The Don's Captive

Don Fiorenzo Ricci saved me and brought me home, raising me for seven years.

During the day, he was refined and restrained, treating me the way a true father would. At night, he was endlessly inventive, making me his and his alone.

I drowned myself in this twisted love, naively believing I was the only one for Fiorenzo.

Then he turned around and married another woman, made her the Madre of the mafia family, and forced me to watch them together.

I was done being a piece in their twisted games.

The first time I ran, he nearly killed the maid who helped me. The second time I ran, he shot the gardener dead on the spot.

The third time, and the last, I jumped into the ocean right in front of him.

I did it all for freedom, even if it was only the freedom of my soul after death.

A bishop from a distant parish stood reciting his blessings over the grand wedding.

I let out a cold laugh.

Everyone turned to look, including Don Fiorenzo Ricci, the head of the mafia family.

The broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted man stood beneath the mistletoe in the church, preparing to kiss his bride.

I walked slowly toward Fiorenzo and used scissors to cut open my pure white custom gown.

"Clarissa, enough." His voice was low, but I knew he was angry.

"Not enough, Fiorenzo." I cut through the last strip of fabric as I spoke.

When my body, covered in kiss marks, was exposed before everyone's eyes, chaos erupted in the room.

"What is she doing?" The bride looked at Fiorenzo in horror.

"Take Signorina Diamante away." His tone was calm but carried an oppressive weight.

"Fiorenzo, these are the marks you left on me last night!" I struggled free from his men's grip.

Fiorenzo's expression remained calm. "You should call me Papa."

"But you're only nine years older than me," I shot back.

"Regardless, I am your guardian. That will never change.

"Today is my wedding, Clarissa. You should be offering blessings, not standing here embarrassing me like this.

"But I don't blame you, because you will always be my Principessa."

Then he gestured for his men to bring a sedative. He injected it into me himself. I lost consciousness immediately.

This small disturbance was smoothed over by Fiorenzo's composed jokes.

When I woke, I was back in my room, changed into a fresh white nightgown. Fiorenzo had chosen it. He loved seeing me in white. He said it was pure and sacred.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see Fiorenzo dancing with his new bride at the center of the crowd.

The bride's name was Gianna Moretti. She was the daughter of one of the family's elders.

Gianna's father had taken a bullet for Fiorenzo and died. Fiorenzo said he owed the elder a debt, so he married her. The family members all praised their new Don for his loyalty and righteousness.

Only I stood on the top floor of