POTERE AMORE (Mafia Romance) 18+

Chapter forty two

Annetta's POV

-9 years ago-

"Buon compleanno."

A beaming smile dances across my face as my family sing to me. I was excited, the energy I felt in this environment was unreal. It's like everyone here loved me, appreciated me and was glad for me to see another year. My eyes reached every single one of them, they all waited for me to blow out the candles but before I did, mamma leaned closer to my ear and kissed the side of my head.

"Make a wish baby."

I close my eyes and make a wish.

I wish to visit California and find a hot American boyfriend.

My eyes flutter open, I take a huge breath and release it through a mighty blow, the candles were no longer lit and immediately, a wave of laughter and cheering appeared. I chuckled to myself because I knew my wish was too good to be true.

"Happy sixteenth my Tesoro." My mom embraced me once again, kissing the side of my face and then holding me tight.

"Grazie mommy." I chuckle, "I love you."

"I love you too my baby girl." Mom coos, she reached for my face and caresses the side of it, watching me as if she was about to send me off to somewhere far away from home.

An overwhelming sense of gratitude dawns upon me because my family was here with me. I felt happy, my mom was proud of me because I was doing great in school, which meant that my dreams of visiting the states were going to come true.

As the party went on, I was greeted by many of my parents guests, congratulating me and showering me with gifts. It was beginning to get tedious now because all I met with was old people's faces, men my father befriended at his organisation party last week. I rolled my eyes when a bunch of them walked through, I thought the night had ended already.

"Annetta."

I snap out of a reverie and glance over my shoulder, a sense of familiarity filled me before I smile widely and walk towards him.

"Papà!" I chirp, wrapping my arms around his neck and embracing him back as he too does to me. He chuckled deeply, when my body collided with his, a strained groan rushed past his lips.

"Happy birthday sweetie." He cheers, kissing my forehead and then pulling away. "Are you enjoying your party?"

"Yeah..." I mumble, scanning my eyes around the mansion that dad decorated for my birthday. It wasn't what I expected though. I'd have thought you'd choose nice colours for a sixteenth birthday party but my father opted for opaque colours. Of course he would, it was more for the purpose of his business than my birthday. I shrug my shoulders and smile at him, appreciating it anyway because I received all these good gifts from his rich associates. "It's enough."

"I don't think so." He laughs, tapping the tip of my nose with his index finger and smiling. His smile was almost sinister. "I've yet to give you your present."

"Another present?" I pipe, blinking at him as I reminisced that he had already given me a diamond necklace this morning.

"Oh sweetie, what I gave you this morning was nothing. It's nothing compared to what I have for you right now." He says, my smile slowly fading while his smile turns more sinister by the second. I don't think he realises. "Come along with me."

Out of curiosity, I follow my father. As I do, I didn't bother wondering what it could be because dad was always so unpredictable. However, when we reached a part of the mansion that we were all restricted from, my curiosity only piqued. Growing up, Papà always restricted us from entering the west side of the mansion because he used it for business purposes. I traipse my way through the dark and chilly hallway, slowly increasing the gap between us as I follow him, trying to keep up with him. Suddenly, my dress irritated me because it would make me trip and fall.