Since the beginning of time the Rodriguez family's loyalty lied with the now infamous Gonzalez family mafia.

Their deeply rooted relationship went back ages. Dated all the way back in time when La Famiglia only consisted of a few close men living in poverty in the south of Italy.

And as time went on the two families bond only grew stronger as the Gonzalez family grew more powerful.

Which meant it was only customary for Aurelio Carlos Gonzalez to bring refuge to Sebastian Rodriguez's wife and daughter after his horrific death.

Sebastian died serving La Famiglia, it was just such a shame he had to be taken before the innocent eyes of his seven year old daughter and wife.

After that day Aurelio swore to take in his second in command's wife and child and protect them with his life, because after all La Famiglia took care of their own.

And that charity continued after Aurelio's death, only now it was his eldest and only son who was left with all the responsibilities that came with being the head of the Gonzalez family mafia.

Only, Alejandro had bigger plans for his mafia. He had stepped in and taken La Famiglia a long way from a shady business that spanned the southern parts of Italy.

What was a single state mafia family grew to be the largest dominating family in the world with people stretching to all parts of the globe.

And what happened to the Rodriguez family you might ask?

Not long after the wretched night where Sebastian was killed, his wife and daughter were sent far away.

Laura Rodriguez was sent to America to lead a new life where her beautiful daughter would never have to be put in danger again. Where even at the news of Aurelio's death, they were not to return home.

But soon after Alejandro took charge there was no need for them to ever look back. As La Famiglia expanded and settled in America, Laura was once again reunited with them and established a place high in the ranks.

However her daughter was still not to be tainted by the darkness and sin that was the Gonzalez Family mafia.

Not until it was absolutely necessary.

She was a true princess, locked away from the life of crime and sin ironically enough it was only possible because she was protected by the most sinful of them all.

La Principessa was told stories of the wonderful man her mamá would tell her was protecting them. The man her mamá called the prince.

Her mamá spoke so highly of him. Only ever telling Camila - a now sixteen year old girl - tales of the man she would never have to meet if things went according to plan. A man she would only meet if anything were to happen to her mamá.

It was a warning. One that Camila didn't pay any mind to until it was too late and she was delivered to the devil in disguise himself three years later.

But even the most powerful have their own weaknesses. An Achilles heel of such. A weapon so powerful that it's effects of destruction could ripple all throughout just as quickly as it came.

And in this story that weapon was a broken nineteen year old brat mourning the loss of her mother.

A girl that found comfort in the monster himself.

.............................................

Camila's POV

Mamá was beautiful which explained why these men were starring at me as I was no different. It may also have had to do with the fact that we looked eerily alike. But even I grew uncomfortable with the incessant starring.

I was locked in a room with people I barely knew, discussing my mothers will when it was only ever mamá and I living in a nice two story home in the suburbs of Los Angelos.

Why did all these random men need to be here?

The only people that deserved to be here were family. That only included Ethan and I.

"Why are all these people here? It's only suppose to be family?" I mutter to the man on my left who's currently playing candy crush on his phone.

Ethan heaves a sigh, his blue eyes finding mine. "I know it's a lot to take in Principessa. But these people are family. These were the people your mamá considered family." He spoke carefully, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

With a small huff, I nod knowing that- unlike me-mamá was tied to the Italian mafia. The same mafia that saved us from danger and took us away all those years ago. The same mafia I should be grateful for.

Mamá loved all of these men, but it was hard for me to come to terms with it considering I was never allowed to meet or see any of them. The only exception being Ethan and the now late Don Sebastian Gonzalez.

And when I was lucky enough to get mamá to share some stories before bed, she would only ever tell me good things about the prince.

My prince.

It was odd yes, considering I hadn't ever met the man, but she'd tell me stories. Stories of the vile, brooding man who hid his generosity behind a cloak of intimidating power. A man with a soft side reserved for a collectively small pool of people.

She'd tell me how he could be horrible if provoked - but beneath all that stone was a teddy bear.

There was only one problem. I tended to avoid intimidating men.

I needed to have the upper hand and control when it came to men. And a power hungry dominant male was anything but what I was looking for.

I never longed for the day I got to meet him. It was never something to look forward to, for I knew I would only meet him when she was gone and I was unsafe. It was something we prepared for yet it still scared the shit out of me.

And even now, the idea made my stomach turn and my mind race with fear, because I was now under the protection of Alejandro Gonzalez- the head of La Famiglia.

"And to Camila Rodriguez, first and only child of the deceased, the deceased leaves the rights to her trust fund in the hands of her caretaker Alejandro Gonzalez until she turns twenty one." Rings the boring voice of the man standing at the front of the room, reading the papers at a snails pace.

"What?" I scowl my brows furrowing. "I was suppose to get the money now, not have a permanent babysitter till I'm twenty one." I whisper under my breath.

Ethan chuckles and I realize he heard me but I'm too annoyed to care. "It's okay Cam, Alejandro won't be too present in your life anyways. He's just there to keep the promise to your mamá and provide for you. I promise you'll have the right to use that money as you please."

I still cross my arms and glare ahead. "He better not leech off of her fortune, it belongs to me."

Ethan scoffs from next to me. "Sweetheart, he doesn't need to leech off your money. Where do you think that money came from in the first place?" He asks, raising a brow at me.

I pause, and look over at him, realization dawning my features. "Oh, right." I mumble, my cheeks flaming in embarrassment.

Ethan was the only other parental figure I had growing up. Only at the age of twenty five- he was more of an older brother, and the only member of La Famiglia I was allowed to see and interact with growing up.

He also happens to be second in command to Alejandro Gonzalez - the current Don of the largely operated underground Gonzalez mafia.

Alejandro Gonzalez was a man that I only ever spotted once, six years ago. I was thirteen, and curious as to why my mama was being so secretive, I'd hid in the hallway closet and all I'd gotten was a glimpse of his well pressed suit and the last trace of his low commanding voice as he spoke to Mamá.

We hadn't ever met, nor had we ever spoken to each other and now I was under his care.

"Your mamá would be so proud of how you're handling all this. Like a true warrior." Ethan whispers, kissing my temple as I lean into his side. I smile as my eyes water for the millionth time in the past three weeks.

Even thought mamá had prepared me for this day since I was little, it still hurt to know that my other half was taken from me.

But I push the tears back because mamá wouldn't want me to cry. There was nothing to cry about, everything was going to be okay because I now had La Famiglia.