I walk over to her, seeing her shoulders hunch as I get closer. She can't see me yet, but she can feel me. Her body is painfully aware of my presence and that fucking excites me. I'm looking forward to ripping away everything she holds sacred. Sometimes, I find myself wondering whether she'll like me as much as she seemed to at the docks, or whether she's turned into the shy, submissive mafia princess she didn't want to be when she was just a little girl.
The thing about Marzia De Luca is, she's a fucking liar. Because that day on the docks, we both felt something. She should've fought harder to be with me. She should've gone up against her parents, begging them to reconsider her marriage to Vitto, begging to be engaged to me instead. In that way, Marzia has let me down. But I'll give her a chance to prove herself to me again, once she's my captive - willing or unwilling, it doesn't fucking make a difference to me.
I stand behind her, leaning just close enough to see the hairs standing up on the nape of her neck. She feels me here, close by. She knows I'm coming to collect my debt. To come through on my promise. I owe her, after all. I owe her a happier ending than the one she'd have with that Donati bastard.
Fingering the golden chain in my pocket, I allow it to slip between my fingers, landing on the floor. Marzia's eyes go to it, widening in disbelief. We lean down at the same time to pick it up, and reach for it, our fingertips meeting in the middle.
She lets out the faintest of gasps when we touch, and that's when I know she feels it too. This current, this electric energy running between the two of us, reminding her whom she belongs to. Her eyes fly up, meeting mine, not quite recognizing me because of the black mask I'm wearing.
"You d-dropped this," she whispers, finally looking down to pick up the chain. And when she sees it, her eyes widen even more. She's filled with disbelief, turning the chain around in her hands, eyes locking with the engraving on that ring - her nonna and nonno's names.
"A-Adrian?" she whispers, the chain glittering on her outstretched hand. "Is it really you?"
I ignore her, pulling the chain back and pocketing it. I walk away in a hurry, knowing full well she will follow in my footsteps, like a lamb to the slaughter. The corners of my lips tug upward as I hear the tell-tale click-clack of her heels behind me. I walk briskly past the people in the room, down the hallway and downstairs into what used to be the dungeons of the De Luca mansions. Now, they're mainly used to store the grappa their family is famous for making.
My steps echo out in the empty hallway. I'm faster than Marzia tottering behind me in her high heels. I hear her cry out for me to stop, my name a dying whisper on her lips as she follows me deeper and deeper into the trap I've set for her. I open a door to one of the storage rooms and enter, leaving the door open for her to follow. It's cold down here, has to be for the grappa to stay intact.
Marzia stumbles into the room a moment later, out of breath with her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of dark pink. She tries to find me in her room, not realizing I'm standing behind the door. The moment she's safely inside, I slam the door shut, turning the lock in the key and making her my prisoner, completely at my mercy.
"Hello, Marzia," I speak up as she spins on her heels to face me. Her face is crestfallen, terrified and excited at the same time. "Did you miss me?"
"Adrian?" She takes a step toward me, trying to rush into my embrace, but changes her mind at the last second. "It can't be you, Adrian..."
I slowly take my mask off, and when we are face to face, she gasps with the realization that she was right. Something flashes in her eyes, akin to the desire I know she's trying desperately to hide from me. It's been eleven long years since I last saw Marzia, longer than a decade. Enough time for her fucking parents to brainwash her into thinking her role is that of an obedient mafia servant girl, nothing else, nothing more.
"You don't call me by my name," I tell her firmly. "That's a privilege you will have to earn."
"What?" Her eyes flash, not understanding. "Adrian, please, I-"
"What did I just tell you, Marzia?" I hiss through gritted teeth. "You call me Signore."
"I can't believe it's y-you," she stutters, disregarding my words and making me want to punish her for her clear disobedience. "I've spent so long wishing... wanting... hoping..."
"For what?" I demand, smirking at her. "For your prince charming to save you from this cruel fate?"
From her expression, I can tell that is exactly what she'd been hoping for this whole time. I laugh at her, chuckling as her pretty face falls with disappointment.
"I have to say, Marzia," I go on darkly. "I'm disappointed. I thought you'd be a good, patient girl for me. I thought you'd fight harder for me. For us."
"You never reached out to me," she whispers, still devouring my face with her gaze as if I'm a mirage that's come to her in a dream. "I thought you didn't want me. That you forgot about me."
"I don't forget, bambina," I mutter, enjoying the flash of pink in her cheeks. "I owe you a favor, don't I?"
She nods wordlessly, avoiding my gaze, so I take her chin in my hands and force her to look at me. When we touch, sparks fly, and I can't get enough of the euphoric sensation. I don't want to let go of her. Luckily for both of us, after tonight, I don't have to.
"You shouldn't have done what your parents told you," I say. "You should've fought them more. Begged to be with me."
She nods, mesmerized by me. I smirk at her, knowing I've got her wrapped around my finger now and fucking loving it.
"Have you been kissed yet?" I ask, my free hand forming a fist as I wait for her answer.
"I..." She flushes again, lashes fluttering open and closed, unwilling to disclose the answer. It only serves to make me angrier.
"Well? Don't tell me you kissed that Donati bastard. If you did, I'm going to cut his fucking tongue out."
"I didn't," she shakes her head, finally. "I didn't let him kiss me."
"And before?" I rasp. "Was there anyone before me who touched those lips?"
She shakes her head and my head soars. I can tell she isn't lying. Little mafia princesses like her can never hide their true emotions. I can read her like an open book.
"Good," I grunt. "I'll be your first proper kiss then."
"You can't-"
I don't let her finish, instead pressing my lips to hers with possessive force that makes it clear whom she belongs to. I devour her little mouth, kissing her deeply and marking my territory forever. The smallest of gasps escapes Marzia's lips and she steps closer, eager for more of my punishing touch. I take what's mine, deepening our kiss and showing her she belongs to one man, and one man only.
Her lips taste sweet, like sugar, and I can't get enough. I could spend a lifetime tasting her, getting to know the shape of her lips, claiming her as mine once and for all. But I can sense the fear in her. Her body is shaking like a leaf - she's terrified. I can't push her too much. I don't want her to break just yet... that will come soon enough. When she's good and ready for it.
I pull back, smirking at her crestfallen face. "Now I stole your first kiss. I'm going to have all your firsts, Marzia De Luca."