Mafia Men: Nikolai's Inferno novel Chapter 1

•Evangeline•

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My window faced the vast gardens of our estate. The view that was hidden away from the world. No one really comes to this side of the garden except for the gardener. He comes twice a week, works for hours and hours and then he leaves before the sunsets. I'm not allowed to see him when he comes to tend to the garden, I'm supposed to close my curtain and sit in the dark until he leaves. He can not see me.

I sat silently and just watched the calming scenery before me, the soft night light, the chirping of the crickets, the sky illuminated with a million stars.

I took a deep breath as I yearned to run through these gardens with my hair flowing freely in the wind. I wanted to roam these gardens freely anytime I wanted without the fear of not being seen, I wanted to play in the dirt, and dance around in rain.

But I couldn't.

My whole life, my whole existence I have been in this room, locked and secure.

The outside world is not for someone as innocent as you, Evangeline — those are my father's words.

It's what I was brought up to believe in. He told me the things that happen in our world, all the bad things. How people die, how people suffer, how the whole world is out to hurt me.

The world is a dangerous place and you are easy prey, Evangeline. You are innocent and naive and you lack physical strength. This world will chew you alive — this is what I hear in return if I ever asked to go out.

I want to believe it. I used to believe all of it but now I don't know if I do. Not everyone can be bad, right? There are good people too. I wanted to believe my parent's words but lately, there has been this urge inside of me that wanted to explore this world, meet people, have fun, and live like a normal eighteen-year-old girl.

Tearing my gaze away from the garden, I looked back into my room. A desk, a lamp, and a chair are placed in the corner of my room. There is where I study, I graduated high school through homeschooling.

Normal kids will go to colleges after the summer but I won't. Even after this summer, I'll be stuck here in this room for the rest of my life.

Turning back to the window, I unlocked it. I opened it a little and felt the waft of cold air on my face. The curtain lightly blew with the wind and I breathe in deeply.

My parents aren't bad people. They love me, they love me too much to let anything bad happen to me. That is why they keep me here in this room. Safe...

I got off my window seat and made my way to our family picture resting on my nightstand. I picked it up and smiled, it was just us. My mom, dad, and me.

I'm allowed to wander in my house but for a limited time only. We always have breakfast, lunch, and dinner together as a family. My dad works a lot but he always makes time to eat with us.

I placed the photo frame back on the nightstand and settled on my bed. It was a huge bed with a canopy, a bed fit for a princess. Before my bed was a big TV. It was my only way to the outside world. Every week dad brings new movies for me, and when I watch them the outside world feels like a dream and not a threat.

I have talked about it to my dad. I asked if the world is so dangerous then why don't they show it in the movies. He said movies are an escape from reality. He said people make movies because it's the world they dream of. It's not the world they live in, it's fake.

I sighed and shook my head. I opened my bedside drawer and pulled out a book. A book I have started reading to get rid of the boredom.

Every two seconds, I glanced at the wall clock. It was almost time. Any minute now they will open my bedroom door, so, I can have dinner with my parents. I was trying to read but the excitement bubbled inside of me as the time passed by.

A gentle knock on the door was enough for me to jump up from my bed and run to it. I opened the door and saw Maria, our maid. She has been with us even before I was born. We had a staff of over more than fifty people, I think, but the only two people who were allowed to talk to me were Maria and Leo, our butler. My parents trusted them.

She gave me a gentle smile. "Evangeline"

I returned the smile eagerly. "Maria..."

"Make yourself presentable and then meet us downstairs at the dining table. Your parents are waiting"

I nodded vigorously. "Okay..."

She turned and went downstairs. I walked straight into my closet and put on a dress. I combed my hair and walked outside my room. It was the only time, they left my door unlocked.

I ran downstairs and into the dining room. My father stood up as he saw me. He opened his arms wide, asking for a hug. I ran into his arms and hugged him with all my might.

He laughed wholeheartedly. "Were you missing me?"

"So much, you have no idea!" I squealed.

I pulled back and saw mom smiling at us as she joined the hug.

"I have a big news for you," he told me.

My mouth dropped open. "Really, what?" I asked, suddenly getting impatient.

Anything new excites me. I have never heard him say that before. News for me? He never has any news for me. This is new and exciting!

He laughed. "Come on, let's have dinner first"

"Can't you tell me before?" I asked

"No, dinner first!"

I huffed and we all settled down in our respective seats as Maria served us food. Dad said a prayer and then we started to eat. We ate our food in peace, dad doesn't like to talk while eating. It's considered impolite and improper.

I was done. I sat down the fork and leaned forward watching my father excitedly. Waiting for him to tell me the news. Once my father was done with his meal, he cleaned his face with a napkin.

"Now, who wants to know the good news?" Dad asked

"Me, dad, please"

It was a rhetorical question but I answered him anyway.

Mom and Dad glanced at each other smiling before looking back at me. Watching their faces, my excitement grew more and more. All I could think about was the news. What could he possibly tell me?

"You finally graduated high school?" he questioned