It was the morning after the wedding and the mansion is so quiet. Avelina wakes up from sleep to find herself on the bed still dressed and untouched.

"He didn't touch my last night, Good". She muttered under her breathe.

For a while she stares at the ceiling wondering why Allessandro had not put a bullet through her head to end her father's name. Before she could come to a conclusion a knock on the door broke her thoughts.

"Signora Rossi" The maid from yesterday calls.

"You can come in" She says flatly hating her new title.

The maid walks in holding a beautiful sage green dress. "The Don asked prepare and bring you down for breakfast." The maid says.

Avelina couldn't help but laugh. "The Don cares now?"

The maid's eyes darts towards the door nervously. "He... he says says you will need your strength later."

"For what?" Avelina asks.

She sighs and responds. "He'll explain at breakfast."

She was about to tell the made she was not going down for breakfast but the small of freshly baked bread and coffee drags her out of the bed. Her stomach begs for food even when she does not feel for it.

When she is done taking a shower and dressing up, she was led down the staircase again. The guards stands at each turn like statues without blinking their eyes. The world outside shines bright and looks too alive for the Rossi mansion.

The dining room looks different this morning.

Allessandro sits alone.

He sits at the end of the table sipping coffee and reading his papers and his phone placed besides his cup. He doesn't look up from his breakfast when Avelina walks in.

"Sit," he says simply.

Avelina takes her seat beside him trying to stay calm.

He finally lifts his head from his papers. "Hope you slept well?"

"I didn't have a good night." Avelina responds

"Good. It is not a big deal and you will get used to it."

He pours coffee in a cup and slides it towards Avelina. His movement seemed calculated and measured. As if he still anticipate war.

"I can't drink anything you offer me." Avelina says pushing the coffee back to him.

He smirks. "You really think i will kill my wife with poison?"

"You seem to forget you have done worse." Avelina fires back at him.

He pushed his chair closer to Avelina. "You seem to misunderstand my intentions , Avelina. If i really wanted you dead you would not be here but instead sharing a coffin with your father

Avelina clenches her jaws. "So what is it you want from me Allessandro?"

"I just need your cooperation."

"What for exactly?. You think marrying me will bring peace? Or this is just a show for your public image." Avelina asked.

"I married you for your survival." He responds quietly.

His words made her freeze in her chair.

Before she could respond Allessandro stands up and walks towards the glass window. He stares outside as the morning light shines across his face.

"Your father still has enemies. They will find ways to bring the Moretti name down. You are next in line and if you do not listen to me they will destroy us both without a second thought," He says calmly.

"Are you trying to say i am your partner in crime now...Is that why you killed my father so you can marry me? Avelina asked in tears.

Allessandro turns to face her with cold eyes. "This is not a partnership Avelina, this is our reality now. The sooner you accept it the better for everyone."

He moves closer to her. "My family has organized dinner for tonight and you are expected to be in attendance."

"I would not be in attendance to what ever party you or your family has planned." She spits back at him.

"This is not a negotiation. You are my wife and wives do as they are told and stand beside their husbands. So you must do so tonight.

She lifts her head to meet his eyes. "You can chain my up, Allessandro, but i know where my loyalty lies and it is definitely not with the Rossi clan.

He smiles at her. "Fortunately for me i do not require your loyalty tonight. Just your body."

Night soon came and the mansion glows with bright light.

Music cold be heard from the ballroom where the party was hosted.

The dress she was given was pretty. Suits her perfectly like gloves. It is a mauve coloured dress. It is too beautiful for someone in the state of mourning. She lifts her head and stares at her reflection in the mirror. She could not recognize herself anymore. She looks so slim and pale and had sacks under her eyes from too much crying.

Suddenly the knocks came.

"May i come in?" It is Allessandro.

"It is your house, You do not need my permission."

"Well tonight i need your permission." He says.

He opens the door slightly and steps inside. The scent of his perfume fills the room. Tailored in a black suit, his hair slicked back, he stood so tall and handsome. For a moment none of them speaks.

"You really do clean up well." he says breaking the silence.

"I was brought up properly. I need to always look presentable no matter the circumstance i find myself."

He could not help but twitch his jaws. "Well try not to act as a victim tonight. You are not in captivity."

"I am in captivity, and i am also a victim."

His eyes falls to the floor and back at Avelina. "You better stop acting like one."

He offers her his hands when they walk our of the room.

She hesitates but then takes it.

The ballroom is filled with unfamiliar faces when they arrive. The chatter stops and people murmur.

"Smile at them and play your part." Allessandro whispers into her ear

"I am doing just that." She says to him.

Allessandro walks towards the direction of his business partners with Avelina in his hands. He greets them, his voice calm and composed. He moves with so much composure that his associates fear him. Avelina stands by him, she is silent until they were approached by an older man.

"So this is your wife now?" The man says staring at her. "A Moretti bloodline in the Rossi clan." He says as he chuckles.

After a forceful conversation with the old man, he finally leaves. She turns her gaze at Allessandro and notices a smile on his face but before she can say a word the smile vanishes as quickly as it came.

The dinner drags until midnight. By the time it ends her cheeks aches with pain from forceful smiles.

Immediately the last guest leaves she feels a sense of relive. She walks towards the balcony, the cool night air falls on her skin. The streets of Florence shines below, more alive in ways the Rossi Mansion would ever be.

This voice calls behind her. "You did great today."

She doesn't turn. "I know this was a test too". I don't turn. "Did I pass your test?"

"It was not a test, i assure you." He speaks calmly.

"Everything with you is a test Allessandro." She replies.

"You did well and nobody suspected you were in bondage. That is progress" He says standing beside her.

"Even a blind man can see i am a victim here. Nothing is going to stop me from hating you." She says almost laughing.

"Hate is a good thing. It can be useful." He says with a smirk on his face

For a moment their eyes meet. Allessandro breaks first.

"It is late, You need rest."

"I will go to bed when i want." Avelina shoots at him.

He nods and leave without saying a word.

Avelina stands at the balcony alone. The cold night being her blanket of comfort.

The ring still shines bright on her finger.

She takes a deep breathe, closes her eyes to feel the wind on her face.

"This cage wouldn't hold me forever." She says below her breathe as the wind carries her words into the night.

AVELINA'S POV.

The Rossi mansion is never quiet, yet is looks and feels dead inside.

The morning after the dinner, staff moves around with their head bowed and their eyes fixed on the floor without daring to look at me.

The sounds of footsteps reminds me of my home. A home that I was stripped away from after my father's death.

I walk towards the window. The sun rises over Florence. The city was alive. I kept thinking of my father and his words telling me not to trust anybody that is not family.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. It is the same maid, with her gentle and nervous nature.

"The Don left for the city today, and he wants you to know he won't be back till evening." She says not daring to look at me.

"That is nice, I can finally breathe fresh air." I say in excitement.

"Can i go into every room in this house"? I asked with my eyes lighting up.

"You can't go into all the rooms in the mansion" She says after much hesitation.

I smiled at her faintly. "But that is exactly where I want to go into".

From the look on the maid's face I could tell she was terrified but she doesn't dare to question or stop me. After she leaves the room I slipped my shoes on and step into the hall.

___________________________________________________________________________

From the inside you could tell the mansion was bigger than it was outside. I walk past picture frames of past Rossi men hung up on the wall. I finally stumped upon a picture different from the rest. It was signed at the bottom ENZO ROSSI.

Allessandro's older brother.

My father was killed because he died. And he is the reason i am married to a monster.

I cleaned the dust off the frame with my dress. He had same eyes as Allessandro and i guess he is as tall too. But his smile seems softer.

I thought to myself: Did my father actually kill him? or that is what Allessandro wants me to believe.

Before i could think further, i heard voices from the other room.

"Are these the shipment we were expecting from Germany.?" A voice asked.

"Yes it is." Another replies.

"Take them to the basement. I will come handle it shortly." It was Emilio this time. Allessandro's right hand man.

I quickly close the door behind me and duck under the table. It was the Rossi's study. The shelf is covered with dust and i doubt if anybody has been in here in years.

Curiosity takes the best of me as i start to open the drawers and go through contents. It was filled with files and each of those files was labelled with numbers and names. A letter drops from out of one of the files i held. I pick it up to read the content.

The letter was handwritten by Enzo Rossi to my father. But i guess it was never delivered.

Don Marco,

We all know there would be no peace under one side surrenders. But when this war is over please promise me you will keep her out of our mess.

-E.R.

I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

Why was Enzo writing to my father? Were they friends? Who was the "her"?

Before i could complete my thoughts, the door flings open and Allessandro stands at the doorway.

For a moment neither of us moves. His eyes turns to the opened drawers and then to the letter in my hand.

"I see you have made yourself comfortable."

"You had left the door open" I quickly say.

"Not for you to snoop through."

He slowly steps inside and close the door behind him. He was calm but i could tell his calmness was worse than anger.

"Can you tell me what it is you were looking for, Avelina.?

"I need answers because you are clearly hiding something from me." I responded.

"You shouldn't be in here." He says walking towards me.

"I know. But if you wanted an obedient wife then i am the wrong woman for you."

"I can see that now." He said.

He stretches his hands towards mine and takes back the letter. His fingers brushes mine. I could feel a spark that sent shivers down my spine.

"Where did you get this letter from.?" He demands staring into my soul.

"It fell out of one of the files from the drawer," I shoot back at him. "You didn't know you had to destroy everything that had to do with my father before marrying his daughter?"

He clenches his jaw. "You act like you know everything."

"I know enough to know you killed my father. And i also know my father didn't kill your brother, did he?"

He doesn't look at me.

The silence could be felt in the mansion.

My voice breaks. "Then who did it? Why was my father framed?" I asked demanding answers.

He looks up, staring into my eyes.

"Go to your room right now." He says backing orders at me.

"I wouldn't until you give me answers."

He walks slowly across the desk until he stands in front of me. "Disobedience will lead you to dangerous parts, Avelina."

"The day you took my father i stopped caring."

For a moment he doesn't say anything. "You should be careful and think things through."

He says leaving the room whilst slamming the door behind him.

___________________________________________________________________________

By nighttime i find it difficult to sleep.

The words on the letter still rings in my head.

We all know there would be no peace under one side surrenders. But when this war is over please promise me you will keep her out of our mess.

Who was he referring to?

I stand up and turn on the light.

I step out of the room, the guards bow without looking at my face. The mansion feels stuffy like someone was watching me.

I head downstairs where the maid lead me to a room and hands me a tray. "The Don ask i serve you dinner here today."

I thank her, still lost in thought. "Does the Don ever talk about his brother?" I asked.

She freezes in her place. " We do not speak of him."

"Why not.?" Now inquisitive.

"Because we do not want to remember." She says as she walks away.

_______________________________________________________________________

By afternoon the rain starts. The sky turns grey as thunder cracks over the city. I walk towards the hall, going over every portrait until i reach Enzo's.

Something felt different this time. There was a hidden compartment. I pulled the panel open and there was a faded photograph. Two boys and a girl standing side by side – Enzo, Allessandro and me. I could barely catch my breath.

I can barely remember this say but i should have been like four or five.

Enzo.

He was there and his hand is over my shoulder.

If they had known me then... they weren't my father's enemies after all.

The door creaks open and there he was standing. Allessandro.

His voice low. "You are making this a habit. Going into places you are not supposed to be seen in."

I turn to face him. "Why didn't you tell me you knew my father.? Your brother did too and also wrote him a later."

He slowly exhales. "You shouldn't have found out about this."

"But I found out."

"Avelina." He calls my name. "You wouldn't understand."

"Then you have to make me understand." I said staring at him.

"Searching for the truth wouldn't save you."

'I do not need your protection, Allessandro." I shoot back at him.

He walks towards me and takes my hand. "You are not ready for the truth Avelina. If you keep searching you will get hurt."

"Let go of my hand." I said pulling myself away from him.

"Not until you listen to me." He says still holding tight.

"I did not kill your father. But if you do not stop digging the people that kill him will come for you and this time they won't miss." He said finally letting go of me.

___________________________________________________________________________

Before laying on the bed at night, I hide the photo under my pillow.

The rain had stopped and the storm is calm but i wasn't as my inside begins to burn.

If Allessandro didn't kill my father then who did? Maybe another close rival.

For the first time since i came to the Rossi mansion i felt a sense of purpose – To look foor my father's killers.

I stand up from the bed and walk towards the window, watching the city of Florence glitter as the moon shines over it.

"I need to get to the bottom of this." I say in a whisper. "I need to know everything.

ALLESSANDRO'S POV

Rain falls heavily in Florence.

The mansion smells of gun powder. As i lay in my bed,Emilio's warning still rings in my head. I let myself ignore his warnings. To let her dig through wanting answers. To let her curiosity hurt her.

But i get on my feet instead with my jacket over my shoulders walking towards the path that leads to the study.

The study light is on. Every step i take leads me to her. When i reach the door it was slightly open. She must have left it that way.

Avelina stands at the other side of the table. A letter in hand as she was shocked to see me.

"I see you have made yourself comfortable". I said breaking the silence

"You had left the door open" She says defending herself quickly.

"Not for you to snoop through." I fired back at her.

I  slowly steps inside and close the door behind me.

"Can you tell me what it is you were looking for, Avelina.? I ask immediately.

"I need answers because you are clearly hiding something from me." She responded.

"You shouldn't be in here." I say walking towards her.

"I know. But if you wanted an obedient wife then i am the wrong woman for you."  She says shooting back at me.

"I can see that now."

I stretch my hands towards hers taking back the letter. My fingers brushing hers slowly.

"Where did you get this letter from.?" I asked because i have never seen it in the study before so it must have been hidden.  

"It fell out of one of the files from the drawer," She responds. "You didn't know you had to destroy everything that had to do with my father before marrying his daughter?" She says further.

"You act like you know everything." I say clenching my jaw.

"I know enough to know you killed my father. And i also know my father didn't kill your brother, did he?"  Her question hits me like a rock.

I turn my head towards the door avoiding her gaze. doesn't look at me.

I could hear her voice breaking. "Then who did it? Why was my father framed?" She asks further.  

I manage to look up and stare into her eyes.

"Go to your room right now." I say to her.

"I wouldn't until you give me answers." Avelina replies.

I walk towards her until the desk was between us. "Disobedience will lead you to dangerous parts, Avelina."

"The day you took my father i stopped caring." She says crying.

For a moment i do not say anything. "You should be careful and think things through."

I say leaving her in the study.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

By Afternoon, i found her going through the photos in the hall.

I walk towards her and calls her name.

She turns but does not hide the picture she was holding.

"You really have a problem doing what you're told" I say to her.

"And you also have a problem with honesty." She says firing back at me.

I step closer, slow, deliberate. "That depends on what truth you think you deserve."

"The truth you keep hiding from me." She says as her voice breaks. "From the letter you brother knew my father. And from this photo you knew him to. Who was your brother referring to Allessandro. Me?"

I could not bring myself to walk towards her even though i wanted to. Her skin smells of vanilla. "That letter wasn't yours to find." I say staring at her.  

"Yet i found it." So you owe me an explanation. She says lifting her chin

Ï do not owe you any explanations so stop asking." I say trying to control my anger.

"You owe me a lot Allessandro. You took my father's life and you owe me that." She says with teary eyes.

For a moment i almost explained everything to her. But i am scared for her safety. She is as stubborn as my brother described.

"I did not kill your father." I finally say.

"Then who ordered the hit on him?"

The room goes silent as the truth was now heavy to say.

"If you keep chasing the truth i am afraid you will be the next target and i would not be able to protect you." I tell her quietly.

"Then i will die knowing who did it." She says walking towards me. She doesn't back away. "Then at least I'll die knowing."

I take her hand trying to take the picture from her but she refuses to let go. Our fingers touch. I felt a spark and my anger suddenly vanishes. Before i could react she takes back her hand.  

"Please go back to your room, Avelina." I say in a low tone

 "No." She says staring into my eyes.

"You are really hard to deal with. And knowing when to listen is really not your thing." I say almost smiling.

"Well if you must know, i stopped listening to anything you say the night you didn't let me bury my father properly."

Her words sting. I want to walk away but she continues her enquires.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I should not be in same room with her.

Every time i am close to her i find it hard to control myself.

 She stands close to be studying the photo again and staring at me. "You are in the photo. With your brother and i." She says staring into my eyes as though searching for the truth. "Why do you pretend you barely know me?"

"You do not remember because you were a child. But your father and mine were once friends. All we wanted was peace." Because strangers are easier to control.

"You called killing my father peace? She laughs. I could feel the pain in her heart. "My father is dead. You killed him"

I wanted to explain to her but i had to bite down the urge. Her finding out the truth will destroy her.

"I acted like a stranger because it would be easier for me to control you. Stop searching for the truth Avelina."

"You are scared i will find out what you're hiding? Is that the reason

"You will get yourself killed. I am trying to protect you." I say trying to make her see reasons with me.  

The rain sounds could be heard as lightning strikes through the glass windows causing her eyes to glow.

"Do not think i fear you, Allessandro. I do not fear death but i want to know the truth before that happens and i will die trying to find it." She says.

"You do not seem to understand anything. The men who killed your father are still out there. They are searching for you and they would be very happy to finish what they started."

"You are lying, Allessandro. Trying to control me." She says.

"I wish it was all a lie."

She tries searching my face. But there was no more explanation

" I cannot promise to keep you safe if you do not trust me." I tell her.

There was silence. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of the rain and our heartbeats.

"I do not ask for you protection."  She says finally breaking the silence.

I take a deep breath. "You really do sound like my brother"

"Enzo? She asks puzzled.

"Yes." I say taking a seat.

"What business did your brother have with my father.?"

"My brother believed there was a betrayal. He died trying to find out who it was." I say as i look away.

" So you killed my father to avenge your brother?"

"I already told you i did not kill your father."

"If you did not then who did.?

"Quit searching for the truth, Avelina, Or you will get hurt in the process." I say to her calmly.

"You can't decide for me Allessandro."

"This is my house. And i make the decisions so deal with it." I say as my voice becomes loud.

She was about the say something when a knock interrupts.

It was Emilio. "We have a problem, Don Allessandro." He says.

"What is it.?" I say trying to take control.

"A guard was shot dead at the Morretti mansion. The second one this week.

"This is why i say you are not ready for the truth. The war is not over until they get you." I say staring at Avelina as she crys.