Home > Adrian's Vengeance : A Dark Mafia Romance(2)

Adrian's Vengeance : A Dark Mafia Romance(2)
Author: Isabella Starling

"My name is Marzia," she calls out after me. I don't respond, part of me hoping she'll ask me to stay longer. My wish comes true a moment later as she runs behind me again, grabbing my palm. "Can't you wait a few minutes with me? I'm sure your papa is still busy."

"Fine, I guess," I mutter. Together, we sit down on the edge of the docks, our feet dangling above the dirty seawater. I worry she'll get in trouble for getting her pretty clothes dirty, but she doesn't seem concerned at all. I like that about her. She's a little rebel, and I respect that.

"I like you," she tells me matter-of-factly. "I like you much more than Vitto."

"That's... good," I manage with a laugh. "That boy is a cazzo. I hate him."

She nods in understanding. Hesitatingly, her fingers find their way to my hand and she covers it with her tiny palm. "Why did you argue with him, though? You knew all those boys would gang up on you."

"I can't help it," I get out. Her hand is warm and distracting. "Papa says I'm almost as brave as I am stupid."

She laughs out at that. "That's funny. I'm glad I showed up so you didn't get beaten up."

"I could take them."

"Five of them?" she shakes her head. "They're bigger and older than you. I don't think so."

This annoys me, so I snatch my hand away from hers, giving her a dirty look. She seems hurt by this, looking like a wounded puppy, and I groan out loud.

"I think you owe me one," she goes on next.

"Huh?"

"Well, I saved you today." She grins. "That means next time, you have to save me."

"Save you? From what?"

"I don't know," she mutters, avoiding my gaze. "Just save me. Wanna make a promise?"

I don't know what takes over me then, but I find myself nodding, eager to stay in debt to this sweet little bambina who seems wise beyond her young age. "Okay."

"Here." She reaches into her dress and pulls out a simple golden chain with a gold ring dangling from it. "This was my nonna's wedding ring. She gave it to me before she died last year."

"I'm sorry." I can tell talking about it hurts her, because her eyes fill with heavy tears. She nods to acknowledge my words, then pushes the necklace into my hands.

"You can give it back when you come through on your promise."

"Shouldn't I be giving you something then?"

"You already did," she smiles, picking herself up and dusting off her cute dress. "You gave me your heart."

"That's not true!" I'm outraged by this statement, but the girl merely laughs and takes off running toward the office building.

"Catch me if you can!"

I race after her, my heart exhilarated. I already feel something for this girl. Something unusual, something that holds my heart in a grip like nothing I've ever known before. I catch her right before she reaches the office doors, grabbing her hand in mine.

She spins around, still laughing, and our eyes meet. Her smile falls. The air is tense and thick with our promise. She doesn't say a word as I press a clumsy kiss against her full little lips.

"There," I mutter. "Now I gave you something, too."

"What's that?" she asks.

I smirk. "Your first kiss, bambina."

"Adrian!" We turn in the direction of the voice. Papa's coming toward us with a thunderous expression, and there's a couple behind him who seem pissed off for no reason. "Let go of her."

"There you are, Marzia!" the woman behind him calls out. "Where did you go? Ezio has been worried sick trying to find you!"

My father reaches us. He grabs my hand, forcing the girl's palm to slip from mine.

"We're leaving," papa barks at me.

"Yes, you are." The other man grabs Marzia by the shoulders and forces her to stand in front of him and the woman who is now glaring at us. They must be her parents. "You're not welcome here anymore, Bruno."

"I got that," papa hisses at them. "I won't mistake you for an ally anymore, De Luca. But consider this your warning - you've just made a very powerful enemy."

The man glares stoically as papa rushes me down the street to where our driver is waiting.

"Papa, that girl..." I start, realizing he never commented on my disheveled appearance. "I like her."

He spins me around then, kneeling in front of me. I notice for the first time how creased his face is by worry. He's getting older.

"Never think of that girl again," he orders me. "As far as you're concerned, she doesn't exist."

"But I-"

"Listen to me, Adrian," he says, grabbing my shoulders. "I just spent the most humiliating hour of my life with her parents. I tried to get them to agree to a marriage. You and Marzia De Luca."

My heart soars, but papa crushes it the next second.

"They declined," he gets out through gritted teeth. "And some day, Adrian, we'll make them pay."

"Yes," I mutter. "We'll make them pay."

"Not now, though. The time isn't right." Papa stands up and ushers me into the waiting car. "When the right time comes, we will be ready for vengeance."

"Vengeance." I test the word out on my lips as the driver pulls away from the docks. I catch another glimpse of Marzia as we drive away, staring after our car with eyes brimming with tears.

"Vengeance," I repeat thoughtfully, my fingers grazing the golden chain and ring she gave me. "We'll make them pay, papa."

 

 

2

 

 

Marzia

 

 

My life has been spent in a gilded cage. Day and night, the little golden door that leads into freedom is locked, and I'm kept behind the bars, watched but never seen.

I have long since given hope of connecting with my parents. The only person who ever understood me was nonna, but it's been twelve long years since she passed away - a long time to be alone with the overwhelming burden of being the perfect mafia princess.

I have nobody I can trust. No friends except the girls my parents deem worthy, who are all sinfully boring, obedient, and meek. But most of the time, I'm alone, locked up in my quarters. I live a pampered life full of beautiful dresses, expensive everything and privilege most other people cannot even imagine. But I yearn for something else. For life outside this cage they've built for me. I long to have the one thing I can never have - freedom.

Sometimes, I still think about the boy who owes me a favor. Adrian. I've imagined what our life together could be like if my parents had accepted the marriage proposal Adrian's father offered them. But they didn't. They laughed in Bruno Bernardi's face.

Of course, I will be married off anyway. In fact, they're announcing my engagement tonight. And a sinking feeling in my stomach tells me I will not like whoever they pick for me.

The only male company I've been allowed since I turned thirteen were potential suitors. I've met them all - the old, the rich, the beautiful, and ugly - inside and out. Out of all the men I met, my parents will pick one. He will put his ring on my finger whether I like it or not, and I will be forced to say I do. No arguing. From one gilded cage to the next.

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