Chapter 10
Tiziano Constanzo
I was standing on the balcony of my bedroom, watching the movement below as the cars arrived one by one.
Every person there, in one way or another, served the mafia, directly or indirectly.
Some were strategic allies, others merely associates orbiting power like vultures hungry for scraps from a feast they could never command.
I was a respected businessman before I was the Don, and that was unquestionable.
Our family moved billions through the country’s economy, not only through underground operations, but also through our legitimate companies.
The nightclubs, for example, were renowned tourist attractions, perfectly disguising the transactions that truly mattered.
Joining the Constanzo family was, for many of them, the deal of a lifetime.
And I knew that was the reason for all the commotion.
From above, I saw the Ferrucci family car approaching. I let out a deep sigh, already irritated.
“Something wrong, Tiziano?” Enzo asked, appearing beside me on the balcony with his usual carefree smile.
“Your father brought that woman to the event,” I replied, annoyance in my voice. “Even after I told him she wasn’t an option.”
Enzo moved closer to the railing, leaning over to see who I meant. He laughed when he recognized them.
“Ah, the Ferrucci daughters. Cousin, let’s be honest, you haven’t considered any of the options. Fuck, do you even like women?”
I turned toward him, staring with a look that could have struck him dead on the spot.
“Don’t talk shit, you brat. Want me to show you right in your face how much of a man I am?”
He raised his hands in surrender, laughing.
“I’m kidding, cousin.”
“Don’t joke about that shit with me,” I growled, out of patience.
Enzo, as always, ignored the warning. He pulled a napkin and a pen from his pocket, acting as if he were a judge at a fashion show.
“Okay, I made a list of acceptable qualities,” he announced, waving the napkin around as if it were a contract. “I’m going to check one off every time you stop to talk to one of them.”
The absurdity of the situation dragged an unexpected laugh out of me.
“Don’t start with this nonsense, Enzo.”
“What? I can’t try to help, cousin? Come on, the list!” He pretended to be serious, pointing the pen at the napkin. “Big, full lips. Long legs. She has to understand commands like sit, roll over, and suck.”
He burst out laughing, clearly entertained by my expression.
“That’s enough,” I muttered, though there was still amusement in my tone.
“Cousin, come on, if she knows how to suck cock, you’re already halfway there!”
I rolled my eyes, but laughed again.
“Enzo, don’t bust my balls. I’m going downstairs and choosing the one who doesn’t have the nerve to look me in the eyes.”
He stopped, surprised by my answer.
“Why?”
“Submission. If she won’t look me in the eye, she’s modest, submissive. And she should still be a virgin. I won’t compromise on that. I’ll be the first and the last. I don’t want anything another man has already fucked.”
Enzo arched his eyebrows, clearly interested, though still keeping the joking tone.
“And what are you going to do if she doesn’t know how to suck?”
I shrugged, already heading toward the door.
“I’ll teach her. After all, I want a virgin mouth.”
He laughed even louder as I walked out, but my mind was already somewhere else. It didn’t matter how many jokes he made or how many women appeared downstairs. In the end, I made the rules, and she would be shaped exactly the way I wanted.
I walked down the stairs, and the moment I entered, I felt every gaze turn toward me. It wasn’t surprising. At events like this, I was the center of gravity. Every hopeful father, every calculating mother, and especially every impeccably dressed woman in that room was there because of me.
The setting was luxuriously decorated, with crystal chandeliers reflecting the light like stars and lavish floral arrangements adorning every corner. Waiters moved through the room carrying trays of champagne and appetizers, while soft music filled the spaces between murmured conversations.
The fathers had positioned themselves strategically, waiting for the opportunity to approach me. Each one looked as if he had rehearsed the perfect speech to praise his daughter, turning them into walking trophies.
A woman with brown hair styled in an elegant bun approached, dragging her daughter along with her. The girl wore a hesitant smile, her gold dress shimmering beneath the lights.
“Don Tiziano, it is an honor to be here tonight. Allow me to introduce my daughter, Alessia. She’s intelligent, studied in Paris, and has impeccable taste in classical music.”
She dipped into a slight curtsy, and her eyes avoided mine.
“A pleasure, Don,” she murmured softly.
I looked at her for a moment before turning my attention back to her mother.
“Paris, huh? Impressive.” My voice carried the necessary diplomatic tone, but my mind was already elsewhere.
I dismissed them with a brief nod, and they understood that their turn was over.
The same scene repeated itself several times.
Proud fathers introduced themselves, each trying to outdo the others with praise for their daughters.
Women of every age and personality paraded around in their finest clothes and smiles, the news that I was looking for a wife having spread like smoke.
Many of them carried a confidence that bordered on arrogance, while others trembled with nerves, unable to hold my gaze for more than a few seconds.
Enzo watched from a distance with a wicked smile on his face, pen still in hand, pretending to make notes on the napkin.
“That one has long legs. She’s on the list!” he whispered as a young woman walked past, her red dress clinging to her body like a second skin.
“Shut up, Enzo,” I shot back, but I couldn’t keep a small smile from forming.
Every interaction left me more bored. They all seemed like recycled versions of one another: polite, submissive, and far too eager to please. There was no spark, nothing that caught my attention beyond the obvious.
Just when I thought the event couldn’t become any more predictable, Lucia Ferrucci, as over-the-top as always, walked toward me as if she were the queen of a ball.
Giulia was at her side, wearing a stunning dress, her posture radiating self-confidence.
She knew every eye was on her and loved it.
I couldn’t deny that she was exceptionally beautiful, the kind of woman any man would enjoy showing off at parties and events, but I didn’t know whether she would be just as useful with her legs spread open in bed.
“Ah, the star of the night, Giulia,” Enzo murmured beside me, looking at the arrogant woman. “You know, cousin, she’s not that bad to look at. Maybe she belongs on your list of acceptable qualities.”
I ignored the comment, focusing my attention on Giulia, who made a point of walking with the confidence of someone who already considered herself my wife.
“Don Tiziano!” Ant?nio approached with a sycophantic smile. “What an honor to be in your presence again.”
I nodded briefly, giving little importance to his words.
“And these are my daughters, Giulia, whom you already know, and Bianca,” he continued, gesturing toward the two of them. “Giulia, of course, is a young woman of many virtues, a true lady.”
Giulia inclined her head with an artificial smile, her eyes searching mine with the intensity of someone desperate for approval.
“Don Tiziano, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“Likewise,” I replied curtly, then briefly turned to look at Bianca, who seemed to be doing everything she could to disappear in that moment.
Our eyes met for a brief second, but she looked away almost immediately, clasping her hands together as if trying to control her nerves.
“And Bianca?” I asked, more to test their reaction than out of any real interest.
Lucia laughed awkwardly, holding Giulia’s arm.
“Bianca is… more reserved. She isn’t used to events like this.”
“I see,” I replied, a cold smile forming on my face.
Giulia stepped forward, trying to monopolize my attention again.
“I hope you enjoy the evening, Don Tiziano.”
“Thank you,” I replied, walking past them and leaving Ant?nio and Lucia with tense smiles.
As I walked away, Enzo whispered:
“I don’t believe it, cousin. It was the girl who smells like milk who caught your attention, wasn’t it?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Enzo,” I shot back, but the truth was that something about that brief look from Bianca had stayed in my mind. Something I still couldn’t define.
The night was far from over, but I already knew it would be different from what I had imagined. I hadn’t expected the second daughter to be interesting.