Chapter 3

He was no ordinary stranger.

He was the king of the mafia world. The immortal boss, as everyone called him.

Don Antonio de Marino, the notorious El Capo and ruler of La Vendetta Oscura, the largest and most powerful mafia organization in Las Vegas.

The mention of his name brought men to their knees and seized them with terror. He was ruthless, merciless, a menace, and even the police steered clear of him.

His world revolved around three things: wealth, power and revenge.

He changed women more than he changed outfits, and women always crowded around him, wanting a taste of the forbidden.

To say he was good looking was an understatement. He seemed to have been carved from gold, crafted by the expert hands of gods. He had a deathly aura, and even the strongest of men trembled at his presence.

That morning, he woke up troubled. And it was a rare thing for him to be troubled.

He found it difficult to forget the girl he saw the previous night. Thinking about her now, the scene replayed in his mind's eye.

He had been returning to his villa, and had found her standing alone beside an abandoned warehouse.

"Mario, slow down." He ordered the driver in a thick italian accent.

The limo slowed to a stop and for a minute, he gazed at her.

She was extremely young, and utterly beautiful. Even with the distance, he clearly noticed how her skin glowed in the dying light. He felt his loins roar to life and for the first time, he was intrigued by her.

Women never intrigued him.

She noticed the limo and stared at it silently. He knew she couldn't see through the tinted glass, yet he felt her deep stare.

"Dio Mio." He murmured. When was the last time he felt such lust for a woman?

"Is everything okay, signòre Antonio?" Mario asked worriedly.

Antonio finally looked away and leaned back on his seat.

"Drive." He muttered.

As Mario drove off, he kept his gaze on the girl until he couldn't see her again. And the next morning, she was all he could think of.

He sat up and stared at the woman lying beside him, totally naked. Her creamy thigh rested on his legs, and he remembered the steamy night they had.

Now she disgusted him.

He pushed her leg off and rose from the bed. The woman stirred and stretched, then opened her eyes.

"Buongiorno, signòre." She purred.

"Good morning, Belladonna." Antonio replied in english. He walked up to the bar in the corner of the large bedroom and poured a glass of whiskey.

"Why so serious?" Belladonna asked softly. "Come back to bed."

"Put your clothes on, Bella. The driver is waiting to take you home." Antonio answered curtly without bothering to turn around.

Belladonna sat up with a frown. Her bare breasts shook with her movement.

"So soon?" She queried. "You told me I get to stay with you forever."

"And you were a fool to believe it." Antonio shot back, his voice icy cold. "Do not make me repeat myself."

A loud knock sounded on the door and he cursed angrily.

"Who is it?"

"Signòre Antonio, you have a visitor." A female voice spoke.

"Who?"

"It is Master Pedro."

Antonio grabbed a robe and threw it on. Without another glance at Belladonna, he stepped out of the room and slammed the door.

Pedro was waiting for him in the living room, staring at the various luxurious paintings on the wall. He was a curly haired man with brown eyes, and a leering smile.

"Oi, Antonio. I thought Belladonna had you chained between her thighs." He grinned when Antonio stepped into the living room.

"You wish." Antonio tapped his back in a friendly hug.

"Can I have her then? I hear she's a wild one."

"All yours." Antonio shrugged, then got down to business. "Why are you here so early, amico?"

"There is an auction today, at the town square." Pedro wiggled his brows in glee. "I thought you might accompany me while I make a purchase or two."

"Pedro you know I hate auctions." Antonio sighed exasperatedly.

"Please, amico. It will be fun." Pedro clapped his back and grinned. "You might even find one that catches your interest."

"I doubt it." Antonio shook his head. "I bed women with class and taste, not auctioned brats."

"Whatever you say." Pedro shrugged and laughed.

In the end, he succeeded in convincing Antonio to go with him.

They arrived at the auction center that morning in a sleek Rolls Royce, followed by two other cars driven by bodyguards.

Antonio kept his head lowered, not wanting to draw attention to himself. He took a seat at the rear end, lit a cigarette and scrolled through his phone.

Behind him was Mario, while the other bodyguards remained outside the auction center.

When the auction began, he looked up, disgusted by the sight of grown men haggling and bargaining like women. That was something he could never do.

But something moved him to stare at the girl being auctioned, and he felt his breath cease.

It was her. The girl he saw the previous night. The same girl he hadn't been able to forget.

Something came over him immediately and without thinking, he spoke out, his voice loud and clear over the yelling.

"A hundred thousand pieces of gold."

The crowd fell silent, and when they noticed him, they retreated in fear.

Antonio's lips lifted in a cold smile. That was the reaction he expected.

"Sold!" The auctioneer yelled out, sealing the deal.

Antonio watched two heavily muscled men untie the girl and take her into the room he would make payment.

Pedro hurried to his side, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Did you just spend such an amount of gold on an auctioned brat?" He asked unbelievably.

Antonio rose to his feet and straightened his jacket.

"I believe you're not blind, Pedro. You saw everything."

"You're really going to buy her?"

"Sì." Antonio answered and walked away.

...

Inside the room, Isabella stood still as the men untied her. The burning sensation in her branded arm hurt like hell, yet she held back her tears.

Vinnie stepped into the room, limping slightly.

A feeling of satisfaction washed over her when she saw the damage she did to his foot.

"You're one lucky bitch." He snarled at her. "I should punish you for what you did to me, but being sold to Don Antonio is death itself. If you know who he is, you'd be begging for your life."

He tried to touch her but Isabella slapped his hand away.

"So rebellious." Vinnie laughed. "Don Antonio will have a good time breaking you."

The door opened and Isabella looked up at the mysterious stranger, the Don Antonio who was going to buy her.

He looked at her briefly, then turned to Vinnie.

"Here you go." He said, throwing a bag filled with pieces of gold coins at him. Vinnie bowed deeply, grabbing the bag greedily.

"Thank you, signòre. Shall I prepare her?"

"That won't be necessary." Antonio shook his head. He grapsed Isabella's shoulder and turned her around, scrutinizing her body. There was a lot hidden under that saggy dress, he noticed.

When his eyes fell on her split lip and reddened cheek, he turned furious.

"Did you hit her?" He asked Vinnie in a terrifying low voice.

Oblivious to the dark look in Antonio's eyes, Vinnie nodded.

"She is a feisty one, signòre." He said. "But I promise, she's in perfect shape. See for yourself."

Before anyone could stop him, he grabbed the top of Isabella's dress and ripped it.

Antonio's control snapped. In a fit of rage, he grabbed Vinnie's hand and stabbed it with the knife he pulled out from his boots.

Isabella gasped and tried to shield her bare arms and breasts. That was when she heard Vinnie's howl of pain.

She looked down to see him writhing on the floor, the knife still stuck in his hand.

"You don't touch what is mine." Antonio muttered.

He took off his jacket and put it around Isabella's shoulder, shielding her body.

Isabella was too stunned to speak. She felt his hand land on her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"Let's go." He ordered.