The CEO of the MÁFIA

The day was rainy, with lots of thunder, and the storm was strong. Luna woke up startled by the sound of firm footsteps near her room. Her aunt had left early for work and wouldn't return until late. It was just her and her uncle at home. She stayed locked in her room every day, as she had finished her studies early because she was very intelligent. She dreamed of going to college but had no money for it, nor was she allowed to work. Under the threat of being assaulted at the first opportunity, Luna remained shut in her room until her aunt returned.

It was safer, and even though she felt hungry and had a strong desire to walk around the house, she stayed there.

She had never tried to tell her aunt what was happening, the fear that consumed her every morning when her aunt left for work, because she was afraid of her reaction. Her aunt was a sweet woman who would never harm anyone; she didn't deserve such disappointment.

Night came, along with Maria, a woman who had been through a lot in life and suffered at the hands of her current husband, but she was strong. She had endured a great deal, especially with the death of her sister, Luna's mother, and had promised to take care of Luna and let no harm come to her. It had been a long time since the man had hurt her, and she truly believed the church had managed to quell the evil that once filled his heart.

Luna walked down the stairs, greeted her aunt, and looked at her uncle. The man stared at her with predatory eyes, which made her feel sick. She just wanted to run away, but she was too hungry to go back to her room. Maria had prepared a great dinner, as the scoundrel didn't even bother to cook, and Luna spent her days secluded. After dinner, Luna washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. Then she felt a chill. She looked back and saw the man leaning against the table, staring at her. But one detail didn't escape her sharp green eyes-there was a bloodstain on his shirt. Luna froze, unable to move. She took a deep breath and finally spoke:

_ "What did you do?"

The scoundrel, with a mocking tone, replied:

_ "I put your aunt to sleep early. Today is my fun night."

Luna was paralyzed. While thinking of how to run from him, she wondered what he had done to her aunt. The poor woman didn't deserve a bad fate; she was a hardworking woman. But in that moment, Luna had to be selfish; she had to protect herself. Then, like a bolt of lightning, she ran-ran as fast as she could. She was barefoot, and her feet were already bleeding. Being in a remote area of the city, she was running in the dark, not knowing what to do. A car was approaching. The girl was so exhausted that she could barely breathe anymore. Then, right there by the roadside, in the most terrible darkness, she passed out.

Luna woke up to the brightness of the sun, looked around, and didn't recognize where she was. It was a sophisticated room; the bed she was in was large, with clean white sheets, and the smell was unfamiliar. She didn't know where she was or whose extravagant room it belonged to.

She was getting ready to get up when she looked at her feet; they were bandaged and stinging a bit. It was then that she remembered what had happened the night before, and she began to panic, crying quietly, feeling very scared and her whole body aching. Then, footsteps started approaching the door of the room, which swung open.

A very beautiful woman, appearing to be in her 40s or 50s, entered the room with a broad smile.

_ "Hello, dear! I'm so glad you woke up. We were beginning to think you wouldn't wake up at all. My name is Lúcia; I'm the matriarch of this house. What's your name?"

Luna, although scared to be in a strange place, responded politely:

_ "My name is Luna. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Lúcia. How did I end up here?"

_ "My son found you by the roadside. You were unconscious and had bleeding feet. You seemed to be running away from something... Are you alright?"

At that, Luna broke down in tears. The woman named Lúcia approached and embraced her, making Luna feel welcomed. She then recounted everything that had been happening, what her scoundrel uncle had done, and how she had run for hours until she fainted. Lúcia's expression turned somber, but she tried to comfort the girl.

_ "Dear, stay here with us, at least for now. We'll arrange a room for you and some clothes to wear. We have a celebration tonight, and I really want you to join us. I know we are just getting to know each other, but I want you to know that you will be very welcome here. I can see in your eyes that you don't carry any malice, so please stay, alright?"

Luna couldn't believe the trust Lúcia was placing in her at that moment. People were often very cruel, always. Despite not fully trusting Lúcia's kind smile, Luna accepted. She asked Lúcia to promise that the reason for her terror would remain between them and posed a few questions.

_ "Ma'am, you said you would find a room for me to stay in, so... whose room is this? And how long did I sleep?"

Lúcia looked at her and said:

_ "This room belongs to my eldest son. He was returning from a trip when he found you by the roadside and brought you here. I took care of your injuries. You slept for two days due to exhaustion. Well, my invitation stands if you want to join the party tonight; just let me know. We need to arrange a dress for you."

Luna accepted the invitation, and the woman beamed a wide smile.

A few minutes later, Lúcia returned with clothes and a towel for the girl to bathe. With difficulty in walking, Luna made her way to the bathroom, removed her filthy clothes, and began her shower. She washed her long curly hair, which, when wet, easily passed her waist. She took off the bandage from her feet and washed her wounds, which weren't looking as bad anymore. As she scrubbed the rest of her body, she pondered what kind of family this was; they were surely very wealthy, and what had happened to her aunt since her uncle had likely harmed her.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a noise in the room and shrank back under the shower, as she didn't know anyone. The noises stopped, and after a moment, Luna stepped out of the shower and dried herself. She wrapped herself in the towel but realized she had forgotten her clothes in the room. Stealthily, she left the bathroom and headed for the bed to grab them. When she turned to return to the bathroom, she was startled!

In front of her stood a huge man, blond, covered in tattoos, with an intimidating gaze and a face that inspired fear. Luna held tightly to the towel covering her body as the man openly scrutinized her. He took a step back and left the room without saying a word. Luna didn't understand what had just happened, but she decided to pretend that everything was normal, especially since she wasn't in her house, and that scary man was probably the owner of the room, Lúcia's son.

The day passed quickly. Luna stayed secluded in the room, as she still had difficulty walking. Then she heard a knock at the door; it was Lúcia, with that wide smile. In her hands, she held a long black dress and a pair of low-heeled shoes. Luna smiled, and the woman approached her.

_ "How was your day, dear? I know you didn't leave the room today. I had a snack prepared for you; it will be ready soon, and the staff will bring it. Here is a dress I had bought for you, and a pair of shoes that should be comfortable. I'm not sure about your size, but I think they will fit."

Luna smiled, took the clothes, and went to the bathroom to change. She still walked with some difficulty due to her injuries, but the shoes helped a lot, as they were quite comfortable and not high. Lúcia was waiting for her, already with the snack at her side.

_ "Dear, let's do some light makeup on you and leave your hair down. It's very beautiful; now I understand why my son asked to leave it down; he always had great taste."

Luna felt confused and scared. That man who had entered her room earlier was Lúcia's son, but he hadn't even exchanged a word with her. How dare he decide whether her hair should be up or down? It was such audacity!

_ "Lúcia, what's your son's name? I think I saw him in this room earlier..."

_ "His name is Matteo, and today he will be named the leader of our family. It will be a quick ceremony since he doesn't like much exposure... My boy has always been very quiet."

Luna then realized that the man whose appearance sent chills down her spine was the one who had saved her life. She felt grateful for that, but he didn't seem like someone filled with much kindness. She decided that she wouldn't stay in that house. Even though she hadn't left the room yet, the little she had perceived about that place made her feel that at some point, she might have to pay a debt, and since she didn't know the price, she preferred to distance herself as soon as possible.