"I'm Rosalia but you can call me Rose."

~Rosalia

That sounds so familiar, but I can't really place where I've heard that name from.

She looks so pretty even and is probably my age.

Wait...didn't Aunty M mention her?

She mentioned her the day we met.

I realize that her hand is still outstretched.

I take it and she shakes mine vigorously.

I yank it away and rub it, she has one heck of a grip.

I turn to my father questionably, he realizes what I'm trying to say and answers, "My men found her following you. She says that she needs to tell you something about Ryan. And I need you to listen to her."

Why?

But I obey and look back at her.

"So who are you and why have you been following me?"

She tilts her head and looks at me funny, "I told you my name silly."

I mentally face palm.

"Oh right."

"I heard that you're Ryan's new fling."

I cringe at that and protest.

"I'm not a fling. And how did you know that we were together?" I emphasize the past tense, we'll never be together after this.

We were barely together anyways.

"It's hard not to see that when you're parading the school and the city looking at each other like a baby to a toy."

"Anyways. I am here to tell you that Ryan is not who he thinks he is. He's a cold blooded sociopath that cares about no one else but himself."

That's no news to me so I shrug, "And?"

She chuckles lightly, "Honey, you're going to want to sit down for this."

Now I'm a bit worried, she's actually freaking me out.

But I do as I'm told and sit on the asphalt and Alejandro does the same.

"So! Two years ago Ryan and I were 'dating'. I was the heiress to my father's mafia but papi has never been proud of me like ever. I'd do anything for him. I was Ryan's queen and him my king. We lived in a fairy tale. I fell in love with him hard. I became a tough woman for him, I got tattoos for him. He treated me well, we'd go out to the fanciest restaurants."

She flashes the tattoos on her stomach, some written 'mine' or 'Ryan's property' and a large daggers arching from her back.

She pulls down her shirt and continues.

"I became the second best student. He was always going to be number one all for him and my father. Alas he never loved me. My father nor Ryan. When Papi heard the news that I was second best, he decided to invite me to a meeting with the Benevetti mafia. My love was there to support me. But he disappeared in the middle. I searched for him and found him in the garden with my nemesis, Brandy. They were kissing and saying I love yous."

I gasp and place a hand over my mouth.

"That's terrible."

She continues except with more emotion, "I was so upset. They saw me and Ryan walked up to me smiling, said that my father put him up to it. Said that I'm weak and that he didn't love me! I was so consumed with anger, I stormed off crying and found a blow torch in my room. I poured gasoline all over my bedroom and set everything on fire."

How can anyone be so cruel?

"I took a gun and walked up to my parents and the Benevetti family and shot my father dead."

My heart beats in my chest and rings in my ears as they heat up.

Why would she do that though?

"My father's last words to me. I remember them like it was yesterday. "I'm proud of you mi amor" I was overwhelmed with anger, but as I saw the light leave his eyes as his last breath was spent, I was happy in that moment."

Psycho much?

"The guards took me away and I was thrown into a mental facility! For crazy people!I'm not crazy!"

She yells, "Sure." I say slowly.

Sure she's not crazy.

"I'll let you believe that."

She snarls at me and continues, "Everything was taken away from me. My love, my wealth, my-"

"Your sanity." I mumble under my breath.

A tear falls down her cheek, and I notice just how sad this is, maybe I should stop.

"It's not like I woke up that day to kill my father. He made me like this. He drove me to burn down the mansion. He made me the monster I was that day."

I don't get it, why isn't she in the mental hospital anymore?

Maybe she escaped, who knows.

"So, I was dumped in that hospital, nurses at my aid at every beck and call. I got sick two days in."

"From stress?" I cut her off, knowing how this story is going.

"Let me finish. Two weeks after my father's death, I realized that I was pregnant."

I thought she said that she was only with Ryan, sneaky fox.

"Who's?" I ask intrigued.

She smirks and rolls her eyes playfully, "Who else's?"

I'm not getting it and I can tell that she understands my confusion.

"Ryan's."

My jaw drops to the floor.

I don't believe it!

But she was just 16, assuming she's my age. Ryan was just 16 and he was already getting girls knocked up.

But it's common, the poor girl had to give up her baby.

Alejandro shuts my jaw for me and a fly whizzes past my now closed mouth.

That was close.

"The doctors were nice to me and took care of me well. We were release ten months later. My baby is all I have now."

"Wait. You kept your baby?"

She nods.

"I was alone in a strange city. No home, no food, no money. It was cold and cruel. My baby boy barely a full month old. Everyone frowned at me. I was just a girl then."

Please tell me she didn't-

"Turns out I was in Chicago! Right where Ryan lives! So, I found a way to contact Aunt Melda."

Realization hits me, Aunty M?

I always wondered what Aunty M's name stood for.

"She rented me a place to stay. It's a tiny apartment but it's better than living on the streets. I work eight hours a day for a meager wage at a diner. I'd do anything for my dear Nico."

Wait what?

"Nico? What a coincidence, Aunty M said that her nephew's named Nico."

She scoffs, "She has no family left. Ryan's father killed them all. It probably slipped out. Any who. I'm constanly working, so I'm wary that my boy will be taken. Aunty M offers whenever she can to take care of Nico. Lovely wo-"

"That's why she takes so many leave days!"

She narrows her eyes at me coldly and I just zip my lips tight but...

"Does Ryan know?"

She shakes her head and chuckles softly. "Never."

"Nico is all I have. He's why I've stayed so sane."

Wow, this is unbelievable. Like something out of a telenovela.

I feel terrible for Rose. She's so young and yet she has to take care of a baby all on her own.

But then again, Aunty M's family. It's horrible what happened to her.

"I want Ryan to suffer like I did. He's horrible to so many people and when i heard about you, I wanted to warn you."

I raise my eyebrows, "I'm flattered but about what?"

"Ryan is doing the same thing to you. He wants to drive you insane too."

That doesn't make any sense, what on earth does he want with me?

"Has he played weird games with you yet? Blindfolded taste tests? Has he asked you to kill one of his staff members? Has he called your name and made you feel as though you were special?"

That's exactly what he has done.

So it must be true.

"Just now, I found out that he's been sleeping with Brandy."

She shrugs, "You haven't seen anything yet. I wonder if Zac is still friends with him."

I nod but I'm not quite sure why he wouldn't want to be friends with him.

"He is....so are Asher, Amber and Mia."

She nods looking impressed, "Those three aren't friends with Ryan. Ryan owns them."

"What?!"