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Anaya’s POV

“Mama Non voglio sposarmi”

“What?” she looked at me like I was crazy

“Please, Mama, I don’t want to get married”

“That is not for you to decide. You will get married”

“Fine, but please not to him”, I pleaded.

“That is also not your choice. Everything is finalised.”

“Please, Mum, I do not wish to marry him,” I said, tears pouring out of my eyes, my head bowed.

“Do you wish to start a war with the most powerful mafioso family in Italy?” She took my chin in her hands and forced my head up to look at her “Bambina, this is the best thing that could happen to and for this family”

“He is ruthless, Mama”

”Who in the mafia is not ruthless?” She said sternly

“I don’t love him, Mama”

She looked at me, utterly broken “In the mafia, there is no such thing as love, sweetheart, there is only business and blood, and we women are used for either that suits the men's needs. That is why we need protection and security.” Her eyes became watery “With this alliance, you will get everything, everything you need and will ever want. Just remember what I taught you about being a good wife and a good mother.” She smiled at me, her glassy eyes drying up. Her mask coming back up again.

“Now, if you do not like this dress, let us call Sofia’s, eh? Cosa ne pensi?”

I thought of what my mother had said; none of it was a lie, but what use is protection if I’m being sold off to the most feared man in the country? I would try again. I would beg my father one last time. I had never known him to be compromising, never asked him for anything, but if I begged him, surely he would listen, wouldn’t he?

At dinner, my father and brothers were discussing business statistics, which always put him in a good mood afterward so I decided to take the opportunity.

“I do not wish to get married”, I said for all to hear. My mother looked at me to be quiet, but I ignored her. Turning to the head of the table, with my eyes down, I repeated.

“I do not wish to get married,

He glared at me, “I see that your daughters lack proper training, Valeria. See to it that it changes before the wedding, next week”

What did he...”What?” I lifted my eyes

“Yes ,my dear, your wedding has been set for next week, no longer next month”

“Father, please-”

“We shall not have this conversation again”, he wasn’t speaking to me “Is that clear, Valeria?”

My mother swallowed hard “Yes, Bruno.”

“Good, and next time, you shall keep your daughter in check.

With that, he kept on eating; The conversation was dead and buried.

Bang. The gunshot rang as my father fired at another bird, as it scrambled to fly away. We were in the garden outside eating our breakfast, which was a tradition here on Sundays. He loaded his musket once again to fire at a bird.

Another bang rang out.

“The Vitellis will be arriving tomorrow,” he announced. I snapped my neck in his direction. “They will come bearing gifts and to see the future Mrs Vitelli.” He turned to my mother, “I expect that she will be on her best behaviour tomorrow.” My mother nodded “, Good. And get her something nice to wear, she should look good for the presentation.” Bang.

The next day was mistified with perfumes, dresses, and makeup. Dress after dress, it didn’t satisfy my mother until I looked perfect.

“prendimi quello rosso”, my mother ordered to one of the servants, and quickly she brought the red dress that had been hanging with the rest of the clothes they had rolled up this morning.

“mmm-mmm no, it’s too, come si dice? Overrated,” she said once I had the bright red dress on.

“Pink madam, no?” one of the servants quipped, holding up a pink sundress

“mmm-mmm no. Bring me the sky blue sundress”

“si signora”, they said in unison.

I stood there watching them scramble around to find me a dress that I didn’t even want to put on my body. Slowly, I took in deep breaths and let them out.

“Bambina”, my mum smiled, I hadn’t even noticed when she walked up to me. Looking at her so closely, I could see how much we resembled the clear, pale skin, the brown hair, the freckles. She was so beautiful. Just like people say I am.

“Come stai?”

“I’m fine mama”

“You know I love you, right? And I want what’s best for you, even if it means you hate me”

“I don’t hate you, mama”, I smiled “I just wish there was another way”

“I hope that you’ll be happy when you’re married. I want you to be happy, to have everything I never had.” I nodded, “good but as for today, you will be on your best behaviour, yes?”

“Yes, mama”, I said, smiling, as everything inside me was screaming no, desperately looking for a way out.

I wore the sky blue dress my mother suggested, which complemented the ponytail and feather-light makeup I had on. We were in the living room when we heard cars driving in. The butler had announced their arrival, and we went out to greet them as they stepped out of the car.

One by one, the six of them came out like gods and goddesses that owned every square inch of this house. There were four handsome men in suits and a girl, a very beautiful girl. She had black hair with grey highlights. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that she looked like the supermodel Serena, no wait, she was Serena. I was shocked, but I had to hide it.

“The Vittelis, welcome to our humble abode”, my father smiled,, ah but where is the groom? And your parents? If I may”

“He got held up in the states, but he'll be back by next weekend, and our had some business to handle”, one of the men answered.

“Ah, alright, right this way then”, my father ushered them into the living room.

“This is the bride to be, Anaya” Serena looked at me, she scrutinised me head to toe as if checking out a dress. “My sons, Antonio, Marco, Davide,” he turned and looked disdainfully towards... “and my youngest son, Luca.

“Good afternoon,” I greeted, my head down.

“A pleasure to meet you all, especially you, Anaya. I am Dante, the oldest as of present,” he leaned, took my hand and kissed the back of my palm, “and these are my siblings, Raffaele, Nico, Leonardo, Adrian and Serena, our youngest,” he gestured to each of them.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, too”

After that, the afternoon went on smoothly. Then a crash, cups and plates breaking, refreshments spilled and the maids they loked utterly horrified.

“I’m so sorry, miss, I’m very sorry, I apologise.” A maid was on the ground begging Serena, as she used her apron to frantically dry the tea she had spilt on Serena’s dress

“I’m so sorry, madam”

What will happen to that girl? Will one of her brothers bring out a gun and blow her brains out? Would Serena do it?

“No, it’s fine, I know you didn’t do it on purpose, plus the tea is not even hot, so it’s alright.” I was shocked. No one seemed to move, even her brothers; they didn’t even do anything or react. It seemed like they were following her lead.

“Ma’am, please forgive me”

“It’s fine”, she smiled. I didn’t dare look at my father, though, because I knew that if Serena didn’t punish her, then my father would most definitely do so in the most horrific and brutal way possible. I think everyone felt it, even the servants.

“I think we should go, you must be exhausted serena, plus you need to change”, Leonardo suggested

“I guess we’ll be seeing you next weekend” Dante smiled at me, have a good day.” They left

“Who the hell hired this imbecile! Get her out of here, right this instant,” he motioned to his henchmen, “oh and make her pay for her stupidity earlier”

The men dragged the girl out as she screamed and pleaded for mercy.

“As if we don’t know why they didn’t come”, my father muttered.

“What?” Antonio asked

“They do not hold us in high regard!” he yelled, “to them we are like the cockroaches they crush under their shoes. Listen to me, girl”, he turned to me “, when you get married, you must not embarrass me, prove to them that this alliance was worth it, because if you bring me to shame girl, you will not live to tell the tale”

I could still hear the girl’s screams from here. They exactly mirrored my thoughts.

I was in my room, sitting on the cold, hard floor. My knees to my chest. Thinking of what would come in the following days, it was finalised now; there was no going back.

A knock came at the door “Ana?” Luca. Quickly, I wiped away my tears and got up to unlock the door “Hi,” he smiled at me.

“Aren’t you meant to be out with Dad and our brothers, checking the stocks?”

“You know as well as anybody that our father hates seeing me there, so it’s just better if I stay here, don’t you think?

I smiled at him. I’ve been thinking of my problem, but mine isn’t even compared to his. Luca, my favourite brother and just two years older than me. He’s kind, compassionate, sweet, and, unlike the rest of my brothers, actually loves me. My father’s dislike for him stems from the fact that he is not a ruthless killer like the rest of them. Luca can’t point a gun straight without trembling, and the sight of blood makes him vomit. And my father called him his biggest embarrassment.

Luca was also born as an intersex baby, at first the doctors had said that everything would be ok, but as time went on and he entered his teenage years, they began to notice that he had a more feminine disposition, and it was already too late todo anything. The doctor was killed, and my father kept on trying to raise Luca like a man.

He wore oversized outfits to hide his figure, and he always cut his hair. But wherever we went, he always stood out. My father's hate only grew, and whenever Bruno Cristiano, my father, was mad, he always took his anger out on Luca, using him as a punching bag. My mum never did anything, my brothers were always nonchalant, and I always got locked up in my room when I tried to help.

“I’m sorry”, I said

“Why?”

“I’m going to leave you, all alone in this hellhole”, I sniffed, the tears pouring out again “I’m so sorry”

“Don’t cry, I know that if it were up to you, you would never leave me. But you need to leave this hellhole, too”

“I’ll just be going to another shit hole, and you can never get out”

He smiled, “You never know what may happen, your new family might love you”

I snorted, “Please, they’ll just use me as their new centrepiece”

“You never know”, he smiled, “plus father might just disown me one of these days” We laughed.

“I’m sorry”, I hugged him. Tight

“By the way, did you notice Serena?”

“Oh my God. Yes, I thought that I was the only one”

“What? I was shocked, honestly” We drifted off to sleep after that conversation.

The day of the wedding finally arrived. I don’t know how they did it, but they put together a wedding that would take months to plan in just a few days. The wedding dress was ready, the venue set, the seating arrangements, the priests, everything. I would be getting married today to Enzo Vitelli, the most feared man in all of Italy. He was ruthless, cunning and heartless. I would be the wife of a monster. I would live a life of misery and suffering, watch my husband inflict said misery and suffering upon people.

I got dressed in the most beautiful wedding dress. It had a long bridal train, the sweetheart neckline fit me wonderfully, and the dress was tailored just for me. If only I could be happy. I just couldn’t help it; all I saw was my doom awaiting me. Some people would call me selfish and ungrateful, maybe I was, because I was the only one who couldn’t see the opportunity in this.

“You look beautiful, Bambina”, my mother said behind me.

“Thank you, Mama”, was all I could muster

We arrived at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, where the procession would take place. Everyone was already seated, mostly my father’s business associates on my side, as I had no friends. I processed in with my father to the altar, but Enzo and his family were nowhere to be seen. I stood there, like an abandoned bride next to the priest.

I prayed for him not to come. I didn’t mind being labelled the abandoned bride as long as he didn’t come.

The door burst open as Enzo Vitelli walked in, flanked by his siblings and his parents. They had blood on themselves, except his mother and sister, even Enzo on his wedding day had blood splattered on his suit, hands and face. He walked in like a king, and no one dared look him in the eye as he ascended the steps of the altar. His family took their place in the front row. I guess God didn’t hear my prayer then.

We said our vows, exchanged rings, and finally it reached the part that I had been dreading the most, “ I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride” Enzo didn’t hesitate as he pressed his lips to mine. I could feel the blood in his mouth as he kissed me. I smelt his cologne mixed with the scent of blood on him, but I choked it down and kissed him like a proper bride.

When we broke the kiss, I plastered a smile on my face and looked tot eh cheering crowd. Though I could still feel him looking at me. When I turned to face him, I nearly caught it, the look he tried so quickly to mask. But I must’ve been mistaken because if what I was thinking is true, then he looked at me with desire.