~Belladonna~

Signora Fortuna

The time was 9:00 AM on the dot when I woke up. My red velvet curtains with the gold Benecosta Family emblems only sorta blocked the morning sun rising over the city. I slammed my hand down on the solid gold Alarm Clock that was imported from Venice.

The bright sun shined onto the clock, sending a glint of light into my eyes. A light morning dew slowly dripped down my window as it absorbed the warmth of the sun. I pull the satin sheets off of me, and push my body up to a sitting position by my arms to greet the day.

New York City looks strangely beautiful in the morning. From my bedroom window, I had a clear view of Manhattan. The silver Chrysler building glowed like a beacon of hope to the city. I look down below to see the flood of people start to rush in. Vendors start brewing their coffee for the callous business men starting off to their top of the food chain jobs.

I see men the size of ants start arranging the barriers in Times Square.

I leave my warm bed, and make my way over to my wardrobe. Tonight was December 31st. New Years Eve. Tonight is arguably one of the most important nights for The Benecosta Family. Our "family friends" party the night away over cocktails, and my father's potential "clientele" swing by to see what all of the fuss is about.

Our "family friends" are gangsters. And my dads potential "clientele" are gun mules. We aren't just The Benecosta Family.

We are The Benecosta Crime Family.

My father is Emilio Benecosta, the most dangerous Don of the Northeast. In other words, don't fuck with my father. My mother is Patricia Benecosta, an ex hotelier whose life changed forever when she fell for a mysterious dark haired man staying in the presidential suite. Don't fuck with her either. My parents are madly in love. Like Harley Quinn and The Joker.

The first important lesson I've learned from the start. Never trust a sweet talking stranger; they could be dangerous. Mamma and papà always told me that there were many bad men who would want to see them dead. The Constanza Family being one of them.

The Constanza's have been bloodthirsty since as long as we could remember. My fear had turned into animosity after the attack on October 23rd, 2011. If it's the last thing I do, I will find the men who did it, and I will make them suffer.

The second lesson I learned, was to never. And I mean ever sell or use drugs. We sell guns illegally. And if I ever sold drugs, I would be excommunicated from the family. If you are a drug family, you are a drug family. You can't be a drug family and a gun family. The Constanzas are a drug family, that have very famous clientele (their clientele being half of the music industry).

"Madame! Madame!" I hear a constant rapping at my door. "Come in, Baila" I call to my maid to enter. "Oh Madame, today is the day. This is your first big New Years Eve party!" She rushes up behind me, pushing past me to hang up my freshly cleaned dresses in the wardrobe. "Are you excited, Madame?" She says, putting an opulent gown I wore Christmas Eve on a hook.

"Yes, Baila. I am" I look into the mirror inside my wardrobe. My short, deep red hair fell carelessly on my shoulders, and my satin robe was tied loosely around my upper waist. I stared into the mirror, envisioning myself with that beautiful gown on, and my hair curled and set to perfection.

"When you are ready, Madame, your mother would like to meet you in the commons room." Baila says, after leaving the room.

***

"Mother? You needed to speak to me?" I call out to my mother while walking down the grand staircase. "Yes, my darling" Mother pats the seat next to her and places a steaming mug on the coffee table.

Mom didn't say anything for a few seconds, she just looked into my eyes. Her gaze made me nervous as to what she wanted to talk to me about.

"Well, Liliana. You know tonight is a big big night for us. Annddd you also know that I met your father at your age..." she wasn't going to say it, but I know exactly what she meant. She wanted me to find a man.

"Oh! Mother will you stop with that!" I huff and turn away from her, looking out the window at the city.

"But Lili! Listen to me. Every Comare must have a Don. You may be 'Signora Fortuna' now, but some time you must become a woman. Not a girl. Men adore you! You are a beautiful young lady, I'm sure you can find a good, fitting man at the party. Mister Esposito will be there with his son Gianmarco! You know, the one with the black curly hair?" My mother got very defensive and sat up straighter on the padded chair.

Everyone calls me 'Signora Fortuna', or Lady Luck. It started as a silly nickname my friends used to call me, but it has snowballed into a full blown alias. In my younger years, I played poker with my friends. A lot. And not once did they win.

I guess that's why they call me Lady Luck.

"I promise, Lili. If you open your mind to the idea of finding a man, great this will happen." Mom storms off to the kitchen, aggressively dumping her hot mug of herbal tea into the sink.

"Baila! Dishes!" Mother clapped. A wide eyed Baila runs from the laundry room and throws on an old pair of rubber gloves to start cleaning. Whether I like to admit it or not, Mother can be cruel; demanding.

I walk back to my room, defeated. Everything must be a fight with Mother. Listen when I say, nobody. And I mean nobody. Will force me into love. Especially my mother.

"Galatea! You and Priti! Make the food! Kelissa! Buy booze! Not the cheap stuff. No barefoots. I'm talking 30 year rum, Ladies! And Teresa, go to Kroger and pick up 6 turkeys. If they have any problems, tell them to call me!" I hear a man yell down the hall. Three women with black slacks and vests hurry from the room.

I could recognize that voice from 30 miles away. My father. "I hear you stalking out there, mio figila. Come in" I peer though the sliver of the door that was cracked, seeing my father sitting at this desk with his hands folded, a Cuban between his fingers.

"Hello, Papà" I say timidly as I emerge into his office. "la mia bellissima figlia! Tonight is a big night!" Father pursed his lips, puffing a big cloud of smoke. "Has your mother talked to you yet?" Papà questioned.

This conversation again. "Pa. I'm going to tell you the same thing I told mamma. I'm not interested. I want love to be organic. Not forced." I cross my arms, turning away toward the window. "Mia Ragazza. I know. But sometimes, it's not a bad idea to try to meet people. I'm not saying you need to become a couple and get married. Just please try to keep your mind open for me, Cara Mia!" My father walked over to me, putting one hand on my shoulder. The other, up to his lips, puffing another cloud of smoke.

"Okay, Papà" I smile, wrapping my arms around him, hugging my father tightly. "That's my girl" he grabs my shoulders, looking into my eyes with much ardor.

"Mr. Benecosta, we need to talk about tonight" his security guard, Flavio comes into the room, signaling me to leave.

"We will discuss this more later, my Lilli." He gives me an innocent peck on the cheek and I head to the door.

"Oh! And Lilli! Be careful"