The Mafia Prince (Kings of the Empire #1)

"Where are you going, Mom?" a young Roxy asked, with tears in her eyes. "That bad man killed Dad. Will he kill us, too?"

Melissa cleaned the tears away from her daughter's face. "You'll be fine, honey. Just stay in here and I'll come to get you. Don't come out until I come to get you. Do you understand, Roxy?" She asked, her tears flowing freely.

Roxy nodded. "Yes. I promise to stay here. I won't even make a sound. Just come back safely. Do you promise?"

Melinda chuckled. "Of course, cupcake. I'll come back to you. I'll always come back for you."

She gave her daughter one last smile before closing the trapdoor and setting the carpet over it. Even as she left, she knew she wouldn't be able to fulfill the promise she made to her daughter, but she hoped her daughter would be safe.

Slipping into her husband's study, she scribbled down furiously on a piece of paper. She had just tucked it inside the drawer when the door flew open.

"I've come for you, Mel. It's time to say bye to every single thing you love," the man said with a cruel smirk.

"I hate you," Melissa spat with hatred in her eyes.

"Love you, sugar," the man said before pulling the trigger.

**********

"Mommy, where are you? Mommy!" Roxy called out as she walked down the corridor in search of her mother.

She came to a halt when she saw the door to her father's study slightly ajar. Roxy pushed it open, only to find a pool of blood on the pristine floor with no sight of her mother.

She walked closer to the blood and found her mother's necklace in the middle of it. Picking it up, she let out a scream as tears ran down her face. They had killed her mother, just like her father. She had no one. Sitting in a corner, she rocked herself as she continued to stare at the blood. She made a promise to herself as she tightened her hand around the necklace.

She would make the people pay for taking her parents away even though it was the last thing she accomplished.

She barely noticed that the time flew by. She didn't even have any awareness of her surroundings or hear feet pounding on the floorboards until the door to her father's study was yanked open.

"Shit. She's in here. I found her."

A man crouched down in front of her.

"Are you okay, honey? I'm your Uncle Rocco. What happened to you?"

"They killed them," she said as fresh tears flowed down her face.

"Shh. I'll take care of you. No harm will come to you ever again. You'll have a new family," the man said, patting her head.

"Everything will be fine from now on. You'll be safe and cared for."

"Why did they kill my parents, Uncle? They were friendly people."

Rocco cleaned her tears. "I don't know, sweetheart. I just know you'll be fine now. I'll take care of you." He lifted her into his arms.

"There's one thing I want you to know. Your parents were wonderful people, and they loved you until their dying breath."

"I'll make them pay," she said before exhaustion claimed her, and she fell unconscious.

"Come on now, Marco. You promised to pay last week. You didn't pay and now you're asking for extra time. Not gonna work, buddy. You're racking up those interests as it is," Lorenzo said as he turned a chair backward and straddled it.

"What do I do to you?" He asked with a tsk.

"I'm sorry. Business isn't moving like it used to before. I don't have any money at hand or I would have paid. Just please forgive me," Marco pleaded as tears and snot streaming down his face.

"This isn't good for business and you know it. Can't have people disrespecting us and thinking they can owe us and go scot-free," Lorenzo said as he stood from the chair, kicking it to the side.

He held Marco's hand to the table before smashing a bat over it. The sound of crushing bones filled the room. He hit several parts of Marco's body until it saturated his white shirt with blood.

He would have felt pity for Marco, if not because the man was a liar and a deceitful man. They had found him blowing over fifty grand at a casino a night ago knowing that he owed the De Lucas fifty grand.

"Tomorrow, I'm putting a bullet between your eyes," he spat before walking out of the bakery. He pulled out a joint from his back pocket before lighting it up.

He dropped into his car just as his phone began ringing. It was one of his brothers, so he picked up the call.

"I'm on my way home. Got the job done," he said before ending the call. He was tired and in dire need of a shower.

His skin was caked with Marco's blood and which he didn't like. It was just another night in Lorenzo De Luca's life.

*********

"You called for me, Father," Lorenzo said as he stepped into his father's study, with his elder brothers right behind him.

"I called for you hours ago," Antonio said with a sour look on his face. There was certainly no love lost between father and sons.

Antonio had only given birth to them so they could continue his lineage and rule over his empire.

"Say nothing stupid," Emilio, the eldest son, warned Lorenzo under his breath.

"I was on a job you sent me to," Lorenzo replied making sure he emphasized the 'you'. "I only got the message two minutes ago after I finished the job so I came here immediately."

"And why did you have to bring your brothers? Never mind anyway. Brio already got the job done for me. You can all get out of my sight," he snapped, waving them off. "Bunch of pussies," he mumbled as they filed out of his office.

"I'm glad he got Brio to get the job done. I'm wiped out. I need to sleep," Lorenzo said with a yawn as they all walked to their wing of the house.

"Enzo, you need to stop riling Father up. He's a mean son of a bitch when he's really pissed. We won't always be there to help you," Santiago said worriedly. "Get some sleep. I and Alessio will go check on things with Brio."

The two sauntered off after that. Nicolo, Lorenzo, and Emilio walked into the kitchen in their wing, grabbing beers from the fridge.

"Drew said his father is doing something shady, and he's sure it involved our father," Lorenzo informed his brothers, tipping his bottle backward.

Drew was an Esposito and the only son of his father. He was best friends with Lorenzo. He had an older sister that would have gotten married to Nicolo, but a few years ago she ran away and they haven't been able to find her, even though the older Esposito told everyone he had her killed for her crime.

It was all appearance to him. Like Lorenzo's father, he had no care for anyone except himself.

"Good. I hope it gets them killed," Nicolo spat out. "They're better off dead than alive."

"Shut the fuck up, Nic," Emilio bit out. "The walls have ears, plus Father is untouchable. He can't get killed easily. He might be cruel, but he's smart. Also, when do we even not get involved in something shady? It's the norm of the lifestyle we were born into."

"I used to wish I could be normal, but this lifestyle is all I know. I can't ever get out," Lorenzo said, scrubbing his hand down his face.

"I'm happy to hear that you've accepted it. In this world, we're supposed to be the kings of this empire. No showing of fear to the enemy, even when you're scared. Never forget that," Emilio advised, clamping his hand down on Lorenzo's shoulder before leaving the kitchen.

"School starts tomorrow for you. Get some sleep," Nicolo said with a little smile before he also left the kitchen.

Lorenzo let out a loud groan, placing his head on the table in front of him. He really hated school, and he had escaped for two weeks, but it was time for him to resume.

**********

"Get your ass out of bed, you fat cow," was the first thing Roxy heard as the duvet was yanked off her body, making her awake from her sleep.

"Story of my life," she said under her breath.

"What did you just say, young lady?" Garcia said with a scowl.

"Nothing Aunt. I just said good morning," she lied as she moved to her bathroom door. "Could you please close the door on your way out? Thanks."

She didn't wait for her aunt's reply as she rushed into her bathroom, but she heard her aunt's scoff of displeasure as she slammed the door on her way out.

Minutes later, Roxy was heading downstairs for breakfast in the dining room where her uncle, her aunt, and her cousin were already having breakfast.

"Hey Gigi," she said to her cousin as she plopped down on the chair next to hers. "Oh, my God, this tastes so fucking good," she said with a moan of delight.

"No wonder you're so fat," Garcia said with a look of disgust. "No one wants a fat bride. You should go to the gym and skip some meals. You need it."

Her uncle Rocco snorted. "You're just jealous that she actually has an ass to grab onto. Right Roxy?" He asked with a wink.

"Right," Roxy replied with a giggle.

"Rocco," Garcia whined, slapping her husband's chest. "Don't indulge her. Men don't like overweight girls. He needs to be able to carry her on their wedding day. With her size, I doubt any man would be able to."

"Don't body shame her, Garcia. It was at those times that men wanted skinny ladies. Nowadays, men want women with curves they can sink their fingers into. They like thick girls. Roxy isn't fat," Rocco said with a hard glare at his wife.

"Dad is right," Gigi pipped in. "Roxy's ass is a bit on the big side."

"A bit?" Garcia asked, folding her arms and leaning back in her chair.

Gigi threw her head back in laughter. "Okay, maybe a lot. But it's not a bad thing though. I wish mine was like that."

"You're perfect the way you are, Gigi. Don't change for anything or anyone. That said, are you done? I'm full already," Roxy said, pushing back her chair.

"I'm done. Let's get going."

The two girls rose from their chairs, placing a kiss on Rocco's cheek while they just waved at Garcia, who waved them off.

"Be safe girls. Remember, I have guards tailing you, so you don't have to be scared about anything happening to any of you," Rocco said with a smile. "Have a great day at school today."

"We will," they chorused as they went to the door that led to the garage, slipping into the new car that Rocco had gotten Roxy.

"I still can't believe you're the owner of a Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster. This car is so beautiful I want to stay in it forever," Gigi said with a sigh as she shut the door to the past side.

"Me, too. Let's stop at Marco's bakery to see what treat we can buy to eat later," Roxy said as she pulled out of the house.

"Woohoo!" Gigi whooped as the breeze coursed through their hair. "This is so fun."

"Yeah, and your hair is all messed up," Roxy said with a smirk. "Better fix it up. I'm sure you wouldn't want your crush seeing you like this."

"You're a bitch for pointing that out. Also, I'm over this whole crush bullshit. This is a new school year and it won't affect me one bit. I'm going to live my best and be happy," Gigi said, sticking her tongue out at Roxy.

"Good. I like this new you. We're here." Roxy pulled up in front of the bakery named Marco's but stopped short when she got out of the car and saw a closed sign. "Strange. Marco is usually here by seven in the morning. It's twenty minutes past the time."

Gigi turned the handle of the door and it opened. "Let's go in and see if anyone is inside."

The bakery was empty. None of his workers were in, so they both went to his office, where they found him passed out on the floor with bruises all over his face and his body. His shirt was stained with dried blood.

"Oh my God," Roxy gasped as the two girls dropped to his side. They tried to shake him awake, but he didn't respond. "Call 911," Roxy said, as she checked for a pulse.

She let out a sigh when she found one.

Marco's eyes blinked open. "Gigi? Roxy?"

"What happened to you?" Roxy asked, holding his face in her hands.

"The De Lucas," was all he said before he passed out again.

"Hey, how was yesterday's job?" Drew asked leaning against the locker next to Lorenzo's. "Mine was grueling. I had to chop him into tiny bits in a body bag before disposing of him."

"You are a sick fuck. You thrive in this dark shit," Lorenzo said with a smirk.

Many of the kids that attended Inkwood Prep were children of powerful politicians and members of the mafia.

It was no secret that they killed people anyone in the school. Once, a teacher was found dead and it was found out that a boy from the mob family had killed him because he failed him on a test.

It was also the safest place for kids belonging to such parents to attend as it had high-end security that ensured they couldn't be attacked on school grounds.

"Anyway, mine was ea-"

He didn't get to complete his sentence because he was suddenly whipped around and in the next second, a slap was dealt to his cheek.

"You are a monster," he heard a feminine voice that sounded soft and sweet, only now it was filled with venom.

Drew tried to move forward and grab the girl, but he stopped him. "Hello to you too, babe. What did I do to earn this type of greeting?" He asked with a smirk.

"You hurt Marco. How could you do such a thing to a fellow human being?" She asked with hatred in her eyes.

This time around, he was the one that grabbed her, dragging her down the hallway. "Hey, don't be dragging my cousin like that," another girl snapped. He turned his head back to the girl only now noticing that she accompanied the one that slapped him. He gave a nod to Drew who immediately grabbed the second girl as they continued their walk down the hallway until he stopped in front of an empty class earning looks from everyone in the hallway. He pushed open the door before dragging her inside and closing it behind him.

"Who gave you the right to lay your filthy hands on me, you disgusting pig of a man?" She asked eyes bright with anger as she whirled on him.

He pushed her against a wall, his hand wrapping around her neck. "I'm Lorenzo De Luca. Who the fuck are you and what gave you the audacity to lay your hand on me?"

"I don't care who you are. All I know is that you are heartless. Beating a helpless man up? For fuck's sake he only borrowed the money to pay for his daughter's tuition fees."

Lorenzo threw his head back in laughter. "That's what Marco told you? Marco is a fucking gambling addict who borrowed money from us, but he has refused to pay. He gambles away every money he earns from the bakery. That's bad for business. We can't have anyone thinking they can disrespect us like that, now can we?"

Some of her anger resided. "I didn't know that," she said looking unsure for the first time that morning. "He told us the money was for his daughter."

"Don't take everyone at face value, baby. Not everyone is as they seem. The prettiest people could be the ugliest motherfuckers inside," he said bringing his face close to hers that she could his breath on her lips. Just one-inch closer and their lips would be touching.

"Are you one of those people?" She asked.

He gave her neck one squeeze before pulling away and heading for the door. "I am," he responded before slipping out. He found Drew just outside with the second girl he was holding to prevent her from leaving.

"You can let her go." He addressed the girl. "I'm letting your cousin go just this one time. If I were you, I'd tell her to mind who she puts her hands on. It might not have a nice outcome in the future." The two boys walked away after that. "Do you know who they are?"

Drew looked at him with disbelief. "Dude. Everyone knows them. The one I was holding is called Gigi while the one that slapped you is Roxy. Gigi's uncle is a wealthy and powerful businessman. He's friends with lots of successful politicians. You do not want to fuck with him unless you want the police raiding your operation and bringing you down. He's that powerful. He's a threat to the five families and they've been trying to get an alliance with him."

Lorenzo took out a cigarette and lighter before lighting his smoke up. He blew out some smoke from between his lips before asking, "Yeah? How's that going for them?"

"So far, none have succeeded. He doesn't want anything to do with the crime family," Drew replied taking Lorenzo's cigarette from him then taking a drag out of it. "Don't fuck with him, Enz. I care about you a little to want you gone from this world albeit it's a fucked up one."

"Not making any promises," Lorenzo replied, a smile toying on his lips making Drew pull out his phone. "What are you doing?"

"I'm sending a text to your brothers to prepare for your funeral seeing as you have a death wish," Drew answered making Lorenzo chuckle.

*********

Gigi rushed into the classroom. "Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?" She asked looking Roxy over.

Roxy rolled her eyes. "You worry too much. I'm fine. It just seems that Marco lied to us. He's a gambling addict that borrowed money from them and hasn't been able to pay."

"How do you know for sure that he's saying the truth about Marco?" Gigi asked as they walked out of the classroom.

"He has no reason to. Besides, I don't think he is. He sounded so truthful." She couldn't seem to get him out of her head. His turquoise eyes were burned into her memory, his soft-looking kissable lips...

She jolted out of her daydreaming just in time to catch the end of Gigi's sentence.

"-I'm just glad nothing happened."

"Yeah, me too." The bell rang at that moment. "I'll see you later. Bye." They separated, going opposite ways.