Kira
I’m fucking starving.
I can walk better now, it is only a dull ache, and the painkillers help a lot. I go to the door and bang on it, shouting, “Hey! I haven’t had food the whole day, assholes!”
The door unlocks, and I step back to see the guard, whom Miguel called Jarred, glaring at me. “You’re not washed and dressed to eat with Don Rossi, so you don’t get food. The next meal is at dinnertime. If you’re dressed and ready, you can eat.”
“I fucking won’t,” I snap at him. I’m not playing Miguel’s little game.
“Then you go hungry,” he says, shutting and locking the door.
Frustrated, I sit by the window. I don’t know how much time passes, but I hear the door unlock again, and I stand hurriedly. Thank fuck they decided to bring me food at last.
Miguel walks in with another guard, Jarred, and a large man holding a video camera.
“Bring the chair to the center and sit her down,” he pulls something out of his pocket. It’s duct tape.
I try to move away, but Jarred and the other guard catch me and force me into the chair. My arms are taped to the chair, and then Miguel smirks at me as he tapes my mouth closed.
“Roll it.”
The camera is lifted, and I see the red blinking light indicating it’s on.
“Don Sorvino, I believe you visited some of my premises today and destroyed some of my property. Let me make this clear. This is not a game I am playing. Every time you attack what’s mine, I will hurt what’s yours. Here she is. She’s alive and well. If you leave my property alone until we have a chance to negotiate my demands, then I won’t hurt her. She is perfectly safe here so long as I say so. Make your choice.”
The man lowers the camera and instantly leaves. Miguel looks down at me as Jarred cuts through the tape. He looks so evil as he says, “Join me for dinner or starve, Kira. It’s your choice.”
He leaves before the tape is off my mouth so I can respond.
The two guards leave, and the door locks behind them. I move to the bed and curl up-a sob building in my chest.
Thirteen Years Earlier
I won’t lie. Miguel has charmed me quite a bit. He is persistent, but it’s actually not in a creepy way. It’s very endearing. I’ve had my fair share of boys chasing after me, but they just want what they can’t have. I wonder if Miguel learns my last name and how I’m tied to one of the most prominent mob families in New York, he will stay.
I try to focus on what my professor is saying, but I keep picturing Miguel sitting beside me, our hands almost touching. He is very handsome -tall, with dark hair and green eyes, which I love.
The bell sounds, and I jolt slightly, frightened. I hadn’t been paying attention. I’ll have to carefully review the work in the textbook, or Padre will have my head.
I pack my book bag and wait for my turn to join the throng of students leaving the lecture hall.
Once outside, I walk to the left and toward the courtyard. It’s so lovely to sit there, it’s my favorite spot, but I have a test I need to study for.
Someone pokes their fingers in my side. “Boo!”
I jump and clutch my chest, turning to see Miguel chuckling. “You ass,” I say, swatting at his arm.
“I’m sorry, I saw you were not paying attention and had to do it,” he grins and runs a hand through his perfect hair.
“Where are you headed?” he asks.
I shrug. “I was going to the courtyard, but then I thought I might study in the main library, where it’s quieter. I have a test coming up.”
“So do I,” he says excitedly. “For our second date, why don’t we make it a study date? I’m free now if you are?”
I feel a bit flustered, but after a moment, I nod. “Okay. But we have to study.”
“I take my studies very seriously, Kira,” he assures me.
We walk together down the hallway, and he doesn’t say much. From the corner of my eye, I see his goofy smile and how he glances at me every now and then, making me want to blush slightly.
Once we’re in the library, we find a table to sit at and take out our textbooks. He grins. “Even though we won’t be chatting much, this is still our second date.”
“Agreed.” I smile and turn to my textbooks.
We sit there for about forty-five minutes, making study notes. I write mine neatly on study cards while he highlights everything.
As I’m working through a particularly difficult section, I realize I’m going to need a book from the shelves. I get up without saying anything and disappear among the stacks.
I know the book’s location because I’ve used it before, so it should be in the same spot. As I’m scanning the shelf for the spine, I sense someone watching me.
I glance to my left and see Miguel standing there, leaning against the shelf.
“You are so beautiful,” he says. “How are you so beautiful and fiery and passionate and unlike any woman I’ve ever met?”
I blush this time and shake my head. “You’re being ridiculous. Compliments won’t win you points.”
“What will?” he asks, and I realize he’s moving toward me.
I turn to face him. “Well, being unique and treating me like I’m worthwhile will definitely help.”
“You are so worthwhile. More than.” He is a few inches from me, and I glance down. He uses the tip of his finger to tilt my face to look at him and gives me a warm smile. “So much more.”
He leans down and kisses me softly. At first, I want to resist, but he tastes so damn good. I try to stifle the little moan making its way out of me, but I can’t stop it.
Miguel turns me so my back is against the shelf and kisses me passionately. I melt into the kiss, sliding my arms around his neck as his arms slide up and down my curves. He presses us together, and I can feel the rather large, rather hard erection trapped in his pants. It’s enough to bring me back to my senses.
I gently push him away, and he doesn’t resist. He steps away and clears his throat.
I blush and say, “I should get back to my books. The one I’m looking for isn’t here.”
“Yeah.” His voice sounds strained.
I walk back to the table and sit down. After a while, he emerges from the stacks, adjusting his pants. We both settle back into our studies, but I struggle to concentrate as I can’t shake the feeling of his lips against mine.
Present day
After having a good cry, mostly because I miss Raphael, I steel myself and have a shower. I dress in the red dress they bought and the black pumps. It fits me perfectly and hugs my curves wonderfully. I would actually be excited for wearing this outfit under different circumstances. I leave my hair down as it’ll curl by itself. I knock on the door submissively, and Jarred opens it. He eyes my dress and nods. “Good idea. The food here is delicious.”
I don’t say anything, but he steps away from the door so that I can come out. He leads me down to the dining room, where Miguel is tucking into a steak. There’s a covered plate on the opposite side of the table. I sit down, and Miguel looks up. “Eat.”
A butler removes the cover. Steak, egg, mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn. A very American dinner. I pick up my cutlery and begin to eat. I’m only about a quarter into my food when I realize Miguel is just staring at me as he eats. I meet his gaze, but before I can look away, he asks, “So, where have you been?”
“Excuse me?” I ask with a frown.
“Where have you been the last thirteen years, Kira?” he asks, cutting up another piece of steak.
I don’t answer him. I can’t tell him about Raphael. I look down at my plate for a moment but look up sharply as his fist hits the table. “Did you decide to just whore around as much as you could?” he shouts. “Decide to see how many people you could use.”
“I never fucking used you, Miguel,” I raise my voice to him as well.
“Then where did you go?” he stands. “Tell me where the fuck you disappeared after you promised me everything.”
I glare at him. “It’s none of your fucking business where I went. I don’t answer to you. I am a Sorvino, not a Rossi.”
He sweeps his dishes off the table into the wall to my left and storms out of the room. I quickly return to my food because I don’t know if they’re going to let me eat again or finish what I’ve been given.
Miguel
My patience is wearing thin with Kira.
Is it really hard to tell someone where you’ve been for thirteen years? Probably, if you have something, you’re trying to hide. The thought of her being with other loves over these years sends me into a blind rage.
Without a word, she just upped and left me to go fuck whomever she wanted. I hadn’t thought her capable of that. I thought her father had married her off, but I couldn’t find a trace of her in New York. She’s clearly not married. There’s no ring.
I need to take a walk. I need to clear my head. It’s six in the morning, and I’ve had an even more restless night than usual.
I get dressed and walk out into the garden, taking a slow stroll around it. I modeled this garden after the Dean’s garden at the campus, where we had our first of many dates. We sneaked into there a few times while we saw each other. There was just more privacy there. We felt like we were in our own magical world, away from all the demands and pressures of living a mob life.
I walk into the center of the garden. My guards make themselves unseen, I know they’re still there, but they don’t disturb me. Mercenaries. Killers by trade who were looking for an easy, well-paying job. It was easy to get them into the family, to convince them to pledge their loyalty to first my father and then to me.
When you have the money, you have what people all dream of having. Money. It’s such a simple thing to come by if you just disregard the rules.
Unlike love.
I did love her. I loved her with my whole heart, and looking at the tall rose bushes that line the inside of the hedges just makes it even clearer that emotion is a weakness I can’t afford. I can’t lose my head with her, and I can’t let her see she affects me. Otherwise, she wins, and she can never win after what she did to me.
The sun rises, and the garden comes to life in the rays of light. The fresh smell of damp earth and blossoming flowers fills the air. Once upon a time, I would have spread a blanket out, laid in the middle, and gotten lost in my thoughts about love, life, and death while I enjoyed the stillness the garden offered.
I walk away from it now. It’s now a living monument to the life I left behind. A symbolic reminder that no woman will ever take advantage of Miguel Rossi ever again.
I wave Jeffrey away. “I’ll take breakfast in my office.”
He’s surprised. I don’t usually take my meals in the office. Growing up, my father impressed upon us the importance of the dining room table. Important decisions are made while eating. The best decisions and memories are made while you fill your belly. The dining room table symbolizes the unity of a family, the core where all members meet on equal grounds to share their lives.
Well, as long as it isn’t about family business.
The men don’t discuss family business with the women. It’s not how things are done. Of course, there are rumors about the Sorvino family, especially Alessandro’s wife, who runs her own family.
Many families questioned the situation at first, but I’ve heard Katya has proved her worth in rather violent and merciless ways. I wouldn’t expect much less from a Russian family leader.
I sit at my desk and turn on the screen for my computer. I check my emails first as there are documents I need to sign and approve and certain senators I need to, well, assist.
I’ve also been sent financial reports that I’ll need to go over before I see our accountant next week.
Jeffrey comes in with a tray and sets it down on the table to my right. “Your breakfast, sir.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly, drafting an email to the senator who got caught with his mistress. It is always good to do things for senators because they do things for you. I could use some favors.
A notification pops up, and I read the sender as Sorvino.
I quickly finish my email to the senator, ensuring that it looks perfectly ‘clean’ before I open the new email and read.
Let’s meet.
Tonight at nine, at The Italian on Fifth Avenue.
Two guards only.
Don Sorvino
I take my time to respond. I need to be careful. I know they own The Italian on Fifth Avenue, so they will have the home advantage. No, I don’t think that will suit me at all. I hit reply.
Tonight at Nine. West Central Park near the entrance.
Two Guards only.
Agree to venue change or no meeting.
Don Rossi
I send it and wait, refreshing my emails constantly until a reply finally hits my inbox.
Agreed.
Don Sorvino.
I smirk to myself and go to eat my breakfast. It’s fruit today with some toast and preserves. I sip the coffee that has been brought with it.
The rest of the day passes in a blur, but I don’t see Kira at all. I keep her tucked away in her room. I’ll see her at dinner, and I’ve already arranged a dress for her.
At eight, I get into the car with two guards and leave the estate for Central Park. We’re there early, and my guards patrol the area while I sit on a bench near the entrance.
I see a large figure walking toward me. I don’t stand. I have no respect to give Alessandro, so I won’t give him power over me.
If it bothers him, he doesn’t show it. He sits beside me, and we don’t look at each other.
“What is it you want, Don Rossi? In exchange for Kira?” he asks in a low voice.
I see his guards join my guards on patrol. They eye each other warily.
“I haven’t decided yet, Don Sorvino,” I say. “But what I know is that if you continue to attack my establishments or my warehouses, if you continue to destroy my products and income, then you will get her back,” I pause before saying, “in pieces. Consider her payment for damages.” “I think not,” he says. He sounds pissed.
Good.
“State what you want, Don Rossi. You don’t just kidnap a Sorvino for fun. You wanted something when you planned this. Let’s get it out in the open and get on with business.”
I shake my head. “I know what I originally wanted, but things have changed. I think Kira is worth far more than what I initially wanted or who
I initially wanted.”
“So she wasn’t your intended target,” he comments. “You should train your men better.”
“You Sorvinos all look alike, so I’m not surprised my cousins picked up the wrong girl.” I let that sink in. “But I didn’t bargain on getting Kira. That is quite the prize. More valuable to me than you could even know.”
“How so?” he asks.
“I have my reasons. If you want to know what I want, I’ll give it to you in a list if it’s easier for you to comprehend. Start with item one, call off any attacks on my family and businesses.”
“Fine.” I didn’t think he’d so readily agree. I wonder what card he has to play.
“Then I’ll be in touch, Don Sorvino.’
“Don’t take too long, Don Rossi.” He stands and finally looks down at me, a power play I didn’t think of myself. Well done to him.
“I am not a patient man.” He says it with an air of finality before he strolls off and out of the park, his two men following him.
I give him a chance to get ahead in case there’s an ambush. I stand and allow one of my men to go ahead and one to follow me as I walk out of the park, glancing around for any potential attackers.
There are none.
At least Alessandro plays by what few rules the mafia has.
I get into my car and head back to the estate. It’s late, but I still expect Kira to join me for dinner. Can’t waste a perfectly good meal.