PROLOGUEREINA, 6 YEARS OLDOnce upon a time there sat a beautiful castle along the shore of the Gulf of Trieste. It was a magical place indeed, with views of the sea to the east and sprawling hills to the west. A savage king and his two sons lived amidst the darkness, slowly wilting right alongside everything in it. No amount of magic could save them.Filling the gardens were poppies, wild jasmine, gardenias, and violets. The soft breeze traveled the air, and with it, so many scents. The sea, flowers, and fragrance of the citrus fruits all misted the air and attracted the butterflies now fluttering around us.My sister and I gaped at the serenity of it all, her hand in mine. Dozens of people laughed, ate, and danced. A melodious old Italian song, like the ones Papà loved, filled the air and people chattered in Italian and English.“It’s so beautiful,” I said as I signed to Mamma, Papà, and Phoenix. Lights flickered over my big sister’s face, and for the first time in a long time, an

Last Updated : 2025-11-16

1AMON, 12 YEARS OLDDante and I sat at the dining table, our eyes trained on our plates. Mine burned, but I knew if Father caught me crying, he’d whip me. My back itched at the thought as I felt my shirt shift across my scars.But it was worth it to spare the little girl with crystal blue eyes and golden curls. For some reason, I couldn’t bear to see the fear in her eyes. Everyone was afraid of Father. But the thought of tears streaming down her plum cheeks had my chest tightening. Just like it had when Father hurt my mother.Smash.Another loud crash, and it didn’t take a genius to know there’d be a lot of broken furniture. Mamma and Father always argued. He called her a spoiled whore. She screamed for him to avenge her. I didn’t understand much of what was said, but it was hard to understand why he always yelled at her. Mamma said that a good man never raised his hand or his voice at women or children.And yet, she loved him.Another bloodcurdling scream tore through the castle. I

Last Updated : 2025-11-16

2REINA, 6 YEARS OLDDust to dust.Ashes to ashes.Those were the only words the priest said in English. The rest of the service was in Italian, meaning most of the visitors visiting from the States couldn’t understand.Including me.All I felt was tightness in my chest. My heavy breathing. Burning in my eyes.It was an unfamiliar feeling. It was suffocating. I rubbed my chest to ease the ache. To get more oxygen into my lungs. My vision blurred—tears or panic, I didn’t know—but then Phoenix squeezed my hand, bringing my attention to the surroundings.Air seeped into my lungs. My vision slowly cleared, and the first thing that came into focus was our papà.He stood shattered, watching the casket lower into the family gravesite. Grandma cried, her soft sobs filling the air while my sister and I stood, eyes wide, clutching each other’s hands. My chest hurt, but I thought that was normal because Phoenix said her chest was aching too.We stayed back as people said their condolences and le

Last Updated : 2025-11-16

3AMON, 14 YEARS OLDI dropped to my knees, the punch making me lose my balance.Mamma dropped the pink kimono she was stitching with a sharp intake of breath. My brother sat next to her, holding his breath and watching each move.It was my weekly Goju-ryu and Shotokan karate classes with Master Azato, my grandfather’s old master. He might be advanced in age, but he was stronger than many men half his age. Stronger than my father. So, I listened to his instructions and practiced hard.Not only because I wanted to be stronger than my father, but so I could be unbeatable and make my grandfather proud. He’d only entered my life in the past year, but he told Mamma he wanted me to take over the Yakuza. Mamma said it would make me stronger than Father. Stronger than the Omertà. Stronger than most of the underworld.I worked hard and pushed myself even harder.I pushed to my feet just in time to block another hit. Gasping, I gritted my teeth and used a mikazuki geri, bending my knee and poi

Last Updated : 2025-11-16

All Chapters of Bitter Prince: New Adult Mafia Romance: Chapter 1 - Chapter 4

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