Yultide With The Mafia boss

Chapter 2: Villa Riva

Milva's POV

“Paolo, are you sure she would survive the first twenty-four hours of working with Specter?” The scrawny faced driver asked the fat guy with a laugh.

We left the city in a convoy of four SUVs. The occupants of the other vehicles look more like gangsters. I was scared for my life. What if I'm abducted and taken to unknown place? Except for my close friend, Sandra, I didn't tell anyone before embarking on this dangerous trip.

It's two days to Christmas, the night was extremely cold. I snuggled up in my fur coat at the back seat of the SUV. Despite the warmness inside the SUV, I was still shivering. We've been driving in silence for the past twenty minutes before the driver made that snide statement.

“She will survive Gatti. She will survive.” Paolo said with a tone of confidence.

“Did you take her to Specter before she joined us on this trip?” Gatti the driver asked.

“No.” Came the snappy answer from Paolo.

Gatti turned and stared at Paolo for some seconds. It appears that he wanted to say something but he however choose to focus on his driving.

With reverence they attached to the Specter name there is no doubt that he is the boss.

Why didn't Paolo the bullet-head-shaped-fat guy that interviewed me in the hotel bar didn't introduced me to the boss?

I looked through the window as our convoy speed through the vacant highway, there are patches on white snow clinging on the side of the road. The night is dark and cold. I feel so tired and hungry. I yawned as I dozed off to a restless sleep.

*****

“Milva!” Paolo's cold voice woke me up from my fitful sleep.

“Follow me”

The entire convoy has stopped in front of a luxurious looking mansion whose design appears to look more like a castle.

The blinking Christmas trees placed strategically in the balconies and a giant Santa Claus waving aimlessly gave the entire atmosphere of the mansion a canival-like feel.

At the far end of the mansion, there was something that look like a tomb or something.

At the gable of the mansion, “VILLA RIVA” was written in a bold white paint.

I smiled as I stepped into the mansion. I love Christmas and the memories it brings!

“After ten years of being away from this house, I think Specter will be happy seeing this.” Gatti the driver said with a smile.

“I hope so.” Paolo said with a frown.

“This is beautiful!” I gushes profusely.

“That is your room. Go and freshen up. Prepare to see the boss later tonight.” Paolo said while pointing to a door that have a massive and beautiful poinsettia hanging above it.

*****

I don't know which one woke me up; the sirens downstairs or the Christmas bells. The formerly serene mansion was thrown into a sea of bedlam as I heard strong voices of men giving orders. I checked the wall clock in the room, the time was a few minutes after midnight.

What is going on? Am I safe here?

Hand shivering, I opened the blind of my window slowly and quietly.

The entire compound seems to be occupied with different fleet of luxurious cars and SUVs. I saw hefty looking in dark suits running around to position themselves strategically. It's like watching a movie!

A tall man who appears to be in his mid forties slowly stepped out of one of the SUVs.

What the hell!

Is that not Luigi Riva? The boss of Gallo Mafia! One of the most powerful and brutal Mafia boss in the city!

According to different news reports I read on social media, Riva has strong connections in the highest and lowest of places. It was said that with the flick of his fingers somebody could go missing. He never takes no for an answer. The world is his oyster!

Now I get it, he is the one Gatti the driver was calling the Specter!

Rumours have it that he became more brutal immediately after he lost his wife.

“So I'm going to be working directly with a Mafia boss?” I asked myself quietly. I could feel my heart beating fast as beads of sweats broke through my forehead. I felt like running away. But how should I do that now that I'm inside what look like a fully guarded fortress.

Luigi walked slowly towards the direction of his wife's tombstone. He toke off his hat from his head and stood motionless for what looks like eternity. All of his men stood a far off trying to respect their boss special alone moment with his dead wife.

Luigi walked towards the mansion. He stood for a moment to checkout the Christmas decorations with an absolute look of disapproval written all over his handsome face. It appears that if he would have his way, he would pull everything down.

I started pacing my room, anxiety written all over me. What do I do now? It's obvious that I'm about to start working with a brutal mafia don. Should I run away? How? What if I made mistake while working for him, would he order his men to punish me?

My heart skipped many times in a second as I heard a snappy knock on my door.

“Milva!” I heard Paolo cold voice.

“Yes!” I responded quickly.

“Get ready, we about to see the boss.”

I almost screamed back at him that I don't want to see any boss. I want to go home!

Luigi barely acknowledged our presence as we walked into the dinning room. He appears to be in a serious discussion with someone on the phone.

I was left standing in lonesome emptiness as Paolo went to his seat close to Luigi.

“Who the hell are you?” Luigi's baritone voice brought me back from my reveries. His appears to reverberates across the room.

“I…my name is…” I stuttered as fear gripped me.

“Eerrmm…she is the personal assistant I…” Paolo tried to explain.

“I’m not asking you Paolo. Let her speak for herself.” Luigi snapped while sipping from his glass of wine. He stared at me coldly. His blue eyes appear to be piercing through my soul like a laser beam.

“Who are you?” Luigi asked again. This time he appears to be wearing a serious look on his face.

“I – I'm…my name is Milva Ferri.” I felt like crying. I struggled with a lump on my throat. My palms were so sweaty.

“What are you doing here?” Luigi asked while still staring at me with those cold blue eyes.

“I'm here… to be your personal assistant.” I could feel my heart beating fast.

Luigi seems to be in a dilemma as he starred at me then at Paolo.

“Paolo, I know your intentions in searching for a wife for me through different tricks. I've told you several times that nobody can replace my lovely Mia. She might have the same physical features like Mia, but she can never be like Mia.” Luigi said warily as he lean back on the chair.

“I told you I need a personal assistant and not somebody that almost looks like my Mia.” Luigi laughed wickedly.

“Specter…you know it has been more than ten years. You need to get married so that you have an heir.” Paolo said with a tone of sadness in his voice.

Now I see why the request for a full length picture on that job advert. Paolo desperately wants his boss to remarry after the death of his wife more than ten years ago.

“Hhhmmm…I don't think anyone can take the place of my Mia.” Luigi said staring dreamily at a picture of a beautiful lady with long black and a very deep brown eyes.

Staring at the picture, it appears I'm looking at an older version of me.

“You know if you don't have an heir, the Riva family and Gallo Mafia are at serious risk.” Paolo went sounding forlorn.

“Nobody is at risk, Paolo.” Luigi said with a tone of confidence.

“Young woman…what is that your name again…forget it. I want to see you in my study before eight tomorrow morning.” Luigi said.

“You come late, consider yourself fired. You make mistakes while doing your job, you'll be sack. Any act of laziness, I'll sack you. Any act of treachery, consider yourself dead!”

My heart started beating fast with fear. I felt like running away from this Luigi and his Mafia gang. The five thousand dollars appear not to be worth it anymore.

“Get out. I hope you survive it here.” Luigi said with disdain in his voice.

I looked at Paolo, he was busy staring at the floor with disappointment.

I could feel the hot tears rolling down my cheeks as I walked into my room.