Chapter 3
Rafaela
“What do you think, Angel?” I asked, holding dress number ten in front of me while staring at my reflection in the mirror.
Golden Angel harrumphed, her tail swishing back and forth.
“No opinion, la mia dolce ragazza?” I could see my efforts at obtaining her opinion weren’t successful.
“You do realize she’s a dog. Correct? If you don’t, I think it’s about time you went out on a date.” Sedona puffed out her glossy lips, offering a giant pout.
My best and truly only friend was the only reason I was bothering to select a dress for my upcoming birthday party. If it were up to me, I’d crawl under the covers in my jammies finishing a book.
But my father insisted on having a party to celebrate my eighteen years on this earth.
Of course the actual date of my birthday had passed with no fanfare.
No cake. No presents. No sentiment whatsoever.
Why? Because my father had been on a business trip.
He’d wanted the perfect date to hold the fabulous glitzy ceremony that would include a hundred guests, most of whom I’d never met.
But that was the way of my life. I was being shown off as a prized possession, now considered eligible for the perfect suitor.
The thought disgusted me.
My father would say he was ensuring my safety by deeming it acceptable who I spent time with.
Yes, I understood the level of danger I was in every time I left the house.
One of the first words in my extensive vocabulary had been ‘enemy.’ As a young child, I’d thought of the estate as a massive playground, but as I’d grown older and because security had tightened to what it was today, I’d learned the lavish location was nothing but a prison.
The shackles might be invisible, but they existed.
That’s one reason my brother had fled years before, never to be seen or heard from again.
Now, Dante’s name was never mentioned. There were no pictures, no sign he’d ever existed.
All because my brother had defied my father in deciding to live his life the way he wanted.
That’s exactly what I intended on doing, but only after I graduated college. If I was allowed to go to college.
My reflection caught my eye and even I could see I was sugarcoating the truth.
All I had to do was stick my head outside my door to the one across the hall, the room un-entered for three years. My old room. The one painted a soothing color of sandstone, lovely furniture indicating it was nothing more than a guest suite for visitors that never came.
To me, the room was still a tomb and the few times I’d walked in after I’d been attacked, my imagination and my eyes had painted strings of blood and brain matter on the walls.
When the dust had settled, the body tossed into the ocean, the news regarding the identity of the assailant had been even more painful than the order.
He’d been an associate of Dante’s. My father had called him a gang member, a kid being initiated into a dangerous clan, an association my father had forbidden.
Their friendship was how the monster had bypassed the security.
The bastard touching me had died almost instantly. But Dante had suffered for months until he hadn’t been able to tolerate being ostracized any longer.
My father had never cared that much about the ordeal but had about Dante possibly ignoring his heritage and family requirements. In turn, my father had blamed me for the loss of his son. While never said, the words weren’t needed. I was nothing more than an object.
“I can’t wait for your party,” Sedona mused, pulling me out of my moment of self-pity. “Maybe we can both find dates.”
I couldn’t care less for all the pomp and circumstance, but I had no choice in the matter and there was no discussion.
I wasn’t my father’s daughter. I was his possession to be paraded around in front of his rich friends’ sons.
If he could obtain significant cash or power by selling me off like prized merchandise, all the better. The highest bidder would win.
“Earth to my best friend,” Sedona pushed.
“I’m right here. Dating? You are kidding me.
Right?” I glared at her in the mirror. While she was the daughter of a high-ranking member of the Italian mafia, her father was apparently much more lenient with her.
How did I know? Because I’d been forced to endure dozens of stories involving her social status among boys in our private school. “And the party will be stuffy as hell.”
“Well, there is something special about turning eighteen. Finally becoming a woman and capable of making your own decisions.”
My look was much harsher than before. “What decisions have I made since the big day hit last week? Please tell me.”
Her entire face pinched, her deep sigh an indication she couldn’t come up with anything. “You can dress the way you want?”
I burst into anguished laughter. “We shall see. Maybe I’ll test that premise by selecting the sluttiest dress.”
“You don’t own any slutty dresses.”
“Ugh. Thank you for reminding me. I’ll need to go shopping.” With my bodyguard in tow. Wouldn’t that be perfect?
“Try and have some fun. I’ll be there.”
“I know. I’m just frustrated.” None of the dresses seemed right. “Can you believe my father has yet to agree to allowing me to go to university?”
“Then you need to sweet-talk him. I think the red. Definitely the red.”
I tossed the dress, yanking the red one from my bed. “You have met my father. Right?”
Her giggle was insufferable. “He’s protective.”
“He’s suffocating.”
“He loves you.”
“He wants to control me.”
She shrugged and plopped onto the bed. “I know it’s hard, but one day you’ll look back at all this and appreciate how you grew up.”
I doubted it. Yes, I was privileged. Yes, I had beautiful things. None of which I wanted. She didn’t understand the extent of my father’s determined control or his methods of keeping me under his thumb. “I don’t think so.”
“Come on. You have a beautiful cozy home and all the toys you could want.”
She was correct, although the cozy connotation was completely inappropriate for the thousand acres of sprawling vineyards and an estate encompassing several wings.
But she was correct about the toys, including a fabulous sports car that I was allowed to drive on rare occasions and only while my bodyguard remained close behind.
“Mmm hmmm,” I muttered, finally tossing the dress on the pile of others and joining her on the bed.
Only I threw myself down, placing my hands over my face to keep my moans private.
With my luck, my bodyguard Tomaso would come barreling through the door with his gun cocked, ready to take on whatever perpetrator was daring to breach my privacy.
I was nothing but a caged bird longing to be set free.
“I want a new life. Excitement. Adventure. I want to live in a tiny little apartment in Paris, spending my days sketching and designing and my nights meandering through museums and art galleries.”
Her silence meant she was purposely holding her laughter.
Lowering one hand, I turned my head and opened my eye.
Now, she doubled over, giggling as if she was truly enjoying the freak show my life had become.
Even though I loved my suite of rooms, every time I stepped foot inside the house, an invisible shock collar was automatically placed around my neck.
Even now, the pressure was real.
“Then find some excitement. Who knows. Maybe you’ll meet a handsome stranger at your birthday party.”
“You are a dreamer, Sedona Rossi. A true dreamer.”
“Not nearly as much as you are, Rafaela Marichetti.” She lifted her arm, moaning as soon as she did. “I’m late. My father is insisting on taking us out to dinner.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“A celebration of power, and renewal. According to my father.”
In layman Cosa Nostra terms, that meant there had been an abrasive occurrence within the regime. Someone had died today, an enemy of the people. In addition, their territory had been claimed. I wondered how many innocent people would die because of a heinous deal made.
I shuddered from the thought, although I was used to the violence, an occurrence all throughout my life.
Sitting up, I shoved the dresses aside. A decision wouldn’t be made tonight. Besides, I had a week to lament over my choices. “I’ll see you in school tomorrow.”
“Chin up,” she told me as she stood. “Why not use the opportunity of whatever this celebration is to ask your father about the university one more time.”
I thought about her suggestion and shrugged. “Maybe. Depending on his mood.” Who was I kidding? It depended on whether or not he managed to sell my body to the very highest bidder. How much did his greedy little mind need to destroy my life? All because I was a virgin. I knew the drill.
“Have faith, girl. Things will look up. Talk to you tomorrow.” She scratched Golden Angel behind the ears before leaving my room.
As soon as she did, I fell back onto the bed, groaning as I’d done before.
My little angel jumped on the comforter, settling her big paws on my chest and taking the opportunity to lick my face.
“My sweet girl. You’ll never leave me.” Her tail thumped wildly, her entire body wiggling as she fought to get closer.
My dog was my rock, the only bright spot in my life.
Considered my emotional support animal, she came with me wherever I went. A plus in my world since I had few friends.
I stroked her fur, trying to keep from falling into my usual despair, but lately, I’d found it increasingly difficult to maintain a sense of happiness or even balance. My life just wasn’t my own and likely never would be.
“Yes, baby girl. Mommy loves you.” After a few seconds of her panting and her hot breath cascading across my face, I had a brilliant idea. “How about a walk? Would you like that?”
My baby was always up for a walk and one thing I was allowed was free rein of the grounds without a bodyguard trailing behind me.