Older

1 | Clara Saint

"𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫..."

𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐚

I never really had a choice.

In the world I live in, choices are a luxury I can't afford.

As a woman, my path is predetermined, etched in stone by the patriarchal rules of our society. No room for negotiations, no space for arguments, and certainly no tolerance for an independent attitude.

I still recall the day when I sat before my father, the weight of grief heavy on my shoulders after my elder sister's funeral. It was then that he presented me with the contract, a binding document that would govern the rest of my life.

I couldn't hold back the tears that welled up in my eyes as his words flowed over me like a haunting melody, sealing my fate with each uttered clause.

"This is your job, Clara."

"Stop crying."

His words.

"Yes, father."

My words.

In three weeks, I'll be in the church with my husband.

This decision was made by my father and his best friend, a man no one dared to whisper his name.

Every man feared him.

Every Don in the Mafia.

He was a man of power, a man of strength and war.

And his name was Vincent Kovak

Vincent Kovaks reputation as the most feared man in the Mafia was not built overnight. It was forged through a lifetime of calculated moves, ruthless decisions, and an air of icy authority that sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened criminals.

Born into a life where loyalty was paramount, he was raised in the heart of the criminal underworld. His father, a formidable figure in his own right, groomed Vincent from a young age to follow in his footsteps. But Vincent wasn't content with merely carrying on his father's legacy – he wanted to surpass it.

In his early years, Vincent learned to manipulate, control, and strike fear into those around him. His intelligence was as sharp as the blade he was rumored to carry, and his charisma was a mask that concealed his true intentions. As he climbed the ranks of the Mafia, he amassed a network of loyal associates who both respected and feared him. His enemies were met with a calculated fury, as he demonstrated time and again that crossing his path was a death sentence.

However, he wasn't just a man of violence.

He was a strategist, a tactician who saw the criminal landscape as a chessboard, with each move setting the stage for his ultimate goal: dominance.

He diversified his interests, delving into legitimate businesses that provided a facade of legitimacy while fueling his illicit operations. His influence extended beyond the narrow confines of his criminal empire, reaching into politics, law enforcement, and the economy.

But with power came adversaries. Rival factions within the Mafia coveted his position, and law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly to bring him down. Yet, he remained elusive, a shadowy figure who seemed to dance just out of reach. He operated in the shadows, orchestrating his operations with meticulous precision and maintaining an air of invincibility.