His Vixen Mafia Princess

I’ve never felt as lost as I did that day. The day my whole life changed, some would say it was for the better but I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong and I normally trust my gut. My name is Emilia Sofia Russo, my life is far from ordinary. I was born to the infamous Luciano Russo, head of the Russo mafia. Being extraordinary was my specialty and I excelled at just about everything. At the young age of nineteen I was already on the fast track to taking over my family’s business. I’ve never really questioned who I am or what I’m destined to do, it was just always pretty set in stone. I would be the next Russo family mafia head. Normally the position would be handed down to a man but due to an unfortunate accident my mother passed before she could give birth to any more children. I was it for my father unless he wanted to hand his empire over to his younger brother, my uncle Rafi. In Papa’s words, over his cold dead body. I was trained in every possible way to be my fathers successor when he either dies or steps down just so my uncle can not lay claim to everything my father has built. Which brings us here, my nineteenth birthday. “Emi honey, the car just pulled around for us. Are you ready?” Ari, my boyfriend, shouts at me from the bottom of the staircase. He’s great, really he is but he sure is boring. He’s everything you could ever ask for, handsome and kind and understanding and…gentle. Too gentle. “I’ll be down shortly Ari,” I manage to yell back as I slip on my pair of strappy heels my father had sent for my birthday gift. He’s away on business, no surprise there. I quickly grab my purse and sprint to the stairwell. Ari is waiting with the door held open, he grabs my hand gently and places a soft kiss on my forehead. Like I said, gentle. He hasn’t seen me in weeks and that’s about the extent of affection I expect to receive tonight. I’m sure we’re headed somewhere high class and fancy, somewhere boring. I slip on my placid face and give him a small smile and away we go. Ari really is a great guy and he really had a very special night planned out. I just feel like I’m going through the motions with him. He’s successful and smart, he has already taken over his father’s trading business and as great as that is, it just doesn’t fit into my thrilling life. It’s never been a secret what I plan to do as far as my career choice. He’s supportive but pretty much just stays out of it, which is cool I guess. The night passes by uneventfully as I expected, yet I still can’t shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. The driver pulls us around to the front door of my house and I notice a car parked not too far away. My brain works a little slower than my heart does because my heart skips a beat before my brain even catches on to whose car it is. “Angel,” I breathe out. I throw my car door open and start to race inside before it dawns on me that Ari is confused and about to follow. I whip around and quickly tell Ari he can go. I don't even stop to see if he listens, I race towards my huge front doors with my heart about to explode out of my chest. Angel, Angel, Angel. My brain keeps repeating his name and I can't think clearly. A million thoughts flash through my mind but right as I start to yank the door wide open I'm hit with a memory that almost knocks the breath out of me. My Angel...walking away with a stone-cold look on his face. Me, on the floor with tears streaming down my face as I begged him not to leave me. Then, as suddenly as the memory appeared, it leaves. It leaves a cold, lonely feeling in the pit of my stomach and a knot in my throat. I pull myself together and slowly grab the door handle. I quickly compose my face and body language to resemble that of someone who absolutely has not a care in the world about the man standing on the other side of this door. My heart could give me away at a moments notice and I pray no one can hear how loudly it's beating in my chest. I pull on the door and it swings wide, blowing the warm air from inside right into my face. Angel...my heart stops when I see his beautifully sculptured jawline but I dare not stop. I confidently stroll in the foyer and hand my coat to our butler James who says hesitantly, "Miss, your father is home. He requested that you stay here in the foyer with Master Angelico until he arrives down from his study." Papa is home? He shouldn't be home for another two weeks at most. I knew something was wrong. Before I could think on it any further the most angelic voice in my whole world announces his presence, "Emilia, you look ravishing tonight. Happy nineteenth birthday." I quickly glance in his direction. He's holding out a bouquet of roses, black. Of course he would remember black roses are my favorite. Arrogant pig. Without daring to look into his mesmerizing eyes I grab the bouquet and mutter out an almost inaudible thank you. He chuckles, a deep and throaty sound that quite literally freezes me in my spot. So much for running to the kitchen to find a vase as my escape out of here. As if my situation isn't bad enough, Ari chooses this very moment to be Mr. Macho and throws the front door wide open. I spin around to face him with what I'm sure is a horrified expression. "Emi honey, is everything okay? You didn't seem well when you ran out from the car. I needed to make sure you were okay before I left." I inwardly groan, actually I may have done that out loud. Before I get the chance to respond, Chuckles decides to interject on my behalf, "She's obviously perfectly well. Emilia, who is this...dapper gentleman?" Great, just wonderful. I told him to leave. Why couldn't he just be his normal good guy self and take a hint. "Ari, his name is Ari. He's my-" "Boyfriend, I'm her boyfriend. And who might you be?" Ari almost growls out in response. Then as if it were completely normal and totally not out of character for him at all, he snakes his hand down to my behind and squeezes before he rests his arm around my waist. I still haven't even looked Angel in the face but I can feel the anger radiating off of him in waves. So this is what we're doing tonight? A whose junk is bigger contest. Great, because that would be mine. I snap away from Ari and look up at him, "Ari, this is my father's business partner and old family friend Angelico Ricci. I clearly remember telling you to leave before I came inside. I'm sure Angel is here on business considering my father has also made his arrival. Now would you please do as I previously asked and escort yourself back to the car and head home. I will text you whenever our business has concluded." I watch as all the color drains from Ari's face at the mention of my father. I suppose that did the trick because he quickly and quietly whispers his farewell and turns to retreat out the door but not before he stole one last quick glance at the statue of a man standing directly behind me now. Once he leaves I can feel all of my confidence walk right out the door with him. "Boyfriend? Vixen baby...a trader's son? Could you have chosen a more boring partner in my absence?" There it is. The dominating voice and presence I have craved for three very long years. I slowly pivot my heels against the cold marble floor and steady my confidence as I look into the eyes of the monster who had broken me beyond repair when I was only sixteen years old.