1 | Don’t Smirk

♤ I had my shit together once. I was five. ♤

Phone in hand, my body felt like I was walking on air, yet fear was still taking over ninety-seven percent of my body. The other three percent? Alcohol.

I've learned how to see who's present, know when things are about to go wrong, you get the idea. The typical's of a fucked up teenage girl... who also has been "trained" as a mafia princess for years in a horrid, traumatizing way.

I tip-toed my way into the foyer thats lit up by the golden light shining down from the chandelier, as always.

Does this guy ever turn off the lights around here?

What am I saying. He's a rich asshat. Of course he doesn't.

I rolled my eyes at my thoughts before continuing to make my way towards the stairs with caution. I squinted my eyes shut, silently praying that I wouldn't make noise as I skipped the first step of the huge ballroom like staircase which always has an unpredictable squeak.

My face dropped when the second step decided to gain a squeaking habit as well. I found myself them sprinting up the stairs seeing as its a run or die situation.

He must already know I'm here now.

I ran into my room and slammed the door shut behind me. My head leaned back onto the door, as well as my back, breathing heavily from the fright.

A sigh left my quivering lips before I locked the door with one hand, using the other to turn on the lights as I turned myself around.

I took off my leather jacket before looking up to my bed as I was now only a couple of steps away from it. As soon as my jacket hit the ground, so did my jaw.

He was sitting on my bed, twirling a knife in his finger like some psychopath, which is exactly what he is. He looked up at me with one of the harshest scowls I've ever seen. The only ones I've ever seen have been from him and my shitty excuse of a father.

Oh, fuck.

I raised my hand a bit, ready to reach the back of my pants and pull out my gun. Before I could even move another inch though, I stumbled to the side when he chucked the knife towards me, barely missing my face. It went straight into my bedroom wall and even more fear washed over me.

Do I have a fucking "Stab me!" sign pinned to me or what? Asshat.

I once again reached further to get my gun, even quicker than I did a couple of seconds ago but before I knew it, he was right in front of me. I knew that he would be able to snatch my gun right from me, so I decided to do the next thing that came to mind in the oh too familiar, terrifying situation.

Run.

Before I could bolt, I felt him grip a chunk of my hair, yanking me back, causing me to fall back into his huge build.

"Ow! Raul! St-" I cut myself off with a frightened scream when he through me onto the ground. My body bounced and rolled a bit from the strong impact before he stopped me by stomping on my leg.

Grunts, groans, pain. Daily things for me when I'm with Raul which is always considering I have to live with the asshole. Kick after kick, the all too familiar metallic taste hit my taste buds until the crimson liquid was being coughed up.

He crouched down to my now floor-level height before gripping onto my hair, forcing me to look up at him. He gripped onto my shirt before ripping it down the middle and chucking the now teared fabric to the other side of my room.

My bare bra was in front of him and my eyes widened in fear once he began caressing the strap of the undergarment. I felt his lips press up against my chest, leaving a forced trail of kisses along my skin, probably leaving hickeys as well.

I can't let this happen again. Not after so many times.

I screamed in pain from his roughness when he yanked me back up by my long black locks. Even through the pain, I tried to fight back like he's always taught me to but it backfired. I was took weak and he easily gripped onto my fist that was tiny compared to his, before twisting my arm, causing me to let out a pained groan.

He shoved me back into my dressing table, causing a few things to fall onto the ground and shatter. I groaned in pain from the harsh impact that occurred towards me back which was now bound to be bruised.

I began gasping and choking for air when he gripped my neck. He was strangling me. My toes were starting to lift off of the ground and that's when I made eye contact with Raul Jr. which is hard considering the thing is smaller than my pinky finger.

I won't let him this time.

I kneed him in the crotch, causing him to let go of me. I was about to drop to the ground but the dressing table behind me kept me standing. I frantically began moving my hands backwards, searching for something. Anything.

What seemed to be perfume came into my grip and I smashed the fragile glass bottle onto his head, causing him to fall straight onto the ground.

As a puddle of blood began to form on the marble tiles of my bedroom, coming from his head, I looked down at him with pure hate for the trauma he's caused me over the past decade.

That's when I remembered. My sperm donor shitty excuse of a father, Zane, is supposed to be coming here from Italy any minute now. He was supposed to come to the house, probably to criticize my progress in training.

I knew that he couldn't see me here beside Raul who was knocked out and bloody. So, I quickly grabbed my leather jacket I had tossed onto the floor, threw it on, and zipped it up, covering my almost completely bare chest.

I made sure my gun and phone were still on me before I bolted. I made a run for it, out the door, off the property, down the streets.

I made sure to call my friends and tell them that I could stay longer as I made my way back to the park we were at earlier before I came to the house.

Call me a cliché, but partying, drinking, drugs, they're all my escape from that hell hole I just ran out of. The place and man I was introduced to at the age of six, the place I was supposed to call home and the man who was supposed to be a father figure to me.

Instead, my constant rapist, my abuser, my trainer, my trauma causer, and of course, my "father's" top man. Zane doesn't know what Raul does to me, he's the don of the Marino mafia yet he's completely oblivious. It amazes me.

Zane isn't innocent though. The man's crazy. Before I came to America, I lived with Zane back home in Italy until I was the age of six. He thought I needed to "toughen up" and grow a pair so he sent me to his "best man" all the way in LA.

From the man who beat me fornasking for water to the man who rapes me as part of his fucked training to toughen me up.

Ugh. I hate my pathetic life.

God, what the fuck did I ever do to you?

One might think it's all just glitz, glam, money, and hot guys as the princess of the Marino mafia but oh can they ever be so wrong.

I usually blow off some steam by keeping my winning streak at street races, going to underground fights, visiting the shooting range, eating skittles or hot Cheeto's, completing missions, taking out kills, you get the idea.

And right now, I need my get away. And that's where my friends come in. This get away is more of a toxins related one.

I need to get my mind off this bullshit. Now.

S H A T T E R E D

"ASSHOLE!" I grunted while laying another punch to the jocks now broken, bloody, damaged face. He was almost knocked out cold on the dirty alleyway ground as I kept his body pinned down which was almost two times bigger than mine.

He pissed me off at the wrong time.

I looked up for a split second during my chain of punches and that's when I saw it. The red and blue flashing lights.

Ah. My stalkers. The cops.

I just rolled my eyes before continuing my art piece. It was a piece of art if you ask me. Better than Picasso.

Valentina Gianni Lombardi, the new Picasso of rearranging faces at your service.

Before I could lay another punch, I found myself being tackled off of the dickhead. I grunted as my face got scraped up against the cold concrete.

I just chuckled with a smirk as my hands got cuffed behind my back. I realized it was one of the officers I see on my regular, weekly trips to the station.

"It's been a while, Bass. I see you missed me-" I was cut off by him shoving my face into the ground once again which seemed to be something he does a lot.

"It's sadly only been two days. Can't you give us a break?" He scoffed before yanking me up and off the ground.

"You know that's not in my capabilities, Bass." I smirked while stumbling as he brought me over to the back of the cop car. My glare didn't break away from the college boy who was now being wheeled into the ambulance.

Nice job, Val.

I know. I did good.

Egotistical rat.

Of course, of course. Extra should be my second middle name- make that third, after dramatic.

"So," I sighed with my head leaned back onto the rough leather of the backseat of Bass' cop car. I blew my bloody hair out of my face, which by the way, ain't my blood, before continuing, "You must be new. Haven't seen you before?"

"It's my first day." The man beside Bass chuckled in a nervous matter, "how'd you know?"

"You can say... I'm very familiar with the cops at the station." I smiled before he gave a nervous look to Bass who just shrugged it off before they both looked back to the road.

"So, is my so called "dad" willing to pay for my bail, or is Raul? I'd be surprised if Zane actually paid, stepping up to be somewhat of a father for once." I scoffed, my tone, laced with amusement, knowing Bass is already caught up on the family drama.

You could say I've used our many trips down to the station together as my time to spill the tea. It's easier because he doesn't actually listen. I obviously have to exclude the whole illegal side of things though.

"We actually wanted to talk to you about him and Sa-" the newbie began but shut up once he earned a glare from Bass.

"What is it?" I asked with a more curious tone as I leaned forwards in my seat.

"We'll talk about this at the station, Valentina." Bass huffed and I just slouched back into my seat.

"And we've known each other... what? Three? Four years?" I dramatically sighed while placing my cuffed hands onto my chest, over my heart, causing him to just roll his eyes.

We have a love-hate relationship.

We eventually pulled up to the station with Bass' arm hooked in mine, dragging me with him. I greeted all the familiar officers by name and they all sending me greetings back, wide grins, chuckles, shaking heads, or glares.

I'm a bit popular around here.

"Stay here." Bass warns as he leaves me in the interrogation room with my hands on the table, still cuffed. I let out a dramatic sigh while leaning back into my chair and spreading my legs out so much, you'd think I have a pair down there.

Only a few minutes later, my favourite one comes in.

"Hayes! Long time no see!" I playfully grinned while leaning forwards in my seat.

"It's only been two days," He scoffs before playfully rolling his eyes. "But hey, kid." He chuckled while ruffling up my hair before taking a seat down in across from me.

"See. That's better." I smiled while leaning back into the chair again.

"Do I even wanna know what he did to get a beating like that?" Hayes chuckled while gesturing to my cut up knuckles. The cuts on my face and body that Raul gave me earlier just blended in with my situation which I was grateful for.

"He annoyed me. Wrong place. Wrong time." I shrugged and he just playfully shook his head in response.

"I saw the recording," He sighed before leaning over a bit closer, "He deserved it. You got nice punches, kid." He whispered before fist bumping me through my cuffs, secretly considering the cops that were probably on the other side of the mirrored glass.

"So, how much did the fuckers have to pay for my bail?" I smirked, knowing that I could only get back at Zane and Raul for the trauma by making their pockets face a trauma of their own.

"... they actually didn't pay... someone else did... that's what I need to talk to you about." He sighed while looking down at the table, not able to make eye contact with me. My face grew a bit confused when his own expression began to turn a bit... sad?

"What is it, Hayes? Zane and Raul not putting up with me is the usual. We both know that. So, who's the mystery bailer?" I chuckled, knowing Raul was probably getting stitches and Zane was most likely ready to rip my head off after only hearing Raul's side of the story, as usual.

Even though I'm fearing what waits for me when I get back to the house and see Raul, a bit of relief washed over me, knowing he won't be able to do anything for the next couple of days with Zane here... but that's just gonna make it worse when Zane leaves.

For once, universe. Be on my side for the next couple of days.

"Valentina... that's what I need to talk to you about." I raised my eyebrows, gesturing for him to go on after his long pause, "Zane and Raul... Raul was picking Zane up from the airport... they crashed and both died from the impact."

Then, pure silence.

I- holy shit- freedom. Those mother fuckers can kiss my ass from the pits of hell where I'll probably be meeting them but that's besides the point!

He began giving me a concerned look, one that made me feel as if I were crazy. I then realized that I was smirking because of my thoughts about the pain they must've suffered.

Waterworks, dumbass!

I made sure to let out a tear or two and to drop the smirk which caused him to calm down a bit but a sympathetic look was still playing around on his face.

He knows that I have a shitty relationship with the two- well, not to what extent. Hayes is... I don't know what he is. An older brother figure? A father figure? Any type of good male figure that I've never had here in LA?

I remember my first time here seven years ago. I was brought in for setting one of Raul's cars on fire while he was inside a grocery store. Hayes gave me some lolly pops and made jokes with me until Raul came and yanked me out of there.

You can imagine the beating I got for that... and when Zane came... let's move on from my traumatizing child hood, shall we...

Like I was saying, ever since, I've been coming in and out. I practically watched him turn from fresh meat around here to one of the top guys. He's watched me turn from a mischievous little kid into a... whatever I am now. As he refers to me, his favourite "regular delinquent.".

Yea, I have a hate for cops, it's kinda raised in you when your in this life but Hayes is my only exception.

"... So. Am I on the will?" I asked nonchalantly, forgetting that I was supposed to be giving a teary show. I quickly choked out some more tears before innocently smiling.

"I don't know but... back to the person who bailed you out..." he got up from his chair and began pacing around a bit.

"Was it one of my cousins? 'Cause they're all in Italy. I don't know how-" I began rambling before he cut me off, "No. It's not. There's more..."

"... You see... Val... you're adopted-" before he could even finish, my bad habit of choking on air came to light.

I know Zane said I was adopted when he was mad at me but I just thought that was part of our toxic father-daughter-I-hate-you relationship considering he'd say he wasn't serious a little after.

"Great. What about it?" I hummed while shifting in my seat a bit.

"Well, we obviously did some digging for relatives which is how we found out about your... adoption. We found more. Your birth family." And with that, my eyes shot up to him.

"You're older brother- birth brother- whatever you'd like to call him. He's taken custody of you and is the one who put up your bail." He briefly explained and my eyes widened in shock.

Another male family member? Great. Those haven't ended up well for me.

"Do I have to live with him?" I asked in what I tried to make a confident tone but it ended up sounding shaky. It wasn't about the miracle deaths, I just didn't want a repeat of the hell I already receive on a daily basis.

"Yes... you're going to New York. Tonight. Well, right now. A social workers coming to pick you up and drop you off at the airport where they have their private jet waiting for you." He sighed while placing his hands down onto the table.

He was a bit shocked with his own words about the private jet but I was used to it because of Zane and Raul's riches.

Holy shit-

Wait. New York... he'll be there... I shouldn't want to see him- I definitely want to see him. I'm such a fucking idiot. He probably hates me- I should hate him- ughhh.

I somehow found myself subconsciously clutching onto the "S" pendant on my necklace that's been around my neck ever since he left. I needed to get myself together.

"... You guys have social workers around here at four in the morning?" I scoffed at that some how being the first thing to leave my mouth.

"For little delinquents like you." He fake smiled and I just playfully rolled my eyes at his words.

Then, I began actually taking in what the fucks going on, "...I- wow... so, let me get this straight. My father- adoptive father-, and Raul, they're both dead, I'm adopted, and I'm now going to New York to live with my older adoptive brother who's taken custody of me. Great." I slowly turned my words into mumbles as I got deeper into my rant of failing to process.

"... I'm gonna miss you kid." He softly smiled while ruffling my curls up again.

"Of course you will. Who else is gonna be the main source of entertainment around here?" My failed attempt at humour was my way of mentally preparing myself for what could be Raul 2.0 waiting for me in New York.

"Of course, of course. Who else will I have to pick up from illegal street races at four in the morning."

"Whaaat? I don't know what you're talking about." I playfully scoffed, a glimpse of sadness in my voice.

"Now, you've got any questions?" He sighed while sitting down on the ledge of the table.

"... You said my 'brother' has custody of me. What about his parents- I guess our parents?" I asked with pure curiosity oozing off of me.

"I'm sorry about that, kid. They passed in a car accident a couple of years ago." He softly smiled and I just thought about one thing.

Well, shit. All of these adults in my life- cars clearly hold grudges against them-

Okay, Val. Not the fucking time.

"Oh... anymore siblings?" I asked while subtly fidgeting with my fingers.

"Yes. A lot. Including the eldest brother who has custody over you, you have eight older brothers." He answered with a shocked expression that mirrored mine.

Holy fucking shit.

"Holy fucking shit indeed." he chuckled under his breath and I realized I said that out loud.

Bad habit.

"You sure there's no mix up? Not two, three, or even four. Eight?" I scoffed in disbelief and he just nodded.

He was about to say something else but both of our heads shot to the door when a tall, beautiful, really rich looking lady walked in with the bubbliest expression.

"I'll go now." Hayes sighed before looking at me with the same sad look.

"Don't cause any trouble over there." He softly chuckled before walking over and pulling my head into his chest, into a soft hug.

"We both know that trouble is what I was born for." I chuckled back and I could practically feel him roll his eyes at me.

He still didn't let go and I could feel the what I'm guessing is brotherly like warmth, radiating off of him.

"Don't worry, Hayes. You don't think I'm gonna let you guys get a break, do you? I'll be back soon enough to get you all off of your lazy asses." We both chuckled at my odd attempt to lighten the mood.

"No hugging the s-" Bass' voice boomed from outside the room, he was definitely standing on the other side of them mirror, and he was cut off by Hayes who did us a favour.

"Shut up, Bass. We've known her for years. Girl practically lives here." Hayes scoffed while flipping Bass off through the glass.

"Just... what do I even say to you out of all people... don't die." He smiled before we exchanged our last goodbyes and he strolled out of the room.

Welp. There goes the only trusty male figure I have close to me.

"Hi, sweetheart. You must be Valentina. I'm Sierra Charles! It's nice to meet yo-" the lady began with a bubbly grin while reaching out to shake my hand but she quickly took it back when she saw the cuffs on my hands.

Awkward...

"Someone get these cuffs off the kid!" She shouted towards the door.

... only a little over two years before I'm eighteen. Then, I can get out from here- that place in New York and get my own place like I've always dreamed of.

Not a personal hell, an actual home.

I've never really felt a home before, just a house...

Everything changes now...