Capo Dei Capi (Secrets of the Famiglia Part 1) novel Chapter 1

There is hope in all of us. A small glimmer of it even in the evilest of villains to walk the earth.

And love, oh love, a human emotion that is reckless, wild, and free as it paints you into the promise of its false truth, that is our fail switch.

Then there is humanity, one emotion that is weak - the reason we fall so far, we become blinded. Well, at least that is what my papa says.

We sacrifice so much for it; in the end, we are a mirror of our suicide.

I, Aliyana Capello, am not immune to the dealings of the heart when it comes to one man.

I am as vulnerable as if I have already slit my own throat.

“He is so handsome,” I say, staring at the guy walking in front of my sister and me.

Leonardo Catelli, third son of our Capo, Marcello Catelli.

Today is a special day for the Famiglia. Marco and Deno Catelli will be choosing their brides. The future heirs of the Famiglia.

“Gli sciocchi si innamorano Liya.” Fools fall in love Liya.

“Sono una sciocca in amore,” I am a fool in love, I inform my eldest sister as we walk to the back of the hall, to drop off the last batch of biscuits my stepmother made for this evening's dinner.

Neither of us complained when we were tasked with the 50-minute drive there and back. Any chance to get out of the house. One of the rare occasions we get to just be.

Guilia laughs, her black hair shaking as she tries with no reprieve to silence her loud display of emotion.

I don’t understand why she bothers. She is loud, so what?

My stepmother has tried for years to tame Guilia, but her mother, my papa's first wife, was a free spirit.

She died not long after giving birth to Guilia.

Guilia is just like her mother, with light hazel eyes and a brilliant smile that lights up any darkness. My papa told me that he liked Guilia and Filippo's mothers' spirit. She never backed out of a challenge.

But like her mother, my sister would never get to choose whom she loves.

Guilia will never experience the joy of a kiss with her first crush.

Because for ones like my sister, love will be something that will grow, and die a sudden death. A tragedy.

“Do you find it strange that he sees you almost every day, yet, still looks right past you?” Her strong accent voices out the words I ask myself a thousand times a day.

Her eager eyes make me want to laugh as the hollow feeling of want sucks in my stomach.

I smile, knowing full well the implications my sister will face in the wake of her marriage. The closest thing she'd ever get to a romance would be through my attempts, even if it is unreciprocated. For now

“Yes, but when the time comes, I will eventually make him see me.”

“When the time comes, you’d be grey, and I’ll be dead.”

“Hahaha, very funny.”

“You are 19 Liya, Papa won't allow you to pass another birthday without an engagement. You are freaking lucky Papa has given you the option to choose. I say you snatch Leonardo up before someone beats you to it.” Words can come so easy, but the truth is he is a Catelli, a Pure-blood. He will never choose me.

I need to be more logical in my choice.

“I am half Russian Guilia," My nonchalant words have her rolling her eyes, as she shuffles one of the coconut and cream biscuits.

She holds me on my shoulders and looks at my short form, giving me a little shake and those stern eyes,

When he met Diamond, I was there. I didn't need a microscope to examine their chemistry. I knew. His eyes never left her. He spoke to her for hours that night, both of them wanting the other. Ren being the ‘nice guy' he was, didn't say no to what she was offering because it was bad manners.

She was his.

I will never admit it aloud, but I have always been jealous of the way the two of them could just be. I think I resented him more as he was my friend, and we were from the same world. The idea of his dick being the deciding factor of why he got to live a normal life, and I didn't, did not please me in the least. And I knew I sounded like a bitch for even thinking it, but luckily it was stuck in my head and nowhere else.

The men in our world dated a lot of women before they got married. Some of them had long-term relationships with these women, and when the time came, they married us.

The 5th State women are the ones who got stuck with the Made-Man. The man they all eventually become after surviving their 10th gun down still standing. We get the leftovers while those normal flashy women taste fresh candy. Minty.

Ren, however, has no intention of leaving his diamond lover, ever. And though I'm jealous and envy them, I have every intention of helping him.

“My father insisted I attend alone or with an Italian beauty. I hear Leonardo got his eye on someone.” Ren makes a funny pout and waggles his brows, swiping a biscuit from one of the trays. I smack his arm.

“Diamond isn't coming?” I am surprised, she said she'll be there tonight. It's the reason I extended the invitation to Kylie Bray. There's something the three of us need to do. Something I could never tell my sister, not even Ren.

“Of course, she’s coming. Kylie is bringing her as a plus one.” He rubs his shadowed beard as he looks behind me at the biscuits with longing. I swear he doesn't get any food with the amount he eats.

Shaking my head, I roll my gaze to the ceiling and back.

“You can take a few more, but if Ilaria finds out, you’re on your own.”

“I don't know why we had to do it here in Seattle. Why not New York?” Guilia groans as Ren fills his left hand with an assortment of biscuits.

She didn’t like coming to this side, but my sister wanted the man who controlled the State. A man I have never met. She saw him once up close.

Sometimes I wonder how women fall victim to a man with just a glimpse.