Page 1 of Heartless Mafia Prince

CHAPTER ONE

RYAH

SITTING BETWEEN DADand his wife in the church pews was how I spent every other Sunday. His bodyguards lined the surrounding seats. I peeked across the aisle. The boy with shimmering blue eyes stared back, accompanied by an evil smirk. I wish I never looked at him. He’d find me after the service. Nothing nice would come of our interaction. Nothing ever did. He hated me. Why? Maybe I’d never know.

The second service ended, I’d crawl under the wooden benches and hide in one of the confessionals.

Dad squeezed my hand. “Stop fidgeting, Ryah,” he whispered.

Our green eyes locked, and I nodded. Hard to sit still on the pink, scratchy ruffles crunched under my bottom. The frilly dresses were my average attire at that age. In daddy’s words, “Nothing but the best for my princess.”

I was his only child. You heard right, his. We’ll get to that soon enough. Leaning into my dad’s side, I inhaled his signature woodsy cologne. A woman sitting in front of us to my right peeked at dad. All the women had it bad for him. His tanned skin, green eyes, authoritative, brooding, demeanor, and tall stature kept them curious.

Everyone rose to their feet at the end of the service. Dad released my hand and I disappeared under the bench. All I needed to do was make it to my bodyguard, Marty, who stood outside the church and I’d be home free.

“Ryah,” dad called.

I couldn’t hide from him. He had to know I was safe at all times. Throwing my hand in the air, I smirked. He motioned for me to return to him. I swiveled on my white, block heels and darted out the door. The sun's rays warmed my arms.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the familiar voice roared to my left.

Rocco stalked toward me and yanked my puffy bun.

I leaned back and punched him in the nose. He barely flinched.

“Hey, you two cut it out,” Marty ordered, holding Rocco at bay.

“I’ll get you back next time, Ryah.” He stormed the steps, shoving the church goers as he made his way to his father, Urbano Andrisani. Our dads were friends.

I stared up at Marty. “Thanks.”

He smiled behind his dark sunglasses. “Ryah, I always have your back.”

Later that evening, I ate dinner with dad and his wife, Rosetta. Luckily, the chef cooked our meals. I swear she wasn’t above poisoning me. Her red lips turned under every time she saw my face. Her eyes raked over my honey brown skin like my body was littered with warts. She shot daggers at me with her gray eyes whenever dad’s eyes lit up in my presence. Rosetta despised his willingness to watch action movies with me, then be in the same room as her.

He and I talked mostly over dinner. Rosetta often spoke of her many duties on various charity boards. She loved talking about herself.

Rosetta stood, stepped to the other end of the table, and kissed dad’s cheek. “Off to play cards with the girls.”

“Have a good time.” Dad didn’t look up from his plate. It was almost like a part of him detested her.

Flipping her chestnut hair over her slender shoulder, Rosetta glanced my way. “Bye, Ryah.”

Tight-lipped, I narrowed my eyes. “Goodbye.”

***P***

Bursting through the front door, I wrapped my arms around mom’s waist, pushing her back a bit.

“Someone’s happy to see me.” She squeezed my tiny frame.

“I missed you.”

“It’s only been three days, Ryah.”

“Happy to be home.” I peered into her dark eyes.

Dad stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Looking good, Melanie.”

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