Chapter 1 The Capo's Daughter & Mafia's Son

~ Janet ~

"Janet, time is running out! Get out of bed!"

The sound of my aunt's voice echoed through the room, and as she opened the curtains, the bright sunlight momentarily blinded me. I groaned while trying to pull the duvet up to my face, only for it to be heartlessly ripped away from my body.

"Isabella!" Sitting on the bed, I shouted and watched the little bundle of trouble rush out of my bedroom, holding the duvet in her hands and giggling uncontrollably.

The sound of my Aunt Sophia's laughter filled the air, and my gaze immediately shifted to her. She fixed my bed while I glared at her, my frustration mounting. "No, seriously, you once yanked the duvet off me, and now your daughter has picked your behaviour." I twisted my tousled golden hair into a bun.

Another burst of giggles escaped her lips. "The country will be endangered by your enlistment!"

"That's so rude!" I hurled a pillow at her.

"I mean, people would call you for help and you'd be like, just give me five more minutes to snooze."

As I rolled my eyes, they inadvertently caught sight of the digital clock on my study table. My heart began to race with panic. "It's 10:30 already!"

"Yes!"

I hastily dashed into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. My reflection in the mirror stared back at me, and I felt a creeping sense of discomfort. I wondered what my dad's reaction would be. Would he support me? What if he demands I give up my dream?

The more I contemplated it, the more my mind was flooded with questions, and my heart began to pound in my chest. As I brushed my teeth, I couldn't help but think about my father's absence over the past three years.

Sometimes the thought that he doesn't love me is like a dagger through my heart, but the comfort of my loving parents helps me through it.

Aunt Sophia once recounted to me he was in a state of tremendous shock when my mother passed away. The burden of her death was too much for him to bear alone, and he left me at the adoption centre, hoping I would find a loving family.

After he admitted he couldn't take care of me to Aunt Sophia, she and her husband John sprang into action, scouring all the orphanages until they finally found me- a six-month-old baby girl.

They became my adoptive parents, and we headed back to New Orleans. After a few days, my father came to see me and as he held me, tears streamed down his face and he asked for my forgiveness. He wanted to take me back to Missouri, but Uncle John didn't trust his instincts and vetoed the idea.

And he was right.

The news we received three years ago left us profoundly shaken. Rumours suggested he had been promoted to the rank of Capo of Anton Genovese, the notorious mafia and the number one target of the authorities in the United States.

"Quick, get ready or you'll miss your flight!" I heard my aunt knocking on the door. "But I wouldn't mind if you miss it."

"Ten minutes more!" I shouted.

"Fine, I'm gonna go make something for you."

As I finished my shower, I slipped into a pair of blue high-waisted jeans and a black crop top, feeling ready for the day. I applied moisturizer to my skin and lined my amber eyes with kohl. I applied berry lip balm, which gave my lips a gentle touch of colour and left my damp hair hanging loose.

Making my way down the stairs in a rush, my eyes landed on my luggage, positioned by the door, with my black hoodie neatly folded on top.

"Breakfast is ready!" I caught Isabella's twittering voice and pivoted towards the direction of the kitchen. Aunt Sophia's Ravioli was my favourite, and just the sight of it made my mouth water.

I sat down for breakfast, and she pushed the plate towards me with a soft smile, the fork and spoon already in my hand. "Umm.... It's amazing!" I looked up at her. "You're the best!"

"I don't think you should go to Springfield. Would your father back you up?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow as I ate. "God, dammit! He's involved with the mafia, and you're going to tell him that you're joining the police force? What if the authorities find the link between you two?"

After I finished eating, I took a sip of water and cleared my throat before answering her. "I want to tell him that he could leave everything and come here to stay with us..."

"And do you think it's that straightforward?" She cut me off.

"As soon as I become a police officer, no one would dare to cause any harm to him. I will take on the world for him." I ardently yearned to convey my intention to her, yet she shook her head in dismay.

"If your uncle were alive today, he would not have allowed you to endanger yourself." She sat down heavily on the empty chair, causing a loud thump that caught my attention. I looked over at Isabella, who had the same kind eyes as Uncle John.

I got up and walked behind Aunt Sophia. I could feel the tension in her shoulders slowly melting away as I massaged them. "Sometimes a man commits a mistake, not knowing the result of his actions. I have an intuition that something is amiss with him and I battle the apprehension that creeps up whenever he doesn't pick up my call. This constant fear is suffocating me. Maybe he's dying to leave that world and come back to us? Maybe he is waiting for someone to rescue him?"

Aunt Sophia stood up and swivelled to address me.

"I'm curious about what could have happened three years ago that caused Dad to become distant from us. Did the Genovese family coerce him into committing crimes? Or is there something more to it? Who is this infamous Sebastian Genovese that the Genovese family is keeping hidden from the public eye? I want to know everything!"

"Promise me you will keep yourself safe!" Aunt Sophia cradled my face in her hands. "Isabella and I will wait for you."

"Yes!" I flashed a smile at her, and Isabella clasped her hands around my waist as we hugged.

"Also, you must refrain from trespassing the Genovese territory. Stay away from the Genovese family and get in touch with your father before making any moves."

I nodded and was about to leave when she firmly grabbed my arm, stopping me instantly. "And stay away from Sebastian Genovese too!" she warned, her voice filled with a mix of fear and concern.

***

Australia

The water streamed down his well-defined physique, accentuating the contours of his muscular figure. His skin was adorned with droplets that sparkled like morning dew on leaves.

His arms, strong and capable, moved with a grace that belies their power. The serene expression on his face reflected a quiet confidence, and even in this simple act of showering, there was an undeniable sensuality to his movements.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror. His black eyes, deep and enigmatic, held stories untold. They carried a quiet intensity, a reflection of a soul that had known both the shadows and the light.

As the water ran through his hair, it darkened the strands to a rich chestnut hue, giving him a look of effortless charm as they clung slightly to his forehead before he pushed them back.

After turning off the shower, he reached for a towel, wrapping it around his waist as he stepped out of the steam-filled sanctuary. As he entered his room, he heard a knock on his door. "Sebastian, your cousin Dario is here to see you," the old butler, Mr. Francis, shouted.

Slipping into a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, Sebastian shouted, "Coming!" Brushing his damp hair, he made his way downstairs of his lavish studio apartment.

"Oh, Sebastian, my dear brother! The next in line Mafia King of Cosa Nostra!" Dario, Sebastian's cousin on his mother's side, greeted him with a big smile and stood up from the comfortable couch to embrace him.

Sebastian gently pushed him back. "You smell booze and sex!" He sat on the lone couch.

"Come on! It's been three years." Dario was disappointed. "Just this morning, Dad told me about your wedding... Fuck, are you marrying Larisa Sherian for real? She's just super plain. Bummer, man!"

"What makes you so well-informed about Larisa?" Sebastian acknowledged Mr Francis as he served him his morning coffee.

"It so happened that I bumped into her at a party where she was accompanied by her stepsister, Mia. I tried my hands on her but she looked puzzled all the time and then she continued to play cat and mouse with me."

As Sebastian gave a nod, his eyes glazed over, lost in deep thought. Even he wasn't very much interested in the unison. He didn't feel attracted to Larisa. She had no spark, just a dullness in her demeanour that confirmed Dario's observation. No life. Sebastian didn't find any excitement in marrying a sheep and taming her.

Right then, his attention was captured by a ping of notification on his phone. He received a text notification from Larisa, wishing him a good morning, but he didn't give it a second thought and left it unopened.

"What convinced you to marry her?"

The moment Dario asked his question, Sebastian felt as if he had been transported back in time to that evening three years ago.