Chapter 1: Hello, Principessa

Sienna

In two months’ time, I would be Dante Dragonetti’s wife, and this ring on my finger served as nothing but a $50,000 shackle. My mother had prepared me for this all my life, prepared me to be a Mafia Bride, but it didn’t hurt any less that they only saw me as a bargaining chip. My father hasn’t been able to look me in the eye since I returned from New York a few months ago; I think the guilt is eating at him.

Before my father sent me into the meeting with Dante a few months ago, I had done research on him; and to this day I wish I had been ignorant. He was a monster, a stone unfeeling monster who saw no difference in killing children and women if they stood in his way.

Dante became a Made Man at age 15 after he killed those responsible for the murder of his parents. He took over as Capo at 20, at 23 he became the Dragonetti Capo Dei Capi and ruled his territories with an iron fist. Two years ago, he sent his Capos into Las Vegas territories and obliterated the Muratori Famiglia; their heirs and women were murdered and burnt beyond recognition while the men watched.

The law officials, too terrified of Dante to intervene, let him overrun Las Vegas. The burning of the Muratori heirs was the reason he was known as il Drago - The Dragon of New York. This was the man my father offered me up to; the man I had insulted by turning up late at our first meeting.

What was my father thinking when he sent me to meet alone with a man like this? What if Dante did something inappropriate or raped me? Did he really think Dante was a man of honour when he has murdered innocent children?

I truly was naïve to think my father would see me as anything other than a trade-off.

Getting up from my bed, I looked around my room and let out a sigh. Ever since my marriage to Dante was announced, no one wanted to see me or be around me anymore. My best friends, cousins, everyone. They labelled me a traitor even though this would benefit the entire family line.

I only had one person I could rely on, and that was Carmella Ruggiero. She was my cousin from my mama’s side and stood by me this entire time. She was to be the maid of honour at my wedding and always offered me kind words of support. It broke my heart that the rest of the family thought of me as a traitor when I was doing this for them.

Mama keeps telling me that this was the highest honour, to marry a Capo Dei Capi. I had to be happy with my future as a bird trapped in a gilded cage. Many would kill for my place. The Dragonetti name would always protect me, but all I could think about was how the target on my back would grow larger as soon as he slips the ring on my finger.

A knock came at my door. “Sienna,” the sweet voice of my mama came as she opened my door. A smile crossed my face when our eyes met, and she sauntered in and sat on my bed.

“Come, sit. There is something we need to discuss, Stelinna,” she said, still referring to me as my endearment of ‘star’, even though I was turning 21 next month.

I walk over to her and she takes my hand in hers. “Your papa has just got off the phone with Dante.” She started, and my heart immediately started pounding at the mention of his name. This was the kind of effect he had on me, and I’ve only seen him once.

“Our rehearsal dinner has to be moved up to tomorrow evening because of an unforeseen problem on his side, so we will host the Dragonetti Famiglia here.”

As soon as she said this, my soul felt like it fled my body. I would be seeing Dante tomorrow, I would see my intended person who so happens to be a man the Mafia world feared. I nod regardless.

“I understand, Mama. Do you need me to help you out with a few things around the house as we get ready?” I asked her and she flashed me a warm smile. She brought me up to be a good wife instead of just a shoulder ornament, so I could cook, clean, and take care of a household.

My Mama always said that you have to feed a man’s soul, not just his ego, and it has worked for her all these years, at least she thought it did. She was so blinded by my papa, she failed to see the mistresses he would sneak into the estate.

It was 1 pm when we got started on the house and 7 pm when we finished. Everything was polished and prim. We would use the good plates tomorrow and mama needed my help with setting up the menu as well, but she did not want me to cook. I pouted a bit at this because I love cooking. However, her excuse was she did not want Dante to think she was making a slave out of me.

Shrugging, I walked up to my bedroom so I could soak the day’s stress and dirt away. Helping clean the house had taken my mind off the fact that I would see Dante tomorrow. Now the terror was settling in my heart. I had the entire night to calm myself down before I saw him again.

I walk into my room and close the door behind me before I turn on the light switch, intending on walking towards my bedroom. What I didn’t expect was to be pushed up against my bedroom door.

“Hello, Principessa,”