Page 1 of Always Yours

Chapter One

Lily (Liliana) -Age 15-

I stare at my parents while they tell me that when I turn eighteen, I will be married off to help form an alliance between the families. I’m only fifteen years old, but I guess they want me to be ready for when it happens.

I knew that there was always a possibility I would be forced into an arranged marriage, but I never thought that my parents would be the type to put me through that. Heck, my mother was supposed to marry someone else before she ended up falling in love with my father. I think because of who he was, my grandparents allowed the marriage to happen.

There was more to life than living like this.

I am the daughter of a powerful mafia don. My father was the head of the family. Everyone did what he said, or they had paid the price.

The man he wanted me to marry was the son of a man that was just as powerful as my father. Matteo was a year older than me. We both belonged to the Five Families. All the kids of these families went to the same school. Matteo was known for being cruel to his partners. I knew the only reason he didn’t come near me was because of who my father was, but it looks like I will no longer be protected by that considering they will now be marrying us off to each other.

I nod my head and try to hide my anger at my parents since I know arguing will do nothing but land me some sort of punishment.

All five of my brothers are in the family room. When they see me, they give me questioning looks.

“In three years, I will be married to Matteo Deluca,” I tell them.

Looks of shock and anger come over their faces.

“What the fuck are they thinking by marrying you off to that monster?” Enzo spits out angrily.

I shrug. “We need the alliance,” I say with a sigh, knowing it’s hopeless.

“We will find a way to get you out of this,” Marco says with a determined look on his face.

I just give him a sad smile.

“I need to go see Nikolai,” I state.

They nod their heads in understanding. Nikolai is my best friend, and I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s the son of my father’s right-hand man and we have been close for years, since he’s always around and trains with my brothers. I’m not allowed to learn any of that since I won't need those skills to be the perfect trophy wife. I roll my eyes at the thought.

I think my father didn’t mind us being friends since Nikolai and I never saw each other as more than friends. We have come to think of each other as brother and sister. I couldn’t imagine seeing him as anything more; I shudder at the thought.

Our driver takes me to his house. The door opens before I make it to the steps. Nikolai is smiling at me, but his smile quickly drops when he sees the expression on my face.

“Come on, let’s go talk where there are no ears around,” he says, and we head to his room. He unlocks the door, and we walk in. I immediately throw myself on the bed and groan.

I mumble into the bed, but he can’t understand me. I can barely understand me.

“Say that again?” he says with a small chuckle while sitting next to me.

I turn my head to face him. “I said that my father has arranged for me to marry Matteo DeLuca when I turn eighteen.”

Anger overcomes Nikolai’s face. “What the fuck is he thinking?” Nikolai asks in shock.

“You know how it is in this world. We must keep the alliance strong. It is my duty as part of this family, and I can’t back away from duty,” I say, lowering my voice to mimic my father’s.

“That’s fucking bullshit. I can’t believe he would expect you to marry that man. He fucking likes to cut his women. He likes to see them bleed and cry. And not in the ‘let’s do this with consent kind of way.’ There is a reason no woman will come near him without him forcing them to. Your father is not that fucking blind,” Nikolai states after getting up and starting to pace.

“What else can I do? I don’t have a fucking choice,” I shout before sitting up and facing him.

“We will figure something out. You will not be subjected to that kind of life. Even if we have to get you out of here,” he says, locking his eyes with me to show how serious he is.

I sigh at my best friend. “We can’t just leave.”

“Why not?” he asks, looking at me like he’s already made up his mind.

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