Only Mine

t my skin. The only sounds were the quiet rustle of pages and the tick-tock of the old gran

ersonal cocoon of light. The walls were lined in rows of unspoiled volumes with leather-bound spines glinting in the faint li

lm face and started to smile a little. Her long lashes created soft shadows on her cheeks, and some black h

hese moments of peace are priceless." The serenity of the library almost mad

brown color inherited from our mother. She mumbled sleepily

re, pipsqueak. What do you want to hear?" I walked over to the side tabl

hich had been still in Ava's hair, froze at the sound, and I tensed. That knock sen

only curled up closer on the chaise. Suddenly, very conscious of every wrinkle and flaw, I stood, smoothing down my silk top an

her eyes particularly striking. Not one strand was out of place; her salt-and-pepper hair was pushed back so tightly that it looked

e whispered in a low, stern voice

remember anything I might have done recently that was wrong. Had my grades slipped? Had I neglected some important household responsibili

bove a whisper. I hated how small and fe

ds were twitching at her jacket's hem - an unusual display

ly on the polished wooden floor in the quiet corridor. Family photos stacked on the walls showed the austere faces of long-dead ancestors observing

leamed, and the glossy black wood exuded an imposing presence. She continued, "He's wait

rk hair cascading in loose curls over my shoulders. I felt nothing like the confident heiress I was supposed to be;

k door, took a deep breath,

ce echoed from inside, sending shivers d

stifling with its dark wood paneling and heavy furniture. The big mahogany desk dominated the room, its

his broad shoulders accentuating his well-crafted suit. His steel-grey eyes locked on me wit

ng to one of the leathe

er chilled against my skin, and I fought the urge to fidget. Rather, I fo

rp eyes apparently looking straight ahead. I bat

ice filling the room. "Kylie, we n

steady if I spoke. There was obvious tensi

he desk, the father asked, "You are aware of

en secret in our household. Generations of our family have been involved in organized crime. I chose

. "You must understand the importanc

ing me this? Father never talked about business

ory. We are at risk of losing everything we've built over the years." "Good," Fathe

Vipers are encroaching on our territory." "We run th

mpeting companies were hazardous and had heard rumors about them.

ied, my voice almost above a whis

ou have a responsibility to help sa

nxiety. I knew I wouldn't

ather said, his tone matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing the weather rather

I nodded slowly. "Okay," I answered cauti

He paused, looking directly at me. "W

do you mean?" Still, a part of me

id of debate, "You will mar

g the chair's armrests, I felt the blood drain from my face and my k

r Vincenzo," his tone unaltered. "Th

It must be some kind of cruel joke. "Father," I said, my voice shakin

k hands on it with his father. You will make a wonder

d rapidly. Crying wouldn't change anyt

Father said as if he were discussing a regula

My mind raced, trying to comprehend t

g to classes? I desperately c

l complete your degree. The woman of

eas were a disorganized swirl. The hard reality of my circ

lf withdrawing inside. The environment seemed to vanish around me, t

be engaged to a stranger, bound to a life I never desired, just

eft Father's office on unsteady