The Mafia Protocol

The Devil’s Game

Camilla’s pulse hammered in her chest, the weight of Riccardo’s gaze pressing down on her like a thousand pounds. Luca’s hand tightened around her throat, his grip unyielding, yet she could feel the tension in his muscles, like he was waiting for something to happen. Waiting for her to make her move.

Riccardo stood there, calm, composed, as if everything was going according to plan. His eyes never left Camilla, the darkness in them unnerving.

“You always did have a knack for getting yourself into trouble, didn’t you?” Riccardo’s voice was smooth, cold, almost mocking.

Luca’s grip loosened slightly, but his posture didn’t shift. Camilla’s mind raced. She could feel the blood pounding in her ears, but there was something more—an overwhelming sense of clarity. She was caught in the web of a game that had no rules. Riccardo wasn’t just a mafia boss; he was a man who saw everything, knew everything, and controlled everything around him.

But that didn’t mean he controlled her.

“Let me go,” Camilla said, her voice low and steady. She met Luca’s eyes with defiance, willing him to see that she wasn’t some helpless pawn. She had been taught to survive, to fight back when the odds were against her. “I’m not your prisoner.”

Riccardo raised an eyebrow, amused. “Is that so? You think you can just waltz into this world, play at being a detective, and not face the consequences? You think you can run from this?”

Luca’s eyes flickered to Riccardo, as if seeking permission, but he didn’t let go of her. “Boss—”

“Let her go,” Riccardo ordered, his voice sharp. He didn’t have to raise it; it was the kind of command that was obeyed without question. The power in his tone was undeniable, and Camilla could feel it, even through the haze of anger and fear that clouded her thoughts.

Luca hesitated for a moment longer before releasing his grip. Camilla stumbled back, rubbing her throat, still glaring at Riccardo.

“You really are something else,” Camilla said, her voice hoarse. “You think you can just control everything and everyone around you?”

Riccardo stepped closer, his presence like a dark shadow enveloping her. “I don’t control people, Camilla,” he said softly. “People control themselves. I just give them a choice.”

“Choice?” she spat, her anger rising again. “You think I have a choice in all this? You think I had a choice when you came into my life and turned everything upside down? You think I wanted this?”

“No,” Riccardo replied calmly. “You didn’t choose this. But now you’re part of it. Whether you like it or not.”

Camilla’s breath came in ragged gasps, her fists clenched at her sides. “I didn’t ask for any of this. But you—you are the one who’s playing this game, not me. You’re the one pulling the strings.”

Riccardo’s lips curled into a smile, but it was cold and dark, the kind of smile that sent a chill through her spine. “You’re right. I’m the one playing the game. But the truth is, you’ve already been a part of it since the moment your father made that deal with me.”

She blinked, stunned by his words. “What deal?”

He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “Your father was a businessman, yes, but he was also a player. He owed a debt that couldn’t be paid with money. So, he made a deal. And when he died…” Riccardo’s gaze hardened, his voice turning icy. “I inherited more than just his debts.”

Camilla’s world tilted on its axis. Her father’s death had been a mystery, something she had never fully understood. But now, hearing Riccardo speak of it so coldly, it felt like the final piece of a puzzle she hadn’t even realized she was trying to solve.

“Your father promised me something—something more valuable than money,” Riccardo continued, his voice dark and enticing. “And now, you’re the one who has to fulfill that promise.”

Camilla shook her head in disbelief. “I’m not some bargaining chip, Riccardo. I’m not some pawn for you to control.”

“Yet here you are,” he said, his eyes glinting with something like amusement. “You’re here, aren’t you? You came to this warehouse, you’re speaking to me now. And you will be part of this, one way or another.”

She took a step back, her mind spinning with confusion and rage. “You think I’ll just accept that?”

“No,” Riccardo said, his voice softening for the first time. “I think you’ll fight it. I think you’ll struggle. But in the end, you’ll see it. This is who you are now. You’re mine.”

His words were like ice-cold chains wrapping around her heart. Every instinct in her screamed to fight back, to run, to get out. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t that simple. She had stepped into a world she didn’t understand, and there was no going back.

“You’re wrong,” she said, forcing her voice to stay steady, though it trembled with emotion. “You don’t own me.”

Riccardo’s smile widened, and there was a flicker of something dark in his eyes. “We’ll see.”

Camilla didn’t know how long she stood there, staring at Riccardo, but when she finally tore her gaze away, she realized something had changed. The game had shifted. She was no longer just a victim in this world—she was a player. And Riccardo wasn’t the only one who could make moves.

Luca had stayed silent during the exchange, but now he spoke, his voice neutral. “Boss, we need to move. There’s no time for games.”

Riccardo’s eyes never left Camilla as he nodded. “Get her out of here.”

For a moment, she thought of fighting back, of running, of refusing to be led like some captive animal. But the truth hit her like a punch to the gut: She didn’t have that luxury anymore. Not if she wanted to stay alive.

Luca’s hand was on her arm before she could say anything, and she didn’t resist as he led her toward the exit. She glanced over her shoulder once, meeting Riccardo’s gaze one last time.

His expression was unreadable, but she knew one thing for certain: She wasn’t the same person who had walked into this game. And she wasn’t going to let him get away with making her his puppet.

She would play the game—but on her terms.