CHAPTER 1

“What, how can you say such father you didn't even ask for my consent?” Azzura the only child of Mr. Tommaso and Mrs Gaia of the Sil clan, a small and almost seen to be weak clan screamed out at her father after hearing the news of her already planned marriage with her betrothed Francisco of the Ndranghetas Mafia Family.

A very dangerous Mafia family ruled by the mighty strength of Don Giovanni a very ruggedly voracious man who believes in killing or be killed and the father to Francesco the betrothed to Azzura.

“I don't like him father and I will never get married to such ugly human, never” Azzura barked at her father who sat comfortably with her mother by his side.

The tension in the room thickened immediately as mother vs parent clash in a strong staring contest to see who has the most opinion stated down on a slate.

The office of the Sil mansion was large and luxurious, built with dark mahogany walls and expensive Italian designs that screamed wealth and power.

A giant chandelier hung from above casting golden lights across the polished floor while the faint smell of cigar smoke lingered heavily in the air.

Mr Tommaso remained seated on the long black leather chair like a king on his throne dangerously calm like a bright sky before the storm.

His sharp eyes remained fixed on his daughter as though studying every movement she made while his wife Mrs Gaia beside him looked far softer with concern hidden beneath her composed smile.

“Mother” Azzura called out as she shifted her gaze to her mother “why are you not saying anything against this evil idea, you want me to get married to that heartless idiot who raises his shoulders so high with annoying pride swelling all over his face?”

“I hate him so much I can tear out his eyes I swear I will, don't you guys get it?” Azzura screamed as she walked towards her mother who kept a smile on her face all through like she had seen such attitude countless times and what Azzura was displaying was nothing compared to what she herself had done or experienced in her lifetime.

Azzura's chest rose heavily with every breath as ager burned wildly inside her, thus was not just anger burning…no.

This was fear disguised as rage, fear that was not coming from her but rooted deeply in the name of the house she is getting married into..

The Casa Ndrangheta.

This wasn't any fear because everyone knew the Ndranghetas and without saying much the stories alone were enough to terrify entire cities even presidents of nations do not dare react when this clan speaks.

People disappeared overnight after crossing them and grown men with the bravest heart begged for mercy before getting bullets buried into their skulls.

Families vanished without traces and now she was expected to become one of them, one of the family of an extremely dangerous house…a haunted clan.

“Just thinking about all these makes me want to die right now, no I can't take it… I have to do something about this” Azzura said in her head as she shivered unconsciously at the deep fear she felt at the mention of the Casa Ndrangheta.

“Just say something mum at least that can stop dad from such useless decisions he is about to embark on…please mum” Azzura said once more as she almost went on her knees pleading that her mum at least reconsider.

“Darling, trust me when I tell that you don't have to be so stiff on this matter” Mrs Gaia said with a bright smile on her face.

“You see my love the wedding was not something we decided ourselves, it's the Ndrangheta family way of telling your father thank you for what he did for Mr Giovanni his friend some years back”

“So darling…. you see it is not like we forced you into it, no we didn't but we felt it would be a very good start for you” Mrs Gaia said, her voice remained soft and controlled unlike the storm brewing inside Azzura.

But Azzura was far beyond calming down as she began to feel like this was a lost war from the very start “I can't believe mum will be in support of this nonsense it's like this is just a waste of time from the very start…but still I need to fight it out, I must” Azzura said in her head as she looked at her parent.

“Bla bla bla mom I don't understand you at all, what is my business with the fact that father helped Mr Giovanni, how does that concern me in the first place please make it make sense to me..i need to understand” Azzura said.

“if like you said father helped the Ndrangheta family good and fine, but why then is it a marriage to their most proud boring son that I am getting married to is that nothing sounding very weird to you two?” Azzura said out loud.

“I need control of my life” Azzura said once more “for crying out loud this is my life and I can decide what I want for myself and by myself… for christ sake I want to get married to a simple man one I love and cherish not some planned marriage proud guy from a disgusting family of killers and destroyers mother”

Mr Tommaso’s fingers tightened a little bit around the wine glass in his hand and with a little more pressure there was an assurance that the glass would surely break, but he remained silent a clear show that he was trying his possible best to hold himself from reacting.

Azzura however was too blinded by emotions to notice the dangerous patience building inside him.l as images of Francesco crossed her mind unwillingly.

“That useless cold expression that is permanently resting on his face like he doesn't have an iota of emotions in him” Azzura thought in her head as flashes of Francesco kept playing in her head.