Jessica's POV
The whole situation of the mafia seemed to be much more serious and depressing than that of three years ago. There wasn't much improvement in the fields of weapons and the business they were involved in hence ranking the third, Russian mafia still in the first and American mafia being the second.
This ranking was much more important than anyone could imagine. Ranking third meant that we might be attacked by either American or Russian mafia or both if our situation keeps getting worse. So, I promised myself that very day that I would bring the whole empire to the first rank as the new ruler and daughter of the founders of the empire.
Xavier and Harry accompanied me but there were other people guiding us throughout the day as all of us were new to the changes in the empire. I could sense that Xavier and Harry were depressed upon seeing the poor condition of their nest they grew up on.
And just like that a day had passed and we've spent next few days, going through the business files related to the Italian mafia.
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Today is the 1st April; the day I've been dreading for the past week. Today is also the day when I will have to make a first public appearance infront of the whole mafia family, introduce myself as the donna, aka take over the position that rightfully belongs to me and the worst nightmare is standing infront of a crowd and giving a public speech.
Call me a shy person, coward or anything but ever since I was a kid and in high school, I was never good with public speaking. I could barely open my mouth to speak infront of my class back in my college years.
I've written the bow and I've recited it a billion times, but I doubt they are going to come out of my mouth when I stand infront of the whole crowd. I closed my eyes and chanted an encouraging mantra as people hired by Kate played with my hair and face.
After hours of people having fun with my body, I was dressed and climbed down the long stairs leading to the gate of the mansion.
"Oh my god! You look so pretty!" Kate exclaimed the very moment she saw me walk down the stairs and I thanked her.
I was made to wear a navy-blue evening gown with sparkles here and there. The dress wasn't too revealing but it showed off all of my curves. It was an off-sleeves dress but there was a soft fabric covering my shoulders and going all the way down to the end of the dress. A beautiful handmade belt was tied around my waist, a little above my belly button which helped me show off my beautiful curves.
I took a glance at the mirror before wearing my leg-wrap stiletto high heels and I looked stunning, even to myself. The make-up was natural but made me look powerful, the dress made me look lively but it also gave off a strong aura. To say the very least, I was more than pleased with how I looked and it made me confident walking in my own skin.
Damon was wearing a black tuxedo, Fiona and Kate wore a simple jumpsuit but they were still beautiful. I was the last one to come down and we got onto the limousine to head to the place where all the mafia members would be gathered and the ceremony would take place.
I cursed in my head as I was getting a cold foot and couldn't remember the bow I've recited over the week. So, I've decided to go with the flow. I mean that's the only option I've right now, don't I?
The place wasn't very far from the mansion so it took only ten minutes and when I got off, there were alot of people dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns waiting for us at the gate. I greeted all of them with a smile and went inside. I didn't even get the time to see the name of the banquet with everyone's attention on me.
We took a different path which led to the backstage of the hall. Kate and Damon walked up first with Fiona and I stood alone at the back, watching them and waiting for my turn. Upon their arrival, everyone quieted down and not even a single sound was heard throughout the hall except the ones of Damon. I've expected him to talk in Italian till it was my turn but then, he gave the speech in English, making me sigh in relief.
"I am sure you guys have heard from here and there about the reason behind our gathering. Today, all of you were summoned to welcome to true heir of Italian Mafia." Upon hearing this, the hall got noisy again with the murmurings and mumblings of people.
"Quiet! Yes, I've been ruling the empire for days after the founders of Italian mafia, Patricia and Michel Knights were murdered. All along, we thought that they never had a child but lately, I've found my niece who was living in Sydney, Australia.
This gathering is a welcoming ceremony for the true heir and by using this chance, I would like to step down from my position as a don and pass it to the rightful ruler, my niece." And that was my queue to be on the stage and I walked up with my face serious and solemn.
"Thank you, Damon. Hello everyone. My name is Jessica Knight and I would like to thank everyone for your precious time attending this ceremony. I really appreciate Damon for stepping down and letting me take over even though he could have been a better don than me in many terms.
But I promise everyone present here that I will get back the position that Italian mafia once held. Not only the position but I will bring back the dignity, power and everything my parents wanted as they founded the Italian mafia. I really appreciate Damon, Kate and everyone here for keeping up a good job and never humiliating us in terms of money, business, fame, power, weapons, you name it.
But from now on, everything's gonna change; you will follow my command, do what's best for all of us, not just for yourself, we will live with a mindset to develop the empire itself, not the benefit you get from embezzling and being a part of Italian mafia. As long as I am alive, I will never let anyone bring down the effort my parents tried their best to build.
From this day onwards, the ones who slack off and don't contribute to the empire, you will be gladly sent to hell with my own hands. Once you step your feet into Italian mafia, you either do as the rules say or you go to where useless shit belongs. Thank you." I finished it off with a sickening smile.
"You're merely a girl, how can we trust you to lead us and respect you as the donna? Just because you're the daughter of the founder doesn't mean that pretty little pussy like you can lead the whole empire. Why don't you just go back to being a little princess or be our whores?" A voice echoed throughout the silent hall and as I heard it, all I could feel was the urge to kill. There were few murmurings of agreement and I could feel the worried stare of Kate.
Without wasting a second, I took out my pistol that was tucked away in my thigh and shot at the idiot and coward who voiced his incompetence, hiding in the crowd. People gasped and stepped away as a person fell on the floor with a thud.
"I am sorry. What did you say?" My face was solemn as I jumped off the stage and walked towards where a bald man lied, half conscious.
"I apologize for my poor hearing but could you perhaps repeat it again?" I walked towards the bleeding man, taunting and people stayed as far away from me as they could.
"I think I heard someone asking me to be a whore, did I hear it right?" I looked at the half-dead person's hooded eyes. I raised my pistol and shot him in his chest, making people step further away, making me smirk.
"It's unfortunate I don't wanna be anything but a donna of Italian mafia." I smiled at the guy as I fired the rest of my bullets into his skull, killing him. And as I was done, I pointed my pistol at a guy to my right who was as rigid as a stone with fear written on his face.
"Didn't you also want me to be your whore?" I asked with my gun pointed directly at him and he fell to his knees and started to beg for mercy.
"There is no such thing as mercy in my dictionary." I said and shot him in his glabella.
"Yes, I am a woman and shorter than most of you guys but that doesn't mean I am weak. Just because I am lenient on you guys doesn't mean I will turn a blind eye on you guys. Those who aren't any help to me will suffer the same fate as those two animals lying there." My voice echoed throughout the hall and I walked out of the hall with Damon and others following me behind.
"Wow, you looked dead ass scary there. I was worried how you would respond but I guess I've underestimated my sweet cousin!" Fiona beamed as she clung onto my arms.
"That was indeed an unexpected thing coming from you but I am really surprised you shot the right person." Damon complimented me and I mumbled a quiet thank you. All of them were expressing how shocked they were as we walked out of the hall and headed to the mansion, leaving the whole bunch of fools to gossip and spend the whole night drinking.
But their days of having fun will end here because I won't make them live such a carefree life as long as I am the don. I will make them understand what it really feels like to be a part of Italian mafia.
After all, I can't wait till I can get my hands on the murders of my parents. I will make sure to hunt all of them down and make them wish they never existed.