"What is this mother?" I asked as soon as I saw her. Immediately I left my room I walked straight to the kitchen where I knew mama would be assisting with dinner.
She froze for a moment before she slowly turned to face me. Like she's being preparing for this confrontation."I'm sorry Lola. But it could not be avoided or prolonged for much longer" she said slowly.
“Its not like its happening next week for God sake”
“Actually dear, it is…” she drawled out
Swallowing a lump in my throat I pinched the bridge of my nose
“Next week? Next week?” I drew in a deep breath needing to yell. “are you people kidding me?”
“I’m trying to come to terms with the news I just got, what? Two days ago? And now this? what’s with the rush?”
“We cant keep them waiting any longer. You turned eighteen two months ago you know how things are”
I burry my face in my palms.
I refused to cry, I feel like I’ve being crying nonstop for da
Now grandfather Alonzo and I walked arms and in arms to my bedroom on the second floor."You have grown so well in this two years Delores. Almost good enough to eat" grandfather Alonzo said just as we got to the second floor. Yuck! What do you say to that? "Er mmm thanks?" It came out more like a question. He chuckled, his walking cane making a tap-tap noise as we walked down the empty hallway. “Answer me Dolores, did any of those little boys give you a hard time? Touch you? I would be happy to make them loose it” "Nothing I couldn't handle" Touch me? Weird. Glad we were already at my door. Wouldn't have to answer any questions."You are so special my dear Lola. So very special you have no idea" grandfather Alonzo whispered. "Grandfather Alonzo could you please tell my mother I decided to retire for the evening?" I asked, a sweet smile tugging at my lips. "Of course my dear" he said
Looking at the mirror I see a dark gray eyes, perfectly plucked eyebrows and pink painted lush lips. A perfectly beautified face. My dark black brown hair was pulled into a slick bun at the top of my head. My hair looks shiny like soft silk.
For the next three hours I was introduced to so many people from my new family. I'd just manage to escape saying I needed a drink. Snatching off a glass of brown liquid. I took a sip and almost choked almost spat it out. "Well, hello there beautiful, you look smoking" a guy said from walking in front of me. He was quite young, around my age. But really attractive
Dominko closed the door soundlessly behind him before letting me down. Not wanting to be so close to him I moved away looking at anywhere else in the room but him. He walks towards me with lethal grace, it was everything I could do to not pray for the earth to open up and swallow me. I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding when he walked past me to the other side of the room. But damn him! he was just d
I realize my fingers are trailing up his strong shoulders then into his thick soft black hair, my lips followed the movement of his, Pure instinct took over. Our lips moved together. When his tongue licked over mine, the action coaxing, I mimicked the action, slowly at first trying to follow his lead. He groaned against my lips, I couldn't stop the moan that escaped my lips when he bit down gently on my lower lip.  
I come awake slowly. I have exams today... My finals are almost up. Shit! I hate exams. Why are exams even a thing? Warmth surrounds me. My dorm bed has never been so comfy. l snuggled deeper into my pillow. A pillow that seemed to be made of rocks but is incredibly smooth. And has a
I blink awake slowly. White walls surround me instead of the soft lavender ofmy dorm room. Where...??? Oh right, this is my new home. The same room I've being waking up to for the past four? Five days? Great. Now I'm also losing track of time as well.
The breakfast room like Mrs. Fina called it is just like any dining room. It's just a little less formal? The table is circular instead of rectangular so there's no head. Anyone can sit wherever they please without being disrespectful. Two servants in black dresses and white apron walk in carrying trays of freshly baked bread. The blonde one smiles at me;she should be around sixteen. "No need to wait ma'am! You can begin I'm surethe boss won't mind " she says cheerily the other one with a slightly darker hair gives her a look that clearly said shut up.
My uncle was right, everything will change from now on, the Grecos, Mendoza, and the Oriente arms of the New York Families are no more. Though we weren't particularly friendly with the other two, it wasn't required for the business. The Greco’s however have always been closely allied with the Salvatores, it wasn’t because of that friendship that Julio was my father's right hand and his father before him, as capo it was my decision to choose my right hand, but for decades, that honor belonged to the Greco’s, until Julio fucked it up. With them gone, there is a gap, in the prominent families, and someone needs to take over for the business to run smoothly. As things settled, I just wanted some peace to be with my family, my children, I already missed so much. It was something I would never retreat, I kept them safe. I did what had to be done, even though it hadn't been my Knife in their throat or my orders. My actions lead to their deaths. And their deaths created a power vacuum, one
**“We have to leave here, get to another safe house we don’t know who else- this place has been compromised” Arms wrapped under my arms trying to pull me away. I was staring blankly at the Man I'd grown so close with. I didn't know what to do.“We can’t leave him here” Tears spilled down my cheeks. “You think I want to leave him? He was like a father to me, but I have to protect you, he would want you to get to safety”“Miguel…”“Now Lola, Now." he shook me "We have to-“ a phone ringing cuts off the rest of his words. Miguel bends down and searches through Matteo’s jacket to retrieve his phone. I crawl back to him lifting his head into my lap, spatches of blood stained my jeans as I run my fingers through his hair. “Please Matteo open your eyes,” I begged softly.He couldn’t be gone. He felt warm despite the blood pooled on the ground beneath him, he couldn’t be gone. He couldn’t...“It’s Matteo…” I hear Miguel say to the other person on the phone “He’s gone” is all Miguel says
I straightened at the sound of a car pulling closer. I know it isn’t Miguel as he’s in the next room, slowly tiptoeing to one of the windows and pushing back the curtains, “Lola don’t do that-“ “It’s Matteo” I gasped in recognition at the dark hair and family face of the man that exists the drive's seat. “It’s Matteo” I repeated “He’s here!” I announced as my heart began to race in my chest. “Stay here, stay down” Miguel ordered, as he headed to the door a gun in hand. I remained at the window, clutching my rounded belly with a shaky hand, the other fisted around the thick curtains as I tried to listen to their exchange. It went on for about half a minute but it was too long and then Miguel crossed back to the porch, he disappeared from my line of sight, and I moved to the door. The bottom of my oversized jeans dragged on the floor over my bare feet as I had left the zipper undone to accommodate my large bump. I’m standing behind the door when it opens and Miguel says “It’
“That puta was whoring around dirtying the family line-“ she gurgles, choking as red spills from a thin line across her throat. A hand flew to her neck eyes wide in shock. No one was allowed to speak of that, I took pains in ensuring it remained that way. The consequences would be devastating. I look at the blade in my hand then swipe the napkin beside her tea set to wipe the little blood at the end. I turned around and came to a stop at the dark figure at the entrance. Fuck. “Is it true what she said?” I observe his stance, the pistol hanging loosely at his side, my brows furrowed as I tried to figure out how long he’s been standing there, how much he heard, I let out a sigh, “Tommy…” He sucked in a deep breath, his empty hand clenching into a shaky fist. “Did you know?” Tommy asked calmly. I grit my teeth and wipe the blade once more, then I return it to the sheath strapped to my wrist, soothing down my sleeves to keep it hidden. I turned to my brother fully and asked “Wh
Bang! Bang! Bang!!! Gunshots sound as I make my way down the hall of an Italian-styled penthouse. The enemy tries to return fire, but they are quickly overwhelmed by my men. Martino Greco led me to Valentina's hideout like a mouse to the cheese. Pained grunts and shocked yells followed by the thuds of bodies heating the ground, and then quiet. Hmm. I walk in smooth strides past pools of blood, bodies littering the polished wooden floors noting the soldiers Valentina called from her mansion in Italy, I frown at the sight of a falcon tatted on one of the fallen men’s forearms, seems she hired some mercenaries also. Splendid. Last night Valentina sent her men to Mendoza and Orinete households while they slept and took them out in one swell move. It is why I can break in with little to no resistance, half of her man power is gone. Danilo inclined his chin at me then motioned up silently a gun in hand, corked and still at the ready. Chase and Emilio stand beside him each o
I stared out the window on the ride back. Like the two times we’ve gone out, I remain in the car while he checks the property, when he signals all clear I open my door and move to the back to get the kids. Miguel goes around the other side and gets started on Angelo’s seat, he undoes the strap holding the child to the seat and then unhooks the chair fully so he can take it inside. “Want to tell me what happened at the clinic?” he questions as we walk. I shook my head nothing. “You don’t really expect me to believe that do you?” “What makes you think I did anything." “Excluding the fact that you looked guilty as hell when we got back, there’s a tear glued to your lashes" he pointed one end of his bottled water at me, "Why were you crying” We entered the cabin and I unstrapped the kids to let them run free. “I just needed to use the bathroom quickly” I paused helping Angelo to his feet. “I called him” I admitted. His expression remains unchanged. “You don’t seem surprised
NIKO That evening I left using one of the hidden exist. There's a car parked under the bridge, I pull up behind it, leaving the engine still running as I look out the window, moments later a male form, wearing a black oversized coat blowing the wind takes long steps in my direction as far as his short legs can carry him, the side door opens and he drops down beside me, the smell of tobacco that follows him where ever he goes fills the car. I make no effort to his my frown. Excluding the fact that it was a shitty habit that kills the liver, I imagine it would make stealth impossible if they can smell you from a mile away. And I preferred to leave no traces, unless it was a warning that is. I have half the mind to ask him to exit my vehicle before he saturates it with his unpleasant smell but I need him tonight so I decided to play nice. “How did it go?” Martino Greco smacks his lips once, “Just as you expected boss, Maxim sent another offer, I did as you said while showing some
LOLA I’ve been teaching my twins simple words and pointing out items around the house for them. I once read that kids need contact with other people and other kids to stimulate growth, and I’ve been doing what I can to fill that role. "Nana" Angel mumbled pointing at the banana when Miguel walked past eating a banana last night.It is also his favorite fruit. Micaela liked peaches.I also roped Miguel into watching some soap operas airing every evening with me so I’d have something to look forward to and someone to discuss with. Soap operas were always better when you had someone to discuss them with. He acts like he hates them but I swear he secretly enjoys them. He finds it hard to understand the motives of the main antagonists and often wonders why the ‘good guys’ give so many chances.No one is that inherently good. Miguel had said when the main female character got played for the fourth time in twenty episodes. It's plain stupidity. he added his two cents, I shook my head with
NIKO -Months later... “Who can we count on?” Tommy asked his chin on his jaw. In front of me at the other side of the desk Matteo cleared his throat and the other turned to him, “Brenadi, Orisi, Ajello, the Sances are a given" he tips his head. With Chase one of my trusted enforcers the head of the Sances family, it was a given, I trusted him to keep his house in check, the others however, "The others will need more convincing" Matteo added voicing my exact thoughts. “That’s four out of twelve” Vincent grunted unable to hide his displeasure. “How can Valentina have eight over us, the bitch has been in Italy for almost three decades," Tommy growls. “Exactly, lots of families owe her favors, she ran this family before us with an iron fist and she never fully removed her claws while my brother was capo, that’s nearly four decades of loyalty from the New York families. "Enough time to amass a fortune's worth of secrets and debts to call in, moreover, a number of the men are too sca