THE MAFIA BILLIONAIRE'S SWEET BRIDE

My home was beautiful. It had a red door, nice floors, and a shiny wood staircase. A bright chandelier hung above. I used to wonder if peeling back the wallpaper would make it bleed red, like blood dripping on the marble floor. If the world were as clear as glass, that's exactly how it would look. The word "murder" pulled me from my thoughts as I stared at the TV in the kitchen, not really paying attention until it left the newscaster's lips. My throat tightened, and I twisted the ring on my finger.

Even though my life and home were built on dirty money, I'd always told myself I wasn't part of the damage. But that changed earlier this year. Now, the blood was on my hands, and guilt kept me awake every night. Every time the kitchen door opened, I heard voices from the foyer as the staff got ready for lunch. This morning, when I left the church, I heard a voice I barely knew-my cousin Benito's loud voice mixed with a soft, calm laugh. It made my neck tingle because I knew who it was-my future brother-in-law. And even though I wouldn't admit it, he was why I was hiding in the kitchen.

"You're too beautiful to frown like that, Sweet Abelli," my mom said as she walked in, followed by the noise of our guests. Her words made me move, but their weight stuck with me.

After feeling like a beautiful bird trapped in a cage for years, I finally left. As my Mum stirred the sauce on the stove, she said, "I don't get why you watch this, Milene, It's so depressing." Ricardo Abelli, my mother's husband, was the leader of one of the biggest crime groups in the U.S. Sometimes, I wondered if she really didn't see the truth or if she just liked watching Days of Our Lives instead of thinking about my father's business. I said without really thinking, "I don't know who to vote for in the election." I told her

She shook her head in disbelief, and I thought it was odd for a mob boss's daughter to care about the law. Then she said, "Your father isn't happy with you," looking at me through her long black lashes with her lips pressed together. "Why isn't father upset with me now?"

"After what you did, what do you expect?" She brought it up every day for six months, like a dog with a bone. It felt like she enjoyed pointing out my mistakes. "Why didn't you come meet the Russo after church?" she asked, waving her spoon at me and "I don't believe you were just waiting in the car and forgot," I said, crossing my arms. I really didn't want to deal with him because he was rude.

"Milene," Mum scolded. "You don't even know him." Mum, you can tell a lot about someone from their reputation. Hearing this news felt like all my old mistakes were being dragged back up. As the oldest sister, it was my duty to get married first. But my mistake had thrown my sister into the spotlight-marrying a man everyone knew. In this world, everyone knew to steer clear of someone with a reputation like his.

And then there was Salvatore if He was a gentleman and I had gone to meet him this morning after church like I was supposed to, maybe things would be different & he won't understand Adriana."She sighed "Your sister won't be understood by many."

I knew the gardener did, but I couldn't tell Mum that. If she found out, he'd end up at the bottom of the Hudson. Earlier this week, Father said Adriana was going to marry Salvatore Russo, the boss of one of the crime families in New York . My past mistakes still hurt, and hearing this news felt like reopening old wounds. As the oldest sister, it was my job to marry first. But because of my mistake, my sister was now in a tough spot-with a man known for his bad reputation. Everyone knew that if someone had a reputation in this world, it meant to stay far away.

"Besides, Salvatore is a perfect gentleman. If you had met him this morning after church like you were supposed to, you'd know that."

I rushed out of the church and straight to the car before anyone could make me meet my future brother-in-law. I felt like an outcast to my dad, so I was surprised he even noticed I was gone. Plus, I was sure Salvatore Russo's gentleman act was just for show.

Since his dad died five years ago, the twenty-nine-year-old Salvatore had become well-known in the underworld. He followed in his father's footsteps and was a cheat with a lot of blood on his hands. I figured he didn't feel guilty about any of it. The news had reported a new victim with the name "Zanetti" every morning for a year-the family Salvatore had a feud with because of the death of his Dad. With that attitude, he was heading straight to hell."I did meet him, Mum. "She raised an eyebrow. "You did?""Well, no."

Her expression darkened. "But I shared a look with him," I insisted. "That was all I needed to see to know he wouldn't be good for Adriana."She rolled her eyes. "That's ridiculous."A glare and a look were pretty much the same thing, right? It was an accident, really. As I walked down the church steps, I spotted the meeting I was supposed to attend. Dad and Mum stood on either side of Adriana, facing Salvatore Russo. That's how brides and grooms usually met in our world. Arranged marriages were normal in the Cosa Nostra.I felt annoyed at the whole thing, and my eyes narrowed a bit when I glanced at my future brother-in-law-only to see he was already looking back at me. That's how the glare happened. It was an accident. I couldn't explain that to him, and if I smiled, it would come off the wrong way. So, I just went with the glare and hoped it wouldn't get me in trouble.

Salvatore's gaze hardened for a moment, showing he didn't like what just happened. After a long look, he turned back to my dad, acting like I didn't matter. I let out the breath I was holding and rushed to the car. There was no way I was going to meet him after that. I decided to just avoid him forever.

"Stop worrying and trust your dad," my mom said. I made a sound like "hmm," because I had overheard my cousin Benito say the alliance was just for a weapons deal. My sister was a pawn in a big trafficking plan. How romantic. We knew this day would come, though. I didn't expect a loving marriage, and neither did Adriana.

The problem was, my sister thought she was already in love With the gardener."Milene, go see if Adriana is ready for lunch.""She told me last night she wasn't coming."

"She is coming!" Mom snapped, then muttered something in Italian. Reluctantly, I pushed off the counter and headed out of the kitchen. The newscaster's voice followed me, and the word "murder" echoed in my mind.

As I walked toward the stairs, the old record player played "On an Evening in Roma." I looked at the guests in the foyer: my dad's sister and her husband, a few male cousins, and my brother Tony, who was glaring at Salvatore. Tony stood against the wall with his hands in his pockets, looking alone. His girlfriend wasn't Italian and didn't get invited over much. Mom didn't like her just because she was dating him.

I loved my brother, but he was reckless and stubborn, always thinking, "If I don't like it, I'll shoot it." Right now, it looked like he wanted to shoot Salvatore Russo. There was some bad history between them. My eyes caught a striking woman with a unique style. She stood next to a man who seemed to be her grandfather, but then he slid his hand onto her backside. She just pursed her lips, looking annoyed. She wore a mink shawl in July over a thin olive-green dress and thigh-high boots. Her long dark hair fell in waves, and with her fake eyelashes and big hoop earrings, she looked like she stepped out of the seventies. As if that wasn't enough, she blew a pink bubble and popped it, glaring at me like I was the one out of style. If there were ever polar opposites, it was definitely her and me.

Just when I thought I could get away, my dad called, "Milene, come here."

My stomach dropped, and I closed my eyes in defeat. But I only hesitated for a moment because that voice was non-negotiable.

My hands felt clammy as I walked to where my dad stood next to Salvatore. When I got there, he took my arm and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Dad looked ten years younger than his fifty-five, with silver streaks in his black hair. He was always in a suit, always looking sharp, but that was just a front. I had seen how he earned his reputation when I was seven, peeking through a crack in his office door.

"Milene, this is Salvatore Russo. Salvatore, this is Elena, my oldest daughter." I had done this introduction many times before, but this felt different. My breath caught, and I felt like I was about to fall into deep water. He was just a man, but he had a bad reputation in New York so Why was I glaring at him?

I took a deep breath and looked up, trying to see him under my hat. When our eyes met, a shiver ran through me. His light brown eyes were intense, and he looked serious, as if he was sizing me up like I was just another stranger.

Even in heels, I was shorter than him, and I wanted to look away, but I didn't. "It's a pleasure. "We've already met."What? His calm tone sent a thrill through me. It felt like I was on his turf now, like he owned the space around him.Dad frowned. "When did you two meet?" I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say.

Salvatore looked at me with amusement and said . "Earlier at church. Remember, Milene?" My heart sank. Why did he say my name like he knew me well? My dad went tense beside me, probably thinking I'd done something wrong with Nicolas. Heat rushed to my face. Because of one mistake I made six months ago, my dad now thought I had flirted with my sister's fiancé?

I blinked nervously. Was this all because of a quick glare? It felt like Salvatore was toying with me. I couldn't make this worse by arguing with him, so I forced a light tone. "Yes, we've met, father.