The Vega family was one of the most respected in Bologna. Their mansion stood among a row of luxurious villas atop a hill, overlooking the glittering city lights below. Everyone knew the name Vega—not just for their wealth, but also for their kindness and influence.
Amidst all this luxury lived a girl named Gabriella Vega, the only daughter of the family. Her life seemed perfect—or at least, that's how it appeared from the outside.
Gabriella was used to waking up each morning to the scent of roses in her room, arranged by the family's staff. She attended one of the most prestigious international schools in Italy, and today was supposed to be the pinnacle of her happiness: graduation day.
"You look beautiful today, darling," Mrs. Vega said proudly as Gabriella descended the staircase in a simple yet elegant white dress.
The girl smiled, hugged her mother, and twirled in front of the large mirror in the living room.
"I know, Mom," she replied with a playful smile. "I'm not even sure my friends can compete with me today."
Mr. Vega chuckled behind his newspaper. "You really are Mommy's child. Always know how to compliment yourself," he joked.
That morning was warm, full of laughter and love. None of them knew it would be the last time they experienced such happiness together.
As dusk fell, the Vega family car rolled along the main road in Bologna. The orange sky turned purple, and the city lights began to twinkle in the distance.
In the back seat, Gabriella leaned against the window, scrolling through photos of her graduation.
"Dad," she said softly, "I've decided—I want to study at St. Louis University in Rome. They have the best business program there."
"Good choice," Mr. Vega replied. "But are you sure you can be so far from us? You can't even make coffee on your own, sweetheart."
Gabriella snorted softly, then laughed.
"Dad can send coffee by courier, right?"
Mrs. Vega turned back, stroking her daughter's hand. "If you go to Rome, Mommy will visit often. Don't worry, I won't let you go hungry."
The car rolled smoothly down the sloping road. Soft classical music played on the radio, calming the world around them. Everything felt safe.
But beneath the falling night, something awaited them.
Suddenly, a motorcycle sped toward them from the opposite direction, without lights, almost hitting their car. Mr. Vega slammed the brakes. The tires screeched.
"Oh my God!" Mrs. Vega screamed, while Gabriella gripped the front seat. Her heart raced.
For a few tense seconds, all was silent—only their ragged breaths filled the cabin.
Then two more motorcycles appeared, followed by a black car without a license plate. Its headlights blazed, blinding them.
A bad premonition gripped Mr. Vega. He held the steering wheel tight, eyes fixed on the rearview mirror.
"Dad?" Gabriella's voice trembled.
"Stay calm, sweetheart," he replied flatly. "Maybe they're lost."
But he knew—this was no accident.
The first motorcycle stopped directly in front of them, while the other two flanked them. The black car's doors swung open, and several men stepped out. Their faces were shadowed, but the sound of their boots echoed on the asphalt.
"Who are they, Dad?" Gabriella whispered.
"Don't panic," Mr. Vega said, though his own voice betrayed tension. He lowered the window slightly.
"What is this about?" he asked. No answer came.
A heavy hand rapped on the glass—a hammering sound against their chests.
"Get out," a deep voice commanded.
Mrs. Vega widened her eyes at her husband. Gabriella clutched her mother's hand.
"Dad, don't go… please…"
"Stay here. Lock the doors. Don't step out, no matter what."
He opened the door slowly, and in an instant, two men dragged him out. The impact of his body hitting the asphalt was loud. Gabriella screamed, while her mother held her tight, shielding her face against her shoulder.
"Let me go! What do you want?" Mr. Vega's voice shook but remained firm.
No answer. Only low laughter as the men leveled their weapons at him.
Gabriella peered through the gap in the window. She saw her father kneel on the asphalt, surrounded by strangers with cruel eyes. Her heart felt like it would explode.
One of the men's gaze fell on Gabriella. A faint smile appeared on his shadowed face.
"There… look," he murmured, voice low but clear. "That's the girl."
Mrs. Vega gasped as one of the gang members pointed at her daughter. "Don't look, sweetheart," she whispered, hugging Gabriella tighter. But the girl could not tear her eyes away.
The cold night air hit Gabriella's face as the car door swung open. She shivered.
"Don't touch my daughter!" Mrs. Vega shouted, her voice breaking amid her sobs. But the man dragged Gabriella roughly out, causing her to stumble and fall to her knees on the street.
The smell of gasoline, burning rubber, and metal filled the air. Heavy footsteps, scuffing shoes on asphalt, and the clatter of weapons made Gabriella's breath catch.
Meanwhile, in another vehicle, a man watched intently. His eyes were fixed on Gabriella, trembling in front of the gang leader.
"Beautiful girl," he murmured. The darkness lent an air of mystery—he could still make her out. "Who is she?" He studied her carefully. "She's mine," he said, a smirk playing across his face.
The gang leader froze for a moment as he saw Gabriella's innocent, striking beauty. He stepped closer, leaning forward to catch the sweet scent of her hair. With a slow, deliberate motion, his rough thumb brushed her cheek.
But Gabriella pushed his hand away and clung to her mother, while Mr. Vega remained kneeling, watching helplessly.
"Well, this little girl has spirit," the gang leader laughed, pulling Gabriella into his embrace. She struggled to escape, but she wasn't strong enough. Mr. Vega begged, holding onto the man's legs.
"Please, release my wife and daughter," he pleaded. "I'll give you anything—money, whatever you want. Just let them go."
The gang leader only kicked him aside, laughing, then leaned down to whisper into Mr. Vega's ear.
"I don't want your money," he hissed. "I want your daughter."
Mr. Vega was stunned. He clutched the man's legs again, begging desperately.
"Please. I'll give you anything. Just don't hurt her."
The man struck him hard, sending him back to the ground.
Inside the other car, another man saw Gabriella in the gang leader's grasp. He jumped out, shouting,
"Don't you dare touch her! She's mine!"
The gang leader laughed at the outburst, releasing Gabriella and pressing his pistol to the man's chest.
"You want her, brother?"
"Yes, I want her," the man said, stepping toward Gabriella, who was sitting on the ground. He bent down and lifted her chin gently.
"You're very beautiful."
The teasing made Gabriella more frightened. She avoided the young man's lecherous gaze.
"Please… leave my daughter alone," Mrs. Vega pleaded, hands clasped in front of her chest. But the man ignored her, dragging Gabriella away from her parents and forcing her into the car. She struggled to break free, but he was too strong.
"Mom, Dad! Help me!" Gabriella screamed, writhing, but the young gangster only laughed, hoisting her onto his back like a sack.
Her cries and screams pierced the night, but no one paid attention—only the laughter of the gang. Even with her parents there, they could do nothing.
The man tossed Gabriella into the back seat. Lying down, she kicked at him when he tried to pin her.
Seeing her fight back, he grew more excited, grabbing both her hands and leaning down to kiss her neck.
"Keep struggling. Let's see how far your strength goes," he taunted, holding her arms above her head and pressing down toward her neck. Gabriella realized she had no choice but to submit for the moment.
When he released her hands, she groped the car floor and found a sharp object. She jabbed it at his eye—but he moved, and the blade grazed his cheek instead.
Gabriella carved a deep scratch. The man recoiled, clutching his bleeding face.
"Damn it!" he cursed, slapping Gabriella across the face. "How dare you hurt me, huh!"
Gabriella no longer felt fear; she knew tonight they intended to kill her.
The man struck her again, hard enough to knock her unconscious.
"Good, you passed out. Now I can enjoy your body freely," he smirked, undoing his belt and unzipping his pants.
Her parents could do nothing, only watch as their daughter was violated. Mrs. Vega sobbed, clutching Mr. Vega. The couple had never imagined facing such horror.
Mr. Vega regretted not being able to protect his daughter. If only the usual highway hadn't been closed… maybe this nightmare wouldn't have happened. He hung his head, mourning his unfortunate daughter.
The night grew darker. Inside the car, the man continued his assault. Eventually, he splashed water on Gabriella's face to wake her.
She awoke to pain in her lower body, tears streaming down her face. All her dreams had been crushed by these criminals. Her gaze was empty; she wished the night would end.
Seeing her awake, the man dragged her out of the car, pushing her to the ground before her parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Vega immediately hugged her. Mrs. Vega's heart felt like it was being cut to see her daughter in such a state.
"Daddy's sorry, darling. I couldn't protect you," Mr. Vega whispered, holding Gabriella tightly and stroking her hair.
Gabriella said nothing. She did not blame her father. What had happened was beyond anyone's control. The ones who attacked them were hardened criminals.
The young gangster got out of the car, showing the scratch on his cheek. The gang leader quickly rushed over, holding his son's face.
"What happened?" he asked, worried.
"She cut my cheek with something sharp," the man replied, irritated.
Gabriella glared at him, satisfaction burning in her eyes. Though she had been assaulted, she had left her mark.
"This wound will haunt you every minute," Gabriella thought, smirking. She no longer feared the gangsters.
The young gangster became furious, drawing a gun and pointing it at Gabriella's father.
"Do you want to see these parents die in front of you?" Gabriella mocked him. She no longer cared for her own safety or her parents'.
"If I let them live, it would be meaningless," she thought. She knew her father would suffer thinking about this night.
"Shoot me then, see if you dare," she whispered in her heart, a smirk forming on her lips. She looked at her parents surrounded by armed men, defiant.
In seconds, the world she knew—safe, warm, beautiful—began to crack.
The menacing figures raised their guns, aiming directly at Mr. and Mrs. Vega's foreheads.
"Now it's your turn," the young gangster sneered.
Gabriella didn't flinch. She lifted her head, meeting his gaze with unwavering defiance.
"Go ahead. Shoot me," she challenged, laughing as she stared him down. "Look at your brother's face. The world will laugh at him—a gangster leader's younger brother, wounded by a weak girl." Her laughter shattered the night, cutting through the tension.
Infuriated by her defiance and mockery, the man pulled the trigger, firing at Gabriella's chest. Her laughter continued even as bullets tore through her body. She collapsed onto the ground, blood flowing freely.
He fired again, preparing for a third shot, when suddenly, distant headlights appeared. The young gangster stopped, startled.
"Let's leave—now!" the gang leader ordered, mounting his motorcycle. "Don't leave a trace."
The gang swiftly climbed into their vehicles and vanished, leaving the Vega family on the dark road, surrounded by dust and the metallic scent of the night. Gabriella stared blankly at the black sky. A seed of vengeance sprouted in her heart—not fear, but a cold, deadly resolve.
Behind the chaos, the night held a promise. Change had begun. Gabriella's world would never be the same again.