Seducing the Mafia Boss

Family Drama

Silva’s POV

Morning seems to come earlier than normal. I bury my head into my pillow as my alarm goes off. Part of me is wanting to shatter it against a wall. I’m pulled out of my misery when I feel my bed suddenly start to shake aggressively. Rolling over, I see Rose, a grin on her face, and a foot on the edge of the bed.

“Time to get up, Sil. You’ve got that final today.” The realization makes me roll my eyes.

“I don’t want to.”

“Oh well,” she shrugs, staring at me. “I’m not leaving until you get up.”

Groaning excessively, I sit up in bed. “Who are you? My dad?”

“No, but I am your self-appointed guardian. Get your ass up. Let’s go.” She ushers to the door.

I slowly tumble out of bed and shuffle off to take a shower. A few minutes later, I’m dressed and Rose is pushing me out our dorm room door as she shoves a cup of coffee in my hand.

“See you later.” Rose says with her usual, somewhat annoying, enthusiasm. “ Oh, and we are still planning something for your birthday, whether you like it or not!”

Of course they are.

I nod weakly and turn towards my class, but then stop in my tracks…

“Rosie?” I say reluctantly.

“What?”

“You didn’t…have you seen Gio since…you know…what I said?”

Rose shakes her head.

“I don’t think anyone has, but don’t worry about it. Gio’s an asshole to you most of the time. If he can dish it, he should be able to take it…”

“Right,” I say, feeling completely unsure.

“I’ll see you at lunch today, okay?” Rose replies, giving me a quick hug. “Stop thinking about him and go kick ass on that final.”

I don’t have time to ask her another question as I feel the emptiness behind me and look over my shoulder to see Rose disappearing into the mass of students who fill the hallways at Exton. As much as I want to focus on this final, it’s impossible.

I tossed and turned all last night thinking about the altercation between Gio and I. He’s always been so good at dishing out the torment and I’ve always been good at taking it, but last night, something snapped in me…and it was Gio’s turn to be on the short end of the stick.

Though his not so subtle warning for me to watch my back hasn’t left my mind.

When I first started at Exton, which felt like a million years ago, I was shy, and not very confident. And when I first got here, there were very few Americans here…everyone seemed to speak five languages and lived in castles in the mountains of France and Germany, or something.

My dad sent me here over my protests. My mother had died and he wasn’t ready to handle a newly-teenage girl. Not then and if I’m being honest, probably not now either.

So the big boss of the Magliacano crime family sent me away. Basically, because he was afraid.

Starting at Exton was really hard on me, that is until I met Gio. He arrived a few days after me, just before the freshman semester had kicked off properly. He stuck up for me, the other American kid.

It wouldn’t have been much of a stretch back then to say we were best friends that first year. There was even a potential for something more. I secretly yearned for Gio to ask me to the Spring Dance. It was the final celebration before the school year was over and it seemed like he was primed to ask.

However, right before that dance, word came that Gio’s older brother, Damon, had been killed. When I asked him what happened, he yelled at me.

“Don’t you get it?” he said. “This is your dad’s fault!”

I tried to comfort him, but Gio had already pushed me away.

After that, he started to belittle me, mock me, and altogether ignore me. Every once in a while, I’d remember how it first started, how close we were, but it was so long ago now, that it doesn’t even matter now. It still makes my heart ache, though, I just will never admit it to anyone.

The loud ding of the intercom system quickly pulls me from my thoughts as I sigh. Though the moment I hear my name over that system my blood seems to freeze in my veins.

“SILVA MAGLIACANO—PLEASE REPORT TO THE COUNSELOR’S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.”

What the hell? Today is definitely going to be longer than I want it to be.

Trudging down the hall to the counselor’s office, I’m surprised to see Ms. Fairlyn waiting for me in the hallway, instead of inside the room.

“Silva, thanks for coming down so quickly. There’s…someone waiting for you in my office. They asked to speak to you alone.”

My stomach drops, causing my anxiety to sky rocket.

“Who is it, Ms. Fairlyn?” My voice is a little shaky.

Ms. Fairlyn’s eyes dart to the left quickly and she seems a bit…afraid?

“I don’t think I can say, but go ahead inside. I’ll wait out here for you.”

Truly confused, I enter the office. There’s a man sitting there, bald, back facing the door. And as I enter, he stands up to face me. He’s tall, imposing, with a glint in his eyes that seems more serious than it should be.

“Silva. You probably don’t remember me. My name is Bruno. I work for your father.”

My father? Why would my father send someone here?

“I’m sorry, but you’re correct in stating that I don’t remember you.”

“That’s all right. I haven’t seen you since you were a little girl.” He replies, giving me a small smile as he gestures to a chair in the room. “Would you like to sit?”

I hesitate. “I’m fine—thank you. I just need to make this quick. I have finals to take.”

“Right, I’ll make this quick.” He replies, clearing your throat. “I’m here because your father asked me to be. You’re eighteen now, and security is a must.”

He’s got to be kidding me. Security detail?!

“So in other words, my father sent you here to babysit me until I finally go home?”

Bruno clears his throat and looks around the office, as if checking to make sure that they are still alone. “I take care of all his security needs. And right now, that includes you.”

Huh?

Am I in danger or something? I’ve been here for a few years and have never had my father send someone.

“Mr. Bruno, I don’t—” I begin, but Bruno holds up a hand, stopping me.

“There have been a series of…incidents, back home…assaults on your family’s interests. And your father is concerned for your safety. I’m here to keep watch over you until it's time to escort you home to New York.”

“When is this supposed to happen?” I ask, feeling hesitant considering my father has been known to change his mind at the drop of a hat.

“Soon,” Bruno replies as my heart drops into my stomach and my eyes widen in shock and concern. He had to be f*****g kidding.

“Soon? What is soon? Like…today, tomorrow?”

“Ms. Silva, it’s my job to—” he began, but now it’s my turn to cut him off.

“Stop.” I sigh, shaking my head. “I know what your job is. I know what my father has probably told you. I don’t need you trying to tell me what it is you're supposed to do. I just—” I take a moment shaking my head before letting my shoulders sag. “I just want to know how much time I have.”

Bruno opens his mouth to say something, but decides to just hold his tongue. “A week or so. I’m still waiting to get clarity from your father. For now, I will set up a perimeter around the school for now with the men with me, and we will try to remain out of sight as much as possible.”

I nod, watching as he turns to leave the room only to stop short at the door. “A word of advice from an old man who’s been in this game for longer than you, miss. Stay away from Gio Bonetti.”

His words cut through me. A sense of dread rising up from my stomach as I think about the altercation from last night.

“Why?”

“Because your father has requested that I keep you from him. However, if you want your privacy without a watchful eye, you need to follow those instructions. Otherwise, I can’t promise you that we can allow you to continue the rest of your time here as you may want to.”

“I see. Can I ask what’s wrong with them?” I ask, although in my head, I’m thinking that won't be too difficult to follow.

“The Bonettis are the ones who’ve been attacking your family.” Bruno tries his best to not seem too worried. “That’s why you can’t trust him. No matter what he says.”

Just then, another bell rings and I realise my time with Bruno is over..

“I have to go take my final. I’ll do my best to stay away from him.” I swiftly exit the office, ignoring Ms. Fairlyn on my way out.

Is this really happening? A war between the Bonettis and the Magliacanos?

Does Gio know about this? Is that why he was acting even stranger than normal last night?

The guilt and worry inside me only grows stronger as I think back to what I said to Gio last night. If there really was a war with their family, then I really painted a target on my back. Because if Gio wasn’t after me before…he damn sure is now.