Chapter 16
1220 Words
The courtyard behind the Vittorio mansion was a contradiction.
It was beautiful. Expensive marble floors, fountains that sang softly, and flowers trimmed to perfection. The air smelled like jasmine and money. It was so peaceful you could almost forget that this place belonged to one of the most feared Mafia bosses in the city.
Almost.
Maria sat on a white lounge chair, legs crossed, a glass of red wine in her hand. She threw her head back and laughed.
“Hahaha. Such a loser. At least now she knows her place.”
June walked toward her, barefoot on the cool stone, her own glass catching the late afternoon sun.
“Cheers,” June said, raising her glass.
Maria clinked hers against it. The sound echoed.
“Yeah. Cheers to our victory.”
For a moment, there was only silence. The fountain. The birds. The lie between them.
Then Maria remembered. She set her glass down and turned to face June fully.
“Right. I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” She swirled the wine in her glass, watching it stain the sides.
“Speak,” June replied, distracted. She was running her fingers over the petals of a rose bush like she owned the whole garden. Maybe she did.
“How did you come up with Alice’s face replica idea?” Maria asked.
June stopped. She stood up straight and met Maria’s eyes. There was nothing soft in her gaze.
“Oh, that.” A small smile. “Well, my brother is a Mafia boss. And he doesn’t trust anyone. I knew if I showed up empty-handed, without an option B, there’d be a problem. So I got the idea. And in case the guards didn’t leave their positions...” She shrugged. “We needed a backup.”
Maria nodded slowly. “Well, that’s a really good idea.”
She paused.
“But I have an even better one.”
June frowned. “Really? Why another one? We already have her hands pinned. Why add more stress?”
Because Maria was a spoiled brat. The only daughter of wealthy parents who let her get away with everything. She hated housework. Hated being told what to do. In this mansion, she paid Ann to do her chores and still complained about it. But this wasn’t about chores. This was about power.
“My brother isn’t the type to let things go easily,” June said quietly. “We have to make him believe us. Completely.”
Maria looked confused. “But how?”
June’s lips curved into a devilish smile. She motioned for Maria to come closer.
Maria leaned in.
June whispered something into her ear.
Maria’s eyes widened. Shock. Then understanding. Then excitement.
“I know,” June said, pulling back. “I know how it sounds. But if we do this, my brother will believe us. No questions. No doubts.”
Maria licked her lips and nodded. “So when should we arrange it?”
June glanced around. No servants. No cameras. Just flowers and lies.
“I already have someone to carry it out. Tonight.”
“Wow. That was quick,” Maria said, finishing her drink and placing the empty glass on a side table.
“You need to get back to your chores,” June said casually. “After it’s done, you’ll be waiting for a new episode.”
Maria smirked and walked back into the mansion.
Down the hallway, she saw Alessandro and Adrian heading toward the basement. Her stomach flipped. Alessandro Vittorio. Her brother’s most dangerous man. Cold eyes. Colder heart.
She put on her best smile and leaned against the wall.
“Sir Alessandro,” she called, dragging a finger across her lips. “You’re hurrying so much. Where are you going?”
He didn’t even look at her. Didn’t break stride.
‘Such a w***e,’ Alessandro thought, and kept walking.
Maria watched him disappear down the stairs. Her smile dropped.
Don’t worry, handsome. I’ll get you. It’s either me or no one else, she thought to herself.
“Maria!”
Ann’s voice cut through her thoughts. Ann was the only servant who dared to talk to her like a person.
Maria turned on the first floor landing and kept walking. Ann hurried to catch up.
“What’s up with you these days?” Ann asked, frowning.
Maria gave a sarcastic smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Me? What’s up with me?”
“Yeah. You’ve been behaving really weird.” Ann stepped closer. “Others might not have noticed, but I do. I either see you with Miss June discussing something, or you two have gone to mock Alice.”
Maria raised an eyebrow.
“Really? Then you better stop talking, because you might be next if you don’t mind your business.”
She walked off.
“Hey, wait for me! I was just concerned about you!” Ann called.
Maria turned back and faked a soft smile. “It’s okay.”
They headed to their rooms for the night.
***
Across the city, the noise at the docks was getting louder by the minute. Shouting. Gunfire in the distance. Something was up.
The Red Banner Gang had been planning a move on Vittorio territory for weeks. But they were too late. The Vittorio Gang hit them first. Ambush. Precision. Blood on the water.
By dawn, Alessandro’s gang had the upper hand.
June didn’t know any of this. Alessandro hadn’t told her. He didn’t want her scared.
The Vittorio estate covered a quarter of the city. It was more like its own town. Walls, gates, guards, gardens, and secrets.
That night, June drove out of the mansion gates alone. Her headlights cut through the dark as she headed to a deserted part of the industrial district.
She parked and made a call. The person on the other end picked up on the first ring.
“Where are you?” June asked, voice flat.
“I’ve seen your car. Just pull over.”
She hung up and parked at the roadside.
A shadow approached the passenger window and opened the door. A man. Mid-30s. Cheap suit. Greedy eyes.
“Hi, beautiful,” he said.
June didn’t smile. Didn’t do pleasantries.
“You know the deal. Make my brother suspect you. And you know what to do from there.”
“Of course,” he said. “You said her name is Alice, right?”
“Yes. You’ll mention her name as one of the Red Banner members.”
The man shifted. “And what if your brother kills me?”
June waited a beat.
“He won’t. I’ll help you escape while he’s not looking.”
The man grinned. “No problem, boss lady. The work will be delivered well.”
“It better be worth this million dollars,” June said.
She started the engine and drove back to the mansion, the city lights blurring past her.
In her head, one thought repeated:
Little Alice. You have yourself to blame.
Back at the mansion, Alice was asleep, unaware that two people had just sold her name for a million dollars.
And in the basement, Alessandro was washing blood off his hands, already planning his next move.
The game had started.
And Maria and June had just made the first play.
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