Chapter 4

Melanie

The minute the jet touched down on Città dei Re, I swear my stomach did a double backflip.

As we headed toward the red car waiting for us on the tarmac, my nerves only grew.

This city hadn’t changed a bit. The sky still looked like it was painted in overcast melancholy, and the buildings still leaned like they were whispering gossip to each other. Città dei Re was stuck in time.

The drive was short, but painful in the way that memories hit you when you least want them to.

With my face pressed to the glass, I caught sight of an old diner my dad used to take me to when I was little. I swallowed hard and looked away before the tears left my cheeks

“We’re here!” Federico’s voice boomed from the front seat, snapping me out of my thoughts. He was grinning, like he hadn’t just ripped me away from my whole life.

I glanced out and realized we were on the west side of Città dei Re. My dad used to warn me about this part of town. He said the people here were more dangerous than those on the east, realizing this added to my nerves.

The car pulled into a massive iron gate that creaked open like something out of a haunted mansion movie. The estate itself was a whole other level of dramatic: towering pillars, ivy-covered walls, and an actual fountain with naked cherubs. Who commissioned this, a Renaissance-obsessed billionaire?

A butler dressed in a black suit, white gloves greeted us with a stiff nod.

“Welcome,” he said.

I gave him my best forced smile, the one I reserve for family dinners and dental cleanings. He greeted my mom with more warmth, and then Federico gave him instructions to take our luggage to the rooms.

Right then, the front door opened, and a guy about my age stepped out. He had curly dark hair, a little overgrown, like he’d skipped his last three haircuts, and striking green eyes that didn’t match his face. He had an office intern kind of vibe.

I tilted my head. Was this Zayne, the infamous mafia heir?

“Leonardo, come here,” Federico called.

Oh. So not Dante. Plot twist.

Apparently, this dude was Leonardo, not his son. Wait—Federico had two sons?

“Uncle,” Leonardo greeted, walking up with a surprised smile. “I didn’t know you were coming so soon.”

“I decided to surprise everyone,” Federico replied. “I missed my family.”

During that moment it clicked and I remembered that my mom had mentioned something about my cousin staying in the estate.

Federico turned to us, all smiles and cheer. “This is Maria and her daughter Melanie. They’re part of the family now.”

Leonardo looked like someone had just told him his PlayStation was being donated to charity. “Oh. Wow. That’s... great. Congratulations, Uncle.”

“I’m getting married,” Federico said, grinning like he’d won the lottery.

Great. Now it’s official. My mom is marrying a mafia don. And I’m... the unwilling cast member in some twisted soap opera.

“Where’s Aria?” Federico asked, looking around like a disappointed dad.

“She went out with her friends,” Leonardo replied. “And Dante’s at work.”

“Tell him to come see me when he gets back,” Federico said.

And just like that, he wrapped an arm around my mom and led her into the house. She smiled as he directed her forward.

Damn it. She was happy and I was going to suck up every emotion I felt so she can actually enjoy this.

“Hi! I’m Leonardo,” I heard a voice say and I noticed he was standing close to me.

I blinked. “I know that.”

“And your name is Melanie?” He awkwardly. “It’s a cool name. Unique. You don’t hear that one often.”

“Yeah, well. My mom liked names that sounded poetic and mildly tragic.”

He laughed. “Is this your first time in Città dei Re?”

“No,” I said. “I used to live here.”

“Ah,” he nodded. “So what’s your story? Your family fled the city because of a gang threat?

Or you left because you were running from a terrible past or you just got tired of plain old Città dei Re?”

I snorted. “It’s... complicated.”

He didn’t push. Just motioned for me to follow as he started showing me around.

The mansion was ridiculous. Like someone took every page from an architecture magazine and made it a real thing. Marble floors that echoed with each step, chandeliers in literally every room, and more paintings of frowning ancestors than a museum.

We passed the butler in one hallway.

“I’ve set up the room in the east wing for the young lady,” he said, bowing slightly.

Leonardo nodded. “Thanks, Marco.”

Eventually, we reached a massive oak door.

“Here’s your room,” he said. “Get settled. If you need anything, I’m three rooms down. Just knock or scream. Either works.”

I smirked. “Noted. Thanks.”

He gave me a mock salute. “Welcome back to Città dei Re, Melanie.”

“Yeah,” I said, managing a real smile. “Thanks.”

Once he left, I stepped inside and just stared.

This room was insane. It was bigger than my entire apartment back in New York. The bed looked like it belonged to a medieval queen. There was a balcony. A walk-in closet. A damn fireplace.

I flopped onto the bed dramatically. “Okay, this doesn’t suck.”

After a few minutes of debating whether to nap or unpack, I started sorting through my clothes, tossing my black hoodie onto a gold-embroidered chaise like a peasant with no appreciation for royalty. I wandered to the wardrobe, opened it—and tripped.

“Ow, dammit!” I grunted, clutching my knee.

Apparently, there was a door inside the wardrobe. Like some weird mafia version of Narnia. I pulled it open and found another room.

It was masculine, with darker tones, cologne lingering in the air. A couple of ties slung carelessly over a leather chair. Heavy books on a desk. A gun magazine on the nightstand.

Curiosity got the better of me. I tiptoed in, poking around like a nosy little raccoon.

During that moment the door creaked open and I froze. Before I could turn around, I felt something cold and metallic against the side of my neck.

“Who the fuck are you?” a voice growled.

Oh. Great.

This day just keeps getting better.