2. Adriana

Chapter two

Adriana

Present Moment

Our eyes meet for a moment. His are dark, with no emotion.

I can tell something isn't right, but he interrupts me yet again, sliding another finger into me.

This time, he matches the pressure of his lips and his fingers. I'm out of breath, screaming, and moaning. And screaming again.

I feel his teeth on my nipples, causing me to groan. My legs begin to tremble, losing my grip on him. He releases my breast as his fingers work faster underneath me.

But then, the door flies open almost immediately, startling me.

He stops the stroking of his fingers and stares at me. I feel an ache in between my thighs.

The lighting in the otherwise dim room lets me see his face clearly.

His jaws are clenched tightly. Two men barge into the room with guns pointed at his head.

" Figlio di puttana (Son of a bitch)," the one with the gun barks. I recognize them both.

Dammit.

Maybe it's for the best. Maybe this is my mother sending me a way to get out of this situation. After all this time, I shouldn't lose my dignity —my virginity, like this.

The stranger's fingers wrap around my neck before I get a hold of myself.

I flinch as he grips my neck even tighter, with a flare in his eyes.

"Who are you?" he yells. "Who the fuck are you?"

His grip has gotten too tight now and I struggle for breath.

"Let go of her or I'll blow your fucking brains off," Tommaso barks at him.

I dig my fingers into the stranger's arms, struggling for air. He doesn't let go.

I feel pressure in my head building up so quickly that it feels like my head would explode at any moment. Still struggling for air, I fight with my arms, raking his body.

"Let go of her, fuckhead," Altieri shrills. He has his pistol pointed at the stranger's head too.

The stranger's shirt opens a bit more as I clasp my arms on its hem. It reveals his tattooed chest.

I gasp for air as he loosens his grip on my neck and adjusts his shirt to cover his chest tattoo.

My eyes catch the view of the rose petal in chains drawn on his left side, with a large M colored red by its side.

My eyes bulge out.

I was about to be ripped of my innocence by a Malgeri?

He's a Malgeri.

I cough heavily, trying to catch my breath.

I've never been happier to see my father's men intrude on my privacy. The thought of dying as he held my neck had crossed my mind and I somehow made peace with it.

Maybe I'll get the chance to see mi madre (my mother) again. I miss her a lot. Father has been the worst since she died.

" Merda (Shit)! It is his son," Tommaso exclaims.

The stranger takes a few steps back away from him.

"Alessandro?" Altieri utters in disbelief.

I stay glued to the wall, recovering from the shock and pressure in my head.

I can feel the stranger's eyes on me as I try to get a hold of myself. Our eyes meet for a split second just before he turns to face Tommaso and Altieri.

His brown hair is uneven in some places, with a few strands out of place.

"You won't be alive much longer if you keep me waiting here for another minute," the stranger says to both Altieri and Tommaso. His voice is thick and deep.

It causes a shiver in my body. Even though he is more than a few steps away, his presence somehow still has an effect on me.

I got to see two sides of him tonight. I prefer the one where he didn't almost strangle me to death.

Tommaso and Altieri keep their guns pointed at him. He looks unfazed by their presence and arms, with one of his hands tucked in his pocket.

"Let's go, Adriana," Altieri says to me.

I swallow a gulp, pulling my dress further down. I had forgotten my thighs were visible from our moment.

The stranger watches me through the corner of his eyes as I walk to meet my father's men.

I wrap my fingers around my neck, still perplexed by what had just happened moments ago. My throat hurts from the pressure.

Tommaso leads the way first, with his gun still pointing in the stranger's direction. I keep my eyes down, too embarrassed to look at the stranger.

"Tell your boss I'm coming for him," the stranger says. "And you too, Adriana."

I steal a glance at him, hearing my name fall from his lips. It disturbs me to know he knows my name.

"Fuck you," I mouth with my middle finger slightly raised.

He stares at me with a smirk as I walk faster. I turn away from his glance, breathing heavily.

The bar is still alive as we make our way through the crowd.

Altieri and Tommaso put their guns away to avoid drawing the attention of the crowd. They have no idea what has just happened. I could have been dead. Gone without anyone finding out.

Tommaso leads me to a red Mercedes S-Class parked by the roadside. I enter the backseat hurriedly as he opens the door for me.

Altieri takes the driver's seat, with Tommaso beside him. He starts the engine almost immediately and makes a turn.

The silence in the car makes me feel uncomfortable.

I have no idea what they saw but that stranger is a Malgeri—my father's worst rival group. I recall his name in my head, irritated by our moment at the bar. It makes me cringe, knowing he had his finger inside me.

I'm pissed at myself for letting my guard down and having a Malgeri touch me, especially after having clung to my virginity for so long. Out of all the people, I let a Malgeri be the first one to touch me like that.

The Malgeris are well known around here for being ruthless murderers. One of their attacks, wanting revenge on my father, led to the death of my mother.

I've since resented every Malgeri and want nothing but to see them all dead. Especially the head of the Mafia group and my father's rival, Thomas Malgeri.

"Who is he? Alessandro?" I ask.

Tommaso tilts his head to the side to glance at me. "Thomas Malgeri's son."

I swallow harder, knowing how fucked up tonight was. The kisses... his touch. The son of my father's rival. He was a fucking dick for trying to kill me.

"Father mustn't know about this," I warn. Aside from his anger of having his control over me slip, I wouldn't put it past him to throw Mother, and how disappointed she would be in me, in my face.

Altieri's eyes meet mine as he stops to stare at me through the rearview mirror. He nods a response. The car grows silent again.

I try to reach for my phone in my purse to text my sister, Beatrice.

"Shit," I whisper, smacking my palm on my head. I remember leaving it in the VIP section of the bar.

I sure didn't plan for my night to end like this, even though I had a tiny feeling my father would have his men come looking for me; he always does this. Finding a way to ruin everything for me with his men showing up with guns.

I've never had a normal life without being reminded that I am the daughter of the great ‘Manny Gustavo'. The powerful and unchallenged Salvatore of the Gustavo empire.

My father has been the head for two long decades. The people of New York City have grown to know and fear him. Who wouldn't?

Me .

I've never given a shit about his title or power running a drug cartel. Unlike my sister, Beatrice, I'm the daughter my father couldn't get control over.

Beatrice is his loyal puppet who would do anything to please him. Just like Tommaso and Altieri.

I spite him. And my little escapade tonight has me in more trouble.

I roll my eyes, thinking of the whole lecture he would have me listen to tonight. I could almost recite his words in my head. He never seems to grow tired of talking about how careless I am.

If he could only accept that I'm not the daughter he gets to control like Beatrice; I'll never be her.

Altieri makes his way into the gates of my house. The outside is lined with trimmed flowers of different colors. Several other cars are parked side by side with the building at the center.

He stops the car in an empty spot and Tommaso rushes down to get the door opened for me.

"I can open the door myself," I say as I grab the handle. I open it wide, before he reaches me, and get out of the Mercedes.

The sky is dark, with no sign of stars.

I hear my father's hoarse laughter as I walk to the front door.

My black heels hurt my feet as I walk slowly.

I take a deep sigh, holding the doorknob in my hand. It's cold, with a smooth feel on my palm. I open the door wide enough to let myself in and am welcomed by a beautiful array of light from the dangling chandelier by the entrance.

Flower vases are arranged along the sides of the white walls. Mother loved flowers. Keeping them close lets me know she is still close.

Losing her was the worst pain. Father lost himself too. Beatrice always says I remind her of our mother. But I don't feel as strong as she was. I can't even get myself free from my father's hold.

Let's not forget I almost got myself killed with another one of my stupid indulgences just to get Father mad—by his archenemy's son, nonetheless.

I spot my elder sister by the bar as I walk into the living room. It is filled with the smell of alcohol and citrus. A combination I've gotten used to.

Father is seated on a single sofa on a call. His face turns into a frown as he looks at me. It takes everything in me to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

I stare at my sister instead.

She has always been the perfect child. So damn perfect, her hair is in a low, sleek bun. She attempts to make a funny face to lighten the mood.

" Aspettare (Wait), I'll call you back," Father says before ending the call.

One, two…

"Adriana, where have you been?" I can sense the anger in his voice.

"Elixir," I respond, uninterested in this conversation.

" Ragazza (Girl)! How many times have I told you to stay away from that place?" Wrinkled lines form on his forehead as his voice gets even louder.

"I'm tired of having you control what I do or where I go! It's just a bar for Christ's sake." I close my eyes, feeling a sting in my head.

"Adri-"

"Not tonight, Padre ," I interrupt him mid-sentence.

His face lights up in anger.

"I can't have it tonight. My head hurts. Goodnight, Padre (Father)."

I turn to the hallway and walk to my room, ignoring my father's calls and choosing to skip his tireless fuss.

A hand stops my door as I try to shut it behind me. Beatrice pops her head through the space.

"You've managed to get Father pissed again."

I roll my eyes as I walk to my bed. "Like he isn't always this way."

"I'm not letting you both ruin tonight for me," Beatrice says. We sit on my half-made bed as I take my shoes off, kicking them to the side.

"What's happening tonight?"

"This happened," she replies with a wide grin.

Her blue eyes light up with excitement as she waves her left hand in my face. The ring on her fourth finger flashes a sparkle.

"A ring?"

Then it clicks.

"Wait, a ring? Gabriele?" I exclaim in a high-pitched tone. Her grin bursts into a sweet laugh as she nods in response.

"He proposed tonight?"

"Yes! I'm getting married, Adriana."

I pull her in a tight hug, taking in the lavender smell of her hair.

"I'm sorry I almost ruined this big news. I'm so happy for you!"

"I tried calling you earlier," she says. I break the hug, trying to shake off the thoughts of what happened in the bar.

"I forgot my purse at the bar."

"Oh-"

"You didn't miss much anyway. But there's no way you're missing the wedding. I won't forgive you."

"I wouldn't dare," I retort.

I fall to the bed on my back. I can't seem to get flashes of the night out of my head. It makes my head hurt even more.

"I should get back to Father before he loses it. You give him more trouble than running a cartel," Beatrice teases.

She stands from the bed and walks to the door.

"I wish that was true."

"Good night, Adriana." She exits my room before I can reply.

I can't decide which is worse as I stare at the ceiling. Being almost killed by Malgeri's son and knowing he is walking freely when his people killed my mother. Or, my sister leaving so soon before I can really talk to her.

The thought of Alessandro makes my blood boil in anger. I've never been in such close contact with a Malgeri.

My fingers instinctively touch my neck, rubbing the raw spot as I think about his grip on me.

Fucking asshole.