Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The humid Sicilian air hung heavy with the scent of salt and something darker, something clawed at her gut, she knew she was close to betraying her love.

Selena walked into the bar, her nose curled up as the scent of stale beer and old pee hit her nose. It smelt like it clung to the walls for dear life and no amount of cleaning would ever take the smell away.

Selena, Roman’s mistress before he married Rosalie, walked up to a worn velvet stool in the dimly lit bar, she didn’t even want to sit on the stool in fear of the smell clinging to her clothes, she was prepared to throw the dress away as soon as she got home.

American country music played in the background; the bar resembled a country bar like they did in the American movies Selena watched with her sister. The bar didn’t have any cameras or windows for their customers who didn’t want others knowing what they were doing inside the bar. 

This bar was outside of the Moretti family territory. She couldn’t have Roman find out about this meeting. This place was in Rossi territory. If the walls could talk, they’ll take books worth of stories.

The bar itself was old and musty, the bar top had bullet hold and was chipped.

The walls had faded photographs of all the patrons that died inside of the bar.

This bar was known for deals made within these walls. Selena didn’t want to be here, if Roman ever found out she was here or dealt with a Rossi, he would kill her with his very own hands. She was betraying the familia. The familia that didn’t want to accept her. Roman’s mother turned her nose up at Selena always calling her a whore for seducing her son, telling her she’ll never be anything more than a mistress. She was going to show his mother, she would be his wife and throw the old hag out.

Selena’s eyes travelled around the bar, the hardened men who were all carrying a piece, it gave Selena an odd sense of comfort. 

Tonight, she was playing a role, a role far removed from the polished facade she presented to the Moretti family and to Roman. Now that Roman chose Rosalie over her. She wanted nothing more than to destroy his happiness with his wife.

This wife had no idea what he wanted or needed. She looked like a teenager playing wife, instead of a wife worthy of being a Don’s wife. She didn’t deserve the role, when she’s been by Roman’s side longer than any other woman has. She was by his side when everyone else didn’t believe he had what it took to take over the family.

Selena relaxed her features, she always had to keep her seductress façade in front of Roman so he wouldn’t notice she wanted more than to just share a few hours in his bed. She was so deep sometimes she forgot who was the real her. She was a strong woman who didn’t like to share her man. And she always got even with the women who tried to monopolized Roman’s time. She was the woman who stayed by his side the longest, the one he was supposed to marry.

Selena was a woman driven by a ruthless ambition, a burning desire for wealth and power that outweighed any sense of loyalty or familial obligation. Her emerald dress clung to her body like a glove.

She nervously adjusted the diamond necklace, a gift from her Dante, a symbol of her supposed place in his heart. But she knew better, it was a gift to remind her of her place, his mistress. He was paying for her affection, the diamonds didn’t warm her heart, because the gift was a gift given when he ended their relationship. Only Roman would give her a gift to tell her he was ending things. The diamonds were a stark reminder of the fragile nature of her position. She was nothing but a mistress.

The way he handed her off after she humiliated herself in him and Rosalie’s presence. She was sure the bitch had done something to her drink. He didn’t even try to comfort her. 

She always thought she had finally gotten his heart, but the minute he looked at Rosalie she knew the truth. Roman didn’t promise her the world but when Rosalie showed up, he stopped coming to see her, he even ended things. She trusted she would stay by his side forever and trampled over her heart for some wanna be wife.

A low chuckle broke the silence, a sound that seemed to vibrate from the very floorboards beneath her feet. A man emerged from the shadows, his figure tall and imposing, his face a mask of hard angles and cold, calculating eyes. This was Fion Rossi, the head of the Rossi family, a rival clan whose ambitions often clashed with those of the Moretti’s.

Their past encounters had been marked by a tense, unspoken hostility, a silent war waged through strategic manoeuvres and carefully placed threats. Tonight, however, they found themselves on the same side, their common enemy being Rosalie Bianchi.

Rossi settled into the chair beside her; his presence had Selena pushing down her nerves. Something about him sent shivers down her spine. She wasn’t sure if it was the scare than run down half his face or the fact that he’d killed her father right in front of her to send Roman a message, a message Roman ignored. Her father wasn’t important enough for Roman to take note of.

Fion held a glass of whiskey in his hand giving her a crooked smirk. 

“Do you, have it?” she asks. 

He didn't need to speak; his smirk slipped though.

Selena took a deep breath, the scent of the cheap, watered-down whiskey stinging her nostrils. "Did you find anything I could use?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, betraying a hint of the fear that gnawed at her composure. 

Fion Rossi smirked, a chilling display of predatory satisfaction. "I must say the Bianchi has sparked my interest. There’s very little about her out in the world. Other than her date of birth, it shows she’s never left her family’s compound. There’s no record of her attending any school. No record of her ever stepping out of the Bianchi compound, what’s even more surprising is that there are no pictures of her anywhere. Other than her wedding day. There’s no pictures of her childhood anywhere. It’s like they picked her up from the street and pretended she was their daughter…" he replied, his voice a low growl that hinted at the ruthlessness concealed beneath his carefully crafted exterior. 

He handed Selena a very thin manila file. “The money?” he asks.

"And the information?" Selena pressed, her anxiety rising. This information was important. She needed something to drag Rosalie out of the familia. She was currently playing house with a position that should be hers. She was getting comfortable in her position. 

She knew there was a power struggle within the Moretti family, everyone knew Roman’s uncle was eyeing Roman’s position. All she had to do was get rid of Rosalie and have all the fingers pointed at Roman’s uncle and she would be the wife of the most powerful man in all of Sicily.

Selena opened the file, her eyes scanning the pages with feverish intensity. Each word, each detail, fuelled her anger, her resentment. Rosalie, Roman’s seemingly perfect wife. She was the youngest of the Bianchi family. Raised with care, her sister was set to take over the Bianchi family, while she was set to marry Roman, the man she’s been with for over ten years. 

Favoured by her parents. She would assume she was kept out of the public eye because her parents feared her safety. Her sister Elena must hate her sister for being the older sister and having to take care of the brat. She might know a lot more than any of the three pages of information Fion had given her.

She wondered if she could get Rosalie’s sister Elena on her side. If she could use her as a pawn to get what she wanted. 

This file had too little information for her liking. Her anger rose. She spent half a million on this useless information. She needed more. Once she was presented with more Selena would have the opportunity to finally claim her rightful place, to finally exact revenge for years of perceived injustice. She’ll finally be Roman’s wife.

The Rossi family, known for their ruthlessness and cunning, were willing to provide Selena with the resources and support she needed to achieve her goal. In exchange, they expected loyalty, unquestioning obedience, and a significant share of the Moretti fortune and information. A small price to pay be Roman’s wife.

Selena wanted to humiliate Rosalie the same way the bitch embarrassed her in front of Roman. She knew without a sliver of doubt that Rosalie was behind her stripping out of her clothes. She wanted to know how. She wanted to show Roman Rosalie’s true colours and kill the bitch while she was at it.

She slides the silver metal case toward Fion. 

Her betrayal of the familia wasn't born out of a sudden surge of animosity; it was the culmination of years of simmering resentment and a deep-seated envy. After all the years she’d been by Roman’s side, she was pushed aside by some mousy chit. She would never let anyone take away what was rightfully hers.

She wasn’t the only women he’s been with in the ten years they’ve together, but Rosalie's was the first he married, he stopped seeing her as soon as the marriage talks surfaced. She couldn’t understand what made Rosalie so special. She was perceived as perfection, yet an imperfect Rosalie had taken the spotlight.

She resented Rosalie because she’d not only taken her place, but she hadn’t responded to her with anger, she’d basically told Rosalie she was pregnant with her husband’s child and Rosalie could read the room. She knew she was jesting. She saw right through her.

It only fuelled her anger and her need for revenge. She would end Rosalie even if it was the last thing she did. 

Fion stood and gave Selena a kiss on the cheek. “Once you marry Moretti, I’ll come and collect what’s owed to me. If you don’t marry him. I’m coming for your flesh…” he warned before straightening and leaving her alone with her thoughts.

The threat sent a shiver down Selena’s spine. But she she’d chosen this path; she’d chosen to betray Roman. She chose to take the risk knowing if Roman ever found out he’d kill her with his own two hands. He’d torture her for what she’d given up. But she’d rather die than not be his bride.

The weight of her decision pressed down on her, the realization of her actions dawning on her with chilling clarity. She had sold her soul, her loyalty, to the family that provided for her, for the promise of wealth and power. 

As she left the bar, the city lights blurring into indistinct streaks, Isabella clutched the file to her chest, her driver waiting out front for her. she climbed in and sat down. 

“Miss Selena Master Roman has called for you…” her driver speaks up. 

Selena’s heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and terror. 

Did he find out she’d met with Fion already? 

“Did he say why?” she asks. 

The driver shakes his head. “No. But he said as to drive you to the villa as soon as you got the message…” he said and soon starts the car before she could say anything. 

She wasn’t dumb enough to argue. The driver might go where she asked him to, but he was still on Roman’s pay roll. He might not tell Roman about where he drives her to. But he still listened to Roman’s every word.

Selena had crossed a point of no return, a decision that would change her life whether it was good a bad, only time could tell. 

The game had begun, and Selena, fueled by greed and vengeance, was ready to play. 

Rosalie would get what was coming to her.