~ LUCA VITIELLO ~
"Ahhh! Please!!” I smirked at the badly bruised, bald haired man as I dangled the sharp edge pocket knife to his face. "How do you want me to chop your fingers? from the pinky or the thumb?" I asked and I could see the fear in his eyes. That's what I wanted. I feed on fears. "Why did you steal from me?" I asked again but got no reply. He yelled in agony as I slid the knife over his pinky. "I will speak! I will speak!" The old man yelled in pain, blood dripped from his finger onto the brown tile floor. “Speak, I don't have the whole day" I uttered angrily, my patience running thin over his attitude. "I was ordered to steal the truck carrying the freshly arrived barrel of drugs to X country at the seashore side, after that I would be compensated heavily and my son's surgery and daughter's fees would be paid for. "Who sent you?" "I swear with my family, I don't know, I was only told to drop the truck at X country and I would be settled Immediately.” As a Mafia, mercy was never shown to a thief but a parent could go to any length for his children. This brought fresh memories of how my mother and father did the same. “Old man, but you are really skilled at this type of task. If I wasn't smart enough, I would have lost a very huge amount of money but you definitely have to pay the price for your actions." I muttered, slowly walking around his weak figure on the floor. "I won't kill you for the sake of your children, that's how generous I am right now.” “Oh! Thank you! Thank you!” The old man cried, crawling his way to my knees. “What do you want me to do please?” He quivered. “Your daughter," I said and his eyes instantly opened like a saucepan; how interesting. "I believe she’s of age considering how old you look, right?” "Please! Please! Please! Let me do something else for you like… working for you but please not my daughter, she's the only daughter I have, please.” “You should be lucky enough, I'm not showing your corpse to your family, how do you think they would feel, huh?” “So just be obedient and do as I say, you are given the grace of just forty - eight hours, don't let me come find you.” “Damien, take him out of here and drop him safely in his home.” "Ryan..” "Yes boss.” "Find those asshole thieves, I want them alive and brought to me in dire minutes.” ••• ••• ••• MIA ANTHONY I was dumbstruck. My dad has gone to such an extent for Caleb's surgery and even my pending fees. I rushed to examine his pinky finger and there it was, a little cut which had almost healed and had gone unnoticed. “You have no idea, do you?” I said to Miss Maria, I just hoped she wasn't aware and couldn't even at least let me know but I was relieved when I saw her nod. "I didn't even notice his absence until today,” She said. But this devil wants me? I stepped back shaking my head, tears struggling to fall I looked at my father expecting him to decline the claim, to say something to disapprove of this devil's declaration, to stand up and say anything, just anything positive but no! All I saw was fear and a nod that only means this was the only option. I was devastated, shattered in spirit and right this moment, I just wanted to faint for a long period of time and when I woke up, all this would be a nightmare; one that I will try to forget. I was so immersed in my emotions I didn't realize the devil was behind me. I turned abruptly as he slowly leaned towards me. “If you agree to be my pet for a year, then you and your father will be free" The devil whispers coldly, with his eyes full of desire. I looked him in the eyes, thinking if there was any way to come out of this, but none. I knew this would drag me to hell but after knowing he was a Mafia; a ruthless one at that, I needed to stand up for my father, My family. “Yes!" I uttered surprisedly, after a long pause. And everyone's eyes whooped in my direction, including the devil. Though I was trembling and the threatening tears began to fall, I didn't want to back down. I was determined no matter what, and looking at him up close, I could see a playful smirk on his lips. I had to do this for my father, “It's just a year,” I told myself internally; repeatedly. He sure is the devil and what was I now? His pet. Lol, how ridiculous. Because of my 'no choice' predicament, I couldn't go back to Madam Douglas’ coffee shop so I decided to call her and tell her I would be going on an urgent trip which she wasn't happy about but didn't disagree with in any way. A contract was brought in by one of the devil’s boys as I called them and in the contract, it was boldly stated that I would be his pet for a year; Why does he have to remind me with this so bold statement, again. We both signed the paper and I was ordered to go take my belongings. I wasn't surprised, My father kept giving me the pleading eyes, while my step mum couldn't contain her tears. I didn't want to cry here so I tried to console them. Later that day, we went to the court where a small court wedding was organized with an attendance of just my family, my husband who I later knew to be Luca Vitiello; the Mafia Boss, and two witnesses who I assumed were his close bodyguards. "You know, if your dad had been obedient enough to bring you to me, I wouldn't have come by myself and all this drama would have been avoided. "Do you know to what length I had to go for your father's safety, knowing that my enemies are after him after he failed to deliver the task assigned to him? You should be grateful, little Mia and try putting up a smiley face, this is your wedding after all," He said with a knowing smile on his face. “And maybe if you had let him finish the job, you wouldn't have to stress about his safety" I inclined. Where I got the confidence, I don't know but what I know is that I can go a long way for the people I love. "What a sharp mouth you got, It's quite interesting." Luca said and held out his hand to me as we walked to the registrar. Immediately after the wedding, I got only a brief moment to say goodbye to my parents. “Dad, tell Caleb I would come see him when I can" I told my father to relay my message. Knowing Caleb was going to survive is all thanks to this devil, but now, sitting on the bed and being sexually turned on only to be left unsatisfied by Luca, the long held tears poured heavily. I guess this was just the beginning.~ LUCA VITIELLO ~With my hand, I signalled to the men to hide behind the door as it opened and in no time, in a swift tick, a bullet swiveled into the building, hitting one of the bulbs.We all ducked and Damien controlled the machine gun, while we shot back. It was risky, it was stupid or maybe… cowardice, but it was brave too. We rushed forward, hiding behind broken building blocks, aiming swiftly and firing shots. The sound of gunshots made the ground shake tremendously. The cloud that was once bright almost turned grey, as if oblivious of what's happening beneath it. I slipped from behind the building, rolled forward and a bullet hit the eyes of one of the masked men, causing him to groan loudly until he hit the floor, another shot got to the brain of another behind him which got him flying to the other side.From the side of my eyes, I saw Damien moving forward, his hands tight as he controlled the machine gun. Surprisingly, more men came. It was as if they hid somewhere far
~ LUCA VITIELLO ~ My eyes widened, unconsciously counting the intricate dots on the thick, brown ceiling. I couldn't sleep. How could I? When everything was almost coming to an end yet I couldn't understand, I couldn't understand this burning ache in my chest. I drifted my eyes to my little Mia, her eyelid didn't shutter as her mouth opened slightly. On impulse, I bent to give it a light kiss, her breath mixing with mine. Snaking my hands around her waist, I brought her closer to my chest, her warm skin felt like a low heater over my cold flesh and my blood that had run cold earlier, melted. I let out a heavy breath. It felt right, yes, everything felt real with my Mia on my chest and her palm unconsciously laying on my stomach. I didn't want to wake up if it was a dream. Neither did I want the morning to come but the buzzing of my phone was a paid actor. I dragged my hand to the small drawer bedside me and ‘Gabriel’ flashed visibly on the screen. If Gabriel calls at this time
~ MIA ANTHONY ~I rushed to Tristan in the waiting car. “Good day, ma'am,” he murmured softly, his long hair tied into a low bun with a small band as usual.“Hmm.”The car ride was quiet with the soft hum of the morning breeze.We reached the tall and large gate of my school. Without a word, I alighted from the car as I rushed to class. Today was the first day of our exams and somehow, I was late.Before I could take more steps, my phone vibrated in my bag, making me stop abruptly. It was Diane.“Girl, you're late. Where are you?” Her voice came out low yet heavy through the phone, making my legs remember their purpose. I sprinted along the school tiled floor to the hall, my hands clutching my bag tightly.“I'm at school already…”The low beep of the call didn't let me finish as the call ended.The door to the hall was slightly ajar and I stepped in quietly. The invigilator slowly looked my way, making my heart skip a beat but my feet froze the moment it took three more steps.The inv
~ MIA ANTHONY ~I stormed into the mansion, my hands coiled as my nails carved marks into my palm. Walking up the stairs, I ignored the sour look on Miss Betty who was standing beside the dining table. I flung the room door open, the thud echoing like a war drum as I slumped onto the bed.I held my head, my eyes darted around the room like I saw a ghost, the air hanging thick and heavy while I gasped for breath.The sound of the door opened and his scent hit me. I wanted to vomit.If I'd ever said he smells nice, please I take back my words because he's repulsive. Adjusting myself on the bed, I turned towards the wall, tired from the emotional turmoil as I closed my eyes to succumb to the will of sleep but the bed dipped beside me.And his cologne wafted strongly through my nose, making it hard for me to sleep. It's been days and he's been avoiding sleeping on the bed but suddenly, today, he feels the need to?I took the largest pillow and created a bridge on the bed. “You're not
~ LUCA VITIELLO ~My heart crumbled into tiny pieces. How could she not see that everything I was doing was for her good?How could she not see the world I lived in? I watched her brush past me into the bathroom and I felt my body shudder at the sound of the door. The room suddenly felt small and suffocating, my breath coming at a ragged pace as I clenched my fist tightly.I heard the rush of water and a scream.I was torn between breaking the goddamn door and standing her in front of me to tell her the many reasons why she should understand that dangers don't give signals, that she shouldn't cry because that was all I could do, that that was the only way but then I remembered that she was too naive for my world —too innocent to be tainted.I dropped slowly onto the bed. The soft feel of the mattress was at odds with the turmoil I was feeling.One minute turned into two, then three, and an hour passed, yet my little Mia had not yet come out. I didn't like the effect of what her tearf
~ MIA ANTHONY ~The helicopter landed in the field and Luca and I walked to the mansion. The sound of the gate as it opened echoed within the quiet surrounding.As we stepped into the mansion, the maids stood uniformly in one vertical straight line.What was happening?My eyes moved from Miss Betty who stood at the far end of the queue to the last person at the right end.I heard Luca clear his throat behind me and I moved my body to meet his eyes that were staring at me.“What?”He stuffed his hands in his pants pocket, a boyish grin appearing on his lips as he spoke. “Well, I told them they should all make sure to wait at the door to welcome us.”“Why?” I asked, not getting the reason for his action.“Erm,” he uttered, his hands over his hair as he weaved through them, nervously. My anger grew thicker by the seconds and his wait was eating through my bones.“I just want to say, I'm sorry.” He scratched his neck, his eyes not meeting mine. Before I could mutter any words, the maids a