Chapter 1

Melanie

I killed my father, and I would forever have blood on my hands. But before we get to the actual murder, let’s rewind to the exact moment my life officially entered the toilet.

It all started today—the day I found out I was being sold off.

“A Sanchez?” I practically shrieked, glaring at my father like he’d told me I was adopted… by a pack of hyenas. “Seriously, Papa?!”

“A contract has been signed Mela!” He averted my eyes.

“So you just… decided? Without even asking me?” I yelled, my father was about to speak but I didn't give him a chance to. I turned to face my mother shaking my head continuously.

“Mama…how long did you know about this?” I asked , already feeling the sting in my throat. “Is that why you’ve been pushing me to grow my hair out? So I can look more like a Sanchez bride?”

My mother didn’t say anything.

That silence told me everything.

She knew.

Oh my God. She knew.

I sighed wondering how long she had been playing along. How long had they both been planning to throw me to a man like Dario?

My father was going to get more business base and I was going to follow Dario around like his fucking princess. Dario didn’t deserve a woman like me. He didn’t deserve any woman at all. He was a terrible man. I have heard tales of how he raped women and killed the men who dared to defend them. My life was about to turn to shit and my father didn’t care.

“Melanie, my darling!” My mother’s voice finally came around. “This is for our good and Dario he’s—“

“A monster. The type of man you are meant to keep far away from your only daughter!”

“We are—“

“No, Mama! Don’t try to twist it! You two don’t care about what I want. You never have. You only care about power, about status. You’re no different from the Humbertos!”

That did it.

My father’s gray eyes darkened, and he looked like he was going to shoot me on the spot. I didn’t mind.

I knew that the Humbertos were my father’s rivals. He hated hearing their name and worse he hated to be compared to them. I had done the one thing my father despised. I didn’t care because he didn’t care about me either.

“Don’t you dare speak of such a name in my household!” My father’s voice rose seconds later. It could be mistaken for a thunderclap clap but I didn’t fear it.

“You know I’m right Father. You are nothing but a Humberto!” I spat.

My father charged at me like a deranged bull, but my mother beat him to it, flinging herself between us like some sad Romeo-and-Juliet stage director.

Then she turned to look at me. “Apologize to your papa now!”

“He’s the one who’s meant to apologize to me. He is the one selling me off to a rapist!”

I didn’t wait for my mom to scold me again or yank my ears. I brushed past her heading out the door.

“Melanie!” My mother called after me, but I paid less attention to her. I kept running heading down the street and towards the home that brought me peace.

My steps slowed as I reached the The not-so-fancy side of Città dei Re. The minute I saw the little blue house that looked like it had been spray-painted by a toddler , I marched towards it.

“Miguel!” My voice was husky, probably due to all the pent-up emotion within me.

“Miguel!” I called again, this time knocking on the door gently.

The door swung open afterwards, revealing Gustavo—his older brother, local thug, and part-time cigarette chimney.

“Miguel your girlfriend is here.” he called over his shoulder. Then he looked at me and smirked.

“Don’t keep the lady waiting!” Gustavo took a drag out of his cigarette, then he crouched like he was about to give me a mafia TED Talk.

“You shouldn’t be here little one. We all know you belong to the Sanchez now.”

“How do you know?” I asked, spitting out the thought in my mind.

“Word always fucking gets out. And Dario hasn’t shut up about the union, every cartel in the Città dei re knows about this.” He took a long drag from his cigarette and puffed smoke on my face.

“Does Miguel know?” I said shakily.

“My brother doesn’t move around the gangs like I do, so he’s clueless.”

“Why haven’t you told him yet?”

“ I only spared him the truth because I figured you’d show up eventually. And I was right.” He flicked ash off his cigarette, letting it fall near my shoes.

“I used to like you Melanie but now you’re just like those fucked girls on the rich side of Città dei re, and you know what I do to fucked girls—“

“Stop bluffing Gustavo!” Miguel’s voice cut in, soothing my racing heart.

“I am not bluffing Fratello, tell your chick to watch her back.”

Gustavo climbed down the stairs and Miguel’s iron grip pulled me into his home.

He smiled then kissed me slowly and I melted in his kiss, knowing this was going to be the last time I would see him or touch him.

I was already a bought item.

My hand snaked down his trousers, touching his cock and I felt Miguel freeze, his dusty brown hair shook as he pulled away from my lips.

“You good?” He said suspiciously,

I wanted to speak but I couldn’t do it. How do I tell him that I couldn’t be his anymore? Miguel told me that his worst fear was seeing my father hand me over to another man. I told him it wouldn’t happen. I promised him I would introduce him to my father when I’m 20, so we could be together without hiding. We had one year left but now it all didn’t matter.

“Bellezza.” That was Italian for beauty and the nickname Miguel gave me.

“Talk to me!” His hand held my chin while his honey brown eyes held my gaze.

I looked away from him. “My father sold me to Dario!” As those words left my lips, I forced myself to stare at him. I saw as his gaze darkened.

It was like I was staring at a beast.

Miguel pulled away, and he grabbed the old lamb that sat on the table, and slammed it into the wall.

“Fuck!” His voice was louder than a roar, and scary too.

“I didn’t know this was going to happen, if I did I would have told Papa about us earlier.” I voiced out hoping it would calm him down.

“It’s fucking too late for regrets Melanie!”

“I’m sorry Miguel!” I begged. “I didn’t want this to happen. All I have ever wanted was to be with you,”

“Well that’s not happening so you can fucking leave!” He yelled.

“Please don’t push me away. I want us to—“

“To what? spend our last day together.” His eyes shot flames at me, and I felt myself getting burned.

“Do you know how terrible that’s going to be for me? Knowing that this would be last time I get to hold you. I would have to replay this damned moment in my fucking mind, again and again just to keep me sane.”

“I’m sorry,” tears finally dropped from my eyes.

“Crying wouldn’t solve this. Nothing would solve this, I have lost my Amore!” I could see the flames in his eyes reduce he was fighting off tears, anger, and sadness.

I moved closer to him, wrapping my hands around his lean torso. I expected him to pull away, but he didn’t. He held me close—near —feeding on my scent as he buried his nostrils in my neck.

Then I heard him cry, it was loud and filled with pain. I couldn’t do anything but hold him, but then as my hand moved against his back an idea popped into my head. It was silly. Stupid. It was crazy.

“Miguel!” I spoke up finding my voice. “What if we ran away?”

His sobs stopped, and he froze like I’d suggested we join the circus.