CHAPTER 2-CELESTINE

My eyes twitched out of fear in the corner where I hid as Paolo and his men reversed their car.

My Father's men were people who had guts and of course, other mafia families like the Rinaldi Family worried what would happen if they crossed my Father's lane that they had to form alliance with us.

Who on earth would have made them retreat if not Moretti, my Father's rival?

The cold had already disappeared and I was there, about to face reality.

This spot wasn't so safe because Moretti was around.

Carlo Moretti was one brutal, crazy and unpredictable predator.

I got up from the ground, when I was sure that no one was around. At least, I had to make sure they were completely away from the vicinity.

I dashed into the street, walking so helpless.

What would happen if Carlo Moretti found me, his rival's daughter helplessly seeking shelter in the street?

An enemy’s friend or family is also your enemy, that's what it has always been.

My eyes closed for a second as tears formed in my eyes. Why did I have to suffer this?

I knew I was in the middle— I could neither go forward nor backward. I was stuck.

As I was almost at the corner of the street, the headlight of this car flashed from behind me.

Jesus!!

I tended, fearing for my life.

I walked faster than normal, heading towards the next turning but the car's pace also increased.

Who was it? Paolo? Carlo Moretti??

Porca Miseria!

I fastened my pace only for the driver to increase speed too.

Dio mio!

I gasped in shock, tears welling in my eyes.

It was Paolo and his men.

They had the red headlight turned on and at that instant, I knew it was them.

There was no corner I could run into.

Who was going to come save me?

My strength was definitely going to fail after minutes of running from them.

It was no longer a car, it was now a couple of men.

I was heading into the dark corners of the street, just at least, trying to get far away from them.

They'd seen me and they probably knew it was me. Probably they didn't.

As I turned into the corner of the street, someone from the dark alleyway grabbed my hand and yanked me into the shadows.

“Ah!" I gasped but, the person was quick to cover my mouth with their palm.

It was a man—that was all I knew. I knew from the roughness of his palm as he covered my mouth, while I couldn't help but pant.

My eyes finally opened before this very man's. His eyes were…. studying me.

His eyes read every single detail about me.

I could hear the footsteps of my Father's men as they searched for me, touring the street downwards.

“Hai paura, principessa?” He whispered coldly and smirked, leaving my eyes tilt to each corner while I kept feeling like my heart was about to pump out of my chest.

Was I before one of Carlo Moretti’s men?

Who had the effontery to rescue someone they were after??

The man beside me was about to leave as he had already stepped into light.

My eyes shone and my heart stopped beating for a second as I saw his face —the carved jaws, the hunter eyes, the haircut—his jet-black hair, neatly trimmed but scattered which was making him look like a hottie.

I examined his eyebrows—neatly shaped but broken eyebrows that made him hotter than I'd ever imagined someone to be.

He was taller than I was and of course…

I was lost again!

“What are you thinking? Do you want to lose your life?" He questioned in my ears with clenched jaws as I felt his hot breath on my ear.

I was dumb as I stood before him, almost forgetting that some minutes ago, I was on the verge of death.

“Hold my hand," He said to me, taking his right hand out of his pocket and stretching it to take mine in his.

“Ah! Si”I responded—I was nervous and the smile wasn't fitting my face.

He took my hand and for a minute,he loosed my bun, letting my hair down.

"Why?” I tried to ask.

"Don't talk. Be quiet” He said to me.

Why was he helping me? If it was what I was thinking, he was one of Moretti's men but, why was he helping Don Gabrielle Brigos’s daughter?

Or didn't he know my identity?

He held my hand and walked into the street, revealing us to “the world”

The men had not covered a decent distance from us, we could still see them and if they turned, they most definitely, would see us. He took his long trench coat off and wore it on me.

“I like trouble, see" He said and laughed.

It wasn't even a funny situation!

Was he selling me out? I had no idea but, I wanted to trust him.

“Paolo,” He shouted on top of his voice, his hand on my neck. I was terrified as I stood beside him, calculating what was happening.

All the men turned, heading towards us.

“Who dares say my name?"

I identified that to be Paolo's voice. I shrinked in fear as goosebumps popped on my skin almost immediately.

Turned out Paolo was coming from behind— where they’d parked their car before the men began to chase me.

“Stronzo!”The man beside me scoffed out loud in a mocking tone.

“Who dares?" Paolo yelled, anger evident in his voice.

The man beside me smiled humorously and turned to Paolo who was behind us— with only a little distance.

Che Cavolo!

" I, Carlo, dares.”

His voice dropped low, smooth but edged with steel — the kind that could freeze fire…his aura radiated around.

I gasped in shock. It was then I realized I was beside Carlo Moretti himself.

The kind of royalty his voice emitted was out of the world. Goosebumps ran through my skin, hearing effortless he spoke.

Without breaking eye contact with Paolo or his men, Carlo’s grip on my hand tightened. He didn’t just pull me—he commanded me forward, each step deliberate, slow, like the calm before a storm.

The street seemed to hold its breath.

Paolo’s men faltered, their eyes wide with fear, as if they suddenly realized who they were facing.

I shuddered but, I wasn't making it obvious.

Carlo’s jaw clenched, his every movement radiating authority and danger. The coat draped over my shoulders felt like a cloak of invincibility.

For the first time, I wasn’t just the hunted. I felt fierce—like I was the one owning the authority.

With every step we took in that slow, deliberate stride, my heart surged — I felt powerful, untouchable, a queen walking through her conquered kingdom.

When we were close enough to Paolo, he said coldly to his ears “Say to Brigos that I, Carlo, now has his poison"

Paolo’s furious shouts echoed behind us, but in that moment, I didn’t just walk beside Carlo Moretti — it felt like I owned the street.

But, I knew I had to face the consequences…I knew it wasn't over.