The Mafia King's Bride; He's Danger. She's Revenge

ISABELLA'S POV

"Name and ID, Ma'am" The burly man at the velvet-draped entrance said, his hand outstretched, while he gave me a slow, lazy look. Still, I could swear I felt his eyes pause at my exposed cleavage firmly jutted up by the push-up bra I had worn, as the jewels in the angel mask over my eyes glinted under the light.

At least I could confirm that the bra was doing its job.

"Juliette Sergio," I lied smoothly, a smile on my lips as I handed the man the fake ID that had been made specially for me tonight.

The man took it, his tongue swiping against his lower lip as our fingers brushed lightly. He looked down at the ID for a second before looking at me again, a glint in his eyes. "Sergio?" He asked, his gaze dropping to my cleavage again as I knowingly folded my arms, pushing my boobs even further, with an innocent look in my eyes.

I needed to get in at all costs.

"Yes, that's my father, do you know him?" I asked, my smile ever present as I collected the ID from him, placing it into the red bag hanging from my shoulder.

He blinked. Twice. Then he cleared his throat. "No, Ma'am"

I gave a laugh that was high-pitched. "Well, I guess you do now." I stepped forward and tapped his shoulder while he stared at me, all love-eyed through the eagle mask over his face, or more like lust, then I leaned in to whisper into his ear. "You're doing a great job. Have a lovely night."

He evidently shivered as my breath brushed against his skin, and he immediately stepped aside, letting me in. "Thank you! Thank you, mㅡ" He kept saying, but I was already walking past him into the grand hall where the main event was taking place.

I did it.

Suddenly, the look in my eyes wiped off as I surveyed around in one glance, a serious expression on my face now as I subtly adjusted the wireless earpiece in my ear. "I'm in," I whispered, leaning down a bit to make it look like I was doing nothing but just adjusting my earrings.

There was a moment of silence thenㅡ "Good. Do you see him?"

I looked around the sea of people that were talking and laughing while making animated gestures, the upper part of their faces obscured by different types of masks. The city's elites, or should I say the underground city elites.

This was a party hosted by the biggest mafia syndicate in the city. The Romanos. Sneaking my way into their masked party was nothing short of a death wish because I would be killed instantly if found out, but this was something I couldn't afford to mess up. I need information.

This family was the reason for my family's death as a child. I had been planning this for years since Carla took me in and trained me. They would pay for everything.

"Not yet, I don't think he's out yet," I whispered to Carla, who was on the other side of the earpiece, making sure that I had backup.

I could hear her take a deep sigh. "Okay, what do you see?" she asked.

I looked around again, grabbing a champagne flute from a waiter passing by with a tray so that I wouldn't look out of place. "Lots of them. Can't tell who exactly, but they seem big. Haven't spotted any weapons yet, so I'm guessing they're here for the alliance with the heir."

As though on cue, there was a commotion, and I turned in time to see Matteo.

My stomach churned as the man himself walked in, flanked closely by guards who looked like they could effortlessly wring the necks of anyone who got too close.

He walked in like he owned the place-because, well, he did. The crowd naturally parted for him. Everyone knew who he was, even with the mask over the upper part of his face. The heir to the biggest mafia syndicate.

A black tailored tuxedo hugged his frame like it had been stitched directly onto his body, and the silver wolf mask on his face only added to the menacing aura he carried so easily. He didn't need to smile. He didn't need to speak. Just one look, and everyone around him straightened up and bowed.

The heir to the Romano family.

The heir to the monsters who destroyed mine.

My fingers clenched around the delicate flute of champagne, my pulse racing as anger filled me. I wanted to walk right up to him, tear that mask off, and plunge a blade through his throat. But I couldn't. Not today.

Not yet.

I spotted it, the small mark just below the line of his jaw, peeking out from the collar of his shirt. The serpent and rose intertwined. The Romano crest. I'd memorized it as a child, hated it through my teenage years as I was trained, and burned it into my brain as an adult.

Focus, Isabella.

Today wasn't for revenge.

Today was for intel.

I tilted the glass to my lips, the cold rim of the champagne grounding me slightly as I moved closer to a nearby pillar, acting like I was people-watching when really, I was watching him.

He was speaking with three other men, all dressed like the kind of people who were clearly monsters like he was. I couldn't hear clearly, so I subtly adjusted the earpiece again.

"Carla," I whispered low, angling my head to the side like I was trying to tuck my hair behind my ear. "He's here, and he's meeting someone. Can you enhance the feed? I want to hear what they're saying."

"I'm trying, just give me a second," she responded, static briefly cutting in. "Get closer if you can, but don't be obvious."

I shifted slightly, pretending to admire a piece of hanging artwork behind them, my gaze flicking from Matteo to the men beside him, but then something pulled my attention.

To the far left, standing slightly apart, was another group of men, three of them. Black suits, taller and clearly muscular frames, masks just like everyone else, but it was the tattoo visible on one of their hands that made my breath catch in my throat.

The Black Vultures.

No. No. That couldn't be right.

According to every file Carla had dug up, the Vultures hated the Romanos. They would never work together. Never. Which meant they weren't here for the alliance.

They were here for something else.

"Carla," I said quickly, pretending to take another sip even though the liquid burned through my throat now. "We have a problem."

"What kind of problem?" She asked.

"The Vultures are here. I just spotted one clearly, not sure of the rest because I can't see their hands from here, but one is enough to say he's not the only one, and you know they're not here to shake hands."

Before Carla could reply, everything erupted. One of the men had moved and pulled something out of his pocket, his eyes steely.

Gunshots split the air, someone dropped, and screams erupted while others began pulling out weapons from gods know where as they shot back.

Fuck. Fuck. Where did they all get weapons from?!

I ducked, the champagne flute slipping from my fingers and shattering beside me. People scattered instantly, running and pushing each other as more gunshots rang out through the hall.

Guards shot back at the group of black vultures, who were at least 7 as they tried to lead their bosses out, but I knew that the black vultures weren't going to give up.

I quickly ducked behind a marble pillar, keeping my head low as bullets wheezed past me. "Shit! Carla! I'm unarmed!" I hissed. "They're everywhere!"

"Get out! Get out now!" She hissed.

I peeked out quickly enough to see some of the Vultures firing into the crowd and members of the Romano security retaliating. Bodies hit the floor, blood staining the pristine marble tiles, and I cursed. Shit.

I was crawling toward the side exit when I caught a glimpse of Matteo. His guards were moving fast, shielding him as they made for the back corridor, shooting back at the black vultures.

That was a safe area. The main exit would be swamped. Fuck this. I turned instinctively, following the same path, my heels clicking low against the marble as I tried not to get hit, using the rushing crowd as a shield. I was almost in the hallway when something hit me.

The sharp pain in my upper arm sent a wave of nausea through me. I gasped, grabbing at the graze from the stray bullet as I ducked into the corner and slammed my back against the wall, breathing hard.

"You good? ISABELLA?" Carla's voice was frantic in my ear, and I could only imagine how scared she was.

"I'm fine, it just grazed me." I hissed and pressed my fingers to the warm blood. "I saw Matteo going down the left wing. I'm going after him. That's my way out."

"Are you crazy? Get out through the main door! He's clearly a target!"

But I wasn't listening anymore. I had risked my life to cross to the other side of the hall where Matteo had disappeared; I couldn't cross back to follow the other exit now. Fuck it.

I moved, slipping down the corridor carefully as I continued to press down on the wound. Where was the exit? I reached the corner and paused, breath hitching.

Matteo's guards were dead.

All of them.

And there he was on the floor, clutching his side, blood soaking through his shirt, and standing over him was another Vulture. Gun raised. Smiling.

My breath caught. I could walk away quietly. Let it happen. Hell, I should let it happen.

But I didn't. I moved forward instead, my feet silent. My fingers found the hilt of the blade strapped under the slit of my dress. I crept closer as the man spoke, taunting Matteo, his voice arrogant.

"Looks like the supposed. God bleeds just like the rest of us, huh?" the man sneered.

I got closer with each word, and then I was right behind him. Matteo had seen me. His eyes had widened for a second, but he quickly masked his expression. The person cocked his gun, about to shoot him when I shoved the blade into his neck from behind, burying it deep.

His body jerked, choking on his own blood as it gurgled and splashed across my mask and arm before he dropped motionless as blood gushed out of his neck.

I stood there, chest rising and falling, blade in hand, blood dripping and Matteo was staring at me through his mask. "Who... who the hell are you?" he managed, voice rough from pain.

ISABELLA'S POV

"Sit!" Carla ordered, her voice filled with anger as she pointed to the couch in the corner.

I didn't argue. My legs were already beginning to wobble, and it was a miracle that I got home without passing out on the way.

I staggered slightly, barely managing to fucking take a seat on the couch while Carla stormed out of the kitchen and returned with the black first aid kit I had come to know too well after spending almost all my life here.

She dropped the kit to the floor and gave me a sharp look that told me that we were going to have a long talk.

She yanked up my sleeve and sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth as she looked at the wound. "Jesus, Isabella, this is deep." She pulled out a bottle of alcohol and gauze, slamming them onto the coffee table like it was my fault the bullet decided to graze me.

"It was either this or get shot in the head," I muttered, teeth clenched as the pain threatened to make me see stars.

"Don't sass me right now." She pulled on gloves, snapped them into place with too much force, then soaked the gauze with alcohol. "This is going to sting."

That was the understatement of the year.

"Shit!" I gasped, nearly biting through my tongue as she pressed the soaked cloth to my wound.

Oh my fuckingㅡ

"Hold still!" Carla shouted as I tried to yank my hand away. "You're lucky it didn't go deeper."

"Lucky is not the word I would use. I would rather not have gotten a fucking graze in the first place," I hissed, fighting the urge to slap her hand away again.

I had only gotten shot once since I started going about in mafia families, but I was passed out then when it was being treated.

Carla worked fast, her angry hands precise and efficient, her face tight with something between frustration and fear, but mostly frustration. "I told you to get out," she muttered under her breath as she dug into the kit for the needle and thread. "I told you not to go after him."

"I know," I whispered, voice weak now. My body was losing the adrenaline that had kept me standing, and the pain was setting in fully. I could feel my vision begin to blur already as blood soaked the cloth. Okay, maybe it was more than a slight graze.

"You're gonna pass out if you keep bleeding like this," she said, her voice clipped. "Tilt your head back. Now."

I did as she said, breathing heavily, preparing myself. She wanted to sew it shut.

"You're a goddamn idiot," she hissed as she threaded the needle. "Why didn't you just go through the nearest exit, huh? Why? And you fucking saved a Romano?!"

My eyes fluttered. "I don't know-he was gonna die. I just-" My breath caught in my throat as she started sewing.

The pain was blinding, and I almost screamed out.

"Don't you dare faint," Carla warned through clenched teeth.

I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the couch with my good hand as I fought to stay awake. My body shook under her touch, every pull of the needle making my eyes roll back with pain.

Fuck. Fuck.

By the time she was done, I was already dizzy with pain.

Carla stood, took off the gloves, and tossed them into the bin. Then she stared at me like she was seeing me for the first timeㅡlike she didn't know what she was looking at anymore.

"You saved him," she said flatly. This wasn't something I wanted to talk about now. Hell, I was just trying to figure myself out. Why did I do that?

I winced and lowered my eyes. "It wasn't like that-"

"Wasn't it?" Her voice became sharper. "You stabbed a man. A black vulture! For Matteo Romano."

I licked my dry lips and struggled to find my voice as I looked at the woman who had taken me in after I lost everything. "He was injured. He was going to die."

"Good!" Carla snapped, pacing the room now. "That would've saved us both years of work!"

I remained silent, feeling smaller with every word.

She stopped suddenly and turned to me, her eyes cold. "Or was it because he's handsome? Is that it? Have I heard the stories of the charming heir? Did that get into your head? Is that why you saved him?"

Her words hit me like a slap, and I recoiled. I stared at her, stunned. "What? No! Carla-God, no! I-I didn't do it because of that!"

She didn't speak for a second, just stared at me, then she walked over to the cabinet near the TV and pulled out an old, worn folder that was fraying at the edges as she tossed it onto the table in front of me.

"I didn't want to show you these again," she said, her voice lower now. "But I think you need reminding."

I hesitated, and my hands shook as I reached for the folder.

Inside were pictures. Littered Bodies. My father's cold, lifeless eyes stared blankly up at the camera.

The house I had grown up in had been reduced to rubble.

I blinked hard as tears blurred the images. "I don't remember most of it, you know?" I whispered.

"I know," she said, softer now. "That's why I kept these. So you would never forget why we're here. So you would never forget what they did."

I clenched my jaw, feeling anger replace the pain.

Matteo Romano.

Carla sighed, closed the first aid kit, and set it aside without looking at me. "There's something else."

I didn't move; I just dropped the folder on the coffee table, not able to look at it again. "What?"

She moved closer and adjusted a towel beneath my stitched arm. "There's going to be an event at the Romanos next week. Invite only. Strictly"

I watched her face for any clue. "What kind of event?"

"A bride selection," she said simply. "Matteo's expected to choose a potential wife from a group of candidates who are going to be present. It'll be a competition and would take weeks, but get this... the participants will live in the villa too."

I blinked slowly, trying to understand what she was saying. "And?"

"We'll get you in." She crossed her hands.

I stared at her like she had gone mad. "Absolutely not."

Carla didn't flinch at my sudden refusal. "You'll go."

"I'm not doing that," I said matter-of-factly. "Getting that close to him? no. That's not the plan."

She finally looked at me, and her eyes burned with anger. "You were close enough to save his life tonight."

I went still as she continued.

"You didn't hesitate. You didn't walk away." She accused again.

"That was different," I muttered.

"No, it wasn't." Her voice was harder now. "And this isn't about your feelings. You'll go! Not for marriage. For access into the devil's lair. For intel. For the things we couldn't get tonight."

I didn't say anything. Couldn't.

Carla stood, stepping back. "You'll be just one of many. Keep your head down, play your part. Blend in. Get what we need, then leave."

I knew I had no say in it. She called the shots here.

She turned away and walked toward the hallway. "Rest. We start prepping your identity tomorrow."

As she left, I tipped my head back as I took several breaths. Stay low.

Shit.

I should have killed him when I had the chance.

MATTEO'S POV

My head tipped back against the hospital bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling as the sound of the heart monitor beeping steadily irritated me even further.

I had been stuck here for over twenty-four hours, trapped in this sterile building the family called a "private hospital."

The bullet had almost been fatal but thankfully, I was out of danger, and the doctor said I would be discharged by evening. I hated it here already.

There was a knock-two short raps. Familiar. I could feel my jaw clench as the door opened.

I already knew who it was.

Don Enzo Romano, my father, walked in, flanked by two of his usual guards that never left his side, his face was hard and I could feel the atmosphere in the room became thick with the tension.

The door shut behind him, and he barely spared me a glance before muttering, "Out. Leave us."

The guards didn't hesitate; they simply bowed and walked out, the door shut behind them.

The moment we were alone, silence descended heavily on us both.

I didn't move and he didn't sit on the low visitors chair that was beside my bed.

"I assume you know what I'm going to say," he began, voice as cold and collected as it had been since I was a kid.

I didn't respond for a moment, I just let my lips curve slightly, bitter and tired. "You're going to berate me for getting shot. For 'shaming the family' and for putting the Romano name in the mouth of every other bastard in this city."

His eyes narrowed and I could tell he wasn't exactly pleased by my accurate description. Too bad. "Good. Saves me the effort." He muttered.

He stepped closer, his gaze heavy. "Do you know how many phone calls I've answered in the last twenty-four hours? How many allies think we're 'weak' now because my son-my heir-was nearly gunned down in our own event like a damn rookie?"

I laughed under my breath, shaking my head slightly. "I was ambushed, not incompetent."

"Don't speak." He snapped at me, his voice cutting through like a whip.

I scowled, sitting forward slightly while trying to ignore the fresh ache in my abdomen.

"That stunt at the gala has thrown off negotiations with three syndicates," he continued. "And to top it all off, you still think you can run this empire with your arrogance and that mouth."

"And yet," I said calmly, "I'm the one bleeding in this bed, not constantly spying on his son while refusing to do something too"

That earned me a long, hard stare from him then he scoffed. "You're lucky you didn't die, Matteo but perhaps you should be more concerned about the next few days."

I looked up, my brows furrowed. "Why?"

He straightened his cufflink. "Because the event is underway."

My brow twitched. "What event?"

"The bride selection."

I laughed again, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I told you, I said it more times than I can count, I'm not interested in parading women like cattle just to choose one."

Don Enzo didn't laugh. Instead, he gave me the last blow-calmly, without flinching. "Then let me make this clear. I've announced my retirement. Publicly. And I've signed the legal transition documents."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"In my will," he continued, his voice devoid of any emotion. "you take control of the Romano estate but only on one condition. You marry within the next three months. If not, everything-everything passes to Rico."

I stared at him, stunned. The room seemed to spin as I tried to come to terms to what he was saying. "My bastard half-brother? You would give the empire to him?"

"If you continue to shame this family and act like a boy instead of a leader," he said, eyes locked on mine, "then yes. Gladly."

I clenched my fists under the sheets. Marriage. I didn't believe in it. Especially not one arranged by my father for the sake of more power but I wasn't about to hand over my birthright to someone who didn't earn it.

"...Fine," I said, my voice tight. "I'll do it."

Don Enzo gave a small nod, like he knew I would. He turned toward the door.

"One week," he said. "Impress me."

Then he was gone.

********************

A WEEK LATER

The sun was high in the sky but not scorching as we all gathered in the garden of the Romanos Villa. I sat at the forefront, flanked closely by trusted guards, while I looked at the women who had just arrived for the competition that would take the span of two weeks.

They called it a competition, but I called it a joke.

I sat at the head of the table, my eyes distant, ankle crossed, bored out of my mind.

They were all here. Some daughters of mafia syndicates thought marrying into the Romanos was a way of pushing their family up the power ladder. Others were just city-bred wannabes in expensive shoes who wanted a taste of the power that the underground business had to offer if they were picked.

They were all pretending not to look at me and they were all failing woefully.

"Left side," my bodyguard, Theo, leaned down and whispered. "Two of them are already plotting who gets to speak to you first after the party. I overheard them."

I didn't react and he continued.

"They're also very attractive. The blonde one is the daughter of Luca, biggest drug cartel," he added, amused. "Should I keep track for you?"

I was about to tell him to shut up when I glanced up idly and stopped breathing for a second.

Off to the far side of the garden, near the orchids stood a woman with her dark hair down, not even sparing me a glance. She wasn't laughing but wasn't talking. She was watching another girl across from her with a strange focus.

But I saw her eyes. Blue.

That was what made me freeze and almost fall out my chair.

Theo straightened beside me. "You good?"

I didn't answer because I knew those eyes.

I had seen them before, but under a mask.

Her.

The girl from that night. The one who saved me.

The one who had plagued my mind for a whole week now. The one that got me intrigued.

"I need her name," I muttered under my breath.

Theo blinked and looked around. "Who?"

"The one by the orchids. Blue eyes. Black hair. Strapless gown." I said breathlessly, unable to tear my gaze away.

Theo glanced discreetly. "Hold on."

I stared at her as he pulled out a tablet and began scrolling through the registry. My pulse had picked up for the first time all day.

If it was her... if it really was her... Then this competition was already over before it could even begin.