Never Meant to Be (ENEMIES TO LOVERS)

[1] Contessa Rochetti

[Contessa]

"Hello?" I grit out, balancing the phone between my shoulders and head as I tried to wipe the blood off of my dress, in a futile attempt to salvage whatever part that wasn't tainted by the bright red spots. I shouldn't have gotten my hands dirty while wearing the dress that was meant for later.

If I had time, I could've gone back home to change into something else, but there is something–or rather someone–that had to be dealt with, the sooner the better. I guess I'll just have to wear my blood-sprayed dress to the party then, that is, given I'm not late. I will be be if I didn't finish my job, and it doesn't help that I had to deal with whoever was calling me first.

I hated it when people called me when I was busy. If it was Papà or Mamma then it's alright, because whatever they were calling me for must be important. But this was an unknown caller. I didn't know why I even bothered to answer.

"Bambina mia? Sono io (My little girl? It's me)." Oh. It was Papà. He was using either someone else's phone or a disposable phone, probably running an important errand and doesn't want anyone to track him if they do find out.

"Oh hey what's up? Did something happen?" I ask, purposely speaking English so that the bastard in front of me wouldn't understand. I rolled my eyes when he tried to escape from the ropes binding him, again, and proceeded to kick his chair for the fifth time since coming here so that he'd stop. I hated it when people test my patience.

"Why are you speaking English?" Papà questioned, a hint of confusion and concern in his voice.

"Someone tried to intervene with our sales today. I think he's a member of another mafia, but I'm not certain. He wouldn't talk," I answered, shooting an annoyed glance at him. Said person is currently trying to scream through the gag but failing miserably.

"Ah, I see. Thank you." He chuckled, and amusement made its way into my features. Papà always said that I was the best daughter–and heir–anyone could ever hope for, since I help him with various affairs whenever he's busy, although I kept a low profile.

I don't see anything special in that though. I enjoyed helping out in the mafia, and although people say what we do is brutal and heartless, it isn't. Not really, anyways.

We only do the things we do to protect our loved ones, even through illegal means. But they wouldn't understand. None of them did. They never understood us, never understood why we did it, who we were, because they never upheld the values that the mafia comprises of. Loyalty, Blood and Honor.

I was always bitter about this. Not Papà though. He said that our live and the lives of the 'normal' people don't mix. It's true. I wouldn't want anything to do with them. They would scream just at the sight of blood, which was practically ingrained in every part of our lives.

"Anyways, the reason I called was because I wanted to ensure that you were alright," he said after a while. Ah, of course. I listened carefully as he continued.

"Alessandro is coming to the party as well. Sai (you know), the don of the Sicilian mafia. I just wanted to make sure that you knew, since he's really dangerous, so I want you to keep away from him at all times. This is your first time going to such a major event. Please be careful, I don't want my favorite daughter to get hurt." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. You only have one daughter.

"I will, thanks. Anyways, where are you right now? I'll go to the party directly after I deal with this...person, so don't be too surprised if I turn up bloody," I warned, giving him a heads-up on what he should expect.

He laughs. "Don't worry, I'll tell your mother to bring you another dress. Anyways, I have to go now. Have fun!" With that, he hung up.

I sighed. I didn't like parties. Especially not one with so many people. And people of other mafias as well. Sicilian, Irish, American, Russian, you name it.