My Mafia Madness 2

Chapter 11 - A Promised Hand

Twenty-one year old Cellina De Luca had just arrived back at her father’s luxury villa after spending the entire day out shopping with her small circle of friends, as per the usual schedule she liked to keep.

Her daily schedule almost never varied, thanks to her massively overprotective and overbearing father, Don Dario De Luca.

Dario always needed to know where she was, during every hour of every day.

No exceptions.

Even now, at the official age of being classed as an adult, Cellina was still his little princess.

Her long straight jet-black hair swayed freely behind her as she walked along the pristine white tiled floor, her red six-inch high heels ‘clipping’ along loudly in the silence of the lobby with each of her steps.

The heiress carried two shopping bags, one in each hand, as one of her father’s many available henchmen walked along behind her carrying the countless others.

They were headed up to her room to unload them.

Cellina had always been very spoiled since the moment she had entered the world. Not that it was her fault.

Her father Dario, being a filthy rich Mafia Boss had seen to it that his only daughter had everything she could ever want out of life. No matter the cost or difficulty obtaining it.

Designer clothing, expensive cars and jewellery.

And now after celebrating her twenty-first birthday just last week, Dario had gifted his daughter something that she had been waiting for since she was a little girl.

Something that all of the family trust funds, and offshore accounts could not buy…

A future husband.

Cellina was understandably excited. She could now officially be married off to someone deemed worthy enough by her father.

And Dario had been thinking about this for many years leading up to now.

The ideal candidate would have to be a man able to provide for her lavish lifestyle and spoil her rotten just as Dario had done up until now.

A man with an endless supply of money and enviable power that stretched across the entire world.

Anyone less simply wouldn’t do in Dario’s opinion.

His daughter was far too precious.

After doing some in depth digging and research into the Romano Family and their incredible empire, Dario soon learned that the eldest son and heir to the family’s company was currently single.

Particularly, he was unmarried.

With that in mind, poor Dante Romano immediately became the ideal candidate for Dario to pursue.

The plan was for Dante to be married off to his daughter Cellina as soon as possible, thus uniting both families and creating a strength unlike any other syndicate currently operating throughout the world.

Fearing that Dante may possibly choose to refuse his generous offer and beautiful daughter’s hand in marriage, Dario decided to go through Dante’s father instead.

And what better way to get someone’s attention then using an offer that Diego could not think to refuse.

After convincing Don Diego Romano to sign his eldest son over, promising Dante’s hand in marriage to Cellina, Dario had succeeded in ensuring that his daughter’s future was in good hands.

Now of course this arranged marriage was rather sudden, but in the long run it worked out well for both families, and in the end that was all that mattered.

Neither of their children would get a say in this, no matter how much they argued against their union.

The marriage was intended to bring both peace and strength between the two great families.

To ensure their legacies survived long into the future.

The Romano’s and the De Luca’s, together as one.

Although she was basically being told who she would marry, Cellina somehow felt much luckier than her two other siblings.

Lucky because she had been born a woman, unlike her older brothers Leo and Santo.

It was well known that only men took over the family business.

Both Leo and Santo looked forward to their dark and twisted future as leaders of the Silver Skulls because they themselves were also dark and twisted.

They basically fit right in.

Leonardo or Leo as he was known by friends and allies alike, was the eldest of the three De Luca siblings, aged twenty-five and reaching just over six feet in height.

As the next in line to assume the position as head of the family, Leo enjoyed his power over others more than anything else.

He also enjoyed instilling fear in others, which pretty much came with the job.

Santo was the middle child, now twenty-three and having grown into a fine young man.

Unlike his older brother, Santo didn’t live for the torture and killing each day had promised them.

He unlike his older brother had a secret hobby, one he continued to keep a secret from the other members of his family, for fear of being criticised by his choice to paint.

Yes, the middle De Luca child was a rather talented artist and capable of creating exquisite masterpieces with but the stroke of his brush against a canvas.

To Santo, the chance to just sit back, relax and paint far outweighed the alternative option of kidnapping and killing complete strangers.

But he would never tell his father how he truly felt, deep down inside... not ever!

Santo knew that a decision like that would most likely end rather badly… for him anyway.

His father was not very well known for being kind and loving towards others, even his own children.

Don Dario De Luca was a middle-aged man with rich, thick black hair and a cigar always sticking out of his mouth.

His unannounced trademark, apparently.

Deep down inside, Dario De Luca was a soulless, ruthless killer with a shrivelled prune resting where his heart should be.

And like many other Mafia Bosses around the world, he was looking to increase and expand in his businesses enterprises.

More money equals more power… or so they say.

And the one thing Dario wanted more than anything else was power…

-

When her shopping bags were all placed onto her plush, white linen bed, Cellina sat down and proceeded to take her shiny red heels off, one at a time.

She let out a long sigh and dropped both heels to the floor with a soft ‘clatter’.

It had been a long day of walking and non-stop buying and her feet were killing her.

As she groaned in pain there was a soft knocking sound coming from her bedroom door.

‘Knock, knock, knock’

The sound alerted her towards it, and she turned her head as she replied aloud for whoever was on the other side to hear her.

“Entra.” (Come in.)

The door opened and Dario emerged from the opening, a large smile spread wide across his face at the sight of his baby girl sitting on her bed, surrounded by piles and piles of full shopping bags.

Her beaming smile lit up her beautiful face at the sight of him.

“Padre!” (Father!)

Cellina greeted him, standing up from her bed and walking across into his embrace for a quick hug.

“Non ti vedo da ieri mattina. Dove sei stato?” (I haven’t seen you since yesterday morning. Where have you been?)

He pulled apart for a moment, looking down into her caramel-brown eyes.

“Scusa tesoro. Sono stato un po’ impegnato con il lavoro ultimamente. Possiamo parlare?” (Sorry honey. I’ve been a little busy with work lately. Can we talk?)

Nodding her head, Cellina gestured for him to come across to the sitting area in her large bedroom.

They both sat beside one another on the long couch and got comfortable for their apparent discussion.

“Cosa c’è che non va padre?” (What’s wrong father?) she asked.

Cellina had immediately noticed the concerned expression on his face and the wrinkle lines along his forehead.

Those same wrinkles would only ever appear whenever Dario was feeling stressed or anxious about something.

She’d seen them only once before now and knew them to be a clear sign of warning.

Her father was hiding something from her.

“Padre?” (Father?) she urged him to explain whatever it was that seemed to be bothering him.

“Sei una giovane donna molto intelligente, figlia. Sai sempre cosa sta succedendo quassù... a volte anche prima di me.” (You are a very intelligent young woman, daughter. You always know what’s going on up here… sometimes even before me.)

He gestured towards his temple with his finger, smiling proudly back at her.

But beneath his fake smile, Dario felt genuinely concerned about losing her, which was somewhat unlike him.

Handing his only daughter over to be married to another man was a big move in his eyes; life changing even.

“È stato organizzato per te di incontrare la tua promessa sposa tra tre giorni.” (It has been arranged for you to meet your betrothed in three days.) Dario explained.

Cellina nodded her head in understanding.

“Ti renderò orgoglioso, padre. Farò tutto il necessario per garantire che le nostre due famiglie siano unite.” (I will make you proud, father. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that our two families are united.)

Dario nodded his head at her.

He knew just how important it was that this union occurred between the two families but couldn’t shake this uneasy feeling he had settling at the bottom of his stomach about it.

Cellina took his hand in hers, reassuringly.

“Te lo prometto, Dante Romano sarà avvolto intorno al mio mignolo entro una settimana.” (I promise you, Dante Romano will be wrapped around my little finger within a week.) she declared confidently with a smirk.

“Ti ho mai deluso prima?” (Have I ever let you down before?)

Dario shook his head, squeezing her hand in his.

“No, mai.” (Never.) he finally replied.

“Ancora, mi mancherà averti vicino quando andrai a vivere con il tuo nuovo marito. Sono sicuro che passerai molto tempo con lui.” (Still, I will miss having you around when you move in with your new husband. I’m sure you will spend a lot of time with him.)

“Non hai niente di cui preoccuparti, padre. Ti prometto che verrò a trovarti ogni volta che posso.” (You have nothing to worry about, father. I promise that I will come to see you whenever I can.)

Still showing hesitance, the middle-aged man nodded his head again, this time lowering his gaze.

Cellina took this as her chance to speak.

“Ricorda, una volta che sarò legalmente sua moglie, avrò diritti sui fondi e sulla proprietà della sua famiglia. Tutto quello che dovremmo fare è organizzare un piccolo... incidente che accada al mio sfortunato marito.” (Remember, once I am legally his wife I will have rights to his family’s funds and estate. All we would have to do is arrange a little… accident to befall my unfortunate husband.)

“Promettimi solo una cosa, Cellina.” (Just promise me one thing Cellina.) he suddenly requested.

She looked to him, patiently awaiting what he had to say next.

“Se mai avrai bisogno di me, in qualsiasi momento, giorno e notte, mi chiamerai subito. Sì? I Romano sono pericolosi, Cellina. Non sottovalutarli.” (If you ever need me, anytime, day or night, you will call me. Yes? The Romano’s are dangerous, Cellina. Don’t underestimate them.)

“Certo, padre.” (Sure, father.)

With one last smile intended just for his baby girl, Dario leaned in and gave her a big hug as the two shared a moment together.

For this moment and this moment alone, they were nothing but a loving father and his beautiful daughter.

A father who would clearly do anything for his daughter, and a daughter who was more like a venomous snake beneath the layers and layers of make-up and false lashes.

One who intended on sinking her plastic claws deep into the Reaper and never letting go…

-

Several hours later, Dario was informed that he had a phone call by one of his men and he excused himself from his meeting to go and answer it.

Holding the receiver to his ear, the Don spoke.

“Sì?” (Yes?)

“Don Dario. Sono io, Diego.” (Don Dario. It’s me, Diego.)

“Gliel’hai già detto?” (Have you already told him?) Dario questioned, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk spreading across his face.

“Sì…” (Yes…)

“E? Come l’ha presa?” (And? How did he take it?)

“In realtà è per questo che sto chiamando…” (Actually, that’s why I’m calling…) Diego admitted, blinking several times before he spoke again.

“Potremmo avere un problema.” (We may have a problem.)

Dario’s eyes narrowed in question at his accomplice’s words before he spoke his reply.

“Che tipo di problema?” (What kind of problem?)