Chapter 4: welcome to my world
1588 Words
Chapter 4: Welcome to my world
***
“Get down!”
The gunshot echoed through the café.
Glass rained onto the floor as Aldo wrapped an arm around Natalia’s waist and pulled her beneath a table.
Another shot rang out.
Customers screamed, scrambling for the exits.
“Boss!” Enzo shouted, drawing his pistol. “Get her out of here!”
Two of Aldo’s men rushed toward the entrance, returning fire as the attackers disappeared into the traffic outside.
Aldo shielded Natalia with his body. "Are you hurt?"
She stared at him, too stunned to answer.
“We have to move.”
“I-”
“Now.”
Before she could protest, he swept her into his arms and carried her through the cafe's shattered entrance.
Outside, black SUVs screeched to a halt.
Enzo yanked open the rear door.
“Boss!”
Aldo slid inside with Natalia still in his arms. “Drive.”
The convoy sped away.
***
Silence filled the SUV.
Natalia looked out the window, her breathing uneven.
“Who were they?”
No one answered.
She looked at Aldo. “I asked you a question.”
His eyes remained shut, with his head leaning back on the seat.
“They weren’t after me, were they?”
Still silent.
Enzo finally spoke. “They were after you.”
Natalia turned sharply to the driver’s seat. “What?”
Enzo met Aldo’s eyes through the rear-view mirror.
“I didn’t think the enemies would move this fast.”
Aldo’s jaw tightened. “They’ve been watching.”
“They know she's Vincent's daughter now.”
“They know enough,” Aldo replied.
Natalia’s pulse hammered in her ears.
“What are you talking about?”
Aldo finally looked at her.
“You'll understand soon.”
***
The iron gates of the De Luca estate slowly opened. Natalia stared at the enormous mansion.
“This is where you live?”
Aldo stepped out first.
“From now…”
His eyes settled on her.
“...it's where you'll be living.”
“I never agreed to that.”
“I don't need you to agree.”
He nodded toward the giant door. “Come with me.”
He walked her through the steps.
He stopped outside a large bedroom and pushed the door open.
Warm afternoon light spilled across polished wooden floors.
A king-sized bed sat against one wall, while fresh flowers rested on a small table by the window.
Natalia looked around, confused.
“Our room?”
“Yours.”
She frowned.
"My room?"
She turned to him.
"I thought you wanted me to be your wife."
"I do."
"Then why am I getting my own room?"
Aldo slipped both hands into his pockets, smirking.
“Desperate to get into my bed? I don't mind.”
Natalia hugged herself, taking a small step back. "No.”
A low chuckle escaped Aldo’s lips. It faded almost as quickly as it came, leaving his face unreadable. “Because I won’t touch you without your permission.”
Natalia blinked.
He continued quietly,
“You are Vincent’s daughter.”
His voice softened for the first time.
“My best friend trusted me with your life.”
For a brief second...
Natalia almost believed him. Then the anger returned. Her eyes flashed. “You call this protection?”
She took a step toward him. “You dragged me out of my life.”
“You filled my street with your men.”
“You frightened everyone I care about.” Her voice trembled.
“You should have left me where I was.”
Aldo didn’t interrupt.
“I had a job.”
“I had a home.”
“I was happy!”
She jabbed a finger toward his chest.
“And then you came along…”
Her eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. “...and dragged me into this mafia hell.”
The room fell silent.
Aldo held her gaze. “I know you hate me.”
“Hate?”
She laughed bitterly. “I don't even know you.”
He nodded once. “Maybe.”
He reached into his jacket and placed the marriage contract on the bedside table.
“But before this day ends…”
His gray eyes locked onto hers. “...you're still signing that contract.”
Natalia looked at the papers...
...to the closed bedroom door behind him.
Then back to Aldo.
Slowly...
A defiant smile spread across her face.
“No.”
Aldo's expression remained unreadable.
“Then this house is about to become very interesting.”
The corner of Aldo’s mouth lifted into a faint smirk before he turned and strode toward the door.
“No!” Natalia’s scream shattered the silence as she ripped the contract clean in half, the torn pages fluttering to the marble floor between them.
“You can’t force me to sign those papers; you will regret this.”
Aldo turned to the maids waiting quietly in the hallway.
“Prepare a hot bath for Madam Natalia,” he instructed.
“Then serve her dinner. Make sure she has everything she needs.”
His gray eyes swept over them. “Is that clear?”
“Yes, Boss,” they answered in unison.
Satisfied.
Aldo turned and walked toward his home office. He pushed open the door to his home office.
Enzo and Marco were already waiting.
The moment he entered, both men rose to their feet. “Boss.”
Aldo walked past them to his leather seat, sat and set his pistol on the desk.
His expression remained unreadable. “Explain.”
Neither man spoke immediately.
Enzo finally broke the silence. “Our men secured every entrance around the café.”
“And yet you are telling me someone still got close enough to fire.”
“Yes, Boss.”
A dangerous silence settled over the room.
Aldo slowly lifted his eyes.
“Who?”
“We're still tracing the shooter.”
“You had only one job, Enzo.”
“I am sorry, boss.”
“Don't.” Aldo's voice remained calm.
“If you did it right, Natalia wouldn't have nearly died today.”
Enzo lowered his head.
“My apologies, Boss.”
Marco stepped forward. “The bullet wasn't meant to kill, Boss.”
Aldo looked at him. “It struck the window.”
Marco nodded. “It was a warning.”
“No.”
Aldo’s fingers curled against the edge of the desk. “It was a message.”
The room fell silent.
“They know she’s Vincent’s daughter.”
Neither man disagreed.
Aldo exhaled slowly. “Increase security.”
“Already done.” Enzo straightened.
"Double the men assigned to her."
“Yes, Boss.”
“I want eyes on every entrance, every road leading to this estate, and every person who comes within fifty meters of Natalia.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Aldo picked up another file.
"The cafe."
Aldo frowned. “Repair every broken window.”
He looked up. “Replace everything that was damaged.”
Marco blinked.
“The owner will never accept our money.”
“ Just get it done.”
A faint smile tugged at Enzo’s lips.
“Understood.”
Aldo buttoned his suit jacket. “If that's all…”
Both men nodded.
“Good.”
Without another word, he walked out.
***
His bedroom was only a few doors away from Natalia’s.
For a brief moment, he stopped outside her room. He could hear the exchange between her and the maids.
“Madam Natalia, please eat. We will get punished if you don't.”
“I'll eat this one last time, for your sake, not his,” Natalia said, her voice steady.
“Tell your boss that I won't touch another meal until he sets me free. If he thinks threatening a maid’s life will make me obey, he’s wrong. The only person I'll hurt is myself.”
Aldo smiled. At least she had the strength to rank, and she was safe.
Only then did he continue.
Inside his room, Aldo loosened his cufflinks and placed the De Luca family ring on the bedside table.
He stepped beneath the cold stream of the shower.
The icy water ran over his face, washing away the smell of gunpowder lingering on his skin.
He closed his eyes.
For a heartbeat...
He wasn't standing beneath the shower.
He was lost in his thought, “She'll never stand alone.”
"I swear it."
Aldo opened his eyes.
Water dripped from his hair onto the tiled floor.
"They'll never touch her," he murmured into the empty room.
It wasn't a prayer. It wasn't a hope. It was a promise.
To Vincent.
And to himself.
The cold water poured over Aldo's shoulders.
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, the sound of the shower drowned out everything else.
Aldo could still remember the joy in his friend's voice when he told him about his daughter, Natalia.
"I will," Aldo whispered.
His gray eyes slowly opened.
"I'll protect her with my life."
A sharp knock interrupted the silence.
Three quick knocks.
Then another.
Urgent.
Aldo shut off the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist.
“Come in.”
The bedroom door flew open.
Enzo’s breathing was uneven.
“Boss…”
Aldo frowned. “What happened?”
Enzo hesitated. “It's Madam Natalia.”
Aldo's expression hardened instantly.
“What about her?”
Enzo swallowed. “She's gone.”
For the first time in years...
The calm in Aldo's eyes disappeared.
- Writer
