The day was draped in the heavy shroud of sorrow as dark clouds hung ominously above the cemetery, mirroring the grief that enveloped Ava Moretti. Her father's casket, a polished oak laden with flowers, was being lowered into the ground amidst hushed whispers and the occasional muffled sob. Family and friends gathered, their faces grave, but Ava felt detached, as if she were watching a play unfold rather than participating in her own tragedy.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and fresh blooms, but all she could think about was her father's absence and the void it left in her heart. She clutched a delicate pendant around her neck—his last gift to her—a tangible reminder of his love. Ava wanted to scream, to cry out in pain, but she held back, determined to be strong for her family.
As the priest delivered his final eulogy, Ava's gaze drifted to the horizon, searching for some sign of hope. That's when she heard it: the rumble of engines in the distance, an unusual sound amidst the mournful backdrop. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, a primal instinct warning her that something was amiss.
Before she could react, a hand clamped over her mouth from behind, yanking her backward. A sack was thrown over her head, plunging her into darkness, and panic coursed through her veins.
"Help! Let me go!" she screamed, but her voice came out muffled and distorted, swallowed by the fabric.
As she was dragged away from the funeral, muffled voices surrounded her. One man, deep and gritty, commanded, "Shut her up!" A moment later, she felt the tightening grip around her wrist, and another voice hissed, "The Rossis send their regards."
A chill ran down her spine at the mention of the Rossi name, the rival family her father had discussed with a mixture of fear and disdain. The implications of who had taken her sank in; the Rossis were notorious for their ruthless tactics and violent retribution.
No, this can't be happening, not today.
Ava thrashed against her captors, but they were relentless, their movements efficient and practiced. Her mind raced—her family was surrounded by a network of crime, but they had enemies, and she was now a pawn in a dangerous game she never wanted to play.
The world blurred as they threw her into a vehicle, the doors slamming with finality. She could hear the engine roar to life, and fear gripped her heart. Ava fought against the creeping dread settling in her stomach, her mind racing to formulate an escape plan, but the chaos of her father's burial replayed tormentingly in her mind.
What would they want with her? Why now?
As the car sped away from the cemetery, she felt the weight of her new reality crashing down on her. Ava Moretti was no longer just a grieving daughter; she was a captive with a target on her back, tangled in the ominous web of the Rossi crime family.
With every bump in the road, every turn they took, she steeled her resolve. If she was going to survive whatever lay ahead, she would need to uncover the truth and find a way to escape her captors—and the dark legacy of her own family.