Every little girl dreams about her wedding day, but only a few live to see the day. Girls born into mafia families don’t have the luxury of choosing who they spend the rest of their lives with. We’re traded like livestock to ensure we kept alliances, and some don’t even live to see it past five years. I suppose I can be lucky; well, it depends on how you look at it I guess. “Getting married in all black and red. Yeah, you’re definitely still Amaretto under that baby bump.” I roll my eyes when I hear Gio behind me and I turn around to face him. “I’m a Vittori; I’ll die if I’m not dramatic,” I say and twirl around in my wedding dress. “So, what do you think?” I had this dress specially made for me since I’m nearly ready to pop. It’s a stunning crimson silk dress with a black lace lining and off the shoulder neckline. My heels are custom-made black Louboutin pumps with a black lace design over the red bottom and the stilettos are made to look like silver daggers. Our wedding is small
In the cold, darkened room of a convent lay a girl who is minutes away from becoming a woman. That’s what they say you are once you turn eighteen, right? You’re a woman now, you’re legal, and people can do with you what they want because you’re a grown-up and can handle the repercussions. Then why do I still feel like a child? It might be the way they look at me, as if just breathing air is a sin. They think I can’t tell, but the punishments became worse when I started filling out more of my clothing. When my cotton underwear started getting too small, when my body started becoming curvier, when my bra went up by four sizes in five months.How can I be an adult now when one look from the Mother Superior makes me feel shameful to be a woman? How many Hail Marys will I need to say before I’ll be forgiven for being me?I hide beneath my shapeless dresses, but what good does that do? I wish I knew who my mother was, just so I can see if I inherited her genes. But I’ve been here since I
He walks over to Badessa’s desk and sits down. “Please, have a seat, Principessa.”“You keep calling me that,” I say as I lower down into the chair next to him. “It’s too much of an intimate nickname and I don’t know you, Signor.”Leaning back in the chair, he chuckles again and sighs. “Ah, Alberto would be proud,” he says, lacing his fingers together over his stomach. “You look like Catalina and have her fire, even as you look timid.”“You keep saying that name but I have no idea-”“Your mother was Catalina Moretti, wife of Alberto Moretti, a Camorra Underboss,” he says and I immediately jump out of my chair and take a step back from him. “Your name is Lucia Moretti and you’re their only daughter.”I have heard of the Camorra; they’re a criminal organization that rules parts of Italy. Italian Mafia, to be exact. They’re ruthless…and apparently, I am borne of that blood. This is why he calls me Principessa… “W-what?” I stammer, shaking my head. “That can’t be! They left me on the ste
Three years after my life was changed forever, I am sitting in the church pew with a single luggage bag containing my belongings. Today I am to meet the man my father promised me to, today my life takes a turn.The nuns were even more strict with their training, making sure I knew how to behave like a woman. Only this time I was forced to walk in heels for weeks on end and someone was sent in to teach me how to do my makeup as my husband would expect of me. Yesterday Vito brought me a gift I haven’t opened yet, and this morning Nonna Lola and I had our traditional birthday cupcake. But even as I blew the rose petal, I didn’t make a wish.Wishes are for children who have futures, not for brides who have never met their fiancees.“Tesoro,” I look up when I hear Nonna Lola’s voice and frown when I see her walking over to me. She’s wearing a bright smile and her eyes are shining with tears. “Oh, I am so happy to have caught you in time!”“Nonna?” I say and get to my feet to meet her as s
For the last twenty-two years I have done nothing but seethe in my own hatred and for the last twenty years, I’ve been plotting my revenge against Alberto Moretti and the Camorra.A rickety bridge of peace might have been put into place with my marriage to Moretti’s only daughter, but it means as much to me as his life does. I have no intention of playing nice with the woman I am to wed.They’re the reason I no longer have a twin sister, the reason my mother drinks herself into oblivion, the reason my father became even more heartless, and the reason Dom, my youngest brother, can no longer walk.Play nice with the Moretti bitch? No fucking way. I plan on sending her back to the Camorra in tiny little pieces and igniting the flames of war once more. You don’t take from me and decide to offer a virgin as a sacrificial lamb. A pawn to ease the flames.Sangue per sangue - blood for fucking blood. I had planned meticulously, calculating every detail, and anticipating each outcome, all to
The past week went by way too quickly and even as I stand in this church, staring at myself in the floor-length mirror, I can barely believe it’s the same Lucia staring back at me. My makeup is done to perfection, my hair curled and pinned beautifully, and this dress… It’s a girl’s dream come true. A delicate lace bodice adorned with intricate hand-embroidered floral patterns, accentuating my curves. Subtle beading and shimmering sequins catch every ray of light, giving the dress an otherworldly glow. A modest sweetheart neckline frames my chest, cap sleeves at my shoulders, and an A-line skirt flows seamlessly from my waistline.Layers of feather-light tulle and soft silk, create a dreamy, cloud-like effect without looking absolutely poofy and ridiculous. The dress is completed with a long, cathedral-length veil, edged with matching lace appliqués around the border, and finishing with a veil over my head.This is it. This is my wedding day and I feel absolutely awful.“All done, Ma’
As the smoke from the explosion began to dissipate, the aftermath of the long-anticipated mafia wedding stood as a dark, twisted monument to chaos. Entangled amongst the debris and empty stare of terror on the guests' faces, I can feel my blood boiling with rage. It was supposed to be the first day towards my path to retribution; the day I made Lucia officially mine. Instead, it had become a macabre nightmare with probably a few important, high-ranking members probably dead. Someone had planted bombs at my fucking wedding, a wedding both secured by Famiglia and Camorra alike.“Frankie! Dom!” I exclaim, calling to my brothers. I have to know if they survived!The trembling figure in my arms snaps me out of my thoughts and I see the wide eyes of Lucia staring up at me, clutching at the lapel of my tuxedo. I want to push her away from me, but instead, I push my thoughts down.I threw her to the ground and covered her with my body without thinking, protecting her with my life without a
To say I am trembling in fear is an understatement. One second I was dancing with Giovanni, my heart beating so close to his, and the next I was thrown to the ground, shielded by his body. My ears are still ringing from the explosion and the palms of my hands were tender from scraping them against the floor as I went down. Now I’m in the back of an armored SUV, sitting next to a mean-looking woman wearing a scowl similar to Giovanni’s. She’s wearing a red dress and high heels, is tall and slender, with short blonde hair and tattoos that look like feathers creeping into her neck. I hug my body and feel the ripples of fear still coursing through me. I suspected that a lot of people weren’t happy about this marriage, but I didn’t expect a hit right on our wedding day. Wouldn’t this be the highest disrespect to pay the son of a Capo dei Capi? Wait… wouldn’t this cause a war? As soon as we hit the cobblestone driveway, I know we’ve arrived at Giovanni’s estate. I don’t think I’ll ever