Chapter 2 Two

I slowly peeled my eyes open and blinked a few times while taking in my environment. Where am I? Still in Rave? I got up from the sofa carefully, the room looking like any other room in the VIP lounge. I searched for my phone and sighed in relief when I finally found the memory from last night opening like a fresh wound. Never in my life will I have imagined Kim and Timothy betraying me. For how long has that been going on for anyways? Feeling irritated at the thought, I made my way to the door but paused.

I clearly remember coming inside this room but can't seem to remember how I got on the sofa? Not thinking too much about it, I walked out and went out of the Rave. I got inside my car and turned on my phone. Series of texts and missed calls pops up. I sighed while tossing the phone on the passenger side of my car before heading back home. When I got home, mom was pacing in the living room, but stopped when she saw me. She walks towards me hurriedly, eyes filled with worry. I mentally roll my eyes. Like she cares. "Where the hell have you been? Why weren't your phone going through?" She asked. Fiona isn't my mom. They adopted me after my parents met their tragic end. "I was asleep, didn't know my phone was dead," I replied softly. Fiona took in a deep breath Before continuing. "We are having guests today" she says "Okay great" "They are your guest Amelie, you should be ready when they come" At this point it was exhausting. "I don't want to see anyone. I don't care" "Amelie! This is also for your own good, we will all be dead if we refuse their proposal" she says her voice making my skin crawl. "Was that why you asked Larina to run?" I asked and watched as she stared at me in disbelief. "That night I was wondering why you were in her room, turns out you didn't want this for your child,she deserves better and I don't?!" I yelled but felt a burning sensation on my face in return. "You will lower your tone and dare not say a word to anyone" Fiona spat angrily. She looks away from me. "The Genovese family will be coming and you will be a good girl and welcome them with your father and I" she adds curtly. I stared at my mom, my eyes wide with horror, as she delivered the news with a calm, collected tone. My mind reeled as I processed her words. The Genovese family is coming here. A ruthless mafia leader is going to be my husband. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I thought back to that fateful night, the thrill of the heist, the rush of adrenaline...and the devastating consequences. I had never meant to cross Marco, again my dad had put me in the line, I had to pretend just to get some dirt on the Genovese family and tell the cops all I know because he made me believe they were after us and now he's getting me married into that same family? My mom's expression was unyielding, her eyes cold and calculating. She showed no remorse, no regret. They had sold me out to protect themselves and I knew it. I felt a wave of anger wash over me, but I knew I was trapped. I had no choice but to accept my fate. "Why?" I spat, trying to keep my emotions in check. My mom shrugged. "You are the one they asked for Amelie. Specifically. They know you told the cops about it already. Yet they still asked for you." I try to rack my brain for any possible reason why all of these are happening. I had only double crossed a crime family because of my family, the same one that didn't think twice before selling me out , the same one that didn't care about what the Genovese family might do to me. The Genovese crime family was a name that sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened criminals. They were a force to be reckoned with, a ruthless and efficient machine that crushed anyone who dared to stand in their way. Their leader, Cody Genovese is a man of few words but many actions. He is a calculating and cunning individual who would stop at nothing to protect his family's interests. His reputation for brutality is legendary, and those who crossed him lived to regret it - if they lived at all. And his son is just like him. My throat felt dry and my heart was hammering against my rib cage. The Genovese controlled a vast network of illegal enterprises, from extortion and loan-sharking to narcotics and human trafficking. They are the puppet masters, pulling the strings from behind the scenes, and their influence reaches into every level of society. Their soldiers were loyal only to Cody and the family, and they would carry out his orders without hesitation or mercy. They are the enforcers, the ones who made sure that debts were paid and respect was given. The Genovese are also known for their ruthless tactics, using violence and intimidation to get what they wanted. They had no qualms about using torture, murder, or destruction to achieve their goals. Their power was absolute, their reign unchallenged. They are the ones who made the rules, who decided who lived and died. And those who dared to cross them were dealt with swiftly and brutally. The Genovese crime family was a name that inspired fear, a name that commanded respect. They were the ones who ruled the shadows, and those who entered their world did so at their own peril. And I have walked into their den. My legs threatened to give away as I tried to find a meaning to why my parents would want me to get married to a familiar enemy. I raised my eyes to meet with dad . How long has he been standing there for? "I'm sorry, Amelie," he says. His voice was so low that it could pass as a whisper and I couldn't stop the tears from falling any longer. Everything I have even known has been snatched right out from me. Everyone I loved and trusted had betrayed me for their own Selfish reason. I stared at my parents one last time before running to my room and closing the door after me. What was I going to do now? I fell on my bed, my eyes heavy and tired. When I opened my eyes again,it was almost dark. I sat on my bed and ran my fingers through my hair. A faint knock came on my door and my heart jumped. I was reluctant to open it but I did anyway. It was mom. "Get dressed, they are almost here" she says Before walking away. I close the door lightly. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat as different thoughts run through my head, I peeled my clothes off then entered the bathroom. Of what use is it fighting? Shortly after, I walked out of my walk-in closet with a flare black dress with a strap. It was knee length and comfy. I style my hair into a messy bun and apply lip gloss on my dry lips. My eye briefly caught the bracket on my wrist. It was a gift from Timothy. His initials and mine. Not dwelling too much on it, I grabbed my phone and searched for his number but couldn't bring myself to press the call button, sighing, I pressed delete instead . And walked out of the room. As I walked down the stairs, I could hear voices and know the Genovese family had just arrived. I walked slowly to them. "Oh, this is our daughter, Amelie," mum's high pitched voice said as I froze. All eyes were on me now. I bit the inside of my cheeks nervously. In front of me was Mr Cody and his wife. "Hello dear, am Amira," his wife says in all smiles. One I couldn't tell if it was fake or not. "Hi," I replied. "Well, this is my husband, Cody," she further introduced. I forced a smile as I made eye contact with Cody Genovese. We both shared a knowing look. They will forever see me as an enemy so why are they hell bent on marrying me? "Well, let's move to the dinning now, hopefully we can talk some more till your son comes" my dad said happily. I felt sick to the stomach. Soon, we were all seated in the dining area and they talked as if they'd known each other for a while. I drank some water feeling too stuffy and uncomfortable. I excused myself from the table and stepped outside. I stood outside, my feet shoulder-width apart, and my arms crossed tightly over my chest. I huffed out a frustrated breath, my eyes fixed on some point in front of me. I stamped my foot on the grass, the soft earth giving way beneath my heel. The small action was a release of the pent-up anger and frustration that had been building inside of me. I felt trapped, like my life was being dictated by forces beyond my control. My eyes narrowed, my jaw clenched, as I thought about my upcoming wedding to a Genovese family. I don't want to marry anyone, I don't want to be tied to a family like that for the rest of my life. I knew I had no choice. "Those poor grass blades would be wondering what they did" I spun around, my heart skipping a beat as I took in the sight of a tall, dark-haired man standing behind me. His piercing eyes sparkled with amusement, and his full lips curved into a sly smile. "Those poor grass blades would be wondering what they did," he repeated, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. I felt my face flush with embarrassment as I realised I had been caught stamping my foot like a petulant child. I tried to brush it off, but his gaze made me feel like he could see right through me. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low and husky. I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal to this stranger. But there was something about his eyes that made me feel like I could trust him. "I'm just... frustrated," I admitted, feeling a lump form in my throat. He raised an eyebrow. "Frustrated?" I nodded, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I don't want to get married," I blurted out. His expression changed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You don't want to get married?" he repeated. I shook my head, feeling a sense of desperation wash over me. "No, I don't. But I don't have a choice." He took a step closer, his eyes locked on mine. "Why don't you have a choice?" he asked, his voice low and intense. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realised who he might be. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. He smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm your fiancé," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Alessandro Genovese at your service." My heart sank as I realised the truth. This was the man I was being forced to marry. The man I had heard so many terrifying stories about. I looked up at Alessandro , hoping to see a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. Maybe, just maybe, he felt the same way I did - trapped and desperate to escape. "Please," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Call off the wedding. I don't want to do this any more than you do." He raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "What makes you think I don't want to marry you?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement. I took a deep breath, hoping to appeal to whatever humanity was left in him. "Because I know I'm not what you want. I'm not going to be some obedient mafia wife And I know you don't want to be stuck with me any more than I want to be stuck with you. I don't want to be with someone I don't love" He chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "You're right," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I don't want an obedient wife, But I do want you, Amelie. And I always get what I want." My heart sank. His expression turned cold, his eyes flashing with anger. "You think I'd let you off that easily, Amelie?After what you did?" I felt a surge of fear as I realised where this was going. "What are you talking about?" I tried to play dumb, but I knew exactly what he was referring to. "Don't play games with me," he sneered. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You know what you did. You thought you could take us down and get away with it?" I swallowed hard, trying to defend myself. "I was trying to protect my family. Your family was going to hurt us." He laughed, the sound cold and mirthless. "You think we would have hurt you? Or your family? You're valuable to us,You and your family are pawns in our game. And pawns don't get hurt, they get used." I felt a chill run down my spine as I realised the truth. I was trapped, and he had no intention of letting me go. "So, you're getting married to me because of that?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Alessandro's smile was ruthless. "Your father owns me, Amilie, So You have no idea what I have planned for you." His eyes locked onto the bracelet on my wrist, his gaze intensifying as he took in the initial "T". His expression remained calm, but his eyes betrayed a different story - a storm of possessiveness and jealousy brewing beneath the surface. He reached out, his movements deliberate and controlled, and gently grasped my wrist. His fingers wrapped around it, his touch warm but firm. With a swift, precise motion, he cut the bracelet off, the metal snapping softly. His eyes never left mine as he dropped the broken bracelet to the ground, his gaze burning with an unspoken message. The calmness of his actions belied the intensity of his emotions, making the moment feel even more unsettling. His voice was low and even, "You won't be needing that anymore." His words were laced with a subtle hint of warning, his eyes still flashing with a fierce possessiveness that made my heart skip a beat.