WHO IS MARIA?

Carls reluctantly released Arya's arms, his expression contorting with a mixture of anger and frustration.

“So this is why she was nervous earlier?”, Leonardo asked no one in particular.

“You don’t understand. You know these things, women should always be put in their place”, Carls said to him. His family saw him scared for the first time in their entire lives.

Leonardo scoffed. "Put in their place?” he sneered, raising an eyebrow. "Carlos, you're playing with fire. But this...this goes beyond our usual dealings. Don’t lay your hands on my woman ever again”, he spat.

People hurriedly left the environment before Leonardo looses it. He is very popular for his temper and ruthlessness. Nobody wanted to get caught up in the crossfire between two powerful mafia families although Leonardo is more powerful.

“Your woman? You can’t just say you love after just meeting her once”, Carls asked and said like Leonardo was ridiculous.

“It is none of your business. She’s getting married to me, she’s mine. And I do not tolerate other people touching what’s mine”, Leonardo sneered, standing tall and moving closer to Carlos.

“I’m sorry, Don. I forget my place. She belongs to you now”, Carls said and moved away from a crying Arya.

“Come to me, amorina”, Leonardo said to Arya. His voice held a hint of possessiveness and affection, as he extended a hand towards her, inviting her into his embrace.

Arya walked towards Leonardo and took his hands.

“You forget, father in law, that she’s stays here now”, Leonardo said

“Forgive me, Capo Dei Capi. I meant to tell her after reprimanding her”, Carls said.

“Leave, you can come to the wedding tomorrow or not”, Leonardo said.

Carls bowed and the rest of his family followed suit. They got into their limo and left the villa.

Arya turned towards Leonardo.

“Thank you”, she whispered.

“Let me see”, he said referring to her injured hands.

She gave him her hands and he hissed as he saw the wound inflicted on her.

“I don’t like people messing around with what’s mine. This is why you can’t stand up to your father right?”, he hissed.

“If it was just me I’d ran away. But if I do that, he’s going to hurt my mum and I don’t want that”, she said with unshed tears in her eyes.

“He can’t hurt you anymore, amorina. I might be a bad man, but hitting a woman is where I draw the line”, Leonardo said. He wondered why he felt so protective of her.

“The night is cold. Let’s get you in and ready for dinner”, Leonardo said and motioned to one of the maids.

“Get her ready for dinner”, he said to the maid and she took Arya to her bedroom that was already prepared the day before.

Leonardo stood there watching them till they disappeared into the mansion. His right hand man, Roberto walked up to him.

“If I didn’t know you better I’d assume you were in love, Don”, Rob said to him.

“Get the car ready, Roberto. I’ve got a rat to kill”, he said. Rob nodded and walked away.

************************************************

Arya was led into one of the many masters bedroom by the maid. She looked around in awe. The room looked bigger than her room at home.

“You can make adjustments to the interiors if it pleases you, la futura moglie di Don”, the maid said.

“Oh please stop with the formalities. I’m Arya”, Arya said.

“Forgive me, miss. If I call you that I will loose my job”, the maid replied.

“What’s your name?”, Arya asked.

“Rosa”, the maid replied.

“Rosa, get me out of this dress”, Arya said and Rosa rushed to her side, hiding her smile. She liked Arya.

“Does the family normally have dinner together?”, Arya asked Rosa.

“Yes, miss. The family have meals together at all times”, Rosa replied.

“Does that mean they’re very close?”, Arya asked again.

“I can’t say miss. Nobody really understands them”, Rosa replied.

“How long have you been working here?”, Arya asked, unable to digest what Ana said.

“Five years ago, when I turned eighteen”, Rosa replied.

“Oh, nice”, Arya said, feeling awkward.

“Are you okay, miss?”, Rosa asked.

“Why do you ask?”, Arya replied with a question.

“I’m sure you must have heard of Maria, so that’s why I ask”, Ana said. Arya was confused.

“Who’s Maria?”, Arya asked and watched how Ana’s facial expression changed. Ana wished she had held her tongue but Arya’s personality was just so pure that she couldn’t stop herself.

“Tell me Ana, who’s Maria”, Arya asked.

“You were going to find out sooner or later so I might just tell you now. Maria is one of the boss’s mistresses”, Ana replied.

Then Maria must be so special for Ana to notice her specifically, Arya thought. She wondered if Leonardo was in love with his mistress.

“Does Leonardo love her?”, Arya asked.

“I don’t think the Don is capable of love”, Ana said with a chuckle. She finally loosened the last knot of Arya’s dress.

Arya nodded.

****************************

Leonardo walked into the jail like room and a figure on the floor stood up.

“Oh, he can still stand. That’s bad though, it means my boys didn’t do a good job”, Leonardo said to the figure.

“Please, let me go. I’ve done everything you asked, I’ve told you everything”, the figure said to him.

“You see, life doesn’t work on wishes. I won’t let you go”, Leonardo said, a taunting smirk on his face.

“Please, pleaseeee…..”, the figure whispered. He fell on his knees and crawled towards Leonardo. The soft yellow light from the lamp fell on him revealing wounds and blood all over.

“I’m going to send a message back to your boss. Next time, he’ll think twice before sending rats like you to sabotage my business”, Leonardo hissed.

“No, no, please spare me”, the man pleaded but to no avail.

Rob walked in and stood beside Leonardo.

“I think we should get rid of him now, Don. I could smell the odor emitting from here from a mile away”, he said to Leonardo.

“That would be too easy, I’ve given his boss, Frederick, many chances. They now think I’m weak but don’t worry, Roberto, I’ll show them. Take him to the torture room and set the camera. We’re sending a message to Fred”, Leonardo said.

Rob motioned two of their men to move the man on the floor to the torture room. The injured man waited for his chance and when he got it, he pulled the gun from one of the men’s holster belt and pointed the gun at Leonardo.

The sound of a single gun shot reverberated through the room.