Romano X Reader, Beauty and the Beast

Part One: The Price of Love

From a young age, other people in your town were amazed by your beauty. Your mother used to tell you that it would be easy to find a good husband. When she was still living, you found pride in the villager's comments that you looked so beautiful, just like your mother. However, after she died, you stopped being social entirely. In your quaint little Italian home, you would lounge about and read all kinds of books. Your father was always away, either working or on 'important business'. When you were seventeen, you had discovered something very disturbing. On a day just like any other, you entered your father's office, hoping to find him inside, busily working. He had warned you never to enter his office, but you were seventeen now. What could he possibly be working on that you couldn't understand? Feeling rebellious, you disregarded his warning...and gasped at the room laid out before you. Your father was not here, but all along the walls there were the works of an insane person. Sketches of guns, what appeared to be murder scenes, sections of money calculations starting over 78,000 Euro, pictures of strange people you had never met... Just what did your father do for a living? On top of his desk was a small scrap of paper with thick, dark writing scrawled over it.

Meet me at the usual spot today, the usual time. You know what I want. Bring it, and don't be late.

Out of anger and shock, you dug straight into the thick stacks of paper all over his desk. You had to find this 'usual place'. Finally, you found a photograph of an old and abadoned coffee house. It was labeled, 'Meeting Place'. Putting two and two together, you figured this must be where the note was refferring to. You recalled seeing it before. Pieces to the puzzle that was your father started falling into place. Days passed by, and nothing seemed to began to tail him when he headed off to his 'meetings', and you discovered where the old coffee house was. After a few weeks of debating on what to do, you decided that you needed to figure out what your father was doing there in the first place, and confronting him was the only way. You went into your papa's bedroom and followed the instructions he had always given you when he left you alone- if you needed a gun to defend yourself, grab the key taped to the underside of his bathroom cabinet and unlock the safe under his bed. You did exactly as you had always been told and yanked the pistol out of it's vault. You grabbed your slightly bulky spring jacket and hid the gun in its deep pockets. It was slightly noticeable, but in the darkness of an adandoned building, maybe it would be less easy to spot. Without even thinking fully about what you were getting yourself into, you headed out into the streets of Italy and took a route through some alley ways.

It took a while for you to reach the building on foot, and you instantly took notice of the huge black SUV parked not too far down one of the nearby alleys. Taking a deep breath, you decided entering through the front door was a bad idea. So, you moved around the ivy covered building and looked in through one of the side windows. It was so dark and dusty inside, but you could see crates lined across the old floorboards. In the middle of the room, you could faintly make out two shapes. Quietly, you lifted up the window so that you could hear their conversations.

''-Please. It's all that he gave me this week.''You heard your father say clearly, his voice filled with worry.

''This is not the amount we agreed upon. It is always the same excuse with you. There were plenty of jobs to be had, plenty of people to kill, and much money to be had. I don't think you really want to pay me. So, you know what that makes me think? You're a liar, and I don't forgive liars.'' A rough, male voice responded agressively.

''No! I am not lying, I promise! Things have been so hard and... I don't like this job. I don't like killing for money. But my daughter, she needs me.''

''Your daughter. I hear you mention her so often. A pity she will now have to live without a mother and a father.'' You saw a glimmer of silver in the dark building, and without thinking, you threw yourself in through the window. Pain blinded you for a moment as you bashed your body into a solid wood crate, but you were quick to get up and point the gun at the unknown man in front of you. He was also holding a gun in his hand.

''Stupido ragazza!'' You could see the man was not much older than you, with dark hair that was perfectly neat except for one stray curl sticking up from the side of his head. He wore a black suit with an emerald green tie that matched the color of his striking eyes. Your father had sat himself on a crate nearby and he was clutching his chest out of fear.

''Leave him alone.'' You ordered coldly, aiming your pistol straight for his heart.

''I'll do what I like with him. He works for me.'' The stranger raised his gun to her.

''No, don't hurt her! My Belle, what have you done!?'' Your father had tears in his eyes.

''I figured it out, papa. All of your hard work to keep me safe...to keep mama's house... I know about all of it. This bastardo is going to let you go, or I will put a bullet in his heart... that is, if he even has one.'' You snapped.

''Kill me if you want, bella, but who will protect you and your father from my family? My brothers and sisters will be looking for blood if you kill me. After all, the Mafia doesn't take kindly to their leader being murdered.'' He smirked, flashing pearly white teeth.

''What do you want, then? Money? A servant?''

''No! No, Belle! I won't let you do this!''

''Quiet, liar! Well, well. You are a clever ragazza, aren't you? I'm willing to make a deal. Your life for his. In return, I will tell my brothers and sisters to never involve your father in our work again, and no harm will come to him. In fact, he will be put under our protection.''

''You have a deal. He has suffered long enough.'' You dropped your gun. With a cold, hard CLANG it hit the ground. You held out your arms, leaving yourself completely open to a fatal bullet.

''Belle, NO!''

''I think you misunderstand me. Your life belongs to me. You will work for me in my mansion for as long as you live. You'll do whatever I say, when I say it. No questions, no arguments.'' The dark haired Mafia boss grinned cruelly. Your heart thudded loudly in your chest.

''Fine.'' The word fell from your lips slowly, resentment etched in it.

''Belle... how could you do this? How could you throw away your future for me?'' Your father cried, holding you tight.

''Papa, we already lost so much. I will be alright, and as long as I know you're safe, everything will be fine. I would rather be seperated and alive then for you to be dead.'' You remained strong, hugging him back one last time.

''It's time to go, ragazza. You'll learn I am not a patient man.'' The Mafia leader ordered.

''Te amo, papa. I promise, I will see you again one day.'' You let go of him and followed the man out.

''Te amo, my Belle... what have I done...?'' You heard your father sob weakly as you left. Despite the calm facade you were keeping, your heart was breaking. After a moment of walking in silence, he cleared his throat.

''You will address me as Lovino, or Sir. You will not call me Lovi. Do we understand?'' You nodded silently. He gave you a glare, as if he expected something.

''Yes, Sir.'' You glared right back.

''Good. I'll call you whatever I want, but what's your name, bella?''

''Isabelle. Most people call me Belle.'' You answered softly. You followed Lovino to the black SUV and waited for him to direct you where to sit.

''Just get in, ragazza.'' He was clearly irritated. You got in the passenger seat and buckled up before resting your head agianst the tinted window.

''That's the price of love, bambolina.'' Lovino whispered. For a faint moment, it sounded to you as though the mob boss was reminiscing. You stayed silent for the entire ride there. Lovino did as well, unsure exactly what to say. You were certain he had not been in the company of many women in the Mafia, although he did mention 'sisters'. You figured he had never really been around a woman he didn't see as a sister before.

When you arrived at the mansion, you were purely in awe. The estate was beautiful, in its own dark way. There was a thriving garden behind the huge building, complete with a fountain and plenty of flora. The front had a huge arched driveway leading up to a set of huge, mahogany doors. Lovino parked the SUV in a huge, multi-car garage that was built a litle ways away from the mansion. The two of you climbed out of the vehicle.

''Follow me.'' He commanded, leading you through the garage and onto the flawless pavement leading up to the mansion doors. The inside was more like what you would expect. It was decorated entirely in black and maroon. A big fireplace rested in the living room, no pictures rested on its shelf. No portraits hung on the walls, they were just bare. This mansion seemed so full, and so empty at the same time. You didn't really have much time for thinking as Lovino was getting impatient. He ascended a flight of shiny mahogany stairs in the center of the front room. You trailed behind, trying not to get distracted by all of this fancy living space. Two hallways stretched out on either side of you, at the end of both you could see more stairs leading to yet another floor.

''Here is where you'll be sleeping.'' Lovino stopped at the first door on the left hallway.

''Sleeping...? I get a room?'' You raised an eyebrow.

''What? You want to sleep in the basement? I can arrange that.'' He threatened.

''No, no. This is fine.'' You quickly answered.

''You'll be a servant here, starting tomorrow. I'll have the head servant arrange for your uniform in the morning. Oh, and you can go anywhere inside the mansion...except for my office. You're not allowed in there.'' With those words, Lovino left you alone. When you finally stopped hearing the footfalls of his expensive shoes, you closed the door and threw yourself on the bed. You were starting to regret your decision...but what else could you have done? You wished that your father would be able to live without you. It didn't seem Lovino would let you leave, possibly not ever. You made a promise to your papa that you might not have been able to keep. Tears filled your eyes and you clutched the nearest pillow tightly.