Bound to the mafia

Alessia’s POV In just a few hours, I wouldn’t belong to my mother anymore. All my dreams of going to college, of building a life far away from this nightmare, were finally slipping away—vanishing like smoke in the wind. And to think—only two months ago, everything was different. My parents were celebrating their wedding anniversary. The mansion buzzed with laughter and music. Glasses clinked, conversations flowed endlessly. It felt like one of those nights that would never end, a perfect bubble of happiness and hope. I remember the way my mother’s eyes sparkled as she danced with my father, the way his smile softened when he looked at her. I was there, watching, feeling like nothing could ever touch us. Then the front doors burst open. Armed men in black stormed into our home. And just like that, my father was gone. The world shifted beneath my feet. The laughter died. The music stopped. The light in the room dimmed. From that day forward, my mother and I spent every waking moment trying to repay the debts he left behind. We managed to settle almost all of them. Except one. The one-million-dollar debt he owed James Devoti—my uncle. We couldn’t pay it. And to keep my mother safe... I was about to be auctioned off. _ “You won’t be needing this,” Maggie murmured, slipping the straps of my bra from my shoulders. My fingers twitched at my sides. Part of me wanted to stop her, to grab her wrist and tell her I’d changed my mind. But I didn’t. I was too numb. Too broken. “Oil,” she said as if ordering coffee. “Make her look expensive.” Expensive. The word lodged in my throat like a stone. I was furniture now—something to be polished and put on display. Hands touched me, warm and deliberate. Oil spread over my shoulders, down my back, to my legs. I didn’t flinch. I just counted the seconds. Each stroke was a reminder of what I was becoming. What I was losing. What I had already lost. What would Marcus say if he found out I was about to be auctioned? He’d probably laugh. I wished I had the chance to say goodbye. To tell him I was sorry. The hands stopped. A cloth pressed to my shoulders, dabbing away the excess. The scent of citrus clung to my skin. “That’s it.” She smoothed her hand over my back one last time, like smoothing wrinkles from a dress. “Get ready. They’ll be arriving soon.” Her voice was steady. “Stand up straight. Keep your chin up. And don’t embarrass me.” She paused, eyes finally meeting mine. “Remember, this is your last chance to pay your father’s debt. You need this money to keep your mother safe. If not, she’ll be taken by your uncle as a wife—and I know you wouldn’t want that. Go in there and make them crave you. Make them long for your irresistible body.” I nodded. What else was there to do? She patted my shoulder and walked out. I stared at the closed door as silence settled around me. My gaze drifted to the mirror. For a moment, I didn’t recognize the girl staring back. The smart, proud girl I used to be was gone. This one was naked. Glossy. For sale. Oil dripped down my body to the floor, and I couldn’t look away. _ “Alessia.” I turned instinctively. My mother stood in the doorway, eyes glossy with unshed tears. The composed expression she’d worn moments ago had finally cracked. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she whispered. “We can find another way. We could beg if we have to... but not this. Please, not this.” Beg. The word hit me like a slap. I looked back at my reflection, how small and frightened I seemed beside her. Begging wasn’t another way. It was just a slower kind of defeat. I couldn’t meet her eyes. “I’m sure,” I said quietly, forcing the words past the lump in my throat. I crossed the room and took her trembling hands in mine. “If this is the price I have to pay, then so be it. I can’t bear watching them take you away.” My voice softened. “We need the money, Mom. This is the only way I can keep you and Ryan safe.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. I had expected this. That’s why I hadn’t told her until there was no time left to change my mind. _ The door swung open. Maggie stepped inside with a gentle smile, her eyes lingering on me for a moment. “It’s time,” she said softly, as though she suddenly felt sorry for me. I didn’t want her sympathy. Pity was the last thing I needed. I swallowed hard and turned to my mother, wrapping my arms around her for what could be our last embrace. “Please... don’t do this,” she sobbed, pulling me closer. “It’s okay, Mom,” I whispered, fighting back tears. “Everything will be okay.” I’d spent my entire life by her side, and now we were about to be torn apart. _ “That’s enough. We don’t have time for that.” The deep voice cut through the room, silencing us instantly. I knew that voice. It belonged to James Devoti—my uncle, the most feared mafia boss in the city, the man who had placed me for auction. I slowly pulled away from my mother. Fear flashed across her face. “Don’t yell at the poor girl, James,” Maggie said with a disapproving glance. “It’s clearly her first time.” James didn’t respond. He simply turned and walked away. He didn’t need to say a word. The message was clear. I wiped my tears and forced my feet to move. The cloth lay on the chair—the thing I was supposed to wear. I grabbed it before I could change my mind. I couldn’t even bring myself to look him in the eye as I stepped out of the room. _ The wall in front of me slid open. That was the signal. I stepped into blackness. The floor beneath me dropped an inch, then started lowering. Voices hit me first. Dozens of them. Low, expensive, entertained. Glass tapped against glass. My lungs forgot how to work. I watched two girls dressed just like me being led away by armed guards, disappearing into the crowd. Then the platform came to a stop. Cool air brushed against my bare skin. A bright spotlight snapped on, blinding me for a moment. I blinked until my vision cleared. The room was packed. Rows of men—and, to my surprise, a few women—sat watching me. They were dressed in tailored black suits and elegant evening gowns, their faces calm, almost bored, as though this were just another business transaction. Then James’s voice cut through the noise. “Gentlemen,” he said, spreading his arms as though presenting a priceless masterpiece. “Our final auction of the evening.” His lips curved into a faint smile. “And, as tradition demands, we’ve saved the very best for last.” Heat crept into my cheeks. My spine straightened before I could stop it. I hated myself for it, but a tiny part of me felt... proud. I shouldn’t have. Not here. Not like this. He continued, “No contracts. No negotiations. She’ll be sold outright to the highest bidder.”