Chapter 2 The Right Arm

• Giulia
• One Year and Five Months Ago
• Being the daughter of a capo, one of the most successful in the world of trafficking, wasn't easy. I was an only child—or at least that's what I knew. And as such, I couldn't succeed him. Which I thought was good, as I had no desire to sit in that chair.
• However, with Santini blood, I was promised in marriage to one of his protégés and right-hand man, Pablo Bell Monte. I had hated him since then. This man couldn't wait to have me in his bed, and I saw him as a worm who did everything to please my father. I had no interest in marrying him, but so far, I had no plan to escape this commitment.
• We were at the Mitolli Complex, one of the most secluded places in the whole city. The family thought placing its army right next to the mansion would be a war strategy. And it was true, as the place was considered both a prison and a fortress.
• As for me, I wouldn't be there. I always hated this mafia stuff, largely because of my father, who was a tyrant and turned everything into an advantage. And the other reason was obvious: all of this was wrong. But I would be a hypocrite to say I didn't benefit from the money that came from crime.
• I got out of the car, tossing my long blonde hair back. I won't deny that I drew attention and was quite vain. Since I was very young, my father used to tell me that a Santini should be noticed and gave me everything luxurious.
• Today I see how much all of this was being demanded from me.
• I had never seen the Mitollis throw a party like this before. All the families were invited, and the house was lit up, giving the white facade a beautiful glow. But no one entered the mansion. The party hall was more open-air, with fabrics, arrangements, and a red carpet. Tables and chairs were scattered around, and quite a few people were already present.
• Everyone there knew each other. The girls attended the same Catholic school, received the same rules and fate, while the boys were prepared for initiation, where they learned to be criminals and killers.
• Despite all the charm and supposedly strong personality, I didn't like events like this or being in the same place with all those people.
• Everything there was a game about who pleased the bosses best, who respected them, and who was the most successful in that field. There was always a veiled hostility and a rivalry that could be smoothed over with a drink and a cigar or with a marriage, which they called a blood pact.
• While my father was talking to some of his partners, I was free to walk around and stay as far away from those people as possible. I hadn't seen any members of the family around and didn't even know why this party was happening.
• The night was starry but cold. I didn't make a good choice in wearing a strapless black dress and not bringing something to cover my shoulders.
• I didn't even want to be here.
• "Giulia!" Pablo's voice made me nauseous.
• He was an unbearable man, waiting for me to do something he could take advantage of. Fortunately, I was still near other people. That way, I could have a bit of an edge and maybe manage to get rid of this jerk.
• "You look beautiful today."
• "Thanks, but I don't need to hear that from you." I rolled my eyes and turned my face, looking for a way to escape him.
• "Always using that sharp tongue of yours," he said, seeming unfazed by my sarcastic tone. "I'll enjoy cutting it out when we marry. Something that's getting closer every day."
• "Until then, I have the right to respond to you as I wish. And if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the bathroom," I said, irritated, walking away from him.
• I didn't know where the bathroom was and didn't really want to go there; however, I would make this "sacrifice" to stay away from this man. But I was quickly stopped from going far when I almost tripped on the unstable ground, covered in small stones. Fortunately, someone caught me.
• "God! I'm sorry. I..." When I looked up and saw my savior, I almost swallowed my tongue.
• Dante Mitolli was a feared and very dark man. He was the bastard everyone hated, but also the most dangerous of them all.
• He looked down at me with his dark, penetrating eyes, making my whole body tremble. I didn't know I would encounter him. In fact, few managed to talk to him.
• "You should be careful, girl." He let me go after ensuring I wouldn't fall again. "The ground is a bit unstable for such sharp heels."
• "Right," was all I could say, giving a shy smile.
• He was more than twice my age, dangerous, and too serious for my taste. He still made me nervous, completely out of myself, and warm inside when he looked at me so intensely.
• Leaving me behind, he walked towards the hall. Watching him, I thought about what to do. Should I leave or simply go back to where I came from?
• ***
• I spent the entire event trying to focus on reality, the people around me, and my father, who was talking to other men his age, but I failed miserably because of one person.
• Dante stared at me almost the whole time. My eyes sought him out too, making me uncomfortable, but not in a bad way.
• At one point, I distanced myself from everyone. This time, I really wanted to go to the bathroom and spent a good while looking at myself in the mirror. It seemed like something had possessed me. My hands were sweating, and I couldn't stop thinking about that man holding me.
• "God! He's worse than Pablo. Why am I like this?" I asked myself.
• I touched up my red lipstick, took one last look in the mirror, and left, breathing deeply, certain that this mere encounter was neither important nor affecting me.
• Of course, any woman being stared at like that by a man like him would feel shaken. Nothing as exaggerated as an attraction itself, but I confess that whenever our eyes met, I felt attracted to him in some way.
• Forget it, Giulia. This means nothing, and you hate this type of man. You must focus on the plan to get rid of your father and Pablo.