Mafia's Crown

WARNING: THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR SENSITIVE READERS.

THIS BOOK INCLUDES: SA, ABUSE, DEPRESSION. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

CHAPTER ONE

Charlotte's POV

"Mother, for the last time, I will not be married to the Royal Mafia's King." I say, standing there in front of my mother in the middle of the guest living room. August Arezzo, the king of the Royal Mafia Kingdom has chosen me to be his wife, not by hand, not by choice, but by force.

"Im sorry, Charlotte, but you don't have a choice. This decision is not yours to make."

"I have not lived!" I shout. "I am only twenty years old. I want to go on adventures, go out and see the world. You have two daughters! She doesn't even do anything around here-"

"Do not speak of your sister like that!" My mother interrupts me. "You are who he has chosen."

"Did you even mention Aurelia to the King?" I ask. Aurelia, my sister, who is much older than me, yet lazy, and selfish, and whatever she does wrong, my parents find the heart to forgive her.

"Aurelia is not capable of becoming a wife." She says, looking away as she fixes her skirt.

"But you think I am!?" I look out the window, feeling frustrated, trying to hide the fact that I wasn't going to cry. "I think I know what this is about. You and father both want to get rid of me. You're handing me over to a very dangerous man, so you can keep Aurelia safe and hopefully marry her off to a gentleman." My voice cracks from holding back my tears. I then turn to look at my mom. "You all never loved me. Truly. You never did."

Tears roll down from my eyes, scared that once I'm married to him, I will have no life left in my soul. He is a cold blooded killer, a murderer who walks free, a man with no mercy. He is heartless, and selfish. I've known August since we were seven years old, but one day he became cold and distant towards me. Our friendship ended just like that with no explanation. A boy I used to know is now the man I wished I never met. My father enters the room.

"What is going on here? What's with all the yelling?" He asks.

"I refuse to get married!" I tell him. "I won't and you can't make me."

"Must you disobey your parents like this, Charlotte?" He says, walking closer towards me. Even in front of our guests? We have given you everything you've wanted. This is how you repay us back?"

"You have given me nothing. Everything went to Aurelia." My lips quiver. "I only got her hand me downs. Even this dress I'm wearing now, it's hers from before she gained all the weight! We are not poor, Father! You just hate me." Suddenly, I feel a burning sensation across my face. He slapped me, but I wasn't surprised. He always hits me. He has been for many years and my mother watches.

"Have you no respect! You disobey your parents, you talk down on your sister, your ONLY sister! You should be ashamed. Dinner is being prepared right now, You've lost your eating privilege for three days." He takes my mother's hand and walks out with her, leading the guests out as well.

Aurelia has done a lot worse than me, yet she never lost my parents' love, her privileges, or any items important to her. The time I told my mother our Unlce Harold touched me when I was eleven, she said that he was only joking around and that he's a playful man. I tried telling my father as well, but he locked me in a room for a whole day. When I told August, he was the only one who believed me. We both felt something off about my Unlce Harold.

I stand in the living room, continuing my tears. I hear footseps behind me. I know who that is. My sister. I turn around and face her and she takes a good look at me.

“You will never be good enough.” She scoffs in my face. “The man who you loved the most became someone you now hate the most.”

“Stop it, Aurelia” I say, clenching my fist.

She laughs. “Once August kills you… maybe for nothing, or maybe because of your stupid potty mouth, mom and dad will have thier burdens free.” Then flicks a piece of my hair. “Maybe it’s good Uncle Harold punished you. You’re not even close to being a women … let alone, a good one.”

My fists clench tighter to the point my fingernails dig into my skin and making me bleed. If I hit her now, Father will also beat me to a pulp. Aurelia keeps on going about Harold.

“You will always be a whore, Charlotte.” She smiles in my face. Before she could turn around, I grab the back of her braids and pull on them. She starts screaming as do I. I drag her down to the floor, and hit her. My parents come running in, and tear us apart.

“What has happened, my dear Aurelia!?” My father asks her.

“I…” Aurelia fakes a whimper, “I was just congratulating my beloved sister on her marriage, daddy. And before I knew it, I-I was on the floor… being beaten.”

“That’s not true!” I clap back. “She called me a whore!”

“Enough!!” My mother yells. “Charolotte, you will be married to King August by this Sunday. Pack your things, you will be living in his palace starting from today. I will have a letter delivered to him.”

I look at my mother in disbelief. How could she do this to me? I storm up the stairs to my room and start packing. But not for August’s palace, I am running away. Far, and further. Away from these monsters, and away from that cold blooded killer. I will not be given away.