The Mafia’s Forbidden Desire

ROSALINDA.

Antonio might be crazy, but I’m even crazier.

He ruined my dress just because he wanted me to change into something more decent, but I defied that cause. I went back into my room, swiftly removed the ruined dress, and slipped into something even more daring-a silver sequin mid-thigh dress with striking waist-high slits on both sides.

After I finished dressing, I stood in front of the mirror and spun around in a complete 360-degree turn, marveling at my own reflection. Boy, do I tempt myself?

I looked so hot, and I was well aware that my father would disapprove of my outfit, but I couldn’t care less as long as I got to spite Antonio.

Grabbing a silver clutch, I made my way back to the garden. I looked around, searching for Antonio, and before I could figure out where he was, I heard a familiar voice call my name.

Oh, shit. Not again.

I had hoped to avoid encountering him again, but luck was clearly not on my side. I pivoted to face the source of the voice, forcing a fake smile to creep onto my lips.

“Lorenzo.” I called, and he inched closer to me, closing the distance between us.

“I must admit…” he paused, his eyes lingering over my body. He licked his lips in a way that disgusted me before hoisting his head up to meet my gaze. “You are stunning.”

“Thank you,” I simply replied.

“So, why did you get changed?” He asked, his eyes once again wandering over my body.

“My dress got ruined.” I replied.

By a psychopath, I continued inside my head.

He nodded slightly. “I see.”

“Oh, Rosa. la mia bellissima cugina.” I suddenly heard my cousin, Giovanni, call, and a wide smile pulled on my lips as I glanced past Lorenzo’s shoulder to see him approaching us.

(La mia bellissima cugina: My beautiful cousin.)

“How I’ve missed you,” he continued, coming to a halt in front of us and pulling me in for a warm hug.

“I missed you too.” I beamed as we released each other from the embrace.

“Oh, pardon my manners, Don.” He glanced at Lorenzo, extending his hand for a handshake. “Good evening.”

“Good evening,” Lorenzo replied, taking his hand.

Giovanni gave him a firm nod before letting go and returning his gaze to me.

“May I have a dance, Rosa?” he asked, extending his hand.

Without hesitation, I took it. I would rather be anywhere else than standing here with Lorenzo, forcing smiles.

“I apologize for stealing her away from you,” Giovanni told Lorenzo before taking me away from him.

Oh, how much I love my cousin.

“You owe me.” Giovanni said as he led me to the dance floor.

I raised a questioning brow. “Owe you?”

“For rescuing you from Lorenzo. From the look in your eyes, I knew you didn’t want to be with him, so I had to intervene,” He elaborated.

“Oh, please.” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

“Did I just see you roll your eyes?” He mused and abruptly stopped in his tracks. “I take my dance offer back.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be a silly boy.” I nudged him, and he let out a chuckle as he continued walking.

“You know you shouldn’t have worn this dress in the midst of lustful men, right?” He remarked, changing the subject. “All eyes are on you, Mia Cugina.”

“They can only stare,” I murmured as we settled into our dance position and began swaying across the dance floor.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Hmm,” he mused.

“I thought you were in Italy.” I muttered as we continued dancing to the music in the background.

“I was. In fact, I had important business affairs to attend to, but I abandoned them. I couldn’t miss Sofia’s wedding for anything,” he replied.

Shaking my head, an amused smile played on my lips. “I didn’t know you liked Sofia this much.”

I had known Giovanni almost all my life, and I knew for a fact that he wouldn’t abandon his business for a wedding. He had other motives. That, I was sure of.

“Well, I would like to use this opportunity to form alliances with Antonio.” He divulged, and I subtly shook my head.

I knew it!

“And speaking of the devil,” he continued, his gaze looking over my shoulders. “Why is he staring at us? Glaring, in fact.”

“Who? Antonio?” I asked, and before I could stop myself, I quickly turned back to look at him.

Our eyes met, and my heart fluttered erratically. He always had the same effect on me.

Always.

…

ANTONIO

Rosalinda. An amusingly stubborn woman. As much as I loved how the dress clung to her body perfectly, I detested the fact that other men got to feast their eyes on her. I hated that Giovanni’s hands were on her body as they danced. I knew he was her cousin, but the way his hand roamed her body ignited dark thoughts in my mind, making me envision countless ways to harm him.

“Antonio,” my sister, Camilla, called, snapping me out of my trance. I turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow.

“What?” I asked.

She sighed. “I noticed how you have been staring lustfully at the sister. I know what you’re thinking. Don’t even try it. Even if you intend to drive into infidelity after marriage, not with her sister. Please.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, pretending to be clueless.

“You know very well what I am talking about, Antonio.” She retorted. “I can tell when a man wants to fuck a woman.”

Yes. She was right. I indeed wanted to fuck her until I couldn’t no more, but it was a shameful thought, and I wasn’t going to admit it to my sister.

“Don’t be delusional, Camilla.” I stated firmly.

“Antonio, I am serious. She’s off limits.” She pressed on.

“Okay.” I simply replied, unwilling to prolong the conversation any further.

The more I gazed at Rosalinda, the more I longed for her. But there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn’t touch her. I couldn’t feel her. All I could do was fucking fantasize about her, and that was making me go crazy.

Right now, what I wish for the most is to snatch her away from Giovanni’s arms and make her mine to dance with.

Doing that would only make me look pathetic, but did I really care?

That woman was my ultimate weakness and the source of my deepest desires.