THE WRONG SISTER

EMILIA’S POV

I watch Papa and Don move to his office while papa’s men and Don’s men stay outside.

I wait for them to go into papa’s office before sneaking to go listen in on them.

Don looks towards Elena then removes his face like she didn’t qualify to be looked at. As if she was not one of the most beautiful girls in the city. Elena bows her head slightly as mama rubs her back to comfort her.

Something in me feels angry and dark, one thing was now certain.

I hate Don Vassallo.

I hate, I hate himmmmm.

I hate him because of how he makes papa feel and now because of how he makes Elwna feel less of herself.

As if he could feel my presence, he turns and looks towards the half door but doesn't see anything.

“ Your house is well guarded,” he spoke.

His voice is so deep it sends shivers down my spine, with his Italian accent. And so confident.

“Unlike some people, I have a family to protect” papa replies.

Don scoffed.

Mama sends glares at papa for the silly comment, Ellie looks at him, mouth wide open. I would have been surprised if I hadn't been snooping around for the last seven years and listening to papa’s conversation.

I sometimes wonder which part of him was real, the one he showed us or the one he showed his men and partners.

“Ohh wow Family. Right.” Then he gives papa a deadly glare.

“ I thought we were friends Damien, no need for the harsh words”

“Yes we are Don”

I scoff quietly, they wish. They both hate each other. Papa detest the Vassallo’s and they hate us too.

Don slides a folder across the desk towards papa, papa picks it up as he stares at him like he was the devil himself. “ You know what needs to be done.” Don says as he turns to look at Elena who is rolled up into mama's hands.

Papa inhales sharply as he goes through the contract, then he picks up his pen to sign. I frown as I boil with anger. He didn’t even ask for some time to think it through.

My heart skips a beat as I watch papa sign away Elena’s future into the hands of Don Vassallo. Tears rolled down my eyes. Mama smiles at Elena and rubs her hand over her back as papa signs the remaining pages. And just like it was nothing, the deal was struck. Ellie was betrothed to the Devil of New York City and I could not save her.

I ran to my room as tears ran down my eyes, I lay down on my bed letting the tears roll down my eyes. I cry myself to sleep.

…

Later that night, I was woken up by a soft push. I open my eyes to see Elena sitting beside me, I sit up and look at her worried. She slips into the bed and sleeps beside me, we both sat there silent. Then I finally broke the silence, “ Elena you do not have to do this” I blurted “Just tell papa and mama no, he is not good for you.”

“Hey calm down tigress” she said as she held my hands smiling “ I will be fine, Emilia”

I sat there in silence looking at her. “ You don’t know him”

“ He is not that bad, he agreed with papa that we will officially get engaged and married in the next three years” she smiled softly.

“So I’ll use those three years and get to know him” she said

“ But i don’t want you to get hurt Ellie”

“I won’t,” she held my hand “ besides you will be leaving for college soon, i won’t have anyone to talk to”

“We can chat and talk on facetime” She chuckled

“ Don’t worry Emilia, he will be good to me. You’ll see.”

I gave up and let out a sigh.

Tracing my neckpiece on my chest. I make a vow to myself. It may be a world ruled by men, but I will never yield to any man or violence. Become any man's property or given away in exchange for resources,alliance. Above all, I will never marry.