Page 1 of Alessia
Prologue
Alessia
I‘m sitting in my room, Camilla is hosting another one of her parties. It’s become a usual thing since dad started his trips to America over four years ago. I was barely thirteen when he went away for the first time. In time the trips got longer and more frequent which means he’s barely home anymore. A year after the first trip Camilla started hosting parties for her friends and she instructed me to help out with the preparations. Lorenzo and Bella are the lucky ones, they’re her actual children so they get send away to our grandparents. They live in Ostia, just outside of Rome in a beautiful cozy house on the seaside. I wish I could join them and feel the sand of the beach between my toes or taste Nonna’s homemade pasta and bread. It’s been years since I’ve last been there and they rarely visit for more than an hour when they bring Lorenzo and Bella back. I know they hate Camilla as much as I do but they adore Lorenzo and Bella so they will do just about anything for them!
“Alessia!” I hear Camilla call out in the hallway. Fuck this can’t be good. I cringe as I hear her call my name again.
“Alessia, get over here know!” She sounds mad. What did I do this time? I cleaned my room, helped the chef with
preparations for her stupid party and I just needed to be invisible.
My door swings open and Camilla walks over I sit up straight in my bed.
“When I call on you, you’re supposed to respond, you stupid little girl.”
I cast my eyes down, she is always angry with me. I wish I could get away from here, away from her.
“Get out of that bed, I have someone I want you to meet.” She commands.
“Why? They are your friends.” I bite back.
That earns me a slap on the cheek.
Fuckthat stings. It’s nothing I’m not used to. Ever since dad went to America she’s been hitting me, among other things.
“You will come downstairs now and you will be a good obedient girl for your future husband.”
“What? I’m not marrying one of your friends!” I scream at her.
Her hand grips my hair and she pulls me off of my bed and drags me into the hallway down to her room.
“Stay”
She goes into her closet and comes back with a red halter dress with a split on one side that will probably end on my hip.
“Put this on”
“I don’t want to.”
“You will do as you’re told for once in your goddamn life.” She grits through her teeth as she pulls my sweater over my head.
I cover my breasts and feel my cheeks blush.
I wish dad was here to fix all this, to stop this nightmare and
to kill her, or me. I don’t care I just want this to stop, I want to feel the sand between my toes.
Gianni
I lean against the marble balustrade of Camilla’s sprawling villa, nursing a glass of wine I have no intention of finishing. The party around me is bustling and per usual, Leonardo is nowhere to be seen. He’s probably off on some business overseas, Camilla only entertains her men when he’s out of town.
