She never needed saving. Not when she was a child forced to grow up too soon. Not when she took over an empire built on blood and betrayal. And certainly not when a group of men tried to shove her into a van, thinking they could break her. But then he showed up. He wasn't a hero. Just a good guy who was at the wrong place at the wrong time or was it even wrong? A guy who couldn't watch them do something awful to the beautiful woman. He didn't know who she was. Didn't know that stepping in would change his life forever. Because they took him, too. Now, he's trapped in a world where people don't live long if they don't know how to fight. A world where she-ruthless, untouchable, dangerous-is the only person standing between him and death. He should hate her. She should push him away. But it's not that simple. He's spent his whole life being careful. Obedient. Taking every hit his father gave him just so his little sister wouldn't have to. He never had the luxury of fighting back. But she-she doesn't know how to surrender. She is all sharp edges and iron will. And yet, she sees something in him that no one else ever has. And he sees her, too. Not just the ruthless mafia boss-but the woman who has lost too much, who has learned to be unbreakable because no one ever came to save her. They don't fall in love the way normal people do. There's nothing soft about it. It's raw. It's messy. It hurts. And when the worst happens-when she loses her mother, when his sister is sold to the same kind of monsters who ruined both their lives-it nearly destroys them. But she won't stop until she gets his sister back. And he won't let her fight alone. They were never supposed to meet. Never supposed to care. But maybe, just maybe, together, they can escape. Or die trying.
Lorenzo's POV
Pain is all I have ever felt.
I didn't grow up in the way most kid did. Suffering became second to breathing, hatred and disgust was the only looks I could remember.
For as long as I could remember, this had been my life, no matter how much I dream for something beyond hurt; something beautiful, pure and endless. Something magical that I knew I could never experience.
For years, I had dreamt of peace and safety. Things I'd be lucky to ever know.
I had dreamt of my father tucking me into bed at night, smothering my cheeks with a thousand kisses as he whispered how proud he was of me.
I had dreamt of coming home and having a nice home cooked dinner with my family, with my sister laughing at my father's horrible jokes and my parent's showing us just how much they love each other but that never happened. Dad's are the sons' best friend, the sole person they could confide in about their first crush, first kiss, math test, school awards, first girlfriend, their worries and fears.
But what if your dad is the source of your worry and fear? What if your dad is the sole reason you cannot sleep at night? What if your dad showed you scars instead of stars?
That's all it is though. Just a dream.
And the thing about dreams-they aren't real. They always come with a rude awakening and reality check that just gets you pissed as you groan wishing you didn't wake up just yet.
And if that fact ever changed, if my dreams ever got to become a reality, I was sure I'd be long dead before that chance ever came.
Death. Something I knew I would come close to in a few minutes.
9:05 pm.
It was just five minutes past 7 pm, and yet it was those five minutes that I knew would push him over the edge.
Just five.
I let out a deep breath as I pushed open the front door to the overly luxurious mansion, stepping inside before I closed it quietly behind myself. I held the keys tight in my hands to stop them from ratting me out as I carefully placed them inside my pocket.
I guess I don't know why I was trying to be quiet, he knew I was home from the plenty of cameras set up in his room, he always saw everything.
I made my way through the living room hall and towards the stairs leading to the second floor. I went as quickly as I could up the stairs while trying my best to not leave a trail of remains of the excessive amount of sand on my shoes.
Walking with the shoes on to the park is so comfy and good, but as soon as you're trying to walk in a clean spot it's pretty much game over for you.
The second I stepped outside my bedroom door, I took a deep breath before I opened it, thankful that he was so rich that his doors didn't creak at all.
His maids probably used some expensive ass oil to grease the hinges.
Maybe you would expect someone like him to be relaxing downstairs in the living room with a beer, or maybe out with his famiglio doing some important work, or possibly in a club with women.
But he wasn't like that, he saved all that shit for later.
Instead he was sitting on the couch beside my bed with the lights off, watching me as I opened the door. I didn't even have to look at him for long to know what was going through his head. The moment my brown eyes met his black eyes, I knew today wasn't going to be a good one for me.
Actually, I knew that since this morning when I accidentally woke him up this morning as a result of me being too loud, while I was getting ready for work. He was too exhausted then but I knew he would bring it up tonight.
The fact that I was home late just made it even worse.
"Lorenzo."
My name left his mouth in a cold tone dripping with anger as he rose to his feet.
"Father."
I gripped the handles of my backpack in my hand, watching his tall form as he stood and walked towards me.
"You're late."
Smack
A simple sentence of two words and a resounding slap, that could scare the shit out of anyone.
Although he was clearly raging and had given me a hot slap, he was also keeping himself calm. I always found it the scariest when someone is eerily calm while you know they are fuming inside.
If they haven't let their anger consume them yet enough to openly show it, you're only at the first stage.
Stage one was when the anger was building inside them.
"I know, I'm sorry. I tried to help an old woman put her groceries in her car, then my car wouldn't start and when I finally got here, it was dark in the parking lot downstairs so I dropped the keys and tried to-"
"You know I don't like excuses son."
His words cut mine off and I just clamp my mouth shut, nodding my head. He continued to step towards me but I dared not to take a step back.
His eyes took in the clothes I was wearing and a frown covers his face when he sees me gripping my backpack.
"Why do you carry that all the time? Be man or do you want me to teach you?"
I nod my head, no. He smacks me hard.
"I can't hear you son"
"No"
"No what? No, you don't want to dispose that bag? No, you don't want me to teach you to be a proper man? What no?" He sneers