*Mafia boss and his lost love*
Alessa Romanov had endured a difficult childhood. Kidnapped at two years old, she had no memory of her biological family and spent fifteen years in captivity. It wasn't until her stepfather's death that she was finally...
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I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed and trudged downstairs to the dining table. My dad and my brothers were already there, engaged in a conversation. As I took a seat, Xander couldn't resist making a snide remark, as always.
"Ready to grace us with your delightful presence today?" Xander sneered, his words dripping with his usual dose of snark. I couldn't help but roll my eyes, refusing to give in to his attempts at getting under my skin. My dad, sensing the tension, cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to diffuse the situation.
"I know it's early, but we can start school today if you want," he said, his voice lacking concern. "Or, if you need more time to adjust, we can do it later."
I shot him a frosty glare, "I can handle it today," I replied sharply, my voice dripping with resentment.
Anything to get out of this godforsaken place for even a few hours.
***
I walked into the Maths class, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on me.
Goddammit.
"Who the hell do you think you are, disturbing my class like that?" the teacher barked, trying to look intimidating. "And what's your name?"
I took a deep breath, not in the mood for this power play. "Well, since you're so eager to know, I'm Alessa, Alessa Romanov" I replied. "And trust me, I'm not here to disturb your oh-so-precious class.
The teacher's voice faltered as she stammered, "Are y-you by any ch- chance related to the Romanov brothers?"
I couldn't resist the opportunity to have a little fun. I leaned forward and smirked. "Oh, yes, indeed I am. Problem?"
"Start teaching again," I mocked back, exaggerating her tone. "You wouldn't want me to 'DisTuRb YoUr ClaSs' now, would you?"
A few snickers and stifled laughter erupted from the students, breaking the tension in the room. The teacher's face turned a shade of red, clearly flustered by my response. She cleared her throat and hastily resumed the lesson, trying to regain control. Meanwhile, I sat back in my seat, a satisfied smirk playing on my lips.
***
As I settled down at a table during lunch break, the cafeteria buzzed with whispers and hushed conversations. Amidst the noise, I overheard a group of girls nearby exchanging excited whispers.
"Did you see that new guy? He's seriously hot!"
"I know, right? I heard he doesn't even study here. Wonder why he's hanging around."
"He's definitely turning heads. I wouldn't mind getting to know him better."
I continued devouring my meal, savoring every mouthful, as the room suddenly fell into complete silence. I simply shrugged, not giving a damn about the weird behavior around me, and casually rolled my eyes.
But as I turned my head, my eyes widened in surprise. There he was, standing right behind me - Ace, so he was the new guy everyone was whispering about. I couldn't contain my excitement. Without hesitation, I rushed over and wrapped my arms around him in a tight embrace. He hugged me back, his voice filled with affection as he whispered, "I missed you so much, baby."
We stood there, hugging tight, not giving a damn about the world around us. People were probably gawking, but who cares? All that mattered was being in Ace's arms again.
When we finally let go, I couldn't help but beam at him. "Missed you like crazy too," I said.
Ace grinned back at me, his eyes sparkling with joy. We found a spot to sit, and he casually draped his arm around my waist, staking his claim. It felt good, like I belonged right there.
As I settled into the cafeteria, enjoying my lunch with Ace by my side, I couldn't help but notice a few girls at a nearby table whispering and giving him flirtatious glances. They seemed to be vying for his attention, and it didn't take long for one of them to approach us.
A blonde girl, her eyes filled with confidence and a hint of arrogance, sauntered over and leaned against the table, casting a sly smile in Ace's direction. "Hey there, hottie. Looks like you could use an upgrade from that girl," she said, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at me.
"I'm good, thanks," He said, ignoring her and went back to talking to me.
But the girl wasn't satisfied with his response. Frustration and anger flashed across her face as she redirected her attention towards me, raising her voice. "YOU'RE HORRIBLE! LOOK AT YOU AND THEN LOOK AT ME, IT'S CLEAR WHO'S THE BEST OPTION!"
She sounded like a dying cat. No offense to the cat.
"Sweetie, I suggest you kindly back off because I'm pretty sure Ace doesn't even know your name," I retorted.
"Also my suggestion is that you take a good look in the mirror," I retorted, a mischievous glint in my eyes. "There's a fine line between wearing makeup like me and looking like you got attacked by a pack of rabid clowns. But hey, if that's the look you're going for, who am I to judge?"
The cafeteria erupted in laughter, and the girl's face turned an shade of red.
While she seethed with anger, her face turning red with rage, she made a futile attempt to slap me. But I was faster. In one swift motion, I caught her hand mid-air and expertly twisted it behind her back, exerting just enough pressure to make her wince in pain.
"You really thought you could lay a hand on me?" I sneered, my voice dripping with a mix of defiance and amusement. "Think again, sweetheart. Mess with me, and you'll regret it."
The cafeteria fell into stunned silence as everyone watched the scene unfold. The girl whimpered, her bravado crumbling under the weight of her failed attack. After a moment, I released her, letting her stumble back, clutching her hand in pain.
She let out an inhumane shriek and my poor ears were left ringing, questioning their existence.
After the incident in the cafeteria, I spent the rest of the school day hanging out with Ace. We laughed, talked, and enjoyed each other's company, oblivious to the whispers and curious glances around us. It felt good to have someone by my side, someone who saw me for who I truly was.
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, I made my way to find Lucas, my older brother. I found him near his locker, talking to a group of friends. I approached him coldly.
I decided not to share my plans with Lucas, knowing that they wouldn't approve. So I simply said, "I'm going out with Ace. I'll be back by night." Without waiting for their response, I headed out the door, eager to spend time with the person who had brought excitement back into my life.
