One Night Only

° THE BEGINNING OF HER HELL °

What can happen when a young girl's life is crossed by a man who could be the devil himself.

Lillie Watson is a humble girl with a strong character, she has managed to excel in any way in life. At 19 years old, she is studying in medical school, a university that she has had a hard time getting into, since she is low-income and does not have enough money to pay for a university specializing in medicine.

She lives with her mother, older sister and niece. Mrs. Elena Watson is a single mother of two beautiful daughters and grandmother of a beautiful six-year-old daughter.

Lillie's mother had to raise her two daughters when Lilli was just a baby, she worked and worked, to the point of getting sick and relapsing, but she never let herself fall until the day came when she was diagnosed with cancer because of a bad stroke she suffered at her last job, a disease she did not detect in time.

Lillie and her sister found themselves in the need to work, Alexa left her studies at the university and went to work in a cafeteria as a cashier, only that her life became more complicated when she became a mother for the first time in her twenties, her world fell further down when her boyfriend, the father of her daughter left her after learning she was pregnant, leaving her for a time devastated and depressed.

Instead, life for Lilli was somewhat different, she hated men, as she saw how her sister had fared in love. She had a goal, to become a great doctor, because she wanted to cure her mother of cancer. She knew it was difficult, but she did not lose hope.

She was in her second year of medical school and since her career was very expensive, it was difficult for her to get a good job to pay for it and help her sister with household expenses. She had to choose a job that went against her principles.

After looking in many places and seeing what they offered her in pay, she did not accept it. For a while she worked as a waitress at the café where her sister worked, but she only stayed for a few months, because there she met a girl who offered her a better job, it was not the right one; however, it was enough to earn just enough to pay all her expenses.

At first he thought about it for a month, until he accepted. She wasn't going to do anything wrong, but it wasn't very decent either. It was a nightclub where young girls danced, it was not a sleazy place, it was an elegant place, where only wealthy men went.

So she knew that in that club she was going to see very good tips, since she was going to be a waitress. At the beginning she was working waiting tables and waiting at the bar. Until the owner asked her as a favor to replace a dancer who had fallen ill, Lillie did not want to do it, because if her mother found out about it and went on that stage to dance, she would be disappointed.

But she had no choice but to accept. "It would only be a week" she thought, and of course, if she didn't say anything to her mother, she would never find out. What she didn't imagine, however, was that the public would become infatuated with her and cheer for her.

Her boss had to ask her to be a dancer at the club, she refused, but her employer offered her a better paycheck, one that Lilli didn't want to let go of, since that money would be enough to complete her mother's expensive medications and pay for the next semesters of medical school.

After thinking about it for a few days, she accepted and from there began what would be called her ordeal. She never imagined the consequences it would eventually bring. Dancing scantily clad was embarrassing for her, but her dignity was always preserved.

However, she never assumed that by dancing in that place she would meet that dark and dangerous man, who would drag her into his hell.

That man has the seven deadly sins, greed, gluttony, pride, envy, anger, lust and the worst of all... pride. With that you can describe the kind of person he is, or how she will see him. He will be her torment and hell, a very hot one that Lillie Watson will fall into.

Dante Mancini, known in the mob as the Devil, since by his works in the organization where he is the leader, is the most cruel and ruthless in taking revenge.

The Devil, as many know him, inherited the business empire and mafia territories from his father, Mr. Demetrio Mancini. After his death, Dante had to take complete charge of everything, remaining in charge as the head of the entire Italian territory and a large part of the European and American continent.

His father also inherited the entrepreneurial businesses and several of them are in the United States, but the largest are in New York City, where he goes most often, whenever he travels to the American country. Much of his business and life is in Italy, however, as he owns many businesses in many countries.

He has many people working for him, but few of them are trustworthy. One of them is his best friend Ivan Rizzo, he is his right hand man, whom he sometimes leaves in charge in Italy when he leaves the country for important matters. And when he needs his services, since Ivan is a great hitman. He also has the confidence to leave in charge his other two friends, Leo and Enzo. The others are simple employees that he would not risk putting his hands in the fire for them.

And as in all mafias there are always enemies, but none have been strong enough to defeat him, starting with the family itself, his uncle and cousin. They hate him because he and his father took all the territory of Italy. They want to get him out of the way to get what they have wanted so much, the position of the leader of the Italian Mafia.

But he is tough as nails, he won't be defeated. For him it doesn't matter that they have the same blood, they are treacherous, envious, they play dirty with their own people, for that reason they have to pay like all the enemies of the Devil.

He has been in charge as head of the Italian Mafia for eight years and in those years he has built up more empire, much more than his father. Many doubted him, they thought he was not going to be like the great Demetrio, but he silenced many mouths when they realized that he was much better than his dad, in all the shady business.

His life was not only about business and money, but also about fun, women, cars, fights and alcohol. That's how he liked to live his life. And also is that he had no one to whom to give account, and the truth is that he did not want to do it someday, he liked his bachelorhood and loneliness, he did not believe in love, he had never felt it, except for his parents. He used to say that those were cheesy and bullshit that did not go with him. For him in his life there was only business, money, pleasure with different women, vices, such as alcohol and also the adrenaline he felt when he beat someone to death. That's why he was called the Devil of Italy.

That man who exudes danger, he will be the downfall of Lillie Watson.

LILLIE

I had always been very punctual, I was used to arriving early to class and leaving at the exact time. I also planned my life. I tried to keep control of everything around me and I didn't like improvisation. However, as I was about to turn 20 and going to medical school in two years, I became a little more responsible and demanding of my time. I always was, but now I was more so.

Every night I arrived at work on time, since I never liked to be in a hurry and to be pressured by deadlines. That's why wherever I went I arrived early.

My life was ordinary. Every day I went to college and in the evenings five times a week I worked in a club. I had been there for a year already. When I first went there, I was a waitress, but my boss and the audience when they saw me dancing on stage cheered for me every night. The truth was that I already had experience in dancing. I had practiced ballet since I was a little girl, but when my mother relapsed from her illness I had to stop, because money was no longer enough and she stopped working. My older sister became the breadwinner and I could not afford such luxuries. It was then that I decided to look for a job. My true passion was not to be behind the books, but dance, but I knew that this world did not guarantee me a stable future.

My family knew I worked in a nightclub, but only my sister Alexa was aware of my new promotion as an exclusive dancer. Since my boss, Julie, offered me the job, she wouldn't let me go, as I was her most precious jewel, which she always told me.

The club was not a brothel or anything like it, but a place where powerful men and millionaires went, those guys who liked elegance, but also lust. The girls who worked in that place only offered a dance and company if the client asked for it. The service provided did not include having sex with them. We were not prostitutes. Some of them did, either out of necessity or because they liked to do it, but the club did not get involved in that. The services they offered were on the outside. They were rules of the place. Julie always said she didn't prostitute her girls. That's why I agreed to dance, since no one was going to force me to do something I didn't want to do.

My mother would be disappointed in me if she found out what I did at night. She knew about my work at the club. I didn't lie to her, I just hid from her that I was offered another position there, and it would stay that way, as I didn't want her to find out about everything. She put all her hope and trust in me. She also looked forward to the day when I would graduate from medical school and become a great doctor.

My dream since I was a child was to be a professional ballet dancer, but with time and circumstance I found it necessary to choose another profession. That didn't mean that I didn't like what I studied, but that I had a bigger dream before choosing Medicine. As I grew older, my interests and thoughts changed. That's why I decided to look for a better paying job. Medical school was very expensive. Besides, I also had an obligation to help Alexa. I could not leave all the burden on her.

My sister had suffered a lot. In her teens she fell in love with a guy with no future, since he was a delinquent, but she was so blinded by love that she didn't look at his flaws, until he got her pregnant with my niece Sandy. He ultimately disappeared from her life. He was never heard from again. She did not want to accept his departure and became depressed for a long time. My mother and I were always there for her until she got back on her feet. Today she still regretted meeting him, not because she had my little niece, but because of how lost she became after he left her.

She didn't understand this love thing. I had never been in love and I didn't think I ever would be. Just seeing my sister was enough to make me not want to know about love, although I couldn't say the same about my mother. She had a very happy and lasting marriage, well, as long as it lasted, since our father died of a heart attack when my sister was only seven years old and I was in my mother's womb. That's what she told me. I didn't think I could ever be as strong as they knew how to be to get through something like that.

When I came into the kitchen for breakfast before I left for college, my mother was serving food on plates. Since she had stopped working she had offered to help us around the house. The roles had been reversed.

Since she was diagnosed with cancer in her breast it was devastating for both her and us. I went to the point of denial that it would happen to my strong mother. It was the most complicated situation I had ever experienced in my life. Coping with my mother's illness was one of the most difficult processes I had to go through. I loved her very much. There was a very close relationship with her, as she was always a good mother. I was afraid of losing her.

-Good morning," I greeted with a smile.

-Good morning, my child. -She forced a smile.

She had been hospitalized for three months in a row, suffering from hard relapses and strong treatments she had to go through to try to stay alive. She had deteriorated because of that and looked more tired and very thin, she was no longer the same woman she had been two years ago. Her glow and her beautiful smile faded.

-Mom, I told you that you don't have to make us breakfast," I scolded her. How are you feeling today?

-And I told you that as long as I am in this house of uselessness I will help you in any way I can. Since I can still cook, I will continue to do so," she scolded me back.

"This lady will never understand."

My stormy Sandy came running in. That's what I used to call my little niece. My sister came running after her.

-Good morning, Grandma! -She ran and hugged my mother's legs. Good morning, marmoset! -She came to my side and jumped into my arms.

I carried her and sat her on my lap.

Abu and marmoset was what she called us since we were babies, and those nicknames stuck. She was a storm, but she was also pure tenderness. I loved her.

-Good morning, little storm. -I kissed her on the head.

She smiled.

She looked almost exactly like my sister; she had dark brown hair, just like our mother. I, on the other hand, had light, almost blonde, wavy hair. The color of my eyes was also different from theirs. They were emerald green. They had the same eye color, fair skin and medium height. I was a little taller. I always asked her why I was so different from them and she would answer that I inherited it from our father's side of the family. The weirdest thing was that there was no picture of him to remember him by. My mother said it was because he never liked them. Also, I always wondered why Alexa's features were so different from mine.

My sister approached my mother and asked her to sit down, as she had been standing for a while now, and that made her get exhausted faster. Alex was very responsible. At 26 years old, he worked double shifts at the cafeteria near my college and also helped my mother with chores around the house when he was here. I also cooperated, but I spent more time at school and at the club than at home. I didn't have enough time, but when it was my turn to rest I dedicated myself to helping them. Alexa had to leave law school with only one year to finish her degree due to lack of money. That's when we found out that my mother was sick. She decided to work. She realized that it was not enough for her studies and she had to leave them, besides Sandy's expenses.

I finished breakfast and said goodbye to my mother. I let her know that whatever happened, if she felt bad, to call me as soon as possible. Before I left I always let her know to let me know anything. I must have had enough of her by now, but I had to remind her.

I gave her a kiss and left with my sister and niece. She was taking the same bus as me, since we had the same route. Her work was one street away from the college. Before she got to the cafeteria she got off to drop my niece off at her school. I got off with her so as not to let her walk alone, as she was walking from there. When we dropped Sandy off at the school gate, we headed for our destination.

-I can see that Mom is not well," I confessed worriedly to Alex.

-You know very well that the treatments are exhausting her.

-I know, but I can see in her eyes that something is not right. I mean something out of the ordinary. -I gestured.

We crossed the streets. There were only a few to get there. It took us five or eight minutes. The good thing was that we always had plenty of time. She would come in at 8:00 a.m. and I would come in at 8:30 a.m.

We arrived with fifteen minutes to spare at the cafeteria.

-She's just exhausted," she assured me.

I walked her inside because we were still not finished with our conversation.

-You think so?

-Yes, and don't worry, it's normal. -She left her coat in her locker, took her apron and tied up her hair. She was already dressed in her cafeteria uniform.

-I hope so. -I sighed.

-Go to class, you're going to be late," she hurried me when she saw the time on her watch.

-I'm going. I just wanted to know more about mom, since I'm almost not here all day... -I grunted annoyed-. Besides, I'm always early.

-If you keep going on like a parrot chattering, I doubt you'll be early this time.

I stuck my tongue out at him and hugged him goodbye. I left the cafeteria and headed back to school. I hoped the day would go fast so I could get home early and give some of my time to mom.

Today I had a very important exam in the middle of class. The advantage I had over Mondays and Tuesdays was that I could rest in the evenings, since I didn't go to the club. I took advantage of those days to study late and help around the house. I hoped I could pass the exam and come out with a good average.

Class time passed, so I went for a quick light lunch. Afterwards I would have the class where they would give me the test I was waiting for.

DANTE

I felt the heat of the bullet as it passed by my head, shattering the glass of the window behind me. Some fell on me as I rolled for cover still holding the gun in my hand. I looked the other way and searched for Ivan with my eyes. He was crouched behind a huge barrel of fuel. I looked at him and frowned, what the hell was he doing? He stood up quickly to come to my side. Then he fired several shots into the dangerous contents and lunged with me as it caused a huge explosion. In the meantime, we took cover behind some large metal containers. The Russians had ambushed us early that morning. I did not understand why if I had dealings with the head of their organization. Of course, after this event I was going to investigate this matter very well and get to the problem that caused all this trouble.

I had several allies in the mafia, almost everywhere in the world. It didn't help them or me that we were enemies, since I delivered shipments of weapons and drugs to them just as they delivered other kinds of merchandise to me. We also handled money laundering.

-You see that? -I pointed to a metal ladder a few meters away. Climb up," I ordered, "I'll cover you.

He looked at the ladder and then at me.

-I think it's a stupid idea. You go ahead and I'll cover you.

-Go! That's a fucking order! -I shouted in annoyance. This idiot always went against me and even more so when something like this happened.

Ivan grunted, but he moved and looked at me to wait for my signal. I nodded my head. As soon as he came out from behind the container, I stood up to shoot. I distracted them and took them by surprise. That's how I was able to hit two of them, making them fall to the ground. In the meantime, another one reached to shoot me. I crouched down and took a look at Ivan, who was almost finished climbing the stairs. They noticed my friend and started shooting at him. I took advantage of the fact that they were focused on him and aimed at one of them, which I quickly knocked down. They came back towards me to attack me again. I hit one in the leg and another in the side. When they fell, I jumped out from behind the container, ran as fast as I could and climbed the stairs. When I got to the top, I heard more gunshots. Ivan was fighting two guys. As I crept closer, I saw my friend fall to his knees.

-Ivan! -I shouted, not caring if they heard me.

As I approached him, I noticed the blood spreading down his shirt. At that moment I heard footsteps. I turned quickly to shoot them until they fell. I took off my shirt and put pressure on Ivan's wound.

The sound of a helicopter made me raise my head. It was ours. They were late in arriving. At that moment I saw out of the corner of my eye that another guy was coming up the stairs. I grabbed my friend with my other arm to help him stand up and leaned him against me so we could walk together towards the rope that was thrown to us. The helicopter couldn't go any lower than it should because of where we were. For that reason we had to hang on to the rope. The problem was that Ivan didn't have much strength, as the wound was leaking and he looked pale. I was able to lift him up so that he could hang on. I didn't know how long he could hold on.

As soon as we were hanging from the rope, the helicopter ascended and flew away from the site. The men who climbed up to the roof shot at us, but their poor aim showed, as none of them hit us. They lifted the rope to help us up. I passed them my friend's arm, which they helped, to go up first. Once up, the first thing I did was to check his wound. He was getting paler and paler and was in a cold sweat. He had lost a lot of blood, I could see it on the shirt I put on him, which was still dripping.

-Brother, talk to me," I asked him. I didn't want him to fall asleep, so I needed to distract him. Look at me. We made it, as usual. We'll be home soon," I told him as his eyes narrowed. Hurry up! -I shouted to those who were in charge of taking us.

Minutes later, we were at the place where we had one of the clandestine clinics. We couldn't go to any hospital or anything like that, let alone in this country. We were outside Italy. Here in Russia we had an illegal medical service, but as things were, we couldn't stay any longer, so I rushed the doctors to get him treated as quickly as possible.

The doctors informed me that it was just a bullet graze and that the serious thing was that he had lost a lot of blood. That was what weakened him. They gave him a transfusion. Since he was still unconscious, I would take him to the plane on one of the stretchers they had while they gave him blood, as much as he needed. We had to leave now. There was no other way, we had to do it if we didn't want another shooting. I asked one of the doctors to lend me one of his nursing staff and assured him that I would bring him back safe and sound when my friend was stable.

Once on the plane, when he ascended, I began to relax a bit. I sat down in one of the seats near Ivan's stretcher. It had always been like that. When one was between life and death, we took care of him. That and much more was what made our friendship unique and faithful in all these years of knowing each other.

He was my childhood friend. His father worked for many years for my father and now he was working for me at the same time that his father continued to work. The difference between Edgardo and his son was that he was no longer able to go through the motions like us. He mostly took care of the business, the finances and all that shit, while we did the dirtier and more dangerous work.

I wasn't afraid of death. I always said that if it was my turn, it was because it was my turn. I was aware of the world I was in and what I was doing. I knew that sooner or later I would die of a fucking bullet. This is my origin, the legacy left by my father. I was born for this. It was something I couldn't give up as if it were just a job. Besides, it was what I loved to do most. I loved to watch the blood of my enemies spill, when it ran through my hands and when they begged for their lives. That's why they called me the Devil. I feared nothing. I was not afraid of losing anything because I had nothing, only this shitty world. I knew that after I died nothing would take me and that what I had today would be taken by others. I only enjoyed the adrenaline rush when a bullet shot out and hit my adversary. I always took advantage of every moment of my life with what I liked the most and in my own way. Women, alcohol and fights were the best for me. I loved to fight, so I participated in Bare-knuckle boxing matches. There was a place I would go to on Saturday nights. I would go there to drink and fight. I had plenty of women. Every day I had a different one in my lap that I would have wild sex with wherever the horniness would allow. I was a man who enjoyed rough, unceremonious sex, as fucking was one of my favorite activities. I didn't like to repeat it with the same woman. It was rare for that to happen. I didn't like that they were infatuated and then wanted those fucking things called commitments.

I wasn't the kind of guy who would talk pretty in their ear to win them over and make them fall in love. My only goal in that was to get them into bed and have sex for just one night if it was good. If not, it was her loss. I didn't like begging, much less a one-night stand. I never forced them. If they wanted, I would make them enjoy the whole night until they were completely satisfied, but only by fucking them. The girls brought to me for service were for my men. They were women who chose to be there. Their only task was to carry out orders and their job. Even if their labor was by force, I would never force them to be with me. It wasn't something I needed to do, as they came to me on their own. And speaking of women, the purser girl had already been offering herself to me for some time. I won't deny that she's attractive. She's in for a treat, that gorgeous blonde. But I wasn't in the habit of messing with the staff that worked for me, especially if they were good at their jobs. If I did, I'd have to fire them. He ignored her, but I figured my weakness for women would bring me down one of these days. I dreaded the thought that I would soon lose a good employee. Well, no one was indispensable in this rotten world.

Ivan woke up after two hours and asked for water because his mouth was dry.

-Shit, you scared the shit out of me," I told him when he laid his eyes on me. Don't do that again, because if they don't kill you, I will for being an idiot.

-Thank you for the welcome," he replied with difficulty. He was exhausted, but he still smiled.

-Don't be a baby. -I gave him a light fist on his leg, since his wound was on his abdomen.

-And why are you still shirtless? -he asked. I hadn't realized I was still naked from the waist up. If you did it to seduce the medical staff so they would treat me faster, I assure you your plan worked.

-You know I don't need those strategies to seduce a woman. They just fall off by looking at them. -I curved my lip in a smile.

-You're a conceited idiot," he growled.

-Yes, a cocky idiot and lucky to attract the female sex. -I winked.

-I winked at him. "No kidding. Have you noticed how you've got that stewardess in love with you? Even her panties must be wet. -He nodded his head towards the cabin where the woman entered. Poor girl, listen to her. The Devil never misses his prey.

-You know what I think of the staff.

-But if it's just a fuck and that's it, you're not going to ask her to marry you.

-That's the fucking detail, they get their hopes up believing that because I'm with them I'll ask them to marry you.

I snorted as my cell phone vibrated in my pants pocket and I turned to see myself without the top garment. Damn, I had forgotten. The first thing I had to do was get a shirt. I scrolled the screen to take the call. It was Leo. He filled me in on some financial matters of business I had in New York. The head office of my companies was in that country and other matters of the DM organization, which was the name of the association that my father formed in his time and that I myself knew how to keep these eight years.

I was 21 years old when I started to take charge of the organization and everything. At that time my father had died and I had no choice but to take his place. I had already been preparing for years for the day to come. A little before I was a teenager, he had already taught me how to use weapons and how to fight. I had known all that since my childhood. I myself fought at school with other classmates. It was in my blood. My mother used to live always worried about me, but she was aware that this was my world and that this was the future that awaited me, because she knew who her husband was, the king of the Italian mafia, and I was the only one who would inherit everything. My parents had no more children, as my father said he didn't want to bring any more into this world to have a future like ours. He always had rivalry with his younger brother because the grandfather left my father in charge because he was the oldest son, so the whole Italian mafia was left in his hands. My uncle never agreed with what his father dictated, that's why he always hated them. There was always rivalry between them and now there was between Bruno, my cousin, and me. He was a little younger than me, even so, he was also good in fights and what to say with the use of a weapon. They called him the Raven for a reason. Even though they were my blood, I wasn't tempted to hit them back when they attacked me.

Several times I competed with him in fights and I always beat him. Although he was good, he still lacked polish, but since it was none of my business and I didn't care, I smashed his stupid face in. He deserved it in spades for continuing to mess with me. As for business, we had already been played badly several times. Since his father, Giorgio, was in charge of a part that grandfather left him, he would do anything to get me out of the way, but what he didn't count on was that I already knew all his tricks.

I did not trust anyone but Ivan and Edgardo, who were by my side for years. They were faithful and the only ones.

-Who was it? -my friend asked.

-It was Leo. It is necessary for me to travel to New York urgently.

-Failures?

-Something like that," I grunted, "but this time I'll have to go alone.

-Are you crazy? You know you can't go alone. Someone of us has to go with you. -He looked at me annoyed.

-It's something I have to do. I'm not asking for your permission." Now I looked at him with an annoyed gesture. Besides, I have no other way. Leo and Enzo are busy with other matters in Italy. They can't accompany me.

-Then I'll go.

-I think it's someone else who's crazy. You just got shot and you want to go to work? -I glared at him. When we get to Italy, you'll stay and I'll go.

-Don't exaggerate, it was just a graze. I said I'll go with you.

-And I just said no. Are you going to disobey my orders? -I mumbled.

-Devil, it's my duty to have your back. It's my job and my loyalty as a friend.

-Yes, but you're in no condition. Besides, you're of no use to me, you'd only get in my way," he told him so I wouldn't insist. He would never get in my way.

-To a certain extent you're right. I don't want to be in the way. My job is to watch your back, not for you to watch mine," he snarled. I knew he was angry with himself. If nothing else, take the best men with you. You can't be left unprotected.

-Ivan, don't treat me like an idiot who doesn't know how to take care of himself and defend himself. Although you are the best hitman on the European and American continent, I am very good with my fists, just as you are with your guns. With them I have already killed several. I don't know if you remember.

-You said it, with your fists. -He smiled.

-I'm also too good with weapons, I just don't like to show off, since it would take away your title. -I winked at him.

The stupid grin was wiped off his face.

I guffawed as he gave me a dirty look.

Now I would have to go to America to travel to New York. I had very valuable business to take care of, but this time it would be without my trusted people. I would take with me my best soldier, Franco, the one who always walked by my side, and the team he had well trained and controlled. That was enough to make sure that no one would get close to us.