Born To Kill: A Bad Dream

“Luna!” Father called out my name. I ran towards him but immediately stopped dead in my tracks. I noticed two men behind Father; they were holding deadly weapons in hand. One of the men started to attack but before they could, they saw me. Their attention was turned to me. I was frozen. I was too scared to do anything. They were speaking in a different language and I couldn’t understand, suddenly one of them grabbed my arm tight and the other slapped my face.

I jerked awake sweating and disoriented. I grabbed my chest and focused on breathing. I had another dream of that fateful day in the woods. I put my hand on my lip and I could feel the scar. It was a burning reminder that I should never disobey Father and I should always have my bodyguard with me. It happened when I was 7. Father was supposed to meet up with a few members of the Genovese, the most powerful and dangerous mob in New York. They picked a location near a forest. It seemed to be a large picnic area, but I doubt that picnics happen here. I was with my brother Salvatore. He was only two years younger than me and he will soon be the next Capo of Castelvetrano. We joined Father to meet with these men; he wanted Salvatore to experience the mob life at an early age. 

While Father and Salvatore waited for the others, I was curious about the forest behind me. We were never allowed to go out and do things normal children at our age did. We needed to be protected from people who want to hurt our family. I was about to sneak out when Fabiano, our bodyguard stopped me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I stiffened and acted like I never moved. “Nowhere, Fabiano.” He held my arm and dragged me near Salvatore. 

“Luna, you know it is very dangerous here. This is not our territory.” Between Salvatore and me, I was the stubborn one. I never wanted to do what Father, nor did Mother want me to do. I always get punished for my actions, but I never learn. Suddenly, a car skidded to a stop in front of us. A tall man about the size of Father got out of the vehicle and approached us. 

“Roberto.” The man nodded and Father returned the gesture by calling him Giovanni. The men were too engrossed in the conversation and I saw my opening for escape. I looked at Fabiano and it seemed that his attention was to Father and Giovanni. I backed away slowly and when I was sure that no one had noticed, I entered the forest. I looked at my surroundings with glee. It was the first time that I had been alone outside with no bodyguards. I was about to run to the end of the forest when I heard loud voices coming from Father. I quickly ran back to them and what I saw frightened me. Father and Giovanni both had their guns out. Fabiano held Salvatore close. When Fabiano realized I was nowhere in sight, he panicked. When he turned around, he noticed that I was standing in the entrance of the forest. He signaled me to come to him silently. 

I was about to walk when suddenly a gunshot could be heard. I looked at both men and they were still standing. Giovanni held the gun upwards. He immediately ran to his car and drove off. I knew what the gunshot meant. He signaled an attack. 

“Luna!” Father called out my name. I ran towards him but immediately stopped dead in my tracks. I noticed two men behind Father; they were holding deadly weapons in hand. One of the men started to attack but before they could, they saw me. Their attention was turned to me. I was frozen. I was too scared to do anything. They were speaking in a different language and I couldn’t understand, suddenly one of them grabbed my arm tight and the other slapped my face. I fell to the ground and my vision became blurry. I looked up and saw Fabiano fighting off the goons that attacked me. He carried me to the car and we immediately drove off. 

Father started speaking in Italian, he said something about an ambush and that he wanted revenge. Salvatore was beside me and he was stroking my face. I looked up at him and noticed no tears. He’s a tough little kid. He had to be. 

“Papa, Luna is hurt.” That was the last thing I heard before everything faded to black. 

When I woke up, I was in my bed at home. I held my lip and I felt stitches. I remember what happened. We were ambushed and one of the Genovese men hit me. I looked at my arm and a bruise the size of a grown man’s hand had covered most of it. I stood up and went outside. I saw Fabiano guarding the outside of the door.

“Luna, you’re awake. Your father wants to speak to you.” He led the way to Father’s office room. He waited outside and I went in.

“Papa, you wanted to speak to me?” He was sitting on his chair drinking what looks to be Scotch. He faced me with a dark expression on his face.

“Luna! What did I tell you about leaving without your bodyguard? You have disobeyed me and looked at what had happened.” I was silent, I wouldn’t cry. Why would I? His words don’t bother me because I choose not to listen. “Women are weak.” He said with a condescending tone.

“Father if you’ll allow me, I want to train like your soldiers.” He stopped me. I wanted to explain but he wouldn’t let me. “Women have no place in the battlefield. Your only job is to become a wife to your husband, providing him with pleasure and satisfaction and to bear his children. Have I made myself clear?” I didn’t answer.

“Have I made myself clear, Luna?!” I nodded. I left his office and went to my room. 

“Luna, are you okay?” Salvatore was already in the room and he looked concerned. “I’m fine Salvatore. You don’t have to worry about me.” He looked at my torn lip and his face clearly showed concern.

“Salvatore, I want to ask you a favor, but please don’t tell Papa.” He looked at me in a suspicious manner. “Could you teach me about your knife collection?” His face showed signs of excitement. Salvatore loves knives. He started collecting when he was only 3 and Father supported him. He led me to his walk-in closet. At the end of it, there is a hidden door that leads to his knife collection. We entered the room and when he turned on the lights, hundreds of knives could be seen hanging on the wall.

“Wow Salvatore, your collection is huge.” He pointed towards similar looking knives on the table across the room.

“These are my favorites. I think they are cool.” For a 5-year-old he seemed too eager to use one of these knives. He handed me one and I examined it. “Isn’t this a Mini Skirmish?” He nodded. I examined more of his knives and he taught me everything about every single one of them.

After dinner, I asked Fabiano for a favor. “You want me to do what?” He said in disbelief. “I said I want you to teach me martial arts and how to handle a weapon.” He still couldn’t believe what I was asking for. He shook his head.

“No Luna, your father would not allow it.” I pleaded and begged for him to teach me. Eventually he gave in to my demands. “Ok fine, but only when your father is not around. Do not tell anyone else. Not even Salvatore.” I nodded and clapped my hands in glee. 

From then on, Fabiano and I trained whenever we got the chance. Father had not suspected anything, but Salvatore became curious. Eventually, I told him about my training, and he didn’t protest. He said he wanted me to learn to defend myself so I wouldn’t get easily beaten up. For the succeeding years, Salvatore joined us in our training sessions. He also taught me how to use a knife as a weapon. We often spar with each other in his knife room.

One day, I was out in the garden when I heard my name. “Luna?” I heard a familiar voice coming from behind me. When I turned around, I immediately ran to her and gave her a tight squeeze. “I could see from how tight you hug me that you missed me so much.” I let her go and we laughed. 

“Marina! I didn’t know you would come.” She smiled at me. Marina is my cousin. Her father and my father are brothers.

“Is Uncle Maurizio with you?” Suddenly her eyes started to water. She hugged me and she was sobbing. “What’s the matter Marina?” I was starting to worry. She looked at me and tears were streaming down her face. She tried to calm herself before she spoke. 

“Papa is dead. The Bratva killed him. They also killed my mother. That’s why I’m here. Uncle Roberto has custody over me.” I felt sad for her but at the same time I felt happy.

“Papa is going to adopt you. That means we’ll become siblings.” I was giving her a reason to be happy so she wouldn’t think about her parents’ sudden death. She smiled and we went inside. We saw Father in the hallway with Fabiano. 

“Papa, is it true that Marina we’ll be staying with us?” Father glanced at me and nodded. “Marina is now your sister Luna. Take good care of her.” Then he and Fabiano walked away. Marina and I hugged each other. She was my best friend and we used to be with each other but after a few years, they stopped coming. But Marina and I still communicated. We send each other letters. She was only a year younger than I am. 

“Why didn’t you tell me that you were coming here?” She smiled. We were walking to my room. There are two beds here so we will be sharing it. Fabiano carried all her bags to my room.

“I wanted to surprise you.” We entered the room, and we talked all day. Marina settled in her new home and we couldn’t be happier. Salvatore entered the room, and he was surprised to see Marina. I filled him in with the situation, but I didn’t mention the death of our uncle. He was very happy to find out that Marina is our new sister. I told Marina all my secrets including the one about my secret training. I trusted her and she kept my secret. She said she also wanted to learn and so I promised to teach her everything Fabiano taught me. But she didn’t want to learn everything. She just wants to learn basic self-defense. I promised her that I will always keep her safe. 

When I was 10, Fabiano and I would go to shooting ranges to practice. He always made sure that no one in the building knew about my training. I studied hard in school and I learned every language I could possibly learn. Marina and I would stay late at night to practice speaking in different languages. We prepared ourselves for the worst. I was 14 when Salvatore became a Made Man. His training paid off and he was soon known for his outstanding skills when using a knife. People commonly refer to him as “The Slasher”. Shitty name, I know. He killed his first man by slitting his throat. I pretended to feel sick but deep inside, I liked it. Marina wasn’t too fond of the whole killing thing, so she really felt sick after what happened. 

I was turning 16 in a few weeks. Salvatore, Marina and I were in our room and Salvatore and I were having another sparring session. He was good but I could do better. I pretended to stab him, he avoided it, but I quickly transferred the knife to my left hand, and I held the knife at his neck. He laughed and we put down our knives. Marina clapped her hands. 

“Wow sis, you beat me, and I’m considered as the best in the mob.” We sat down on the sofa and took a breather. “You are great Salvatore. You’re seriously better than any men in Papa’s army. You deserve the name ‘The Slasher’.” Then I laughed my ass off. 

“Ha-ha, very funny Luna. I hated that name.” I stopped laughing and grabbed my water bottle. I was about to drink when Fabiano knocked on the door. “Come in.” I said then I drank the water.

“Luna, your father wants to have a word with you.” Fabiano’s voice was calm but assertive. Salvatore, Marina and I looked at each other. I started wondering what I did wrong. I couldn’t remember doing something bad. “What for Fabiano?” He didn’t speak. I guess I’ll just have to find out.

I stood outside Father’s office. I was suddenly stricken with fear. What if he found out about my training sessions? What if he’ll send me off to God knows where? I held the handle with shaking hands. I opened the door. Father was at his chair and looking outside. 

“You wanted to see me Papa?” I tried to hide the fear in my voice. 

“Luna, sit down.” Oh God I’m so nervous.

“Luna, I know you are aware of the feud between the Castelvetrano and the Genovese. You have that scar as a reminder of their treachery. But now I want to settle the matters. The Russians have started to wage war here in the US. Giovanni and I have agreed to let you marry his eldest son, Primo, so there would be peace between our two clans. This alliance will allow us to stop the Bratva.” I was in shock.

“But Father…” I protested but he didn’t listen. 

“Silence Luna! You will do as I say, and you will marry Primo.” I closed my mouth. It was wrong for me to disagree with Father.

“But Father, am I not too young to be married?” He smirked. “We had discussed the matter. On your 16^th birthday will be the celebration of your engagement. On your 18^th birthday will be your wedding.” I badly want to protest but I didn’t want to make Father even angrier. I simply nodded and left the room. I saw Mother standing in the middle of the hallway. She couldn’t do anything about the situation. She’s the typical wife of a Capo. She always feared him. I didn’t bother talking to her. I went back to my room where Fabiano, Marina and Salvatore waited. They were having an avid discussion about Primo Monticello, the man I was to be married to. They stopped talking when they noticed me standing in the doorway.

“What did Father want Luna?” Salvatore asked. I didn’t answer and he became worried. He saw the devastated expression on my face.

“What’s the matter? Did Father hit you?” He held my arm. I shook my head and took a seat on my bed. “Father had arranged my wedding.” I didn’t even try to hide the hurt in my voice. Salvatore, Marina and Fabiano looked at each other. “An arranged marriage? To whom?” I had the sudden urge to laugh hysterically but I didn’t.

“Primo Monticello.” Bitterness was clear in my voice. I wanted them to hear how against I am with this. Salvatore sat next to me and patted my shoulder. He was silent and I knew why. He doesn’t know what to say. Marina hugged me. “Aren’t you too young to get married?” I told her what Father had planned out. She couldn’t believe him. She just held my hand. I looked at Fabiano. He seemed unfazed about the whole thing. “Fabiano, tell me everything about my future husband.” He was reluctant but willing to answer.

“He’s the eldest son of Giovanni Monticello and as you both know, the next in line to the throne. He’s 20 years old. He was a Made Man at the age of 10. He killed a man at that age. He blasted the guy’s brains off his head. Since then, he has killed over a hundred men. He’s the most feared man in New York Genovese.” From what Fabiano said, I had the thought of escaping tonight and not even thinking of coming back.

“Great. I’m getting married to someone who might actually kill me.” Both sarcasm and fear were evident in my voice. Salvatore patted my shoulder. “Things might not be that bad. I promise to protect you while I can. So, when’s the marriage?” I really didn’t want to think about that stupid marriage. 

“The engagement party will be on my 16^th birthday and the wedding will be on my 18^th.” Salvatore looked like he couldn’t believe what I just said. “You’re joking?” I shook my head. “I really wish all of this is just one big joke.” He didn’t speak. He got up and went outside. I bet he’s going to try and talk to Father. He couldn’t convince him to stop the wedding, only postpone it. But what does it matter anymore? I give up. I’ll do whatever he wants me to do. Maybe I’ll get lucky and die at my engagement party. I hope the Bratva is well informed on the date so they can just try and shoot me. I wouldn’t mind taking Father’s gun and just shooting my face off. 

A few minutes later, Salvatore came back to the room. He looked pissed. I bet, no I KNOW he didn’t convince Father to do anything about the wedding. “What did you do?” He looked at his hands and suddenly he hugged me. “I’m sorry sis. I tried to convince Father but to him, this alliance needs to happen. I really tried my best.” I smiled at him. Even though he’s already a killer, he’s still my brother. My baby brother. “It’s okay Salva. I won’t try to fight. But do you know a way to contact the Bratva to let them know about my engagement party? Maybe they’ll want to shoot my head off. And then I’ll be free.” Salvatore’s face filled with horror. I looked to my left and Fabiano was trying to stifle a chuckle. Marina’s face turned pale. 

“Luna! That’s not a matter to joke around.” He pinched my arm hard. I slap his hand away. “The Bratva is a very dangerous group, Luna. You should not joke about them.” Fabiano lost it and he laughed. We looked at his direction. “Luna, if you die during your engagement party or even your wedding day, all hell will break loose. You’re what’s keeping all of us alive.” I didn’t quite understand Fabiano. He noticed my puzzled face and he explained further. “You are what stand between peace and war between the two clans. That marriage symbolizes a truce. Without it, more people will get killed.” I was in a trance like state when I thought about what Fabiano had said. “Bullshit.” I uttered.

“Luna!” Salvatore scolded me. We were not allowed to curse especially Marina and I. Girls were only allowed to curse when they were giving pleasure to their husbands. This is also full of shit. 

“You know what, I don’t even care anymore. I’ll marry him if it’s that important.” Salvatore nodded in agreement. Marina didn’t agree but we had no other choice. Just then, Father entered our room.

“So, you have made up your mind Luna. Very good. Do not disappoint me.” He left the room, and I was left there standing with my mouth wide open. What the hell did I get myself into?