Revenge On My Mafia Husband

“Sapphire!” Uncle Diego, my guardian and trainer, called from the living room. I rolled my eyes and hurried down the grey staircase to meet him. Diego is the only father figure I have left. The only family I can still call mine. He took me in after my father was killed and brought me into this house hidden deep in the forest, far from the eyes of the world. He taught me everything I know today—how to fight, how to survive, how to endure pain without letting it show. Diego is a middle-aged man with no children of his own. He lost his wife during a bloody clash with the Cartel family years ago. This may be the twenty-first century, but the mafia still rules these lands like kings in the shadows. His house is a two-story building, cold and silent most nights. It has four rooms, but two have long since been turned into training rooms filled with weapons, punching bags, and the ghosts of every bruise I ever earned. This place is our hideout. Our prison. Our war room. “You seem lost in thought,” Diego said, taking a slow sip of his whisky. He sat on the black leather couch with one leg stretched over the center table. His hands were marred with old scars, his palms rough like tree bark from years of violence and survival. I looked into his tired brown eyes and gave him a faint smile. The stubble along his jaw was more visible tonight, and the dark bags beneath his eyes looked heavier than usual. “I’m always lost in thought, Uncle,” I said as I sat opposite him. He stared at me in silence for a while before finally speaking. “Do you really want to do this?” “Do what?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what he meant. “Answer me, Sapphire.” “Yes,” I said, holding his gaze without blinking. “I want to do this.” He stood up so suddenly that the glass in his hand rattled. “You can’t do this, Sapphire,” he snapped, pointing at me angrily. He was five feet five, but in moments like this, he seemed larger than life. “You are not fit for this.” “Are you doubting my skills, Uncle?” I cut in sharply. “No. Never that.” His voice lowered. “I know you are physically capable, but emotionally… you are not ready.” I stood up too, anger already rising in my chest. “No, Uncle. I’m not stepping down. I’m not giving up. I am ready to make Romero’s life a living hell.” Diego ran a hand through his dark grey hair, frustration shadowing his face. “But you love him.” The words hit me like a blade. “And he hurt me,” I said, my voice trembling with rage. “He ruined my life. He made me miserable.” His eyes softened with pity, but I knew pity would not stop him from trying to change my mind. “I know, Sapphire. But you cannot destroy the man you love without destroying yourself.” “I’m not going to kill him,” I said coldly. “I don’t want him dead. Death is mercy. I want him to hurt. I want him to feel every ounce of pain he gave me. I want his life to become unbearable.” “But he didn’t mean to. He doesn’t even know—” “Enough!” My voice cut through the room like shattered glass. “He doesn’t know?” I laughed bitterly. “Who cares if he knows?” I stepped closer, my chest heaving. “That little eighteen-year-old Sapphire never knew that four years ago she would be dragged into a forced marriage. He pointed at me without even looking to see who I was. He tore me away from my father, the only family I had left, just to satisfy his mother’s dying wish.” My throat tightened. “I was neglected. Mocked. Abused.” The memories clawed at my mind. “I was the little queen with no king.” I laughed again, but this time it sounded broken. “I never saw him for two whole years. Two years of being beaten while he lived his life as though I did not exist.” I swallowed hard. “He doesn’t even know my name, Diego.” Even now, saying it out loud still hurt. “And when we finally met again after those two years, he still neglected me.” My voice dropped. “But I still fell in love with him.” The shame of it burned. “I loved the man who ruined my existence.” I clenched my fists. “Even after my father died fighting for him, I still loved him.” The words tasted like poison. “He didn’t even come to my father’s burial. My father was buried like a dog.” Tears burned behind my eyes. “And then he had the audacity to call me weak.” I laughed bitterly. “Even after everything, I still loved him. I loved him so much that I ran away to become stronger.” I looked up at Diego. “For him.” The room fell silent. “But when I came back…” My voice cracked. “He had married another woman.” I closed my eyes for a moment. “Diego, I lost my only family because of him. He broke me.” A sharp breath escaped me. “Father wanted to marry me off to a good man. He had already begun arranging everything.” I looked away. “I wish I had never gone out that day.” ~~Eight years ago~~ I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. Father always said I had Mama’s eyes. He was right. I had her hazel eyes and her long red hair. I brushed my hair down slowly before tying it into a neat ponytail. My fingers moved to wipe the tiny sauce stain from my soft pink lips. I put on my long earrings and smiled again. My full brows had always been naturally perfect, and I was grateful for that. My lashes fluttered as I winked at myself. I always loved playing in front of the mirror. I had turned eighteen just yesterday, and the excitement still lingered in my chest. I was finally an adult. It had always been just me and Papa. A small Italian family. Mama died when I was two. “Sapphire, come with me to the Cartel mansion,” Papa called, knocking on my door. “Take some of my dirty clothes to the laundry. I’ll be busy today. The queen is sick.” I looked down at my simple blue gown and nodded. I looked presentable enough. I grabbed my phone and bag before opening the door. Papa smiled when he saw me. “You’re so tall.” I laughed softly. We were nearly the same height, but he always insisted I was taller. Then I noticed the tiredness in his brown eyes. “You haven’t been resting enough, Papa.” He smirked. “I’ve been busy. Don’t worry, I’ll sleep well tonight.” We both chuckled as we made our way to the Cartel mansion. The place was massive and luxurious, drenched in wealth and power. Papa was always telling me stories about how dangerous this family was. Especially Romero Cartel. He had taken over from his father eight years ago, and now at twenty-six, he was feared by everyone. Ruthless. Dangerous. Untouchable. When we got to his room, Papa was about to see me out when a meeting was suddenly called. Everyone in the mansion was ordered to gather in the grand hall. “Papa, can’t I just go? I’m tired, and I don’t like being here.” “Shh,” he whispered. “Just follow me, dear. You must obey their orders.” I sighed and followed him. He asked me to stand with a group of young women dressed far too extravagantly. “Why can’t I stand with you?” I pouted. “Look around,” he said. I did. Everyone was arranged according to age and duty. Even the young men stood separately. Reluctantly, I joined the women. “I think the queen is about to make her final wish,” one of them whispered. They all began murmuring like restless birds. At the center of the hall stood a man. Tall. Domineering. Dangerously handsome. Beside him lay a sick woman on a bed, surrounded by tubes and attendants. The queen. “That is Romero Cartel,” one of the women whispered. I looked at him properly. His black hair looked like silk, falling carelessly over his forehead. His skin was flawless except for the faint scars that marked him. Then he turned. Blue eyes. Cold. Furious. Terrifyingly beautiful. “I hope he picks me,” the woman beside me whispered. I rolled my eyes. For what? Before I could think further, a voice thundered across the hall. “Her.” I looked up. Every eye in the room turned toward me. Romero’s finger was pointed in my direction. The woman beside me stepped back. I was left standing alone. I turned to Papa. He looked shattered. Tears streamed down his face. My heart stopped. Romero was not even looking at me. Before I could react, two large men grabbed me from both sides. “Papa!” I screamed. “Leave me alone! Papa, where are they taking me?” Tears poured down my face as I watched him struggle against the guards holding him back. No one moved. No one stopped it. ~~Now~~ “That is how he ruined me,” I said quietly. My voice is colder now. “So watch me ruin him.”