The Mafia's Seductress

VALERIA

"Look at you," he started, trailing the cold barrel of his gun from my forehead down to my collarbone. A shiver crawled over my skin, bile rising in my throat. "Dressed like a wh*r* found on the streets. No one would believe you belonged to me now."

He cocked the gun and slid it into his right pocket, while his revolting words slithered through the suffocating silence.

Belong to him?

"Turn around." He commanded, and I obeyed, wiping away the tear that rolled down my cheeks.

Just like that, I had lost them. Just like that, there was a man with a voice as smooth as butter, deep, and edged with the kind of certainty that made my stomach coil in disgust.

He stood before me like some sort of conqueror, dark eyes raking over my body without the least bit of apology in this freakshow.

Those who were still alive stood to the sides and watched us.

"I will never belong to you." I clenched my jaw as I said this, ignoring the burn as my nails bit into my palms.

Kill me now.

The man's lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk. "Oh, but you will." He lifted a finger to brush a strand of hair from my face, touch featherlight, but I flinched all the same.

"And I'll treat you so well, princess, you'll forget you ever wanted to fight me."

The nerve!

A shudder of revulsion rolled through me. He was handsome–brutally so–but it wasn't the kind of beauty that drew admiration.

This one was suffocating.

I was dying.

One of the men behind him stepped forward, grabbing my arm roughly with a grip that felt like iron as he attempted to drag me away.

No!

If I leave here, I would never come back.

No!

I twisted away, baring my teeth at him before sinking it into his flesh, ignoring the sharp curse he released as the taste of copper filled my mouth.

He was away from me faster than I would have liked.

"Come at me..."

But I barely had a moment to be happy in that small act of defiance before someone swept me over my feet.

One minute, I was on the floor, ready to bite anyone else who dared touch me, and the next... this stupid man had placed me on his shoulders.

His possession.

"Let me go!" I thrashed, fists pounding against his back, kicking my legs violently against his chest, but he refused to relent. "Put me down, you b*st*rd!"

He didn't put me down.

Instead, he chuckled, that low, dark sound vibrating against my ribs. "We don't need you biting more of my men, Princess." He took a step forward, still carrying me effortlessly. "And the view from here is spectacular so..."

And just like that, the rest of my world crashed down. And this was how it all began.

How I became his little wh*r*.

FIVE HOURS EARLIER

Heads turned around as I walked down the grand staircase of our family estate, the deep emerald fabric of my dress clinging tightly to my figure.

I was hot.

And everyone knew it.

I had chosen this dress deliberately, a silent act of rebellion if one could call it that. It would provoke mother if she saw me like this, and that was what I needed.

I wasn't disappointed.

"My daughter, Valeria." My mother's voice carried through the vast foyer, laced with the good old taste of disappointment. "Must you always dress like..." her eyes swept over me, lips tightening into an even straighter line, "this?"

I smirked. "Like what, dearest mother?"

“Like you’re begging for the wrong kind of attention.”

My *ss of a brother, Alessandro, chuckled from where he leaned against the marble pillar. "Give it a break, mother. You know she enjoys making you miserable."

I shot him a half-assed glare, though a smirk still played at my lips.

Alessandro Rossi, my older brother, had always been the golden son. Our heir to the Rossi empire, calm and calculating where I was reckless and defiant.

And engaged to the daughter of mom's best friend.

What would dearest mother say when she heard he was bedding one of the maids last night? And had bedded a different one the night before?

"Why must you encourage her?" Mother sighed, rubbing her temples. "You know your father has been working hard to arrange a suitable match for her."

Now, this was news to me.

"A suitable match?" I echoed her words. It tasted like ash on my tongue. "I am not a piece of property, Mother."

"You are a Rossi," she snapped. "That means something. Marrying well will strengthen our position."

“I’d rather sl*t my own throat.”

"That can be arranged," Alessandro mused, stepping in before our mother could snap back. "Save the theatrics, sister. We have a party to attend."

I rolled my eyes but let the subject drop as he suggested. There was no winning against my mother when she was in this mood... not yet, anyway.

When it came to these silly little parties, my family made sure they attended it all. It didn't matter if we weren't actually needed, we came.

This particular car ride was filled with tense silence, only interrupted by the soft hum of Alessandro scrolling through his phone. Our father, the great Don Luca, sat beside mother, his expression unreadable as we neared our destination.

“I don’t see why you fight them so much,” Alessandro whispered, his gaze still on his screen. “You know you’ll have to marry eventually.”

I crossed my arms. "Not for politics."

Alessandro smirked. “You’re lucky Father indulges you as much as he does.”

I let out a huff but didn't argue. Instead, I turned to stare out the tinted window, watching as the city lights blurred past us.

As our car pulled up to the grand estate of my father's most hated associate, I let out a soft exhale. I just have to endure all this a day at a time, and soon, I'll be free.

Stepping out, I adjusted the sl*t of my gown, letting the cool night air kiss my skin.

The estate was a lavish one, with golden lights illuminating the sprawling villa and well-dressed guests walking around, heads almost touching as they had their hushed conversations.

Servers rushed towards us.

Some wanted our bags, or to show us our way and the lots. Only one of them stood to the side... a young man. His lean, muscled frame was barely concealed beneath that tailored black suit.

He didn't look like he was supposed to be a server.

His sharp features were partially covered by the way he turned his face slightly away, as if he truly wasn't interested in us.

I shouldn't care about him anyway.

But there was something about him that just felt... off. I should have ignored him.

"Valeria, come along." Father yelled from the other side of the car, where he stood with mom at his side.

Oh, yes. I came here with others.

"Hello, server..."

I had blinked, and he was gone.

VALERIA

This party was everything I had expected... tedious, grand, and absolutely boring.

It didn't matter that the estate dripped with wealth–tall marble columns, golden chandeliers that bathed the ballroom in warm light, and the sound of classical music being played softly in the background.

None of it interested me.

It was all the same, every event a repetition of the last. Some women whispering to themselves about the latest fashion and shows, others moving around and talking about the deals they made in the shadows with the men, and the lingering scent of expensive cigars mixed with perfume.

As I moved through the crowd, the conversations hushed around me. Eyes turned to look at me, gasping to show their disapproval or a little smirk to show their praise.

I knew why.

There was a reason why I chose to design that would provoke.

My deep emerald gown clung to me like a second s