Title: Auctioned To The Mobster
Anastasia
The loud bangs echo behind me as the ride I’m on carries me in circles.
How did I get here?
Only moments ago, I was walking between my parents, holding each of their hands.
My father scooped me up and put me on the fairground horse. It was beautifully painted, and to me, it was alive.
The bangs. They weren’t close, but they still bounced inside my head as though in an empty cave.
I’m curled up in my father’s arms. He’s wrapped himself around me, holding me, and shouting for my mother.
Next, he’s cradling my mother as I stand nearby. He tells me not to look, but his grief washes over me. I don’t understand.
Her eyes are open.
Why is she covered in red?
Why doesn’t she respond when I touch her hand?
Why is her hand so cold?
I sit bolt upright in bed, drenched in sweat, quickly cooling in the early morning air. I glance at my watch and squint as the screen lights up. It’s three in the morning, and I sigh.
The nightmares have been more intense lately. I feel like I’m reliving that horrible day which is weird because I barely remember what happened when I’m awake. My brain is obviously trying to fill in the blanks. Piecing together the scenario I couldn’t understand as a child.
Long before I knew my father was playing with people’s lives and dealing cards with two up his sleeve.
That is life in a mafia family, especially as the boss. Father always says our family business is about playing chess, and it’s the long game that matters the most.
That’s what he said when he married Tori to unite the Sorvino and Volkov families, but then he fell in love with her. I fell in love with her too, as a friend and confidant. Someone I akin to more of a sister not-by-blood than that of a stepmother. It’s weird because I consider Roman my brother.
Weird family dynamics aren’t unusual in families like ours.
I get up and carefully step through the clothes I casually discarded to the floor when I got home a few hours ago. I go into my bathroom and flick on the smaller light behind the mirror. It’s not as bright as the main light, so it doesn’t hurt my eyes as much. I run the cold water, cupping it with my hands, waiting for it to overflow before I lower my head and splash the icy water across my face.
It chases away the lingering images of my wide-eyed dead mother staring at me and the blame I’ve felt since I understood what guilt was. I had insisted we got to the fair, and yes, it is silly to think a child is accountable for a parent’s death when one of those parents is a mobster, but it’s how my brain thinks, and I’ve come to accept it.
I dab at my face to dry it and then put on my slippers. I’m wearing long thin pajama pants and a tank top, I consider putting some sleeves on, but I want to feel the fresh ocean breeze on my skin.
I quietly make my way through the house and out onto the deck. I stand at the edge, looking at the water in the moonlight. It’s a beautiful night, and the salty ocean scent wafts up to the house. It’s cool, not cold, but when the wind picks up, there’s a nip to it.
I sit on the deck chair and stare at the ocean bathed in the moonlight. I jump slightly when my father’s voice calls out from nearby, “What’s wrong, Ana? Why are you not in bed?”
I look up at him, he’s lighting a cigar, but his eyes are trained on me. I see that in the light from the match’s flame.
“I just couldn’t sleep. I thought I’d get some fresh air,” I smile at him before looking back at the horizon. I never tell him about the nightmares, not anymore, at least.
“Let me finish my cigar, and I’ll make you some warm milk to soothe you. Like when you were little,” he comments, breathing out the smoke.
I frown, instantly irritated, but I don’t look at him while I speak and try to keep my voice firm, “I’m not a little girl anymore, Papa. I’m not a helpless child. I’m more capable than you think I am.”
My father chuckles at first, then chides me, “Ana, you will always be my firstborn and baby girl, no matter how old you get! You should know that by now.”
He reaches out to stroke my hair. I pull away and stand up to move away from him. I know it’s mean, especially because I know how much he loves me, but now is not the time to show weakness.
“Papa, I want to be more involved in the family business. I want to learn how to run it since I am the heiress to the empire. Unless you’re planning to groom my little brother for the role,” I turn to look at him with narrowed eyes.
Ivan shakes his head and lets out another ring of smoke, “You will both have pieces of the family business when the time comes. Don’t wish me dead just yet, my girl. As for running the business, I have ensured you’ll have the best people running everything, so you don’t have to worry about getting your hands dirty.”
“I want to get my hands dirty,” I insist, stepping toward him.
“Lack of sleep makes you grumpy and hard to deal with. It always has.” He puts out his cigar and gestures for me to walk ahead of him. “I’ll take you back to your room.”
I walk ahead as he’s instructed. There’s only so far I can push him. But I won’t give up. I’ll continue to work on him until he gives in. We stop outside my room, and he puts a hand on my shoulder. I turn to him, half hoping he’ll say more, but all he does is plant a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Get rest, my little angel.”
I walk into my room and quietly shut the door. I want to slam it shut and wake Roman, undoubtedly, Tori is up with him, which is why my father is up, but I’m not that petty.
I climb back into bed, angry and frustrated, and I’m confused why he won’t let me be part of our family legacy. I am intelligent and capable, and I can be ruthless when needed.
I want to sleep, but I toss and turn for the rest of the night to the echoes of imaginary gunshots.
I get up, shower and dress, and put on some light makeup so I don’t look too haggard before heading to the dining area to join everyone for breakfast. Tori is feeding Roman with a spoon, and he lights up with he sees me, clapping his hands and shouting, “Ana!”
I smile and kiss his head. “Hello, my little Ro. Morning, Tori.”
I kiss my father on the head. “Morning, Papa.”
He glances at me, and his eyes linger on mine. I know he sees how tired I am, but thankfully he doesn’t say anything about it. Instead, he returns to the legal-looking documents in his hand as he sips his coffee.
“Ana! Ana!” My little brother shouts and claps his hands while my stepmother tries to direct his attention back to his food.
I smile at him, then glance at my father as I pick up my knife and fork to tuck into my breakfast. “Papa, what are those papers about? Is it something I can help with?”
My father doesn’t even look at me as he sighs and shakes his head. “Not really, it’s not something that concerns you.”
He finishes his coffee and stands before I can ask more questions.
He smiles at me before kissing Tori’s head and stroking Roman’s head.
“Have a good day, everyone.”
“Love you,” Tori says with a grin. “Say bye-bye, Papa.”
“Ana!” My little brother Roman shouts and claps his hands. I wonder if they’re both a little wounded that his first word was my name. It’s easier to say, and quite frankly, I think he loves me the most. Who
wouldn’t?
I eat my breakfast mostly in silence. Tori takes bites of hers between feeding Roman. When I’m finished, I smile at them both. “Have a good
day. I’m meeting some friends.”
“Have fun and be safe,” Tori says as she wipes Roman’s face.
“Ana!” He waves to me, and I wave back before I leave.
I grab my handbag and car keys and stop at my father’s office. He sees my car keys and smiles. “Do svidaniya, my love.”
“Do svidaniya, Papa.” I smile and then turn to walk out of the house. I’m used to the guards that patrol or stand around protecting us.
This is the life that I grew up with, and while my father blames himself for my mother’s death, I blame the man behind it. A gangster playing the mafia game, he will soon find himself on the wrong side of a gun I’m holding.
I will avenge my mother’s death, and then my father cannot deny my place to lead the family. To reach the culprit, I’ve had to make friends in some rather unsavory places. But as I’ve told my father numerous times, I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.
It’s these unsavory friends that I’m meeting for lunch today. I’ve been slowly working my way closer and closer into their circle so that they will trust me and eventually enable me to be in a position to take out the man behind my mother’s shooting.
I know he was aiming for my father, but it doesn’t matter who he shot because I would have avenged him just as well. I get into my car and start the engine, the drive to downtown isn’t far, and I’m a fast driver.
Luigi
I blink my eyes a couple of times as a bright stream of sunlight sneaks through my black curtains and hits me straight in the eyes. I groan audibly, and my body cracks like a glowstick as I turn over to look at the alarm clock next to my bed. The only issue is I don’t glow, just crack.
It is a bit of a relief that the gas trapped between my joints is released. It’s Midday, and I glance around slowly. I can hear my phone buzzing next to my bed, but it’s too far to reach.
I shift my hips, and that’s when I realize petite hands are holding onto me in a sleeping state. I sigh and extract myself from the girl, sitting on the edge of the bed. I pick up my phone and see my cousin’s name flashing across the screen.
“Dominic,” I answer the phone, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“We have a job for you,” he says seriously. “Come down to the offices.”
I sigh and glance at the girl. “I’ll just need a few moments to shower, but I’ll be here shortly.”
“It’s time-sensitive,” he says before hanging up.
I nod and toss my phone onto the side table. “Of course it is,” I mutter the words under my breath, but the sounds stir the twenty-year-old in my bed.
“Baby, who’s that?’
I cringe. Calling someone ‘baby’ after one night of sex is the worst kind of clingy. I stand up and pull on some boxers. “I have to go to work.
Get up and get dressed.”
She looks at me sheepishly, and I head to the bathroom to relieve myself and freshen up. I dress in smart but comfortable pants, a buttondown shirt and a jumper over it. It’s cooler these days.
I sit down to put on socks as the girl fixes her hair in the mirror. I glance at her, trying to remember what she said her name was. I stand and run a hand through my hair. “Listen…”
“Rachel…” she quietly prompts me. “My name is Rachel.”
“Yeah, I’m not going to remember that. Honestly, I wasn’t looking for anything long-term. Just a night of fun. I promise it’s not you, it’s me, but I’m not going to call you again. You should probably head out.” I look at her coldly.
She stares up at me, visibly upset, before she grabs her things and storms out. I hear a sob escape her, but I don’t feel bad. I never led her on. I was clear about my intentions. Women are just there to satisfy an itch I need scratched, that’s all.
I go down to the parking garage, get into my car, and drive out. I pass the girl, whatever her name is, I’ve already forgotten. I see her flip me off in the rearview mirror, and resist the urge to wave.
I park in the visitor’s bay outside the office, locking my car and climb the stairs to the door, where security sits behind a desk.
“Boss!” they greet cheerfully. “Mr. Sorvino is waiting for you upstairs.”
“Thanks, boys. Take care of the wives.” I nod.
I toss a couple of hundred on the desk as I pass and go to the elevator, taking it to the eighth floor and my cousin’s office.
I stroll in and wink at his receptionist. “Hey, Daisy, you’re looking good today.”
“Save it for the young ones,” the older lady says, cocking an eyebrow.
I chuckle. “I’ll always have eyes for you. Is he busy?”
“He’s waiting for you, so I’d scoot on in,” she says, returning to her computer.
She’s a hoot for an older lady, and she looks like someone I would have toyed around with in her younger days.
Dominic is seated behind his desk as I stroll into the office. He’s watching a television mounted to his left, my right. He shuts it off once I’m halfway across the expansive room, and leans back in his chair, looking at me with his fingers in a steeple on his lap.
“We have a problem,” he says as I sit down.
“I gathered since you said it was time sensitive,” I grin at him, but he’s not smiling, so I drop mine.
“Marius worked for us for years as Frankie’s guard. He knows too much intimate knowledge of the family to be roaming free. He disappeared a couple of months ago, and suddenly there’s a grand jury today to indict the family on a lot of charges. They’ve kept him a secret until now.”
I incline my head as he tosses me a manilla folder with photos. I look at them closely and nod. “Today?”
“It could be anytime soon.” Dominic stands up. “We would appreciate it if you could sort this out with as much discretion as possible. We don’t want this in any way tied to us. We have someone covering the front, but the back is a trick shot.”
“My main rifle is a common one, owned by many gun-happy family-friendly American men, and you know I like trick shots.” I tuck one photo into my back pocket and toss the rest on his desk.
I walk out without a backward glance and go straight downstairs to the more secure private underground parking. It’s where I keep my primary work car, loaded with my favorite guns.
I take the number plates off and put fake ones on in case anyone sees me leaving. I get in and drive to an apartment building near the back of the courts. I’m familiar with the area because I’ve sniped many traitors at the courts.
I take the stairs quickly as I work my way to the top of the building. I’m almost to the top when my cell starts ringing. I check the screen. It’s Kira. I clip my Bluetooth onto my ear and answer.
“Big sister, nice of you to check in on me,” I say as I walk onto the roof.
“Someone has to make sure you don’t sleep all day, hungover,” she scolds me, but I know she’s teasing. She sighs and calls, “Raphael, stop teasing your sister. Luigi, are you coming to the estate tonight for the big dinner? Alessandro has an announcement to make.”
I start to set up my rifle as we speak, “Of course, I’ll be there. It’s a family thing. I always attend family things.”
“Are you staying after? Or going to chase some tail?” she asks. I can hear shouting in her background as I answer.
“Chasing tail, probably. It depends on what happens at the dinner.”
I get into position without breaking the conversation. I rest my rifle against my shoulder and look through my scope after checking wind speed and direction. I can’t concentrate with her in my ear, though, so I take out my phone and put it on speaker, setting it on the ledge. “Sorry, I need you on speaker for a moment.”
I watch as a tinted-windowed car pulls up toward the back, and I smile as Kira explains what she’s thinking of making for dinner. I train my rifle on the back of the vehicle where Marius emerges. I keep my rifle trained, glancing at the wind speed and direction.
“It sounds lovely. One moment, please.”
I pull the trigger and watch as the traitor’s head explodes, brains splatter against the wall he was walking in front of.
“What was that?” Kira asks.
I pack up my rifle quickly. “I hit the curb, don’t worry. Listen, your dinner sounds amazing, and you know I’ll be there.” I switch back to Bluetooth and walk to the stairs. “Is anyone interesting coming?”
“Just the usual. Luigi, don’t be late. I don’t want Alessandro annoyed tonight. It’s important.”
I raise an eyebrow as I climb into my car. “Do you know what it’s about?”
“I might,” she says, and I hear her hesitate. “But you’ll find out later. It is exciting. I have to go. Raphael!” She shouts my nephew’s name in my ear as she hangs up, and I wince slightly.
I don’t even look back as I drive away from the apartment. I hear police sirens in the background, all racing toward the courts.
My phone buzzes, and I answer it, “Yes?”
“It’s all over the news,” Dominic says, but he doesn’t sound annoyed. “You can come back to the office.”
“I’m already on my way. Have you got something to eat there?”
“I’m sure we can get something sent over,” Dominic says. “We have lots to discuss, more work. Don’t take too long.”
He hangs up, and I sigh, relaxing as I join the heavy city traffic. Don’t be long? Does this man not live in New York City? Someone catches my eye up front, and I’m sure I know who it is. It’s Anastasia Volkov walking along the sidewalk. I’m tempted to stop and give her grief or flirt a little, but she crosses at the traffic light, and I watch as she heads toward a restaurant. She must be going for lunch.
It must be nice not to have to work and still spend all the hardearned family money. She seems a bit of a princess to me, though there’s something about her like. She’s a little spicy. We’ve hung out a few times but nothing to write home about. Once she’s gone, I put her out of my mind. The traffic light changes, and I drive forward, glancing left to see her sitting with some Latina-looking girls. I raise an eyebrow but carry on my way.
Dominic is waiting for my debriefing and to give me more work. I’ve been busier than usual, and I think it’s because so many families are either trying to join ours or overthrow us. It never ends well for them, at least, and I get paid even more with each successful job.
So I’m not complaining.