Wrecking My Husband

Chapter 1: Murderer.

It's been fifteen years since I lost those dear to me because of Adriano's goddamn father, Dante. That fucking old trap died and now I had to make do with his son to get my revenge on his family. Everytime I close my eyes, every time I try to sleep, all I hear are gunshots, multiple steps and my mother's screams.

FLASHBACK

"Sorella- Sister." I cried, burying my neck into my sister's gown, clutching at it as hard as I could, with the thought of never letting go.

She yanked my hand off, shaking me violently." Aria! This is not the time to act like a freaking baby. Get in the fucking hideout right now." She sternly told me.

"Where's Babbo?- where's father?"

"GIA! Dov'e Mio figilo?- Gia! Where is my child?"I heard my mother's voice from behind.

"Mamma!" I ran to her, pulling her floral patterned dress with my small hands, she bent down to match my height and caressed my cheeks, pecking them. "Mio figilo- My child."

She smiled." You have to stay in there till Gia comes to get you, okay?"

"Don't leave me." Hot tears trailed down my eyes, I could taste the saltiness in my mouth. From the troops of armed men surrounding us, I knew we were in grave danger.

"Aria, be strong for your papa and I, for Gia as well-"

We heard several gunshots.

"The boss needs our support now." One of the soldiers threw a rifle at Gia. At seventeen, Gia could skillfully use guns from pistols to rifles, to shot guns, name any kind of gun. Gia caught it and pulled the trigger. I only held a gun once and Gia had promised to teach me how to use one when I became a teenager.

"Aria, get in there right now." She sounded agitated. I knew she didn't want to shove me down that place because it was something she could do with great ease.

My mother removed the fake grass and opened the strong wooden door to the hideout big enough to contain ten people. The door had holes for ventilation and reflection. I had only been there once, when I was five. My father locked Gia and I in there for a day with three of his best soldiers when there were serious issues, there was so much heat.

My mom and sister kissed my forehead gently. I climbed down the stairs of the hideout.

"Don't come out till I tell you to do so." Gia instructed me and I nodded. My mom made five men guard my surroundings.

"Ma'am, Gia. We need to move now." One of our men instructed. My sister smiled faintly at me before locking the thick wooden door, all that was left was the reflection of light.

I looked around the hideout and there was a dusty couch from the time Gia and I hid there. Seven bags of my favorite chips and some water contained in a large water bottle were placed there by my sister, but I couldn't bring myself to touch them. I sat on the dusty couch praying for their safety. I heard several gun shots and footsteps. The bullet firing was endless.

I heard my mother's voice but I couldn't make any sense out of what she said, she spoke too fast in Italian. I moved towards the stairs and heard a gun shot and my mother's scream and then it was silent for a while, beads of sweat rolled down my forehead and back.

I continued to hope and pray, I shut my eyes and went back to the times where my mother would train effortlessly with father and Gia. She was a very good shooter. She had never missed a target. I hoped that it was the enemy who got shot.

My faith began to wither when I heard my father's name from a voice I wasn't familiar with. I fell to my knees and began to cry. I couldn't take it anymore and my eyes were hurting from all the sobbing. I felt so drained. It had been hours since I was asked to stay in the hideout. I knew my family was involved in many bad things. Our father made us understand that from the start. I knew there'd be bloodshed, but it didn't matter as long as my family was unscathed.

After what felt like forever, it began to get dark. The reflection wasn't as bright as it was earlier. I climbed the stairs and tried to push the door open.

"Mamma!" I hit for the first time.

"Babbo- Father." The second time.

"Giaaaaa!!" I hit the door profusely.

"Mam- mamma?" My orbs met with the face of a scary-looking man.

"Ahhhh!" I lost my balance and landed on the floor with a loud thud and hurt my elbow and wrist.

"It's a little girl." The man yelled before coming down stairs. He looked super muscular and had a scar across his face.

I crawled back. " Stay away from me." I took out my dagger. It was a gift from Gia on my eighth birthday. She said it was for protection.

The man cackled loudly. "How hysterical. You're already hurt and you want to attack."

I managed to get up and pointed the dagger in his direction. Everytime I took a step back, he took a step forward until I hit a dead end.

"For a second there, I thought you were going to stab me." He grinned menacingly. "Don't waste my time, you look like that teenage bitch same brown hair and eyes. She gave me a really hard time. She even shot my brother. It's good she saved a little something for payback."

With full force, I darted towards him and stabbed him on his thigh until there was no time to get the dagger back. I had to escape.

"Don't let the little cunt get away." He yelled at the top of his voice.

As soon as I got up, I saw dozens of men in black and grey suits. A short-haired blonde woman looking my mom's age, cladded in a tight long sleeved shirt and black pants approached me. I wanted to run, but my legs wouldn't move.

"What's your name?" She asked plainly.

"Where's my family?" I demanded.

"How cute." She laughed.

"Nothing's funny! Where's my family?!" I stomped my left leg.

"Do you want to know where they are?" She sneered and I nodded. " Good, then I need to know your name and age."

"I'm Aria, nine years old."

"You look a bit too small for a nine-year-old." She felt my face. "Federico really took care of his family."

"Children are so fucking easy." The man I stabbed said, some men helped him out of the hideout.

"An easy child stabbed you, Ivan." His smug look deepened into a frown.

"Who are they? And who are you?"

"Your friend." She winked at me, parring my first question.

One of the men whispered something in her ear and she laughed hysterically and said NO before whispering back to him.

"I'm your aunt." She told me.

"That's a lie." I flared.

"You're smart for a child, I'll give you that, but you don't know how to use your instincts."

"That man said things like he harmed her." I pointed to Ivan.

"Who?" She asked calmly. "Who did he hurt?"

"My sister, Gia."

She glared at the man before looking at me sweetly. "Your sister and parents are fine; they escaped to safety and asked us to come get you."

"I need proof, I want to go into the house first--"

"And witness a blood bath?" She sighed, annoyed. "That house will blow up in twenty minutes. You can either stay here and die or come with me to meet your family."

"No! You're the enemy. Where are my parents?" I began to sob again.

"I don't have time for this." She gritted her teeth. "This child is just like you, Federico, stubborn." She spoke as though my father was there.

"Armani."

"Yes, Boss." A huge bald man twice my father's size saluted.

"Take care of her." She signaled.

He hoisted me and put me over his shoulder.

"Put me down." I continued to hit him. As we exited my father's compound, I saw several dead men, most of them were my father's men. There were several bullets on the floor. I saw my father's best fighter, Aiden, on the floor. He was Italian-American.

"Aiden!" I struggled to escape from the huge man, wailing my way off, but he whooped my ass.

"Children are annoying." He adjusted my position on his soldiers.

There were about twenty-five shiny cars doused in black. Armani put me down and held my arm tight like I was some twig. He opened the door of the car that was in the middle. The smell of that car and the way it stood out made it obvious that it was new. The blonde woman stepped into the car.

"Now you'll get into the car silently or I'll blow your fucking brains out." His eyes dangerously narrowed at me.

"I'm not scared of you," I retorted.

"Armani, don't scare the girl! The woman snapped.

"I'm sorry, boss." He gestured to me to get in and I did. He got in and slammed the door. The driver in front started the gear and we began to move.

I looked down and sniffed. "Are my parents-"

"I thought I told you to shut up."

"It's okay Armani, your parents are just fine, I assure you." The woman smiled.

"What's your name?"I inquired.

"Maria." She replied. "Maria Da Costa." She added with a tinge of pride.

Chapter 2: The truth.

The cars in front entered through a black gate into an enormous compound. The car drove past a really big fountain down to where the rest of the cars were. Armani stepped out and gestured for us to do get down. All the armed men stood salute. The house was painted white, flowers filled the area and there was a fountain feet away from where the building was. I knew from the moment I saw the fleeting cars that these people had more power and wealth than I could ever comprehend.

It felt like entering the Whitehouse or even grander. The armed men got out and stood, salute. I didn't care about all of that, I just wanted my family. A man of average height whose grey hair was slowly overtaking the black shiny ones with a pot belly wearing a white shirt with loose buttons exposing his chain and tattooed chest, accompanied by two armed men stepped out of the house. He took a puff of his cigar and smiled at Maria and I.

"Come." She gave me her hand to hold.

She waltzed towards him. "Raffaele." She placed her hands over his chest and kissed him.

"My love." He kissed her back. He looked down at me with a questionable look and I felt intimidated.

We entered the house and I was immediately bothered about who I had just partially followed.

"Stay with her." Maria ordered Armani and pulled Raffaele aside. My arm was still hurt from the way he harshly grabbed it earlier.

"Come here." He took me into another room with chairs and a round table in the middle. It looked more like a meeting room. I saw a book shelf and a chandelier in the room. The chairs were brown and the glass table was black. I saw a cigar in a small plate on the table. I guessed someone had been there before I came in.

Maria and Raffaele returned with a middle-aged woman. Her brunette hair was braided pig tail style and her blue eyes dilated at me.

"Take care of the little girl," Raffaele instructed her.

"I want to see my family first." I turned to Maria. "I want to see my family. You said they were here."

"Calm down feisty one, I never said they were here."

"No!" I cried." You lied to me! Where are they?" I dashed toward her and began pulling the hem of her shirt.

"What a rude little bitch. How dare you disrespect her?" Armani spat.

"I want my parents!"

Maria shoved me harshly. "They're six feet below EARTH! Or better still, you could imagine them as dust now." Raffaele didn't say a word. He looked at me like I was amusing. I staggered and the middle-aged woman caught me.

"Do not let her out of your sight." Raffaele told Armani and Grace, the middle-aged woman.

"Murderer!" I screamed. "I want to leave, let me go!" I screamed till my body became weak. I kicked and punched anyone who tried to come near me. Armani carried me in my weak state to a room and threw me on the bed with force and locked the door.

I ran to the door and kept hitting it until I gave up. I no longer had the strength to push further.

Grace came at night. "It's time for you to bathe. Your milky skin is tainted from dirt."

"Leave me alone." I muttered angrily.

"What a stubborn child you are. I understand you're grieving, but you need to be strong for the sake of your late paren-"

"Leave!" My body trembled in trepidation.

"Don't you want to avenge them? Do you not want to destroy those who killed them-"

"They're not dead." I sobbed. "Mamma and Gia, they said they'd come back for me. I know they're alive."

"The sooner you accept the truth, the better. If you want to get back at those who have ruined your family, it starts with taking this bath, cleaning up, having a meal and a talk with Ma'am Maria. I'll be back tomorrow because at this point I know you won't eat a thing. If you have not decided to brace up. I would assume Federico and Bianca raised chicks for children."

"You know my Mamma?" I looked at her, teary.

"Everyone here knows the Marcellos. Your mother, she was kind." Saying that Grace left.

I couldn't bring myself to accept it. I decided to speak to Maria, but I knew no one would come for me no matter how much I knocked because they'd think I wanted to make a fuss. The night came and left so fast. Maybe I was because for the first few hours I tried to sleep, I saw were dead bodies, guns and blood.

Grace came back like she said she would.

"I'm ready." I bit my chapped lips. I felt so dehydrated. Grace helped me bathe and gave me a short black dress to wear. Apparently, I was mourning.

"Ma'am told me your name is Aria. It's a beautiful name," She said as she braided my hair into two.

"Yes," I simply said.

"You look really small for a nine-year-old. I almost thought you were seven, but I realized you were more intelligent. You couldn't be a seven-year old." I didn't reply.

"Got nothing to say?"

"I just want to meet with Maria as soon as possible."

"I'm sure she wants the same." Grace brushed the edge of my hair. " All done. You're a beautiful girl, you look just like Bianca."

"Thank you." I smiled faintly.

She took me to Maria's office and knocked.

"Yes, come in." We heard from the other end.

Maria twirled around in her office chair taking a puff of her cigar. Although my parents used to smoke, I hated the smell of cigarettes.

"Has she had something to eat?" She asked Grace.

"She wanted to see you first." Grace bowed.

Maria chuckled. "Okay. You may take your leave. Aria come seat." With that Grace left us alone.

"Where are they?" I asked.

"I knew you would say this so I got you an answer." She made a call and a man with a projector came in.

"Play it." She took another puff.

My legs felt heavy as I followed Maria and the man to the other end of the office. What I saw ended me. My breath hitched, my eyes felt dry and itchy as they teared up.

I lost my stamina when I saw my family's body covered in their blood. Men in black suits placed them together. My mother's white floral dress was completely red from blood, my father head had several bullet holes in it, and my sister face looked beaten up. The white tiles of our dining room was stained with red. My sister's eyes were still open and a man shut them. I couldn't see the men's faces because they were masked. Another video played again and I saw our house explode. I saw it go down in flames. There was really a bomb in it.

"No! No! No!" I shut my eyes and fell to the floor. I could have actually died. I sobbed uncontrollably.

"Stop the video." Maria sighed.

"What did you do to them?" My body shook so violently, it seemed like it was over for me as well.

"Not me hunny. You have the wrong person." She took another puff. I felt a sharp pain in my head, I felt dizzy and nauseous. It was all too much to take in. "It's who? It's who did this to them?"

My lips parted. "Who? W-ho d-did this t-to them? I stuttered.

"Dante Di salvo." That was the last thing I heard before darkness engulfed me.

As my eyes flittered open that I thought it was all a dream. My head was still throbbing with pain and there was a drip stand next to me.

"You're awake." Grace smiled as if a wave of relief had washed through her. "Stay still." She immediately ran out of the room.

Di Salvo was all I could think of, I had heard that name several times before that day. He was important to my father. My eyes reverted towards the door immediately I heard the sound of clicking heels.

"Finally, you decided to wake up." Maria rolled her eyes.

"How many days has it been?" I asked.

"Three days."

"I know Di Salvo." I spoke up.

"Who doesn't?" She sat on the side of my bed.

"Rest for now." She stood up.

"No! Who exactly are you? At least let me know everything before you go."

"Federico you left a burden and she's exactly like you." She threw her hands in the air, grunting. "Aren't you worried about your health?"

"I couldn't care less. I want answers." I insisted.

"I'm your father's cousin. His mother and my mother were sisters. I was the last person he called for backup. Unfortunately I got his call too late. Way too late." She mumbled the last part.

"What about the man?"

"Who?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Ivan, he said my sister killed his brother and gave him a hard time." My eyes searched hers, waiting for her to give me a reasonable answer.

"Ivan is a fool. Gia thought he was an enemy, killed his brother and even in her final moments she was still trying to fight him refusing to believe he was there to help."

"And Di Salvo?"

"I thought you already knew him."

"I've only heard his name a few too many times."

"Okay? He's a powerful man. The Don of your father's Cosa Nostra, and the one who killed your father."

"What's a Cosa Nostra? My father never mentioned you or a cousin."

"We weren't that close but we pledged to help each other whenever in need. You don't know what your father does for a living? You don't know why he built that stupid hideout do you?

"I know he wasn't a good man."

"Clever of him to inform you before his death."

"He was the underdog of a Mafia boss." She paused before continuing. "The mafia is a dangerous world, the only way you can escape a Mafia is by death. They kill, smuggle, kidnap, launder. The list is endless."

I gulped. "I want to kill Dante Di Salvo."

Her eyes widened before she laughed hysterically I could have sworn she laughed so much there was a tear at the corner of her eye.

Maria clicked her tongue, she stared at me amused. "Do you know what you just said?"

"I'm not crazy." I pouted my lips in a frenzy.

"I won't call you crazy because you're a foolish young little brat." She scowled. "I also want him dead, but he isn't a man you can kill so easily you twerp. I was going to train you for that anyway so I made preparations. He killed a family member my mother treasured, he must die too."

"Grace. Fetch Armani for me, tell him to come with the documents I instructed him to prepare." She ordered Grace who hurried away.

"I had your name changed." She said.

"Why?"

"Do you want revenge?" She asked me.

"Yes." I muttered.

"That's why."

Armani brought a file. Maria helped me sit up and opened the file for me to see.

"You're now a Da Costa. Serena Da Costa." She told me proudly.

I ran my hands over the name in the file and began to sob.

That day was the day everything completely changed. After recuperating Maria trained me to be a killing machine and Raffaele played the role of my godfather, teaching me everything I needed to know about the Mafia.

FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER

"He proposed to me!" I shrieked.

"It's good." Maria had grown older, she was now in her fifties. She didn't look as young as she was before. Her blonde hair was shorter than it was before, she began to have some grey hair. However it didn't stop her from acting youthful, it didn't stop her from being MARIA. Her lean frame remained as it was from the beginning.

"That wasn't part of the plan." It wasn't part of the plan from the start. I only wanted to kill Dante, I didn't want to marry his son. That fucking asshole just had to die before I could kill him myself.

"What were you expecting when you dated him?" Maria took a puff of her cigar.

I couldn't reply." I wasn't expecting marriage, there I was thinking I was going to get the key to destroying their mafia by getting as close to his son as possible. But that smart devil wouldn't let me deep into his personal life.

"Listen. The plan wasn't just to kill Dante, it was to ruin their mafia and entire family. Is that clear?"

"I don't want to marry him!" I yelled and Maria landed a slap on my face.

"You will marry him! I did not spend time training you all these years to for you to turnout to be ungrateful." She spoke calmly. "Don't you realize the only way to destroy their Mafia is from inside the mafia." She threw her cigarette on the floor and stepped on it. "You will marry Adriano Di Salvo and destroy everything they've worked for."

"You want me to get married to that monster." My hand still on my cheek.

"You're no less than a monster yourself. You've killed many. That MONSTER HAS BEEN TAMED BY YOU! Use that to your advantage Serena."

I stared at Maria unbelievably.

"I raised you as my own daughter."

"Would you let your daughter marry a monster for revenge?"

"I wouldn't know. I don't have a daughter Hun. I'm childless." She said that to remind me of my status."Or do you want me to remind you of the reason why you should get revenge?"

A tear slipped from my eyes. I couldn't bear to see those videos one more time. It wrecked me time and time again. My body shook with fear. I had to do what I had to do. I had to marry Adriano and avenge my parents.