After Cursing the Mafia, He Fell for Me

Episode 1

...Begins......

...Alexy On....

Today, I decided to change my life. I have a fantastic career established in Los Angeles, but I can no longer live this way.

My name is Alexy Rizzo, I'm 25 years old, and I am originally Italian.

I spent my entire childhood and youth in Italy with my grandmother; she passed away when I was 15, and I moved in with my uncle Rau.

I never knew my parents and have no idea who they are; it was never an open topic for discussion.

When I came to Los Angeles to live with my uncle, there wasn't much for me to do but work to study and eat.

Rau was a mechanic, working just enough to buy his drinks; the poor man couldn't even get by on his own.

I did what I could to support myself, taking on cleaning jobs, babysitting, cooking, and working as a waitress.

When I found myself completely out of options, I sang in clubs for a while; sometimes, I had to perform as a dancer in exchange for food.

I graduated in law with honors, all paid for by my own earnings; at that same time, Rau passed away from cirrhosis due to years of uncontrolled drinking.

As soon as I graduated, I secured a job at a firm, and from there, my career only progressed, as I continued studying new specializations in my field.

Now, at 25, with a well-established professional and financial life, I think it’s time to go back home.

I am a criminal defense attorney who also practices in other areas; here in Los Angeles, I am already one of the most recognized names in the profession today. Even though I've had only a few years in my career, I have never lost a single case.

But aside from my profession, I have nothing here; I never truly belonged to this place, even though I like it.

I have a few friends from college or colleagues at work, no family or passion, any ties to this place are nonexistent.

I love Italy, the smell, the culture, and the people.

For me, Los Angeles was just a complicated and difficult stay; all the memories I have of the place are filled with terror.

My country is my home, even though I don't have a family waiting for me.

I decided to leave everything behind and listen to my heart.

I arrived two hours ago in Italy, landed in Turin, and I'm already at the hotel.

I plan to enjoy the city a bit and then see where life takes me.

Fortunately, I have a good financial reserve that will secure my situation until I find a city I want to settle in and a good job in my field; perhaps I'll even establish a private practice.

For now, I want to take advantage of this time.

I’m about to call a friend who came here right after we graduated; I haven’t seen her in years. She’s my best friend, we always understood each other well, and when I told her I was in Turin, she quickly set up a tour.

We went to the wineries and had a guided tour at the royal palace and the Egyptian museum.

My friend's name is Miriam.

Like me, she is a criminal lawyer, and we've been very close since the beginning of our course.

She is not Italian, but she married a handsome Italian, fabulously wealthy, and moved here.

Today was all ours; I enjoyed the evening very much, and she invited me to check out one of the clubs owned by her husband.

Since I had never been to a place like this around here, I put on a fitted little black dress that’s suitable for any occasion.

We arrived, and the place is beautiful: rustic on the outside, a luxurious and very modern nightclub on the inside.

I never imagined a place like this in Turin, but I confess I’m already loving it.

The line to get in was huge, but we walked straight past.

We went up to the second floor in the VIP area.

We drank and danced until Miriam's husband arrived to keep us company.

Alexy - Hey Renan, good to see you.

Renan - How's it going? It’s been a while since we last met.

Renan - Hope you’re enjoying Turin and the club.

Alexy - I’m good, thanks for asking; I’m absolutely loving everything here.

Miriam - I hope it’s enough for you to stay here with us.

Miriam - It already is, my friend.

He is very reserved but seems to love Miriam deeply; he is incredibly caring and affectionate with her, despite looking like a brute.

My job is to have a sharp eye for details, and in my life, it’s no different.

I notice more security than usual, and Renan keeps getting interrupted by different men.

And my mind starts to work; something bigger is going on here.

Miriam - Hey, hey, can it, miss.

Miriam - Let the criminal lawyer take a break.

Alexy - Was I that obvious?

Miriam - Actually, I did the same when I came here for the first time.

Alexy - So my guess was spot on.

Miriam - Let’s just say that especially in this VIP area, we have many potential clients.

It takes me a moment to understand what she’s talking about.

Alexy - Damn it, woman, why did you bring me here?

Alexy - We work for the law; if we get caught among people like this, we’re done for.

Miriam - Easy there, girl; I'd never bring you to an unsafe place. In this part of Turin, the police don’t even come.

Alexy - Seriously? Was I supposed to feel relieved? Because it’s not working; what the hell kind of place did you bring me?

Miriam - I brought you to meet my world; you wanted opportunities, and a place like this has plenty.

Miriam - Don’t be like that; you know better than I do. To get where we are, we have to defend bad people; it's our profession.

Alexy - I don't defend bad people, Miriam, just some of dubious morals, you know, innocent until proven guilty?

Alexy - And I only do it when they are fighting against men of power and for the wronged; you know what my ideals are.

Miriam - Okay, okay, I know, but we haven't always had the privilege of choosing clients. I know your principles, that talk about protecting those who steal from the rich to give to the poor.

Miriam - That’s exactly why I brought you here; there are many who think like you in this place, me included.

Miriam - Enough with the boring talk; let’s drink and find you a bel ragazzo.

And I started to loosen up with the drinks and music.

Miriam stepped away for a minute.

I notice a different movement; everyone is looking in the same direction and parting ways.

I’m a bit too tipsy, so I keep dancing with my back to the commotion until I feel a wall of muscles bump against me from behind.

Male voice - Watch out, piccola ragazza; you might end up bumping into someone dancing like that.

His fingers brushed lightly along my arm, slowly moving up.

He’s too close, completely invading my space while still touching me.

I turn around, furious and dizzy; I’ve had too much to drink.

Alexy - Watch it, coglione; you might lose your hand touching where you shouldn’t.

When I finish speaking, I realize I'm staring at the man's chest.

The guy is way too tall, so I look up and see his face.

Mio Dio.

I can’t tell if I’m scared or aroused, perhaps both.

When I realize I’ve been staring for over a minute, I decide to turn my back and head to the other side of the bar.

...Grayson on....

I arrived in Turin extremely tired, having worked a lot these past few days.

Being the Don of the Italian Mafia is a massive responsibility; I don’t stop for a second.

My name is Grayson Marino, I am 28 years old and I am the King of the Italian Mafia.

I came to Turin for business and I don’t plan to stay more than two or three days.

I’m heading to one of the family’s clubs, where my consigliere is in charge.

Normally, I only go to the clubs for business meetings, and today is no different.

I arrive and, of course, everyone knows who I am; they all make way and nod their heads in respect.

I enter the VIP area, and everyone who’s dancing there stops to give me space to pass, as my meeting is on the other side of the floor.

When I reach the middle of the room, I see a woman dancing. She’s right in front of me, seemingly unaware of my presence, as she doesn’t move an inch to make way and continues to sway.

One of my men is already heading toward her to make her leave, but I stop him with a wave of my hand.

I’m going to scare the little girl; this will at least be entertaining.

Grayson - Be careful, piccola ragazza, you might end up bumping into someone dancing like that.

Holy hell, what a perfume; I decide to lightly run my fingers along her arm, it’s the smoothest and softest skin I’ve ever touched.

My fingers gradually move upwards.

I want to reach her neck and inhale her scent, but I don’t have time. She turns around at an incredible speed and says,

Woman - Watch it, coglione (idiot), you might lose your hand touching where you shouldn’t.

I freeze...

... I just extend my hand in denial to one of my men who was already drawing his weapon.

Did I understand that correctly?

She hasn’t even seen my face yet; she’s looking at her straight line, which is my chest.

When she looks at me, she’ll realize the mess she made, kneel down crying, and begging for my mercy.