"Alex Anderson, come into the office" Josephine said, staring at me. I glanced at Deja worriedly as I approached Josephine.I entered the office was greeted by two smiling faces."Alex, we would like to foster you or adopt you, which ever you would be comfortable with" The woman stated with a warm smile. These people seemed nice."If it's too much of a shock, we can bring you to our house, show you what a normal day would look like and then you can make your decision" The man said with a happy tone."The second one" I announced, wanting to see what their house looked like. They both smiled happily before standing up."You'll be back tomorrow at 6pm, and then they can decide if they want to foster you" Josephine smiled falsely as I left the room."Deja, look after Avery for me, I'll be back tomorrow" I nodded determined.*****Their house was big and luxurious, they had an outside pool to swim in and a huge tv in their living room.I looked around as I stared at the gaming console on
I was now sixteen.I saw Avery every few months. He was thirteen, turning fourteen soon, and a lot more defiant now. He had changed a lot since he left.I pulled my black leather jacket over my shoulders as I stood in my room. I grabbed Avery's birthday card before running out of the house. I was already late, I didn't want to miss his birthday.I had gotten a job in a restaurant, cleaning dishes and serving customers. It wasn't great money but it was honest work. If I save up most of the money I make within a year I'll be able to rent my own home.I still lived in the foster home; there wasn't many kids my age, mainly because they all get chosen before they have the chance to reach sixteen. I got chosen, time and time again, but I never stayed. I never really belonged in a family, atleast not with people I barely knew.I pulled my hood up and placed my headphones over it, hoping to silence my thoughts for a couple of minutes. It never worked but music was still nice to hear. I walke
I stood up and walked over to the group of teenagers. They were the same age as myself, yet they were hanging around with my thirteen year old brother; How pathetic.I knew they were only allowing him to hang with them because they didn't believe that an officer would check a thirteen year olds bag. They were wrong.As I approached Avery, I could see the fear in his eyes that he tried desperately to hide. He knew that I knew.I had always kept the unconscious fear to myself, that Avery could end up like our mother. I didn't believe my little brother could be capable of taking such a thing so young, especially knowing what it did to our mother. But maybe I was wrong for thinking he cared at all?.I didn't even say anything to him, I just grabbed his bag."Avery, who the fuck is this?" His 'friends' asked, as I opened the bag."I'm his older brother and if I find anything in this bag that isn't his, I'll kill you all" I grumbled angrily, before taking out a tiny plastic bag with a smal
I always knew Avery would be exposed to drugs eventually.I didn't know this for years but my mom had started using drugs while she was pregnant on Avery. He was born severally underweight and addicted to heroin. I didn't get to see him for weeks until my mom brought him home one day. She held a tiny baby in her arms, and told me his name was Avery. I remember seeing him and being sceptical of having a new brother; I thought my toys would be taken by him. Which they eventually were.I only recently found this out when I searched through Josephine's file on Avery. His medical records stated that he was premature and had a previous addiction to heroin while incubated. Now it makes me worry if he'll ever be able to quit this life style.Avery sat on my bed as I stared out my window, lost in my thoughts for what seemed like years."Avery how long have you been taking that shit?" I asked with a mumble. I was almost afraid to ask him aloud."I've only used it a few times before, I just did
I woke up. I groaned softly as I glanced at the clock. 5am. "You're awake" I heard someone grumble to see Avery sitting in the corner. "Yeah" I whispered, unable to look at him. "Did I wake you?" He asked, fidgeting with his nails. "No, I just can't sleep" I admitted. "You always did suffer from anxiety" Avery smiled revealing something he secretly knew about me. "How do you-" I was interrupted by him. "You used to get cramps in your stomach before you saw a new couple. "You were always afraid of not being picked" Avery spoke quietly, his knees pulled to his chest and his head resting on his arms which were sitting on top of his knees. He earned a light chuckle. "What?" Avery croaked, half asleep. "I was never afraid of not being picked" I grinned, shaking my head. I could believe he thought that. "That's not what gave me anxiety". "What was it then?" He asked with a hushed tone, seeming interested in my response. I stayed silent for a moment, unsure if I wanted to tell
After a couple of days, Avery seemed to become himself again. He was no longer sweating or nauseous. He was finally sleeping through the nights and staying awake during the day. Although, this is when his cravings began; and I could see the cravings plastered all over his face.He started to bite his nails, crack his knuckles, bite his lip and pick skin from his fingers. You could see that it got especially bad around night time. However he seemed to be resisting the urges.We sat in a old fashioned diner, with forks and knives laid out in-front of us. The music echoed through the diner, yet was surprisingly nice to listen to. Avery sat slouched across from me, with very little energy. He hadn't eaten today which led us to where we are right now."Anything I can get you boys?" The waitress asked with a polite tone and warm smile. I hated my job at my restaurant. Being nice to people after a couple of hours becomes exhausting."I'll take a steak and fries" I announced before glancing o
As we arrived at her house, I noticed that it was closer to my job than the foster home which was convenient. Not to mention, it wasn't too far from Avery either. I guess I really was the one with attachment issues; it was never him.To be honest, I was tired of living in the foster home. Nothing about it seemed like home, at least this house had a cozy feeling. Every new girl and boy that came to the foster home were lucky; the rules and regulations have slowly changed over the years. Not to mention, the bullying has certainly stopped. I wish that could've happened when I was there. You can't have everything you want though."This is the living room. Alex, are you even paying attention?" She mumbled, snapping me out of my thoughts. I just stared at her and nodded. I'll be honest, I had no idea what she just asked. I blinked a couple of times before she just shook her head and led me down the hallway."This is the kitchen, don't be afraid to take anything." She reassured me as I glan
A couple of months had passed. Things had been quiet for awhile.I had slowly been saving to get a place of my own. Liz says I can stay even after I'm legal but she shouldn't have to mind an eighteen and a sixteen-year-old. Avery has been doing better. He started going to school again for the first time in a while. He's made some new friends and even has a crush on a girl. All he's told me is her name is Julie."Alex, I'm going out" Avery uttered, waking me from my nap."Why did you need to wake me?" I grumbled, pulling the blankets over my head."Because it's late and I just wanted to make sure you're okay with it" He said, yet I could hear the nervousness in his voice."I'm not your dad, go if you want, just don't stay out all night" I responded, groaning from the pain in my stomach. I napped to try and get rid of the pain but it didn't work."Ok, I'll see you later" he announced, closing the door behind him, leaving the room in darkness.The next thing I knew, Liz had peaked throu
Ace rose from his office chair for the first time in days, and put on his iconic black suit. I've never witnessed a man wear a suit so much.He did his hair and buttoned up his shirt.I stood in-front of him."What are you doing?" I asked, acting like he was crazy."What do you mean, 'what am I doing?'" He widened his eyes at me."Why are you getting all dressed up?" I asked, pretending it was obvious."Because I want to look good," he responded blankly, blinking a few times. He was so clueless, it hurt to watch."Are you joking? Do you not know women at all?" I questioned him, starting to unbutton the top of his shirt. I ruffled his hair and his heartbroken appearance was falling back into place. Ace stared at me, his expression was emotionless. I couldn't help but laugh at him because I knew he was annoyed that undid everything he had done."Tell me you're joking, I'm not going to see her like this." Ace threw a tantrum."Ace, I'm telling you, she'll see it all over your face, that
What the fuck had happened?I hadn't been asleep for that long, had I?Where's Sofia?Where's Ace?Those questions kept playing in my mind, like a record player on repeat, as I drove Dante to the hospital. He was clutching his arm, which was bending the wrong way. I was worried; for him, for us, for everyone. There were cracks in our friendships and they were beginning to show."I can't believe he did this," Dante spat, clearly attempting to distract himself from his arm."What the fuck happened?" I snapped suddenly, which seemed out of the blue for Dante but I still hadn't been told anything about what had happened. I was still in the dark and he wasn't shedding any light on the situation."I was just in the living room, until I heard Sofia and Ace arguing from the kitchen. I hadn't really ever heard them argue before so I stood up from the couch, and all of a sudden, Sofia storms through the living room, not even looking at me. She heads for the hallway and leaves.The girl just lef
I was in my room with Dante, watching a movie. He had expressed that he was beginning to dislike Sofia because she was taking up so much of Ace's attention. More like she wasn't giving Dante any. I blocked out his rambling by focusing on the tv. "Are you even listening?" Dante sneered. "Yea, yea, we don't like Sofia, I get it," I mumbled, stuffing more popcorn into my mouth. "You don't understand." He sighed. "I do," I said, my attention turning back to the tv as a really intense moment happened in the movie. I could hear his voice in the back of my mind, but I wasn't concerned. Dante wouldn't hurt a fly and he certainly wouldn't hurt Sofia. Plus I'm sure Ace would murder him if he tried. I hadn't spoken to Sofia since the day I found her in my room. I hadn't saw her and I didn't know if it would be awkward. I kind of disliked her but it wasn't hatred anymore. I had given up on hating the girl for no reason; but just as I let my vendetta go, Dante begins his. This girl couldn't ca
"What pitstop?", Dante asked, unbuttoning his suit jacket and taking it off. "It's just a quick one", I reassured him. We climbed into the Porsche and drove away from the murder scene, knowing we'd never have to face the consequences of our actions. It was strange; being able to murder someone and not end up in prison. Even if police came knocking on Ace's door, he'd either pay them off or they'd go missing. Ace made his message loud and clear to the government. If they didn't let Ace go about his business, there would be war, and he would win. "Do you ever think about the things we do?" Dante muttered, as if he was thinking out loud. "Sometimes." I replied quickly, watching the trees go by through the window. "Do you think we're bad people, do you think karma exists?", he questioned, his concentration on the road yet his mind was somewhere else entirely. "No, i think we're just morally fucked." I answered, glancing over at him. "Yea, definitely fucked alright. I doubt any of u
"I'm not here to fight you Alex, as much as I'd like to. I've brought you here, to tell you I need Leonardo back. After all he is your brother. Well....half brother" he stated, and I swear I could've been sick. He didn't look anything like me and that's when it hit me. Yes, he didn't look anything like me, but he looked like Avery. The same dark hair and eyes. They couldn't have been brothers. Leonardo couldn't have been more of his brother than me.It couldn't of been possible. He was only his apprentice. Surely he wouldn't leave his son..... oh my god.I was so confused. Leonardo didn't have the same second name as Avery and I; then I felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest, I couldn't breathe. Anderson was my mothers surname. Not my fathers. I never knew it wasn't his, but the look on her face said everything. I never got the name Accardi because he didn't want us to be associated with him. I had lived my whole life never knowing my fathers name. I was going to be violently s
We walked through the empty apartments, choosing to take the stairs over the sketchy elevator. I'd rather not get stuck and die in an old elevator. There was so many flights of stairs and Dante was already sweating by the second one. The paint on the walls had peeled so it was a patchy mess. The stairs themselves were dirty, as if a cleaner had not been here in months. I didn't dare to touch the handrails.As we trudged our way up the stairs, a man who was clearly a drug addict passed by us, throwing us a glare. Dante took it to heart."Why did he look at us like that? I'm offended." He muttered, slightly out of breath."Dante only people that struggle live here, and I'm sorry but we don't struggle anymore because of Ace, you came here in a suit for godsake!" I rambled, which only made Dante more defensive."What's wrong with my suit? I like my suit, thank you very fucking much!" He argued, rolling his eyes like a child."I like the fucking suit Dante, but I'm just saying, these peopl
I had been busy the last few days with mafia related business, so I hadn't been home much; but I was today."Why do you eat so fucking loud?" Ace grumbled to Dante who was eating my cookies in his office. He was slouched in the chair and looked miserable for some reason."What is your problem, bitch?" Dante asked, spewing cookie crumbs everywhere. The palm of my hand slapped my forehead. These two were idiots, I'm living with idiots."Would the both of you just shut up?" I hissed."Fuck you Ice," Dante sneered."Fuck you Dante," I spat, scowling at him."Yeah, fuck you Dante." Ace glared at him."I'm leaving, fuck this," Dante snapped, suddenly becoming angry. I didn't think he was joking, but Ace carried on with the joke."You're a pussy." Ace rolled his eyes."I'm a pussy?" Dante sneered, turning back around and walking towards Ace."You heard me," Ace said, with a big smirk across his face."I'm the fucking pussy," Dante shouted, sounding as if he was in disbelief. "Says the one wh
I hadn't left my room in days, Dante had tried to bribe me out with food but little did he know, I'd rather not eat anyway.I had fallen deep into depression, deeper than I had ever gone before. Breathing was difficult. I stared at the blank wall, trying to process my thoughts. I had nothing left anymore, no revenge, no purpose.Until I heard a knock at my door."Ice, you might want to see this!" I heard Dante say urgently, he was behind the door."I don't" I rejected his proposal."Is this you?" He asked, and it caught my attention. What was he talking about?I climbed to my feet with a groan and unlocked my door, opening it to reveal Dante. He held a golden locket in his hand, which dangled gently."It's a locket?" I rolled my eyes about to shut my door again."No look," he pleaded before I turned back to him.I watched as his chunky finger pressed the smallest button on the side of the locket. It opened to reveal a picture of Avery and I as kids. My eyes widened with disbelief as I
My fist pounded against Ace's door as I stood outside furious."Ace, open the fucking door!" I yelled, Dante still sitting in the car from shock.I saw a silhouette of a figure approaching the door and unlocking it. I swung the door open and it revealed Ace."What the fuck were you thinking?" I shouted, waving my arms in the air with panic. "You could've gotten yourself killed"."That would've been so tragic" Ace smirked, as we made our way down his hallway towards his kitchen."I'm being fucking serious, you could've gotten yourself killed. Look at Dante, I had to drag him from the ball, he's so traumatised. I had to kill some innocent girl and you get to walk away?", my face becoming twisted with disgust. "How is that fair?"."None of it is fair Ice, you fucking idiot, I'm the mafia boss so I decided what I can or can't do. Keep yelling at me, it won't change the outcome!" He sneered back, his pride so unbelievably high."You ruined yourself, do you realise that?" I spat, "ruined".