.


    ¡°We are so creepy, doing this,¡± Josey mumbles as we both sit by the window peeping at Leonardo. She


    was sitting with the biology majors when I arrived and rescued her from making a fool of herself. She


    has been crushing on Linda de since the biology major helped Josey find her phone. But Linda isn''t


    interested.

 Chapter 67 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 67 (Aliyana)


    Josey and I are in the same boat, except I avoid a confrontation with Marco while she goes all in. Either


    way, we¡¯re both aren''t getting what we want. Or better yet, who.


    Leonardo says something and startsughing.


    The guy is something to look at, but right now he is looking at a very fleshy brte and her D-cups. It


    isn''t the first time I imagine what Ren would do now if he were here.


    I miss him, every day.


    ¡°Do you ever n on talking to his brother? I am sure if you did he might just surprise you. He doesn''t


    seem like the dark and brooding type. I am sure his brother is the same. Still can''t believe he is part of


    the Syndicate.¡±


    I roll my eyes, as my knees remain nted on the couch and my fingers on the curtains.


    ¡°I told you I can''t, he is with Cami now. I am only half Italian.¡± I don¡¯t tell her Marco doesn¡¯t talk to me


    any longer. Or that we kissed thrice or thest time he physically removed me from my door without so


    much as a grunt. I am short but not light.


    Some secrets just needed to remain secrets. I have no idea why I even admitted that I had a crush on


    Marco. If Josey tells Kylie, she will know exactly who he is and what I am going through. Because Kylie


    is in love with Vincent and just like me, he doesn¡¯t love her back.


    A hard re-sounding sting burns my ass that I almost topple off the chair. Someone helps me and I spin


    around to look at Kylie and Diamond who areughing so loud.


    The music res and other people¡¯s loud conversations drown out most of it, which makes it difficult to


    say anything and be heard much less have a conversation with all of them.


    Kylie tilts her head as the music sts through the house with another song.


    I turn my head from habit while I begin to walk with my friends, and see two bikers walking behind me.


    Diamond cuts them out of sight as she gently puts her hand on my back and walks next to me.


    That speeds up my steps as my nerves go on end.


    What is Rosco doing here? Ist saw him when I was twelve. The only man to ever leave the Famiglia


    alive. I know because up until now I thought he was dead.


    His long hair, shaved skin and new clothes don''t make him a different person. I would recognize him


    anywhere, after all he is the splitting image of my uncle.


    What is he doing here?


    When we get to the ck door, Kylie refers to as her ¡®man cave'', she keys in the code and we get


    inside.


    Dark stained oak shelves greet us as the lights go on, and the hundreds of ornaments adorning them


    from different parts of the world.


    ¡°Did you miss me sweet thang?¡± The unknown biker says as I spin around to face him. He has


    unkempt hair that looks like he jumped out of the shower and ran his fingers through them as a means


    of ab. His whiskey eyes are small and currently stuck on Kylie.


    He must be the greener pastures Kylie was talking about when she said she wasn''t crushing on


    Vincent any longer.


    Though I believed it for what it was, a lie. I said nothing.


    I take a seat on the lone sofa as Kylie talks to the man. My cousines to sit next to me.


    ¡°Aliyana, you look like you''ve seen a ghost,¡± He whispers.


    ¡°I thought you were dead,¡± I mumble.


    He says nothing but I feel his confusioning off him in waves.


    ¡°Liya, want a drink sugar?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Hennessey.¡± My Papa said Hennessey was a drink to be had when you had stress. Right now, I


    am very stressed.


    There were four guards around here, and Leonardo. Rosco was considered a defect to our kind when


    he killed off an entire family. The thought of that tragedy still makes me bitter but his loss makes me


    understand when a man reaches crazy.


    ¡°My phones behind me, put your number in and leave it there,¡± I say without moving my lips much, a


    habit I learned from Papa.


    ¡°Knight, stop staring at my friend, you making her ufortable,¡± Diamond barks at him as she walks


    toward us with two Coronas and I release a sigh of relief when I feel his fingers touch my back as he


    takes the phone.


    Diamond¡¯s boyfriend jeans are tighter than what I remember she used to wear. She has filled out


    recently.


    She hands Knight, as they call him, a Corona.


    Josey says something to the biker that is with Kylie and brushes past him.


    Kylie and Josey take the brown leather sofa, closest to the closed door.


    Kylie¡¯s easy nature dissipates, as she stares at my supposed to be dead cousin, looking almost bored.


    ¡°Jokes aside, what really brings you here?¡±


    He sighs and takes a sip of his beer, ¡°We¡¯re lookin¡¯ for YOUR brother, Vincent.¡±


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Vincent? His name has me getting up and moving toward the guy in the middle of the room dressed in


    leather.


    ¡°What do you want with Vincent?¡± Vincent is a distant cousin of mine but he is a Capo now and a


    strong member of the Famiglia. He is also a second cousin to the Catelli brothers. This isn''t good.


    ¡°I don''t discuss club business.¡± The man in front of me states and crosses his arms, trying to intimidate


    me.


    Marco Catelli is intimidating, Deno too. This biker doesn''t scare me.

 Chapter 68 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 68 (Aliyana)


    ¡°He isn''t part of your club. He is a member of the Famiglia. When his name left your mouth, it became


    my business.¡± I re at him, as I point out the obvious.


    It is my father¡¯s business and I am my father¡¯s daughter.


    We stand in a stare off.


    ¡°Why don''t you go on and pour yourself a ss of that heat you wanted sugar,¡± Kylie chips in.


    She has a knack for sensing danger. I stand stationary for a few seconds longer before I walk away.


    I go straight to the cabs filled with alcohol and do just that.


    I tune them all out as Kylie tells them to fuck off in a nicer way. There are a few things that my father


    needn''t know about today, but I needed to tell him about this. He''d want to know the bikers are looking


    for Vincent.


    Kylie waits for the two men to leave and opens up the other part she keeps hidden in this ¡®cave.¡¯ My


    mind fizzles out and my mood, though it seems light to my friends, is anything but.


    Our day falls into an evening as Kylie entertains us about her encounters with The Satan Sniper¡¯s


    Motorcycle Club, and her brother, Kevin AKA Killer Stone who was part of the club along with my


    cousin which I didn¡¯t share with my friends.


    Ignoring the look Diamond gives me when I leave to fetch my phone from the sofa in the front room. I


    further ignore the look I get from Kylie when I ignore the phone call from Deno and the other one from


    my sister in favor of a ss of Hennessey.


    It¡¯s passing 6pm when I get back home. To say I am a bit tipsy is an understatement, I am border line


    drunk, but thanks to the likes of Gabriel and Mero I can handle drunk.


    ¡°Guilia.¡± I scream from the bottom of the stairs as I slip off my peach pumps smiling at the light spin, I


    feel doing such a mundane task.


    ¡°Guilia,¡± I scream again. My phone beeps and I decide to check my News Alert. My eyes are a bit


    squinty before I gather my shit up enough to actually read a coherent sentence.


    Billionaire Business Man, Marco Catelli and Heiress Cami Moretti engaged


    I close my eyes as a million emotions flood my mind. I don¡¯t need to read the rest of the headline to


    know I won¡¯t like it. I knew it woulde eventually. I am not surprised, even as my body feels like it


    just took a massive weight of lead and swallowed it.


    Marco can marry her for all I care. In a few years time I will have moved on.


    He is an arrogant asshole and I am d I got to see it sooner. I hate him.


    My sisteres from the back of the house, my father¡¯s office.


    ¡°How was your day, I stopped by the ice-cream shop to get some chocte kisses for you,¡± I say


    ignoring the turmoil going on inside of me and the slight need to barf at the thought of him and Cami


    together in anyway.


    ¡°ALIYANA.¡± I have seen my sister¡¯s face like this before, it was the day I told her I was leaving for


    Chicago.


    I rush to Guilia, meeting her half way, drunk state forgotten.


    My worry is instant.


    ¡°What is it Guilia? Is Papa okay?¡±


    She crumbles right to the floor in a fit of tears and I bend down with her. Please God, don¡¯t let it be


    Papa.


    Ignoring the sounds of the men''s shoes thate toward us.


    ¡°I am so sorry, so sorry, I said no, but Papa...¡± She is hysterical.


    I frown, thinking, what more could possibly go wrong?


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What is it Guilia? Is Papa okay?¡± I rub her back as she cries. Repeating my words as I pat her back.


    My brain racks up a possible answer to her hysteria, but even this can''t keep the sh of words that


    just a few minutes ago, lighted up on my screen. Marco was engaged.


    ¡°She''s getting engaged,¡± The voice I hear is not my sisters, or my Papa. I am a bit more than tipsy,


    because it takes me a good few seconds to separate my thoughts from reality. My thoughts on Marco


    and his buxom fianc¨¦. My reality is that said Marco standing right next to my sister and me who are


    both on the floor.


    Engaged. My sister is getting engaged.


    ¡°Ssshhh, getting hitched isn''t the end of the world,¡± I say ignoring Marco and the fact that his shoe is


    touching my leg.


    ¡°She''s getting engaged to Leonardo,¡± Marco voices when I still don''t look up at him.


    I should have known that he wouldn''t be too far behind. He has been here almost every day. And


    though I have wanted to hear that voice directed to me, those are not the words I want to hear. Wrong


    words, wrong time.


    I don''t lift my head to acknowledge he is even here. I knew this day woulde.


    6 months ago, I would have felt the sting, but even then I knew.


    Papa doesn¡¯t like the Catelli¡¯s but Ren told me his father wanted a marriage between our families to


    happen.


    Guess he got his wish.


    ¡°We were just about to leave. I''ll see you soon Aliyana. Sartini.¡± Marco says standing there, waiting for


    me to lift my head.


    He will carry on waiting. Asshole.


    Finally, he turns and walks away and I let out the breath of air I¡¯ve been keeping in since he stepped


    into the same space as me, crowding it.


    He takes something with him when he does. I am just not sure what it is yet.


    ¡°Come Guilia, you can sleep with me tonight.¡± I don''t ask her anything more, and my sister doesn''t offer


    the words I should be hearing.


    I ignore my Papa looking so confused. I never told him, it is my fault. I didn¡¯t tell her either. I take the


    Chocte Kisses and my sister up the stairs.


    I ate the box of kisses as I held Guilia that night, knowing that the next few months were going to be


    challenging for her. Her loyalty to me would be her biggest obstacle to ovee. My silence was set in


    stone. No one could know of Marco and I. She was my sister, and I wanted to believe our blood and


    bond was thicker than the dealings of a heart. I should have known I was wrong, very wrong. I should


    have known that my silence was powerful but also very dangerous. Marco Catelli didn¡¯t like to be


    ignored.

 Chapter 69 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 69 (Aliyana)


    ¡°There is nothing more I can say to you. I am sorry Yana, I should have said something yesterday.¡±


    Sorry is a simple word, if said so many times before, it loses its magnitude.


    It doesn¡¯t give you the same feeling.


    In this case, my sister doesn¡¯t have a need to apologize. She is in an arranged pairing with Leonardo. I,


    however freely kissed the guy she wanted. Twice.


    I could not have been with Leonardo. My sins and secrets with his brother tainted it, altered my


    feelings. The part of me that made me Russian, further made the chance of him and I ever marrying


    zero to none. Marco, the same. I woke up this morning knowing that my anger toward him isn''t


    warranted. He kissed me twice and before then I didn''t even know he existed. Cami and him have


    history.


    I am the other woman, not her and as painful as it is I need to let my feelings toward him go.


    ¡°It is okay, Guilia,¡± I tell her for the umpteenth time.


    I won¡¯t confess the truth to my sister even if it means ending her guilt.


    My lies are piling up, and soon I am going to have to admit my sins to someone before it explodes, but


    she is not going to be that someone.


    I am the one sorry Guilia.


    ¡°How was your day yesterday?¡± She asks me as I look at the ceiling.


    ¡°Yesterday started out great. I spent it with my friends. Diamond is doing well. She still misses him, we


    all do.¡±


    ¡°We all deal with death differently. I know that better than a lot of people,¡± Guilia says.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°How was the party?¡± She asks again not allowing our conversation to turn sour.


    I spent the good first hour peeping through a window, watching Leonardo from Kylie''s house, chatting


    up a random girl not knowing the decisions made in my home.


    I don¡¯t say that, I smile and look at my sister, ¡°It was memorable.¡±


    I frown as I think of Knight, and the other guy Storm. Their question about Vincent.


    And Leonardo, what is he like if he takes off his mask. Is my sister safe with him?


    My Papa always told me that when you invite people into your life you invite their problems too.


    Leonardo''s problem is his love for women. He is a yer and growing up I wished he''d y me. But


    that wish came tumbling down, dying a gruesome death when his brother put his hands on my body.


    Did Marco seal the deal to spite me?


    ¡°Deno asked for you yesterday when you didn¡¯t show after he called your name.¡± He called me too, 5


    times.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± I ask my sister.


    ¡°Filippo said you were at your friend¡¯s house, enjoying the college experience.¡± I smile.


    ¡°I am sorry Yana, when Papa told me yesterday, I begged him not to.¡±


    ¡°It is fine Guilia.¡± My sister was always going to marry Leonardo Catelli. Ren¡¯s death prolonged it. I


    knew it before. And there is nothing anyone can do to change it now. The Catelli¡¯s want our bloodline to


    mix with theirs. Power can be a cruel thing.


    ¡°We should get up,¡± I dere as I do just that and head straight to my bathroom. Today is going to be a


    long day, might as well get started.


    An hourter we are finally changed and ready for our day.


    Marco is sitting with Deno and my father while my sister¡¯s face looks as scared as she once did when I


    talked her into going sailing with me. Leonardo is on the other end, quiet with his hands behind his


    head, waiting to talk to Guilia.


    The men are wearing ck cks and cotton shirts, dressed for business. They must have something


    going on today that is important, if Papa is joining.


    My sister¡¯s sulky face, and sappy eyes stare at me for answers that I don¡¯t have. I feel sorry for her.


    She shouldn''t be so miserable.


    I have known this was going to happen the day I kissed Marco on that roof top. The day Ren fell into an


    early grave. If I am honest, I have known for much longer than that.


    ¡°Don''t whine, how was Papa supposed to know I liked him?" I scold her, because she is making it


    obvious, and Leonardo likes her. Right? He must if he wanted to marry her. She should give him a


    chance.


    What more can I say? I don¡¯t like him! I have feelings for his brother who had his tongue in my mouth 6


    months ago. Ya, that was not going to happen.


    "I don''t want him, I want Marco," She whispers as Marco looks this way sensing that we are in fact


    talking about him.


    I roll my eyes, making light of the fact that my father just handed the man I crushed on for five years to


    my sister on a golden tter and the brother whom I wanted was older than me by many years and not


    interested.


    No, he is only interested in a brte headed Italian big boob, tall woman. Theplete opposite of


    me.


    Men


    It is Ironic, how I, the lucky girl don''t feel so lucky after all. Looking at Marco with an equal measure of


    hate and love, I know I should let him go.


    "Marco is with Cami now, they are engaged. Leonardo and you are a good match, and he is a Catelli.


    You can fawn over Marco from a far." I chuckle, aware I have repeated these words hundreds of times.


    Theughable part is I repeated them to myself more.


    My sister doesn''t notice when I get quiet. She''s too busy feeling regret, thinking she got the wrong


    brother.


    Well, that is what I tell myself as I walk away from her and out to the back garden. It is better than the


    alternative. I love this ce, the garden of my mother.


    My mother spent most of her mornings in this garden filled with rose bushes, ferns and white pebble


    walkways. Papa told me she had refused a bench or seating area in it. She always sat on the grass.


    Papa said when Guilia was small my mother would y hide and seek with her here and hide


    underneath the very white rose bush I am standing next to. It once hurt when he brought up a memory


    because I knew they were fond ones and none of them had me as the one she yed with, orughed


    at.


    Over the years I guess I have grown to realize that I didn''t have the memories of my mother but I did


    have ones of my father. Something that none of my siblings had much of. Yes, I am my father¡¯s


    daughter in more ways than blood. This should make me happy.


    This knowledge should make me happy, that I, a daughter of Consigliere Sartini Capello has witnessed


    the love he has to give. The feel of his arms wrapped around me as he spun me around. How his eyes


    crinkle when he is proud of me. The tug of his firm lips when I showed him a piece of my art.


    I should be proud, that I know him, from the scowl on his face when he is going to kill someone, to the


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    way he holds a gun and shoots when he is ready to take a life. I should be happy.


    My father is not a good man, it is hard to even picture it. But my father is a powerful man and I know


    without a speck of doubt that for all his lessons past upon me that tainted me, made me, corrupted me,


    he will turn this world upside down if anyone does me harm.


    Yet, even knowing all of this as I stand here in a garden of a mother I will never meet, happiness


    remains a missing piece of me. The cool breeze whispers over my face and I close my eyes and


    breathe in the deeply scented air. Alone again


    So much beauty, so pure and soft, calming. So many happy memoriesy here, but not one pure soul


    has ever touched upon its beauty. No innocent child has blessed this garden, as they ran along these


    rose bushesughing with that rich loud giggle as her mother chases behind her. No, even as children


    we are born with blood on our hands. Cursed.


    I inhale, chest expanding, enjoying this peaceful ce I call mine. The wind touches me, my senses


    alert, awoken to enjoy all the goodness it can get. I am starved for this. Feeling.


    ¡°What happened Yesterday, you didn''t show up with your sister.¡± I gasp, heart racing, ears absorbing


    his words, my brain shocking itself on alert. No, not now, please just leave.


    ¡°Don''t fucking ignore me Aliyana, where the fuck were you?¡± Marco''s voice is loud, using. I know


    that tone, not from him, but I know that tone. He is in a mood.


    I keep my back to him. His shoes hitting the ground with every step. I recall our evening in the


    greenhouse, where I heard only one step before he was behind me. Now I hear every step as it walks


    from Pebbled flooring to grass and back to the stones. His steps loud, not stopping until he is right


    behind me. He is surrounding me, his body, presence. The mad man who is made.


    ¡°You invading my personal space,¡± I snipe, angry that he is so close to me, searching me out, 6 months


    after he kissed me. Yet, it feels like he still has a im on me. He is standing here, his body heat, his


    aura, his surroundings, my surroundings now one. This makes me angry.

 Chapter 70 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 70 (Aliyana)


    ¡°Don''t give me that fucking bullshit. Where the fuck were you Aliyana?¡± Who the fuck does he think he


    is? He has no right to ask me questions.


    I shrug, ¡°I have been standing here, in the garden for thest ten minutes.¡± I finish as his angry snarly


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    face looks down at me, blocking the suns rays with his broad shoulders. Shoulders I have imagined


    naked, wondered how the flesh of it will feel under my fingers. Shoulders that were supposed to be


    mine to touch.


    Cami Moretti doesn''t have to wonder. That thought has my impassive face, twitching in what I know


    looks like a fuck you look.


    ¡°Don''t push me little girl, answer the question.¡± His voice is clipped, but I know he won''t hurt me. Not


    here at least.


    I want to tell him I wasn''t a little girl when he had his hands on my body, his tongue in my mouth. But


    my words tend to die. Why fuel an already burning me?


    ¡°I had ns.¡± Meetings to tend to.


    The heat from his body is felt on the naked flesh of my arms as he stands way too close. His cologne


    intoxicating. My distressed paint covered denim shorts and loose vest isn¡¯t the best choice of clothes.


    But then, I didn¡¯t really care what I was putting on earlier. I am not the betrothed.


    ¡°Don''t fuck around with me Aliyana, Deno phoned you. You just didn''t give a fuck to answer. I needed


    you here.¡±


    He is so close. Too close.


    ¡°And what you need is so important? What about what I need? I am d I didn''t pick up the phone, I


    am even happier that you are engaged to Cami. I will thank her when I see her, she saved me from


    being subjected to your patheticpany,¡± I snap and march toward the other part of the garden.


    Right now, I wish he would be anywhere else besides here, with me.


    His fingers grip my forearm and he pulls me toward him. Air leaves my lungs and my knees lock as his


    arm wraps around my centre. It''s a possessive move. The way my back is stered to him is a sign of


    ownership. He proposed to her, not you Aliyana.


    ¡°Let. Me. Go,¡± I bite out as I struggle.


    My short legs and body are no match for his. I hate it.


    ¡°I hate you fucking asshole, cunt, motherfucking liar as¡­¡±


    Marco nips my ear, hard and I instantly freeze as the air from his breath keeps me in a standstill.


    Am I dreaming? Did he just...


    ¡°Did you just bite me?¡± I say it in a whisper, half-shocked, half unbelieving.


    ¡°Yes and I will do it again, if you ever fucking talk to me like that. Do you understand?¡± He clips out and


    I want to do him bodily harm but he must sense my intentions because his arms tighten around my


    torso.


    ¡°It¡¯s a moot point, I don''t want to see you ever again.¡±


    He chuckles, ¡°Too bad we don''t get what we want.¡±


    ¡°Let. Me Go,¡± I snap again.


    ¡°No, you fucked up yesterday. I wanted to talk to you, and exin shit. You didn''t even fuckin¡¯ look at


    me. Deno called you so we can talk in private. But you didn''t give a fuck.¡±


    ¡°I was busy, now let me go.¡±


    He ces a warm hot closed mouth kiss on my neck.


    ¡°I am not one of your fuck boys.¡±


    ¡°You are right, you are an asshole,¡± I say it with as much loath as I can muster up, making sure I


    pronounce the words properly. I am not one to lose my temper but when I do, I make sure I go all out.


    ¡°It is time we spoke about the future and you understand your part in it.¡±


    ¡°Like what? How I am going to kick your ass? Or the fact where my part in my future has jack to do with


    you?¡±


    ¡°I don''t remember your mouth so big! What happened to the scared little cub on the roof top?¡±


    ¡°Must be the old age kicking in. I hear dementia runs in your bloodline; you should get yourself checked


    out.¡±


    ¡°Be careful Mezzosangue,¡± He whispers and I shudder in mock terror as his breath tickles my ear.


    ¡°I have nothing to say to you Marco Catelli.¡± My words are soft, bitter and even I don''t believe them.


    He lets me go and I turn to face him, partially in shock that I was seconds ago in his arms and that kiss.


    He must see my confusion because his ck eyes are looking at me right now as though he has only


    realized I am standing in front of him. Why now. He is engaged, now he wants to talk.


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡± The question is as doubtful and full of everything I want to say but don''t


    as I stare at his chiselled face. His jaw is square, with a shadow of hair dusting his slight sunken


    cheeks. His mouth, tightened in a firm way. Hard.


    Not luscious and soft. I know the punishing kiss it gives because I have experienced it. His eyebrows


    are thick and give him a sinister look when he arches the one.


    ¡°What happened yesterday?¡± His voice is low as it was when he whispered in my ear a few moments


    ago. So easy it is for him to change his emotions.


    ¡°Ren said that yesterdays were meant to be thought of months after we lived todays. I always told him


    it didn''t make sense. He insisted it did. I finally get it. What happened yesterday isn''t important.¡±


    ¡°He never talked about Chicago much. But you, he loved you. He told me about his days in this very


    garden. The hours you spent here with him while you painted and he talked knowing you only heard


    half of what he said. You were his missing piece.¡±


    I smile, my body not calming even at a fond memory of a friend who didn''t deserve the end he got. My


    best friend, partner, teacher and my calmness.


    ¡°Why would you think that? All he ever loved and saw was Diamond. He was my brother in all sense of


    the word apart from blood, but love, no, he didn¡¯t love me.¡±


    ¡°He did,¡± Marco says with such conviction that if I were someone else I would have believed the lie.


    ¡°Do you know when I was in Chicago and he joined me on the roof top, he took one look at me and


    said, I am going to call you Yana. It was coincidence that my name is Aliyana. Ren was family, but


    family isn¡¯t always loved, he said that to me once.¡±


    Marco moves to stand next to me, hands in his cks, just like before, only now we are standing so


    close, but that wall that separates us is imprable.


    ¡°Yana Banana.¡± He breaks the silent sound with familiar words.


    I tug my lips, yana banana


    ¡°Hah, it has been a while since anyone called me that.¡±


    ¡°Ren died loving Diamond, but he loved you too. He said his Yana was more special to him than the


    days of his life all wrapped in one.¡± Marco''s words hits me in the chest, and I turn my head to look at


    his tall form. He is surreal, the length of him, that face with those ck eyes that burn so hot,


    sometimes I think about it and swear I could taste the fire in my mouth, smell the burn around my


    soul.

 Chapter 71 (Aliyana)

    Chapter 71 (Aliyana)


    His rich scent, wraps around me as a breeze blows by, and my throat clogs knowing that this moment,


    is fleeting. Knowing he is not mine. ¡°Do you think Ren is in heaven?¡± I ask him. My gaze focused on his


    harsh face as the flesh under his left eye twitches. He remains next to me, looking into the garden as if


    it could talk.


    ¡°When he looked at you, he could see a glimpse of heaven.¡± His head turns to me, my face lifted to his,


    as his stares down at me.


    I wish I knew what was going through his head.


    ¡°He must¡¯ve been drunk.¡±


    Marco chuckles, ¡°He was pissed. We all were.¡± His voice is a melody to a sad song, as his eyes, a


    picture to a lost one.


    I remain staring as he looks away, his attention on the rose bushes. We stand in silence, both lost to


    our own thoughts.


    The air is thick, a lot left unsaid. Feelings still linger between us, not fully formed to give it a name, but


    intense enough that neither of us choose to leave this, here, now.


    ¡°Is my sister going to be okay living with your brother?¡± It is a natural question, and the only thing I can


    think of to ask at this moment, when the light burns my flesh as the man standing next to me burns me


    from the inside.


    He sighs.


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    ¡°Is that a no?¡±


    ¡°Your sister could have done worse.¡±


    ¡°That isn''t an answer.¡±


    ¡°It''s the only you¡¯re getting.¡±


    My sister¡¯s marriage to Leonardo will cate his father. Put a lot of our people at ease.


    ¡°Papa will never allow another marriage between a Catelli and Capello.¡± Of that I am certain.


    ¡°It is what it is,¡± He whispers.


    A tear slides down my eye. This is happening.


    My sister and Cami are true Italians and I am a half-blood, not worthy of marrying a Catelli. I can¡¯t


    give him an heir.


    Is it a coincidence that the wind blows, freezing my tear as my heart beat mirrors the exact same chill?


    ¡°He won''t remain faithful, but he will never hurt your sister physically.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I say to him nodding, because what else can I say. I was born into this life. The day my


    parents gave me life, this life and the struggles I would face became set in stone.


    The path I choose from here on, would still lead me to the same ending, Death.


    ¡°A woman as beautiful as you never need thank a man. I''ll see you around Mezzosangue.¡± He turns


    away from me, but it feels like more. Final.


    ¡°Why her?¡± I blurt the words, watching his back stiffen, I can¡¯t take the words back, and I don¡¯t want to. I


    want him to tell me.


    ¡°I need to know Marco, why her? You owe me that.¡±


    ¡°It is what it is Aliyana.¡±


    ¡°Am I not Italian enough?¡±


    ¡°I have never lied to you, Aliyana, don¡¯t make me start now.¡±


    ¡°I never asked you for lies.¡±


    He doesn''t turn to face me, just remains standing and I do the same. Staring at his ck suit jacket that


    traps his broad shoulders, I am not certain of what emotions I¡¯m feeling right now. But him standing


    there, in his suit looking every bit of the dangerous Catelli he was born to be I can honestly say, his


    choice of attire is a fitting cage for a wild beast.


    ¡°I am sorry I hurt you, Aliyana. But, Cami is going to be my wife. I love her. I suggest you find a new


    man to give all your affection to. It will be a shame to see it go wasted on a taken man.¡±


    Marco walked out of my life after delivering words that cut me deeper with every step he took away


    from me as I dropped to the floor.


    My knees hit the pebbled ground. My voice, the echo of a broken heart. This is pain, this real.


    Regret is something I have never felt. Not when I shot the man who killed my mother, or poisoned the


    girl who broke my friends heart, nor when I went behind Papa and disobeyed every order he dished


    out. No, regret is something foreign to me. But now, it is my friend, now it has attached itself to my very


    soul, that light now dimming. I regret the day I everid eyes on Marco Catelli. I regret him.


    My Papa always told me that love is for fools, because the oue is always the same, heartbreak. It


    is a weakness, a w. My knees should pain from the stones pocking in the flesh. Worry of my father


    catching me in this disgusting position, over a man should be on my mind. But, right now, as I cry with


    my body curled on the ground, my throat aching from the soundsing out of it, all I can think about


    is how it hurts. My slob from my mouth covering my chin, the snot from my nose leaking out, the


    rocking motion of my body as I howl in the pain of rejection, uselessness. My tears aren''t just for him,


    my tears started for what he did, but now I am crying for me. A girl who only wanted to be loved, have a


    simple life. A girl who never got to smile without shadows behind her gaze. I cry for myself, for my 12-


    year-old self who didn''t allow herself to say no, who wasn''t strong enough to tell her father she didn''t


    want to be a killer. My stomach caves in as I cross my arms , pushing them into my abdomen.


    Unsuspecting hands wrap around me, lifting me as I am ced on a familiar scent. The urge to fight is


    fleeting, as I sumb to this surprising yet needed show of affection by the man who is my enemy.


    Sometimes enemies could make the best allies at such unpredicted times. I never knew the story


    unfolding as the hands of my enemyforted a lonely heart. Mine


    I cry in Matteo¡¯s arms, saying a silent goodbye to my first true heartbreak.


    ¡°You should wipe your tears,¡± An unknown voice says startling both of us. My eyes are swollen as they


    burn when I open them and face the bright sun to look at the owner of the voice.


    I pull back from Matteo and push my butt off his legs, realizing how this must look.


    The way I was cradled in his body is forbidden and punishable. The fact that he knows that but took the


    chance anyway just tofort me is a lot. I file that small piece away forter when I am not having a


    ¡®moment'' of weakness.


    They say life can be unexpected at times, and when one door ms shut a new one gets made,


    waiting to be unlocked.


    I wipe my stinging eyes, snotty nose and the slob on my cheeks and lips.


    Lifting my head, I look up to the man who stole my moment to mourn. Men are thief''s and I am tired of


    getting robbed.


    I open my mouth to tell this perpetrator just that. Broad shoulders block the sun as I stare at the tall


    man. The scar on his neck a reminder of exactly where I am and the type of men I am around. He has


    a harsh scowl on his face.


    His mouth which could be full is currently tight as he stares down at me, disapproval festered all over


    his features.


    I re up at him, ¡°I don¡¯t take orders from you.¡±


    ¡°No, you don''t.¡± His voice, is deep, yet sharp like a whip, as he takes a step closer when my frown turns


    very deadly. I get up, my short form standing very close to his.


    ¡°Bute tomorrow, Miss Capello I will take orders from you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I am confused, at the same time Matteo gets up from the floor and stands next to me.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± He asks, still liking the sound of his voice but I am grateful because I am also very


    curious to who the hell this scarred man is.


    His smile is malicious and sends scary shivers to course up my veins.


    ¡°Salvatore Moretti.¡±


    ¡°Michel¡¯s cousin?¡± I query.


    ¡°Yes, Cami Moretti¡¯s cousin too.¡± It was on this SATURDAY standing in my mother¡¯s garden looking


    at the scarred Salvatore Moretti, that I knew my father was a very intelligent man. And surely he


    wouldn''t be so foolish to give me a Moretti as a soldier without at least a thought, unless¡­


    Another thoughtes to mind and for the first time since I got home and found out my sister was


    marrying Leonardo minutes after I found out Marco was engaged to Cami, I smile so big and the


    happiness that fills me overflows.


    NB. Thank you so much for reading. Do you want more? Please read Union of Death to find out what


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