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.