Chapter 1: Can't Breathe
Elena POV
It's funny how I'm busy staring at my weak eyes at the mirror when waiting for a man I don't even know. My husband to be.
Before I begin, let me introduce myself.
My name is Elena Rizzo. I grew up in Sicily, a small town known for its nutritious Mafia ganging.
I never thought I would be involved in such, but up until now my life has been centered around the Moretti Mafia gang.
I took a deep breath while my hands lay on the mirror, breathing every air that came around me.
The atmosphere wasn't good enough, as I stood my ass over to the bathroom, waiting for my husband.
A lot had happened, but as the door slid open. Leading me off guard while my hands scratched at the wall.
The pains flew directly into my fresh white skin, pulling me into a scream of pains.
"What is it?" I yelled at the person at the door, not caring who it was.
"Chill, Sorella!" Veronica said as she walked over to me with a smile.
Swarmed my head over to her, as my eyes merged with hers. Her eyes filled with concern, as she patted my shoulder gently with silence.
"It's going to be alright, my love" she said to me, patting my shoulder gently as she touched my hair smoothly.
I nodded; definitely she was right.
I had lived a poor and suffering life; this wasn't compared to what I had faced in life. After losing my parents in a Mafia gang conflict, I went over to my aunt's place in a small village in Naples.
Didn't have much to save for college; had to work my ass off on the farm and put food on our table. My aunt was a lovely lady who didn't have any children of her own; she felt she didn't deserve to have one.
After her encounter with a Mafia lord, Matteo Vitale that led her into killing and destroying young teen's lives as a price for loving him.
But after my parents' death, she changed her mind and took it upon herself to take care of me at all costs.
"Are you here?" Alessandra!" my aunt yelled my name out as I ran toward her direction.
She carried a long bag, filled with tomatoes she had cultivated from the farm.
"Yes, Zia!" I screamed while hugging her tightly. Inhaling the fresh dust from her clothes and down to my body being stained with the dust.
"Welcome, Aunty," I welcomed her, as she smiled before pulling the bag off her and giving it to me.
I walked over with the heavy bag, as my whole body felt in love with the scent.
Walked over to the kitchen cabinet as I placed the bag into the sink and dropped some water on it. While washing off the dust, getting it ready for tomorrow's market sale.
"Aunty? Where is the knife? The one here isn't sharp enough," I screamed, as the noise of the birds wouldn't let my ears be free.
"Mia bella, zia?" I screamed my lungs out as fears gripped me. The pains grew me off, as I ran faster to look for My aunt.
It's been said a lot of thieves grew stronger in the village. Stealing a lot of goods and even money from the poor ones, and I wasn't ready for such at Aunt's house.
But the more I tiptoed, the more my eyes wandered in shock. The silence grew louder with my eyes fixed on my aunt's lifeless body.
Her hands were wrapped around a wooden chair, with her head down below and her eyes pale and weak.
"Aunty!" Without thinking, I ran toward her with my hands over to her face. As the fresh blood oozed out of her lips, with her head lifted up to face me.
"Get out of here! Mia! she yelled at me, with her last strength. I could see her thick veins pumped up as I kept on nodding worriedly.
"No...I can't leave you! What's happening?" Tears dripped down my cheeks as it got wetter.
My hands wrapped around her weak face, pulling her to face me, but she wasn't strong enough for that.
“Run now!” My aunt yelled at me, her hands pushing me off to run.
Even though her hands were tight enough, she didn't care to push me out of her side.
But just as my legs tried to take a U-turn, I heard some footsteps approaching toward me, leading me into falling back to the ground.
My hands scratched at the ground as I lifted my head up. The mean and fierce man stood in front of me, his eyes fixed into mine.
At that point, I knew I was dead already. My whole body froze at the spot; my heart skipped a beat.
"Who is she?" The old man spoke; his deep eyes pierced directly into mine.
He looked commanding and fierce, my eyes trying to plead, but he wasn't concerned about it.
"Please... please...we don't have any money, Abuelo, my aunt isn't feeling too well she is dying," I cried, with my eyes blurry from tears.
"Get the girl now!" He commanded, as my legs were shivering from their hands they held me up with their broad shoulders.
"Let me go!" I screamed but got no response, my eyes weak as it shut down.
The next day, I was told my parents had borrowed a huge amount of money for my liver surgery, leading them to a huge debt before dying.
The only price I could pay was to be his son's wife, destroying my dreams, passions, and even my freedom.
"Elena” Veronica's voice pulled me off my thoughts as I smiled while nodding.
"Yes?" I responded, wiping off my wet tears.
"Let's get out of here!" She said, wrapping her hands around me as we walked out of the bathroom and straight to the hall.
My eyes scanned every bit of the guests; their restless and worried gaze flew everywhere.
We were still waiting for that dickhead, man, just as we reached the altar.
Veronica pulled me off her as she waved at me before walking over to her seat.
Just as everyone waited for more than an hour plus with no response.
Bah!
The loud sound echoes from outside, leading my body off guard and landing on the ground, as everyone did the same in fear.