Mafia Principessa

Chapter 32

As I stood on the terrace, the cool breeze hit my face softly . The sound of clicking heels echoed through the hallway, gro wing louder with each passing moment. Aunt Kimberly emerged from the shadows, her presence commanding attention. She settled beside me, lit her cigar, and exhaled softly. The smoke swirled around her like an ethereal aura, veiling her intentions.

"Andrea, listen carefully," she whispered, her voice low and persuasive. "You think you have choices, but trust me, you don't. Power is the sole currency that matters. Without it, you're nothing but a leaf blown by the winds of fate."

I frowned, perplexed by her sudden words. "What do you mean, Aunt ? Where is all of this coming from?"

Her gaze drifted into a distance, memories haunting her eyes.
"I know what it's like to be powerless. My parents sold me, Andrea. They sold me to the highest bidder, and I was trapped in a world of sex trafficking. But I didn't let that break me. I found a way out. I met your uncle in a whorehouse, and I knew he was my ticket to freedom. I didn't care if he loved me or not, love is overrated anyways. What I craved was  the power he could give me. So, I seduced him, and I entrapped him with a baby. And that's how I claimed my freedom.  " She adds.

My eyes widened in shock, but I masked it with a straight face. "Aunt, I appreciate your honesty, but what does this have to do with me? I'm not like you, I don't need to seduce men for freedom, I'm more than capable of attaining my own freedom."I tell her as I try to put an end to this conversation because I do not  like the direction in which it is  going. I couldn't help but look at her in a  condemning look because I knew my uncle was crazy in love with her, the man worshiped the ground she walks on and it turns out she is only with him for his status.

"Now, I know what you're thinking, calm yourself, I may not love your uncle but at least I do not make his life miserable in any way, he is a happy man you yourself have seen.  I needed stability and he needed a family, we both satisfy each other's needs so stop condemning me.Let me tell you, Andrea, that's how you survive. That's how you thrive. And that's what I want for you ....."
Aunt Kim's smile hinted at secrets untold. "You're right, Andrea; you're capable. But capability is one thing, and power is another. Marry Sebastian, and you'll wield more power than you ever imagined. You'll be an unstoppable force."

Her words dripped with conviction. "Have you heard of the Mafia Queen? A woman who rules two powerful mafias? You, Andrea, are already the Greek mafia Don. With this wedding, you'll secure the French mafia, and the Italian mafia, well  as the Italian mafia princess you might as well be ruling it because the title of an Italian mafia princess also holds great power. You need allies and this is how you will get them "

As Aunt Kimberly continued to speak her voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "The Russian mafia may have ruthless training programs, but you, as the Mafia Queen, will be unstoppable. Don't waste this potential. Isolate your enemies, and strike when they have nowhere to run. Many mafia leaders will side with you against the Russian mafia. Tell me how many kids were in the program at the time you were in Russia?"

" I don't around 38  since seven were killed in missions and during punishments." I reply with honesty

" Well while you were having your little  mental breakdown, the number  became a hundred. We have always been aware of the Russian mafia program,what they turn those kids into and the extreme circumstances they are forced to live under but we had never seen it, not until you came to live here. I've seen you fight in the ring and I know you are shadow and Diego is Storm. Shadow and Storm, quite the team if you ask me. Now there are a hundred more Shadows and Storm at the hands of the Russian mafia don. It's funny how all of these years your family didn't care about what was being done to those kids and now all of the sudden they wish to put an end to the program because you were once a victim of it. Only you can put an end to that program and set those kids and young adults free. I am inclined to believe that once they hear that one of their own has become the Mafia queen they will also side with you, realistically not all of them but probably majority because everyone in this life wants to be free, sometimes all one needs is a glimmer of hope" Aunt Kimberly expands as she expresses her views on the matter. It's not such a bad idea, if it were to work, the end results would bring a lot of people peace.

" Aunt, why tell me this? You have clearly been thinking this through, what do you stand to gain by helping me here?" I ask as I am still unclear on what her intentions are. I need to know she is not just manipulating me.

" Well Andrea I don't really stand to gain a lot. I just think that if I am to be at war I better be on the winning side. If you don't act I just might join the Russians because my survival in this war is imperative." She says with a chuckle. I know she is lying, it's not about survival, it's about all of those kids and young adult who are in the program. She is the only one that has always cared about what was being done to them and she wishes for them to also get their freedom.

Our gazes locked, the weight of her words sinking deep into my soul. I hate to admit it but she is right. I have to marry Sebastian.