CHAPTER 1

Solane

“What!” I exclaimed,my mouth widened in shock as my Father broke the news of the marriage arrangements to me.

“Get ready for the wedding preparation, the date has been scheduled for two weeks from now,” Father said,his gaze pinned on me intently.

“Father… you can't do this to me. I have always obeyed your wishes, doing every single thing you want me to do. But not… this” I said, wearily,my voice losing its steadiness.

“I said what I said, Solane,” he said,his voice rigged on the edge and his expression stoic. I know that tone, he only calls me Solane when he’s in a serious mood. I know better not to press harder but my dreams of getting married to someone that I love is at stake here.

Father is a man who achieves whatever he sets his mind to achieve. Once he made a decision no matter what it would cost him,he made sure to fulfil it to the last. This made him one of the dreaded Mafia in Sicily making his persistence on this marriage scares me.

I slowly lowered myself,my knees on the ground as I begged him. “Father, please…just this once,” I said, trying to see if I would succeed in changing his mind.

The response I got was silence,it seems he has already made up his mind. “I…I have someone who I love,” I said. I'm not giving up so soon. I would make sure I fight for what I love.

“If you love yourself, Solane. You would detach yourself from that commoner. I'm doing this for you, why are you not seeing it? And over my dead body would you marry someone so common and peasant,” he said, lowering on one knee and lifting my chin to meet his eyes.

I froze,he knew all along. My speech was stuck as it dawned on me that he was aware of my relationship with Salvatore all along. I had kept my relationship secret because I was dreading that Father would be against it.

Tears stung my eyes, threatening to flow but I didn't want to cry in front of him. I have had enough,I have been under his control all my life,I won't let him make this important decision for me.

I bursted out with anger, “ What kind of father gives his only daughter away in a loveless marriage just to fulfill his selfish interest?” I spat angrily.

A sharp slap came out of nowhere, landing on my cheek. My father's hand. The sting spread like fire,but it was the disbelief that hit harder than his hands. I stood there frozen, not from the pain but from the shock of it all. My throat tightened,eyes burning, not from tears, not yet, but from the way something inside me, cracked,quiet and invincible.

Father puffed out circles of smoke out of his mouth and nostrils, “I'm doing this for your sake,”

“No. You aren't,” I said, fuming with anger. “If you don't let me get married to the person I love. I will marry him in your absence,” I stated angrily, ignoring the tense atmosphere that I had caused with my words. I stormed out of my father's presence,my mind made up to do what I wanted. Enough of him dictating my life.

I was going to the place where things mattered. Out of the reach of my old man. I entered into the wagon of a car and zoomed off to the outskirts of Mexico, where the love of my life lives.

After an hour's drive,I got to the not so rich and poor, modest house of my boyfriend of two years. Salvatore. He was in his garage, busy repairing one of the oldest, worn out vehicles that I have ever seen. I had initiated getting him a brand new one since he loves cars so much but everytime I brought it up, he always declined.

I tiptoed, making sure to avoid making sounds so that he would be surprised to see me. I snuck gently and carefully as I went behind him and hugged him from behind.

“Sol,”he said, dropping whatever he was holding and peeling off the gloves he wore. We stayed like that for a moment before he turned around to face me.

Salvatore's thick dark hair clings to his face with beads of sweat. He never really styles his hair but somehow always looks perfect. A well - kept beard frames that ridiculously handsome face, and when he smiles, God…it's over. That slow, crooked smirk could disarm a whole army. Sometimes I swear he does it just to watch me melt.

The tears I had been holding back broke the barriers holding it and slipped down as we both locked eyes.

“Sol, what's wrong? Who hurt you?” Salvatore asked, his face filled with concern as his hands traced my swollen cheek,tears continuing to trick down as he wiped tears from my face. “Giuro che uccidero chiunque to abbia fatto questo (I swear I'm going to kill whoever did this to you.)” He said, angrily.

I lowered my head and couldn't stop crying. How would I tell him that my father has arranged my marriage with another man? It would break him.

He led me into his room and cradled me into his arms as we sat in silence, only my cry could be heard. He didn't ask me what happened again but allowed me to cry all I wanted.

Soothed by his warm hands on my shoulders and rested my head on his broad comfortable chest. I finally stopped crying and was able to tell him all that had happened.

His jaw twitched as I told him about my father arranging my marriage with another Mafia Lord's son.

I stared at him softly,then took a deep breath. “I disagreed with him and decided to come to you,”

His fingers brushed his hair to the back, frustration broke in his forehead as he stood pacing. Then he suddenly stopped, “What if we elope and go to a place far away from the reach of your father?”

I hesitated, thinking it over. I have never left this small city because of restrictions from my father but now I would be able to leave. It's just a freedom away. It is for the best, my freedom.

“As long as we are together, I would elope anywhere,” I said, looking at him. Salvatore's eyes sparkled when I said that,he drew me into a deep kiss then we disengaged.

My breath came in panths,“So what's the plan?”

“We must leave tonight. I promise we will be gone before your father notices,” he said, hurrying into his room to pack a few necessities.

****

I didn't think we would make it out but we did. Or so I thought.

The wind danced on my face as Salvatore drove. Every second away from that bondage called house felt like breathing for the first time.

“I can't believe we are doing this,” I whispered, almost in awe.

He glanced at me with a reassuring smile. “You deserve freedom, Bellissima. We both do.”

For once I believed it.

But that dream shattered in seconds.

Black SUVs swerved in, screeching like hellhounds from nowhere, boxing us in. Before we could react, doors were ripped open. Shouts. Heavy hands and rough grips. Something was pulled over my head. I screamed, fought but they were stronger.

Everything was dark.

The ride felt endless, like I was being driven straight into my grave. My heart drummed loudly that I thought it would burst. I couldn't feel Salvatore beside me. I couldn't tell if he was there.

Then sudden silence. The car stopped and I was held by the hand and led.

The hood came off.

And my heart sank.

No. No…not here,no.

The marble floor. Chandelier . The cold, dead air.

I was home. Home like a prison I had risked everything to escape.

And there he was. Father.

Standing at the top of the stairs like some smug god, cigar between his lips and a gun in his hand.

His laughter filled the room. Loud and wild. Like a drunk man in power.

“Did you really think you could run away from me?” he said,his voice thick with amusement. “ In your wildest dreams, Solane.”

I was on the floor,wrist and ankles tied. Salvatore was next to me,the corner of his lips bleeded from being hit earlier.

My voice shook, “ Father please,we weren't trying to ….”

“Oh shut up.” His eyes flickered to Salvatore. “ You love him, don't you?”he sneered. “Then tell me, Solane…what happens if I take him away from you?”

Without hesitation,he pointed the gun at Salvatore's head.

“NO!” I screamed, yanking against my restrictions,my entire body shaking. “Father, please don't —”

He grinned, finger on the trigger.

And then…

BANG

But it wasn't him that fired.

Salvatore moved like a shadow breaking free. He rammed into the nearest guard, snatched his gun,and in one brutal,precise motion—

Shot my father.

Right in the head.