❝𝒱𝒾𝒸𝓉𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒶, 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝓎 𝑒𝓂𝓅𝒾𝓇𝑒.❞
˜*°• 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇
Victoria Russo grew up in a world full of money, crime and powerful families. Being a part of the Sacred Eight families, she knew what it mean...
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●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●
ON THE EDGE
●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●'I'●
VICTORIA'S BREATHING BECAME MORE RAPID, her heart thudding against her chest, her vision beginning to blur as she collapsed into a patio chair. Lowering her head, she placed her elbows on her knees and hid her face in her hands. Her fingers weaved through her hair, resisting the urge to pull it painfully. A loud and raw scream was building inside her, desperate to be released. She was overwhelmed, needing something to calm herself down.
"Tori?" Gabriella called out her younger sister, turning her gaze towards her. A sad sigh escaped her as she observed Victoria sitting on the patio chair, her fingers entwined in her hair and her breath coming in uneven gasps.
Gabriella didn't receive a reply from her sister, but Victoria bit down on her lower lip to control herself. Her older sister's voice was gentle, stirring deeper emotions within her. Gabriella slowly approached Victoria, not wanting to make any sudden moves. But the light touch on Victoria's shoulder tipped the younger girl over the edge and she began to sob uncontrollably.
"Oh, honey," Gabriella sighed.
She wrapped her arms around Victoria, pulling her closer to her and into a consoling embrace, allowing her to cry her heart out. They rocked slightly while Gabriella's hand tenderly stroked Victoria's hair. Victoria hugged her sister's waist, carefully putting her forehead against her small pregnancy bump as she mourned everything she was going to lose.
"Shh, it's okay," Gabriella whispered, continuing to stroke her sister's curly hair.
Seeing her in such a state was difficult. Guilt washed over her. She should have tried harder with Adriano. But now it was too late, and she felt guilty that she and Alessandro had failed to change their uncle's mind. Victoria's sobs slowed down enough for her to talk.
"N-No, it's n-n-not," Victoria managed to say through her tears, taking a deep breath and pulling away from her older sister. She furiously wiped away her tears as Gabriella took a seat in another patio chair, her gaze fixed on Victoria.
"We marry for life, Gabriella. Remember? It's one of the consul's rules in this world. I'll be trapped in this marriage forever! And with Lorenzo DeLuca, of all people!" she exclaimed, her voice hoarse from tears, but also angry.
The Sacred Eight were the undisputed leaders of the United States mafia, each wielding immense power and influence in their territories. However, even these formidable families were subject to a higher authority – the consul. It held the ultimate control and crafted every rule and law that governed the intricate world of organized crime in America. Yes, even the mafia had rules and laws. Marriages without divorces were one of them. A union between the couple was sacred, and divorce wasn't an option unless people wanted to go through a process lasting a few years to meet exceptional circumstances that would grant a divorce. In their world, it was easier to kill or do something to their spouse than get a divorce.
"Everything's going to be okay," Gabriella said, grabbing her sister's hands.
"You don't know that."
"Listen, I know that both of you don't like each other," began the older Russo. Victoria opened her mouth to interrupt her sister, but a single look from Gabriella kept her quiet. The Russo girls weren't just pretty things, waiting for a marriage to be a perfect wife. They were cunning, smart and more dangerous than men when needed. "But you and Lorenzo are smart. Both of you will figure it out. Everything's going to be okay."
•••
Lorenzo sat quietly, processing everything his parents and Adriano Russo said to him and Victoria. Marriage had crossed his mind a few times, but the thought of being wed at twenty-one had never occurred to him. And he never imagined he would find himself in a marriage of convenience, especially with Victoria Russo. Both families were aware of their disagreements and how they felt towards each other. They had witnessed numerous arguments and hurtful exchanges. So, why them?
"We're sorry you both have to go through this, but it's the only way," his mother started to speak, looking at him and then Victoria. She took a deep breath and continued to speak. "The wedding is in two weeks. People need to believe that both of you are in love. They need to buy this."
Lorenzo froze. His mother's voice was ringing in his head, over and over again, repeating the only two sentences: "The wedding is in two weeks. People need to believe that both of you are in love.". He needed a drink, perhaps several, so that for a moment, he could forget everything. Lorenzo listened as Victoria excused herself and left the room, his gaze lingering on her until she disappeared from his view.
"I'm going to check on my sister," Gabriella said after a minute, breaking the uncomfortable silence that lingered in the room after Victoria had left.
When Gabriella decided to sit next to her sister after the news, the only available space on the couch was between her and Lorenzo, as they had both tried to sit as far apart as possible. As she stood up to go check on Victoria, she softly squeezed his shoulder, offering him a silent sign of comfort. He met her eyes and nodded.
The Russo and DeLuca families were old friends, living in their estates as neighbours just a twenty-minute drive apart, with their children attending the same school. Lorenzo and his siblings quickly formed a bond with the three Russo children. They all became close friends, except Victoria and Lorenzo. Truth be told, everything was alright between them until they turned five. Then something changed, shaping the relationship they have now. No one knew why.
"I have to go," Lorenzo stood up.
He needed to get out of here and clear his mind. His mother tried to stop him, but he ignored her and instead said goodbye to Adriano and Alessandro. Exiting Russo's home, he unlocked his car and slid behind the wheel. He immediately started the engine. Lorenzo drove for a few minutes along a narrow path flanked by trees, which led to the Russo estate, before joining the main road that led to the city. He missed the turning that had the same narrow path between trees, leading to his family's estate, and pressed more on the accelerator, having the one place he needed right now in his mind.
Lorenzo DeLuca felt like he was standing on the edge, teetering on the brink as the weight of the news settled in. His world seemed to crumble beneath him. His life was turning upside down. Clenching his jaw, he accelerated again and the scenery began to blur. At that moment, Lorenzo knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
