EMILIA’S POV

I remember when I was ten years old, my father used to warn us never to step into his office.

He said it calmly, like a suggestion.

Like a rule that mattered.

My sister listened. She always did. She nodded, stayed in her room, kept her hands clean and her shoes polished. She learned early that obedience earned safety.

I learned something else.

Curiosity was louder than fear.But I was never obedient and as a child I was always curious.

The office sat at the end of the west wing, separated from the rest of the house like a sealed wound. The hallway leading to it was always empty, always quiet, always colder than the rest of the house. The kind of quiet that pressed against your ears and dared you to make a sound.

The door was old-fashioned. Solid. Heavy.

But my father underestimated the children. Especially bored ones.

The key was hidden behind the third book on the hallway shelf. Accounting, Volume Two. I didn’t know what accounting was, but I knew the book was never dusted and never moved. I knew how to tilt it just enough to feel the metal catch release behind the wall.

The first time I stole the key, my hands shook so badly I nearly dropped it.

The second time, I was calm.

By the third, it felt like the house itself expected me to do it. And took out one of the spare keys and kept it to myself, so i could lock myself in without any suspicions from father.

Inside, the office smelled like leather, smoke, and something darker, something sharp that sat at the back of your throat. The walls were lined with shelves filled with files I couldn’t read and books no one ever touched. The desk was massive, carved from dark wood, scarred in places like it had survived things it wouldn’t talk about.

I learned where to hide.

Behind the heavy curtains if I needed air. Under one of the desks if voices came too close. Between the filing cabinets where the shadows were thick and forgiving. I could make myself small. Invisible. I was very good at that.

That was where I learned the truth about my father.

Men came into that office angry and left quiet. Some arrived loud and confident and walked out pale, eyes darting, hands shaking as they adjusted their jackets. Names were exchanged like currency. Numbers like weapons.

I learned that my father didn’t just run businesses.

He ran people.

And then there was the name that kept returning, circling every conversation like a vulture.

Don.

The first time I heard it, I didn’t know why my chest tightened.

“Don doesn’t negotiate,” one man said once, voice tight.

“He doesn’t have to,” my father replied. “He wins.”

They spoke about him like he wasn’t a man but a force. Something unavoidable. Something violent and precise.

Cold.

Cruel.

Calculating.

I pressed my ear harder against the desk when I heard the reason his name mattered so much.

“He wants an alliance,” my father said.

Silence followed. The heavy kind.

“And the price?” someone finally asked.

I remember holding my breath. I remember my heart pounding so hard I was sure they could hear it.

“A marriage.”

My fingers curled into the carpet.

Not me. Never me.

“She’s perfect,” another voice said. “Obedient. Quiet. Beautiful.”

My sister.

They talked about her like she wasn’t a person. Like she was land. Territory. A peace offering wrapped in silk and handed over to a man who terrified grown criminals.

I didn’t know what Don looked like then. I didn’t know his age or his face or the sound of his voice. But I knew he wasn’t the kind of man you said no to.

And I knew my sister wouldn’t survive him.

When the meeting ended, I stayed hidden long after the door closed. Long after the echo of footsteps faded. My chest hurt in a way I didn’t understand yet.

That was the first time I realized our lives were already decided.

Years later, nothing has changed except for me.

I grew up in shades of black. I learned to move quietly, speak sharply, and listen more than I talked. My father tried to keep me hidden, out of sight, out of danger.

But you don’t grow up brushing against hell without learning its shape.

I know the rules now. I know the bloodlines. I know the names that still make rooms fall silent.

And I know Don.

Not just as a name whispered behind closed doors but as the man who is supposed to marry my sister.

The man who looks at our family like something he already owns.

The man who doesn’t know yet that I am not obedient.

And if he thinks slipping a ring onto one of us will bring him peace.

He’s about to learn how wrong he is.

EMILIA’S POV

We were having lunch when Dominic, my father’s right hand man, walked in panting. Then turns to papa

“ There is an emergency Mr Moretti.” Papa excuses himself from the table and walks to his office while Dominic follows him.

As always I was curious and decided to follow. I turned to Elena and she looked at me worried.

“Don’t go there Emilia, papa could catch you.”

“ He won’t, I will be quick” then i quickly walked towards papa’s office. Thankfully Mama had gone out, else I'd be in a lot of trouble.

I slowly creeped towards the door, thankfully he didn’t close it completely.

“ One of our informants has been missing for days” Dominic spoke “We haven’t been able to reach him”

“Who?” Papa asked.

“Charles Kingston”

“Knox?” Papa said. He went silent for a while. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or scared. “He won’t say anything”

Dominic stayed silent.

I heard him mention Don’s name again and how he had his own men when he was Fifteen. Anytime papa mentioned his name he said it dreadfully. “ So say Salvadore isn’t running the Vassallo Companies and operations anymore?”

“ The boy took over since he was Fifteen” Dominic responded. “He was still young when he was handed over everything. He is way smarter and stronger than his father

“They say he can sniff fear from anyone”

I heard footsteps approaching and I immediately hid beside the hallway shelf.

I watched Adrian, another one of papa’s trusted men, walk into his office and he closed the door.

I let out a sigh and walked back downstairs slowly, so as not to make a sound.

I remember when I watched papa kill someone and i told Elena but she never believed me until she bumped into them carrying a body out. Papa used to hide these things away, but now he does it without carrying. Probably because we are now older.

I am seventeen and Elena is three years older than me.

After leaving papa’s office I walk to Elena’s room and sit on the bed beside her. I look at her knowing I can't tell her that papa wants to marry her off to someone he doesn’t like. It has always been her dream to marry for love, have a fancy wedding and dance with her charming prince. I let out a sigh as she turned to me.

“Are you okay Emilia?” I nodded and just hugged her.

“I want you to braid my hair” She laughs and pats for me to sit on the floor.

She puts on her favorite com how to win a guys heart in 1 month

“Arrrrgggghhhhh” I let out a groan “ Come on Ellie, don’t tell me you believe all this stuffs”

She looks at me, shushing me before turning back to braiding my hair and watching her show.

She finished braiding my hair and I just sat there chewing on my nails, not paying attention to the screen. Elena has made me watch this show countless times.

Elena is like a Disney princess, I’d say Rapunzel with her blonde hair, long lashes, always acting like one. Don't curse. Always fold her legs when sitting, and wear colourful fits. She’s just so beautiful. She is every man's dream.

And there’s me. Absolutely different, always wearing black fits, curses out. Doesn’t like being told what to do.

I just climb her bed and go cuddle her, she hugs me back and we just lay there watching her favorite shows.

…

“ Elena!” We hear papa’s voice, rough and stern as it booms throughout the hallway. We spring up from the bed and I hold onto Elena’s hand.

I should have known better than to ignore the conversation in papa's office.

Papa knocks and walks into Elena’s room alongside mama both of them dressed like they were going somewhere.

I stare at them as mama tugs a dazed Elena from beside me, pulling her out of my hold leaving the room.

I know the cause, I know it too well. I turn to papa with tears in my eyes.

“ This can’t be real papa”

I don’t have to have to say much for him to understand. He just stood there silent.

“ Papa answers me ” as my voice grows louder as the tears roll down my eyes.

He lets out a sigh, running his hand over his tired face.

“ You’ll understand one day Askim.”

Elena might be older than me, but she is naive,soft and the Vassallo’s will devour her. The thought of it makes the tears run hotter down my face.

No this can’t happen.

I turned to papa “ Let me take her place”

“No! You are still young.” his eyes flashed with anger “ Now go to your room, this conversation ends here.”

I hold back a scoff, it’s funny because they ran illegal businesses and broke countless laws. But now they wanted to keep things legal.

I knew he won’t let me take her place, I am Emilia – papa’s favorite, most cherished, protected and given a normal life. He gave me a normal life, I was allowed to attend high school and I will be leaving for college soon, but no one could know about me. To the world Damien Moretti had one daughter–Elena.

I look up to see Elena walking down the stairs in a pink ball gown, her hair packed into a ponytail.

This can’t be happening, I have to find a way and stop them. I run to Elena, I hold her hand and smile softly “ You do not need to do this Ellie, think about your future”

Mama gives me warning icy look, then turns to Elena “Do not listen to her” she turns and cups Elena’s face “ They will treat you right and give you everything you want”

“ Lol,So you guys are just going to give out your daughter to a man that is dangerous” I scream as I look at my parents and scoff. Papa just stands there without saying a word.

“ Emilia, your room now!” mama said to me while throwing death glares at me.

I stay rotted at my spot.

I watch as papa’s men walk in from the back, Dominic whispers something into papa’s ears. Then there came a knock on the front door.

Papa finally speaks up “Go to your room now Askim”

I still don’t move, which makes them more frustrated.

Ellie finally speaks “ Please Emilia, go to your room”

She looked almost desperate. I take a step back from them, sighing. I walk upstairs slowly and stand in a hidden spot as I watch Elena and mama go to papa’s office. She walks like the obedient child that she is. I stand and watch the servants open the front door and papa greets some group of men.

But one man stood out the most.

Don Vassallo.

He had brown hair, broad shoulders, and was tall. Hate to admit but he was handsome, he was every woman's dream man, but not mine.

Just like he was my family's nightmare, I will make sure I am his worst nightmare.

EMILIA’S POV

I watch Papa and Don move to his office while papa’s men and Don’s men stay outside.

I wait for them to go into papa’s office before sneaking to go listen in on them.

Don looks towards Elena then removes his face like she didn’t qualify to be looked at. As if she was not one of the most beautiful girls in the city. Elena bows her head slightly as mama rubs her back to comfort her.

Something in me feels angry and dark, one thing was now certain.

I hate Don Vassallo.

I hate, I hate himmmmm.

I hate him because of how he makes papa feel and now because of how he makes Elwna feel less of herself.

As if he could feel my presence, he turns and looks towards the half door but doesn't see anything.

“ Your house is well guarded,” he spoke.

His voice is so deep it sends shivers down my spine, with his Italian accent. And so confident.

“Unlike some people, I have a family to protect” papa replies.

Don scoffed.

Mama sends glares at papa for the silly comment, Ellie looks at him, mouth wide open. I would have been surprised if I hadn't been snooping around for the last seven years and listening to papa’s conversation.

I sometimes wonder which part of him was real, the one he showed us or the one he showed his men and partners.

“Ohh wow Family. Right.” Then he gives papa a deadly glare.

“ I thought we were friends Damien, no need for the harsh words”

“Yes we are Don”

I scoff quietly, they wish. They both hate each other. Papa detest the Vassallo’s and they hate us too.

Don slides a folder across the desk towards papa, papa picks it up as he stares at him like he was the devil himself. “ You know what needs to be done.” Don says as he turns to look at Elena who is rolled up into mama's hands.

Papa inhales sharply as he goes through the contract, then he picks up his pen to sign. I frown as I boil with anger. He didn’t even ask for some time to think it through.

My heart skips a beat as I watch papa sign away Elena’s future into the hands of Don Vassallo. Tears rolled down my eyes. Mama smiles at Elena and rubs her hand over her back as papa signs the remaining pages. And just like it was nothing, the deal was struck. Ellie was betrothed to the Devil of New York City and I could not save her.

I ran to my room as tears ran down my eyes, I lay down on my bed letting the tears roll down my eyes. I cry myself to sleep.

…

Later that night, I was woken up by a soft push. I open my eyes to see Elena sitting beside me, I sit up and look at her worried. She slips into the bed and sleeps beside me, we both sat there silent. Then I finally broke the silence, “ Elena you do not have to do this” I blurted “Just tell papa and mama no, he is not good for you.”

“Hey calm down tigress” she said as she held my hands smiling “ I will be fine, Emilia”

I sat there in silence looking at her. “ You don’t know him”

“ He is not that bad, he agreed with papa that we will officially get engaged and married in the next three years” she smiled softly.

“So I’ll use those three years and get to know him” she said

“ But i don’t want you to get hurt Ellie”

“I won’t,” she held my hand “ besides you will be leaving for college soon, i won’t have anyone to talk to”

“We can chat and talk on facetime” She chuckled

“ Don’t worry Emilia, he will be good to me. You’ll see.”

I gave up and let out a sigh.

Tracing my neckpiece on my chest. I make a vow to myself. It may be a world ruled by men, but I will never yield to any man or violence. Become any man's property or given away in exchange for resources,alliance. Above all, I will never marry.