Capo Dei Capi (Secrets of the Famiglia Part 1) novel Chapter 4

The Catelli’s were kind to the children, raised them as they would us. But for us, it wasn't the case.

We weren’t accepted in Chicago as our parents had hoped. I was treated the worst and called a whore for staying with four boys.

They didn't consider that we were staying with their Capo’s sister and husband. Well, they just didn’t care. It wasn't the Adults that made us miserable, it was their kids.

Our Famiglia killed a lot of their family. They wanted to do the same, but their hands were tied, and payback wasn’t off the table.

What the other kids hoped would make us miserable and easy targets made us stronger.

“Yes, indeed we are,” Ren touches my head. His gaze straining far away. I don’t need to be his mind reader to know the night he is thinking about. The night we were saved by a Di Salvo.

“Now, you all join the same University. One day your kids will be just as close,” My sister says.

To the people in the Famiglia, these four boys are my brothers. After seven years, the stories amongst our kind became history, and Papa's choice of sending his half-blood daughter was regarded as an honorable action, not a suicide to his name.

But unfortunately, marriage to any one of the boys would be a scandal. It was the one rule Papa couldn’t be clearer about as I got older.

The thing is, I didn’t care, the lot of them were not him.

It was 2-days after my 15th birthday and the first day of summer vacation when I fell hopelessly in love with the handsome Leonardo Catelli.

The sun was blazing, giving his skin that extra golden glow as he stood in the Chicago heat.

He was moaning to Ren and Gabriel about having to fetch us. He was 19 and the epitome of bad-boy. And I was a 15-year-old girl with crazy hormones. The poster girl for all things wrong.

He looked right past my short form as I stood gawking at his tall one. Black glasses hiding the eyes that would come to haunt me in the days that followed.

I never existed then, and I didn’t exist now. I was Yana, Ren’s friend. Leonardo greeted me when I went to his home after that day. He spoke to me when he had to and I always froze. Only with him.

I - A little cat with a distinguished surname and him - A lion raised to rule a territory of his own.

It’s my own personal brand of torture that Leonardo Catelli is the only one for me. Maybe it’s his voice, or broad shoulders, or the fact that he’s always smiling.

Or the few moments we shared on those rare occasions. Moments, I convinced myself a man like Leonardo Catelli could actually know I exist.

Whatever the reason, it was my driving force to get into University. The reason I choose to stay in Seattle, far away from my family.

One look at him in the morning as he crosses the Campus grounds and a few more when he attends frat parties is the perk me up, I need. A link. Even if it is all in my head.

Sometimes I wonder if he is the sole reason I chose to study business?

My Papa was proud when I announced that I was going to further my studies.

He always empowered me in more ways than one.

Except when it came to matters of the heart. I am clueless as my sister. My father still preaches to me that love will not guarantee me a stress-free life.

“I have not met your brother, Marco. Is he as charming as Deno?” I question Ren, changing the topic of conversation and quietening my mind.

I am aware that my sister is hoping to get chosen by Marco. I have not seen the man in person, but his brother, Deno, is a regular when Ren is around.