Hidden in Darkness: A Mafia Love Story

by Ali D

  “Alright, calm down. No need to get hysterical. Are you still coming over for the weekend? Cecelia is cool with it.”

  I’m downplaying Cecelia’s reaction. No one actually needs to know that she freaked out about how I’m “already making friends”. Talk about embarrassing. I made her promise to never do that again.

  “Duh! I’m stoked to finally see your house. Did you know that your great grandfather built it for your great grandmother? It was her dream house and he made it come to life. Some real life Nicholas Sparks, pure love type romance, especially when you factor in how they were never supposed to be together in the first place.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa... Slow down. How do you know all that? I swear you’re like a walking encyclopedia of personal information. Is it only my family history you know or is it everyone’s?”

  “Ugh, girl... You are the most confusing person ever. You’re a straight gangster-street fighter goddess-queen bitch-genius. You’re the girl who gets straight A’s and is perfectly proper in all of our classes but fights like a savage. You can outsmart more than half of our teachers but every once in a while, your inner thug vocab comes out - and that shit is terrifying, by the way- but you don’t even know your own family history? You’ve been here over a week now. How could you not even be a little bit curious?”

  She’s giving me that sassy ass face she makes when she has a valid point and now, I’m super low-key regretting Face Timing her. Only then do I realize what she just said.

  “Hahaha. Oh my god, ‘gangster-street fighter goddess-queen bitch-genius’? What even is that?” I have to wipe tears from my eyes, as I try to breathe through my laughter.

  “And honestly, I just figured Cecelia would tell me about my family when we finally talk about everything that happened when I was a baby. No use in going on a fact finding mission when I can get it firsthand sooner or later. Plus, I had a lot to study this week to get caught up and I’m exhausted from showing up most of those fools on the MMA team at school, or as you like to call it ‘fight club’.”

  I’m still wrapping my mind around the fact that a school has a legitimate MMA club. It’s awesome but I kind of singled myself out since I’m the only girl. It also doesn’t help that the kings of Salvatore Prep are also in that particular after school activity. I swear I can’t round a corner in that building without one of them being right there in my face. It’s so much worse when one of them rubs up against me on the mats. It’s not like it can be avoided, MMA is a full contact sport. The violence is practically an aphrodisiac between me and the three of them. The hatred between us is our foreplay. It’s as hot as it is nauseating. Pheromones are flying free in the gym and it’s killing me. My hormones are constantly fighting me for dominance and it’s making me sick to my stomach. What the hell is their game? They act like they hate me yet they give me every ounce of their attention. I don’t need a man, yet I’ve caught the attention of three of them, whether good or bad remains to be seen. They haven’t done anything fucked up since that first day but that doesn’t really mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes plotting takes time. Ugh, I need to stop thinking about it so much, I’m here for a damned education. Plus, you know, they’re assholes and I hate them.

  * * *

  My alarm goes off too early again. It alerts me with that incessant beeping that it is, in fact, time to go back to school. Oh goodie. I’m so excited to go back into the silent war between myself and the royal court. Not.

  “One day at a time” I remind myself and think back on my weekend.

  It was the most relaxing weekend I’ve ever had. I still hit the gym hard in the mornings before SB woke up but for the most part, I got to act like a girl my own age, just hanging out with a friend. We ate too much food, watched too many movies and so much trashy tv. We laughed. A lot. I’ve never laughed so much in my life actually. We laid out by the pool until my skin turned this perfect olive color and naturally highlighted my waist length dark hair. Thanks to the regular food intake I’ve been able to get and getting into the gym so frequently, I look the healthiest I ever have. I’ve put a lot on the backburner, but I think I’ll leave it sit there for a while. I’m enjoying the freedom of this new life for a minute. Is it the smartest thing to do? Maybe, maybe not. But I have lived a lifetime of hell. I don’t want drama with Cecelia at home when I already have battles at school.

  Once I’m ready, I go downstairs to find Cecelia setting out our new normal, way too much, breakfast. I hope she donates what we can’t eat. I’ll have to make a mental note to ask the chef later. We load up and when I think she’s going to start making her usual small talk, she surprises me.

  “So, your grandfather will be here sometime within the next couple of weeks for the holidays. He’s been in Italy on business but once he’s home, I think it would be a good time to lay everything out on the table and tell you about how your life came to be what it was. I know you haven’t really wanted to discuss any of it but now that you’re settling in, I honestly think it’s time. You’ll have a couple of weeks to adjust to the idea of learning a lot about our family. Most of it is pretty ugly if I’m being honest. I just need you to always remember that I’m on your side. Alessandra, I love you. I’ve always loved you. Please remember that.”

  Immediately feeling on edge, my inquisitive brain comes up with a million things I’m almost afraid to ask.

  “What does that mean? Did you know I’d be abducted or something? Why are you making it sound like you had something to do with everything that happened? Cecelia, what aren’t you telling me?”

  She shakes her head at me, looking at the floor. When she looks up, her eyes are watery but there’s a terrifying glint to them, like she’s out for blood.

  “No, I didn’t have anything to do with your kidnapping, but I think I found out who did. I did know it was a possibility and I did everything in my power to keep it from happening. We were on the move constantly, I learned how to fight, I barely let you out of my sight, except to sleep. And even most nights, I’d end up sleeping on the floor next to your bed. Even that wasn’t enough to keep you safe...” She looks like she’s lost in her thoughts, lost back to that time.

  “Anyway, don’t worry, I’m figuring things out. I’ll handle it. Those responsible will pay. Just watch your back at school, ok?”

  Well, fuck. So much for living an easy life for a while. It was nice while it lasted, I guess.

  * * *

  The school day went by with me in a bit of a haze. Even SB couldn’t keep my attention. Thank god she’ll let me copy her notes from class. I kept thinking back to breakfast and what Cecelia said. Those responsible will pay. Just watch your back at school, ok? What does school have to do with anything? Am I at risk to be taken again? Pfft, I’d love to see someone try. I’m a little bigger, smarter and more willing to fight now than I was when I was three. But wasn’t it my crackwhore fake ma? Why does this all revolve around when my granddad comes home? Ugh, this is getting annoying. Every question answered leads to twenty more questions. Everything is so damn vague and ominous. I hope when good ol’ gramps gets here, everything gets cleared up because I really need to focus...

  Slam!

  “Ughh... fuck, that hur-”

  My lips suddenly get devoured by the fullest lips known to mankind. My attacker is demanding and deliberate in their attempt to use their tongue to pry my own mouth open. All of my senses feel overwhelmed, but in a good way. He pushes his knee between my legs as he grabs for my wrists in an attempt to hold me down. What should have me pissed off and pushing this random away from me, is actually turning me on. My body momentarily responds to the masculine scent of sweat, and the most amazing citrusy scent with an undertone of vanilla and I find myself giving in for just a moment with one swipe of my own tongue before getting a grip and pushing him off of me. My body pulsing with a need I’ve never known. I feel my panties soak instantly, the silk instantly adding another sensation to set my body on fire. I silently curse these
stupid required uniform skirts as I worry, I’ve left a wet spot on someone’s leg.

  Looking up into the ruthless green eyes that overwhelm me at the best of times, I go to slap him, but he catches my arm.

  “Ah, ah, ah. You won’t be the one catching anyone off guard today. No, today it’s my turn.” He says in his low timbered voice, it caresses me softly with the heat of his breath on my lips.

  “The fuck do you want? And what was that kiss, you hate me... I’m trash... Remember?”

  “Oh, beautiful girl, I got some news today. It turns out I had things all wrong. I may have finally found my queen.” His grumbly voice rumbles through me and I have to fight myself not to melt into his body, it feels so damn good. I just have to hold onto my anger. What is wrong with me?

  “I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d be watching you. I just didn’t expect to have gotten things so wrong. I’ve never hated you though. You were right when you called me out for being threatened by you. This is my school and I didn’t want to lose it to an outsider but now I see how much stronger we can be together. I’ve wanted to touch this delectable body since I first laid eyes on you and I know you can feel it too. Your body says it all for you. You need me like I need you. I’ll only let you fight the feeling for so long Alessandra.” He thrusts himself into the apex of my thighs and I fight to keep my eyes from rolling into the back of my head. I’m not some weak ass bitch.

  “Ugh, FUCK. OFF, Your Majesty.” I sneer.

  “I’ll have you sooner or later my queen. You were always meant to be mine. I just didn’t know it. You are mine. Mine to have and mine to share. Like I said, I’ll only give you so much time to deny your feelings. Get ready, beautiful because we are happening.”

  He backs up with a wicked smile that just about drops me to my knees.

  “See you at fight club.”

  Fuck my whole life.

  * * *

  “So, I heard you’re finally on the table for us to play with, my feisty queen.”

  Noah circles me, assessing me and calculating my next move before he swipes my legs out from under me and I fall hard onto the mat. He takes advantage and drops between my legs with my arms pinned above my head.

  This is not my fucking day.

  “Yeah, Q. Did we hear that right? You’re ours now?” I hear Cohen but can’t see him since I’m pinned to the ground.

  “Absolutely not.” I growl.

  “Oh, this is gonna be so much fun.”

  I hear the smirk in Cohen's voice as he watches from the side of the mats. I finally wiggle enough to make space to look up, only to see his strong arms folded in front of him, evil smirk in place and basically devouring every inch of me with his eyes.

  Oh, shit. The low rumble of his voice comes back to me, Mine to have and mine to share

  Fuck. Me.

  Cecelia said to watch my back at school. Is this what she meant? Matteo and his boys are all of the sudden now up in my shit. Literally.

  Noah grounds his hard on into me and he shoves his face into my neck and kisses some glorious spot just below my ear, and I’ll be damned if it doesn’t feel good, I just can’t give into it. I just need him to think I’m going to. I turn my head and smile at him, lifting my chin like I want him to kiss me. I wrap my legs up around him and as soon as he relaxes into me, then I shove my whole body against him until we’ve flipped.

  “Oh, you like to be on top, huh? I should’ve known you’d want to be in charge.” He leans up so we are nose to nose and forehead to forehead and quickly pecks a kiss at my lips before I shove off of him and take off for the locker room.

  All I hear is them laughing behind me.

  “Damn it!” I gotta get my hormones in check or this is going to end badly. Why does it have to be them that brings out all of these sexual feelings in me? They can’t be the ones. Being a teenage girl sucks so hard sometimes. I’m not even going to bother changing, I’ll shower at home. I go to grab my bag, only to be whipped back around. Hell to the no. This shit is not happening again. I bring my fist up and swing a hard uppercut into the stomach of my most recent attacker only to catch a face full of... what is this? pine-sol? Oh fuck, it burns! I run into the showers to try and get it out of my eyes and off my skin.

  “You stupid bitch! You’ll never deserve him. He’s mine. I don’t care what your name is. Stay the fuck away from all of them, you dumb cunt or I’ll make you wish you fucking had!!” It takes me a minute to realize who the screeching belongs to. It’s Avery who did this. Now my only goal was to get whatever chemicals she mixed up off of me. It smells like bleach and pine-sol. I register her footsteps as she runs away so I know I can deal with my irritated skin now and the princess later. At least I got one good hit in. Thank god she did this while I was close to a shower, so the effects aren’t that bad. My hair actually took the brunt of the damage when my ponytail whipped in front of my face from spinning around so fast. My face is definitely red and splotchy but there are no chemical burns, so I don’t need a doctor. I change my clothes quickly. I just want to get home and go to bed. I should’ve recognized my good weekend for what it was. A bad omen, preluding the dangers ahead. Nothing good ever happens without balance.

  “One day at a time.” I whisper to no one. I’m surviving one damn day at a time.

  * * *

  “OH MY GOD! YOUR HAIR! YOUR FACE!! What the hell happened?!” Cecelia loses her mind when she sees me.

  “Are you ok? Tell me who the fuck did this! Blood will fucking spill, I fucking swear to god!” Her face is turning an unhealthy shade of purple and she looks like she’s about to step up her mama bear game, so I react without thinking, I just need her to stay calm. I’ll fight my own battles.

  “Mom! Calm down, I’m fine. Jesus. It’s just hair...” Only too late do I hear myself call her mom. But I realize that it’s probably for the best. I know in this moment that she’ll fight for me no matter how big or small my troubles are, she’s on my side. In my gut, I know that she loves me and will always do what she can to protect me. In my heart, I allow myself to love her too. I won’t speak it into existence yet but it’s there. In my head, I hear my nightmare come to life and I know that it was never just a dream. It was a memory. I’ve never dreamed of losing my own baby. It’s her voice I hear calling out for me. It’s her face I see fighting to reach me before my kidnapper escapes. I’m too emotionally exhausted to sit and dwell on these things but I can read it all over her face, she knows that we’ve just made a breakthrough. By calling her mom, I’ve come to terms with our life and I’ve accepted that we can start to really develop the relationship we were cheated out of. Instead of making it a big deal, she takes a deep breath and shakily says,

  “Why don’t I schedule an emergency hair appointment and we’ll get that fixed up for you? While we’re out we can grab an over the counter ointment to help with any agitation or swelling on your face. Come on sweet girl, I’ll get you whatever you need to feel better and then maybe we can grab some pizza and ice cream on the way home, yeah?”

  “Um, yeah... Yeah, that actually... Sounds really good. Thanks.”

  * * *

  “Look at your hair! Oh my gosh, I love it! You look like a sexy little demon. I wish my mom would let me do something like that! Is this why I couldn’t get ahold of you all night?” SB raves about my new look.

  We had to trim the ends a bit, but the hairstylist worked magic as she wove a deep blood red in between the strands of dark hair. She managed to keep almost all of my length while adding in just enough of my favorite color to match my attitude. I fucking love it. Cecelia earned some major mom points last night. We talked a little bit more too, but she stayed pretty tight lipped about a lot, just saying not to worry and that she’ll handle things. I’m not used to having people on my side so that’ll take some getting used to.

  “Ha, thanks. Didn’t have much choice after Avery threw a bucket of the janitors floor solution all over me.” I look over to see SB make this affronted look, as if it ha
ppened to her instead of me.

  “That bitch! Ok, that’s it. I’m hacking the school systems and changing all of her grades! She’ll be flunking out of school by the end of the day. She’s gone too far this time. I’m done with her and her bullying.”

  I can’t help but laugh at her outrage.

  “Chill SB. I have plans for her. Don’t you worry your pretty little head. I mean, I won’t stop you from ruining her academic life if those are your life goals but don’t go getting yourself into trouble over this. It’s not worth it.” I tell her, thankful to have such a loyal friend. Most people don’t just hand that shit out for free.

  “But why would she do that? I just don’t get it. You haven’t even done anything to her. I mean, you haven’t, have you?”

  “Ehhh... No?” I say unconvincingly.

  She tosses me an entirely too disbelieving look, so I throw back a scowl.

  “Ok, so here’s what happened. Matteo caught me off guard and got all up in my face, right? Then the idiot kisses me like I’m his life source, babbles on about how I’m his and us being together, then walks off. His boys decide they wanna play a little game too, so they start to fuck with me during fight club and when things started to heat up, I bounced. I’m pretty sure it’s all just an attempt at a cruel prank but even if it isn’t, I don’t mess around with nobody so I went to the locker room to grab my shit and BAM, this bitch hits me with a waterfall of mop bucket chemicals out of nowhere, screaming about how I need to back off her men. Like, bitch, No. Ain’t nobody over here want your men, ya know?” I pause to breathe and give her a ‘duh’ look to make sure we’re on the same page. She just nods, wide eyed and stunned.