The Beginning

Never in a million years did I think I would come home. It’s only been a place of terror for me and I didn’t want to be reminded of all the horrible things that happened to me as a child.

But I had to do this.

Cara deserved for me to be here for her engagement party—considering all the things she did for me throughout the years.

This was the least I could do for her.

I barely get time off work nowadays, but for her, I could always make time.

Being a defense attorney will do that to you and I honestly wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I love my job and it has been a way of getting justice, even though it isn’t justice for that little girl who was always afraid of the demons who seemed to want to take her out.

I drove my rented Maybach through large iron gates that enclosed a beautiful Spanish looking fortress—red tiled roofs, white stucco exterior and arched windows and doorways that had Lucious vines growing at every edge.

This kind of home was custom made, considering it was rare here in Italy.

Italy.

I can’t believe I’m back home in Italy. It feels like a dream—more like a nightmare.

I stopped the car near the waiting valet stand. The man opened my car door and helped me out before taking my keys.

I made sure to grab Cara’s present and tucked it under my arm.

“The party is in the garden out back.” He was professional and courteous before he got into my car to park it.

I turned my attention back over to the fortress that had me more nervous than when I took my bar exam.

This place screamed wealth.

Of course Cara married into wealth. She was always meant for bigger things, considering she was a beauty and came from mafia royalty.

She was the heir of Matteo Morelli—one of the underbosses of the Italian mafia. He ruled over a huge part in the large network of crime.

He worked directly under the Don of the Italian Mafia—Giuseppe Romano.

Giuseppe was said to be as ruthless as they came. He didn’t do forgiveness and didn’t care if he needed to shed blood to get what he wanted.

He was crazy, but built a legacy that everyone wished they could have—but everyone has their end.

He died years ago and I have no idea who took over for him. I knew he had two sons that carried his line of succession, but they were teenagers when he died.

They couldn’t have taken over for him, could they?

There wasn’t much I knew about the mafia. I may have been born into it, but I wasn’t an heir like Cara was.

My father was Cara’s father’s cousin—so that made Cara my distant cousin, but we were more like sisters. We were similar in age, so we were inseparable as kids.

I was glad I had her because she was there for me when nobody else was.

My father came from mafia blood, but he was just an inducted member. He swore his loyalty and life to the mafia, even though there wasn’t a loyal bone in his body.

That man would sell his soul if it made him rich.

Believe me, I would know.

He wasn’t a good father—if you could even call him my father. He let the power go to his head and corrupted whatever good parts that was left of him.

He had a bad habit of putting his hands on me, and any other objects he could get his hands on to beat me.

I was like his own personal punching bag.

Then as I got older and more mature, he would let his men try and do whatever they wanted to me. You have no idea how many times his men would come into my room at night and try to defile me.

That's when I learned how to fight back—anything to keep my innocence intact.

That’s why I love Cara and her family so much because they shielded me from a lot of the abuse. I would stay with Cara as much as possible, considering we lived close to each other growing up.

But that could only last so long.

My father would challenge Cara’s father and create discord amongst the business because he knew that I as his daughter was worth more with him, then without him.

After Cara’s father promoted him in the family business and gave him territory to protect—he got so much worse.

The beatings increased and I feared for my life.

I remember when I turned fifteen, I heard my father having a conversation with one of his disgusting friends, telling him he could take my virginity for one hundred thousand dollars.

Once I heard that, I left home for good and never looked back.

I forged my father’s signature on paperwork to get me transferred to the states to complete highschool and receive my diploma.

I did my best in school and got scholarships to pursue a higher education and decided to apply for law school.

I worked two and three jobs to take care of myself and finish school. Some of my jobs were questionable, but I honestly did anything I could to support myself.

It was hard, but I did it.

I haven’t seen my father since I was fifteen. I’m sure he’s been looking for me, but I made sure he couldn’t find me.

Now here I am, walking back into the lion’s den. There was no doubt about it, he was gonna be here. He had to be here because he was a part of the family business.

I just hope he won’t make a scene—especially not on Cara’s special night.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself that it was only one night. He didn’t break me before, so he couldn’t break me now.

I wouldn’t let him.