Liliana slumped into the dreadfully uncomfortable aisle seat, avoiding the gazes of those sat around her - knowing there would be at least one of her papà's associates keeping a close eye on her. They would no doubt have followed her ever since she left Sicily. And when it wasn't one of her papà's men watching her, it was someone working for Marco - her eldest cousin.

Sighing, she shifted once more in her seat and dug out her mobile from the pocket of her jeans, staring at the unlocked screen.

Liliana hadn't seen her papà in almost two whole years.

Though stern to the public eye, Antonio Fiorenza was the kind of father who always had her best interests at heart. At the age of sixteen, Liliana had pleaded to attend school in her home town in Italy under the watchful eye of her cousins and her papà had relented almost immediately - confessing how much safer she would be away from his work where his control in America was still being established. He much preferred the idea of her in Italy, where the Fiorenza name was already well established and feared. Her four cousins, who worked under her grandfather's command, were the most feared mafiosi in Italy.

She truly hadn't wanted to leave their small, modest home in Sicily. With her mama dead, her aunt Zia Adelina was the closest thing she had to a motherly figure in her life, and as an only child she relished the time spent with her cousins who she considered to be like brothers.

Her nineteenth birthday was nearing however, and her papà had arranged a vacation in Belize to celebrate. Afterwards, he wanted her to finally return with him to New York. She didn't know why the prospect of seeing her father again left her so anxious to board the fifteen hour flight, or the short boat ride promptly after to the small island her grandfather Valentino had rented for two weeks.

Despite the worry that had her stomach churning — or perhaps that was just the concept of being on a boat — Liliana was sure that as soon as she laid her eyes on her papà once more her anxiety would dissipate. It helped knowing that her grandfather would be in attendance.

She had always been close to her grandfather, despite the fierce reputation that followed his name. He was a wise man, full of experience, who only chose to speak when he felt his words were needed - and when he did, Liliana listened. He had been the one to encourage her to finish her remaining education in the beautiful land of her birthplace, alongside her younger cousins. She had truly enjoyed spending more time with him these past three years in Italy, visiting him frequently in his own Italian home. He always seemed to put her weary mind at rest, and she only wished that they had talked before she began the long-awaited journey back home.

"Ma'am, I have to ask you to please turn off your device for take-off," called a polite voice from above Liliana's stooped head.

Startled at the disruption from gazing intently at her phone's screen — where the brightly lit numbers of her papà's mobile shone and were now successfully burned into the back of her eyes — Liliana jumped in her seat, brutally elbowing her neighbour in the stomach much to the bulging man's annoyance.

"Sorry," Liliana mumbled, her smile strained as she tried to ignore her own queasiness and the filthy scowl of the man sat next to her. With one last longing glance down at the phone, she turned it off completely, praying — just as a baby began to wail loudly despite its mother's panicked cooing — that she would make it off this plane alive.

Liliana had decided very firmly that she hated travelling.

After an hour of being held up at the airport because of a humongous group of egotistical hotshots tramping through in their suits and sunglasses, and what seemed to be hired guards catching the attention of everyone, another half an hour trying to find her grandfather's driver, and now an agonising fifteen minutes of praying she didn't fall overboard and get devoured by sharks, she was very much near her breaking point.

It was somewhat ridiculous that she had dealt with ominous death threats and dangerous situations all her life — a consequence of her families business — and yet it was one measly boat ride that had her ready to bawl.

She had hardly paid mind to the beautiful scenery around her — the crystal-clear blue skies, the vibrant greenery and the sparkling ocean — she was all too concerned with being on solid ground once again. When she finally stepped foot on the soft, white sand beach, it was a wonder she didn't drop to her knees sobbing in gratitude.

The only thing that was able to snap her out of the dazed state of relief was the sight of her grandfather walking across the scorching sand barefoot in nothing but a pair of light, cotton pants and an oversized white shirt, to greet her.

"Nonno!" Liliana cried, her excitement obvious as she abandoned her bags in the sand to sprint towards her grandfather at a neck breaking speed. She hadn't seen him in two months after an impromptu visit to New York to see her father - his son. His appearance hadn't changed at all apart from the length of his now ear long, grey, wispy hair.

"Ciao, Liliana! How glad I am to see my nipotina once more." He held her face firmly between his hands and planted two firm kisses on her cheeks. "These old bones of mine have little time left, and I'm ever so glad to be spending it in your pleasant company."

"Nonno!" Liliana cried in humorous outrage, pulling back from his hold. He had always had such a morbid humour. "Honestly, don't talk like that. You're going to live forever, don't jinx yourself!"

Valentino chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Scusa, scusa." He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Do not fret Nipotina, I have a heart fit for a horse, I will be around for much longer. Now, go find that uptight father of yours, he will be relieved to see you safe and sound. We can catch up at supper."

Liliana rolled her eyes. Her papà worried far too much sometimes. It seemed like he feared everything was out to get his precious principessa. She was capable of looking after herself - her aunt had assured she knew basic self-defence and how to fire a gun should the need arise. But female competency wasn't something that was understood in a family such as hers. It was the men's duty to provide for their women: for safety, wealth and happiness.

Liliana still hadn't come to terms with this fact.

But, if it eased her papà's mind to allow his guards to follow her at all times, then she could endure it, so long as that was all her papà inflicted upon her.

"Papà?" Liliana called as she stepped cautiously down the hallway to the beach house they were staying in. Her bare feet padded gently against the wooden panelled floor and she briefly observed the light blue painted walls with interest, noting the various seascape photographs that decorated them. This was the first time her papà had ever taken such a tranquil vacation, it was no surprise he was holed up in an office.

She reached the last door and knocked firmly before opening it without waiting for a reply. She was far too excited to see her papà once again that she refused to delay the moment any longer.

Sat in the dimly lit room, his head resting heavily in his hands as he sat behind a large desk, Antonio Fiorenza appeared to be in a dangerously dark mood, one that instantly had Liliana's guard up. There had often been a time when a hit or deal gone wrong had dampened her papà's mood and as a result Liliana had learned to keep her distant. He would never become rude or violent with her, but she didn't like to see the difference in his otherwise flawless character.

"Papà..." She called hesitantly. "May I come in?" Immediately, Antonio shot up and straightened his posture, a beam lighting up his aged face. With his arms outstretched he welcomed his daughter into the room, pride gleaming in his eyes as he took note of just how grown up his only child had become.

"Liliana, a beauty as always," he greeted, the familiarity of his rich, Italian accent striking a chord in Liliana's heart. She had missed him terribly, the full gravity of her longing to be back home only now hitting her.

"Oh Papà!" She flew into his arms within seconds, curled on his lap as if she were that little five-year-old girl of his once again and not a woman just one week from adulthood.

"Hush," Antonio whispered, hearing her sniffles as he stroked a soothing hand across her wild curls. "Sit down, I have something important to discuss with you." Liliana pulled back slowly, narrowing her gaze on her father's monotone expression. In the time apart, Antonio had acquired deep bags beneath his eyes; his skin had paled and his once glossy, ebony hair was now speckled with grey.

"What is it?" she asked warily, moving around the obscenely large desk to sink into the chair opposing her papà. Something in her tone told her she would need to be sitting for this news.

"Well," Antonio sighed, clasping his hands on the table in front of him as his dark, earthy eyes connected with hers - expressing the seriousness of his next words. Liliana felt something in her gut drop. "A business partner and I have come to an... agreement of sorts that we know will greatly benefit all involved. This deal will bring strength to our families and secures our safety in this dangerous world."

He sighed heavily and dragged a hand slowly through his hair. She observed his strained movements, his hesitant tone, and the tension in his body sharply, and Liliana knew there was nothing mutual about this agreement at all. "As you are aware, your mother and I first met on our wedding day and not a day goes by that I don't cherish the time we had together..." Antonio let his words linger. Liliana didn't know whether it was lack of courage that kept him from continuing or if he truly struggled to find the words.

Liliana sat back, her eyebrows knitting together in a tight frown. Surely, he was not suggesting she go through with the same thing? Her parents arranged marriage had been one of consent. Liliana, however, had no such desires to marry so young, she would not consent to an arranged marriage.

"Papà..." Liliana made move to complain but he raised a hand to silence her. Instantly she was gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, hating the sickly feeling of dread seeping into her bones as she awaited his next words.

"I am getting old and my operations, my legacy alone is not enough to protect you Liliana. I want to hear no word of complaint, merely a promise that you will consider the proposal." Her papà clasped one of her fisted hands between his, gently prying open her tensed fingers in hope of soothing her understandable frustration.

"His name is Marcello D'Onofrio."





This is my new romance story, updates should be often for the first few weeks.

Please let me know what you think by voting for the chapters or leaving me a comment (even if it's not a positive one, I'd still like to know what I'm doing wrong). Thank you for reading guys! [23/06/2017]

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Wow it's been a long time since I made any changes to this book, 3 1/2 years later and I'm finally getting around to editing it. These new edits contain changes such as ages of the main characters, some plot details and past events [08/12/20]