Sienna“Come back to me, mia regina. I need you,” I can hear Dante’s voice as if my head is being held underwater, but where I am feels safer, so I don’t try to bridge the surface. It’s warm here; there’s no constant thoughts or overwhelming feelings… there’s nothing. I haven’t felt ‘nothing’ in ages, and right now, I am content.“I’m so sorry,” Dante’s voice comes again and forces me to pay attention to him. “You saw the scared side of me trying to forget about you through using women. I shouldn’t have fought what I felt for you, I should have been open about everything from the start. This is my fault; yet again, you end up close to death because of me.”I try to frown, but my face feels stiff; in fact, everything feels stiff right now. Does Dante still love me? That fact alone should make me happy, but I think that I am past feeling anything for anyone. He crushed me when I walked into his office and shattered my heart like those plates I dropped.Will we ever get past this, thoug
Sienna - 5 Years LaterWhoever said that a second chance at a first-time love was impossible was lying through their teeth. Whoever said that a 20% chance of falling pregnant was a pipe dream hasn’t seen my three-year-old son running through my garden on the original Dragonetti Estate.Of course, giving birth nearly killed me again, so we eventually had my womb removed. This means that I cannot have any more children at all, so my protectiveness over Matteo has increased tenfold. He’s Dante’s only heir, the only child I can give him after Daniella, so he needs to be protected at all costs.These last few years have been anything but easy. We recently came to an agreement with my half-brother about my supposed claim to his birthright. He understands now that I have zero interest in the throne and that no one will come to claim it; he and Dante even came to an amiable accord.Nico and Dario have branched out into different parts of Italy and now rule as Capos in their own right. Dante s
Matteo Dragonetti - 21 Years Old I watch her get out of the armored limousine and know immediately that she’s my target. Dressed in white and looking as radiant as any blushing bride should look on their wedding day. The only problem is that her last name is Cerulli, and she owes my family a blood debt. Things would have been fine if my father didn’t complete my Dragonetti Blood Training two years ago, then I didn’t have to step up to the plate. But then I had to become Capo at nineteen when they attempted to assassinate my mother. There would have been no blood feud or vendetta, but they decided to touch someone as innocent as Sienna Dragonetti, and now they will all pay the fucking price. “The blushing bride,” my cousin, Lukas, comments when he sees her. “She’ll regret being a Cerulli after today.” “Hmm,” I comment, checking my weapons once again. We’ve planned this ambush for weeks and know exactly which families are inside and which are our allies. “After today, not only will s
SiennaMy head hits the wall so hard that I am momentarily dazed. I try to level out my breathing, but it is proving futile with a fractured rib - not to mention the grip of a hand around my neck.“What… What do you want?” I stammer, digging my nails into his knuckles and struggling to wrest them from around my neck. With his hood on, I can barely see who it is that has broken into my home and started assaulting me while I was under the influence of alcohol. With my senses inebriated and my guard down, I cannot defend myself; this man will surely kill me.Someone must have known… and I am starting to see a pattern.His grip tightens around my neck, and I let out a strangled grunt. “Pl…ease…!” I beg with tears slipping down my face. Daniella’s unhappy face this evening flashed in my mind; I have to apologise. I have to make it up to her!Conjuring up enough strength, I push h
SiennaWhat is a queen without her king? Well, historically speaking; a lot more powerful. From Hatshepsut and Cleopatra to Catherine the Great and Queen Victoria - all these women ruled and prospered without a king.So why shouldn’t I?Ten years ago, our enemies ripped apart my family, the love of my life taken from me, and our family name obliterated. We all thought this would ruin us, but they did not nickname me 'Dragonetti Queen' for nothing. I now stand as Capo Dei Capi as my husband did, only this time it is in Italy instead of New York.Still, some people doubt me and refuse to bow just because I am a woman, just like this idiot at the end of the heel of my stiletto. “You are not my queen!” he cries out in Italian, spit flying against my heel. I shake my head and give him a sweet smile. “You will bow to me in death, buscetta,” I say, digging my heel deeper into his throat and watching him tra
SiennaI step downstairs and hear a murmur of voices, including those of children. “The Dragon Queen herself,” comes the voice of Nico, who shoots me a grin as I stride into the lounge area. I offer him a smile then walk over to Sylvana, struggling to reign in her two boys, Lukas and Marcus.Ever since I took matters into my own hands and gradually restored our name into the underworld, things have been strained between Nico and me. That fierce loyalty he had towards me when Dante was still alive has all but disappeared. I know that he thinks I stole his mantle, but he would be standing where I am right now if he had been man enough.I glance towards Sylvana, who offers me an apologetic look. “They get like this whenever I mention that we would visit Zia Enna and Daniella,” she says, tugging on their arms and passing them death glares. Well, Lukas is the out of control one; Marcus just goes along with whatever his brother
SiennaWell, that went down as smoothly as a razor on dry skin. As usual, these surly old men cannot get it through their heads that I am the leader of my family and would only speak to Nico. My brother-in-law made them listen to me and I am eternally thankful for it, but I know that he loved doing it. I trust Nico as far as I can throw him, and that is not very far.This is like a knife twisting in my side, knowing that these men would rather listen to someone like Nico instead of me. After our argument before the meeting, I didn’t expect Nico to jump to my defence, but I am sure there was a reason for his help.Damn it, can’t I just catch a break?“Honey,” I hear the familiar voice of my friend, Bamba. She’s Daniella’s minder who has come to be a close confidante of mine, it helps that she’s not a part of this life. She knows what I do, though, and will give me the honest truth when I need it an
SiennaWith bodyguards on either side of us, I watch as Christian walks ahead hand in hand with a bundled up Daniella. She’s taken such a shine to him already; I suppose that it will happen since he’s been a constant in her life over the last two years. She still asks about her real father; and I can’t do much but tell her that he’s gone forever. I contemplated telling Christian to leave my side last night and knowing it would not only break Daniella’s heart, but mine as well; I relented.Besides, who would wait around for a woman they haven’t even kissed yet?“Mama! Come!” Daniella calls as they walk through the market on the Pavillion. This was her favourite thing to do with Christian; buying sweets at the market even if the weather was chilly. He treats her to everything her heart desires, and she feels like a right princess.Breathing out a content sigh, I walk over to them and see that