HIS RUTHLESS MAFIA QUEEN: UNBOUND

Valentina pov

I looked around, and sneaked into there warehouse The De Luca family were planning something.

I wore a wig for them not to notice me. And a purple contact lenses, changed my makeup to give a more cute style chasing my whole appearance. They most not know it was me. They should never find out it was me because the De Luca family and The Moretti family have never found peace together.

I walked to find Matteo, he is know as Il Lupo, the wolf. Soon to be the heir of the De Luca empire and his guys talking about something. I moved on in closer. And heard them planning an attack, so it was true, dad was right the guys would never leave The Moretti family alone, I mean we are the show not them so I understand why.

I moved closer to here their plan until I stumbled, Ohh "sorry I am late for the meeting" I pretended I belonged

Mateo didn't see me yet, neither did he turn around , he was standing near the window, with one hand in his pocket. The so to be dangerous mafia heir, what's more to him. He looks like a nobody to me. People say he is cold enough that people lower their head when talking to him, oh please.

Nobody here knows Valentina, Tonight I am someone else. A shadow at the De Luca meeting. The man around the time talked in low voice, since I was inside I could here then clearly. They debated about shipments, territory, money and even The Moretti family but very briefly.

I listened, to every word, every name, every route. My finger remained on the folder in front of me. I came here for the piece of information my father told me about, I didn't tell my father I was here. I had to be smart and calculative. One more information about my family then I leave.

The man at the end of the table leans forward, "which means the shipment moves Friday"

Friday, I memorize it, then I feel it, someone watching me. I don't look up immediately. Obviously that would be a mistake.

The feeling doesn't disappear, if anything grows stronger . I finally glance the room, then I notice. The wolf eyes are one mine, I look away first. Damn it, I should not have.

I wait for someone to make a statement then I stand up quietly. No one notices or so I think. I take a step closer to the door, then another. Mateo sharply leaves the window and then blocks me, he was standing at the back of me, his hand was on the door knob. If I fight him, I am going to lose, I am alone and this is his territory.

"Leaving already" he finally spoke

I freeze, slowly; I turn. There was little to know space between us. His expression is calm.

"I have somewhere to be" I replied him

" so do I" I looked into his eyes, he dared speak back to me, oh I am in trouble.

I don't move, there wasn't even any space to. His eyes travels around my face, not my body.

"you are new" he altered. I felt small beside him. He was tall

I didn't say anything,

Then he spoke again "would you love to give an introduction"

Never trust a De Luca, never show fear, my fathers words rang in my head. I reached out for my gun slowly. But he was faster. The pistol was pressed against my forehead. The entire room goes silent, no one dared to talk against the wolf. My heart slams against my rib but I don't panic, panic gets people killed in the mafia world.

Mateo stared into my eyes, I stared back, I was bold, overly confident. He was waiting for fear, for begging but he got none of it. I glance at the gun then back at him. I Valentina finally spoke.

"you should probably take the safety off" his eyebrows lift.

He looks down. The safety is off. For the first time something changes in his expression. Realization, he looks back at me.

"You knew" he said with no expression on his face. I couldn't read him.

I shrug " I guessed"

" No, you knew" his voice drops

I don't answer , the barrel remains on my forehead . His fingers then rests beside the trigger. Not on it, interesting. He isn't planning on shooting me, not just yet.

"who sent you" he asked me

" no one"

" wrong answer"

" Then ask a better question" I stated, his jaw tightened

I can practically see the moment he decides weather i am worth killing. My eyes flick towards the door, then back at him.

" are you going to shoot me" I simply said, not worried about the consequences

he studies me " No"

That answer came to quickly, my heartbeat stutters. He seems to notice, his eyes narrow.

" you aren't afraid of me"

" I should be?"

"Yes" he sounded kind of pained but not, he was surprised

I almost smile

" maybe you are not as frightening as everyone says you are"

Silence, his gaze hardens. Unexpectedly he lowers his gun. I don't move, neither does he. He steps aside. Then opens the door. Is this a trap or an invitation, I was confused.

Valentina pov:

I decided to walk towards it, one step, then another. As I walked past the door his voice stops me, I don't turn.

" you are going to regret leaving"

I glance over my shoulder.

"Maybe"

Then I walk out of the hall way and then see two guys, I guess the wolf called them to stop me. Ye right.

The two men move immediately, one tries to grab my arm. I duck his arm closed around nothing. I drive my elbow into his rib and hears his grunt that escapes him.

"You unskilled idoit" I said with a smirk on my face.

the second one comes at me from the side, I turn just in time, his first hit miss my face by inches. I grab his wrist, use his momentum against him and send him crashing down.

The first man seems to have recovered. He catches me from behind, an arm wraps around my waist. I then slam my head back ward aiming for his nose. His knows cracks against my skull. His grip loosens.

I don't wait, I run immediately.

" Get her, that little bitch!"

Footsteps follows behind me

I tear down the hallway,

"Fuck, why did I wear heels" my heels pushing against the marble floor.

a hand then catches the back of my jacket, I twist violently. The fabric pulls I slip out of it. My jacket remains in his fist as I keep running. It's expensive

" she is running for the exit" on of the man grumbled.

I reached the door, fuck locked of course. I grabbed the handle

"Dear lord please, just this once" I spoke to myself silently.

Nothing was happening, oh no. Footsteps gets closer. three man are coming towards me, I have seconds lefts before they reach me. Once, twice, and finally the lock gives, the door opens. Cold fresh hair hit my face. I sprint outside, behind me, someone shouts I don't stop. My heels comes off as I run. One drops somewhere behind me and the other one I couldn't care less. My fingers reaches my pocket to grab my keys. I couldn't feel anything, I check again my heart drops. My keys, I turn around. They are on the ground several feet's away from me.

"Fuck"

I sharply run back and pick up the keys. I unlock the door, throw myself inside. Something is wrong, my car isn't moving. I look through my windshield. My car is sitting lower than I expected. I step back out. All four tires are flat.

"no"

They did this, either before the meeting or when my plan failed. They planned for me to run. Oh Mateo, this son of a bitch is crazy. A door slams somewhere behind me, I look back, Mateo is standing at the entrance he doesn't even have to say anything, I am trapped.

I back way from my car, my mind races. The parking lot is too open, and to top everything I am surrounded. And more men are even coming, I need another way.

Then I hear an engine. A black SUV, for a second I thought it was another De Luca vehicle, but then speeds and enters the parking lot. Hitting some of Mateo's men. Then the highlight flash twice, my signal. Relief hits so hard my knees almost buckle

"Stop her" Mateo screams at the top of his lungs.

The car screeches to stop beside me. The passenger door opens.

"Get in"

I don't hesitate, I jump inside, the car takes off before the door is fully closed. I turn around Mateo is still standing in the distance. His eyes are on me and shoots aiming for the tyre but he misses. He watches me disappear. I sink into the seat, breathing hard.

Macro, my cousin grips the steering wheel and drives off.

"You are late" I mouthed as I rolled my eyes

" that's another way to say thank you" macro exclaimed

"Thank you? I almost died" I yelp my voice anxiously

" you are welcome" he responded

" Marco, I know you helped me but I told you if I am not at the location in 45 mins you should come get me, checking the time, I spent about 52 mins before you came to get me" I muttered

" well seven mins would not make any difference"

" it did, i had a gun on my head macro, and wait hope you didn't tell dad"

" nope, baby cousin. And also never do this again, it's very dangerous. You are going to be the heir soon"

" I am the La Regina Rossa, the red queen. If I don't learn how to face dangers, I will I over come them. Macro, I didn't do this to get myself killed. The De Luca are planing against us. it's either I step forward and be the red queen that I am or get over shadowed by the wolf" I replied to him softly

" I know, but anything you want to do for know, let everyone know. You were out numbered you were just lucky they didn't use weapons"

" you don't have to rub it on my face, and okay I have heard" I giggled.

Mateo POV:

The rain pours down hard over Palermo. I hold a glass of whiskey that I have no intention of drinking. I sit at the head of the table. Eight men are around me, it's time for the meeting. They know what exact they are here for. None of them speaks.

That's how it has always been when I am around. No one dare speaks to the Il Lupo, the wolf. And silence is one of the most useful tool. It gives people time to think about what they have done, and also save people most of the time.

My eyes settles down on the man kneeling down at the center of the warehouse.

"Capo Ricci, eleven years in the De Luca family, eleven years of loyalty. or so I thought" I mounted, as I walked towards him.

his hands were tied at the back of him. His expensive suit, stained with his unloyal blood. He looks a mess, he is meant to look worse.

He then raises his head up, his eyes, afraid, weak and scared. I should feel sorry for him; too bad I lack emotions.

" so tell me again" I said, Ricci swallows

"I made a mistake, Il Lupo" he scoffed

" a mistake, there is nothing like mistake in the mafia world, everyone is calculative of what they do. Your actions can either save you or kill you. So i definitely know you didn't make a mistake" I pulled his hair as i blurted.

" it was a mistake, I didn't think it through I am sorry..."

" you know one think I like about you, you know how to act innocent. But guess what the wolf isn't falling for it. You stole two hundred thousand euros, you have been stealing from the de Luca for four years now Ricci" I punched him hard

" I was going to return it, please don't kill me"

" when? It didn't seem like you were going to return it"

I walked to a chair and sat down. His blood stain was on my knuckles. I leaned back in my chair. He didn't seem to answer my question.

" hmmm, so I thought" I glance at the folder in front of me. Bank statements, invoices, shipment records, numbers doesn't lie. But people lie, Ricci has been lying to me for months. I open the folder.

"three shipments passed from Naples's month" Ricci remains silent.

" three" I place the first document down on the table.

" if my calculations are right, each of them should have brought in close to four hundred thousand euro"

I pick up another document " instead only two hundred thousand reached our accounts, I must commend you for your bravery"

I look at him and laugh. " Do you know what these means"

His lips part " I can explain"

" No" my voice is calm

" you will listen" he shuts his mouth

" and now consistently for three months now, money has been going out, they have been disappearing"

Another page " small mouths four years ago"

I flip another page " then now large one, Ricci"

" Two hundred thousand euro, if not more Ricci, you worked for us. How could you betray" I said looking straight to his eyes.

Ricci lowers his head " i needed it"

i study him

" for what?" I questioned him

" for my daughter's surgery" he answered stuttering

The statement makes me pause, I say nothing. He looks up at me.

" she needs surgery" his voices cracks " I didn't know what else to do"

I believe him, that's the worst part. But understanding someone's reasons doesn't erase what they have done.

" you should have come to me"

his eyes widen

"I was afraid" he wiped

" of me?" He doesn't answer. I give a quite laugh.

" That's unfortunate" I said Calmly

" Il Lupo, please"

I hate the way he says my name, not because he is afraid of me but because he is asking me to forgive what he did . And I can't. Not when eight other men are sitting round the table, I will look weak and I am not weak. Everyone is watching, waiting for me to make a decision. They depend on me to keep them alive.

" you served this family for eleven years. But started to embezzle four years ago"

" yes, Il Lupo"

" you could have come to me"

" I know"

" and you had the audacity to steal from me, not only me but the De Luca family"

" I had no choice" tears gathers his eyes

" everyone has a choice" I set my glass down " you chose yourself"

Ricci shakes his head, " no, no I chose my daughter"

I stare at him for a long moment. Then I nod

" fair enough"

hope flickers across his face. I see it immediately, he thinks I forgave him. He hasn't learned. That's the problem with hope, sometimes it's crueler than fear. I reached for my phone. I make a call

" find out which hospital Ricci's daughter is in"

Ricci heads snaps up

" Il lupo" he mumbled

" I will pay for her surgery"

his eyes were filled with tears.

" Thank you"

I nod once

he exhales, for a second the tension in his shoulders disappears. Then I look directly to his eyes, and stared

" but you are still going to die"

His face goes completely still

" what?"

I stand, " I can forgive desperation"

I walk towards him. " I can not forgive betrayal"

" please "

"you knew the consequences"

"I swear it won't happen again"

"I know, that's why I am making sure it doesn't happen again" he looked confused after hearing what I said

he begins shaking his head.

" wolf, please, my family"

"take him outside" I commanded

I stare at the rain through the ware house windows. He stops begging for a second

" your wife will also receive enough to take care of your family"

his eyes meets mine

" and me?" he asked with mixed feelings

I finally look at him " you already received your mercy"

I turn away.

The guards drag him towards the door. His voice follows me " Il Lupo"

The warehouse doors opens, then they close the doors. Pick up my whisky. A gunshot echoes outside. One. That's all it takes. Nobody around the table moves, nobody looks at me. They know better, I set the glass down.

" now" I speak, everyone's eyes lift

I looked around the room, every man here knows what happened tonight. Not because I killed Ricci but because I didn't lose control while doing it. That's the difference between a man with power and a man who needs to prove he has it. I didn't shout, I didn't need to threaten. I don't need to put a gun on someone's head for them to understand me.

" one more thing" the room goes silent

" if a one had been stealing from this family" i let the silence stretch before I speak again

" you have until sunrise to tell me, if i find out myself" i fake a sip of the whisky

" you won't get mercy Ricci just received"

Nobody answers

In my world loyalty isn't a promise, it's a price. And everyone eventually chooses if they are willing to pay it.