Chapter 3

Lana

Kill? Damn. Judging by his emotions right now, his goons can shoot my father in just one command. The thought of losing my parents began crawling my skin, sending shivers down my spine as I struggled while kneeling.

Instead of my father begging for an ounce of forgiveness, I pushed him a little bit, showing the deepest remorse and sincerity I could offer.

“Mr. M-Mancini…” tears began rolling down my cheeks seeing my parents suffering.

Addressing him by his last name doesn't sit right. I saw his face turn from stoicism to annoyance.

I'm their only daughter, and to think I wasn't able to help them makes me think I'm nothing but a useless idiot. I should be the legs of our family, the core strength and anchor for my parents but I feel like I failed them.

“I will do e-everything you wish…” I mumbled, gambling things I can offer. “Spare my father this time and I promise to be obedient… following your orders however you like.”

His gaze swiftly changed. His eyes were scanning me, carefully reading my sincerity despite my deepest plea.

“I know a way,” Salvatore enunciated.. He slowly began turning around, allowing me to face his well-built back instead of his face.

Salvatore took another stick of tobacco from his coat, he lit it up right in front causing me to divert my face away.

I scrunched my nose when a couple of smokes went directly to my nose. Cigarette smoke. Damn.

I stuttered, “What w-way?”

“Marry me.”

He didn't hesitate when he spoke about marriage.

I blinked twice. No, thrice.

Salvatore Mancini, the deadliest man in this country, is offering me a goddamn marriage. Tying a knot to a notorious mob like him is like throwing yourself to hell you signed up for.

My eyes widened, my mouth turned half-opened yet no words came out.

He's offering a way out through marriage, marrying a Mancini means getting yourself in one of the enemy’s target lists. I paused for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in my mind, analyzing the data like a dang computer.

“I'll be frank with you, Don S-Salvatore,” I mumbled, my voice fainting because of shock. “I'm nothing but a normal girl trying to survive, working all day with only 4 hours of sleep to get my family of three fed. I see nothing but a plain girl in front of you, what possibly can I offer?”

“Many,” he retorted. One word from this man and I can feel my body submitting to him.

“Being your wife is truly such an honor, but I don't think I can cross that line. I’m far from a girl you'd want and I basically know I'm not your type.”

Despite my greatest persuasion to debunk the idea of marriage, Salvatore remained persistent about his offer. “I can put you to good use.”

“My family owes a lot of people, and I'm afraid you'll get dragged into trouble. Once they know I married you, everyone will flock your path which can cause you delays during important meetings. I just don't want that to happen.” Some of it was true though, but some parts weren't. I only said it to come up with a new tactic and brushed the idea of marriage from his mind.

He scowled. “What do you take me for?”

“I'm a firm believer I'm not worthy of your time,” this was my final straw, the final stage to confuse him and think about something else he'd like me to do.

“At least I can steal a cow from the neighborhood if you want me to. I can cook ten dishes at a time without needing help. I can do everything… just not marriage.”

Salvatore gave me a smirk. “You don't have the power to decide. My offer still has more.” Salvatore affirmed whilst his right-hand man, Owen’s face remained confused.

He strode towards where I was, slowly lifting my chin using his index fingers until our gaze locked for the ninth time.

Salvatore paused, he didn't answer back yet he remained ogling to my face for a minute. I stared at his handsome face, his prominent jaw looks dangerous, his broad and thick eyebrows are intimidating whilst his eyes…

His eyes are showing me emotions I can't fully understand.

“To marry me is to clear all your family's debts listed in your account,” he said. “All your mom's treatment shall be shouldered by me without letting you pay for anything including your monthly groceries.”

My whole body froze from the moment his fingers began caressing my cheeks while I gripped at the hem of my blouse, nibbling my lower lip as I tried to make a way and woo him far from me.

“There are only two options, little doe. Marry me, you will get everything I have. My time, my money, trips to different countries… or I'll kill your father right now in front of you.” He speaks as if he doesn't fear the law protecting people's human rights.

My mother couldn't bear watching anymore to the point she already half-opened her mouth to persuade him.

“Sir, my daughter is just—” My mother was kneeling in front of us.

“I do,” I said, making my mother cease from speaking. “I will marry you.”

My mother suddenly held onto my arms. She might be thinking I'm a fool myself. “Lana, my dear, you don't need to marry him. We can survive and we can pay.” Her persuasion got me clenched my jaw.

A small ghost of a smile crept onto his face from the moment he saw me being fixated about saying yes.

She was holding my arms, carefully making me understand there's always another way and that doesn't mean I have to agree with it. Given the remaining time I have in this world, having Salvatore Mancini as a support system could lift the heavy burden I'm carrying.

I chewed hard, my hands turning into a fist while I gambled my own life with the hands of Salvatore Mancini—the notorious King of the Underground.

“I need your word. Hold onto your promise, Don S-Salvatore. Wipe all our debts, and pay for my mother's treatment.”

Salvatore quickly responded. “I’m a man of words, little doe. Owen,” he called for someone who was at my right earlier. “Take note of the deal between me and…her.”

Owen nodded. “Understood, Don.”

Salvatore fixed his suit, his eyes remained staring at me with a melting gaze. “If you run, I'll make sure to cut your father's body parts. No hospital will take your mom without my permission.” Salvatore's fingers gently caressed my cheeks paired with his blazing stares. “Do you understand?”

I reluctantly nodded. “Y-Yes, Don.”

“I'll come back in a few days. Make sure you're ready when I do. You love your parents, don't you?”

And in just a couple of seconds, all the armed men swarming at our living room immediately left.

Fuck. What did I signed up for?