All shades of hate

I hear loud noises and shouting coming from downstairs. Who is papi arguing with so late at night? I decide to go outside to check. I gently go downstairs and peep to see him shouting at some men wearing black suits. They were four, an older man that looked as old as papi. He was probably their don then another man at the back who looked like a guard. The remaing two looked like younger versions of the don so probably his sons. What are they doing in our house? Papi never brings work home. He said he was protecting me from the ugliness of what he had to do. I try to listen to their conversation then I hear papi say

"You can take anything you want but not her" he pleads with them. My father never begs. Then one of the Dons sons speaks "if she is what you cherish most then that is what I want. I want you to feel the suffering we faced. Prepare your daughter" I gasp when I hear his statement and cover my mouth with my hands. Stupid, stupid Maria, now they'll know I heard them. I quickly rush back to my room and pretend to sleep.

The noises continue for what feels like eternity and I sleep off. I see those men tie me up in a deserted location, my body soaked with sweat, I'm in immense pain, crying and begging for help. One of the sons looks at me "daddy isn't here to save you principessa" he says mockingly and laughs a cruel mocking laugh. I keep begging for help but no one answers.

I bolt out of bed panting, realization dawns on me that it was just a dream. I hear a soft knock on my door and I panic. I ask gently "who is it?" my father replies "it's me my love, open the door" I obey. Opening the door slowly I see my father. He looks tired and I'm sure he barely slept.

"I need to talk to you" he says tone serious I nod and lead him to my queen-sized bed. He sits by the edge. "I need you to do something for me, something I'd never have asked if it wasn't necessary"

I suspect what he wants me to do isn't going to be easy "anything for you papi" which is the complete truth. Whatever my father wants me to do I'll do with no complaints. He has given me absolutely everything. Ever since My mother died it has just been him and I through everything. He protected me and spoiled me beyond measure, I know the work he does is dangerous that's why I never go out and friends don't come over, whatever he tells me to do I listen. When he stopped me from going to school and I became home schooled I didn't object, when he stopped me from visiting friends I didn't object, even if he told me to kill someone for him I would not object. He is my only real family.

He takes a deep breath "I need you to work as a spy for me" I look at him shocked by his request

"How? I have zero training and limited social skills, you said you didn't want me even close to that side of the world" I moves closer

"I know mi principessa but I need you to do it for me" I think about it for a few seconds but the expression on my dad's face made me give in

"What do you need me to do?" I relent. His smile widens which makes me feel slightly better

"You are going to marry Leonardo Sanchez, pretend to be forced into the arrangement, prove stubborn but keep in contact with me. Whatever information I ask for you will give me" I take in everything he is telling me. This is not going to be easy.

"I will try my best Papi" he gives me a big hug

"that's my sunshine, I must warn you. The Sanchez's are cruel people, they have put me through so much and we are sworn enemies, I have suffered greatly and the person that hates me the most is Leonardo he wants to completely ruin me and accuse me of things I know nothing about so please be careful. Can you do this for me?" I nod and he smiles again.

He tells me I am to be married in five days and he leaves me to think about everything. If someone told me I'd be marrying an enemy mafia member id have called him crazy. I just turned 24 and I know nothing about life.

....

It's the day of my arranged marriage already, I don't know how but everything happened in a blur. I look at my room for the last time. This was where I spent most of my life, filled only with memories of escaping reality through reading and imagining a life where mama didn't die. A life with a normal father. I'mleaving a part of my life into uncharted territory. I look at the mirror and I can't recognise myself, my face full of heavy makeup, a long white wedding gown I'm not comfortable in and my hair in an updo with a veil. When we get to the church, not a lot of people are there which I'm thankful for. This wedding is a sham so it doesn't matter, I look at the Leonardo properly for the first time. I hate him for being the reason I am in this stupid situation. I don't care if he has a well-defined jawline, full pick lips, hazel eyes and a little facial hair and makes him look rough in an attractive way, I don't care about how tan his muscular body is, I don't care how tall he is, I don't care how soothing his deep voice is as he takes his vows and most importantly, I don't care how good our first kiss as a married couple felt. I felt like heaven, delicious yet dangerous, Leonardo wasn't gentle he kissed me almost as if he cared about me. I felt electricity course through me. After everything he didn't even give me a sideway glance or look the slightest bit affected.

We get to the Sanchez house and everything happens so fast I barely have the time to feel anything. I get there exhausted and enter the room that was arranged for me.

Leonardo enters my room without knocking and I groan in annoyance "don't you knock before entering? I thought we had separate rooms" he looks at me with disdain, the feeling is definitely mutual "I enter wherever I want, daddy isn't here to save you so I'd advice you keep your mouth shut bambolina" I hate him so much

"Follow me I need you to do something" I look at him confused. What does he want?

I grumpily follow him out of my room. "Where are you taking me haven't you done enough?" I groan complaining. He ignores me so I keep complaining just to annoy him as we continue to walk, I keep talking until he swears under his breath. Before I could process what was going on he pushes me against the wall, raises my chin roughly and makes me look into his eyes

"If you do not shut up, I will shut you up principessa, I am tired of your smart mouth and I will not waste time to put it to good use" I gasp, he looked completely serious. I could see his veins bulging and a psychotic part of me thought this was a little hot but the sane part of me still hated him so I decided to listen to that part. I nod and he releases his grip.

I don't utter another word until he leads me down to a section of the house that only had one door. The more we walked the more I realized this house was enormous, we passed so many rooms I lost count each section had at least two guards, workers bustling round the round the building. The walls intricately decorated and different portraits, vases and sculptures smartly placed round the house. He opens the door and I walk into a room with a small excuse of a mattrass, a table and chair with barely any decoration a great contrast to the other rooms. The walls weren't even painted.

"Why are we here?" I inquire hoping this isn't what I think is going on. He chuckles

"This is your new room principessa" he says mockingly his hazel eyes glitter with amusement

"You can't do this to me, I have done nothing wrong" I protest. This has to be some sick joke; I can't live like this. Even his slaves have better rooms

"Well, my lovely wife your father took something precious of mine and ruined it so I plan on returning the favour until you prove you aren't a worthless pig like him" how dare he insult my father. Papi was right about him being an awful person.

"You are going to work as a servant and you will serve me, if you happen to be good, I'll give you gifts but if you want to stay a brat, I will punish you and believe me when I say I can be very creative with punishments" he smirks. Why is he doing all this?

I sit on the mattrass which is practically on the floor and pout.

"Your pouting will do you no good, rest you have a long day tomorrow"

And with that he leaves, so this is what my life has turned into. Just last week Papi promised to take me to Italy for a vacation and now I might spend most of my life in this sorry excuse of a room. I just want to go home. I cry myself to sleep

"Wake up!" an annoyed voice booms, I try to ignore it and enjoy my sleep then a liquid is splashed on me which makes me wake up confused.

"Did you really have to splash water on me?" I glare at him which makes him smile

"Nope I just really wanted to and yes I definitely don't regret it" his smile widens and I think of different ways I could kill him. electrocution doesn't sound too terrible.

"Well, you can plot my murder later bambolina, for now you have work to do so get up" I obey reluctantly still shooting daggers his direction but my evident annoyance only pleases him.

He isn't wearing a shirt this morning and only has grey sweatpants on, showing his abs. why do they look so shiny and touchable I just want to... hey! Maria, I think you're forgetting you hate this man and he's the reason you now live like a slave. The sane part of me screams, she's so done with my fantasies but then again why isn't he wearing a shirt! That's on him not me.

Ignoring the voices arguing in my head I try to stay focused on reality. He leads me into their kitchen where there is a short cute lady with brown eyes and brunette hair. I don't recognise her and assume she is one of the helps. She smiles at me warmly and I don't know why but I instantly like her.

"This is Angelica Andres; she is our cook amongst other things. She will give you a quick rundown of what is expected of you and I expect you to follow her instructions because there are consequences for disobedience. Is that clear?" his tone stern. I roll my eyes just to piss him off but he ignores me and leaves me with Angelica.

"As you already know my name is Angelica but you can call me Angel or Angie. don't take whatever Leonardo does to heart he is always grumpy; I find it amusing" she smiles and I already know we are going to be good friends

"Grumpy is an understatement, I hate him but forget him how did you get here?" I ask wanting to not talk about Leonardo for at least 5 seconds.

Her smile falters and I see the sadness in her eyes. Her face distant like she's not here anymore but reliving something tragic she shakes herself out of it and turns to me

"that's something we will talk about later but for now we have work to do" I groan but still listen to her.

We work for hours without a break and I feel so exhausted, I've never worked this much in my entire life. We always had help at my house and I barely did anything I only know how to cook because I enjoy cooking and begged our house keeper to teach me.

We finish the house chores and I'm allowed to go to bed then I bring out the small phone Papi gave me to sneak into the house. He has already texted me.

Papi: How are you, my Angel?

Me: not fine Papi these people are horrible

Papi: I'm so sorry Mia its only for a little while. I need you to do something

Me: what Papi?

Papi: kill Leonardo Sanchez

I stare at my father's text for the millionth time, he expects me to kill Leonardo? I mean yes I hate him but I am not a killer.

I hide my phone and go to bed thinking about what my father wants me to do. I promised to do anything he tells me but isn't this pushing it? I can't imagine holding a trigger or pulling a gun. I wasn't trained to do all of these things, I mean my father pampered me and treated me like a princess and now he wants me to become something I am not. Even as I'm sleeping on this floor mattress thinking of different ways to torture Leonardo I still don't want him dead. Sure he pisses me off but that's still not enough.

I sleep off thinking about everything and wishing everything that has happened so far has been a very terrible dream but when I wake up to see the same concrete ceiling I woke up to yesterday I know it's not a dream.

I open the door and realize it's still a little early, I hate waking up so early but I'll have to get used to it. This is my new life.

I walk down to the kitchen and see Angelica wide awake doing chores, does this woman ever give herself a break?

"Angie good morning" I give her a tired smile and she beams at me

"Oh how are you Maria? You're up early, that's new" I nod knowing she's just teasing. I'd take her light teasing than Leonardo's torture any day. That man derives pleasure from pissing me off and it's exhausting.

Maria and I work most of the day while talking and having small breaks to rest and eat. This whole slavery thing has made me appreciate all our house keepers at home even more. Doing it yourself is definitely stressful.

Fabio, Leonardo's elder brother walks into the kitchen in a good mood and his smile is infectious. I don't know where Leonardo gets his negative aura from because his elder brother is a breath of fresh air. They look almost identical but Fabio has blonde hair instead of Leonardo's black hair and Fabio looks evidently older I have to admit Leonardo is the more attractive version. Either that or I'm just a weird Italian woman attracted to toxic men. I'd like the believe the first one is true.

"Earth to Maria" Fabio says waving his hands In front of my face which is when I realize Fabio has been talking to Angelica and I for awhile now but I wasn't paying any attention so I snap out of my internal dialogue and decide to deal with reality

"Oh I'm sorry Fabby, I'm just a little tired from all the torment your brother is inflicting on me" I joke and he laughs

"You know if it was up to me I'd have let you go but my younger brother is stubborn and I apologize because I am not going to get involved until it becomes absolutely necessary. Besides he might have a crush on you" Fabio jokes but I don't laugh

"Not funny Fabby" I give him a death glare which makes him laugh even more and Angelica joins.

These two are such a silly pair. They look cute together though. Most especially when I catch both of them giving each otherside glances. I wonder what it feels like to be in love with someone completely opposite from you. I mean they have similar personalities but when it comes to their positions in life they couldn't be any further apart.

Fabio leaves Angelica and I to finish up so we can have dinner and rest a little. I decide to ask Angelica about her and Fabio

"So....you and Fabio look nice" she starts blushing which is the only sign I needed

"I don't know what you're talking about" she tries to deny it but after a little pushing from me she speaks

"Okay I might kind of like him a little but only a little and yes I know falling in love with someone involved in such dangerous business is a recipe for disaster. I know I'll get hurt but maybe I'm a masochist because I like Fabby so much. He is the reason I am still alive"

I look at her confused "what do you mean?" i ask

She takes a deep breath and sits so she can start "I was in an abusive family when I was younger, I went through so much torture and one day I snapped. My uncle tried to..."

I already know what she's about to say and I gasp

"Oh my goodness Angelica I'm so sorry you went through all that"

She gives me a sad smile then continues "it's fine, you didn't do anything but he did. I couldn't take it anymore so I stabbed him. It was dumb and reckless but I did it and I never regretted it. I still knew I couldn't stay home so I ran away, I was homeless for days barely having what to eat so I started pickpocketing one faithful day I tried to steal from Fabio. I thought he would kill me when he caught me but instead he asked for my reason, I told him everything which is why he took me in. That is why I am here and why I would do anything for these people. They feed me well and provide all my needs that's all I care about"

I hug her knowing how hard talking about something like that must have been. If Fabio is such a good person does that mean Leonardo might not be as evil as Papi believes he is?

"What do you think about Leonardo Sanchez" I ask needing to know if I'm losing my mind or not. If I should listen to my father or not.

Killing a man was the last thing I thought I would consider doing but I don't think I have a lot of options it's either I betray Leonardo or I betray my father .