Chapter 4
After a month and a half of traveling and adventures, we returned to Rome in the middle of August, meeting my grandmother and mother at the airport and then heading to the family’s palazzo in the city.
My dad’s birthday is in just two days, and the family will be gathering for the party.
This is the first birthday that I’ve been allowed to attend.
Every year for as long as I can remember, we have a family lunch and spend the afternoon together, but just as night falls, I’m taken by babysitters to my paternal grandparents’ house, where I stay until the next morning.
Before my siblings came of age, I was accompanied by them, and we bemoaned the fact that we couldn’t attend the parties.
After they both came of age, I was the only one who continued to be excluded from this great event.
As I grew older, I understood the reasons for this exclusion, but it never stopped being lonely and sad.
As a weapon manufacturer, my father sells them to a wide variety of institutions, so every year, all kinds of people attend his birthday as a sign of respect.
An enormous party, lavished with luxuries and surrounded by rich and powerful people, including various mafias from different parts of the world.
“It’s business,” is what dad always says.
The arms market can’t only benefit governments, and as such, criminal organizations are the main and perhaps the best clients, making the environment not very suitable for children.
After all, despite being rich and very well-protected, we were still kids.
With my coming of age also comes new responsibilities, such as attending the party, being pleasant and polite, waving and smiling, no matter to whom.
At this party, everyone is important, and no one should be overlooked.
It’s not something I’m particularly excited about.
If this were three years ago, I would have been overjoyed, but now I just feel nervous and fearful.
I know I’m safe and that my family would never risk my life, but the nerves insist on staying inside me, as if telling me never to be too comfortable, never to think I’m unshakeable or indestructible.
The night before my dad’s birthday quickly passed, and without a single hour of sleep, the nerves are consuming every cell in my body. I’m afraid of failure, of not being up to the occasion.
People have been running around the house since dawn, preparing for the party so that everything is impeccable.
Hairdressers and make-up artists are at the family’s disposal so that everything is perfect.
I look at my reflection in the mirror and appreciate the simple hairstyle that is being done to my hair.
A simple, elegant up-do, accompanied by very light make-up with thin black eyeliner and my usual blood-red lipstick.
I look over to the corner of the room at my white dress, covered in glitteranddesigned especially for me by Dior, and think about the message my dad wants to convey with the choice of color for the dress.
Once I’m ready, I take one last look at my reflection in the mirror and see the professionals who helped me smiling behind me as they look at me.
I smile back and thank them for the help, and they calmly leave the room.
I go back to my reflection, and I look like a pale mirage, simple but beautiful as if I’m trying to summon an angel.
I leave the room and feel my legs shaking a little.
I hear the noise of the guests moving around downstairs, making my stomach turn, and I feel like I might trip and fall on the way down the stairs.
“Are you ready?” I look back and bump into my brothers, both dressed in suits and with bright smiles on their faces, as if we were coming down for a family dinner. “Chiara?” calls Lorenzo when he gets no response from me.
“I think I’m going to fall down and roll at someone’s feet!” I blurt out, without really thinking about what I’m saying, making them both laugh and look at me with a mocking face. “Stop laughing, I’m serious!”
“So, what do you think of using two crutches all the way down?” Vincenzo asks, extending his arm on the right side of my body, followed by Lorenzo, who does the same on my left. I smile and link my arms to theirs.
“Everything will be fine, right? I mean, nothing bad is going to happen to us?” I ask, feeling the guests’ stares as I walk down the stairs with my brothers.
“Chiara, look around, you’re safe, always.
We’d never risk anything happening to you!
” Lorenzo reassures me. I look around and notice an exaggerated number of armed security guards scattered around the house, all with serious and frightening features.
Outside, there are about ten snipers ready to shoot if necessary.
“If you feel in danger, call us or signal one of the security guards. They’re here to protect you, plus you know where the guns are hidden!
” I nod without saying a word, watching Dad walk toward us as we reach the bottom of the stairs.
“And Chiara, if you feel in danger and need to get a gun, shoot first andask questions later. We’ll sort out the rest, okay?
” He tells me while looking into my eyes, giving me security and confidence.
“Okay, nothing’s going to happen!” I say with a smile on my face, feeling lighter and safer.
“This is the Chiara I know; now go get ‘ em !” Vincenzo amusedly says with a big smile on his face, making me laugh. My dad is now standing next to me. I smile at him, take his arm, and let him lead the way.
“As you know, this party is full of important people, including members of the mafia, and this year, we have the honor of having the Capo de Camorra present!” When my father professes the last words, my body freezes, and I can’t take another step forward.
He smiles at the guests in a relaxed way and stands in front of me.
He lifts up my face, leveling my eyes with his. “Chiara, is everything all right?”
“ Camorra , they’re dangerous. They called them bloodthirsty on TV two days ago!” I mutter, feeling the panic run through my veins.
“Yes, they may be dangerous, but you have absolutely nothing to fear; you’re safe, dear.
Nothing will happen. I would never allow anything to happen to you or your brothers, never!
Besides, they’re our clients, and that makes us allies.
There’s no reason to fear that anything will happen.
Now we’re going there, and you’re going to meet the Capo and the high-ranking members of the Camorra; I’m with you, and it’ll be quick, okay? ”
“Okay!” I say, holding on tighter to my dad’s arm, leading us to a table in the middle of the ballroom, where all the men are dressed in black and giving all their attention to the man in the center.
He’s tall, looks like a giant, seems to be about fifty by the grey hair, and next to him, a stunning woman, a little shorter, with the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen in my life, glances at me and offers me a warm smile.
“Good evening, gentlemen, madam!” Dad speaks in a loud tone, making himself heard, putting an end to the conversation that was flowing between them. “ Don Hernrico, Lady Milena, meet my youngest daughter Chiara!”
“Good evening, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” I say while smiling, still trembling slightly from knowing that the man in front of me is the Capo de Camorra.
“Chiara, darling, I’ve heard so much about you!” Although your father didn’t say that you were this beautiful! Compliments Milena, coming up to me and hugging me briefly.
“Thank you so much, madam. You are stunning!” I compliment back, seeing the smile on her face widen and her husband look pleased with my words. He approaches and leaves a small kiss on my hand.
“Chiara!” Calls dad, catching my attention. I look over to him, and when my eyes wander, I can’t help but fix my gaze on the person next to him. “This is Luca, son of Don Henrico and Lady Milene!”
“Good evening!” I say quietly and shyly.
He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.
He’s as tall as his father, almost two meters tall, well-built and muscular, with dark hair, slightly tanned skin, and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.
A beautiful, cold blue, his posture is stiff, like any other mafia man andhis face is frozen, which makes it difficult to try to read his expression or emotions, making him even more mesmerizing.
“Luca De Santis, nice to meet you!” When his mouth opens, a husky, calm voice floods my ears.
I can’t answer; I don’t know what to say.
He offers me his hand, where I place mine, feeling my stomach turn when his lips touch my skin.
My whole body shivers and my mind spins, trying to understand how, with just one touch, my body reacted as if, after feeling your lips on my skin, nothing would ever be the same again.
“Chiara Mancini, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” I say with my voice trembling and still hypnotized by his eyes. I can’t stop looking at him; he’s simply stunning, as if he were the living recreation of a Greek statue, beautiful and cold.
I look at my father, who is engaged in a conversation with the Capo of the Camorra and his wife.
Luca looks at me seriously without showing any emotion, which makes me nervous.
Not knowing what to do, I clasp my hands in front of my body and wait for him to say something, but he doesn’t.
He seems to tire of analyzing me, shows a slight expression of annoyance, and speaks to the man next to him.
Alone, I run my eyes around the great hall, trying to find someone I know, which turns out to be a failed attempt; I can’t find anyone.
“And you are?” I hear a voice behind me and immediately turn around to see if the person is addressing me. She gestures with her head, impatient for the lack of answer. She’s tall, red-haired, slim, and very pretty.