"Of course. Just when I thought the day couldn't get worse."
*****
Alessia froze. Her stomach twisted so violently that she almost threw up.
He was real. He wore black. All black. Shirts, pants, leather boots, and a chain around his throat. His tattoos peeked out from beneath his collar, crawling up his neck. His legs crossed as he studied her from under his dark lashes.
Alessia's eyes kicked wildly to her chest. She had to grip the edge of the chair just to stop herself from collapsing.
Vice Principal Charlie stood up and clapped his hands together.
"Well, I'll leave you two to it."
He stepped out and closed the door behind him with a soft click.
Enrico didn't move from the couch. Alessia swallowed hard.
"You like putting yourself in places you don't belong, love."
"What do you want from me?" she asked, trying to sound braver than she felt.
Enrico finally moved. Slowly, he took a step forward, then another.
Alessia stepped back. One step. Two. Her back hit the wall behind her.
She froze.
He kept walking until there was barely space between them. Then he raised his arm and placed his palm flat on the wall beside her head.
His fingers brushed a strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. He leaned in, his lips almost brushing her ear.
"Apologise to me," he whispered, voice low and dangerous. "Go live. Say you are sorry... on air."
He pulled back just to meet her eyes again. Alessia's heart beat so hard that she was sweating inside the hoodie she wore.
Then she pushed him hard. Enrico stepped back, not from the force, but like he let her.
She started pacing, then turned back to face him, eyes wide.
Enrico whistled.
A second later, the door opened. A man in a suit walked in and handed him a single sheet of paper.
Enrico took it without a word, his eyes scanning through the contents. He looked up at Alessia slowly.
"I found out that your father owed La Notte Nera a huge amount of money... which you've been paying."
Alessia's breath caught, but she didn't speak.
"They sent a letter to you. In the next 48 hours, they'll be coming for you. And not just because of the money because you made a Mafia public. You know what that means, right?"
He stepped closer, the paper still in his hands.
"I know what they say about me. But I'm not the person the world thinks I am."
He dropped the paper onto the coffee table.
"I want to offer you a contract."
His eyes locked with hers.
"Go live. Apologise to me. Say it to the world. Say my name, say you're sorry. Say you were wrong."
He leaned in again.
"But if you don't..."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"They will take you. And your name will never be heard again."
Immediately, Alessia's phone binged.
She looked at it. A message from La Notte Nera.
Her fingers trembled as she opened it.
A short letter blinked on the screen:
You have 48 hours to clear the $15 million debt or you die.
La Notte Nera
Her breath caught in her throat. She turned sharply to Enrico.
"What contract?"
He gave a calm, terrifying smile.
"You'll do the first thing I told you," he said, "then maybe I'll give you the contract. I'd be delighted to see it, love."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the office.
The door shut behind him.
Alessia slumped back onto the couch, staring at the message. Her voice cracked as she whispered,
"What nonsense did I get myself into?"
She stared blankly at the ceiling, her heart crashing against her chest.
"What was I thinking when I challenged him?"
Suddenly, the door burst open.
"Allie!" Champagne rushed in. "What's going on?"
Alessia didn't speak. She handed Champagne the phone with the message still glowing on the screen.
Champagne read it and froze. Her mouth opened, then closed again.
"Alessia..." she whispered. "This is real. La Notte Nera are bloody people and you know what they did to your father."
Alessia nodded slowly, her lips trembling.
Champagne grabbed her hand.
"Come on. We need to get out of here. Now."
They left the office together, moving fast. Alessia ducked into a restroom in the hallway and splashed cold water on her face, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her hands were shaking.
She wiped her face quickly, pulled her hoodie back up, and stepped out. Champagne was waiting outside.
They started heading toward the classroom when those same boys from earlier stepped right in front of them, blocking the hallway.
"Well, well, look who we have here. The Mafia princess," the tallest said with a laugh.
Another one crossed his arms.
"How does it feel being owned?"
"You know you're just a big loser, right?" the tall one added.
Alessia stood still for a second, then turned her head.
"Oh really? Says the son of another big loser."
The group went quiet for a second. One of the boys raised his hand to slap her, but before his palm could land, Alessia grabbed his wrist. Her eyes burned with fire as she spoke.
"Don't ever try this next time, man. I'm gonna beat you to a pulp."
The hallway went silent. Champagne pulled her sleeve.
"Come on. Let's go."
One of the guys blocked them.
"Your loser of a father owes La Notte Nera a huge amount of money. Damn. Your father is a fucking joke."
He leaned in, eyes filled with mockery.
"And he gave birth to a daughter just like him."
They all laughed loudly, ugly, echoing down the hallway.
"Hey! Why are you mocking someone's father like that?" Champagne snapped. "Have some damn respect."
The guy turned to Champagne, annoyed.
"Oh please, we're just saying the truth. Her whole family's a walking disaster."
"Oh, so you're her mouth now?" another one said, laughing. "Maybe both of you need to be taught some manners."
Alessia took a step forward, eyes locked on the one who insulted her father. Her voice was slow but steady.
"Say something about my father again... You will regret what you ever said."
They laughed again, backing off.
"You ain't gonna do shit," one of them spat as they started to walk away.
But just then, one of them was suddenly dragged back by his collar and slammed against the wall. The sound echoed down the hall, silencing everyone.
"What the hell?!"
The others turned, eyes wide. And there he was.
Enrico Rossetti. He lit a cigarette—the lighter sounded louder than it should have.
"Shouldn't you be in class? Learning something? Or are you out here trying to earn yourself a casket?"
The guy swallowed hard, his mouth opening, but no sound came out.
"You see, the issue that happened... It's between me and her." He pointed at Alessia without looking.
"Not you. So next time I catch you laying hands, raising your voice, or even looking at her the wrong way..." He took one more step, crowding the boy's space, voice dropping to a whisper.
"We might have to come to your funeral."
The boy's knees were shaking. He removed Enrico's hand weakly and took off down the hall. The others didn't wait their footsteps echoed as they scattered down the hallway.
Enrico adjusted the cuff of his sleeves and turned to walk away.
"Wait," Alessia called out.
He paused. Only his back was visible.
"Why did you do it? Why did you save me?" she asked.
"Because," he said, "we still have some unfinished business, love."
He started to walk again, then stopped.
"I can't let people bully what's mine."