Lucien didn't drop me off at school today. He hadn't shown up yesterday or the day before. Usually, if he couldn't make it, he'd give me a heads-up or send our family driver, and then he'd treat me to Sunset Glazed Chicken and their famous Tropical Sunset Fizz at Petal & Plate.

But, well, he wasn't accountable to me. He didn't owe me explanations. Yet, his absence felt unusual.

This Sunday, I woke early for my daily jog. Returning, I spotted Lucien's car in the driveway. Excitedly, I dashed to my father's office; Sundays usually found him there.

In my father's office, there was a particular spot with thin walls where even faint noises from inside could be heard. I positioned myself near it, unsure whether to interrupt their meeting or risk embarrassment.

"She can't marry him, sir; she's still 20," said Lucien.

My heart skipped. My father told be that he won't marry me off to someone against my will.

"She'll be 21 before the wedding. We'll conduct it in January, a couple of months after her 21st birthday," my father responded.

"I don't give a damn. She can't marry a beast like Allesandro.", Lucien shouted at my father.

"The marriage was already fixed before her 18th birthday. He was generous enough to wait until she turns 21.''

"Yes, so that, the title of a 'pedophile' he has goes away. He didn't do it for her, he is a selfish bastard who only thinks about himself and his two inches long dick. That's it. Serafina doesn't deserves a life like this Tommaso.", Lucien said almost pleading.

We've found a suitable match for you. He comes from a respected Mafia family with power and influence.

My mother's words echoed in my head.

It was all bullshit. Allesandro wasn't suitable; he was a monster.

This cannot happen. Lucien is the only one for me. I cant imagine being with a man who looks like he eats 25 kids for the breakfast. And also, he was so much older than me.

I was shit scared when I got to know the way he killed a man who tried betray him when I was 5.

He was 27 that time.

I wanted Lucien to see me as a woman, fall in love with me, go on dates, and have fun, not just as his father's friend's daughter, but as an individual.

I craved those stolen moments, the ones where his gaze would soften, not with the weight of responsibility, but with desire.

I dreamed of laughter, of whispered conversations late into the night, of his fingers tracing my skin out of need.

I longed to be the one he reached for when the world became too heavy.

But my dad is successfully trying to kill my plan.

Without wasting another minute, I burst into the room.

Their faces registered astonishment as I greeted them.

"Good morning, to you two. I sense something significant happening."

"Leave, Serafina. You're not supposed to be a part of this conversation," Lucien ordered sternly.

I love men in charge.

"It's up to me, and you know that," I countered as I took a seat on the office couch. "Continue."

"Seraf-" my father's voice harden."

"Continue what you both were discussing, father.", I said keeping my voice as hard as possible.

"Fine if you want to stay. So listen to me carefully, my daughter, I fixed your marriage with Allesandro Armani on your 18th birthday. As promised, I didn't married you off at 18 because of the great thing you did. But, now is finally the time to get you married. You both will be tying the knot on 15th of January.'', my dad spoke like a father who is happy since his dear little daughter is marring the love of her life.

My heart sank at the thought of marrying him.

Just the idea makes my skin crawl and my stomach churn with disgust.

The very notion of being bound to someone I don't know, someone who might be old enough to be my father, fills me with dread.

It's not merely the prospect of an arranged marriage that unsettles me-it's the idea of surrendering my freedom, my autonomy, and my dreams.

I shudder at the thought of being forced into a life that feels more like a prison than a partnership.

The mere idea is enough to make me want to scream in frustration.

"Anyone but not Allesandro dad. He is a fucking monster.''

"The marriage is fixed and we can't do anything , no matter what.", my father said, eyeing Lucien.

"He is a monster Tommaso, His first wife suicided because of him, He sold his second wife to Russians to get his way with them and have premium quality drugs for himself and his third wife died on their marriage night because he killed her while her taking her virginity. She was only 17 and he was 40. Do you want the same thing to happen with Serafina?''

My father scoffed, "Nothing like that will happen. Serafina is a strong girl. If she can win battles and has the potential to be a mobster, she can be a wife for Allesandro."

"This is not about her being strong or just how much of abuse she can endure." Lucien screamed as he got up from the chair.

"This just not it, Tommaso. She is working hard day and night to prove herself to you and you are just completely ignoring her efforts and wanting to tie her in the martial chains, that will be nothing but the demise of her youth and her ambitions."

I feel my heart sore and my eyes brim with tears.

Lucien has always been the one who showed me the good in the bad things. He was always there for me and today, when I need him the most, he is there, fighting for me.

It's in these moments that I realize how much he means to me-more than just a protector, he's my anchor in this storm.

"This is not a topic that should be discussed as nothing is going to come out of this. I already gave my word to Allesandro", my dad said as he began to walk out of the room.

"There is something we can do, papa. I'll do everything. Whatever assignment you give me, whomever you want me to kill. I'll do it, father. Please stop this marriage from happening. Father, please.", I got on my knees and begged him.

This was my reality. The world outside these four walls was scared of the every movement I made. Everything about me is dominant and lethal outside these four walls.

But there is a different story inside these wall. Here, I am begging for the basic human right.

"You are not a child Serafina. The decision has been made.. You will be Allesandro's wife till the day one of you die. And this is my final decision."

"Till the day one of you die.'', Lucien repeated my fathers words.

Lucien face was unpredictable for my father, he stared straight into his eyes. But for me, it didn't take me another second to know what exactly he is thinking about.

Till the day one of you die.

Till the day one of us dies.

Lucien's eyes darkened and his lips curved into a lopsided, shit eating grin.

"Jusqu'à ce que l'un d'eux meure. Bien sûr Tommaso", Lucien said as he laughed.

"Lucien no. You can't do that.", I looked at him, still kneeling in front of my dad.

"Christ Perle, its too late now", he walked towards me and kneeled. "

"Le Prince a parlé. Ton heure est venue."

The Prince has spoken. The night falls on Allesandro.

There is nothing that I can do.

"Armani is not a random dude from our side Lucien. Hurting him means a war with Italians.", I pleaded him. But deep down I know my efforts are futile.

"And hurting you means a war from me, Perle.",

"Lucien, don't be childish. You wouldn't do that. You won't kill Allesandro", my father said. Even he know the power those words hold.

"I begged you for a chance Tommaso."

He said as he left the room.

Few seconds passed and father marched after him. He gave he orders to our men to get moving in Italian.

This was a everyday thing here. But today is going to be intense, historic and iconic.

As I marched out of Tommaso's office, my mind was a whirlwind of fury, resolve, and determination.

There was no way in hell I would let Serafina be chained to that monster, Allesandro.

Every step I took echoed with the sound of my own heartbeat, loud and relentless.

I knew what I had to do, and there was no turning back.

Fuck, I wasn't her knight in shining armor, but her desperate plea ignited a fire within me that I couldn't fucking ignore.

"She deserves better than this," I thought, gripping the steering wheel as I sped towards Allesandro's mansion.

"She's not just a pawn in Tommaso's game. She's a warrior, a force to be reckoned with. And I'll be damned if I let anyone break her spirit."

"Allesandro won't know what hit him," I muttered under my breath, tightening my grip on the wheel. "This ends today."

The mansion loomed ahead, its grandeur a stark contrast to the darkness I felt inside.

I was no stranger to danger or violence, but this was different.

This was personal. Every step I took towards the grand entrance was filled with purpose.

The guards at the gate recognized me and let me through without question.

My reputation preceded me, and they knew better than to interfere.

Morality was a twisted bitch, and I found myself caught in her treacherous game.

Was I a hero or a villain? Did it even fucking matter anymore?

The sunlight glinted off the barrel of the gun resting on the passenger seat, a cold reminder of the path I had willingly chosen.

My fingers itched to wrap around that cold steel, to become an instrument of fate, the deliverer of justice.

I pulled up to Allesandro's ostentatious mansion, the epitome of excess and sin.

The flickering lights revealed shadows dancing behind the drawn curtains, a glimpse into the debauchery that lay within those walls.

I smirked, knowing the party was about to get a whole lot fucking darker.

The front door loomed in front of me, an entrance to a world of sadistic games and power struggles.

With a deep breath, I pushed it open, my footsteps echoing off the marble floors as I ventured into the lion's den.

My gaze scanned the opulent scene, noting the drunken laughter and shallow conversations. In the midst of all that decadence, I spotted Allesandro, a snake disguised as a charming bastard.

I weaved my way through the crowd, ignoring the envious glances and the whispers of speculation.

Allesandro's eyes met mine, a mix of curiosity and arrogance. I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; he had no fucking clue what was about to hit him.

"Hey there, Lucien," His smug expression faltered, a flicker of unease tainting his features

"You've been a real piece of shit, haven't you?", I drawled, my voice dripping with a mix of menace and mockery.

"What the fuck do you want?" he spat, attempting to regain his composure.

In that moment, he was nothing but a cornered animal, sensing his own imminent demise.

My grip tightened around the gun as I leaned in, the warmth of his breath mixing with the icy touch of metal against his cheek.

"See, Allesandro, you thought you could play God," I said, my voice cold and menacing. "But devils like me don't give two shits about your rules. How can you even think of marrying Serafina?"

His eyes widened, a flicker of understanding mingling with fear. "Why do you care so much? She's just another woman getting married. Why does it matter to you?"

His words were like a match to dry kindling, fueling a blaze of anger inside me. I leaned in closer, the gun pressed hard against his skin.

"Just another woman? Is that how you see her?" I growled, my voice barely contained. "Serafina isn't just another pawn in some twisted game. She's not a bargaining chip or a mere asset. She's someone who deserves more respect than your pathetic life could ever offer."

His fear grew, eyes darting, as he stammered, "You can't just kill me over this. There will be others-"

"Save it," I interrupted, my voice a harsh whisper. "You're in no position to negotiate. You think you can belittle her, and I won't stand for it."

His breaths came in ragged gasps, desperation clawing at him. "I was just following orders! It wasn't personal."

I shook my head slowly, the anger boiling over. "Personal? Everything about this is personal. It's about respect. It's about honor. And you think you can just dismiss her like she's nothing?"

His eyes filled with terror as the reality of his situation sank in. "You think killing me will change anything? There will be others."

"No," I said, my voice steely and unyielding. "There will always be others. But for now, you're the one who pays the price."

His body jerked, his face contorting in agony as blood sprayed across the room, an offering to the gods of vengeance.

And that's it. We are fucking done.

I locked my eyes with Armani, a mix of satisfaction and darkness swirling within me.

He knew. He fucking knew that the reaper had come to collect his dues.

The chaos around us-screams, gasps, and frantic movement-was merely background noise to the finality of what I had done, filling the air like a twisted symphony.

But I stood there, staring at the lifeless form before me, a chilling calm settling in my bones.

This was justice.