The Gamble

Chapter One - Breakable Pieces

Chapter One - Breakable Pieces

♧"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from you enemies" ♧

I always knew my Father was a part of something bad.

Something wrong.

Something sinful.

But I turned a blind eye to the going ons in my house, to the guns at my birthdays, I ignored my Father's 'business trips' when he came back with fewer men than when he left with. I ignored what went on in his office at the early hours of the morning, the blood splatter on the walls that would disappear by the afternoon. I ignored absence of my brother Antonio when he left at age sixteen and never came back, it was the 'Men of Honour''s business and not my own.

But as I walked down the aisle in a white gown towards the man who I was marry as a punishment for my Father's trespasses, I wished I hadn't turned away from what was going on right in front of my eyes.

I wished I had run, like so many Cosa Nostra women before me.

And as I came to a stop in front of the devil himself and watched him grin, I knew that only death would grant me escape from whatever was to come.

So I might as well raise a little Hell while I still had the chance.

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2 years earlier

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"Milana, your father wishes to speak with you." Dante, mine and Mother's bodyguard, announced as he strolled confidently into the dinning room where I sat poised across from my etiquette teacher, with rows of cutlery in front of me.

I looked up at him, confused, not only did Father never summon me unless I had misbehaved and since Antonio left last year there was not a chance of that happening anytime soon, but Dante never spoke, he only watched from the corner of the room as I went about my day.

"Why?" I asked, suddenly nervous to see him.

Dante raised a single eyebrow, and at once I blushed, I should not question my father's wishes and now he would know that I had. Gulping I turned to Mrs Ricci who gave me a gentle smile, and touched her hand with my own, "Go now Milana, do not keep your father waiting."

I gave her a shaky smile and got up from my seat, turning to follow Dante out of the room and down the corridor to my father's office, I tripped over my own legs, and colour stung my cheeks as Dante made a hum of disapproval. I had grown this summer and I had been Bambi on ice ever since. I folded my hands in front of me and straightened my back as we came to a stop outside his door, I looked up at Dante he rapped on the door, my father's booming voice answered, "Come in."

My legs shook as I forced myself to walk forward, and into the dark office of my Father, the Under Boss of the Costa Norta, a man known for violence and death, a man known to be void of emotion, even from his family. Especially from his family. I hadn't seen him for the last three weeks, he had been in New York, discussing the future of the Sicily Costa Nostra with our Capo.

Coming to a halt in front of his desk I raised my eyes to look at him, I was shocked to see my mother standing behind him, her beautiful young face was pale, an absent look in her vacant eyes, the typical look I always got from her when Father was present. Looking at her only added to my fear at what this meeting could be about, what could I possibly have done?

"Milana, my Dove." Father said suddenly making me jump back slightly hitting into Dante, who grumbled, I didn't move an inch, but Dante's palm on my sweaty back urged me forwards.