Prologue #2
Gunfire erupts a moment later, and it sounds like an all-out war. Instantly, a wave of relief hits me, though I’m worried about my brother. I don’t want him to get hurt, but I know he can take care of himself. Just knowing that he’s here for me makes me instantly feel safe.
Adrenaline courses through my body as Paul continues to drive us home without stopping. I don’t know why this is happening, but I do know it will lead to more bloodshed. The only thing I’m hoping and praying for is that none of the blood spilled will be my brother’s.
I don’t know how long I’ve been in my room, anxiety-riddled and pacing the floor, when my brother finally walks through my door. I quickly rush over to him and see blood on his shirt.
“Oh my God! Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Did you find out who those guys were working for? And why were they after me?”
“Not yet. But I’m going to.”
“Wha—” I start, but he stops me.
“No questions. I’ll sort this out. Don’t you worry.”
He never tells me anything about what he does for my father.
“Fine. I’m not going to ask. I’m just glad you’re back home safe,” I say, pulling him in for a hug and squeezing the life out of him. We didn’t know it at the time, but that was the day life would irrevocably change for me.
“Why aren’t you dressed yet, sis? You need to get moving. We don’t want to anger Father now, do we?” my brother asks from behind me, as I’m pulled from my thoughts of that day. It feels as if that was a lifetime ago, and lately, it’s been weighing heavily on my mind.
Everything changed that day. It’s hard to believe it’s only been six months since it all happened. Father was beyond angry when he heard what happened. Naturally, he blamed me as though being chased by one of his rivals was my doing. I learned who was behind it a few days after the ordeal was over.
Luca fought with him, telling him that none of this was my fault, but in the end, it didn’t matter.
The damage had already been done. According to my father, it was some kind of kidnapping attempt by the Andrettis that somehow turned out to be my fault.
I wasn’t briefed on the details of how they found this out, but something about the story seemed fishy.
It’s true that the Andrettis and our family, the Belluccis, hated each other, but they’ve never attacked us before, as far as I know.
There has been some kind of rivalry between the two families that dates back years, and of course, Father never offered any details on the matter.
I think he’s full of shit and is the only one who even cares about this so-called rivalry, keeping it alive and burning.
I don’t know much about the Andrettis, but what I’ve overheard paints a different picture.
According to the gossip, Leonardo Andretti and his son, Enzo, couldn't care less about what my father does. They don’t do business together.
They’re busy building their own empire, which is worth at least ten times, if not more, than my father’s.
I think the feud is all in my father’s head.
So, with everything I know about them, I’m pretty sure they weren’t the ones after me. My father is an egotistical asshole, and I’m certain there isn’t a shortage of people who he’s pissed off.
After that day, Father decided that it was too risky to send me back to school, so he forbade me from ever going again.
He said he didn’t need the added stress of worrying about me.
He said it was best for me to remain at home.
I’d be homeschooled from then on. Father actually being concerned about me was laughable.
Even though Luca protested on my behalf, my father's mind was already made up. Since he is the head of our family, his word carries the most weight, so my brother had to listen to him. Luca set up the tutor to come to the house, and I was being homeschooled. Now I’m wishing I’d appreciated the boredom at school more, because it was better than being home.
Sometimes, it feels like I’m under constant surveillance.
I don’t know if I’m paranoid or not, but it seems like the guards always look at me with pity in their eyes.
My access to the outside world is now restricted.
I’m not allowed to leave without an escort or at all, depending on how my father is feeling that day.
Then there’s the emotional turmoil and physical abuse I have to deal with.
I had no illusions that my father did any of that because he was worried or cared about me. Hell, I didn’t delude myself into thinking that he loved me. No, this was all about keeping the commodity—me—alive, intending to use me one day.
The only person who does anything for love in this house is Luca.
He wants to keep me safe. That comes from a place of protection rather than seeing me as a possession to be used as a bargaining chip whenever the time is right.
He’s always been my shield, and I’m very grateful to have him in my life.
I turn to look at my brother, a smile on my face. At thirty, Luca is twelve years older than I am. He's never once made me feel like a nuisance, even when I used to follow him around when I was younger. In fact, he's the only person in this world who makes me feel as though I’m loved.
I don’t know if he's constantly around to help compensate for the fact that he gets to do the fun stuff, while I’m locked away inside the walls of this mansion, or if he genuinely wants to spend time with me. I mean, realistically speaking, how many guys usually want to hang out with their sister?
From a young age, I knew that even though we’re siblings, our lives were very different. I've never resented him for being able to do the things I couldn’t or for having the freedom I didn’t.
On the days when it gets to be too much, I still dream of running away so that I can have the same kind of independence my brother does.
Luca is the typical Mafia playboy prince, set to inherit the throne of the Bellucci empire in a few years.
Well, whatever is left of it by the end of our father’s rule.
Though Luca does own his own business that is completely independent of my father’s, so I’m sure he’ll be fine either way, but hopefully we’re lucky, and someone will kill him soon.
Sometimes it feels as though I’m constantly living in my brother’s shadow, especially when I see how much Father praises him for everything he does. I even get jealous when he dotes on him and shows him the kind of love that he’ll never show me.
I don’t ever resent my brother for any of that, though. I’m glad that at least one of us is being shown some kind of love from our only parent. My father hates me for the simple facts that one, I was born a girl, and two, I had the audacity to kill my mother during childbirth.
In his eyes, I’ll never come close to being as good as my brother.
I’m useless to him unless I marry to form an alliance to bring more power to the family.
At least Father is usually away more often than not, so I only have to brace for his coldness a handful of times a year, and only when Luca is not around.
I’ve made peace with the fact that he’ll always be this way.
“You know I would never risk Father’s wrath for no reason.
I’m almost done. I only need to pull my dress on,” I tell him as I stand from where I was sitting in front of my vanity, finishing up my hair since Giana already did my makeup.
She’s been working for my family for a while, but only became my personal maid about a year ago.
She’s more my friend now than an employee.
I rush over to him, and he opens his arms wide.
I slam into him, hugging him for dear life as he hugs me back before kissing me on the cheek.
“Looks like somebody missed me,” he jokes with a smile. “How was your week? I missed you while I was away.”
“Of course, I missed you, you big oaf. Same old, same old. Nothing too dramatic. It felt like you were gone for a lifetime.” I pout. “I thought for sure you were going to miss the party and leave me all alone to deal with the creeps.”
“I would never! What kind of brother would I be if I did that?” he questions.
He was gone this entire week on a business trip to New York to deal with issues at his winery and vineyard, and only just got back, just in time for the party Father is hosting tonight.
“Honestly, you’d be the worst!” I laugh.
“How was Father while I was away?”
“Fine. He was out for a couple of days, and when he was home, I mostly stayed out of his way. But there was an occasion or two where he just couldn’t help himself with his words, ya know?”
Luca had found me crying in my room a couple of times, and after lying to him the first few instances, I eventually had to fess up.
You can only lie, especially when you’re not good at it, so many times, right?
He knows that Father uses his words to put me down, but he doesn’t know about the beatings.
I don’t want any bloodshed, and my brother knowing that my father hits me would definitely cause some.
“God, he’s such an asshole! I’m going to kill his ass one of these days,” he mutters, and I know he means it.
“Don’t say that. I don’t want him to get wind of that and kill you first. I’m fine. You know I’m used to his stupid words. I don’t care what he has to say about me, but I do care about you. I don’t want you dead or getting into any trouble,” I tell him sternly.
“You are too good for this world, you know? I guess you’re right, but I fucking hate it when he’s an asshole to you. I know it hurts your feelings, and I don’t like it,” he grumbles.
“I know, and I love you for that. You’re the best big brother a girl could ever have asked for. Killing him just for being an asshole to me won’t be justified, and you know it.”
“Ugh! I know,” he groans. “By the way, when did you get so smart, huh?”
“I’ve always been smart, you dummy.” I laugh.