Adrian's Vengeance (Mafia Heirs 1)

I don't know much about Father's private life, apart from the fact that his wife, Santino's mother, died in childbirth. But I don't question him further.

"You have to understand that you will never marry Marzia Da Costa," he goes on, "She can never be yours."

My heart hammer in my chest at his words ."Why not? I thought it would be beneficial to have a connection to the Da Costas."

"Would it?" He stares me down with his impenetrable gaze. "There's nothing left of them, Adrian. They're ruined. No, you will not marry Marzia."

My hands form fists at my sides as I listen to him speak. I don't want this to be true. Even though arranged marriages are a regular occurrance in our world, it never dawned on me that Father might be against my relationship with Marzia. "But that day in the docks," I argue. "You tried to set up an alliance. You wanted me to marry Marzia."

"That was a long time ago." He shakes his head. "Things have changed. We need more powerful allies now, Adrian. Allies like the Carluccis."

"The Carluccis?" I laugh out loud. "You can't be serious."

The Carluccis are a family of traders that has lifted itself through the ranks by the money they make with their import and export business. But they are nouveau riche, considered even lower in rank than us. And their money will never make up for their lack of poise.

"They have a daughter, Nicoletta," Father goes on, ignoring everything I've just said. "I've arranged for you and your brother, Ryder, to travel to their estate in a few days to meet her."

"What?" I glare at him. "But I want to marry Marzia."

"Adrian, you're acting like an insolent fucking child," Father tells me, shaking his head with disappointment. "You will marry Nicoletta. You have three months."

"Three months?" I snap back. "For what?"

"To accept this." Father shrugs. "And of course, to end Marzia Da Costa's life."

I slam my fist on the desk, glaring at him. "You can't be fucking serious!"

"Oh, I'm very fucking serious, Adrian." Father sets down his empty glass tumbler, cold eyes boring into mine. "And since you prevented me from dealing with the Marzia problem today, I'll make things easier for you."

"How?" I bark.

"I want the girl dead," he mutters. "Since you wouldn't let me do that today, that task falls on your shoulders now. Marzia Da Costa must die. You have three months before your wedding day with Nicoletta Carlucci. I expect her to be dead by then."

I'm about to argue but he stops me with his outstretched hand. I know it's a signal I can't ignore—I can't argue with him anymore. As a coughing fit takes over his body, I notice Father's coughing blood into his handkerchief again. My heart pounds.

10

Marzia

Eleanora is the only person who spends time with me. I'm rarely allowed out of the room, especially since Adrian left on some unfinished business he refused to discuss with me. At first, at least I knew he'd stop by my quarters every day. As much as I hated his presence, it also filled me with hope that he'd help me escape this place. But now he's gone, and the daily reprieve of his visits has been ripped away from me, as have been my walks in the garden.

I know my complexion will become pale and sallow if I'm forced to remain inside, but I'm too afraid to bring it up with anyone but Eleanora, and she just stares at me, eyes wide, feeling sorry for me when I speak.

I tried talking to some of the maids when I left the room before, but they all refused to acknowledge me. Adrian had warned me that this would happen. That they'd all been warned to keep away from me, to pretend I don't exist. But I didn't anticipate for it to hurt this much. To wound me as much as it has.

I feel like a ghost in the Bernardi Estate. Unnoticed, living locked up without a single visitor but the mute maid that can do nothing to ease my fears. Every night, I'm plagued by terrible nightmares. I remember Bruno Bernardi and his gun, pointed at my head. There's no doubt about the fact that the man wants me dead. And now that Adrian's gone, I have no one to protect me anymore.

I live in fear of Bruno storming into the room and taking my life. He's already taken everything else. My home, my parents, my brother, my fiancé, and even Adrian. I have nothing left.

It's becoming increasingly hard not to give up. I am plagued by bad thoughts, wishing I really was dead and yet incessantly eager to fight for my life every step of the day.

On the third day of Adrian's absence, Eleanora pushes the curtains in my bedroom aside. I groan when the sunlight beams into the room, rubbing my eyes. Eleanora approaches the bed, and it's then that I notice the excited expression on her face.