After Romeo and I finished signing the contract, we made our way out of my father's office.

This time, he took my hand and placed it in his, which made me smile a bit, considering we are meant to hate one another.

Soon, we made it back to the ballroom, hand in hand and I followed him as he was creating conversation with the other mafia leaders. He didn't let go of my hand once. Not when he shook another guys hand, not when he order a drink and not even now, when his best friends came up to him to greet him with a bro-hug. Hmm, that's new.

"Guys, I want you to meet my soon-to-be-wife, Amélie." Romeo introduced me. The way my name rolled off of his tongue excited my lady parts. No. Stay focused. Remember, you're doing this to get revenge for your maman.

"It's nice to meet you boys, Greek and Spanish mafia right?" I ask curiously.

"Yeah, it's nice to meet you too, I'm Christos and this is Matteo." One of Romeo's friends, who I now know to be Christos, puts his hand out to shake mine.

Just as I was about to take my hand away from Romeo's, his hold on my hand tightened slightly, as if to say that he doesn't want to let my hand go.

He does eventually let go of my hand and I quickly shake Christos' and Matteo's hand. As I was doing that, I felt an arm snake around my waist and pull me closer to themselves. I shoot a glare at Romeo as a way of warning. He just looks me blankly in the eye and continues talking to his friends, slyly stroking his thumb back and forth on my hip, where his hand rests.

I can feel the heat of his hand seeping through my dress as I try and stay focused on the conversation the boys and I are having.

God, this fuzzy feeling in my stomach won't stop. What is he doing to me?

"Cosa stai facendo in nome di Dio Romeo [what in God's name are you doing Romeo]?" I whisper to him in Italian.

"Ci sono persone che ci guardano la mia bellezza. Dobbiamo mettere su uno spettacolo no? [There are people watching us my beauty. We must put on a show no?]" he replies, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear when he whispers, slightly making me shiver.

He pulls back, smirking at the effect that he has on me. Ugh. Why did he feel the need to tease me?

Wait- "Mi hai appena chiamato 'la tua bellezza'? [did you just call me 'your beauty'?]" I'm meant to hate him. I do. Right? Yes, Yes I do. I cannot forget that. No matter how many heart fluttering things he does or says.

He just ignores me and continues the conversation with Christos and Matteo. Asshole.

"Soooo, soon-to-be-wife huh? How did that happen?" Christos asks.

"Yeah-." I cut Romeo off.

"Long story short, it's a historical arrangement that was planned for Romeo and I from the moment I was born, that cannot be taken back. Don't you just love it when men put their logical thinking into their decision making!" I say sarcastically.

Christos and Matteo were too busy laughing at what I said to realise their best friend staring down at me.

"What? Do I have something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that? Do I not look good? Romeo-" I ramble on to him.

I was cut off with an unhappy sounding Romeo and his index and middle finger lifting my chin "Mia belleza [my beauty], don't you dare doubt yourself, you're stunning."

I stared at him, shocked. Maybe he isn't that bad after all. Shut the fuck up bitch. Of course he's as bad as they say he is. How many times do I have to remind you, you. Hate. Him. And the same goes for him, I'm sure he despises me too. And I don't blame him, I do steal from him and raid his biggest shipments often sooo..

"And as for next time, don't say my name like that." He says, looking quite uncomfortable.

Just as I was about to question him, I was cut off by my father by the loud screech of the microphone.

Our heads all turn to the main stage where my father is behind the microphone, ready to make his announcement.

"I hope you have all had a wonderful evening so far!" The guests all clap for him. "As you all know by now, it's that time of the evening where we all take part in this year's event. Do we have a volunteer who is willing to participate as of now? Or shall I have to pick?"

The room went silent for a moment.

"Boys, where's Amara. Why can't I see my sister, you guys were meant to be watching over them you assholes." Romeo whispers through gritted teeth.

"I'll go." A beautiful young girl offers herself up to be first.

"Shit." Matteo and Christos mumble in unison.

I look over at Romeo and I can see him clenching his jaw. Hesitantly, I reach my hand up and placed it on the side of his neck, stroking my thumb over his jaw in hopes of calming him down.

He looks over at me and his eyes soften for a millisecond before going back to his angry demeanour as well as ripping his arm off from around my waist.

Much to my dismay, I quickly retrieve my hand and let it hang limply by my side.

I mean, I was just trying to be nice. It wouldn't kill him to accept me trying to calm him down and potentially avoid killing half of the people in here for fun. The Italians have a habit of doing that; barging into peoples ballrooms and killing anyone and everyone.

As the younger girl makes her way to the middle of the ballroom, facing the ballroom doors my eyes begin to prick with tears.

Flashback:

I was snapped out of my dwelling by a rough punch to the cheek.

"Pay attention when the capo is talking, puttana [whore]!" One of the men said. The faint smell of alcohol lingering on his breath was potent and gave me an instant headache.

"No! Don't hurt her! Please don't hurt her!" My maman begged.

"As I was saying- before I was rudely interrupted," the 'capo', I'm assuming, sneered at me "it's either your daughter or your wife. Your choice amico mio [my friend]."

A minute passed and my père stayed frozen. The once beautiful ballroom - which now had blood seeping through its carpet - was dead silent. You could hear a pin drop.

Until my worst. Nightmare. Happened.

Flashback end.

My inner panicking from the flashback was interrupted when my father continued talking "Amazing, we have our first contestant! Now, if this person's mafia would step up and come to the middle too."

Romeo didn't hesitate to step forward, I'm guessing he's trying to figure out a way to save his sister.

"Aha! Mr. Basilio - Italian mafia. Oh how the tables have turned." My father says sinisterly, I could see Romeo's jaw clench as well as his fists "so, I'm sure you're all wondering what the event will be this year. Well, this year, each mafia leader must watch my men kill one of the people they love the most, right in front of them."

Oh God. I think I'm going to be sick. He's purposely doing this as a way of getting his revenge, but this isn't fair to poor Amara at all.

Suddenly, my father's men barged their way through the crowd and made their way towards the middle of the ballroom (reminding me of that day) and all pointed their guns at Amara.

Oh God. I genuinely think I'm going to be sick.

With out hesitation, I push my way through the crowd and throw myself in front of Amara.

"Ce n'est pas ainsi que fonctionne la vengeance, père! Si vous voulez venger ma maman, alors vous tuez son tueur! Une personne innocente ne devrait pas mourir pour les péchés de son père! [This is not how revenge works, father. If you want to avenge my mother, then you kill her killer. An innocent person should not die for their father's sins.]" I shout at the incompetent fucker.

He simply chuckles and shakes his head.

"Putain de pute décevante et moche. J'aimerais que ce soit toi qui sois mort au lieu de ta mère cette nuit-là. J'aurais dû vous tuer moi-même, il y a des années. [You disappointing, ugly fucking whore. I wish it was you who died instead of your mother that night. I should have killed you myself, years ago.]" he said with disdain lacing his tone.

"Tell them to stand down or shoot me for all I care." I say, taunting him. To be fair I don't have anything left to live for and I doubt that anyone other than Liyana would give a shut if I died. "Go on then. I. Dare. You."

As I was speaking, the whole room stayed silent and Romeo made his way onto the other side of Amara so that we were now covering her on all sides.

"Per l'amor di Dio. Cosa stai facendo Amélie? Non essere così stupido e provocalo. [For God's sake. What are you doing Amélie? Don't be so stupid and provoke him]." Romeo whispers to me.

I swiftly turned around whilst the guards were waiting for my father's order.

I look down at Amara and explain "Hey Amara, I know you may not know me but I need you to trust me right now. I have a plan. As soon as I tell you to go, I need you to run to your left and stay with Christos so he can make sure you'll be alright. As for you" I look up at Romeo and make eye contact with him, the electricity crackling between us "run. As far away and the fastest you can."

"And what about you?" They both reply in unison.

I crack a (fake) reassuring grin, in hopes of fooling them and making them believe that I'm totally confident nothing will happen to me. "Don't worry about me. This isn't my first time having a disagreement with the devil himself. I can handle it."

I look over to my left, my eyes finding one of my most trusted guards and I see him give me a nod (the signal that this plan needs to get started now).

"Go in 3, 2, 1."I usher a worried looking Amara away.

As soon as I say 1 my father barks out an order "Gardes. Tirez sur elle. [Guards. Shoot her.]

BANG! One gunshot. That's all it took.