The Forced Mafia Princess

03 | Hard Truths

| MARCELO |

“Your father tried anything and everything to keep you both away from this life. He was doing so well until that motherfūcker took those pictures,” I informed her through clenched teeth.

I might not have been there, but the anger still got to me. I hated fūcking traitors.

Mya rubbed my arms softly to calm me down, making me smile down at her sweet gesture as she blushed in return. After a few seconds, I cleared my throat and continued the story.

“After a few close calls, your father decided to separate from your mother. They thought it would be the best way to keep you and her safe. He was extremely careful every time he came to visit. He always had doubles to throw the enemies off. When I came in the picture, he was happy to have someone he trusted taking care of both of you. I failed you all, the day I let them kill your mother though,” I stated with a dry mouth.

“No, Marcelo! It wasn’t your fault! You were with me,” she said as she rubbed my cheek. I placed my hand on top of hers and got lost in those beautiful orbs of hers again.

“I should have left more security behind.” That was the only death that has ever kept me up at night. Not even when my own mother died of cancer, did I feel like I did that day.

~Flashback~

“Oh my God, Marcelo!” Mya yelled from behind me. “Hurry up and open the door! I want to tell Mamma everything we did in Japan. I know she’ll want to see the pictures too.” She squealed as she tried to push past me.

We were by the front gates, but something was weird. My guys weren’t answering, and no one received us up front. I kept pushing the wrong code to gain time. I needed to confirm the coast was clear before letting Mya in.

I sent Capo a quick text that we had arrived but there was something suspicious going on. I turned around to tickle Mya when my phone vibrated. I looked at the caller ID and quickly picked it up.

“Capo?” I asked as soon as I answered the call.

“Cosa sta succedendo?” (Italian for “What is going on?”) Capo asked tensely.

“Nessuno risponde…” (Italian for “No one is answering...”) I replied to him instantly.

“Do not let my daughter enter that place! I will have more men meet you in a few minutes,” Capo stated as he barked out orders away from the phone.

I turned around to talk to Mya, but she was gone. I paled as I looked around hysterically.

“Mya!” I yelled while I held my phone in my ear.

“What’s happening?” Capo yelled in my ear in return, panicking just like I was.

I looked over and saw one of the gate doors open before I ran towards it without thinking twice.

“Marcelo!” Capo yelled again. “Answer me, damn it!”

“Capo, non riesco a trovarla!” (Italian for “Boss, I can’t find her!”) I hissed back out of breath.

He was growling in my ear, but I wasn’t listening anymore. My heart felt like it would come out of my chest. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her.

As soon as I turned and entered the property, I saw Mya frozen in place as she looked down. I could only see her back, but it seemed like there was someone on the ground. I was getting closer to her as I skimmed the property with my eyes to confirm no one had broken in or if there was any danger nearby.

I froze and took in all the bodies of our men all over the property. I dropped the phone on the ground and quickly pulled out my gun to chamber it.

“Mya! Get on the ground now!” I shouted from behind her as I ran to get her out safely, but she stood there like she wasn’t listening to me as I yelled at her again, but still nothing.

As soon as I reached her, I yanked her towards my chest to protect her from any attack. I was about to argue with her when I saw it.

Liliana’s lifeless body.

She laid there with a bullet to her head and ripped up clothes. I tried to cover Mya’s eyes but that seemed to break her from her shock.

“Mamma!” she cried hysterically as she got on her knees and pulled her mother into her arms. “Who?” she choked out. “Who would do this?!”

“Mya! We have to go!” I told her as I pulled her by her arms.

“No! No! Mamma!” she cried again, getting closer to her.

I closed my eyes as I heard her cry even louder. I quickly opened them, realizing that the enemy could still be lingering. Fūcking asšholes!

I preferred Mya hating me for forcing her to leave than to attend her funeral. I quickly grabbed her and threw her over my shoulder as I ran towards the exit.

I grabbed my phone and saw that the line was still open.

“Capo.”

“Mya?”

“Bene.” (Italian for “Okay.”)

“Liliana?” I heard his loud gulp through the phone, and I closed my eyes as I reached the SUV before building up the nerve to tell him what happened to her.

“Morta.” (Italian for “Dead.”)

~End of Flashback~

I have never heard a grown man cry the way Capo did that day, the day he lost the love of his life. But one thing was for sure. That was the beginning of a bloody war between the mafias.

“Marcelo, please! You’ve taken care of us since I can remember. If you would have been there, you would have been dead too!” she cried, hugging me tightly. Would that bring her pain? Did she want me alive?

“After she died, Capo wanted blood. When he found out that Liliana was assassinated, he looked for everyone involved but there were too many. Too many were willing to sell their soul to the devil and willing to kill an innocent person. Capo sought out and killed hundreds involved. He tried his best to stay away from you so that they wouldn’t find you. The mafia knew about you but didn’t know what you looked like now. Even though they don’t know your full name nor what you look like, it was only a matter of time…” I said, taking a deep breath.

“They found me?” she asked in panic as I nodded slowly.

“The pictures aren’t too clear, but they were able to locate you,” I told her with a frown. “Your father ran to you as soon as he received the message with the picture.” The same message they left us when we recuperated Liliana’s body.

SARAI LA NOSTRA ULTIMA UCCISIONE (Italian for “YOU’LL BE OUR LAST KILL”)

“He died trying to save me?” she asked with a hiccup as tears fell down her cheeks again.

“Principessa, please don’t cry anymore,” I whispered softly as she looked up at me while her lip quivered, and something told me to do it. To take the chance. This wasn’t the best of moments, but I needed to taste her lips once and for all. They say a kiss makes everything better. Well, I hope that was true.

I cupped her cheeks and leaned forward, capturing her soft lips with mine and she responded to the kiss instantly as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. I sucked on her bottom lip, making her moan into my mouth while I shoved my tongue inside hers and explored the warmth deep within. Our tongues wrestled with each other for a few moments until we both pulled away for air.

“Sorry. I— I well, I should have asked.” I told her, making her blush before she looked away in embarrassment. She was super adorable. “Let’s order some room service before we rest for the day.” I told her as I pulled out my phone.

Maybe it was enough talking about the mafia for today.