Arosio De Luca

"Continuare a cercare. Non mi ripeterò, se mi richiami un'altra volta senza risultati, ti ucciderò senza alcuna esitazione. Inteso?" I threatened into my phone with a tired but menacing tone before slamming it down onto my work desk. (Keep looking. I will not repeat myself, if you call me back with no results one more time, I will kill you without any hesitation. Understood?)

The vibrations shook the whole length of my mahogany desk, causing the picture frames I kept beside my laptop to fall down instantly. Reaching out, I gently took a hold of the first picture frame that has kept me breathing and sane for the past three months.

I haven't seen my wife for three whole fucking months, apart from in my dreams that always ended in many restless nights.

The picture was taken on our wedding day, after I surprised her by flying in the Avery elders. She had no clue that I had been communicating with her grandparents secretly for weeks. At first, I didn't even want to speak to her grandmother but I did so out of gratitude since she raised my wife when the Dale bastards tossed her away.

The back of my knuckles turned white as my grip around the picture tightened within seconds. The wedding dress she wore was crafted by the best designer in Italy who had hand-sewn all of the wedding dresses in my family. It enhanced her beauty even more, if that were even possible, and I couldn't stop staring at her that whole day.

Her beautiful, radiant smile captured my attention within seconds, her head resting against my chest as my arms wrapped around her waist and we both smiled into the camera. We had danced the night away together, something that I never thought I would do since I despise dancing.

But alas, I had taken secret lessons in preparation for our wedding day to make sure it would be the best day of her life. Her surprised expression as I twirled her around and dipped her in my arms to her favorite song had warmed my cold heart instantly that night.

The tips of my fingers grazed over the Italian engraving on the bottom of the picture frame.

Mia dolce moglie (My sweet wife)

"FOTTUTO TRADITORE" yelling furiously, the picture frame was thrown across my office room, effectively shattering into pieces. (FUCKING BETRAYER)

My breathing came out ragged as I looked around my office that had endured several rage attacks from me over the past few weeks. Every night, the maids would clean it and order new furniture but then it would turn out damaged again like now.

I can't help but see red whenever I think of what she did to me.

The rage was enough to make me break every fucking thing in my office yet again. Grabbing the ends of my desk, I flipped it over and didn't stop when the shattering of glass from the tabletop filled the room. Instead, I looked around and found another thing to break, this time it was the bookcase filled with her favorite books that she would read in here while I worked.

"FOTTUTO INFERNO," I roared before grabbing the table lamp and throwing it across the room. (FUCKING HELL)

How could she betray me so easily?

How could she take our babies away from me?

How could she leave me and our son?

I was willing to give up EVERYTHING for her. Hell, I was going to give up my own Mafia for her.

Several footsteps shuffled towards the door of my office before it was torn open and a concerned looking Alejandro and Giovanni stood facing me with grim expressions on their faces. I glanced towards Giovanni's arm that was still wrapped in a cast and looked away out of guilt.

I had placed Alejandro and Giovanni in charge before I flew to Italy three months ago and strictly instructed them to stay in our childhood mansion to protect Katerina and Nonno. But they listened to Nonno and left our home unattended which created the perfect opportunity for her to leave me.

I was so enraged when I returned to America and Alejandro informed me that they had no leads as to where she disappeared off to. Before I could even blink, I had already punched Alejandro across his jaw and broke Giovanni's arm when he tried to pull me away from him.

"What do you want?" I muttered darkly before taking a hold of the vodka bottle on my black sofa and chugging it down. The familiar burning sensation in my throat made me feel even more alive and encouraged me to continue drinking until Alejandro tore it out of my grasp.

"Enough, Aro. You need to move on, you can't keep beating your men half to death every time they report no leads on principessa. Do you think Elijah likes seeing his father return home late at night with bruises on his knuckles and a bloody shirt? You never went home without cleaning yourself up first when principessa was around but now you don't even care. We had to leave Elijah with your parents. Are you even listening? Giovanni cazzo di parlare con questo idiota!" Alejandro rambled off in annoyance before taking a seat across from me and throwing his hands up in the air when I didn't immediately react. (Giovanni fucking talk to this idiot)

"EXACTLY. I fucking took every precaution when she was here, I never wanted her to see this dark side of our world. I always came home clean without a single trace of blood to make sure she never felt any discomfort. I forbade my family from discussing our Mafia business in front of her. I ordered all of our men to hide their guns in front of her. But did any of that stop her from betraying me and leaving? NO. Mi ha ancora lasciato con i nostri bambini. I MIEI BAMBINI," I fumed out furiously before ripping the vodka bottle out of his hand and downing its contents within seconds. (NO. She still fucking left me with our babies. MY BABIES)

"Aro, stiamo facendo del nostro meglio per trovarla, ma è un po 'difficile quando non ha lasciato indizi. Questa volta ha dimenticato il telefono in modo che non possiamo rintracciarla, il filmato di sicurezza fuori dalla tua villa d'infanzia è stato disabilitato quel giorno. Non abbiamo idea se ha viaggiato in auto, aereo, treno, ecc. Ha anche ritirato i soldi in anticipo, quindi non posso nemmeno monitorare le sue tracce di denaro," Giovanni explained calmly as he sat beside me with an emotionless face and folded his hands in his lap. (Aro, we are trying our best to find her but it is a little difficult when she has left no clues behind. This time she left her phone so we can't trace her and the security footage outside your childhood mansion was disabled that day. We have no idea if she traveled by car, plane, train, etc. She also withdrew all her money earlier, so I can't track her money trails either)

To anyone else, it would look as if he didn't really care but we all knew how much he cared about my wife like a big brother. She was the only one who could bring a smile onto his typically cold face. He confided in her about things that he didn't bother discussing with Alejandro nor I.

Deep down, I knew that he and Alejandro have tried their best to find my wife. They searched almost as much as I have. They checked every security camera in the streets near my childhood mansion, every camera in every single airport, bus station, train station, but we weren't able to find anything.

"Lo so, pensi che non lo sapessi già? Ma mia moglie non è così furba, non avrebbe potuto pianificarlo da sola. Qualcuno deve averla aiutata, scoprilo per amor di cazzo," I snapped in annoyance before taking my cellphone out of my pocket to check for any updates from my men on their search. (I know that, do you think I didn't know that already? But my wife is not that cunning, she could not have planned this alone. Someone must have been helping her, find that out for fucks sake)

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"Stiamo esaminando questo aspetto, ma tutte le loro tracce sono coperte. Non riusciamo a trovare nulla nel telefono della principessa che la colleghi a nessun estraneo," Alejandro whined aloud before taking the vodka bottle from me again and placing it onto the floor away from us. (We're looking into that, but all of their tracks are covered. We can't find anything in princess's phone connecting her to any outsider)

"Bene, prova di più. È quasi al terzo trimestre con i miei gemelli, ho bisogno di lei. Inteso?" I demanded before taking out my phone again to check for any update. (Well, try harder. She's almost in her third trimester with my twins, I need her back. Understood?)

"E? ... cosa farai quando troveremo principessa?" Giovanni's voice suddenly came out hard as he narrowed his eyes at me before glancing at the broken picture frame of her that I threw across the room earlier. (And?...What will you do when we find princess?)

My jaw clenched in anger before I swallowed down hard and suppressed the urge to break his other arm. She is my wife, what I do with her is none of his or anyone else's fucking concern. After taking a deep breath, I turned back to him with my face devoid of any emotion.

"Nessuno mi tradisce e la fa franca. Nemmeno lei," I stated darkly and felt Alejandro shiver beside me before turning my hard gaze back to Giovanni who appeared to be extremely pissed off by my words. (No one betrays me and gets away with it. Not even her,)

"Quindi ci costringerai a trascinarla di nuovo in questo buco infernale e torturarla per averti lasciato? Forse dovrebbe avere una fottuta scelta in questo! Non ha mai chiesto di essere usata da suo padre come un burattino e di essere legata nel nostro mondo crudele! È troppo innocente e pura per questa merda. Forse ... forse sta meglio dove si trova adesso," Giovanni lashed out as he stood to full height and it took me a moment to register his words before I sprung up from my seat and placed my gun against his temple. (So you're going to make us drag her back into this hell hole and torture her for leaving you? Maybe she should have a fucking choice in this! She never asked to be used by her father like a puppet and get roped into our cruel world! She's far too innocent and pure for this shit. Maybe... maybe she's better off where she is now,)

"Se mai ripeterai quelle parole, cazzo, ti seppellirò sei piedi sotto terra, Giovanni. Lei è il mio tutto, non mi fermerò davanti a nulla per riaverla indietro e se mai mi ostacolerai, ti ucciderò. Migliore amico o no, non mostrerò pietà prima di metterti al tuo posto. Sono ancora il tuo capo, capito?" with my gun pressed firmly against his forehead, I stated each word with venom dripping down so that he would get the message loud and clear. (If you ever fucking repeat those words, I will bury you six feet underground, Giovanni. She is my everything, I will stop at nothing to get her back and if you ever come in my way, I will fucking kill you. Best friend or not, I will show no mercy before putting you in your place. I am still your boss, understood?)

"Haha, rilassati tutti, rilassati. Gio, smettila di essere un idiota. Inoltre, il padre della principessa è morto e anche quella puttana Isabella. Qualunque camion li abbia uccisi, ha fatto un enorme favore a tutti. Adesso smettila di parlare dei morti e concentrati sul presente. Dobbiamo prendere un aereo tra un'ora, ricordi?" Alejandro let out an awkward laugh as he took the gun out of my hand and reminded me of our flight. (Haha, everybody relax, relax. Gio, stop being an idiot. Besides, the father of princess is dead and so is that whore Isabella. Whatever truck killed them, did everyone a huge favor. Now stop talking about the dead. and focus on the present. We have a plane to catch in an hour, remember?)

Amidst everything that was happening, I completely forgot about the flight to Texas we have scheduled in an hour. There is an important business deal that I must sign in Texas for Saverio since he kept pestering me about it. He knows that I am still searching for my wife but he still called almost everyday this week to ask me to go to Texas. Ever since he found my step-cousin, Alana Coldwell, or should I say Alana D'Amore now, he's been too busy to take care of his own shit.

At first, I found it a bit odd that he found Alana so quickly in Los Angeles and that my father-in-law and that whore Isabella Dale died on that very same day. But I didn't really have time to question it since I was too busy looking for my own wife.

"Bene, andiamo a finire questa fottuta merda così possiamo tornare a cercare mia moglie," I ordered coldly before giving Giovanni one last glare and exiting my office with the two following close behind me. (Fine, let's go and get this fucking shit over with so we can return to search for my wife.)

You better enjoy your little bit of freedom while it lasts because once I find you, I swear... I will make you regret leaving me, Katerina.

***

After a short three hour flight from Los Angeles to Texas, we stepped out of my family's private jet and made our way to the address Saverio had emailed me. Alejandro stayed behind in one of my family's remote villas in Texas because I wanted him to keep track of anything that happens in Los Angeles while my men search for her.

The car ride was filled with silence as Giovanni drove the two of us and occasionally glanced over at me. I was still furious from his earlier words and it took everything in me to not kill him right then and there.

Taking out my wallet, I slipped the picture I kept of Katerina out of my wallet and stared at her for a few moments. It was a picture of her and little Eli holding the birthday cake they baked for my mother.

Hell hole?

Torture?

I provided her with everything she could ever need and want in life. I was a devoted and loving husband to her, I never tortured her nor allowed anyone to even harm a single hair atop her head. I cherished and loved her with all of my being, she was my whole world and more.

So how could she...how could she leave me?

Did our love...mean nothing to her?

"Siamo qui, Aro ... aspetta, stai PIANGENDO?" Giovanni's shocked voice brought me back to reality as I quickly stuffed the picture back into my pocket and turned away from him. (We're here, Aro...wait, are you CRYING?)

Pathetic...I'm so pathetic. Crying over you when you abandoned me so easily...

"Sbrigati, non abbiamo tutta la notte. Raccogli i documenti che Saverio ha inviato per la firma ", the closer we both got to the house, the weirder everything seemed. (Hurry up, we don't have all night. Gather the documents that Saverio sent for signing)

Saverio typically only deals with high-class businessmen like myself, but the house we were at was a very modest middle-class home. There wasn't even gated security at the front, which made it seem very odd. These people were far from the rich, high profile clients Saverio dealt with on a regular basis.

So why the fuck did he send us here?

Giovanni glanced over at me with suspicion written all over his face before raising his fist and knocking on the door three times. They had a doorbell that was hanging out and clearly broken, confirming my earlier suspicions that these people were anything but rich.

"Hello? Can I help you?" a short young woman with brunette hair questioned as she opened the door halfway and stared at us with narrowed eyes. Giovanni and I shared a look before I gave the woman a gentleman like smile and held out my hand.

"You must be Mrs. Bonavich. Pleasure to meet you, my name is Arosio De Luca. I was sent by my business partner, Saverio D'Amore, to discuss a business deal with your husband and have him sign the final documents. Saverio called your husband in advance," I explained before Giovanni handed the documents over to the woman who looked confused.

"Huh, well yes I am Mrs. Bonavich, but neither I nor my husband were expecting anyone tonight. We don't even know anyone named Saverio D'Amore," the woman looked more on guard now as she closed the door a little more before it was suddenly opened fully.

"Mommy, who's there? Woah, tall boys," a little girl no older than three years with blonde hair and hazel eyes stared up at Giovanni and I with her mouth open. There was something about this little girl that held me captive.

Her hair.

I've seen that hairstyle before. It's the braid that goes from the top of the head to the bottom that my wife always did to her own beautiful red hair.

"Ah, I see. Well, we apologize for disturbing you this evening, it must have been a mistake on our part. Have a lovely evening," Giovanni replied stoically before tugging my elbow away from their front porch.

I stared down at the little girl for a few more moments before turning away and walking back to my Range Rover with Giovanni. The sound of the door slowly closing behind us reached my ears as I wondered how the ever so perfect Saverio could have fucked up the address of his business partner.

Before we could reach the car though, the little girl's footsteps raced after me and she spoke few words that had my whole world stopping.

"Mommy! Look, picture of Auntie Katty, look!" within seconds I turned around and stared down in shock as the little girl held the picture of my wife that fell out of my pocket and waved it to her mother. Her mother stared at me in shock before all of the color drained from her face.

"Riella, get back here this instant!" the brunette woman yelled before I bent down and placed my hands on the little girls shoulders.

"What do you mean... Auntie Katty? Do you know who this woman in the picture is? Where is she?" I questioned as I stared the little girl into her big eyes and her mother raced towards us but was held off by Giovanni.

"Riella! Let go of my daughter, get away from her!" she screamed but I ignored her and repeated my question to the little girl.

"Yes, she's Auntie Katty. She's in the garden behind," the little girl pointed towards the gate leading to their backyard and that was enough to have me racing towards the back as Giovanni silenced the mother with his handkerchief when she began to scream.

Unlike the front of the house, the backyard held an extravagant garden that despite the darkness of this night, held an indescribable beauty. It reminded me of the garden Katerina tended to in our home and had a stone path lit by lights on each side leading to the inside of the garden.

With quickened footsteps, I followed the path and halted momentarily when her angelic voice fell in my ears. My heartbeat immediately raced as I finally heard the voice I had been yearning to hear for three whole months now.

I began to sprint towards the center of the garden and could make out the back of a wooden egg shaped swing hanging from a tree that Katerina sat in with her hands resting on her much bigger bump. Her beautiful hair flowed down her back just like I remembered it and she was dressed in a beautiful purple summer dress that had me frowning.

It's too cold, she needs a blanket or sweater.

Just as I was about to run towards her, I saw a man knelt down in front of her with his head pressed against her stomach. My vision began to get clouded by red as rage pulsed through every beat in my body and I could feel my shoulders begin to shake with anger. The urge to murder whoever that man was appeared in my mind as I fought it and tried to remain calm.

"I felt it! I felt the kick! Your babies are so strong, just like you my little Kitty Kat. Now stop worrying, your silly dream from three months ago will never come true. You're going to be with us from now on and we'll raise your kids together, alright?" the closer I got to them, the more I could make out the distinct features of the blonde haired man who was standing way too close to my wife.

Before Katerina could reply, I took out my gun and shot the man in his shoulder without even blinking. Her horrified scream filled the backyard as she jumped off of the swing and bent down to help the man, which only added fuel to my anger.

"Finalmente ti ho trovata, Katerina. Your running ends tonight. And say goodbye to your little friend who dared to touch what is mine," a gasp escaped her lips as her widened eyes filled with tears, slowly lifted up to meet my furious gaze. She stumbled back in shock when she took in my sudden appearance and began to shiver when she looked at my gun. (I finally found you, Katerina)

"NO! Please, no Arosio. Don't do it, please. You promised you'd never hurt my loved ones, please don't," Katerina begged with more tears and screamed when I pulled the trigger while my hard gaze remained on her.

Don't blame me, you caused this.

Un tradimento per un tradimento. (A betrayal for a betrayal)

Within seconds, Katerina crumbled to the ground and cried out in agony before I slowly approached her and bent down to her eye level. She turned her head away from me before I gripped the bottom of her chin and forced her to look up at me.

"Benvenuto nella mafia, mia amata," I whispered darkly into her ear before she fainted into my arms. (Welcome to the Mafia, my beloved)

***********

Hello lovely readers,

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