Mafia's Forbidden Desire

Sydney, Australia

Water streamed down his well-defined physique, accentuating the contours of his muscular build. Droplets clung to his skin, shining like morning dew on leaves. His calm expression showed quiet confidence, and his movements were undeniably sensual.

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

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

After turning off the shower, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist as he stepped out of the steam-filled room. When he entered his room, he heard a knock on the door.

"Mr. Genovese, your cousin Mr. Morelli is here to see you," called the elderly butler, Mr. Francis.

He slipped into a white T-shirt and grey sweatpants, calling out in a hoarse voice, "Coming!" Brushing his damp hair, he walked out of his bedroom and made his way downstairs to his luxurious living area.

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

Sebastian gently pushed him back. "You smell like booze and sex!" He sat on the lone brown leather couch right across from him.

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

"What makes you so well informed about Larisa?" Sebastian asked, acknowledging Mr. Francis as he poured him a cup of black filtered coffee.

"A lime juice for me, please," Dario smiled at Mr. Francis. As Mr. Francis walked away, Dario's attention shifted back to Sebastian.

"It just happened that I ran into her at a party, where she was with her stepsister, Mia. I made advances toward her, but she looked confused the whole time, and then she kept playing cat-and-mouse with me." He flashed a crooked smile."

As Sebastian nodded, his eyes glazed over, lost in deep thought. He wasn't very interested in the unison. He didn't feel drawn to Larisa; there was no spark, no life. Sebastian found no excitement in marrying a sheep and taming her.

Right then, a ping of notifications on his cell phone caught his attention. Larisa had texted 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, Sebastian felt as if he had been transported back to that evening three years ago. Storm brewing in his eyes.

***

~ JANET ~

"Janet, you're running out of time! Get out of bed!"

My aunt's voice echoed in 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 dash out of my bedroom, clutching the duvet in her hands and giggling uncontrollably.

Aunt Sophia's laughter filled the air, and my gaze immediately shifted to her. She made my bed while I glared at her, my frustration mounting. "No, seriously, she saw you yanking the duvet off me once, and now your daughter has picked up your habit." I twisted my messy golden hair into a bun.

Another burst of giggles escaped her lips. "Your enlistment will endanger the city!"

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

Sophia dodged the attack. "People would reach out to you for help, and you'd respond, Just give me five more minutes to snooze." She laughed.

I rolled my eyes and inadvertently caught sight of the digital clock on my study table. My heart started racing with panic. "It's already 10:30!"

"Yes!"

I hurried into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. My reflection in the mirror looked back at me, and a rising feeling of unease swept over me. I wondered how my dad would respond. Would he support me? What if he insisted I abandon my dream?

The more I thought, the more questions filled my mind, and my heart began to race. As I brushed my teeth, I couldn't help but reflect on my father's absence over the past three years.

Sometimes, thinking that he doesn't love me feels like a dagger to my heart, but my supportive parents help me get through it.

Aunt Sophia once told me that he was in a state of tremendous shock when my mother passed away. The weight of her death was too heavy for him to carry alone, so he left me at the adoption center, hoping I would find a loving family.

After he couldn't care for me at Aunt Sophia's, she and her husband, John, quickly took action, searching every orphanage until they finally found me-a nine-month-old baby girl.

They became my adoptive parents, and we moved back to New Orleans. After a few days, my father visited me, and as he held me, tears ran down his face. 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 deeply shaken. Rumors indicated he had been promoted to the rank of Capo under Anton Genovese, the notorious mafia boss and the top target of authorities in the United States.

"Hurry up and get ready, or you'll miss your flight!" I heard Sophia knocking at the door. "However, I wouldn't mind if you missed it."

"Just ten more minutes!" I yelled.

"Fine," Sophia exhaled with concern, "I'm going to go make something for you."

After finishing my shower, I slipped into blue high-waisted jeans and a black crop top, feeling prepared for the day. I applied moisturizer to my skin and lined my amber eyes with kohl. I put on some berry lip balm, which added a subtle tint of color to my lips, and left my damp hair hanging loose.

As I went down the stairs, my eyes landed on my luggage by the door, with my black hoodie neatly folded on top.

"Breakfast is ready!" I heard Isabella's cheerful voice and turned toward the kitchen. Sophia's ravioli is my favorite, and just seeing it made my mouth water.

I sat down for breakfast, and she gently slid the plate toward me, 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 support you?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow as I ate. "Goddammit! He's involved with the mafia, and you plan to tell him you're joining the police force? What if the authorities find out about the connection between you two?"

After finishing my meal, I took a sip of water, cleared my throat, and then responded. "I want to tell him that he can leave everything behind and come stay with us here."

"Do you think it's that simple?" she interrupted me.

"Once I become a police officer, no one will dare to harm him. I will stand up for him against the world." I ardently yearned to convey my intention to her, but she shook her head in dismay.

"If your uncle were alive today, he wouldn't have let you go to Springfield." She plopped into the empty chair.

I stood up and moved behind Sophia, feeling the tension in her shoulders slowly ease as I massaged them. "Sometimes, a man makes a mistake without understanding the consequences of his actions. I sense that something is wrong with him, and I struggle with the anxiety that crops up whenever he doesn't answer my calls. This relentless fear is overwhelming. What if he's waiting for someone to save him?"

Sophia stood up and turned to face me.

"I'm curious about what might 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 more to the story? Who is this infamous heir, Sebastian Genovese, that the Genovese family keeps hidden from the public? I want to know everything!"

"Promise me you'll stay safe!" Sophia said, cupping my face in her hands. "Isabella and I will wait for you."

"Yes!" I said with a smile as Isabella encircled me in a hug, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Also, you must refrain from trespassing into Genovese territory. Keep your distance from that family and contact your father before taking any action."

I nodded and was about to leave when she suddenly grabbed my arm to stop me. "And stay away from Sebastian Genovese!" she warned, her voice filled with fear, concern & the hint of something she knows and I didn't.

Springfield, Missouri

"Yeah, I just checked into a hotel," Janet said to Sophia on the phone, careful not to mention that she was within walking distance of the Genovese casinos.

"Did you speak to your father?"

"No, he isn't answering my calls or messages." She pressed her lips.

"Janet, if you can't reach him, just come back, okay? Don't do anything that might get you into trouble."

"Yes."

"Alright, it's late already, so just go to bed and forget about everything. I love you, okay?"

"I love you, too. Bye." Janet looked out the window and felt a wave of unease as she watched the crowds of people rushing through the streets.

'I have mourned the loss of one father. I will not suffer the same fate again.' Determined to reunite with her father, she made another call. 'If you don't answer this time, I'll do whatever it takes to find you.'

Once again, the call went unanswered.

Janet put on black leather pants and a white silk shirt, carefully applying dark makeup to hide her identity. After slipping into a black jacket, she shook out her long, shiny blonde hair, letting it flow down to her waist.

She bravely ventured out of her hotel and walked for several miles before stopping outside the casino. Taking a deep breath, she confidently entered, passing the casino tables on her way to the bar.

"Water, please?" she asked, and the bartender nodded. Biting her lips, she scanned the crowd, taking in the various faces and expressions. Although some men matched the description of the Mafia, she hesitated to approach them.

"Here you are, ma'am."

Turning toward the bar counter, she flashed a friendly smile. "Thanks." After taking a small sip, she surveyed the surroundings.

"Looking for someone?" The bartender called her again, prompting her to turn her high-rise stool towards him. "Are you new here?"

Janet hoped to gather some helpful information and flirted back with the young bartender, who was showing interest in her. "Springfield isn't new to me, but this is my first social call here. And I'm already enjoying it," she said, swaying her body to the music. "What's your name?"

"Dane,"

"Janet," she said as she extended her hand to him, and he greeted her with a smile.

"For newcomers like you, the Missouri Mule is a must-try. I'll be right back." As he went to get her a drink, Janet observed a man in a black suit, who radiated mystery while smoking a cigar and often checking his watch. His intense presence and apparent hostility made the servers nervous as he scolded them.

"Here you go," Dane said, appearing with a drink.

"Thanks." She sipped the drink, impressed by its bold flavor. "Amazing! Thank you so much."

"I know, right? So, what are your plans for tonight?"

Janet choked on her drink, her eyes watering as she looked up at him. "Sorry?"

"Oh, I mean, I can show you around if you'd like. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy making friends," he smiled at her. "Anyway, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Do you like this place? It's the coolest casino in town!"

Honestly, I feel a bit intimidated by the man sitting on your far right. She took a blind shot and hoped it wouldn't ricochet back at her. "I accidentally bumped into him on my way in, and he glared at me with an unmistakable intent to kill." Janet noticed a change in his expression from playful to serious.

"Steer clear of Genovese men!" Dane warned her. "Even though Genovese claims they spare women and children, their soldiers are notorious for being ruthless and relentless."

"Just a few days ago, one of them killed a woman for trespassing in the restricted area. I wouldn't recommend dealing with them," he whispered.

Wow. I'm feeling scared now. Should I head back home?" she whispered.

"No, this is a good place. Just keep your distance from their affairs." Dane gently patted the back of her hand on the counter.

"But how can I recognize them?"

"All the soldiers wear emerald rings on their thumbs," he whispered.

Janet nodded as Dane's eyes flicked toward the entrance behind her. "That's the Capo of the Genovese family."

He gestured toward the entrance, and Janet's heart started pounding. She spun around on her barstool and saw her father standing there.

Dressed in a tailored black suit and a crisp white shirt, he looked like a confident executive ready to face the day. Janet watched as he approached the man she had mentioned to Dane.

That's Connor Blair," he whispered. "You won't find a ring on his thumb, just in case you encounter him tonight or ever. Avoid any interaction. He is very dangerous and has many corpses hidden up his sleeves. He makes no distinction between males, females, or children. If you make a mistake, it's better to end your life peacefully than suffer a merciless death at his hands."

Janet fought back her tears. Each word from Dane felt like a knife to her heart as she listened to her father's cruelty. Still, discovering that he was alive after three years of reflection was too much to bear.

Connor was engaged in a conversation, and his face showed his irritation. It rapidly turned to anger as he forcefully slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

Janet quickly slid off the barstool and opened her clutch to pay for her drink. "Hey, it's on me!" Dane's voice caught her attention.

"Thanks," she said to him, glancing at her father out of the corner of her eye. "I don't feel safe here, but I'll come another time."

"Sure." He offered a quick smile and then shifted his attention to the new customer.

Connor was climbing the stairs when Janet hurried to catch up, but the guards stopped her. "Dad!" she called from the bottom.

Connor stopped in his tracks.

"Dad!" she called again, restricted by the watchful eyes of the bodyguards.

Connor whirled around swiftly, with a look of mild surprise on his face. He paused, momentarily speechless and unsure how to react to her presence. They remained quiet until a gunshot broke the silence, the bullet narrowly missing Connor and hitting the metal grill.

Chaos erupted as people desperately tried to escape. The bodyguards abandoned Janet to rescue their boss. They shielded him while attempting to escort him out safely, but Connor shoved them aside to reach his daughter.

He shot the man who had fired at him and then pulled Janet through a hidden exit into a dark alley. "Janet, what on earth are you doing here?" He grabbed her arms tightly, his anger clear.

"What's going on here? You're not answering my calls. We haven't heard from you in three years! I had no choice but to come." She saw the pain in his eyes before they turned cold.

"Go home and never come back here!" he said in a deep voice as gunshots echoed through the air.

"Dad, I..." Before she could finish, Connor pulled her out of the alley and onto an empty road.

"Find your way back home. And never set foot in this vicinity again!" He turned to disappear into the dark alley.

"Dad, you didn't even ask if I'm hurt?" Janet shouted at him as he walked away.

"I just saved you. I know you're okay. Go back home, Janet!" His face twisted with rage as he confronted her, and Janet saw a man pointing a gun at Connor from behind.

"Dad!" She saved Connor, and the shot missed. Connor protected Janet as he drew his gun, and a loud bang echoed through the air as the attacker fell to the ground.

In the dead of night, the attackers seized control of the deserted street as black cars stopped. Panic set in as Janet's heart pounded, and Connor tightly grabbed her wrist, pulling her away from danger.

"Dad!" she shouted as Connor dodged another bullet. An attacker lunged to grab Janet from behind, but she kicked him away.

Connor glanced at her briefly before a bullet hit his shoulder, making him let go of her hand.

Janet watched him cry out in pain, but his fighting spirit stayed unbroken, as if the bullet had just fueled his strength. The arrival of Genovese's soldiers quickly turned the scene into a nightmare of gunfire, screams, and bloodshed.

Janet hurried to help Connor when the three attackers overpowered her, leaving her helpless against their brute force. As she tried to escape, they covered her mouth and forcibly dragged her to the car, tossing her inside.

"Janet!" Connor called out as he chased the car, but it disappeared quickly.

Janet was frantically banging on the window glass. "Where the hell are you taking me? Who are you?" she shouted.

"She's Connor's daughter. I heard her call him Dad," the assailants said. "The boss will be pleased with our work."

Before she could respond, a sudden prick on her arm caused Janet to gasp, and slowly, darkness enveloped her.

"Any news about Janet?" Connor asked, turning his gaze to Alex, one of his most trusted men.

"We're still investigating who might be responsible. Do you have anyone in mind?"

Connor shook his head. "I have yet to reconcile myself with the notion that our territory was violated and we were attacked. Who would be brave enough to stand up against us?" With the help of the hospital bed, he managed to stand on his feet.

"This has to be Marco. Our soldier accidentally killed his brother while we stopped his gang from selling drugs in our territory. It is him. He's seeking revenge against us. I was his target, but my daughter fell into his hands!" His jaws clenched tightly, and his eyes burned with anger.

Seizing the opportunity, Alex asked the question that had been racing through his mind. "If you don't mind me asking, what made you keep your daughter a secret for so long? You stated that she has died. We would have ensured her safety if we knew of her existence."

Connor's black eyes narrowed as he focused on him. "I do mind answering your question, Alex! It's in your best interest to avoid meddling in my personal affairs."

He stared out the window, watching the leaves rustle in the wind. "I'm your boss, and I'm not answerable to anyone!" he barked, his voice filled with frustration over the danger his daughter was in.

"Not even to me?" Breaking the silence of the room, a voice caught Connor's attention, and he turned toward the door.

"I'm your boss. Does that make you answerable to me?" Anton looked into his eyes and saw a flicker of despair, but his usual cold demeanor quickly replaced it.

"Boss," Connor pressed his lips and took a step toward him.

Anton's attention shifted to his bandaged shoulder before he looked up to see Alex standing behind Connor.

"Leave us alone." The words escaped his lips, and Alex walked out of the room, the sound of the door shutting punctuating his exit.

"Now, can you share more about your past and perhaps shed some light on your daughter that you might have forgotten to mention?"

Connor swallowed hard. "She's not worth mentioning. You shouldn't have bothered to come back from Australia. I can handle everything here."

Anton reached forward and placed his hand on Connor's other shoulder. "Three years ago, you endangered your own life to rescue mine. When the bullet hit my chest, I felt my life slipping away, but then you appeared and saved me. You exposed my capo, who planned to rig my body with bullets. I had to come back to save your daughter! It's payback."

Connor nodded in acknowledgment, then looked down at the floor. His thoughts went to his daughter, and he shivered at the brutality she might be enduring because of him.

"Our focus should be on consignment and strengthening ties with Stallions," he said, looking resolute as he gazed up at Anton.

"Why did you keep your daughter a secret?" Anton interrupted him, and Connor paused, taking a deep breath before answering.

"I wanted to keep her away. She was too much to handle, so I gave up on her."

"Where is her mother? Is your wife alive? What else are you hiding from me?" Anton's voice was deep and authoritative as he spoke.

"I loved my wife, but she cheated on me, so I..." Connor pressed his lips. "I killed her."

"You, what?" Connor's response caught Anton completely off guard. He was aware of his brutality and lack of mercy, but he wasn't aware of his capacity to murder his wife.

Connor responded with a nod. "She deserved it!" He gazed intently into his eyes, showing no remorse for his actions.

"I thought I could get rid of those haunting memories of finding her with another man in my bed. But every time Janet cried and I had to hold her, her face prevented me from forgetting those memories. It was as if my wife were still alive and watching me through her amber eyes. Every time she giggled, it felt like a sharp pain in my chest, as if my wife was mocking me." His voice was sharp, filled with resentment and loathing.

"So, I gave her up at the adoption center. However, my cousin and her husband turned up as her savior and adopted her."

Anton stared at him, absorbing every word of his ruthless confession. "So why are you concerned now if she is kidnapped?" he couldn't help but ask. "You should be happy she's gone!"

"I have already punished her for her mother's mistake. Now, I want her out of my sight and life, but I don't wish bad upon her."

"She made a mistake by coming back. Because she is my daughter, they took her captive, and it is my responsibility to set her free."

Anton opened his mouth to speak, but their conversation was suddenly interrupted when Alex hurried inside. "Boss, you're right! Marco wants to speak with you."

Connor quickly snatched the phone. "Put it on speaker," Anton mouthed in a whisper.

***

~ JANET ~

"Let me go!" I cried out in terror as they threw me onto the freezing dungeon floor, and I watched the silhouettes of five towering figures looming over me in the dim, flickering light.

"Let's call her dear father and check if he will save his daughter."

One of them crouched down and sneered intimately close to my face. "Marco," Clutching my knees to my chest, I learned his name as his gang member passed him a cell phone.

The moment Dad picked up his phone, he switched it to speaker mode. As soon as I opened my mouth, one of them clamped down on it, silencing me with a firm grip.

"Where is my daughter?" My father's voice carried a sense of desperation.

"What's the rush, Connor?" Marco teased maliciously. "Your daughter is safe with me. My buddies and I will take good care of her."

"Touch her, and I'll bury you alive. Stop the fucking nonsense and keep your dirty hands off my daughter. How much money to release her?"

Marco's face fell, and I heard him softly sigh. "You don't sound like a helpless father. I expected you to plead for her life! You spoiled the moment!"

"Marco, how much?"

As I listened to my father's anxious voice, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort, knowing that he still cared about me and that the little confidence in me was sure he would do anything to rescue me from this place.

"I want the diamonds you're sending to the Stallion Bratva!"

"Are you fucking kidding me? Do you even know the worth of those rare diamonds? Fucking one billion!"

Marco snickered. "If you're willing to see your daughter again, just do as I say or forget she ever existed." The sound of their sinister voices sent a wave of fear down my back.

"Will you choose your daughter, or will your loyalty to Anton Genovese prevail?" he taunted.

"You have but a minute to make a choice!" He finished the call and looked at me with murderous eyes.

"I pity you. You chose Connor to be your father out of all the men in the world!"

I struggled against the man who had his hand over my mouth until I managed to break free and retort. Gradually, the fog in my mind lifted as the drugs wore off, and my confidence came back.

"Pity yourself! Because he won't spare you now."

"Oh, really?"

I lifted my eyebrow in a defiant challenge. "Uncuff my hands, and I will show you why I was chosen to be his daughter! Just be a man enough and fight with me alone without your wolves." My eyes quickly darted to the other four figures before returning to him, and they all seemed to be taken aback by my words.

"I don't fight with women!" Marco's face twisted into a sneer. "Unless it's a bed. I love to tame them." He winked at me.

"That's because you know you don't stand a chance against them outside the bedroom!" I glared at him.

"You guys are five, and my hands are still cuffed. I like the fear!"

"Time's up!" I heard the cell phone ring again, and my father finally answered it. "So, have you decided?" Marco asked.

"What you're asking is unreasonable! We can't give you the diamonds."

My heart jumped into my throat as he answered. The sparkle of diamonds was more enticing to him than the beating of my heart.

Marco gave me a mischievous grin as he looked up at me. "Even if I cut her into small pieces and send her back to you?"

"She's all yours to do as you please. However, if you want money in exchange for her. Call me back."

The call ended, and so did my hope that my father would do anything to save me.

Despite the threat of harm, my father stayed loyal to the Genovese family and made the decision that left me facing the consequences of their wrath.

Marco gritted his teeth. He slapped me so hard that I collapsed to the floor, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.

"No!" My screams echoed as the man injected me with a drug, and everything began to fade slowly until the last thing I saw was the door of the dungeon closing.