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Chapter Four
The homeschooled and sheltered Alessandra had grown up in a gated mansion in Lake Forest and was only a show pony for her father’s associates. She was not allowed to wear pants when her father was entertaining, so her wardrobe consisted mainly of babydoll dresses as a child. The skirts grew shorter, and the tops bared more cleavage, as she grew. It provided men the opportunities to grope and leer as they pleased.
As a mafia princess, she should’ve been revered. Her father should’ve protected her. Instead, he was the one who handed her to the wolves stalking her. He sent her into many bedrooms after sunset, forcing her to stay until dawn. There were parts of her that would never be clean. Thankfully, she couldn’t remember a Walker being part of that circle.
Anthony Russo had many legal businesses, including multiple real estate holdings, from apartments to warehouses.Don’t neglect the real estate market. Besides, you never know when you’ll need a safe house, he’d told her.She lived in a safe house for years after her mother was murdered. She had a new nanny every six months and returned home once a week to be paraded before her father. Though she grieved her mother, those years were still the happiest, because things changed once she returned to the Russo estate.
Alessandra stared forlornly out the window as the congestion of the city gave way to suburban streets. As they drove closer, the scenery grew increasingly familiar and her breathing shifted in response. She tore her eyes from the window and focused on her folded hands in her lap instead.
“Alessandra, listen. I—” Drake began.
“Don’t, Drake!” she snapped, cutting him off completely.
Although Drake did not initiate any further conversation, she noticed his occasional glances in her direction. She felt bad and wanted to say something but wasn’t in the mood to engage in small talk. There were many things that they needed to discuss, but the car was not the appropriate time or place to do so.
They pulled up to the wrought iron gates that surrounded the Russo family estate. Drake had barely hit the brakes before Alessandra jumped out and forcefully shut the door behind her. Drake quickly thrust the car into park and rushed after her.
He grabbed her elbow and forced her to look at him. “This is ridiculous, Alessandra. Let me come in with you.”
With a sigh, she realized that having Drake by her side could be advantageous for her. She couldn’t anticipate the mood her father would be in, and Drake was her husband, after all. She reluctantly agreed and climbed back into the car. The gates opened automatically, beckoning them to enter. A craggy-faced guard greeted them and told Drake to park at the top of the drive.
Alessandra stood calmly, taking a few deep breaths as she waited for the arch-topped iron door to open. Her father had the bulletproof and fireproof security door custom-made. In the event of a perimeter breach and guard incapacitation, the home’s exterior was designed to serve as the final defense line. Being there no longer felt like being at home; it felt more like an imposition. Despite the warmth of the sun, she remained encased in an icy cocoon.
A burly man in a black suit and receding hair opened the door. His face brightened with a crooked, snaggle-toothed smile.
“Welcome home, Miss Russo.” He opened his arms to her.
“Hello, Russell.” Alessandra hugged the beefy man.
Russell was the only soul in the barren mansion outside her brother to show a modicum of kindness. She wished he could have been her father. While he was still part of the family, his modus operandi was never to hurt women or children. In fact, he took many lashes to save Alessandra from her father’s wrath.
“Don Russo and Mr. Donato are waiting in the office for you, Miss Russo. Don’t tarry,” her father’s personal guard, Angelo, said.
A sudden stiffness overcame Alessandra as she gazed at the lieutenant, trying to gauge the situation. She hoped to steer clear of her father, and Luca was the last person she expected to run into. He had been away on business for the past month. Alessandra had a suspicion that her father had intentionally sent him away to avoid any interference with her wedding.
As she breathed faster, Drake sensed her discomfort and offered support by placing a reassuring hand on the small of her back. Though a small gesture, Alessandra appreciated it more than words could express. She drew strength from her husband’s stoicism.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded, concealing her emotions deep within. Though she could have found her way blindfolded, she let Angelo lead them to her father’s office. The presence of the escort was meant to intimidate and display dominance; however, she was aware of more information than her father had realized.
Alessandra frequently listened in on private conversations conducted behind closed doors. She even hid beneath tables or desks, “playing” with her nannies. Nanny was a loose term for the women who spent equal time entertaining her father’s men.
The times she was caught, she received a lashing and was locked in her room for indeterminate amounts of time. If Russell was the one to find her, he answered her questions as patiently and honestly as possible. She learned the value of knowledge and how to leverage secrets to protect herself while wielding her feminine charm as a powerful weapon.
Angelo knocked on the office door, and Luca’s deep voice commanded them to enter. The fact that Luca, not her father, gave the order didn’t bode well. Alessandra stepped in before Drake.
Luca gestured for her to come closer and pulled her into a one-armed embrace. His chilly touch sent shivers down her spine. Luca’s whiskey breath made Alessandra feel faint as he leaned in to kiss her. Alessandra instinctively reached out for Drake, who swiftly rescued her from the other man’s hold. Drake cleared his throat, causing Luca to back away, and Alessandra relaxed into Drake’s protective embrace.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Luca said while taking measure of Drake.
Luca Donato had aspirations of becoming Consigliere for Marcello, and he had already risen to the position of capo at a young age. His success was attributed to nepotism and the fact that he had become a soldier at only sixteen years old.
Luca’s dark hair was slicked back as usual, but his facial hair was outgrown. His classically-handsome features were marred by the broken nose that had failed to be reset after Tony discovered they were dating without his permission. They both bore scars from their relationship.
Luca wore black slacks and a navy button-down shirt, signaling this was no formal meeting. However, his gun holster hung from his belt in warning.
Alessandra couldn’t help but compare the men before her. Her first love was Luca, a dangerous rebel from her past whom she had fallen for. Back then, he had longer hair that would fall on his forehead, tempting her to reach out and brush it away. Every time he smiled, her heart would flutter, captivated by the beautiful words he would say.
