The Mafia King’s Obsession

Exploring the Mansion

(Aria)

Breakfast had gone terribly wrong and I needed a distraction. A distraction from Luca, his obnoxious bride, the strange man I just kept bumping into, this huge mansion…..everything.

I past the corridors whilst studying the paintings on the wall. As an artist, I had used colors to escape the dark shadows of my past and now, I had been roped back into the very thing I was trying to escape.

I found my way to the kitchen where I met Chiara, the maid from earlier drying up some dishes.

She looked up and gasped softly as soon as she saw me.

“Miss Aria…..what are you doing here?,” She asked as she dried her hands on her apron.

I gave her a little smile. “I told you to call me Aria. Enough with the miss,”

“Okay Aria,” she replied.

I realized she was a bit calmer now compared to how she was in the morning, probably because we were meeting for the first time.

“I—I just wanted to see the house,” I said, more to myself than to Chiara.

“Of course, Aria,” she replied softly. “It’s easy to get lost in this place. Follow me and I’ll show you everywhere.”

The hallways stretched like a never ending tunnel. The white marble floors gleamed under the muted light from the towering windows. Each turn revealed another corridor, another room I couldn’t yet imagine. I peeked into the library, the books lined perfectly in rich leather bindings, the scent of parchment and old ink filling the air.

It looked like heaven and I couldn’t wait to explore the words etched into every book.

“This is the music room,” Chiara said, pointing toward a hall of grand pianos and delicate instruments resting in velvet-lined cases. “The Don practices here sometimes, though not often when he’s… busy.”

I nodded, keeping my voice low. “Busy meaning…?”

Chiara shrugged lightly, her eyes moving briefly toward a doorway. “The Moretti way. He is always busy. Always preparing for something, or someone. He’s the head of the Moretti Mafia so he is always on his toes….. you never sleep with both eyes closed in the mafia.”

Her words sent a shiver down my spine. Even in her calmness, there was an acknowledgment that danger here wasn’t distant….,it was built into the walls.

We passed a small indoor garden, orchids and lilies arranged so delicately that I was almost afraid to touch them. A fountain trickled quietly in the center, the water sparkling in the sunlight like liquid crystal. I could almost pretend for a moment that this was normal, that this life wasn’t twisting me inside out with every step.

This indoor garden was the only thing peaceful here and for a moment I was surprised that it was capable of flourishing in the midst of violence that came with the mafia life.

Then, Chiara stopped in front of a huge mahogany door. It had the Moretti seal carved into it.

“Now, this is where it gets interesting,” she said with a small smile. “The men of the house… they’ll want to meet you today. The Don said so.”

I stiffened. My stomach twisted. “The men? The… mafia men?”

“Not all of them though, just the key ones,” Chiara explained. “You need to know who’s here, and who watches over you. I would say it’s better you meet them now than be surprised later.”

Chiara pushed the door open and led me inside the dimly lit room.

“Leave,” Luca commanded.

Chiara quickly turned away, shutting the door behind her.

I was now left alone with Luca who was flanked by two men. I recognized the taller one from the hallway as he stared down at me .

“This is Vincenzo,” Luca said, introducing him with the kind of respect reserved for someone who mattered deeply in his world. “My second in command.”

Vincenzo inclined his head slightly. “Aria Romano,” he said softly, but there was an intensity in his tone, like he already understood more about me than I was comfortable with. “The last Romano.”

My heart skipped. The words struck differently than Luca’s tone ever could. The last Romano….the weight of it pressed down on me, reminding me of the life I had lost, the family that was gone.

Luca didn’t give me time to respond before introducing the second one. “This is Alessio, one of my closest aides,”

Alessio gave me a curt nod which I returned with a wave.

“These men are my family, Aria.” Luca continued. “And they will protect you while you are under my roof. Vincenzo will oversee your safety in my absence. Understand?”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I… understand.”

Vincenzo’s gaze softened just slightly, though it never lost its focus. “You’ll be safe here,” he said, more statement than question. And yet, I didn’t believe him fully. Safety in Luca’s world was always relative.

Vincenzo broke the tension with a light laugh. “Come on, Aria. Let’s get you settled. I’ll show you your new room. The Don said you wanted it changed, and then you can start learning the flow of the house. Trust me, it helps to know where everything is.”

For a moment, I was surprised that Luca granted my request to have my room changed. I would finally have some sleep.

I followed Vincenzo out of the room, but not before I felt Luca’s stare burning into my back. I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t. Not when I was still trying to breathe through the tightness in my chest.

The door shut behind us, leaving the weight of Luca’s presence trapped inside.

Vincenzo walked ahead with his hands in his pockets. He took calm, purposeful strides that didn’t need to be loud to command authority. Alessio peeled off in another direction, leaving us alone in the long hallway.

“You made quite an impression this morning,” Vincenzo said casually.

I frowned. “With who?”

“Everyone,” he replied. “Alice is threatening to redecorate the entire east wing in revenge, and Luca… well.” He smirked. “He hasn’t glared that much before noon in a long time.”

Heat shot to my cheeks. “I don’t care what he thinks.”

Vincenzo didn’t respond for a few seconds. I could feel his gaze on me, even though he kept walking.

“You do,” he said quietly. “Maybe not how Alice assumes. But you care.”

I bristled. “You don’t know me.”

“Not yet,” he said. “But I make it my business to know everything in this house.”

We stopped at the end of another corridor.

“Your room.”