Chapter 1

Vendetta POV

"That will be 80 euros ma'am." The cashier said, having weighed up everything I purchased.

I began searching through my purse for a credit card, when I felt presence beside me. I turned around and I met with a tall handsome man, who had a stoic look on his face.

"Welcome sir, how may I help you?" The cashier said with a smile on her face. It appears she knew him, judging from the tonality of his voice.

"I will pay for her bills. You can go little kitty.." He said with a smirk on his face.

"I am sorry, but I don't need your money and that's not the appropriate way to talk to a young lady like me." I replied, already irritated by his attitude.

"Why are you quick to be emotional though, anyway, step out my way bitch." I gasped and turned to look at the cashier, who seemed surprisingly angry although not towards him but surprisingly towards him.

"Please ma'am step out the way let me deal with our good customer here." I was about to say something, when I was pulled away by the man in question.

Who does he think he is? I thought to myself as I stood there watching him flirt with the cashier.

I grabbed my things and stepped out of the mall in rage. I didn't like being treated like a fiddle. Being a graduate should come with respect.

After hours on the road, I arrived at the house to find my father and mom seated in the living room.

"Hey darling, you got the groceries?" My mom asked with a smile on her face the moment I entered.

"Yea.." I said dropping the things I bought on the table and dropping to the couch.

I closed my eyes momentarily trying to calm my nerves, when I noticed a sudden silence. I opened my eyes and looked at them and realized they were staring at me.

"What's going on? Why are you both looking at me?" I asked.

I watched with curiosity as my parents used their gaze to speak to one another, before my father would get a letter from his back and hand it over to me.

"Vendetta, I know what you are reading may sound unconventional but I need you to slow down and process everything slowly."

I stared in shock at the content of the letter; it was a marriage proposal, which had my name written on it.

"What's this madness?" I asked.

"During your final years at the college, we couldn't afford your fees. We had to get a loan from Vincenzo LaRosa and pay it off. Right now the bill has lingered too long and he has threatened to behead us if we don't pay." My father explained.

"But father, how does what you have explained relate to the marriage proposal I am seeing here?" I asked, still trying to calm my temper.

"He sent us the letter demanding your hand in marriage as a means of collateral. He has also said he would be bringing his men to pick you up today."

Everybody in Milan knew how dangerous LaRosa's family were, they were known for their drug related activities, and several other crimes. Mentioning their name in Milan could be tantamount to seeking death wishes.

"Father, how could you sign such an agreement? Getting me married to that family is a huge disrespect to me. You and mom know their history and I wonder why you had to get a loan from them in the first place." I stated, with instant irritation on my face.

"Darling, we know you are angry but the truth remains that we couldn't stand and watch you drop out of college in your final years." My mom finally spoke.

"I cannot accept the marriage proposal. I am not going to get married into the family of criminals!" I spat out.

We suddenly heard honk and I went up to look at the window at the same time as my father. Who had a look of pity at his face.

"He is here." He revealed.

"This can't be really happening. You are signing me off to those criminals?" My father placed a hand on his lips, trying to make me keep quiet.

There was a sudden knock on the door and mother went to get it open. A young man who appeared to be in his late twenties stepped into the house. He was dressed in a dark Armani suit and had a shade on.

"The boss asked me to get the girl." He announced.

"Sure, she is ready. We are just trying to give her some pep talk." Father said with an anxious smile on his face. "Vendetta, I know you hate me for this decision, but please follow this man. I promise that your mom and I will always reach out to you."

I looked at the man with so much hate in my system and the fact that he looked unfazed made me more angry.

"Just so you know father, I am disappointed in you and mom." I finished off and grabbed my purse and stepped out of the house.

The Bentley was neat I will admit, but the reality that I was about to be married off to a member of the LaRosa still beats my imagination.

As we both stepped into the car, I took one last glance at my parents. My mom waved with sadness written all over her face, while my dad remained calm despite the emotions in his eyes.

I had come to understand that it was never their wish to sign me off to these criminals. It was the man that needed to be blamed.

After a few hours of driving through the road, we would arrive at the largest mansion I had ever laid eyes on. The whole place screamed luxury and the presence of several security men could not be overlooked.

The car came to a stop at the premises and my door was opened by one of the men. Upon stepping out, the entrance door opened and a familiar face stepped out.

"What should I call this? Fate? Or karma?" He asked.

"Wait a minute? You are Vincenzo LaRosa ?" I asked in disbelief.

"Indeed." I knew I was in for a long period of my life

The man standing before me was the same man from the mall, who had muttered an insensitive statement about me hours ago.