In the cold, darkened room of a convent lay a girl who is minutes away from becoming a woman. That’s what they say you are once you turn eighteen, right? You’re a woman now, you’re legal, and people can do with you what they want because you’re a grown-up and can handle the repercussions. Then why do I still feel like a child? It might be the way they look at me, as if just breathing air is a sin. They think I can’t tell, but the punishments became worse when I started filling out more of my clothing. When my cotton underwear started getting too small, when my body started becoming curvier, when my bra went up by four sizes in five months.How can I be an adult now when one look from the Mother Superior makes me feel shameful to be a woman? How many Hail Marys will I need to say before I’ll be forgiven for being me?I hide beneath my shapeless dresses, but what good does that do? I wish I knew who my mother was, just so I can see if I inherited her genes. But I’ve been here since I

Three years after my life was changed forever, I am sitting in the church pew with a single luggage bag containing my belongings. Today I am to meet the man my father promised me to, today my life takes a turn.The nuns were even more strict with their training, making sure I knew how to behave like a woman. Only this time I was forced to walk in heels for weeks on end and someone was sent in to teach me how to do my makeup as my husband would expect of me. Yesterday Vito brought me a gift I haven’t opened yet, and this morning Nonna Lola and I had our traditional birthday cupcake. But even as I blew the rose petal, I didn’t make a wish.Wishes are for children who have futures, not for brides who have never met their fiancees.“Tesoro,” I look up when I hear Nonna Lola’s voice and frown when I see her walking over to me. She’s wearing a bright smile and her eyes are shining with tears. “Oh, I am so happy to have caught you in time!”“Nonna?” I say and get to my feet to meet her as s

The past week went by way too quickly and even as I stand in this church, staring at myself in the floor-length mirror, I can barely believe it’s the same Lucia staring back at me. My makeup is done to perfection, my hair curled and pinned beautifully, and this dress… It’s a girl’s dream come true. A delicate lace bodice adorned with intricate hand-embroidered floral patterns, accentuating my curves. Subtle beading and shimmering sequins catch every ray of light, giving the dress an otherworldly glow. A modest sweetheart neckline frames my chest, cap sleeves at my shoulders, and an A-line skirt flows seamlessly from my waistline.Layers of feather-light tulle and soft silk, create a dreamy, cloud-like effect without looking absolutely poofy and ridiculous. The dress is completed with a long, cathedral-length veil, edged with matching lace appliqués around the border, and finishing with a veil over my head.This is it. This is my wedding day and I feel absolutely awful.“All done, Ma’

To say I am trembling in fear is an understatement. One second I was dancing with Giovanni, my heart beating so close to his, and the next I was thrown to the ground, shielded by his body. My ears are still ringing from the explosion and the palms of my hands were tender from scraping them against the floor as I went down. Now I’m in the back of an armored SUV, sitting next to a mean-looking woman wearing a scowl similar to Giovanni’s. She’s wearing a red dress and high heels, is tall and slender, with short blonde hair and tattoos that look like feathers creeping into her neck. I hug my body and feel the ripples of fear still coursing through me. I suspected that a lot of people weren’t happy about this marriage, but I didn’t expect a hit right on our wedding day. Wouldn’t this be the highest disrespect to pay the son of a Capo dei Capi? Wait… wouldn’t this cause a war? As soon as we hit the cobblestone driveway, I know we’ve arrived at Giovanni’s estate. I don’t think I’ll ever

I wake up and stretch, hyper-aware of the soft body laying at my side. Opening my eyes, I see Lucia still asleep and laying on her back with one leg over mine, her bare pussy still exposed. One hand is over her full, gorgeous chest while the other is splayed above her head.She must have fallen asleep while still covered in my cum and her blood, and I don’t know why, but that doesn’t sit right with me. Actually, it pisses me off at what I’ve done.When I came back to the room, I had every intention of sleeping and not touching her after what we discovered. Especially since I was so angry about the entire thing. Dom is alive, just shaken up, and no one died at the scene except for the server pouring wine.But seeing her in that little white negligee had me thinking with my fucking cock. Why did my enemy’s daughter have to look so fucking beautiful?I get up from the bed and walk over to the bathroom, but something on her nightstand gets my attention - a pill. When I pick it up, I notic