In Your Clutches

Prologue: The Last Night, Indeed

                                AMELIA

"It's going to be our last night here for a while," Jason stated, looking around his living room.

I've been coming to his house so often ever since I was a little girl, that it was basically a second home to me. We were sprawled on the huge couch in his living room, having our last movie night.

"The last night, I know," I agreed.

A wave of nostalgia spread over me as I thought about all the time and years we both had spent there and the years we'd been friends. This was also the last time I'd be seeing him for a very long time. Playfully, I picked up the popcorn from his bowl and tossed it at him. He skillfully caught it with his mouth and we both started laughing hysterically.

"Are you done packing?" he asked, extending his arm to ruffle my hair.

"What kind of question is that?" I asked him with a mischievous grin. He was my best friend after all. He should've known better than to ask me a question like that.
I would be leaving for Cambridge the first thing in the morning to start my third year at Harvard Medical School.

My dream was to become a Doctor. Just like my mother.

It was the end of my summer break, even though I knew I'd miss my friends and family miserably, I was excited to get back on my studies and achieve my dreams. I'd always wanted to become a doctor. Just like my mother. My bags had been packed for the last few days.
If Mom were alive, she would have been really proud of me. Going to Harvard was the last thing I would do to follow in her footsteps. It was amazing.

"Sorry, Lia. My mistake," Jason chuckled. His large green eyes sparkled with amusement. "It was more the case of me asking if you were ready to leave again so quickly, but you were probably born ready."

I laughed. "Yes, I was. I will definitely miss you and Papa a lot, but I literally can't wait to leave." I confessed, taking another sip of my juice.

I was excited to start my classes again because some of the best teachers in the world instructed me, but I wouldn't deny the chance to escape L.A. and my father's controlling and over-protectiveness hadn't done much appeal to me as well.

"I get it. I just hope your poor, old man doesn't have a heart attack like he does every time you step foot out of the freaking city," he said, jokingly.

It had taken a lot of profound begging for my dad to allow me to go to Harvard. It was truly a miracle because I never believed Dad would allow me to go there. I kept thinking he would change his mind about me going to college but nothing had happened over the past three years.

"Fingers crossed, he won't. You worked hard to show him that you're fine, and you worked hard for the placement." Jason nodded, looking at me proudly.

"Thank you, Jay."

I knew what it mean to be a Valentino, and specifically to be the daughter of a mob boss. My father was a powerful man. As such, he had enemies.

I had already experienced an eye-opener a few years back when my cousin, Tyler, was gunned down in the streets. My family wasn't average. And neither was Jason's. His father worked for us and we were both old enough to know and understand where we come from and what all dangers we could face just because of our last name.

I loved my father dearly and I knew he wanted to protect me, but sometimes I felt like I was living in one big gilded cage. Going to Harvard gave me a chance to be free. Truthfully, I was hoping that if everything went well, Dad would allow me more freedom so I could travel around without any issues. Or his watchful eye.