MY ENEMY'S DAUGHTER

Florence, Italy.The rain falls heavily over Florence. Soaking the ground of the old cemetery causing the air to smell of gunpowder and blood..Avelina Moretti dressed in black kneels before her father’s coffin, her umbrella trembling in the wind as her hand could barely hold on to it.“Eternal rest is granted unto him,” the priest murmured. His voice was quiet, swallowed by the storm.Don Marco Moretti lay still in a box of polished mahogany. The ruthless Mafia Lord who once made men hide in fear now looked so small and helpless.Her father had made a promise to her that their family would always be protected and no harm would come to them but he had lied. He promised to die and old man surrounded by his entire family but he died young.The people who came for Don Marco’s funeral did not cry, instead they whispered and glanced over their shoulders every few seconds as though expecting bullets instead of sun to calm the rain.Her throat burned. She wanted to scream at them, scream at

It was the morning after the wedding and the mansion is so quiet. Avelina wakes up from sleep to find herself on the bed still dressed and untouched.“He didn’t touch my last night, Good”. She muttered under her breathe.For a while she stares at the ceiling wondering why Allessandro had not put a bullet through her head to end her father’s name. Before she could come to a conclusion a knock on the door broke her thoughts.“Signora Rossi” The maid from yesterday calls.“You can come in” She says flatly hating her new title.The maid walks in holding a beautiful sage green dress. “The Don asked prepare and bring you down for breakfast.” The maid says.Avelina couldn’t help but laugh. “The Don cares now?”The maid’s eyes darts towards the door nervously. “He... he says says you will need your strength later.”“For what?” Avelina asks.She sighs and responds. “He’ll explain at breakfast.”She was about to tell the made she was not going down for breakfast but the small of freshly baked b

ALLESSANDRO'S POVRain falls heavily in Florence.The mansion smells of gun powder. As i lay in my bed,Emilio’s warning still rings in my head. I let myself ignore his warnings. To let her dig through wanting answers. To let her curiosity hurt her.But i get on my feet instead with my jacket over my shoulders walking towards the path that leads to the study.The study light is on. Every step i take leads me to her. When i reach the door it was slightly open. She must have left it that way.Avelina stands at the other side of the table. A letter in hand as she was shocked to see me.“I see you have made yourself comfortable”. I said breaking the silence“You had left the door open” She says defending herself quickly.“Not for you to snoop through.” I fired back at her.I slowly steps inside and close the door behind me.“Can you tell me what it is you were looking for, Avelina.? I ask immediately.“I need answers because you are clearly hiding something from me.” She responded.“You s

AVELINA’S POVThe morning air does not feel right.The house was too quiet. Not like the usual busy mansion with footsteps at every turn.I sit upright in my bed. I can hear voices just outside my door. It was frightening and i can barely hear anything. “Prepare the cars...we leave soon and she comes with us.” Before i could react my door was open and Allessandro comes in, he was dressed in his usual black suit. His hair is slick back. He did not look happy and his presence shifted the atmosphere of the room.“Get up and get dressed. We leave in 30 minutes.” He says with no explanations or greeting. “What seems to be the problem this time around?” I ask with a blank expression.“We need to leave Florence.” His tone final without even letting me decide. “Pack a few things.”“Please tell me you are joking.” I say getting up from the bed. “You can’t just get up and decide for me where i can and cannot be.”“I do not need you to decide. As your husband i make the decisions.” He says,

AVELINA'S POVThe rain falls harder as it’s drops splashes against the windows. I walk lazily to my room to gather my stuff. With tears in my eyes and shaky hands i pull open the drawers.Why does Allessandro speak in proverbs? Why do we run from ghosts? Who are they? Why does he find it hard to explain anything to me in the name of protection? I grab anything and everything i can lay my hands on. The room is quiet as every sound i make becomes louder than it should be.I grabbed my sweater from the wardrobe and almost shoved it into my bag but stopped halfway when my fingers brushed through something. My father’s ring. I wore it the night of this funeral but took it off when Allessandro’s men came for me that night. I had completely forgotten i still had it. I thought i lost it as it is the only reminder i have of my father.“Oh father,” I whisper under my breath. “Why do they hunt us.? What did you do.?”The door creaks open behind me. I turn around gauging the ring like a weapon.