A love like ours ✔️

♚21.Infuriating men

Rafael

After last night's events, the Russos and the Morellis have decided to call in a meeting with all their higher ups, in order to make their alliance official and plan their next move. Her father left her in charge of this, saying that she will be the one who'll be calling the shots for their mafia in this war soon enough. Why not start from the begining?

Star and I have just arrived at one of the hotels that my family owns in Little Italy, Manhattan. I open the door to the conference room where our people have already gathered, letting her enter before me. As we step in, the murmur of the hushed conversations quiets down. All eyes turn towards us, and they bow their heads to aknowledge our authority.

While I can see her capos have no qualms with her and not Damiano being here, some of mine are clearly displeased, especially Mariano Gallo and Fabio Belluci. The first is responsible for distributing our products on the European market while the former is in charge of recruiting our soldiers and mantaining our defenses. They are traditionalists, followers of the old Italian values that state that our women should stay at home and take care of their children and husbands' needs.

"Don, Soraya!" Gallo greets. He's standing in the right corner of the room, leaning against the dark grey wall, a cigar in one hand and whiskey thumbler in the other.

Ray bristles next to me. While she usually doesn't pull rank, adressing her by her first name while she's holding a higher title than him, is a clear sign of disrespect.

That was his first mistake.

"Mariano!" She aknowledges the man .

"Long time no see. I must admit, we weren't expecting you, but your father." He continues, drawing and exhaling a smoke. A thin white cloud makes the tabacco aroma fill the room.

"I'll be the Donna soon enough. Whether it's me or him who's here it's irrelevant. I'm sure my people would agree." At her words I hear some of the members of her mafia humming their confirmation.

"I mean no offence, cara mia (my darling), but what would a young lady like you know about leading a war?"

His condescending tone while adressing her was the second mistake he's made in the span of a few minutes. In the society's eyes she's this kind harmless thing, however it's all a mask. Crossing her is the last thing any sane person who knows about who she really is would want. There's darkness, bloodlust and a love for violence lurking inside her. That part of her nature, ingrained in her very DNA, calls to my inner demons. When it ignites, I want nothing more than to stroke her luminous deadly flames. And I can already see a glimpse of them.

Ray takes a step towards him, her high heels clicking on the dark tiles of floor, a saccharine smile on her sinful lips, painted in a shade of blood red, as she asks:

"I presume 'nothing' is the answear you're looking for, isn't it? "

A smirk makes its way onto his face. "Let us be honest, Soraya, you only hold so much power because of your papá. But you don't know how to weild it."

Whispered conversations begin, the Morellis clearly displeased of his display of stupidity.

"Is that so?" Her demenour is deceptively calm but there's a lethal edge to her voice. She takes another step closer, reaching for his cigar. He hands it to her and she draws on it.

"Yes. You are not meant for this. You have the old man wrapped around your little finger, but I've heard you're looking for a husband. If he's clever he'll tame you and show you your rightful place as soon as his ring is on your finger. "