The Forbidden Valentine

Chapter Three-Daviola (She-devil)

Alexander

The 14th of February, a date for love, and this year, it would be a date for war between I and my mother on the topic of who I am going to spend the rest of life with. I have been betrothed to marry Isabella Rossini to further strengthen the Morano Mafia Family, “It is your duty as the heir to the throne.” Mother would always say, but I am a man of my own and I have fallen so madly in love with Sophia Washington. Our love is so pure and true in a dirty, ugly world and our love is all the motivation I need to fight the Morano tradition.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I opened the door and Frank, my right hand man came into the hotel suite booked for Sophia and I to spend time before the grand unveiling to the family.

“Sophia would be landing in 15 minutes time.” Frank stated in his usual serious stern tone. “I'll be on way to the airport to receive her”.

“What is the outcome of the meeting with the other family members?” I queried, trying to know the amount of support I have from my family for my wedding to Sophia.

“Your uncles Fred and Benjamin are solidly on your side as we anticipated. They made it clear that they wouldn't go against your mother but if you come forward with Sophia, they would lend their support”.

Of course they wouldn't go against my mother. Diavola, that's what she is called on the streets, meaning female form of the devil. I for one believe the devil is female. Her wickedness and ruthlessness are legendary.

“That should be enough to start this battle with mother.” I stated looking blankly out the window of the hotel room into the city. “You can go get my bride. And hey, treat her good”.

“Sure boss.” Frank replied and left.

Thirty minutes later I took out my phone and dialed Sophia's number. Mi Amora, that's how it's saved on my phone. We spoke for a while, flirted a little and then ended the call. The love of my life is on her way and I couldn't wait for her to get here.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Who might it be? The only person who knows about this room is Frank and I. I checked through the peephole. Oh s**t! It's Elizabeth, my mother! This can't be good. I opened the door and she together with two of her bodyguards came in.

“Hello mother, to what do I owe this surprise?” I inquired, trying to understand what she was doing here and how she got to know of this place in the first instance.

Elizabeth walked to the bed and sat down at the edge with her legs crossed, her movement controlled and poised, the bodyguard remained at the door.

She sat in silence looking me straight in the eyes with her usual distasteful and stern look. “You seem to forget who runs this family.” She stated with a particular air of nonchalance. “You dare cross me? Diavola? If you weren't my son and the heir to the throne you'd be dead right here and now in this room.”

She must have been aware of my plan to introduce Sophia to the family as my fiance, and as proactive as she was, this was her trying to get around the issue before it ‘became an issue’. “Taming a Lion when it is still a cub is wisdom.” She would always teach me.

“Mother, I am a man! I dictate my future!” I protested .

“Foolish boy, the cartel dictates our future, every one of us, I have no doubt you will learn that today”. She stated coldly. “Pick out what you'd be wearing to the funeral of Frank and this Sophia girl.”

I knew exactly who my mother was, if my guess was right, they were dead already, Mother does not bluff, she is as vicious as a hunting lioness.

“Mother please!”. I fell to my knees begging. “Whatever it is you are doing, call it off.” My head fell down in dismay. “If anything happens to Sophia and Frank, I can't forgive you, it'll be blood for blood.” My face bowed as I utter those words softly. That wasn't a threat, I was prepared to burn the whole family to the ground and God knows it.

I hurriedly reached out for my phone and I called Frank and there was no answer, I called Sophia and the same response, no answer, the phone just kept ringing.

“I'm saddened by your threats Alexander”. She stated calmly with poise. “See what this girl has made of you, she has made you weak. You would lead this family some day and this is the man you are? Uttering empty words? Disappointing.”

She stood from the bed on which she sat and stood over me as I knelt on the floor with my face to the ground. “Now listen attentively because I wouldn't repeat myself. On the 14th of February you would officially engage Isabella Rossini, you would cut off all and every tie you have with Sophia and fully commit to your duty as the heir of this family.”.

“What have you done with Sophia?” I inquired with blood shot eyes.

She walked to the door of the hotel to leave. “Frank joined you in this foolish plan of yours and for that I, Elizabeth, seized his life.

Those words bore deep into my heart, I stood up in anger.

“Because you have chosen to be wise and do the right thing” She continued. “Sophia would not die, she was lucky not to have died in the accident. I will instruct my men to call for an ambulance instead of finishing her off. DO NOT MAKE ME REGRET IT.” She left together with her bodyguards and right away I called Mike and Jim, we are going to the hospital immediately.

On getting to the hospital, I confirmed that the vehicle had an accident and Frank died on the spot and Sophia was injured from the accident.

I have never felt powerless in all my life. My mother just took Frank's life casually as though taking bread off a shelf. She placed Sophia in a hospital. I have heard of the wickedness and viciousness of my mother, but this was the first time I had a first hand taste of it, and it was terrible.

“Call the undertakers, Frank must be buried according to the Morano culture, he died in line of duty, he must be honored.” I ordered Mike. That's the least I could do. For Frank was not just my right hand man, he was my best friend and he died because of me.

Sophia is absolutely oblivious to the resistance our love faced with my family, she doesn't know I am the heir to the throne of the Morano Mafia Family, she doesn't know I have been betrothed to the Rossini Mafia Family. I hid it all from her to protect her from all that mess and also to protect her from fear.

I cannot just leave her totally, she would suffer, she has no money and no support. I have been her support ever since her parents died. But if she must be safe I have to keep her away from me at least till I become the leader of the Morano Mafia Family.

I waited in the ward she was kept until she was awake and I ended things with her in the most painful way I could think of so that she doesn't look back. Any attempt to look back will result in her death. My mother doesn't give second chances, so Sophia being alive was a gift and I intend to keep that gift.

On my way back from the hospital I instructed Jim to arrange for the family's messenger, the Sparrow, to go meet Nicholas, one of Sophia's friends and tell him to come get Sophia, he was also to give him some money for Sophia's medical bill and extra to take care of her. I wasn't going to just leave Sophia helpless.

☠️☠️☠️

Two days to Valentine's Day I was at the family's mansion, there was dinner with the Rossinis and Isabella was around. The dinner was bright and colorful, the typical Morano dinner. I was passive all through the dinner while the rest kept a vibrant conversation. Feeling claustrophobic I decided to go smoke my cigar in the family's garden.

“I thought you'd be working hard wooing your bride at dinner and not being an annoying bore.” The voice of my mother stressed me out in a way I couldn't control. She walked up to me, took out a lighter and lit the stick of cigar hanging from my mouth.

“I am mourning a friend” I stated bluntly. “The devil took a friend from me”.

My mother looked at me, took the cigar from me and took a puff. “You'd do well to remember what the devil is capable of taking from you. It's dangerous to underrate the devil.” “Take out your phone” She said in her usual calm manner. “A video was just sent to you. When I said no contact with Sophia, I meant no contact with Sophia. Including giving her our money.” She took another puff of the cigar, handed me the stick and left.

I took out my phone in haste and I saw a video was sent to me, I watched it and saw Sophia, Nicholas and the sparrow on the floor at a filling station, with guns pointed at them. A cold chill ran down my spine. Then a message came in immediately; The next video would be of her head in a dumpster.