Three weeks later

Bianca sat on her bed, in her room, reading a book. three weeks had passed since her dad's death and two had passed since his burial. her dad's burial vibe was next level dreariness. sympathisers from all around the world attended, his siblings, his business allies, his friends, Allegra and Kim came too, her bitchy younger sister, Capria who didn't come home when she heard about their dad's death, came for the burial with her boyfriend, a skinny, blonde, freckle faced guy, and they both left the next day immediately after the burial. she didn't want to think of Capria at that moment. her ex boyfriend, Matt never called for once to share his sympathies or comfort her and it made her realise how cruel he was, and it also made her get over him quick.

her mom's family and friends came too, her dad's business associates, capos, soldiers, his mafia consigliere. there were so many people who attended, but she took note of the important appearances. it took a lot of time and effort to get her to stop crying on that day.

And finally, she decided to stop crying and focus her energy on something else.

a week after her dad's death, her mom and June had showed her the video footage of her dad's death.

she wept uncontrollably when she watched the video. the way her dad was brutally stabbed because just because he slept with a mafia's slutty wife. her dad was only trying to get back at his enemy. he was trying to get even because he felt inferior. that violent dirtbag Giovanni Sforza should have known because mafia business was always dirty. he should have resolved it amicably with her dad because that was what civilised people do. but no, the raging freak just had to start the murder.

the only thing that gave her a tiny bit of satisfaction was the fact that her dad didn't die alone. he took down his enemy with him.

Even at that, she still missed her dad so much. she didn't want Giovanni to go scot free after brutally stabbing her dad, she wanted to make him pay but unfortunately, her dad did the job. her dad would loved it if his death was avenged. Since, Giovanni was dead, his family and descendants would have to pay for his sins. she had already gathered information about them. Giovanni had a wife named Barbara and a son. they were from Italy. the son answered Lorenzo and had just returned to take over his dad's mafiadom. 

So many Lorenzos around in Italy. the Lorenzo she met online hadn't also texted her since the day his text broke she and her boyfriend up. somehow she was grateful to him for helping her reveal Matt's true colours.

she was about to send a text message to Lorenzo but didn't because her phone started to ring. Allegra had face timed her.

"hi" she said quietly as she stared at Allegra on the phone

"darling", her friend called. "how are you feeling?"

"it's getting better. the pain is easing away slowly" said Bianca. "how's Kimberly?"

"she's good. she's in a class. worry about yourself for now."

Bianca almost smiled, but then she didn't because she wasn't in the mood for happiness now.

they stared at eachother in silence for a moment, then Allegra asked

"what are you up to now?"

"I'm reading this book and trying hard to concentrate on it" Bianca said, showing her the book, from the phone.

"it looks interesting " said Allegra, after seeing the book. "why is it hard for you to concentrate "

"my dad " Bianca simply said "I miss him. I want to kill those people who took my poor dad's life "

"you'll be fine", Allegra soothed

"will I?"

"just give me a little time, I'll come visit you " said Allegra

even if Bianca was grateful for her friend's offer because she really needed company, she didn't want Allegra to travel all because of her. 

"no" she said to her "you don't have to. I can care for myself"

"I don't need your permission ", said he persistent Allegra

"I really don't want to burden you" Bianca said

"we are friends, Bianca. I know you'll do the same for me. by the way, I want to see your house" 

"Okay" she smiled back. it was really nice to have a friend like Allegra 

"I'll be waiting then"

"We all are missing you here"

"I miss you guys too" she didn't know when she was going to return back to college. she didn't know what the aftermath of her dad's death had in store for her.

The door to her room opened and in came her mom, her uncle and June.

"uhhh...." she said to Allegra.

"I'll call you back soon, bye"

then she ended the call

"Madre" she called her mom

"good day, Zu" she greeted her uncle

"what brings you to my room?"

her mom sat at the end of the bed "we came to talk to you"

"go on"

"your dad has passed away, leaving his legacy behind for his heiress" she began

Bianca cringed mentally. was her mom talking about the mafia business? if that was what she meant, then Bianca was no heiress. 

"you're his heiress, mia figlia" her mom said, as if she read her mind. "the mafiadom needs a new don"

"mum" she began " that can be solved. there's Capria---"

"you're the eldest daughter" her mom snapped "you're the son I and your dad never had. you can't shy away from your duties"

"no mom!" she refused "I can't be a mafioso, let alone boss, I'm not ready, I don't have what it takes...."

she couldn't do dirty business, being a mafioso required a lot of will power and kills. she wasn't ready to make foes and get herself killed like her dad. she'd heard all about it, she'd even seen it in movies. human and drug trafficking, bribery, lingering wars, killings, going to extreme lengths, she just couldn't do it. back at school, she hid the fact that her family did mafia stuff because she was embarrassed about it and she didn't want to be stereotyped. only Kim and Allegra knew about it.

"you have what it takes, mia figlia" her mom began. "it's your responsibility." she turned to her brother 

"your uncle Luigi worked as your dad's underboss. he helped your dad with certain things. Now your dad's no longer with us, he's here to help you "

"mom, don't you understand? mafia isn't for me. I'm not capable of killing anyone "

her mom kept mute for a while, tension evident in the atmosphere. then she played a video and put it in front of Bianca.

it was the footage of her dad's murder. she felt tears rolling down her cheeks as she watched it. why had her mom chosen to poke open her closed wounds?

"would you let this bastard and his family enjoy the goodness of life after they've killed your dad?"

she certainly didn't want them to go unscathed. she wanted to make them pay, bleed and beg her for mercy. she wanted to avenge her dad's unfair and undue death.

"your silence proves that you want what we want which is to leave the Sforza's in ruin" her mom said

"but mom---" she began

"no buts" her mom interrupted sternly "our family and the Sforza's have been at war for generations. Giovanni had certain issues and altercations with your dad, but they never crossed the line. there was a time where they were at peace with eachother, but it couldn't last because Giovanni decided to make use of fists and daggers, instead of words to resolve a measly argument"

Bianca nodded her agreement. she still had her fears 

"who started the kill, in the video footage you watched?" her mom asked her when she noticed her indecisive expression.

"Giovanni"

"wasn't it an issue they were meant to resolve with words?" her mom asked again.

Bianca kept quiet. she knew all too well.

"you've always made your dad happy. are you going to fail to avenge his death now, because I'm sure he'd want that, even in his grave" her mom tried another way to convince her

"no, madre" she answered

"so now, what do you say about taking over your dad's business" her mom finally asked

"it's my destiny" Bianca said with finality

she'd always known this. now, she saw no point in delaying the inevitable.

"no pressure, mia figlia" her mom added

"Luigi is here to teach you everything you need to know, from the soldiers to the capos and associates"

"June is here to teach you martial arts, which is essential for your daily life"

"and finally," her mom added "if you have any problems, do not hesitate to come to me. I'll always be there"

"thanks, madre" said Bianca, even if she fretted for her future, her mom's words reassured her

"la mia bellissima figlia" her mom said as she touched her cheeks, then left the room.

Bianca groaned as she rolled on her bed. this was all too overwhelming for her. she knew someday, she'd have to take charge of her family's mafia but she hadn't braced herself and when her dad died, she thought her mom had another person who would take over if she wasn't willing to.

she groaned again. she just needed to calm down. she needed something or someone to calm her down.

as if on cue, her phone beeped and she quickly checked it.

it was a message from Lorenzo. he knew exactly how to come through at the right time.

the message said

'its been a while, Bianca. I've been busy with so many things. what about you? are you taking exams?'

she replied

'no. I came back home. I'm at my hometown in Sicily. what about you? still at work?'

surprisingly, he replied quick

'I don't know if you believe in fate. I don't, but I think it's speaking in our case'

she didn't understand the message when she got it but before she could ask what he meant, he sent another message 

and it said

'I'm at my hometown. I came back a month ago '

Bianca's heart skipped a beat when she saw his reply. was it finally time for them to meet? or was he still too busy to meet with her?

before she could think of anything else, she received another message from him and it said

'Let's meet'