Nikolai
THREE YEARS BEFORE.
(Capo dei Capi – boss of all bosses (in short, the leader of the Cosa Nostra)
Rumor had it that she was the prettiest mafia princess in Italy but I didn't believe it. Beauty was subjective and people's perception of beauty was questionable.
Most men around me—specifically my men, thought gorgeous women were the ones with visible tweaked boobs and plumped asses. The kind of body that was unnaturally realistic. The kind of body only a doctor could give you.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't have anything against those women. I'd fucked a good number as well. But they all looked the same to me. Then again, women to me were useful for fucking and sucking cocks.
Nothing could have prepared me for what she had to offer. She was indeed the most gorgeous woman I had seen.
It was at a party for mafia families disguised as a charity event for environmental safety.
There were four mafia families in Italy; Mancini Familia heading the Cosa Nostra (Sicilian Empire), Agosti Familia heading the Camorra, the Mancuso Familia, and the Falcone Familia.
Out of all those, the Cosa Nostra owned the biggest territory, expanding to the states. I was the Capo dei Capi of the Cosa Nostra.
Despite co-existing, no one could deny there was tension between all the families.
She was standing by her father in a bright red slip-on silk dress that reached her mid-thigh. Her arms, shoulders, and part of her back were bare and I couldn't stop staring.
Her raven hair cascaded down her back to her waist in waves, accentuating the curve of her ass. Her long legs went on for days and her feet fit perfectly into her heels.
She was so delicate in that outfit, breakable. A man who was talking to her father sized her up in a sexual manner. The man was maybe in his 50s or 60s. I could tell she was uncomfortable but she didn't say anything.
The man made a comment that made her turn red. I could tell it was a sexual joke judging from how other men around looked at her in a sexual manner as well. Her father didn't show any signs of anger.
On the contrary, he looked proud. My teeth gritted in anger. A father was supposed to protect his little girl, not send her to the wolves.
But she would be safe soon, with me. She was mine to have and mine to fuck. Her innocence belonged to me.
I knew she was a virgin despite being eighteen. She wore a chastity ring given to her by her father to prove it. As a mafia leader, you were supposed to ensure your daughter was a virgin by the time she was getting married.
Well, at least the traditional Dons. Modern ones didn't care what their daughters did during their free time.
Everyone knew Antonio Agosti was among the traditional ones. He loved to brag about how his daughters were pure and untouched.
"Who are you looking at?" Dante, my right hand asked.
I downed the whiskey in my glass and put the empty glass on the tray of a waiter who was passing by. Without answering Dante, I walked towards the men who'd disgusted me all evening.
They were talking when I approached them but I didn't care about interrupting.
"Antonio, I would like to talk to you," I said.
Antonio Agosti looked at me, ready to tell me off until he saw who I was. Everyone knew Nikolas Mancini. I was head of the Sicilian empire, the new capo.
I became a Made man when I was twelve, the youngest ever. That was when I took my first life. Everyone had feared me since. All men, old and young, shook at the sound of my name.
My reputation preceded me, just like my father, the former capo of Sicily. I was ruthless, unforgiving, and evil. They called me the devil himself because of how callously I dealt with my enemies.
Most people claimed that I was the most powerful capo in Italy, more powerful than all the men standing in that very room. They were all jealous of me which increased how paranoid I was.
It wasn't lost on me that men old enough to be fathers were trying to take my territories. I heard rumors. Plus, I had spies everywhere. I was three steps ahead of all those men.
"Okay…" Antonia replied but he sounded unsure. He was fooling himself thinking he had a choice.
I glanced at his daughter, who had the same light blue eyes her father did. They were the lightest I had ever seen, almost hypnotic.
They carried even more innocence than her form did. She was fucking gorgeous and her light shone brighter than the sun. Mine. Viola Agosti.
The thought of corrupting her with my darkness was almost unbearable.
"Go to your mother," Antonio said to her like she was a fucking child.
She scurried away without looking in my direction but I didn't keep my eyes on her for long. I didn't want to give Antonio the impression that I was obsessed with her.
Antonio and I went by the bar and ordered drinks. As the waiter got to work, I went straight to the point. "I want something from you."
Antonio's eyes gleamed with mischief and I knew this was a fucking mistake. But it was a mistake whose consequences I was ready to pay the price for. Viola was too precious to let go.
I couldn't explain why but the need to have her was strong. I wanted her to be vulnerable and needy for me. I wanted to clip her angel wings so she was so dependent on me, that she couldn't bear my absence.
I was a terrible man and there was nothing I could do about it. I'd been created and raised by a monster so I became worse than the monster that raised me.
Men like me needed a light for our darkness. My light was Viola and I was fucking selfish.
I knew I would ruin her and she would break in my arms but I didn't care. If anything, I was looking forward to it.
Plus, I had other reasons to want to marry her. I wasn't a man guided by his dick. Business was my first and only obsession. Everything I did was because it was beneficial to my empire.
"What is it you want?" Antonio asked. His hate for me seeped into his words.
The Camorra and Cosa Nostra had been beefing for years. We hated one another because our ancestors didn't get along.
But I knew the real reason Antonio hated me was because I was more powerful than him despite being younger than him.
"Viola. I want your daughter's hand in marriage for a price."
I should have known not to expect any lash-out from Antonio when I uttered those words. The man didn't respect or love his children. But I was still shocked when he seemed excited even though I didn't show it.
"What price?"
That easy? What a douche.
"You can use my ships to transport product through the coast. They are at your disposal for no price at all."
Antonio laughed like I was a fucking comedian.
"You think all the hours and resources I've spent making sure she remained a virgin are worth what you're offering?"
I moved closer and leaned in so my mouth was hovering near his ear saying, "You talk big for a man who fucked his best friend's underage daughter. What will Maximo do when he finds out what you did?"
I did my homework on everyone. Only a stupid man didn't keep tabs on competitors. I knew that information would come in handy someday.
"How did you—"
"I'll reach out with the details of our arrangement. Keep your daughter safe for me. I will be sending two guards that I trust to stick by her side. I expect them to be welcomed with open arms in your home. I will see you soon, Antonio."
I took my drink and walked away from him. Dante was ready with questions as he approached me but I was already leaving the party. Of course, he followed after me.
Once we were in the parking lot, he yelled.
"What were you doing with Antonio Agosti? You know he's the worst snake in the bunch."
I turned to Dante and put my hands around his neck in seconds. He didn't see me coming and his strength didn't match mine. I was bigger, stronger, and a little taller.
"Why are questioning me like I'm your little bitch?"
I let him go and watched him coughing as he fell to the ground.
"Y-You're fucking crazy…" he said in between coughs.
I smirked and said, "If you must know, I want his daughter."
"She's eighteen."
"I know. That is why I'll wait until she's twenty-one."
"Why her?"
"Because I want her and nobody else can have what I want."
I would tell him the other reason once I decided he was ready to hear it.