The Mafia Crimson Desire

Sophia Morelli had always been told that there was power in silence. As the only daughter of Don Giovanni Morelli, head of the infamous Morelli crime family, she was expected to embody that silence- quiet, obedient, and compliant. A woman who knew when to speak, but more often, when to remain hidden behind the walls of the family estate.

The sprawling mansion on the outskirts of the city was a gilded cage, filled with the scent of expensive leather and polished marble, but it was still a prison. Every corner of the mansion echoed with the whispers of the past-the bloodstains of secrets that no one dared to acknowledge. She had learned early on that to survive in this world, she had to play the game of shadows, just as her father had. She'd been groomed for this life since birth, her future already written in the ink of her family's legacy.

But today was different.

The heavy silence of the house was broken by the rhythmic click of her heels as she made her way down the grand hallway, her pulse steady but her mind racing. Her father's voice had summoned her, and she knew better than to ignore it. She wasn't the rebellious type. Sophia had learned to hold her tongue, to comply, even when every fiber of her being screamed for freedom.

Entering his study, she found her father seated behind his mahogany desk, the faint light of the afternoon sun casting long shadows across his sharp features. Giovanni Morelli was a man whose reputation was built on fear, his legacy carried by whispers in darkened rooms. The Don had always been an enigma to her-loving in his own cold way, but distant, a man whose business was too dangerous for sentimental attachments.

"Sophia," he said, not looking up from the papers scattered across his desk. His voice was a low, commanding rumble, one that sent a chill through the air. "Sit."

Sophia moved to the chair across from him, her heart thumping in her chest. She knew the rules. She knew how to play the part. But today, there was something in the air-something unsettling.

"Father," she said, her voice steady despite the storm that brewed inside her. She had learned to hide her emotions well.

Giovanni didn't immediately respond. He was a man of few words when it came to family matters, especially with his daughter. But when he finally spoke, his gaze flickered to her, piercing, calculating.

"I've made arrangements," he said, his eyes never leaving hers. "Arrangements that will secure our family's future."

Sophia's stomach twisted. She had heard those words before, always followed by a new alliance, a new deal, or a new marriage contract-always some political maneuver to increase their family's power. But this time, something felt different.

"I don't want to be married off, Father," she said, her voice a whisper, but with an edge of steel. The words were born from a place of frustration she could no longer suppress.

Giovanni leaned back in his chair, regarding her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "I didn't ask you what you wanted, Sophia. It's never been about what you want. It's about what's best for the family. What's best for us."

Her breath caught in her throat. She had expected this. She had known it was coming for years, but hearing the words-those cold, final words-struck her with a sharp pain that radiated through her chest.

He continued, his tone softening, just slightly. "You're to be married to Luca Vieri. He's the heir to the Vieri crime syndicate."

The name hit her like a physical blow. Luca Vieri. She had heard of him, of course. Who hadn't? The Vieri family was just as powerful as the Morellis, if not more so. They ruled over the southern part of the city with a vice grip, their empire built on corruption, extortion, and violence. Luca was their heir, a man whose reputation was as feared as his family's.

"You can't be serious," she managed, the words slipping out before she could stop them. "Luca Vieri is-he's dangerous. He's ruthless."

Giovanni's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening in an instant. "You'll learn to respect him, Sophia. His family will strengthen ours. We need them, just as they need us. You'll marry him, and together, the two families will rule this city."

The words hit her like a slap, but she knew better than to react. She was trapped in this life, shackled by her father's decisions, bound by a legacy she never asked for. But this... this felt like a betrayal.

Luca Vieri was not a man she could ever love. He was a monster in a tailored suit. The stories surrounding him were enough to send a chill down anyone's spine. But her father was right-there was no escaping this. Her life, her choices, had never been her own. She was just another piece in the grand chess game of power.

"What if I refuse?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Giovanni's gaze hardened, his jaw tightening. "Refuse, and you'll find yourself with nothing. No family. No protection. No future. The Vieri family will not take kindly to rejection, Sophia. I suggest you don't test their patience."

Her heart sank. She had no choice.

This was my fate, all along.

"Fine," she said, the words tasting like ashes in her mouth. "I'll marry him."

Her father's lips curled into a satisfied smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Good. The wedding will be soon. Prepare yourself."

As she stood to leave, the weight of her decision pressing down on her like an iron chain, Sophia realized there was no escape from this life. No way out of the gilded cage she had been born into.

The door slammed shut behind her, and as she walked down the hallway, the walls seemed to close in around her. She was suffocating in her own skin, trapped in a future that didn't belong to her.

Her only hope was that maybe-just maybe-this marriage to Luca Vieri would offer her something she hadn't anticipated. Perhaps there was a chance for her to find her own power, to rewrite the rules of this game. She just had to survive long enough to find it.

Sophia paced in her room, her thoughts racing, tangled in a storm of fear and anger. Her father's words echoed in her ears, a reminder of how powerless she truly was. She was not her own person. She was a pawn in a dangerous game, her life nothing more than a bargaining chip to secure alliances and power.

The sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor seemed louder than ever as she moved from one side of her expansive room to the other. The walls, adorned with priceless paintings, felt suffocating now, as though they were closing in on her.

She stopped in front of the large window that overlooked the manicured gardens outside, the view a stark contrast to the turmoil churning inside her. The air was cool, and the sky had begun to turn a dusky purple as the evening approached. She could see the city in the distance, its lights flickering to life, an illusion of freedom and possibility-things she would never have.

A soft knock at the door broke her from her reverie. Sophia didn't need to guess who it was. She knew that voice all too well.

"Come in, Ivy," she called, her voice tight.

Ivy Wheeler, her twin sister, stepped inside. Ivy was everything Sophia was not-bold, outspoken, and unafraid to challenge their father's authority. She was also the one person in the world who truly understood her. Their bond ran deep, and Ivy had always been the one to remind her that there was more to life than what their father had chosen for them.

Ivy shut the door softly behind her, her dark eyes filled with concern. "I heard," she said, her voice low. "Father has arranged your marriage, hasn't he?"

Sophia didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned away from the window, her gaze dropping to the floor. The anger, the frustration-everything seemed to collapse in on her, and she had to fight back the tears that threatened to spill over. She couldn't afford to be weak, not now, not when everything was at stake.

"I don't have a choice," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ivy moved closer, her hand gently resting on Sophia's arm. "You always have a choice, Soph. You just need to take it."

Sophia shook her head. "I wish that were true. I wish I could say no, but you know what would happen if I did. Father would never let me walk away. And neither would the Vieri family. Luca Vieri would... kill me before I could even think about refusing."

Ivy's expression darkened. "Luca Vieri? That's who they've chosen for you?" Her voice trembled with barely-contained fury. "The same Luca Vieri who slaughtered our uncle for crossing him? The one who-"

"I know who he is, Ivy." Sophia cut her off, her throat tight. "I'm not stupid. I know what I'm walking into."

There was a long pause, and Ivy let out a sharp breath, clearly struggling with her own emotions. "I don't care what Father says. I won't stand by and watch you marry him, Sophia. We need to get out of here, together. We'll leave, go somewhere safe. We don't have to be part of this."

Sophia turned to face her sister, her heart breaking at the sight of the desperation in Ivy's eyes. "You don't understand, Ivy. We can't just leave. I'm the one who has to make this sacrifice. This is how it works, how it's always been. You can't run from it. You can't hide."

Ivy's jaw clenched, and she stepped back, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "I hate that you're saying this. I hate that you've given up."

Sophia closed her eyes, the weight of it all settling in her chest like a heavy stone. "I haven't given up. But I have to protect you. I have to make sure you don't get dragged into this mess. I'm the one who's supposed to carry this burden. I'll go through with the marriage, and I'll deal with it. But you-promise me you won't get involved. Promise me you'll stay out of this."

Ivy opened her mouth to argue, but Sophia raised her hand to stop her. She couldn't take any more arguments. She couldn't take any more uncertainty. If this was her destiny, then she would accept it. She would endure it. For her family's safety, for the peace of mind of those she loved.

But deep down, she feared what it would cost her.

There was another knock at the door, and before either of them could react, the door swung open. The sight that met Sophia's eyes made her blood run cold.

Standing in the doorway, dressed in a black suit that seemed to swallow him whole, was Luca Vieri.

He was taller than she remembered, his presence commanding the room as soon as he entered. His dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her skin prickle, and his chiseled features held no warmth, only cold calculation. He was the type of man who commanded respect, who struck fear into everyone who crossed his path.

Sophia could feel Ivy's protective stance beside her, but she knew better than to challenge him. Luca Vieri was not a man who would be swayed by anything, least of all her sister's defiance.

"Miss Morelli," Luca said, his voice smooth, like velvet but with an edge of steel. "Your father has requested your presence at dinner. It seems we have much to discuss."

Sophia couldn't hold back the tremor in her hand as she placed it on the arm of the chair beside her. She tried to steady her breath, but the panic was starting to rise again.

Ivy shot her a glance, one that spoke volumes of the silent promise to protect her, no matter the cost. But Sophia knew better. No matter how fiercely Ivy fought, this battle was already lost.

"I'll be down in a moment," Sophia replied, her voice controlled, even though her heart was pounding in her chest. "Please inform him I'll be there shortly."

Luca's lips curved into a slight smirk, and he nodded. "Of course, Miss Morelli. But I'd suggest you make it soon. Your father isn't known for his patience."

With that, he turned and left the room as silently as he had entered, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

Ivy's hand grasped Sophia's. "This is madness, Sophia. You don't have to do this."

But Sophia only shook her head. "It's already done, Ivy. I have to go."

She stood and walked toward the door, she could feel the weight of the decision bearing down on her, suffocating her every step. She was about to meet the man who would change her life forever, and there was no escaping the role she was forced to play. Luca Vieri... the man who would claim me.