The True Memoir of a Mafia Boss' Daughter

Sweet 16

It has been 11 years since that day. But I remember it as if it was yesterday. I still always wonder who the man was that we left. If this man is my father? Did he know he wasn't my father? Frankie is my father now, he has always treated me as his daughter. He would buy me anything I wanted. When I first started school, I was having problems with a kid bullying me. I was hardheaded and stubborn and wanted to go like the regular kids. Every day Mikey would drive me. We would pull up at the front of the school and Mikey would get out and open the back door to the black SUV. When it was time to go home, Mikey was out front like always when 

I started to walk towards the suv, as Mikey was already at the back passenger door ready to open it for me, a boy pushed me and tripped me. I got up and brushed the dirt off my knees and got into the suv.

The next day i went to school as usual, but Frankie went to school with me. When Mikey pointed out the boy, Frankie got out of the suv and picked the boy up by his shirt and scared him half to death. After that, I never got bullied. But that was the first time I had seen the power and control Frankie has, as the parents of the boy were terrified and apologizing to him. That was the day I realized I wanted the same power as Frankie. I wanted the fear he had on people. I wanted to be just like Frankie.

From that day on, I stood close to Frankie watching as he handled business as he went to different restaurants and stores. I watched and listened to how he instructed the others. How he kept his books. How, when he was away from the house and in front of others, he was intimidating, strong, showed no weakness. Spoke nothing about his family. He was strictly business in front of others and out of the house. But when it was just me and him. He was caring. He would laugh and tell jokes. He was at his weakest. His most vulnerable. Frankie helped me control my emotions by having one expression on my face. How to become him. But besides that, he has been an amazing great father.

My mother, on the other hand, has not had much to do with me since we came here. She always tells Bonnie to deal with me or get me away from her, but when Frankie is around she tries to get a trophy for best mom. There have been times that no one knew where my mother went. Sometimes I thought it could be possible that Frankie killed her as she always argued with him, she always wanted the most expensive things. She was rude and just a terror to be around, so I didn't blame him for killing her if he did, but then she would always show back up.

Today is my 16th birthday, the day I am introduced to other mobs we do business with. This is the day that other mobs offer Frankie everything he could imagine. Hopefully, today I get to stay home and not have to go live with my future husband, whoever he may be. 

" Oh Maria." Bonnie says, looking at me through the mirror as she smiles at me. " You are so beautiful, so grown up." She gives my shoulders a loving squeeze

" Dont forget this." Bonnie says, placing a necklace around my neck. I just stare at my reflection in the mirror as the diamonds sparkle with every movement bonnie makes to clasp it around my neck.

" You dont think this is too much, do you?" I asked her looking down at my tight fitted long red dress

" Oh no, you know your father wants you to have the best of everything."

I took a deep breath. " I hope I stay home."

" Me too, my dear, me too. Now let's get you down stairs."

I slowly walked out of the door and started walking down the stairs at the bottom of the stairs. I saw Frankie mingling with all the other mobsters. Everyone looks up at me and whispers can be heard all around. Frankie smiles and finishes his conversation he is having. My mother is talking to some woman and having another glass of champagne, which is no shock there.

I rub the palms of my hands on the sides of my thighs. Put on my emotionless face as my long brown hair falls on my shoulder. Bonnie fixed my hair half way up and half way down with the top part in a small tight bun on the back of my head with long curls on the bottom half freely bouncing.

My elbow length black dress gloves grasp the banister with my left hand. I slightly clinch the dress with my right hand on my thigh to raise it just a bit so I don't trip coming down the stairs. Taking a deep breath, this is all or nothing. I started to walk the rest of the way down towards Frankie. As I reach the bottom, I relax my right hand, letting my dress fall back to the floor and release the banister and taking Frankies hand with my left. 

"You look absolutely beautiful Maria." Frankie says,

" Thank you." 

Frankie turns to a small table on the side of the stairs and opens a box. He pulls out a small princess crown and smiles as he places it on my head.

" So everyone knows who the birthday girl is."

" HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" Everyone says at once, holding the champagne and whiskey glasses up.

" Thank you." 

Frankie started to introduce me around the room. Once meeting what seemed like 200 people. I made my way to the ballroom where all the refreshments were.

" Happy birthday dear Maria. I love your dress. You look absolutely beautiful." A young cheerful caterer says as she is looking at me with her blonde hair swishing in her ponytail.

" Thank you. May i get a pepsi?" 

" Oh yes, yes, I am so sorry." She says, suddenly grabbing a glass. 

" Everyone is right. You are easy on the eyes." I heard a male's voice say beside me. I turned and there was a male about 18 years old, googling at me. His cockyness and confidence shined brightly on him. He is just a few inches taller than me if I didn't have my heels on. His short dark brown hair looked like he had styled it with his fingers.Bright blue-colored eyes. Some woman may have fallen all over him, but to me he instantly aggravated me and his looks just didnt take to me.

"I am not candy for you to be looking at like that.! You can show some respect!" I said bluntly as his eyes scanned my body and biting his lips, it was rubbing me the wrong way.

" And fiesty. I think I will take you. Maybe have a little fun and you can be my candy when I want it!" He says cocky and winking his eye at me,

" Who the hell do you think you are? You are not going to speak to me that way. I wouldn't touch you in a million years." I said angerly grasping the glass the caterer handed to me, taking a drink and sitting the glass on the table.

" Thank you," I said to the Caterer. Then glancing knifes at the guy as I turned and walked away with absolute disgust. As I stormed out I accidently ran straight into someone.

" Oh my god. I am so so sorry." I said, taking a step back.

" Its ok. It's my fault. I am so sorry. Are you OK?" A low deep voice said. 

I look up and I am met with beautiful brown eyes staring back at me. I started to take in his features. He was exactly my height in my heels, light-skinned as if he was mixed. Short black hair, both his ears were pierced. The most luxurious mouth watering lips that were just the right size, not too big but not too small. His trimmed go tee tracing the outline of his lips. He was skinny but a fit skinny, like a atheletic build. You can tell he had just the right amount of muscle.

" I.. Im ok. I am sorry. Are you OK?" I ask

Suddenly, he smiles a beautiful smile. Dimples showing on each side of his cheeks, his bright white teeth slowly started peeking through his lips.

" Yeah im ok." He says 

Just then I heard her, a voice I used to get comfort from but now its like nails on a chaulk board.

" Maria... MARIA!!" My mother says as her heels get louder with every step she takes getting closer to me. " MARIA!!!" She says, grabbing my arm " Come on.. There's someone wanting to meet you!" She says

She moves me through the crowd out to the back porch. Over to where a man and a woman are standing. 

" This is my beautiful daughter, Maria Valentine." She says, smiling

"Oh, she is beautiful. Nice to meet you Ms. Valentine" the man says. 

" This is the Romanos." My mother says, looking at me with an annoying amount of excitement.

" Nice to meet you." I said

" You can call me Rocco and this is my wife Birda." He says, taking my hand in his palm and gently kissing my gloved hand. " Have you met my son Leonardo? We call him Leo?"

" No, I don't believe I have." I said.

" Birda go find Leo. These two need to meet."

" I think you and Leo are going to get along quite well." My mother says as she sips her glass of champagne. 

My mother and Rocco started to talk about Roccos restaurant. I smile and act like I care. But in all reality, I just want to find out who that was I ran into. The way he looked at me was as if I was the most beautiful female he had ever seen. His voice sent an oddly weird comfort through me. His smile made me weak in the knees. His lips, oh don't get me started on his lips, I wanted to kiss him so much I wanted to feel his lips on mine. Just then I was brought back to reality about the boring conversation in front of me.

" Here he is" Says Rocco as a male stands beside him. " This is my son Leo."

I look and notice it is the person that just turned my stomach. I gave him the most disgusted look as his parents and my mother watched us.

" Oh God." I said with as much hate and disgust I could.

"Maria Elizabeth Valentine!!!" My mother said.

" I have already had the honor of meeting him and I must say we will not be getting along." I said to my mother. 

" I am sorry Mr. Romano, But your son disgusts me and is extremely disrespectful and rude." I said with my head held high with as much emotionless expression I could generate. " If you excuse me, I must go mingle with others." I started to turn around and I heard my mother say

" I am so sorry for my daughter's attitude. I am sure it is just the stress of tonight. Please do not let her attitude get in the way of any further business your family would like to have with ours."

I walked back towards the house, scanning trying to find the guy in my mind. As I am scanning the room, i am not seeing him but I feel a hand grab my arm tightly.