ONE

FIVE YEARS AGO

❧     Fiorella    ☙

"Marry me, Fiorella?", were the words Darian said to me 5 years ago and I still remember it as if it was yesterday, back then I had just arrived in Ireland running away from Lorenzo my ex-husband, with an uncertain future and trying to bury a past that was too painful.

My options were not encouraging and with a few weeks of pregnancy, I made the decision that would change my life forever, despite having the money I inherited from my mother, it was not enough to get through this, and marriage to an Irish businessman like Darian MacGregor would be my best option during this situation.

Darian knew my story but what he didn't know was the name of my baby's father, I hid it from him for the sake of our relationship, but it was too late when I realized who my husband really was when that mask fell completely.

The most feared man in Dublin, the leader of the Irish Mafia and the fearsome Clan MacGregor, that is my husband, and being his wife, I had to submit to his basest instincts, at first his charismatic smile and personality captivated me, but the prince who seduced me was left behind, it was all a deception to trap me under his clutches.

Now my past with Lorenzo seems like a fairy tale next to my reality.

AT THE PRESENT TIME

I'm combing my hair, while I see my reflection in the mirror, Darian didn't go back to sleep yesterday, that doesn't surprise me, he spends so many nights away from home, and the novelty is that he gets to sleep.

I diverted my gaze to the portrait of my little daughter Leonella, and I took it in my hands, when she was born, I was the happiest woman in the world but over the years my husband changed.

He became more possessive, irritable, and demanding, I could not spend a moment with my beautiful girl, because he felt jealous of her, several times he confronted me saying that I loved her more than him, because he reminded me of my ex-husband Lorenzo.

Maybe he was right because I haven't been able to get him out of my mind and now, I realize that getting married was a mistake, that's why when Leonella turned 3, I tried to run away with her, but Darian discovered my intentions. And he made sure that I never tried again.

That night he took Leonella and I never held her in my arms again, I have talked to her by phone or video call, but she is still so young, and she doesn’t remember me clearly.

Darian promised me that if I was a good wife and did not challenge him, he would soon return Leonella, to me, with that hope, it is that I have lived all these years away from my Princessa, not knowing where she is, only with the consolation that she is taking care for in the hands of Soraya, an elderly woman who takes care of her.

The day passed too quickly and when it was dinner time, I always prayed that Darian would not arrive on time, every day I asked God to get rid of his presence, sometimes it worked but sometimes it didn't, I went into the kitchen to see that everything was ready and when I was going to mention that they take me my dinner upstairs was surprised that my husband had already arrived.

 “Mr. MacGregor has arrived, he wants us to serve the table, Mrs.,” an employee asked me.

 "Yes, please," I said and took a deep breath, to be able to withstand what was coming.

"Another murder?", Darian mentions and scoffs, reading the news on his cell phone about crime in the city, and takes a seat to have dinner with me.

"These idiots were responsible, my men shot in self-defense." I listen to what he says and keep the glass on the table and stare at him.

"Could you stop talking about that subject, you know I'm not interested in knowing anything about your business and much less about the people you murder for sport." I said seriously.

 "You've freaked out like it's the first murder you've ever heard me talk about." He says with a sharp look.

"I don't like this! I know what you do and what media you deal with, I know the danger we are exposed to, but that doesn't mean I'm used to it and that I'm not afraid." I tell him trying to make him understand my point of view.

This was the reason why my father took me away from him, so that I would not be part of a life of violence and fear, but what an irony of life, now I am surrounded by that every day, thanks to my husband Darian.

"You don't belong in this world, honey," he added, looking at me with a devilish grin, just like he used to.

"Don't you think I deserve better than this...", I said reproachfully.

"Much more, maybe better than this or worse than this, it depends on Fiorella."

"What do you mean?" I said throwing him a look.

"Big things don't come in small packages and they are always expensive" he smiles at me and gets up from the table.

After dinner, we headed to my husband's study room. He told me to come with him, there was something important he needed to discuss with me.

"What is it?" I said thoughtfully.

He looks at me with the same rough and stiff expression as always, "That murder at the hands of my men, wasn't it self-defense?" he said smiling at me.

I shook my head " What are you talking about?"

"No one must know, this is a secret, whatever happens, you must keep quiet" He warned me.

"Why are you telling me this? I don't understand anything, you never talk about your business with me., I told him, scared, this kind of revelation his part, was something he never did.

"Precisely for that reason, there will be a very important meeting, an event that I will organize with your help, of course, this weekend some leaders of the most important mafias will come,".

"And I have a very important deal to close, we will have a very important guest, I want you to have the honor cabin ready, among them Razzo the Italian Devil will come, and I want everything to be perfect, to receive him, you understand me".

"WHY?" I said with a puzzled face, "He is not your rival? you told me that you have had problems several times, right!

"What's wrong Fiorella? Are you nervous, do you know Lorenzo?" he said looking at me, and at that moment, I felt a fear that gave me goosebumps, at his question.

"Darian would kill me if he knew the truth?".