The Don's Bride

“Mum, where’s my swimwear?” Natalia De Luca called out as she rummaged through her suitcase in a desperate search for her favourite black and gold bikinis.

“They’re not in my suitcase. I can’t find them.”

“Have you checked the hamper?” the voice of Natalia’s mother, Sabine De Luca called out from another room in their hotel suite.

“Or they might still be drying out on the balcony.”

Natalia sighed.

The balcony… of course!

That’s where she had left them yesterday after her trip down to the beach.

Standing up and making her way out onto the private balcony, Natalia immediately sighted them hanging over the railing and smiled.

“Ah-ha! There you are.” she spoke to herself.

“Found them mum.” she happily called out, picking them up and making her way back into the hotel suite to go and get changed.

“How long are you planning on being down there today?” Sabine enquired as she stepped out into the living space where Natalia was passing through on her way to her bedroom.

“Uh… I don’t know. Maybe a couple of hours.” Natalia replied.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back before dinner.”

Natalia entered her bedroom and closed the door behind herself, getting changed into her bikinis and pulling a flowy dress over the top of them to complete her look.

She brushed her long dark brown hair in the mirror, leaving it freely flowing down her back.

Then slipping on her white sandals, she grabbed her backpack and loaded it up with her towel, hat, sunnies, wallet and phone before then heading for the door.

Venturing out into the living space where her mother was, she spoke as she walked headed for the main entrance to the suite.

“See you when I’m back.” she declared.

“Natalia, wait.” her mother cut in, causing Natalia to halt mid-stride and turn around to face her.

“You’ve got your phone, right?” Sabine questioned, lifting her brows as she came to stand in front of her daughter.

Natalia rolled her eyes.

“Yeah. I’ve got my phone.” she admitted.

“I’m only going down to the beach for a swim. Nothing dangerous.”

Sabine sighed.

“Just… be careful. You know the drill. Keep your eyes open and make smart choices.” she instructed.

“Maybe I should send some of the boys down, just to keep watch-”

“-Um, no way mum.” Natalia interjected.

“I don’t need babysitters.”

“They’re not babysitters. You know why we have them. The world we live in is dangerous, Natalia.” Sabine reminded.

“I don’t need people watching me every second of the day.” Natalia argued.

“I’m fully capable of looking after myself.”

Sabine stood staring at her daughter for a moment in silence before she finally sighed loudly with defeat.

“Alright, fine. But you’d better be careful.” she proclaimed.

“I mean it.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m off.” Natalia declared, leaning in and giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Luv ya mum.”

With that she smiled and turned, heading for the main entrance.

Sabine was forced to stand by and watch as her only child exited the suite, headed out into the big, bad world all on her own.

And as soon as the door to the suite was closed, she took out her phone and made a quick call.

It rang three times.

“Mrs. De Luca?” a voice on the other end spoke.

“Yes, it’s me.” Sabine spoke.

“Natalia’s headed down to the beach now. I want eyes on her at all times and regular updates, am I understood?”

“Understood, Mrs. De Luca.” the voice replied.

“Leave it with me.”

“Thanks.” Sabine spoke with a smile, then ended the call and pocketed her phone.

Vincenzo Moretti sat on the pristine white sand of the Sicilian beach as the warmth of the mid-day sun beamed down over his tanned skin, covered in various intricate tattoos that he had acquired throughout the years which covered his upper torso, neck, arms and hands.

He wore only a pair of black swimming shorts and had his white surfboard dug into the sand beside him as he peered out at the nearby ocean waves, cascading in against the sandy shores.

This particular beach was his place of solitude; a place for him to come and get out of his head whenever things got too much.

In truth, Vincenzo was currently in Sicily on holidays to visit two of his good friends, Maxwell and Carlo who were at that moment busy surfing in the crystal-clear waves nearby.

Vincenzo had been surfing for the past couple of hours and was at that moment taking a quick breather from all the strenuous activity.

He was always active, and it showed in his physique.

Vincenzo was incredibly fit and had a very muscular body.

Standing at six-foot-four, the future Don was never one to back down and incredibly infamous for his fearsome reputation back home in L.A.

Vincenzo was in the Mafia, and heir to his father’s syndicate, the Moretti Family Mafia.

His short black hair was still damp from the salty water and his bright amber eyes peered across the horizon, blinking every now and then as he sat in silence.

And that’s when he saw her…

A beautiful woman with long dark brown hair flowing freely behind her back as she placed her backpack down onto the sandy surface at her feet and reached both hands down to grasp at her long, flowy dress.

Pulling it up and over her head, she tossed it down onto her towel and then slipped each of her white sandals off, one by one.

Vincenzo couldn’t keep his eyes off her as he watched on in awe.

She looked to be just under six-foot in height and her body was absolutely incredible!

Especially in those tiny black and gold bikinis!

Who was she, this goddess?

Vincenzo felt himself harden for a moment as he watched her voluptuous breasts bouncing while she began making her way down towards the shoreline, where the waves crashed in against the sand.

Unsure of what it was pulling him towards her, Vincenzo found himself standing up as he continued watching her make her way down the beach.

It looked like she was going for a swim.

Eager to follow her lead, Vincenzo reached out and grabbed a hold of his white surfboard, tucking it underneath his left muscular arm as he then proceeded to make his way after her, headed down the beach towards the water.

Natalia waded her way out into the clear, blue water until she was in waist-deep water, then diving straight into the frothy waves in a swift motion.

She disappeared in underneath the wave as it rolled in towards the beach, then resurfacing again on the other side of it with a brilliant smile upon her face.

The cool water submerging her almost nude body was utterly invigorating as she dipped her head back and closed her eyes.

The ocean always felt so good.

Relaxing… calming… it gave her the feeling of freedom.

A feeling she ever so rarely got to experience given her situation and lifestyle as a Mafia Don’s only daughter.

Having come to Sicily for most of her life, Natalia had always loved returning there for the annual trips her and her mother shared together.

Life back in Los Angeles was always so busy and hectic for her, and she rarely ever got the chance to do things like go to the beach or travel.

To feel free again.

Using her hand to wipe the salty water from her face, she glanced around herself and noticed that there were some people further out surfing the waves, some sticking to the shallower areas and a group further out throwing a beach ball to one another.

The atmosphere was totally relaxed, but as she glanced up she noticed some thick storm clouds moving in at a rather rapid pace.

Taking note of it, she started swimming out further, intent on enjoying herself in her moment of solitude.

Lying over his surfboard and using his powerful arms to stroke through the water’s surface, Vincenzo made his way further out through the waves, one at a time.

Headed out deeper into the clear blue sea.

He glided along so effortlessly.

It didn’t take him very long before he had reached his two Italian born and bred friends who were at that moment astride their own surfboards, floating out in the ocean and bobbing over waves one at a time.

“Ehi, Vince! Ce l’hai fatta.” (Hey, Vince! You made it.) Maxwell spoke in Italian with a smile, waving his hand.

“Pensavamo che saresti scappato da noi.” (We thought you’d run away from us.)

Vincent smiled, revealing his dazzling pearly whites as he pulled himself up to sit on his board.

“Non mentirò, ci ho pensato.” (I won’t lie, I thought about it...) he declared, smirking.

“Cosa ti ha spinto a tornare qui?” (What brought you back out here?) Carlo enquired.

“Vuoi cavalcare altre onde?” (Looking to ride some more waves?)

Vincenzo glanced across to where Natalia was bobbing up and down in the deeper water, finding himself captivated by her beauty as he suddenly forgot how to voice a reply.

Both his friends glanced over, and Maxwell immediately sighted what had him so distracted.

“Non so per quanto riguarda le onde, ma Vince vuole sicuramente cavalcare qualcosa...” (I don’t know about the waves, but Vince definitely wants to ride something…) Maxwell declared knowingly.

Vincenzo turned to face Maxwell with a harsh glare in response to his comment, one that frightened him.

Carlo on the other hand frowned in confusion as he looked to Maxwell in question.

“Eh?” (Huh?) he asked.

“Non capisco. Cosa vuole cavalcare se non le onde?” (I don’t get it. What does he want to ride if not the waves?)

Maxwell reached out and pat Carlo on the back as he smiled, “Lascia perdere amico.” (Forget it buddy.)

Maxwell looked over towards where Natalia was now swimming, in closer towards the rocks and he frowned.

There was a dangerous rip tide in that area that all the locals knew about and steered clear of, but it appeared that Natalia was edging dangerously close towards it.

“Ehi, prendiamo ancora un po’ di onde prima di partire.” (Hey, let’s get some more waves in before we head off.) Carlo suggested.

“Venite, ragazzi?” (You guys coming?)

Vincenzo looked to the others as he spoke, “Contatemi.” (Count me in.)

With that, all three men started paddling their boards back out towards where the waves formed, intending on catching some more waves.

Within a matter of ten minutes, the wind had picked up and the waves had increased in size and ferocity, causing several surfers to give up and head in.

The clouds by now had become much darker and a storm loomed overhead, appearing out of nowhere.

Natalia was finding it harder and harder to keep herself floating with her head above the waves as they increased in size and she glanced around, only now noticing that she was much further out from the beach than she had initially thought she was.

“What the hell?” she asked herself in confusion.

“I wasn’t that far away from the beach, was I?”

Frowning, she felt herself beginning to tire rapidly and decided to call it quits and head in.

She began swimming headed back in the direction of the beach, but with every stroke she made, she felt strange, as if she was getting further and further away by the second.

The more she fought against the waves, the more they carried her out.

“Shit…” she panted fearfully, now realising the danger she was in as she glanced around herself, bobbing frantically in the water.

She was caught in a rip tide, and it was quickly carrying her further and further out to sea!

Not only that, but she was quickly tiring, finding it difficult to keep her head above the growing waves!

“Oh fuck…” she panted, glancing around to see if anyone was anywhere nearby that might be able to help her.

Another wave came in, crashing into her and tossing her body about roughly in the water.

As she surfaced again, she noticed that there were a couple of groups of people still braving the waves on their surfboards, but they were quite a distance away from where she now was.

Natalia wasn’t sure if they would even see her, let alone hear her voice from where they were.

Now she was seriously beginning to panic.

Her life was in danger!

Not knowing what else to do, she began trying to scream out for someone to help her.

“Help! Someone, help me!”

After finishing with yet another wave, Vincenzo decided to take a look out at where the gorgeous brunette had been swimming only minutes earlier but frowned when he noticed she was nowhere to be seen.

His amber eyes scanned the water’s wavy surface for a moment as he looked further out to sea.

And his eyes narrowed as soon as he spotted what appeared to be someone struggling in the large waves, much further out.

Maxwell paddled over towards Vincenzo, stopping right beside him.

“Stiamo ancora guardando quella tipa, vero?” (Still checking that chick out, are we?) he enquired, glancing out in her direction.

But he too frowned when he couldn’t sight her.

“Cosa... dove è andata?” (What… where’d she go?) Maxwell questioned.

Vincenzo lifted his right hand, pointing his finger aimed directly out towards where she was now with a serious expression upon his handsome face as he spoke with concern.

“Penso che sia nei guai. È troppo lontana. (I think she’s in trouble. She’s way too far out.) he declared.

“Cavolo, credo che tu abbia ragione.” (Fuck, I think you’re right.) Maxwell agreed.

“Cosa facciamo?” (What do we do?)

“La inseguo.” (I’m going after her.) Vincenzo declared, then moving straight into a fastened paddle, slicing through the waves as he began his journey out into deeper waters headed in her direction.

“Vince, non è sicuro!” (Vince, it’s not safe!) Maxwell called out in concern for his friend.

“Vince!” (Vince!)

Vincenzo continued paddling through the choppy waters, riding each wave bravely one by one as the wind increased and the storm finally hit.

His muscular inked arms sliced through the water, one by one and in perfect rhythm as he kept his amber eyes locked on the flailing figure up ahead, watching as she bobbed in and out of massive waves.

He could see that she was struggling to stay afloat.

It appeared that she was going under more often than not.

At this rate, she wouldn’t last the next couple of minutes!

He put everything into his arms, stroking as fast as he could through the water, desperate to reach her before she disappeared underneath the waves, never to reemerge.

Less than five metres away from her now, he watched as she finally did slip beneath the waves and his eyes widened in fear.

“NO!” (NO!) he cried out, paddling as fast as he could manage.

“Aspetta, sto arrivando!” (Hold on, I’m coming!)