Sins of the Saverios

Candela's P.O.V.

With my cap clutched in one hand, I looked past the rowdy crowd of graduates and their families, my eyes scanning the sea of hugs, cheers, and flying caps. My heart skipped when I spotted the familiar black Mercedes parked just beyond the school gate.

A spark of hope fluttered in my chest as I pushed through the crowd, weaving between families wrapped in celebration. Maybe he came this time. Maybe today was different.

But as I reached the car and peered through the tinted glass, my shoulders sagged. It was just Mateo the driver. Always Mateo. He sat stiffly in the front seat, his grey hair standing out like wiry threads, aging him more than his years.

Behind me, laughter erupted parents cheering, taking photos, holding their children tight. I turned once more, searching for a familiar face, for him, but found none.

"We don't have all day, Miss Rodrigo," came Marco's voice, gruff and indifferent. I turned to see him leaning against the passenger side with that sincere smile plastered on his face. He could always read my mood. It was routine by now, me finishing some big milestone and looking disappointed because Brown Rodrigo, my guardian, wasn't there to witness it.

I forced the emotion down and opened the car door. I wasn't a little girl anymore, I was twenty-two. Vulnerability had no place in my life now. Straightening my shoulders, I slipped into the back seat, shutting the door behind me and immediately peeling off the graduation gown like it weighed a thousand pounds.

"Congratulations, Miss," Mateo said kindly, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. I gave him a small smile but said nothing.

"Mr. Rodrigo had some things to settle at work," he added.

Of course he did.

I smiled again, this time more sadly, no longer trying to hide the ache. This has become the norm. Mateo would pick me up, offer a polite excuse, and I'd tell myself I was fine.

And really, I should be. Where Brown lacked as a parent, he compensated tenfold in other ways. He gave me everything shelter, education, the best dance training money could buy. I spoke fluent Spanish, English and the tribe of the country I was currently in. I had a name that carried weight. All thanks to him.

He didn't have to take me in when no one else would. But he did. For that, I owed him everything.

One day, I'd repay his kindness.

I just didn't know how close that day truly was.

The engine growled to a stop as we pulled into the sprawling compound of the Rodrigo estate. The towering white duplex stood proudly, its high glass windows gleaming under the sun.

But something was different. My eyes caught a second car, a sleek, dark sedan parked beside Brown's usual spot.

My heart leapt.

He was home?

Without waiting for the driver to open the door, I jumped out, excitement rushing through me. The sting from earlier evaporated as I ran up the marble steps. I could finally tell him. I could finally say it.

I graduated. And I graduated top of my class.

I pushed the front door open and stepped into the hallway, already imagining the proud smile I hoped to see on his face.

"Brown?" I called, breathless. My heels clicked against the glossy tiles as I moved toward his office. "I did it!"

But the moment I pushed open the office door, I froze.

Four pairs of eyes turned toward me.

And just like that, the warmth drained from my chest.

Brown Rodrigo sat at his desk, unreadable as always. Beside him were three unfamiliar men, each with cold eyes and sharp suits that screamed danger.

Whatever this was, it wasn't a celebration.

It was something else entirely. The look on their face was gloomy and rather too alert.

"Here she is," Brown announced, his eyes still locked on mine, a smirk appearing slowly on his lips.

What does that mean?

One of the men rose to his feet, his sharp eyes sweeping over me like I was a prize on display. I resisted the urge to cross my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling naked in my backless, knee-length gown.

"I'm sure she'll do," he said, a crooked smirk playing on his lips. "She's hot."

Hot.

That word hit me like a slap.

I stood frozen at the doorway, my fingers tightening around the folds of my gown. I wasn't a piece of property. I wasn't some damn ornament to be appraised.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice quivering, pushing past the lump in my throat. "What does he mean?" I turned to Brown...no, Brian Rodrigo,the man who raised me, clothed me, paid for everything I owned. His eyes had grown cold, unreadable again, that wall he always hid behind firmly in place.

"Leave us," he said to the men, and they obeyed instantly.

The room fell into silence, the door closing with a soft thud behind them.

"Brian... is everything okay?" My voice wavered this time. There was a different kind of tension in the air. Thick, dark, and suffocating.

He didn't speak right away.

Instead, he stood slowly, rounding the desk like a judge about to pass sentence. His gaze was stone, sharp and unrelenting. I shivered under its weight.

Then, finally, he spoke. "Congratulations, girl." His lips curved into a small, tight smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Relief flooded through me. My shoulders relaxed slightly and a smile of my own broke free.

"I graduated top of my class," I blurted. "And my thesis got the highest score in..."

"Good," he cut in, already turning away from me. "An intelligent wife would be an asset."

I blinked. The words made no sense.

Wife?

"What did you just say?"

He didn't answer. He made his way to the mini bar tucked in the corner of his office, pulled out a bottle of whiskey, and drank straight from it with no glass, no pause.

Typical. Disgusting. But my mind wasn't on that.

"Brian..." I stepped forward, trying to catch his gaze. "What did you mean? An asset? Wife?"

He turned back to me, this time his expression was... steel. Cold certainty carved into the lines of his face. The man who'd taken me in at twelve, who had promised to protect me. Who had been my only family.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

And then he smiled.

That slow, poisonous smile that always preceded something awful.

"Piccolo," he said, the nickname wrapping around me like a wet towel, "it's time you represent me. Time to show your gratitude."

I blinked hard, as if that would shake off the chill crawling down my spine. I pinched the side of my arm hard. A small, sharp pain. I was awake. Very awake.

He didn't wait for my reaction. "They're coming over three days from now... to get a wife."

My stomach clenched. "And?" I asked, even though I already knew. Even though my gut twisted in dread.

"You will be their bride."

The air rushed out of my lungs.

I stared at him, trying to process the words. Trying to find logic where there was none.

I laughed, a weak, disbelieving sound. "Oh, Sofia wouldn't like that," I said, trying to divert the attention from me to his only daughter "She's your daughter, your first daughter. Arranged marriages like this they're meant for her."

That was the rules not mine.

Brian's eyes narrowed, the smile vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

"That's exactly why you will be the one getting married," he said, each word sharp as broken glass.

What does that mean?

I wanted to open my mouth to argue, to let him know I wasn't his daughter even though he had stood in as my parent for years but it felt like words had been knocked out of my throat.

The silence between us stretched, heavy and unforgiving.

This wasn't supposed to be a big deal, I tried to tell myself. Just another one of his sick games.

But then I saw it the look in his eyes. That final, chilling glint that told me the real bomb was yet to drop.

My heart pounded. "Which family?" I whispered.

He didn't answer right away.

He walked slowly back to his chair, sat down like a king in a courtroom, and finally spoke.

"The Saverios," he said after a long, deliberate pause.

My blood ran cold.

The Serverio family wasn't just powerful. They were dangerous. Whispers of their name sent shudders through political circles, criminal empires, and elite socialites alike. They were untouchable. Ruthless. And worst of all they were...

Even the thought of it made me want to throw up.

They were my parent's killers...

Candela's P.O.V.

Sitting in the VIP lounge of Club Rios, the bass thumped through my chest like a second heartbeat. The purple lights rolled across the crowd, casting shadows on glittering bodies dancing at the center of the club.I sat back on the red couch, my fingers tightening around the glass.

I took another sip, burning liquid coating my throat, numbing it. My eyes flicked to the entrance from the crack of the curtain where Paolo, my ever-silent bodyguard, stood like a statue. Arms folded, eyes sweeping the room, jaw locked. Always watching. Always waiting.

I hated that I needed him tonight. I hated that my life was no longer my own.

My thoughts drifted again unwillingly to the office earlier. The look in Brian's eyes. That finality. Like it was done. Like I was already a Saverio.

The alcohol did nothing to silence the screams in my mind. My mother's cries. My father's bloodied hands, reaching for me. That symbol,the curved S engraved in the blade. The same one I'd found in the box hidden under the floorboards when I was twelve. The same one I'd spent years trying to forget.

And now, I was being gifted to the monsters who had carved that very symbol into my past.

I reached for the bottle and downed the rest, letting the burn fight the nausea rising in my throat.

That's when they arrived.

"Ciaoooo bella!" came the sing-song voice of Allegra, strutting in like the goddess of chaos she was. Her blonde curls bounced with each step, her black leather mini-skirt barely covering anything.

Behind her, quieter and far more composed, was Carina. A Mafia princess like me.Tall, sleek, with long dark hair and a sharp jawline that made most men flinch. Where Allegra was on fire, Carina was ice and I needed both tonight.

"Damn, Candela. You started without us?" Allegra dropped beside me, reaching for my glass.

"She's drinking like someone died," Carina noted, settling into the seat across from me, eyes narrowing. "Or worse...someone proposed."

I said nothing, just stared at the swirling lights above us, waiting for the moment to drop.

"Talk," Allegra demanded. "Spill. You're dressed like you're about to seduce a warlord, and your vibe screams crisis."

I exhaled slowly, running my hand through my hair. "I'm getting married."

Silence.

Then Allegra barked a laugh. "Wait, what?"

Carina didn't laugh. She stiffened. "To whom?" she asked immediately...not who, but whom, the formal edge in her tone unmistakable.

That was when I noticed it. She didn't ask about the man. She didn't care about the name of the groom.

She asked the family.

Because in our world,the world of bloodlines and power the name wasn't about love. It was power. Allegiance. Debt.

"The Saverios," I said, barely louder than the music.

Their reactions were instant.

Allegra's glass slipped and shattered on the floor. Carina's eyes narrowed like slits, all emotion draining from her face.

"No," Carina muttered. "That's not...Brian wouldn't"

"He would," I said bitterly. "He did."

Allegra gave a low whistle. "Mio Dio. That's suicide wrapped in a wedding dress."

Carina's lips pursed. "Which one?" she asked, her voice cool, businesslike now. Mafia logic.

I blinked at her. "Which one,what?"

"Which brother?" Allegra clarified. "Adriano? Rafael?"

I didn't answer.

Because I didn't know.

My eyes drifted to the far end of the Vip lounge,Paolo was no longer outside but chatting...rather having a heated conversation with a bouncer. I squinted my eyes, curiosity taking over.

"Or Salvatore," Carina half yelled, her eyes growing wide in something similar to panic. Gaining my attention back.

"Who's Salvatore?" Allegra and I asked in unison.

Her brows furrowed as she looked between the two of us. "You don't know Salvatore?" She asked,her eyes on me. Like I was meant to know who the fuck that was.

"The first son of the Saverios," she added, rolling her eyes.

"I've never heard of him or seen him on the Internet," Allegra said, pouring a drink into the glass.

"Well,I overheard my dad talking about him recently, but he doesn't run the Mafia here if that helps," she cocked an eyebrow towards me.

Because it didn't matter.

They all had the same blood in their veins.. the same name that haunted my past like a curse.

Carina leaned in closer, suddenly serious. "For the Internet part, pray he isn't the one you are getting married to, I heard he stays off internet because he kills like it's sport and don't want any trace of him around,"

I opened my mouth to talk but the curtains of the VIP lounge flung open with such force they nearly ripped from the rods. Paolo stood at the entrance now, in a heated argument with the bouncer. The man tall, bald, built like a concrete wall had a jaw clenched so tight it looked like he was chewing gravel.

"Miss," the bouncer growled, his voice grating like broken glass. "The club is shutting down. We'd like you to leave. Now."

My nose flared. The audacity.

Allegra threw up her hands. "What? It's barely one. It's still early..."

Only then did I notice it.

The dancefloor was empty.

The glittering bodies were gone.

But the music still played, loud and pulsing, like it hadn't gotten the memo.

"Sorry, Miss," Paolo muttered, stepping toward me. "I tried to make him understand, but..."

My eyes narrowed to slits as I rose to my feet, the hem of my black silk dress sliding up my thigh.

"Tell us the real reason," I snapped at the bouncer. "Because this..." I motioned to the empty club "...is not a coincidence. So unless you're gonna say fire code or bomb threat, we're not going anywhere."

A long, ugly silence followed.

Then the bouncer dropped his eyes and muttered, "My boss wants to use the place."

I almost laughed. "Tell your boss to fuck off."

"Tell him yourself," Allegra chimed in, grinning like the chaos demon she was.

But Carina didn't move. She stood, suddenly pale. "We should go."

"No," I said, digging my heels in. "I'm not going anywhere until I get a damn explanation. And I'm not afraid of whatever shadow prince thinks he can clear a club with his name alone."

"Paolo, get the car," Carina said, not looking back as she turned and walked off into the hallway. Her voice was quiet,but final.

Allegra looked between me and the bouncer. "You sure you wanna do this, babe?"

"Yes."

The bouncer sighed and took a step back like he was bracing for a storm.

Then a voice slithered through the air, low and smooth and cold enough to frost glass.

"Who's proving stubborn, Enzo?"

I froze.

That voice... It wasn't loud. But it didn't need to be. It carried the weight of a gun cocked behind your skull.

A man stepped out from the shadows of the hallway, like he was made of smoke and flame. His presence filled the room like a chokehold. He was tall, dressed in black, every inch of him composed and lethal.

The kind of handsome that wasn't boyish or charming,it was dangerous. A sculpted jaw dusted with stubble. Dark eyes that held no mercy. His mouth curled in a slow, amused smirk. The kind men wear before they ruin you.

My breath caught, but I didn't flinch.Nah I don't care about his devilishly handsome features. He's a bully and I hate bullies.

I squared my shoulders, chin tilting up. "So you're the boss."

Behind me, Enzo bowed his head. "Forgive me, boss, but she wouldn't leave."

He didn't even look at him.

His gaze was on me. Sharp and nerve wrecking. I unconsciously took in a deep breath.

"I asked for the lounge to be cleared," he said, voice as quiet and sharp as a knife. "And yet, here you are... digging your heels in like a spoiled little debutante."

"Debutantes don't come from families like mine," I bit out. "And maybe if you asked like a normal person instead of sending your goons, I'd consider it."

He stepped closer.

"You consider nothing. You obey, or you bleed."

I crossed my arms, jerking up my breast from the ridiculously revealing cloth. His eyes fell to it for a second before meeting my gaze once more, not betraying any emotions. "Cute. But I'm not in the mood to bleed tonight."

He chuckled darkly. "Pity. You look good in red."

Allegra made a low whistle behind me. "Girl, you got a death wish."

He took another step forward, now only inches away. I could smell him,smoke and something darker, like expensive grapes wrapped in vengeance.

"Do you even know whose place you're refusing to leave?" he asked, voice silken and smug.

I didn't blink. "Do you know who I am?"

He leaned in just enough for his breath to brush my cheek. "Unfortunately... I don't know pawns."

My spine snapped straight. "Better a pawn than a coward hiding in the shadows."

His smile faltered. Just a twitch.

And I knew I struck a nerve.

He moved to say something else,but Allegra grabbed my arm.

"Nope. That's enough risking with the devil for one night."

"I'm not done..." I started, yanking my arm back.

"Yes, you are," she hissed, phone clutched in her other hand. "Carina just called. Car's ready. And if we don't leave now, I swear she'll leave without us and Paolo will help her."

I glanced back at the shadowed figure. He stood still, eyes on me like he was memorizing every inch of my rebellion.

"Next time," I said, voice low and tight, "send someone with manners."

He didn't reply.

Just watched as Allegra dragged me out by the arm.

But I could still feel his stare on my back, burning hotter than the club lights ever did.

Candela's P.O.V.

"What the fuck is this?" I asked, my voice slicing through the air like a blade.

I stared down at the little diamond box on my vanity, fury bubbling under my skin. I was dressed for company, as Brian had so graciously instructed. Hair done, dress clinging to my body like it knew this was a show. Heels tall enough to make my toes ache. But instead of guests or a fiancé, I got this. A box. Quiet. Mocking. Delivered by Miss Peters, the maid who barely looked me in the eye anymore.

I didn't touch it. I wouldn't.

Brian stood at the doorway, unbothered, arms crossed. "It's a ring."

I spun around, anger snapping in my tone. "A ring? You're marrying me off to a family of murderers and I get an engagement ring by courier service? No face. No voice. Just a diamond in a box like I'm some accessory being passed around."

Brian's jaw flexed, a warning twitch I knew too well.

"You think this is about romance, Candela?" he snapped, stepping into the room. "This is war. And you're the sharpest weapon I've got. That ring is the beginning of your mission."

"My mission?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. "No, Brian. You want an alliance, fine. But don't dress it up as strategy when what you're doing is selling me."

His face darkened, and in two strides, he was in front of me. Before I could flinch, his fingers gripped my chin tightly, angling my face up to his.

"You listen to me, and you listen well," he said, his voice low and cutting. "You will be a dutiful wife to whichever Saverio you're matched with. He is a powerful man. And you? You're my key inside. I need eyes. I need ears. You want revenge for your parents? This is your chance. Get inside. Find out what they know. Bring me what I need."

I stared at him, trembling with fury. "You think that's what my parents would want?"

"I think your parents would rather have a daughter who lived long enough to make those bastards pay," he growled.

My breath hitched.

He slowly let go of my chin, and just like that, the cold intensity in his eyes melted into something softer. He smoothed down my hair gently, the way he used to when I was a girl. A twisted mimic of fatherly love.

"Think of everything I've done for you, Candela," he said gently. "You owe me this."

Before I could respond, footsteps echoed down the hall. I turned just in time to see Sofia descending the staircase, a smirk already plastered on her face.

"Oh, don't stop on my account," she said airily. "It's always fun watching the golden girl get put in her place."

Her designer heels clicked on the marble floor, her silk robe flowing behind her like smoke.

"Dear sister is getting married," she sang with a fake pout. "Must be nice being so useful to Brian."

I squared my shoulders, letting every inch of steel in me rise to the surface. "Jealous, Sofia?"

"Please," she scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Thank God it's not me. I'm not cut out for arranged marriages. You, though? You've always had that obedient, sacrificial lamb thing going for you."

I didn't take the bait. Didn't blink. I walked past her, heels echoing with each step, rage simmering beneath my skin like lava.

I stared at my face in the mirror, the white dress on me shimmering brightly. I had come to terms with doing this not for my so-called love for Brian or any sense of duty to him but for my parents. He was right. It was time to get vengeance. I smiled, brushing off any form of sadness and daring to dream just for a second of having a loving marriage like my parents once had.

Allegra burst into the room first, eyes sparkling as she took in the dress. "You look like a goddess," she gasped, circling me. Carina followed more slowly, her gaze softer, more somber. She said nothing at first, then whispered, "I wish it would be different for you."

I nodded. "Me too."

But there was no time for daydreams. A knock at the door, and then Brian stepped in. He looked sharp in his tuxedo, but his eyes were unreadable...stone cold. He held out his arm.

"It's time," he said simply.

The walk down the hall felt like a funeral march. Each step echoed like a countdown, and the weight of my dress was nothing compared to the heaviness in my chest. My heels clicked against the polished marble, my mind reeling with every possibility of what I might be walking into.

But nothing prepared me for what I saw when we reached the chapel.

My breath caught. At the end of the aisle stood not a young man,not Salvatore Saverio,but a severely old man, hunched and trembling, barely able to stand straight. My eyes widened in disbelief. This was a joke. A trap. No, this was the height of this whole circus.

"What the..." I muttered under my breath.

Then the announcer's voice rang out.

"This is an absentee marriage. Salvatore Saverio is busy. His grandfather will be standing in his place."

The orchestra began playing soft, ceremonial music, as if this madness were normal.

My heart hammered. I turned to Brian, my eyes burning. "What the fuck is this, Brian? This is disrespect."

He didn't even flinch. "Young girl," he said under his breath, his voice low and firm, "I'd advise you to watch your mouth. You aren't getting married for love, remember? Clearly, you don't love your late parents enough."

That shut me up. Like a slap to the face. I swallowed the scream that rose in my throat and faced forward. My jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

In the congregation, I spotted Carina wiping a lone tear. I blinked hard, refusing to let mine fall.

Then my gaze landed on two men in the front row: Adriano Saverio and Rafael Saverio. Legends, nightmares, news headlines come to life. The most dangerous men in the country. And now my in-laws.

That's when it truly sank in.

This wasn't a farce. It wasn't a dream. It was real.

I was being married off to the faceless brother. Salvatore Saverio,the one no one ever saw, the one whose name made even politicians whisper.

The ceremony passed in a blur of vows spoken on my behalf, rings slipped on my finger by a withered hand, and cameras captured a lie. My eyes stung with tears I refused to shed.

Before I could take another breath, I was whisked away,out of the hall, into a fleet of black luxury cars branded with the Saverio crest.

The door slammed shut beside me.

And just like that, I was no longer just a girl in a dress.

I was a weapon. A wife. A pawn in the game of monsters.

But they'd made one mistake.

They thought they owned me now.

They had no idea what they just invited into their world.