Violetta

The melancholy sound of beeping machines almost sends me to sleep, but I fight the urge and take a sip of my canned espresso. Night shifts in the ER are no joke, but it was the first job I was offered out of nursing school so I took it. I took it because I’m determined to earn my freedom from the man who keeps me as his ward. Enzo DeLuca is a man my father worked for. He was Enzo’s second in command of the DeLuca mafia until my father betrayed Enzo to the rival mafia family, the Ronkas. Instead of killing me or selling me into sex slavery, Enzo took pity on me mainly because his son Nico advocated for me to be his father’s ward. Nico DeLuca is determined to make me his wife, and maybe there was a time I wanted that. However, I want my freedom more. Whatever plans Nico and his father have for me are purely for their gain only. 

I don’t want their plans. I want my plans. I want to be free from the violent world the mafia is shrouded in. I want to help people, maybe even become a doctor or a midwife. I’m not even sure I want to get married. I’ve been controlled by men my entire life. First my father kept me on a tight leash as he was clearly grooming me to become a mafia wife. I’m not sure if my father meant for me to be Nico’s wife or Anthony Ronka's wife, but I was meant to be someone’s mafia wife. My father was apparently playing both Enzo DeLuca and Marco Ronka for years. Eventually, it caught up to him and got him killed. I was fourteen and I was terrified for my life because I was certain I would be killed by either Enzo or Marco. I wasn’t killed and instead made Enzo’s ward where he then controlled my life. If I marry Nico then I know I’d be giving him control over my life. I want to be in control of my own damn life. 

Part of me hates that Nico stepped in for me because I hate that he cares about me, but I hate even more that I still care about him. It’s been five years since I saw him. The minute I turned eighteen I enrolled in nursing school. Surprisingly Nico and his father backed me. They paid for my entire education and even let me move out of the house and into an apartment. Of course, I’m suspicious as to why they let me go so easily. I’m sure their little spies keep tabs on me and report back to them. That’s the shittiest part of this whole thing. Even if I have my freedom I will always be looking over my shoulder wondering when the man I shouldn’t have feelings for will come crashing into my life. I’m not sure I want to date because if Nico comes back into my life and finds me with another man, that man is dead on the spot. Nico is jealous and possessive. There’s also the fact that he still holds my heart slightly captive. I’m not sure there is another man that could pull my attention like Nico does. 

Pushing thoughts of my past and the man that haunts me, I focus on checking on the patients who are waiting for results or for the doctor to do their rounds. Most of them are asleep. It’s a quiet night in the ER which is rare especially for a city hospital. However, I work in a hospital that is in a nice part of the city. Most of the people that come through the doors are wealthy or famous, and can pay for every test under the sun. Still, most nights there is some flutter of activity. Then on occasion we get the rare quiet shift. On the nights it’s quiet no one will dare speak their thoughts out loud as we all know the minute someone says it’s quiet the shit storm is about to roll through the ER doors. 

After all my patients are checked I head back to the nurses station. I decide to take my hour break because I need to eat and get some more caffeine. I thought I would be able to handle the night shift because I stayed up late studying while I was in school. I also worked a part time job at a coffee shop to earn some money that was mine.However, I sorely underestimated what night shift would be like. I wave to my fellow nurses who are manning the ER with me as I head toward the cafe that is inside the hospital. Thankfully, they  are open twenty-four hours because the hospital cafe closes at eight. After eight the only place to get something to eat and drink is at the little coffee stand, which is conveniently a short walk from the ER. 

I stand in line at the cafe waiting for my turn totally oblivious to everything around me because right now caffeine is all that matters. Seriously, I’ve been doing night shift for a little over a year and I’m still not adjusted. It’s like my body refuses to comply with being awake at night. It’s starting to irritate me.

  “What’s a pretty girl like you doing in scrubs.” A suave voice says behind me. I turn on my heels to face the second most handsome man I’ve ever seen. He’s on the taller side, dark olive tone skin, short slicked back black hair, and warm brown eyes. Correction, there is apparently someone who can draw my attention from Nico, and somehow it’s not a bad thing. 

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” I ask, realizing the man looks slightly familiar as I am not struck by his tempting features. Looking over at him properly as I’m no longer distracted. Judging by his nice navy blue suit he’s got money. The question is, is he mob rich or just another rich playboy?

“You may have seen me in pictures, but we’ve never met in person.” He answers. 

“I’m not in that life anymore.” I firmly state realizing he’s mob rich and I need to stay away. Thankfully, it’s my turn in line. I give the barista my order eager to get back to the break room that is for staff only. However, when I go to pay the handsome mob man offers his black credit card to the barista as he comes to my side. 

“Please, allow me to pay for your order, and…” he pauses looking at the barista’s name tag. “Molly, could you please add a large Americano and lemon blueberry scone.” 

“Sure, can I have a name for the order?” Molly the barista with her ginger hair pulled back in a tight ponytail says with a smile stretching the freckles that speckle her face. How the hell is she this chipper and I’m over dragging like a slug? . 

“Anthony.” The handsome mob man answers, and my world stops. 

What are the chances that he’s Anthony Ronka? Here I was expecting Nico to be the one to ruin my what I like to call my fake freedom. I never thought Anthony fucking Ronka would be the one to shatter my blissful bubble. The fact that he’s here means he wants something, and he wants something from me. My mind can’t help but race with questions, but there is one that sticks out the most. What the hell did my father promise him and is here to collect?