SAVED BY THE MAFIOSO

Prologue | Maria.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw a broken girl, showing her true face. My eyes were a mess, it looked like a panda, the dirty tears of mascara and eyeliner created a stained path to the chin. My lipstick also smeared to the side, when I uselessly tried to take it off.

The perfect dress for my engagement night was completely crumpled.

Resigned, I took a shower and washed all the remnants of his touch and put on my pajamas, without caring that there was a party downstairs. I hid in the covers, closing my eyes, forgetting wishing that night.

The ring on my finger weighed ten kilos. Angry, I thread her away in the room.

I heard a soft knock on the door.

- Hey, what happened? His engagement... - Anastasia[1] came in and closed the door. She got on the bed. - What happened?

- Nothing - I lied.

- I know you. Tell me the truth. - Your tone of voice has changed. - You went out alone with your fiancé and went straight back to the room. My mind is running everywhere, please tell me something.

I denied it and simply pulled her into my arms, crying with her face hidden in her neck. Anastasia kept me there, tight, my physical and emotional pain was so great that I just wanted the comfort and protection of my sister and best friend.

- What happened? - I heard the deep voice of my brother-in-law, who made me tremble with fear, ashamed that he knew.

- I don't know, but I know I want you to take him and make him speak - Anastasia determined. I closed my eyes again, protected by those who really loved me.

ROCCO.

The cold night didn't stop some people from doing shit. I watched the girls going through the parking lot of the nightclub, with their short clothes and flashy fur coats as the place asked. From inside the car, I looked closely at the movement in a sedan. He looked at the same thing as me, however, with different intentions. He waited for them to go through the darkest part to leave.

Fucking idiot.

He walked after them like a dog in heat, without noticing my presence in the shadows. I stopped in my corner, waiting for the right moment and as soon as they shook towards me, also without noticing me in the darkest corner of the parking lot, I left and stopped in front of him. His eyes widened.

- Do you just like to chase women, son of a bitch? - He retreated, raising his hands. - It's no use running - I said and sighed. He ran.

I rolled my eyes and went after him, picking him up quickly and erasing him, taking his fainted body to my car's suitcase. I threw it inside, slamming the door and fixing my crumpled clothes. The man was a pig

Stupid to think that he could persecute and scare women who belonged to an Italian mafia club.

Back at the wheel, I drove around the city and my phone rang. - Yes.

- I need you here - Stefanio[2] spoke firmly. - Finish with your package.

- Right.

I ended the call, leaving my phone on my lap and stopped near the family shed, solving the problem I was asked for. The girls would be safe. They worked in the family clubs as employees, they were not slaves or trafficked. Since Mrs. Rafaelli assumed, this kind of thing no longer existed and she ordered the girls to be protected.

The night was my home. I lived in the darkness, alone, doing my job and going back to my apartment whenever I had more than a few hours off. I drove back to New York, where Stefanio was. He was younger than me in a few years, however, his rise gave him a position well above mine. I performed the silent dirty job that never left a trace.

I entered the family apartment complex[3]. I was one of the few who had access beyond the parking lot and the soldiers' apartments. I went up the ramps and stopped my car, looking at the two stupid guards who got ready, getting straight in fear of my presence. In the elevator, the little song made me angry.

- Does this shit need to touch? - I grumbled when I came across Enzo Rafaelli [4] in the hallway of his office.

- The purpose has a lot of effect. - It gave me a crooked smile.

- What do you need?

- Come in. - He pointed to his office.

Stefanio was inside with a man I knew only from

Far away. Romano Carlucci [5] gave me a suspicious look when he was officially introduced to me. His tattooed hand full of scars seemed like a continuity of mine and this did not go unnoticed by us. Enzo returned to the living room and took his place.

- There is a situation in Philadelphia that needs your services - Stefanio started talking.

Few knew me in the family. My parents were sub-bosses of an important place and died when I was little. I was raised by several families, staying from time to time in the houses of who I was

I am obliged to take shelter until I become an honorable, started at the age of twelve and going to live with the other soldiers. I've always been good at not being noticed. He disappeared and saw what no one else saw.

Enzo Rafaelli, when he took over, realized my talents and took me to a place where I was trained by a woman. She was young and became my biggest nightmare for several months. The boy who went in there, left a man with no past, present and future. I was a shadow capable of adapting to the environment necessary to survive.

The meeting took part without me saying a single word. They weren't necessary and I didn't say if I didn't. For several days, I prepared myself to take on my new task, identity and personality. I let my hair and beard grow, bought new clothes and packed a suitcase to get to the apartment complex of single men in Philadelphia.

My mission had a purpose that it was necessary to be among them.

I found a room and took it for myself, went in and out without saying anything. Carlo, Carlucci's trusted man, gave me a mocking smile before signaling that I should follow him to receive instructions. He didn't know who I was. I didn't ask why Romano chose not to tell anyone that I was there to check his

Men and find out how many of them were with their fingers buried in a betrayal.

- We don't like mess around here - he determined before leaving.

I nodded. If he knew...

My job was to monitor some restaurants, expel annoying customers and remind those abused who they were getting involved with. I was responsible for making rounds at dawn, which gave me the gigantic advantage in looking at actions that no one wanted. For several months, I lived without anyone noticing my presence. Going in and out without being noticed and making my reports.

When Romano found what he needed, my service was finished and he asked me to go to his house. I didn't need to be in disguise. I shaved, cut my hair and changed my clothes, driving my sports car to your luxurious property in a far corner of the city.

I stopped at the entrance, waited for the iron gates to open slowly and went to the visitor vacancy. To my surprise, Anastasia Carlucci opened the door. Barefoot, in jeans shorts and a T-shirt that appeared to be her husband's, she gave me a polite smile before warning that I was being expected in the office.

That woman had the respect of her husband's men. Not all of them, those who did not know her did not have much to say, however, those who worked in the building and in the residence were just compliments to the wife of the local boss.

Anastasia was the daughter of a traitor and I was there when her biological father died. I was just a young man in the car, being taken to an execution with men from the Sicilian family. She didn't know that and would never know it through my mouth. As she mattered, she became an adult, healthy and married woman.

Unlike me, she was not thrown from house to house. She was raised by her uncles in a family within not far from what was left of my family. From time to time, I saw her pass by with her sister, both young and happy, full of smiles and without carrying the amazing darkness of the family.

In front of the office, I didn't have to knock. I closed the door behind me and waited for the order. Romano was sitting in his chair and pushed an envelope towards me.

- The last few months have been confusing and now that I have all the facts clarified, I need you to go to a different stage. Everything you need to know is there.

I listened carefully to my next mission. He was used to being thrown from one side to the other. I didn't mind being a nomad, having a home was for those who were once used to such a thing, which was not my case.

- I will contact you whenever necessary.

Romano gave a nod, dismissing me.

As I left his house, I heard a cry from a small child and I hurried through the door. Carlo was coming in and stared at me, suspicious, with his eyebrow arched and obviously recognizing me. I gave him a very sharp smile in exchange for the frown, when I realized that I was not who he thought in recent months.

I went back to my car, passing by the road at high speed and went straight to the airport. I never accumulated personal things, anything that I couldn't carry in the suitcase of my car in the cities where I stayed. My first stop would be a return to the past. Soon after, I would go directly to my new identity.