Natalia's POV:

It's all my fault... I caused this...

Why didn't I follow them? Instead, I thought I could outsmart them and I was wrong. So terribly wrong.

Tears blurred my vision as every fight I had in me melted away. I turned to Carlo, the devil in human form. "I'll come with you," I said in a soft plea. "I'll do anything! Please."

My eyes turned back to where Ava stood in front of the black van, tears streaming down her cheeks as her brown gaze locked with mine. A man stood behind her, his left hand closed her mouth, muffling her screams while his right held a dagger against her neck.

How could they do that to a child?!

I yanked my arm from his hold and dropped to my knees, clasping my hands in front of me. "Please, don't do this... please!"

His gray-blue eyes studied me, they were expressionless and I couldn't tell what he was thinking. With each second that passed, my anxiety heightened.

Carlo made eye contact with the man holding Ava and he let her go.

Like lightning, Ava dashed toward me and I hugged her tightly as we both let out broken sobs. My body still trembled from how scared I'd been. I didn't know if I should feel relieved or wary. One thing I knew for sure was that they were taking the both of us to Italy.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, kissing her all over as I wiped her little cheeks. I could only imagine how she was feeling, I was the older one here, and my mind was still reeling over how drastically our lives changed in one day–

BANG!!! BANG!!!

My heart skipped so fast it physically hurt. Ava clung to me, her sobs grew louder from the shocking sound. It took my brain several seconds to realize that those sounds were from gunshots...

No...no...

Fear crawled up my spine. With trembling hands, I pulled away from Ava's embrace and got to my feet. Bile rose to my throat as I turned around.

"Oh God!" A scream escaped me as I ran blindly to dad's still form on the floor. "No, no, no! Dad... please..." I pushed my hands against his wounds trying to stop the bleeding but it was useless.

"Dad!" Ava called from beside me.

Blood flowed from his mouth and where he'd been shot twice. His eyes seemed to struggle to stay open as if he was hanging on for dear life. "I-I... I'm so-rry..." His head lolled to the side and he went completely still.

"Dad, please wake up," Ava cried out as she tugged on his arm.

Fresh hot tears wet my cheeks. Dad was dead. My chest physically hurts. He'd abused me, starved me, and caused me a lot of trouble but he was still my father, the only parent I knew, the only family I had besides Ava.

And she'd just watched our father die in his pool of blood.

"Have someone take care of this mess." I heard Carlo say and I saw red.

Without thinking, I moved swiftly, grabbing Carlo by his collar. "You monster! I already agreed to come with you, you said you wouldn't kill him if I did!"

"Take her away," Carlo said coldly, staring over my head. His eyes were void of any emotion.

"How could you?" I rasped.

Hands grabbed me roughly, pulling me into the van and I let them. When I woke up today, the last thing I'd thought would happen was meeting the devil, but here I am with the devil himself.

A sharp prick in the back of my neck was followed by a cold rush in my veins.

And the world went black.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dad, wake up!

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I tried to scream but the words couldn't come out. Everything seemed slow like an out-of-body experience. It felt like I was watching from the outside as blood flowed profusely from the holes in his chest. His body felt cold, his lips were blue...

He was dying.

"No!"

I jerked awake, my heart raced wildly like I'd just done a marathon. I wiped at my sweaty forehead as I took in my surroundings.

It was a small room, like those you see in movies where captives are kept.

Slowly, I recalled the horror that had happened the previous day.

Ava... Where was Ava?

On high alert, I jumped to my feet and reached for the door.

Locked.

"Who's out there? Let me out of here!" I banged my fists on the wooden door over and over. Negative thoughts swarmed my head with each passing second.

What if she was sold to someone else?

Left behind?

Worse...killed?

Fear gripped me and I doubled my effort, I banged on the sturdy door until my hands hurt. "If anyone fucking hurts my sister, I swear-"

The door swung open and I almost fell nose flat on the floor but strong arms caught me.

Carlo.

I could recognize his scent and it stirred something in me, making me feel warm. I jerked away from his arms like I'd been burnt, feeling disgusted with myself.

Carlo's cold eyes met mine. "You're being a nuisance, Natalia."

Is he serious right now?

Anger and pain warred inside me. "Why should I give a fuck if I am being a nuisance? You ruined my family, you drugged me. You...you killed my father, asshole." My voice broke and I hated the fact that he could sense my pain and suffering.

"Women don't use foul language around me," he said sternly.

I glared at him and tried to burn holes in his skin with my eyes. "Go to hell! Where's my fucking sister?" My body shook more from fear than anger, I shouldn't rile him up but I needed to see Ava, I needed to know she was safe.

His brows shot up at my defiance. "You both will be separated until you're ready to be obedient."

"You can't do that! She knows no one here, she's just a child, one who you rendered fatherless right before her eyes!"

Carlo's eyes hardened.

"She'll live," he stated simply, his voice lacked sympathy, just cold and hard like his cruel heart.

He turned to live but paused and pinned me with a dark stare that scared me down to my toes. "My son will be introduced to you tonight and until then, don't try anything stupid, I'd hate to put a bullet hole through that pretty head of yours."

The glint in his eyes showed how serious he was and I shrank back in fear, this monster could kill me. If I died what would happen to Ava? My eyes stung with tears. "I...I just want to see my sister," I whispered and I hoped he'd understand.

But Carlo took one last look at me and then he left. The door clicked shut behind him.

A choked sob tore from my throat, and I let it out-everything I had been holding in. I yelled in frustration as I grabbed the nearest thing-my duffel bag-and hurled it across the room. It slammed against the door with a loud thud, its contents spilled out. I tossed the pillows and ripped at the bedsheets, anything to release the hurt and anger clawing at my insides.

Why me?

Why do I always have to struggle for happiness?

Exhausted, I dropped to the floor beside the door and that was when my eyes caught something strange amidst the mess on the floor. Slowly, I picked up the brown envelope that slid out from where my bag landed.

It wasn't mine. I hadn't put an envelope when I packed my bag, at least I didn't remember putting it in there.

My heart rate picked up as every instinct told me not to open the strange envelope. But my fingers moved, tearing the seal off...

I should have listened.

Carlo's POV:

Death had a smell.

Tears, blood, sweat, and fear...

I glanced back at the traitor-Marco's limp body being chained to a chair.

In my world, disloyalty and lies were deadly sins. The only way to punish traitors for such an unforgivable sin was death.

"Wake the stronzo up," I growled.

"Sure thing, Capo," Enzo, my cousin and right-hand man answered as he moved to Marco, striking him hard across the face and he jerked awake.

Marco's left eye was ballooned shut, his lip split, and his cheek already bruising. Marco had been working for me for over ten years, yet he betrayed me. The fucker knew how much I hated traitors and yet.

"You know what happens to men like you, don't you?" I asked, my voice hard and cold.

"Don Carlo, please...please don't do this. I'm sorry. I was desperate, he had my family," he cried as snot dripped down his broken nose.

If he was desperate, he could have come to me for help. But no, the fucker took the easier way out. He stole from me and sold information to the enemy, I just needed to know which of my enemies. I had a lot. "Who is 'he' Marco?"

Marco looked everywhere but at me and he shook his head. "I don-"

Enzo drove his fist into Marco's stomach. "Dare lie to us again and I'll shove this knife up your ass," Enzo barked.

Marco whimpered and cried. "Gianpaolo."

I smirked. Of course, it's him. The pussy knew he couldn't face me head-on. For years he has been trying to avenge the death of his family and take my place, which I respect. But he should at least come out boldly and go to war with me and may the best man win.

Gianpaolo wouldn't do that though, I wasn't called the famous Don Carlo Moretti for nothing.

"Please..." Marco's cries cut through my thoughts.

I pulled out my gun and aimed for Marco's head. His gaze met mine and all I could see in his eyes was fear, his mouth opened, probably to beg once more, but no words could be heard over the bang of the bullet leaving my gun and piercing the air.

My hand snapped back slightly from the recoil, and I steadied once more before lowering it. Marco's head flopped back before rolling forward. Empty eyes looked back at me.

I handed my gun to Enzo. "Clean up this mess."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Natalia fascinated me. I couldn't tell what it was exactly but she stirred something inside me. She was beautiful, glorious even, and if she wasn't marrying Luca...

I shook my head. I can't think that way about her...

She was like a cat. Small but feisty with a lot of energy when upset, but that was okay, I've handled worse.

I could tame her and make her the perfect wife for my son, Luca. I had texted him earlier, letting him know we'd arrived. The two had to meet soon and they both had to accept this marriage whether they liked it or not.

That was how things were run in the Moretti 'ndrina. My father had me married at sixteen and Luca was born a year later. My wife Luca's mother died in a rival gang attack years later making Luca my only son. Luca had just turned eighteen and it was time for him to fulfill his role as my heir. He had to produce his own heir as soon as possible. Without grandsons, our future, and everything I fought and killed for would be at risk.

There were a lot of other girls I could have picked for Luca besides Natalia. Hell, the other mafia families already had their daughters lining up for Luca, but I wasn't stupid, I didn't want a marriage alliance with the other families, and that was a risk too. In this part of the world, no one was to be trusted. No one at all. Natalia was a safe choice, she was my prisoner and I could bend her to my will.

"Mio Dio Carlo," Caterina, my aunt exclaimed as she joined me in my home office.

I sighed knowing what she was going to say next.

"In all these years, I've never interfered because I was born into this life and I know how things are done around here but you have done the unthinkable this time," she said stiffly, looking disappointed.

"I'm not in the mood for this."

She tucked a gray strand behind her ear as she pinned me with a glare. "I passed by that room and I heard her crying her heart out. What did you do?"

I killed her bastard father. I don't say that out loud though, I wasn't in the mood to explain myself. Antonio Bernardi had it coming, either way, I was going to kill him. When he'd offered his oldest daughter in exchange for his life, he reminded me of my father and I knew I had to kill him.

"Carlo!" Caterina hissed.

"What?" I snapped, usually I was calmer with her. She raised me when my mother couldn't and she'd always supported me. I loved her. Not right now though, right now she was interfering in my business. "She became my property the moment her father offered her to me! And I'll do whatever I want with her."

She flinched at my words but I was past caring. "But now her little sister-"

"Not another word!"

"If not for her, think about your son's happiness. Do you think he'd like to be forced into a marriage he doesn't want? Luca is your everything, it is your duty to make him happy," She spat, her chest heaving from anger.

"Luca will be happy, Natalia is the best choice for him. My father chose my wife, it is my right to do so for my son."

Caterina scoffed as she shook her head. "And how did that turn out?"

Natalia's POV:

I shouldn't have opened the envelope...

My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor, the envelope crinkled under my grip as my hands trembled. Suddenly, the room felt too little and it felt like my lungs could no longer function as I struggled to breathe. This can't be true-

A rattling sound behind the door had me scrambling to my feet as I wiped my eyes. Quickly, I hid the envelope and its contents in my duffel bag, stuffing the rest of my things back inside my bag. I couldn't let anyone find me in this state.

The door swung open, and I expected it to be Carlo. But at the door stood an elderly lady and a young woman who held a tray of food and juice.

I frowned. "Who are you?"

"Ciao, bella. How are you?" The older lady asked, ignoring my question. "Let's get you freshened up and changed into something-"

"Who are you?" I asked again.

The older lady's eyes softened as she sighed. She gestured to the younger lady. "This is Vittoria, she will serve you. She's your maid-"

"Don't need a maid, my hands, legs, and eyes work just fine."

The older lady chuckled. "You are fierce, good. I am Caterina, Carlo's aunt."

I eyed her warily as my shoulders stiffened.

"...I know you're scared but-"

"No shit, Sherlock. Your nephew is a monster," I spat.

Caterina shot me a sympathetic look but said nothing as she turned to Vittoria. "Set the tray down, so she could eat."

"Take it back, I'm not hungry," I insisted, even though my mouth watered and my tummy rumbled from not having eaten for hours.

Caterina frowned. "Take the food away." Vittoria bowed and turned away with the tray of food while I cursed myself for being stubborn, but I wouldn't back down.

Caterina took a step toward me, her face held concern and worry. "I just want you to know that I'm on your side and I'm not here to hurt you."

I scoffed loudly. "You barely know me, and we both know you'd pick your nephew over me at the drop of a hat."

She moved to my bed and lowered herself slowly, wincing a little probably from back pain that comes with old age. She wasn't very old though, she seemed to be in her mid-fifties. "Please sit," she tapped the spot on the bed beside her.

I wanted to fight her on it and say no, but I was exhausted, my mind was still reeling over everything that had happened in the past few hours. And I couldn't even speak to anyone about it.

Eventually, I dropped on the bed beside her.

Caterina placed a hand over mine. "I don't expect you to trust me blindly, but you have to know that I can help you out around here. I don't have the power to go against Carlo despite being his aunt but I have my way around most things."

"I want to see my baby sister, Ava. Carlo didn't let me see her and she must be scared."

Caterina's face fell as she took her hand off mine.

Panic enveloped me at her reaction. "Ava is okay, right?"

Caterina's expression remained gloomy; she couldn't look me in the eyes and had suddenly become a stutterer.

"Right?! Caterina, where is my sister? For God's sake, answer me!" I bellowed; I was boiling already, and if I found out that anyone had hurt her if I found out that Carlo, that filth, had put his hands on her...

"The girl," Caterina started softly, "Has been sick.. Her body is rejecting all the food and water she's taken in, and she's currently unable to leave her bed."

"Ava... is that sick?" Rage flared up inside me... Ava was dying, and whether or not it was due to a sudden change in environment or the trauma, it was all tied to Carlo. This was on him, directly or indirectly. My chest heaved up and down, frantically, and I subconsciously clenched my fists as I felt beads of sweat pouring down my face.

"Where is he?" I gritted through clenched teeth. "Carlo.. Where is he?"

She sighed. "He's in the outer courtyard, Natalia..."

She kept speaking, but I was no longer listening. It was a good thing Caterina had come here today, it meant that my door was now opened.

Without warning, I darted out of the room.

"No, Natalia, wait..!" Caterina said, alarmed at what I was doing, but my mind was made up. I looked to my left to see the guard. Seeing me loose, he started to charge towards me, panic in his eyes. To my right, I saw a passage that, surely, would lead to the outer courtyard.

I ran, without looking back, pursued by Caterina and the guard, through the passage and then through another door which finally led me to the outer courtyard. As Caterina had said, Carlo was there, taking in the view of his garage. He was sitting at a table, in a white shirt - with its sleeves rolled up - a pair of corporate pants and brogues, and before him was a large chunk of steak, some salad on a plate as well as some pudding. There were also two bottles of wine, and a glass filled from one of the bottles. Carlo looked lost in thought and was startled by my hasty approach towards him.

Carlo's eyes widened slightly when he saw his aunt and a guard chasing after me.

"What is this madness?" He growled, clearly stunned, "This girl should be in her room, why is she out here?"

"My sister is ill and I want to see her," I demanded, once I stopped in front of him.

The guard, at this point, grabbed hold of me and tried to muscle me back to my room, but Carlo waved a hand, signaling him to let me go.

"It's alright... let her be..." As the guard released his hold on me, I snatched my arm away still breathing heavily from the impromptu 50-meter dash, Carlo leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, looking annoyingly handsome and amused, as though I was putting on some sort of show for him. God, I hated his guts!

"I have my best physicians running tests and administering treatments to her. You have nothing to worry about.."

"Nothing to worry about? Says the man who kills people at will, holding me against my will, and yet you say there's nothing to worry about?" I snarled.

"You're putting up quite a show, so let's cut to the chase... What do you want, child?" Carlo said. His voice, though thick with anger, remained controlled.

"I demand that you let me and my sister go!" I yelled, slightly disbelieving myself. Where did this courage come from?

His face hardened as he rose to his feet. "And why would I do anything remotely close to that?"

Carlo pinned me with a death stare. "Know your place, or I will forcefully fit you into it. You're nothing but my property and that includes your sister-"

All I saw was red.

"Stupid jerk!" I grabbed one of Carlo's wine bottles before anyone could stop me and swung it, smashing it across his head.