The Mafia’s Forbidden Desire

ROSALINDA.

“Who the fuck are you, and where is Sofia?” Oliver questioned Antonio arrogantly, looking around the yard.

“I am Sofia’s fiancé.” Antonio introduced himself nonchalantly as he wrapped his arm around Oliver’s shoulder. “Why don’t you let us go inside, and I’d explain better?”

“Sofia has a fiancé?” Oliver exclaimed and shrugged Antonio’s arm off his shoulders, his face contorting into a scowl.

“Oliver, please leave while you still can.” I muttered exhaustingly, looking straight into his eyes, hoping he would listen this time.

“And who said he could?” Antonio raised his brow at me, a smug smile playing at his lips.

“Antonio please.” I begged. “He’s innocent.”

“Who said he wasn’t?” Antonio uttered before returning his gaze to Oliver and slightly tapping his shoulder. “Let’s go inside.”

“I’m not going in. Not until someone tells me what’s going on.” Oliver retorted defiantly, and a frown masked Antonio’s face. “I’m lost here. How are you Sofia’s fiancé? I know you’re lying. Sofia would never cheat on me.”

“I think you don’t get the memo here. I am not asking you to go inside.” His demeanour grew darker as he gazed at Oliver intimidatingly. “I am telling you to go inside now. Do not allow me to repeat myself.”

“What do you think you are?” Oliver questioned, his brows raised. “A big bad mafia boss? Or the president? or even the police? You think I’d be scared of you? I have-”

“Actually, yes to the first guess.” Antonio proclaimed as he pulled out a gun, and in a swift move, he pointed it at Oliver, causing him to let out a sharp gasp.

“Wait, what? Why do you have a gun? Why are you pointing it at me?” Oliver tensed.

“Now, move inside. Believe me, if you try to run, I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot.” He warned.

“Antonio, please let him go. Don’t-” I chimed in, but he cut me off before I could complete the sentence.

“Shut up!”

“Antonio, please-” I tried to persist, but-

“I said shut up!” He cut me off again, shooting a dangerous glare at me.

At that moment, I knew it was best if I obeyed him before I angered him further, triggering him to take an impulsive decision.

In no time, Oliver was forced into the house and was taken to Papà’s office, with me following right behind them. Oliver’s fear was palpable with the way he was shivering from within, and from the look on his face, I knew he also wished he had listened to me when I asked him to run.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He knew nothing about Sofia’s family. He was just a boy in love who had no idea how dangerous his lover’s family were. Now he was entwined in this dangerous web, with no idea if he’d make it out alive or not. I just hoped he did.

Antonio opened the door to Papà’s office, holding it for Oliver to enter.

“Look who I found.” Antonio muttered darkly as he made eye contact with Papà.

Confusion spread across Papà’s face as he leapt to his feet, carefully inching closer to Antonio and Oliver.

“Who is this?” Papà asked.

“Sofia’s baby daddy.” Antonio revealed, and Papà didn’t hesitate to punch Oliver in the face before he got more information.

“He brought himself to us when he came here looking for Sofia. How audacious.” Antonio added, not affected by the blood trickling down Oliver’s face.

I rushed to Papà’s desk to get tissue paper before quickly trudging back to Oliver and holding the tissue paper to his bleeding nose, attempting to stop the bleeding.

“Rosalinda, what did I do?” Oliver asked, his perplexity palpable in the way his voice trembled.

I wanted to tell him that he should have left when I asked him to, but that wouldn’t have helped the matter. He was here already, and I had to find a way to get him out before he lost his life.

“Doris!” Papà barked at one of the maids who was in his office at that moment. “Go and get Sofia, now.”

By the time Sofia arrived, Oliver had already received a few punches to his stomach and was groaning in excruciating pain.

The second Sofia laid her eyes on Oliver, her eyes widened, and a combination of fear and concern consumed her expression.

“Oliver!” She exclaimed, sprinting towards her lover and crouching beside him on the ground.

“Who are these people? What are you?” Oliver seethed, each word punctuated by painful whimpers.

“Is he the one that got you pregnant?” Papà growled as he lifted a fist, ready to design Oliver’s face with another punch. But before he could get close enough, Sofia picked herself up, blocking her lover with her body, protecting him.

“Get out of my way, now!” He ordered her, but she refused to obey.

Instead, she drew in a long breath and exhaled before strongly holding Papà’s gaze. “No. You’ll have to go through me to hurt him.”

Confusion saturated Papà’s features at her unexpected defiance. Sofia had always been the overly sweet, soft, and obedient sister. Before now, she never said no to Papà and always did whatever he asked of her. No protests. No matter how much she hated it.

Love changes people anyway.

“Papà please.” She added almost immediately, her voice becoming softer. “Please don’t hurt him. He’s innocent.”

“Not when he decided to impregnate you, my daughter. I would kill him.” Papà fumed, his jaw tightening and his eyes burning with fury.

“It wasn’t his fault!” Sofia retorted and immediately shot her eyes tightly close, as if she were trying her best to contain her anger.

After a few seconds, she shot them back open, continuing. “I was the one who was engaged, not him. He didn’t even know that I was engaged. So, please, Papà, please. Let him go; don’t kill him. Please!”

Tears began to trickle down her face as she talked, and for a split second, a glimmer of empathy flashed through Papà’s face before disappearing.

“Papà, please.” My sister pressed on, her desperation palpable in the way she stressed the ‘please’

Who wouldn’t be desperate to prevent the death of their lover? If Papà killed him, she would not only lose her lover; she would also lose the father to her unborn child. And I definitely knew how devastating it was to watch one’s child grow without their father.

“Antonio. Over to you.” Papà sighed after a while, darting his gaze at him. “It was your engagement that was ruined. You should decide what you want us to do to him.”

“Oh, well,” Antonio muttered, slowly pulling his gun out of his pocket, and I quickly shook my head.

“Antonio, please!” I pleaded desperately. “I beg you, please!”

He flicked his gaze at me, his eyes narrowing as he stared at me.

“Please.” I persisted, an entreating expression saturating my features, hoping he’d change his mind and let him live.

His gaze lingered on me for a few seconds before snapping his eyes back at Oliver and taking a deep breath.

“I’ll decide what I want to do with him tomorrow. Keep him here until then.” He uttered before turning around and starting to take long strides towards the door.

As I watched his retreating figure, I blew out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding. A breath of relief, knowing that Oliver will survive the night-which was enough time to come up with a plan to save him.