Chapter 3: Chapter 3

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back as the water cascaded down my frame. It was warm, nice, and urging me to stay for just one more minute.

That was one benefit of being here. The luxury. This was a nice change of pace compared to my apartment complex with its broken water heater that the landlord kept forgetting to fix.

Though I wished I had my phone so I could contact my sister, Selena. I liked keeping tabs on her. Being a foreign exchange student in France wasn’t easy, but that was what she’d wanted, and I hadn’t had the heart to stop her.

What would happen when she returned after the semester ended? Would she scream at me for putting my life in danger? Would I even be alive for her to yell at?

A few women had died during the games in the past, but did I really have a choice? Stefano made it seem like I did, but I knew better than anyone that once my name got marked down as a participant, it was do or die.

I sighed and ran a hand down my face. It was too early for me to be worrying. If there was a chance for me to find my aunt, I had to take it. For now, I needed to figure out how I was going to survive these games.

I got out of the shower and searched the connected walk-in closet. It was stuffed with men’s clothing, mostly suits and preppy clothes, so I assumed the room belonged to Stefano.

I opened all the drawers anyway in a search for something to wear. I paused as my hand encountered cold, hard metal hidden under a pile of socks. I curled my fingers around the butt of the gun and pulled it out.

It’d been a while since I’d held one of those. My aunt’s boyfriend, who had disappeared with her, had often taken my sister and me to a shooting range to practice. He had been adamant that we’d learned self-defense.

As I adjusted my grip, I gasped as I realized the safety was off. If I hadn’t been taught how to handle a gun, I could have shot myself in the foot.

I took a deep breath and flicked the safety on before placing the gun back and shutting the drawer. I tossed aside the towel I had wrapped around me and slipped into one of Stefano’s shirts and pants.

I looked in the full-length mirror and let out a sigh. I was drowning in Stefano’s clothes, and there was nothing I could do about it.

My stomach chose that moment to make itself known, but I was hesitant to leave the room. I didn’t like the thought of walking around dressed like this in front of strangers.

But my stomach won out.

I curiously peered out the bedroom door and saw that the hall was deserted. I took that as my cue to leave. Although I passed a few guards, none of them paid me any attention, and I relaxed just a bit.

The kitchen was easy to find, and I stood in the doorway, watching as a woman restocked the refrigerator with goods from the grocery bags sitting on the counter.

“Oh!” she said, finally noticing me. “You must be Catalina. Stefano’s chosen bride, right? I’m Charlie, his personal chef. It’s nice to meet you.”

I clasped her outstretched hand and gave it a quick shake. “Likewise.”

My eyes shifted to the grocery bags. “Do you need help? I promise not to steal anything.”

She laughed. “I expected you to be more nervous, but it’s good that you’re able to joke like this.”

I was being serious.

“You’re hungry, right?” she continued, not giving me a chance to reply. “Sit down. I’ll make you something to eat.”

I sat at the counter and watched her bustle around the kitchen.

“What made you decide to join the games?” she asked.

I was almost tempted to say I didn’t have a choice, but I didn’t know yet if I could trust her. “To find my aunt.”

“Oh, is she missing? Did she abandon you? What happened?” she asked worriedly.

But without waiting for my response, she barreled on, telling me about her time spent at the estate and the dangerous situations she’d been in.

Then suddenly, there was a plate of food in front of me, and I started to eat, amused by her rapid-fire chatter. She was obviously a talkative woman, and her pleasantness quickly lowered my wariness.

“I’ve been through two shoot-outs and had to convince myself it was worth it in the end. Honey, this life is not easy,” she chirped, her expression bright despite her dreadful words. Was this the norm for her?

“Why are you still working here if it’s so dangerous?” I couldn’t help but ask.

Knots had formed in my stomach. Was this going to be my normal as well? What about the games? Were they going to be worse?

“Well, the pay is good, and it allows me to take care of my little boys.”

So, she had kids. I refrained from asking if she was a single mother. It was rude, but I was curious. Was the pay really worth the danger?

Despite Charlie’s cheerful demeanor, I’d lost my appetite.

The urge to know more about the games pressed down on me. I needed to win these games. For my aunt. It’d been too long since her disappearance. I deserved to know what had happened to her.

“Hello? Anyone home?” A female’s voice sounded from the other room.

I turned toward the kitchen door just as a woman popped into view. Deep brown eyes lit up when I met them. The woman looked to be in her mid-forties. Her smile was warm as she asked, “Are you Catalina?”

I nodded.

“I’m Sam. I’ve been assigned as your mentor for the games. I’ll be giving you a rundown of what’s expected and how you ought to conduct yourself as Stefano Roscotto’s prospective wife.”

I abandoned my food and quickly hopped down from the stool. “Nice to meet you. I have questions.”

I shook her hand and was surprised when she squeezed mine. My eyes flitted to hers, and in them, I saw a warm reassurance that matched her smile.

“There’s no need to be anxious. I once stood where you are now. The games aren’t a death sentence. I will train you to the best of my abilities.”

I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and felt my shoulders relax. Her words calmed my anxious heart.

We left Charlie and settled in the sitting room.

“I assume you’ve heard about the Mafia Games?” she asked as we sat down.

“The games are famous throughout the city. It’s impossible not to have heard of them. It’s a big deal for women who want to make a name for themselves, but there’s a heavy risk in joining…” I trailed off.

“You risk dying,” she finished for me, but then shook her head. “That may be true, but most women survive the games. They are trained and taught by the best as future assets of this family. The ones who die are the ones who are not desperate enough to survive. Every woman gets a chance to back out before each game.”

“Are the games already planned out? Can I focus my training on specific tasks that will happen?” I asked.

“While the games are all planned out, the details are kept secret, so I can’t help you in that regard. What I can do is train you in the skills necessary to pass anything they throw at you. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be working on your stamina and learning the history of the Roscotto family.”

I nodded. It was as I expected, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. “Why did you choose to join the Mafia Games?” I asked her.

She smiled. “I was homeless and living on the street. I did it for a chance at something better. I tied a red ribbon around my arm and sat on the porch of an abandoned house, hoping that someone would take me. My husband found me and chose me as his wife. Romantic, isn’t it?” She chuckled to herself.

Romantic? I highly doubted that, but I wasn’t here to judge. I was here to survive.

As long as there was a chance of dying, I needed to take this seriously.

“But enough about me,” she continued. “As Stefano’s chosen bride, you will be at the front line of these games. While many participants have never held a gun before, some were born into this life and have the experience to come out on top. There’s also a risk of one of these women stealing Stefano.”

I stiffened. “Stealing?”

She nodded. “Switching men isn’t uncommon. A woman can get a man to abandon his previous choice and choose her instead.”

“But I thought the men got to choose?”

“That’s true. Each man is allowed to choose two women. One is a potential wife, and the other can be taken into the family by patronage. The strongest of the two is typically the wife. However, Stefano only chose you, which automatically makes you his potential bride.”

“And the other women will be jealous,” I surmised.

“Yes. As heir, Stefano is highly coveted. Other women will be eyeing you. After all, marrying Stefano will make you the queen of this empire.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my heart growing heavy at the thought.

“So, you should hold onto Stefano tightly,” she continued. “Certain men within the family play dirty. They target the potential wives of their brothers to increase their chances of winning. Don’t ever leave this house without security.”

I nodded, taking her advice to heart.

“One last thing before we end for today, and you must memorize this carefully. The Code of Ethics that governs the Roscotto family.”

I nodded again, giving Sam my full attention.

“There are five tenets: loyalty, strength, life, love, and courage. Each tenet must be adhered to at all times.”

“Loyalty, strength, life, love, courage,” I repeated.

“First, dead men tell no tales. This signifies loyalty. Second, a gun isn’t your only weapon. This is strength. Third, take a life to save a life. This is life.”

My head swam as I tried to take it all in, but Sam didn’t stop.

“Fourth, give while there is time to give, which is love. And finally, never bow your head in the face of danger, representing courage. You must remember these. They’ll help you survive the games.”

I grimaced. “Can you repeat that? Actually, do you have a pen and paper?”

She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll write them down and give them to you tomorrow.”

I sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

“Where was my thanks when I told you about your situation?”

I turned to find Stefano leaning against the doorframe, a mischievous smile tilting his lips.