The Osbart family was at the pinnacle of power and wealth when it was led by Marco Osbart. The territory they controlled was expanding every year, and they were highly respected by all the mafia in Italy and the European continent.

Marco Osbart and his wife, Gabriella, had two sons. Their lives were peaceful, filled with luxury, and far from conflict. Today was the couple's 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

In the middle of the hotel ballroom, the anniversary cake was placed out on seven tiers. People were rejoicing in the celebration of their leader's happy day.

The Osbarts were about to cut the cake with the cheers of everyone present, as well as their two young sons.

Meanwhile, outside the hotel, the traitorous bodyguards began giving codes to each other with their eyes as well as fingers. Not long after, four black minibusses stopped in front of the hotel.

Everyone inside the buses wore black masks. They dashed downstairs and up the stairs. The faithful guards of the Osbart family tried to protect the door, then there was a gun battle.

In the ballroom, the tallest cake had just been cut with joy. When everyone was clapping happily, an incoherent scream echoed from outside the room. In split seconds, the door was bombarded by a barrage of bullets. The bullets pierced through the door. As the door was destroyed, all the people in the room were shot even before they could grasp what had happened.

Instantly, the room became chaotic and out of control. That was when Xavier's eyes fell on his parents. There, the rain of bullets hit his father, who was trying to protect their mother.

"Father!" Xavier screamed while running toward his parents.

Elleard, who saw the enemy's weapon aimed at his brother's back, immediately ran to protect Xavier.

BANG!

One hot bullet pierced his waist, followed by another bullet, which also killed their mother. Elleard fell with Xavier in his arms, then he fainted.

***

For four years after the incident, Elleard was in a coma and Xavier sank in fear coupled with depression. He was alive and breathing, but he looked like a robot. A human without a soul. That incident continued to haunt him. Almost every night, he had nightmares.

Meanwhile, Elleard was treated with the best medical care there was, but after years, doctors gave up and told Xavier that his brother, when he woke up, could never walk again.

Three months ago, Elleard woke up from his coma. He couldn't hide his agony when he was forced to accept the fact that his lower body couldn't move. He regretted why he had to survive, and why those stupid devices kept him alive.

When Elleard learned about his brother's mental state, he realized he wasn't the only one struggling to survive. Xavier also experienced his own suffering. Maybe the younger man looked sturdy from the outside, but his soul was also tormented by their parents' deaths.

Elleard had seen how Xavier woke up from his sleep with a pale face and immediately grabbed a gun as if he was going to shoot anyone who was there.

Being haunted by fear for years made Xavier feel like everyone was an enemy and would shoot him at any moment. Thus, he never slept without his gun.

Today was the first day Elleard could see his parents' graves.

***

Three black cars marched into the cemetery area. Each car had four people inside. Everyone came out to line up, then Xavier stepped out of the car. He opened the door for Elleard. It wasn't long before one of the guards brought a wheelchair and placed it near the car door.

Even if it sucked to sit in a wheelchair, Elleard was still convinced he could do it by himself. With a little help from Xavier, he finally sat down. Elleard didn't want to feel different. He wanted to show everyone that he could do it.

Every step Xavier took was filled with emotion. His jaws clenched tightly while looking at his brother. The memories of that fateful night emerged in his mind. Every gunshot, as well as the screams of pain of everyone and his parents, overshadowed his steps.

He couldn't forget the pool of blood that stench the white coat he was wearing. Those images slowly faded away.

"Flowers, Sir?" A young girl braced herself to approach them. She wanted to offer the flowers, hoping the men would buy them. However, she screamed in pain when Xavier grabbed her arm roughly. "Aaah… It hurts!"

"X!" Elleard called his brother softly.

Just when Elena approached them, Xavier immediately grabbed her arm reflexively. The fear of losing everything he held dear made him always on alert wherever he was, even when he slept.

Every time he closed his eyes to sleep, his ears and hands were always on alert. So, seeing a stranger come so suddenly, got him in a defense mode.

Elleard looked at the young woman trying to sell them flowers and immediately realized she was not a threat. Elena wore a simple summer dress with an old pair of shoes and had a big basket of flowers in her hand.

Even though her appearance was shabby, Elleard could see her beautiful face and blue eyes shone with intelligence. She was just a poor girl trying to make honest money.

"She's just a flower seller," said Elleard again. "Let her go."

Elena was still grimacing. Her thin wrist was like a twig in Xavier's palms. The man's gaze glued on Elena's round eyes, which were holding back her pain. Then, Xavier released Elena's wrist roughly.

"These flowers are still very fresh, sir. I'm sure those who rest here will really like it if their last home is decorated with beautiful flowers," continued Elena, undaunted.

It's not that she wasn't afraid of Xavier's gaze, but at the far end of the road, at the flower shop, her aunt kept looking at her with piercing eyes. Elena had to do her best to sell the flowers, or else she would feel the shovel hovering over her head.

Elena lost her parents when she was a child. She only lived with her aunt and two cousins. Elena had to make as much money as possible if she wanted to stay in the house or else they would kick her out, and she would wander off the streets.

"The flowers are very fresh," Ellena said again, pleadingly. Elleard glanced at the corner of Elena's eyes, who kept glancing at the flower shop down the road. There, her aunt looked like she would beat Elena up if the girl couldn't sell the flowers.

Elleard smiled faintly. He nodded, "I will buy all the flowers!"

Elena's round eyes shone at the sight of Elleard. "Really, Sir? Thank you. May God bless you."

Elena immediately tidied the basket she brought along with all the flowers.

Xavier snapped his hands. One person came forward to receive all the flowers from Elena and then gave her the money. It was a 500 euro bill and all her flowers combined cost only a fraction of that.

"I..." Elena batted her eyes at the money. She had never seen people carrying such a big bank note to pay for goods in cash. "I don't have the change for that much money. Let me get to the shop and get it for you."

She was ready to run to the flower shop, but Elleard stopped her.

"No need, keep the change for you. May God also bless your day," said Elleard.

Elena's face beamed with happiness. This was the biggest tip she had received ever. She bowed down several times to express her gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Sir. May God bless you too!" she gushed.

Xavier let out a low growl behind his piercing eyes and his dark sunglasses. The group then started to enter the cemetery area. Meanwhile, Elena had to run to the flower shop because her aunt was already waving at her, asking for the money she had got.

Just as she arrived, Elena's money pouch was snatched away by her aunt. She had not had time to hide the 500 euro bill.

"Bring it here! You're so fucking slow. Gosh..." Aunt Ursula used the money as a fan and she walked away, sitting on the couch.

Elena could only watch in sadness as the big tip she received from the customer was taken by her aunt. Gosh... if only Aunt Ursula didn't see it, she could get the money to herself.

Elena sighed. She kept her basket and went to the back. There, she saw her cousins, Maria and Laura, enjoying lunch. Suddenly, Elena's stomach rumbled. She had not eaten anything all day.

"My stomach hurts," Elena said hesitantly. "Can I eat those?"

She pointed at the bread in the basket by the table.

Her aunt smiled widely. "Since you got money today, and we have enough for lunch, you can eat, but wait until after Maria and Laura have finished eating their fills."

Elena saw her aunt's daughters greedily stuffing food in their mouths. It seemed like they purposely didn't want to leave anything behind, so Elena wouldn't get something to eat.

The girl could only stare at them with a dejected look. She was so hungry.

.

.

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From Missrealitybites:

Welcome to my new book, written for WSA: "The Mafia's Secret Wife".

I decided to join the contest this year with a contemporary story which I found refreshing to write since I usually write fantasy. I am writing this book for fun and I hope you will enjoy it and have fun too.

As I am fond of modern fairy tales (meaning fairytales written for adult women), this one is inspired by Cinderella, but she will have two princes, instead of one. Two handsome and sexy mafia brothers.

As you can read from the synopsis, Elena will marry Elleard but will be involved with Xavier. Who should she end up with? Let me know who you like after you read more chapters and get to know the two men ;).

PS: Don't let the cute cover fool you. This book will explore many uncomfortable themes and has a lot of smut. You've been warned.