Chapter-1: The marriage alliance

“Your Zio has arranged your marriage with the Sokolov Bratva's Pakhan and tomorrow is your engagement,” Nico Berbeiri’s words pierced through Rose' whole existence and shook her to the soul.

When she came to see her father, she thought he finally agreed to her request of joining university for further studies but instead he had fixed her marriage.

“Ma..marriage with a Russian, Papa?” Rose Barbieri questioned apprehensively as she was startled by her father's sudden changed decision. What about Dante? She always thought Dante would be her husband.

Nico’s eyes gleamed in excitement and happiness both as he stared at his beautiful daughter as if she was his most prized possession.

“Not to any Russian but to the Bratva Pakhan himself, girl. Vladimir Sokolov! A blood oath had been signed between your uncle Frencesco and councillor Boris Sokolov in the presence of Senator Jonathan Stone to make peace between us and fight off Mexicans. The oath demands the Berbeiri's daughter's hand for the Pakhan.”

Rose blinked a few times in confusion. A Berbeiri's daughter's hand for the Pakhan? “Papa, why is Zio not marrying his own daughter Valentina to him? She would have been more valued in this alliance, why me?”

Nico's eyes flashed in anger and the next second, a sharp slap landed on Rose's face. “You stupid girl! For once in life God is shining his grace over us and you want to handover your luck to Valentina!”

He moved and grabbed her jaw tightly making her gasp in pain. “Papa…” Rose cried out.

Nico fixed his daughter with a pointed stare. “You are getting engaged to Vladimir tomorrow and that's final!”

Rose' baby blue eyes shone with tears. “But…but Papa, was I not supposed to marry Dante? I thought…”

She winced when sharp pain cut through her arms as Nico tightened his hold on her arms bruisingly.

His eyes flashed dangerously. “What about Dante? He is merely a Captain’s son while Vladimir is one of the most powerful men in New York. You should be grateful that you will be crowned as his wife. A Mafia Head’s wife.”

Rose’s face paled as tears rolled down on her cheeks seeing her father's furious and greedy gaze. “Why did you take his name? Are you involved with him, Rose? Tell me, are you still pure?”

Rose flinched at his crude insinuation. Her face flushed as she tried to free herself out of his hold. “Papa, you are hurting me,” she wheezed out.

“Don't Papa me! I want an answer. Are you still pure, girl? Because if you are not, I swear to God I will kill you with my own hands. Have you been fucking Dante?”

“Nico!” Stephanie, Nico's wife who had been silently witnessing their interaction for a while, gasped at her husband's language towards their daughter while Rose remained standing like a frozen statue.

“Look what you are saying to her!”

He left Rose's arms and turned to his wife. “What? No mafia head would want a rotten good on his wedding night! Her virginity and beauty is what a Don wants. I do not want to lose this chance, Stephanie. Her marriage to Vladimir is going to make me equal to Francesco. I couldn't become the Don but my daughter will marry the one,” he snapped his eyes back to Rose.

“Spill, you stupid girl! Are you a Virgin or not?”

Rose, scared to death, nodded her head like a springed doll. “I…I am.”

Her words calmed Nico and he gave her a curt nod. “Now leave and start preparing for your engagement tomorrow!”

Crying silently, Rose sprinted to her room where her sixteen year old sister, Mia, was waiting for her.

“Is it true? Uncle Francesco and Papa are giving you to the Bratva Pakhan?”

Rose sniffed and blinked in surprise. “How do you know about it?”

Mia held her sister's arm, making her jump in pain. She looked at her sister's swollen arms with wide eyes. “Papa did this?”

Rose nodded and burst into tears as Mia pulled her into her arms.

“Rose, calm down and tell me, Do you even know who Vladimir Sokolov is?” Mia asked her sister carefully before pulling her to sit on the bed. Rose looked up and slowly shook her head in no.

“Damn girl! You are doomed then!”

“Wh..why?” Rose asked in fear, seeing the trouble on her sister’s face.

Mia inhaled sharply as she told her sister about the man she was being forced to marry. “Vladimir Sokolov, the Bratva’s pakhan was born in sin. He is a ruthless, scary and dangerous man, Rose. He is a walking Sinner in our mafia world. He killed his first wife in anger because she wanted to redecorate his room. No girl could stand his lethal personality and looks.”

Rose’ eyes widened in horror. “What are you saying? Who kills his wife for such a minor thing. Where have you been hearing all this rubbish?” Rose scolded Mia as panic slowly grasped her nerves. Mia rolled her eyes.

“Believe it or not, but I have my sources, Sis. Why else do you think Valentina denied marrying him and Zio gave you to that man?” Mia raised her eyebrows.

“Valentina? She was supposed to marry that Russian Boss?” Rose asked, stunned at the news. Mia was the youngest of them all but she was the busybody and messenger of the house who knows everything that goes in their family.

“Yes. But now you are promised to that man like a sacrificial lamb. Everyone is terrified of him, Rose. I have heard that he is a psychopath who kills people because He likes the smell of blood. He doesn't feel emotions.” Mia added to her pent up worries and terror.

Every word that was coming out of her sister's mouth was scaring her to the roots of her soul. “Now what should I do, Mia? I can't marry such a crude and dangerous man. I won't be able to live with him.” Ross whispered.

Mia thought about it for a moment and then spoke. “Call Dante.”

“What?” Rose asked exasperated. “Why should I call him? Have you lost your mind?”

“No, I am trying to save your ass. Call Dante and elope with him. That's the only way to save yourself from this horrible marriage!”

“No, I can't. Papa won't forgive me.” Rose shook her head frantically.

Mia gave her sister an ‘are you serious look’ before shaking her head as she pulled out her cell phone and called Dante herself.

“It’s your last chance to save yourself and get out of this stupid marriage deal and ugly fate. Think wisely, Rose. You want to enter into the Sinner’s hell or your bright future!” Mia’s words fell into Rose’s ears like a warning bell as she pondered over this idea of running away. But then a manly voice interrupted her reverie.

“Hello!”

Mia glanced at her sister before uttering the words. “Dante, Rose needs your help!”

.

.

Rose stood before the secret door of the mansion from where they used to sneak out in their childhood years.

“Mia, am I doing the right thing!” Rose asked umpteeth times to her sister, who rolled her eyes at her tensed features.

“Yes! Now don’t worry about anyone else and take care of yourself!” Mia said, pushing Rose towards the secret door. “Now leave before anyone sees you,”

Rose nodded and took a step ahead but turned to her sister and mouthed ‘I Love You’ before she left through the secret alley about which only the Barbieri family knew.

Mia silently closed the door and left right away before anyone could spot her there. She was sad that she wouldn't be able to see her sister for a while but happy too that her sister wouldn't have to marry a cruel and ugly man.

Rose apprehensively walked out of the dimly lit valley looking back every single second to check if anyone was following her.

But when she stepped into the street behind her house, she didn't feel any liberty but fear. Raw fear of being caught by her father's men.

She feared the consequences of her actions when her father found out about it.

‘Dammit? What am I even doing!’ her hands shook as she wiped the sweat beads from her forehead.

“Rose. You are here,” Dante's hushed voice snapped her back to the present. She looked at her left where she spotted Dante advancing toward her.

Pushing aside her troubled thoughts she gave him a faint smile. “Yes. I am.”

Dante Romani’s eyes gleamed in satisfaction and excitement. The man in whom she had a secret crush for years, her best friend.

“Oh Rose. I can't wait to be with you. Alone and away from everyone,” he said resting his hands on her shoulders. “I heard what cruelty your family was going to do to you, but I will protect you!”

Rose blinked seeing his eyes flashing, she didn't know what to respond except for giving him a small smile. “So where…where are we going? Have you found a hotel?”

Dante shook his head. “I will tell you but first, let's go from here. I do not want your guards to see us.”

Rose nodded and they both went to his car. Hand in hand! Like a couple.

Unaware of the fact that the pairs of hawk eyes were watching them like a Ghost.