Substitute Bride To The Mafia Boss

"I'm sorry, but we couldn't save her."

The breath that left my lips was icy, I could tell because my entire body had gone cold at that moment. I blinked once, and again, and again, but the doctors were still standing in front of me, their faces filled with remorse. 

"Is she...Is she dead?" My father asked, his voice trembling as he spoke. 

"Yes, sir. We're sorry." 

One of the doctors began to ramble a bunch of pitiful words, from the corners of my eyes, I could see the nurses shaking their heads in sadness. But I wasn't listening, not with the way my heart was pounding.

I blindly reached for the wall, anything that could help me stay grounded on my feet but it was useless. Dark spots were beginning to cloud my vision and I had the strong sense of throwing up. 

I hated hospitals. 

Dahlia agreed with me on that one, ever since we were little, we dreaded the hospital like the flu. She didn't like doctors either, always claiming that they were fake, and that was why even with all her smarts, she chose a career in business. 

And she thrived.

'One day, Daisy, I'll be able to earn enough to take you and dad to the Maldives. Just us three, a family vacation.'

My twin was always that kind of person. She was never self-centred, she thought of others first before herself.

I found it annoying, but I couldn't deny the fact that it was one of the things that made her unique. 

And now, she's gone. Dahlia. Her twin. 

I couldn't help it, a warbled sob tore from my throat and I crashed to the ground. I could faintly feel my father's arms wrapping around me,

We stayed there like that, on the ground. One of us was mourning a child, and the other, a part of herself. 

I almost didn't want to believe it until I placed my hand on hers, and I didn't feel the beating of a pulse. There were still faint scars from the accident, and a spark of anger rose in my chest. 

The driver was very lucky that he died alongside, else I would be the one visiting to collect his soul. 

Sending her body away was the hardest part, my father kept crying and begging the heavens to turn back the hands of time. I wanted to tell him that it was useless, if they existed then Dahlia wouldn't have died in the first place. 

Everyone thought she was an angel sent from above. Why would they kill one of their own? 

The nurses ushered them out of the room, reassuring them that they would take proper care of the body but I didn't have it in me to respond. 

It felt like a part of me had been disconnected. Dahlia was more than just a twin, she was the other half that completed me and now, I was left alone. 

"The wedding is supposed to be in three weeks," My father wailed again, his shoulders trembling as he sobbed.

I shook my head, feeling despondent, "We have to tell him, he deserves to know."

His head snapped up abruptly, the whites of his eyes had turned red, "Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten who he is? And what he'll do once he finds out." 

Giovanni Orlando. The name still sent shivers down her spine. He's the most ruthless Mafia Boss in all of New York, even the authorities were scared to touch him. 

His popular alias being the god of the underworld. They'd given him that name because of his ability to wipe people from the earth without a trace. He was that powerful.

Yet her father was sane enough to sign off a loan deal with one of his organisations, and he couldn't pay it off. 

I didn't know the rest of the details, but somehow,  the Mafia Boss had come to their club to settle the mishap himself when he'd seen my sister, Dahlia. 

Apparently, he'd fallen in love with her at first sight and asked for her in exchange for my father's loans. It sounded like a request but it was really a demand. 

My father had no choice but to hand her over, hence an unusual love story began. Both of them went on several dates to get more acquainted, and it seemed the Mafia Boss was truly falling head over heels for her. 

He began sending them gifts of all kinds, even visiting their home occasionally. Of course, my father had demanded that I stay hidden as my existence was unknown to him.

After several dates, a wedding date was set and all of them were burning with expectation, even Dahlia seemed excited at the prospect.

"He's going to find out anyway," I muttered, the sky was looking more grey than blue, "We can't hide it from him." 

My father shifted to face me better, the tears in his eyes were gone, "What if we could?"

My head whipped in his direction, and I cocked a brow, "What do you mean?" 

Her grabbed her hand, startling her, "If we don't give him his bride, he's going to rain hell on us." He squeezed her fingers, "He's a mad man, Daisy. He's not going to listen to reason." 

My heart was racing, the tips of my fingers buzzing with an unwelcome electricity. 

"So what should we do?"

"You have to take her identity, Daisy," He leaned forward, his eyes bright with frenzy, "You have to become your sister."

"No!"

The words left my mouth before I could stop it, and I jumped to my feet. I couldn't believe my ears, but when I looked at him, I could tell that he was serious.

"You can't be serious, dad."

He rose to his feet as well, his expression stern, "If you don't do it, we're both going to die."

"But-"

"Your sister always sacrificed herself for us, she didn't want to do this in the first place."

I looked away, my jaw clenching. Why did he have to pull that card? It made me feel like I was ungrateful. 

"I can't-"

He fell on his knees, and my eyes widened in shock. My eyes darted around, catching a few people throwing curious glances our way and my heart rate spiked.

"Dad! Please, stand up!" I hissed, crouching in front of him, "You're causing a scene." 

He grabbed her hand again, squeezing, "Please, Daisy," His voice was desperate, "If not for anyone, then for your sister. Do this."

I glanced at the hospital doors, the image of my sister's deceased body flashing in my eyes, and I swallowed. 

"Okay," I sucked in a sharp breath, "I'll do it."

I just had to pretend to be my twin, how hard could it be?