The Mafia Damned Princess

Seraphina's POV

“I'd like to make an announcement.”

I stood by the side with my fiancé as I watched my father address the Mafia syndicate with his authoritative voice. My mother died two days ago, and it left a void in me that made me feel empty.

Murdered in her sleep, Father had asked the guards to take her away without any sign of pain in his eyes. He buried the case and had me locked up so I wouldn't investigate. With each passing second, I hated him more.

But with my mother dead, that would mean I was the next queen of the syndicate. And the syndicate was where I belonged. The thrill, the kills, the blood, those were my Roman Empire. Matteo's grip on my waist tightened slightly as if reassuring me, and I smiled at him lightly.

“Everyone, pay attention,” Father commanded, and the whole room went silent. “Elena, please step forward.” He added, and my brows furrowed when I tried to comprehend who Elena was.

The lady, Elena, moved to my father's side, and I frowned, realizing it was my mother's best friend. What was she doing here?

“This is my new wife, Elena,” Father announced, and gasps filled the room while my heart dropped in horror. “And you will treat her with the same honor and respect as you treat me.”

That was impossible. Mother died two days ago, and he married her best friend? Not just that, I knew Elena had two sons, Cristian and Carlo, my brutal rivals. He didn't just remarry; he married a fucking single mother.

“Not just that.” Father continued as he held Elena's hand gently and gestured for someone else to come on stage. I watched as Carlo and Cristian stepped onto the stage with Elena, and my heart sank into despair. This couldn't be happening.

“I would also like to announce that I now have two strong heirs to my syndicate throne, and we no longer need to depend on a weak future queen.” He finally concluded, and it felt like a bomb had been dropped in my head as father's words rang continuously in my head.

He was talking about me. He presumed I was weak. And now he was giving my throne away to those bastards?

My new stepbrothers, those fucking arrogant assholes, gave a speech that had me cringing so bad I wanted to puke. The crowd had applauded after their speeches, some satisfied and some skeptical, but no one could go against my dad.

Elena looked really proud as she smiled at my dad, and my heart twisted when he smiled back at her lovingly. I could feel eyes boring holes into my skull, so I turned to see Cristian and Carlo staring at me like I was a pest to be gotten rid of.

They reeked of arrogance and narcissism, so instead of backing away, I stared straight at them, letting them know that I wasn't some scaredy cat who cowered at their presence. Matteo had left my side when the meeting ended, with hopes that he could talk to my father about his decision to take the throne away from me.

To my surprise, they exchanged looks and suddenly approached me like a predator stalking their prey, and I stood strong with my chin high as they stood in front of me.

“How does it feel to have the throne taken away from you?” Cristian started with a smirk on his face, and I scoffed softly, my eyes rolling in amusement.

“You haven't won yet,” I replied bluntly as I turned to walk away, but froze in my tracks when I heard him speak again.

“I look forward to watching you lose everything you own soon. Forever is nothing in the underworld, I mean, look at your mother.” He mocked, and rage burned through me as I turned to him in anger.

“The fuck did you just say?” I questioned, and he had a smug smirk on his face as he stared down at me like an insect to be squashed. Without thinking, I charged at him, aiming to punch that smirk away from his lips, but he caught my hand just in time.

My eyes widened when he smacked me hard with his free hand, sending me crashing into chairs by the side. All the attention turned to us, and he chuckled mockingly, while Carlo stood beside him silently, not moving.

“This is who was supposed to rule the syndicate?” He asked loud enough for everyone to hear with a loud, mocking laughter, and I clenched my jaw in anger. I wouldn't cry or give him the satisfaction of seeing me in pain.

Grabbing a bottle that sat by the side where I had just fallen, and the gun that was still strapped around my waist in my corset dress, I pushed myself up and spat out the blood that formed in my mouth.

Before Cristian could understand what was going on, I smashed the bottle harshly on his head and pointed the gun at him, my lips curling to a smirk when he yelled in pain.

I watched in satisfaction as blood trickled down his head and he stared at me in shock as I held the gun against him, challenging him to try something stupid.

Father was boiling with anger when he saw what I had done, even though I was expecting him to be proud of me. He had watched when Cristian smacked me first, and now he was mad that I hurt his future heirs?

Elena was by Cristian's side in a second as she stared at me in horror, fear evident in her expression.

“Don't talk shit about my mother next time.” I spat coldly as I stared at him defiantly, then moved my gaze to Elena. “Or I'll hurt yours instead,” I added with a smirk, and Cristian wanted to charge at me when I waved my gun at him.

I watched with pride as Cristian walked away with Elena while Carlo stood by the side, watching me silently. When I raised a brow at him, he simply shook his head, turned around, and left.

I could feel it, the pride in everyone's gazes as they whispered amongst themselves, and I couldn't help but feel proud of myself even though my body ached badly. I was sure my mother would be proud of me, too, for standing up for her.

But before I could be proud of myself, Father was in front of me in no time, and my head tilted to the side when he slapped me hard.

“You filthy bastard.” He growled as I spat out the blood in my mouth, and my heart clenched in my chest when guards suddenly grabbed me from behind.

“Lock her up.” He ordered, and just like that, I was dragged away like a criminal, even when I tried to protest.