Chapter 5

|| VINCENZO RUSSO's POV ||

" WHAT!!!"

Both of us shouted in unison, unable to trust my ears. Sancia looked up at me as if she was one step away from killing me. Only my grandfather was calm and silent. Even my group members held an expression of shock and terrified.

I let out a ridiculous laugh, trying to soothe my raging nerves,

" You..you must be joking, Grandpa?"

Sancia added as well, addressing her father who didn't seem too surprised with the decision,

" Dad!! NO!! Fucking NO!! Don't you dare to accept this damn decision!!"

Her father scolded back, glaring at her,

" So what do you want then? Going to battle with Vincenzo every single day? What about your legacy? Who will take care of this empire after you?"

Sancia's tears rolled down her cheeks. For a split moment, it bothered me to see her crying. My head told me that she deserved every fucking thing. But my heart was slightly in discomfort. She muttered between her tears, snapping her gaze between her father and grandpa,

" So... it's all for an heir? Am I nothing to you?"

Her father softened his tongue and replied with an audible sigh,

" Dear, it's a fact. You know how important legacy is to us. Even your brother had to marry fast to take over our family business. I am just worrying about your future."

Sancia busted out this time, her angry voice filling the room,

" For that damn reason, you will give your daughter to that guy who killed my husband? What about Viktor? Doesn't he deserve justice?"

I laughed hard at the word Justice. In the world of the Mafia, everything was sealed in blood and death. There was no permanent boss or permanent power for yourself. Either you kill or you get killed.

Grandpa interrupted her words, his voice strangely calm,

" My dear, don't be angry. There is nothing called justice in our world. One has to die to be more powerful. I am pretty sure that Viktor would be happy from heaven if he saw our family's prosperity. Besides, whatever we do before marriage, it's our term to be loyal to our marriage. Vincenzo will keep you happy."

Sancia slammed the table with a bang, infuriating everyone. She shouted out her words stubbornly, tears pouring from her eyes,

" I DON'T CARE! I WILL RATHER CHOOSE TO DIE THAN MARRY VINCENZO!"

She turned around to leave the room with a huff. Before she could cross the door, my grandpa's serious voice echoed in the room,

" STOP RIGHT THERE, Sancia! This is my final decision. If you don't agree with it, you have to get out of the household tomorrow. There would be no more alliance between our families. Mark my words! I will make sure of it."

Her father's eyes went wide in astonishment. He tried to stop Sancia but she had already left without considering my grandpa's words. Soon after, Lucero ran after her outside. Now, it was he and I left to discuss this useless marriage.

I spoke first, glaring at her running figure,

" See Grandpa! She isn't the woman that I want. I hate stubborn chicks. Please don't bring up the topic anymore."

Grandpa Michael silently lifted his eyes at me. His gaze was deep and meaningful. Taking a few steps towards me, he spoke facing me,

" Vincenzo! I never back off from my words. If you decide to oppose, I won't show you any mercy just because you are the don. You have to marry Sancia Alekseev at any cost."

________

|| Sancia ALEKSEEV's POV ||

" Dear Viktor.. please come back to me...I can't marry your murderer...I can't..."

I burst into tears in front of Viktor's tombstone. It has been a long time since I visited here. Handling the position of the head of the Mafia wasn't easy for me. So many people betrayed me and tried to kill me but I became successful after a lot of struggles. Today they announced my marriage without taking my consent. Just because they were after their heir and I was no longer valuable to them. The worst part was that my soon-to-be husband was none other than my enemy, Vincenzo Russo.

I felt relaxed whenever I came to visit Viktor. He was the only man in my life who treated me like a queen. My heart died when he left the world. There was no love in my heart anymore.

A powerful evening breeze went past my body. I remembered Grandpa Michael's threatening words. He always did what he wanted. I had no idea for how long I was going to deny this marriage. Furthermore, Vincenzo didn't say anything to protest which gave me another reason to kill him.

Placing another white rose next to the tombstone, I got up on my feet to leave the cemetery. I came here to ask Viktor who killed me exactly. Even the top Mafia family couldn't detect the main culprit. But everyone had one name in their mind ' Vincenzo Russo'. My hatred for him was beyond wordless. Even when Viktor was alive, he attempted several times to kill him.

Absentmindedly, I walked towards the exit when the guardsman came over to me. He gave me a small bow before saying,

" Mam! Can you..give this bracelet to that lady? She left it by mistake on the tombstone that you were visiting."

I looked down at the butterfly pendant in his hand. The guardsman had been looking after this cemetery for years. He knew me well but who would visit Viktor's grave except me? Viktor had no sisters from his side. So far, I didn't even remember any cousins who would pay any visit in his honor. A few of their relatives lived in different states. No one would be bothering to pay a visit here. Viktor never liked his relatives and interacted rarely.

Still, I accepted the pendant for the sake of my curiosity. Looking up at the guard, I asked him,

" Did you see the lady? Where did she go? Did you see the direction?"

The guardsman pointed at the north side of the street, then said a bit confusingly,

" I saw her going there right before you came. She was giving food to the beggars. She should be nearby."

Nodding, I walked in the direction where the woman left. More than the pendant, I was curious to know her. After crossing the back door, I ended up on the north side of the street. As expected, a woman around my age was giving food to the beggars. Her face was covered with a scarf as if she didn't wish to show her face to anyone. A car was also parked next to the street, so old-fashioned and white.

I raised my voice to catch her attention, just wanting to make sure that I was targeting the right lady,

" Excuse me, Miss! Is it yours?" 

I held the bracelet in the air. The lady eventually lifted her eyes to see me. The moment she saw me, all the food packets slipped off her hands. Her reaction was like she had seen a ghost. Before I could reach her, she ran in the direction of her car. I followed her in hasty steps as well but I was a little late. She drove away in her car without bothering to stop. I stopped chasing as well but the question didn't leave my mind.

Who could be visiting Viktor's grave even after years of his death?