The Mafia Protocol

Broken Trust

The car ride back to Riccardo’s mansion was silent. The tension in the air was thick, suffocating even. Camilla sat in the backseat, her mind racing as the city passed by outside the tinted windows. The events of the night replayed in her head, each moment sharper, more vivid than the last.

Riccardo’s words echoed in her ears. You’re mine.

The words felt like chains, and she could feel them tightening around her chest with each passing second. She had come to the docks, thinking she could find answers, thinking she could control her own fate. But now, she realized, she had no control at all. Riccardo had been right about one thing: she was already part of the game.

And there was no escaping it.

Luca sat in the passenger seat, his eyes forward, his posture stiff. He hadn’t spoken a word since they left the warehouse, and Camilla had no intention of speaking to him either. The whole thing—this entire situation—was beyond her comprehension. She had been thrown into a world of danger, manipulation, and deceit, and now she had to figure out how to survive in it.

The car finally pulled up to the grand gates of Riccardo’s mansion, the massive iron bars opening with a slow, creaking sound. The mansion loomed ahead, its dark silhouette casting long shadows over the grounds. It was imposing, elegant, and cold. Just like Riccardo.

Luca didn’t wait for her to get out. He opened the door for her, his expression unreadable. Camilla stepped out, her legs shaky, her mind still reeling from everything that had just happened.

“You’ll follow me,” Luca said, his voice flat. It wasn’t a request—it was a command. And for once, Camilla didn’t argue. There was no point.

She followed him inside, through the grand entrance, the marble floors echoing under her footsteps. The mansion was quiet, almost too quiet. It was as if it was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Luca led her down a long hallway, and Camilla couldn’t help but notice how meticulously everything was arranged—the paintings on the walls, the expensive rugs, the soft lighting. It was all meant to impress, to showcase power and wealth. But it only made her feel more trapped.

They stopped in front of a door at the end of the hall. Luca knocked once before pushing it open. “Riccardo’s waiting for you.”

Camilla’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t want to face him—not after what had happened at the warehouse. But she had no choice. She squared her shoulders and walked inside.

Riccardo was sitting behind a large desk, his back to the window, the city lights casting a dim glow on his face. He didn’t turn around when she entered, his posture relaxed, like he was completely in control of the situation.

“Close the door,” he said, his voice low.

Camilla did as instructed, her eyes locked on his as she stepped further into the room.

“You wanted answers, Camilla,” Riccardo said, his gaze flicking to her briefly before returning to the papers in front of him. “Well, here’s the truth.”

Camilla felt her stomach tighten. “The truth?”

He finally looked up at her, his eyes dark and calculating. “Your father’s debts weren’t just financial. He owed people far more than money. And he knew it. That’s why he made the deal with me. He gave me something valuable in exchange for his life—and yours.”

Camilla’s breath caught in her throat. “What do you mean?”

Riccardo’s lips curled into a smile, but it wasn’t a kind one. “You’ve been living in a fantasy, Camilla. Your father wasn’t just a businessman—he was a man with secrets. Secrets that he couldn’t take to the grave. Secrets that you are now a part of.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Camilla said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound confident. She took a step closer to him. “What did he give you? What’s the deal?”

Riccardo stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. “Your father gave me you.”

The words hit her like a slap. Camilla took a step back, her mind struggling to process what he had just said. “What?” she whispered. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Riccardo stepped forward, his presence overwhelming. “Your father made a deal with me when you were just a child. He promised me that, one day, you would belong to me. That you would marry me and become part of my world. It was part of the deal to save his life, to pay off his debts.”

Camilla’s knees nearly gave out. She couldn’t breathe. “No. That can’t be true. You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying,” Riccardo said, his voice cold and unwavering. “I’ve had this planned for years. Your father thought he could pull one over on me, but he was wrong. Now you’re here, and you’re going to honor his deal.”

“Honor his deal?” Camilla laughed bitterly, the sound escaping her lips like a sharp, painful note. “You think I’m just going to roll over and do whatever you say? You think I’m just going to be some pawn in your game?”

Riccardo’s eyes flickered with something darker. “You don’t have a choice. You never did.”

Camilla’s chest tightened as his words sank in. The weight of the situation crashed down on her. She wasn’t just caught in this mess by accident. She had been chosen to be a part of it. Chosen by her father, chosen by Riccardo, chosen to become a tool in their dangerous game.

But she wasn’t going to let it end like this.

“I don’t care what your deal was with my father,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “You’re not going to control me.”

Riccardo smirked, taking a step toward her. “I don’t need to control you. You’ll come to me willingly. You’ll see. When the time comes, you’ll understand why this is the only way.”

Camilla’s anger flared, and for a brief moment, she considered throwing caution to the wind, telling him exactly what she thought of his plan. But she wasn’t foolish. Not yet.

“You don’t own me, Riccardo,” she said, her voice steady. “And you never will.”

Riccardo’s smile faded, replaced by a look of quiet intensity. “We’ll see about that, Camilla. We’ll see.”

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door. “Luca,” he called, not looking back. “Take her to her room.”

Camilla opened her mouth to protest, but the words died in her throat. She didn’t have the strength to fight anymore. Not right now. She would find a way out of this—somehow.

As Luca led her from the room, she caught one last glance at Riccardo, who was already turning back to his desk. He didn’t look at her again, didn’t show a shred of emotion. To him, this was all a game.

And Camilla was the prize.