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Chapter 7
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The Life The Beginning Chapter 8
DRACO *** Something's wrong! I can sense it. All-day, she's been jumpy, and that's only when she wasn't staring off into space like she had the world's energy crisis on her mind. And the look in her eyes, the light had dimmed in her eyes, and her face was sullen. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with her, and I knew there was no point in asking. I knew no one had troubled her because I'm with her damn near every second, so it had to be her past. I paced my room as the rest of the house slept. Outside, the window was dark, only the bare branches of the trees swaying gently against the dark sky. There was an unsettled feeling in my gut that refused to leave. I decided to go check on her. I usually stay away unless she cries out in her sleep. Then I sit with her for the rest of the night, watching over her. But I always try to give her her privacy unless she needs me. Tonight I'm just gonna go check on her and hope she doesn't wake up screaming. I left my room next door an
The Life The Beginning Chapter 9
DRACO Months Later *** "Push Sofia, come on, baby, you can do it." The look she gave me was not one I'd expect from my sweet, demure wife. No, that was the look of someone about to commit murder. If my heart weren't in my lungs, I would've laughed, but I was too scared for that. She'd gone into labor at a very inopportune moment, if I do say so myself, one that had sent both of us scrambling to get decent while panicking about the birth of our first child. I'd prepared everything weeks ago, but when her water broke, I couldn't remember where my own feet were. She, on the other hand, was cool and composed. While I was running around getting things together after calling the hospital, she'd stood in the middle of the room rubbing her tummy and talking to our son; just another day in the life of a pampered princess. In the six months since we'd eloped, she has been an enigma. The scared, frightened girl I had taken from my family home after mom and dad had lost their minds and
The Life The Beginning Chapter 10
DRACO *** He was a beautiful boy. My inner fear that I may look at him and see the man who'd violated her was for nothing. There was no anger or hate in me for him, no blame; how could there be? I'd also worked on her enough that by the time he came into the world, she no longer associated the darkest time in her life with him. He was ours, plain and simple. The truth is, I'd been ready to step in if she couldn't do it. If it had been too hard for her to cope, I would've shielded him until she came around. I needn't have worried, though, because my beautiful wife, although a bit traumatized still, didn't have it in her to hate her own flesh. I know it was impossible for her to forget how he came to be, but I gave every effort to erase that shit from her mind and for her to see our boy as just ours. It worked. As for me, I did my part. I didn't forget, but I'd be fucked if anybody were going to blame my son for shit that he had no hand in. And because of this, the kid had more l
The Life The Beginning Chapter 11
Sofia *** I look around at my life, and I still can't believe that it's mine. When I stepped into this country for the first time all those many years ago, I could never have imagined that one day I would find love and family. That the dark cloud hanging over me would one day recede to let the light in again. Back then, my heart had no room for anything but the vengeance that beat within it. I wanted only to bear a son, a son who would one day avenge me of the wrongs done to me. Yes, papa had tried to make it right, but then I had to lose him as well. Too much loss while the one responsible walked free. It was a festering wound that had stayed with me every day. I did not think I could ever love anyone. My heart was cold, dead even. I knew only a thirst for revenge. I did not know how I would get there, but I knew that someday I would see it. But this man, this Draco Russo, even as I fought him, had worked his magic, and it wasn't long before I learned to cling to him. He'd
The Life The Beginning Chapter 12
GIANNA "Where's that doll your grandmother sent you for your birthday?" I looked around from my place on the floor where I'd been playing with my new toys alone for the last half hour. Daddy had just left to go to work after promising to bring me back something special. I held my breath as I looked over and up at the woman standing in the doorway. Somehow I knew that the smile that she'd worn while my daddy was here would be long gone. It had taken my little brain forever to notice that it always happens that way. When daddy is here, she smiles and laughs with me, giving me the same special attention she gives to her own little girl who's the same age as I. But when daddy's not around, she's mean and hurts. My mouth became dry with dread, and there was that funny feeling in my tummy once again. I felt tears already prickling my eyes because I knew what was coming. No doubt Victoria will get my doll just like she'd got everything else of mine. I didn't use to mind before, back whe
The Life The Beginning Chapter 13
GABRIEL *** "Come in." I opened the door and entered my old man's inner sanctum. "You asked to see me pop?" "Come in, son, and close the door." Uh-oh. That means he's about to read my ass about something and doesn't want mom to hear even a whiff. That could mean one of two things, either he's in deep shit, or I am. From the way he studied me after I took the chair across from his desk, I already knew it was the latter. Damn! It could be any one of a hundred things. No matter how I try to hide my shit from pop, he's always ten steps ahead. "Did you break that kid's nose?" Oh, that shit. "Yep!" I knew that sigh was coming like he'd have done anything different. "Why?" "He got on my nerves. "Son!" "Dad!" I can't tell him the fuck hit on my little sister, or he'd end up in jail. Meanwhile, he's about to ream my ass for saving him a prison term. "Gabriel, the cops were here." Uh-oh. That bitch narced on me? I started to get out of my seat. "Sit down; where are yo
The Life The Beginning Chapter 14
GABRIEL With the weekend behind us, it was back to the grind; school, homework, grades, all the happy shit my parents pay attention to as if neither of them realized that the grown-ass man living under their roof had changed. I myself am not really sure why in the last year, things had become so drastic for me. It felt almost as if the clock was running out. Since the day I turned eighteen, it's like that thing that had been simmering inside since the day I first learned the truth went on boil. Maybe it's because, at eighteen, I'm now officially a man. Not when I jumped up to six-two out of nowhere the summer I turned sixteen, or when I found the first hair on my chin before that. Then I was still somewhere between innocent and wannabe tough guy. But as soon as the clock struck twelve-oh-one on the day of my birth, I knew I'd changed course. I don't resent ma for telling me, far from it. But I do accept that the knowledge changed the trajectory of my life. My dad has been doing e
The Life The Beginning Chapter 15
GABRIEL There was misery and distrust in the fleeting glance she gave me, and that just twisted the knot in my gut even tighter. I'm not sure what she saw in my own eyes that had her reaching out her hand to take the hand that she'd left hanging between us, but as soon as her fingers touched mine, it felt like I'd been electro-shocked. It was so unexpected I almost jerked my hand away. The fuck was that about? I started to pull her away, already forgetting the others and all kinds of lost in my own head, wondering about my strange behavior. For as long as I've known myself unless something involved my nearest and dearest, I steered clear of other people's shit. "Where are you taking my sister?" My steps didn't falter, but I did look back to find the ringleader looking as if she was about to follow us. "Is she your sister?" I turned back to my captive. She didn't say a word, just hung her head even lower as she clutched the folder closer to her chest. There's a story there for sur
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The Life The Beginning Chapter 43
GABRIEL "How do you know where I went? You keeping tabs on me?" "Lance." He rolled his eyes and looked around the room, stalling for time, no doubt. "How'd you know that clown was at the door?" "Okay-okay, the girls forgot to tell him not to show up here after your talk with them last night. They only remembered when the doorbell rang and signaled me to follow you." That was enough of an explanation for me since I never doubt his word. Doubt not the man you choose to be your friend. I didn't ask him anything more because if there was something important, he would've told me. Instead, we left to go join the others. I was a bit torn after that little dustup about leaving her, but there was something I needed to do. Only Pop was downstairs waiting when we made it back. "Where's everyone?" "Women, they're still getting dressed. I think they're making a fuss over Gia." "A fuss over Gianna, what do you mean?" "Calm down; they're just getting her dressed." I didn't know if I
The Life The Beginning Chapter 42
GABRIEL Lance hounded me the whole night until I was ready to kick him out of my room. But then he let slip that the twins had already gabbed, so what was the point? I couldn't even be mad or seek retribution; after all, I'm the one who taught them when they were about six or seven that he was to be trusted. In the end, he came to his own conclusions, which apparently all led to him being right, and I was just steps away from getting hitched. I finally told him I was tired and took back one of my pillows to cover my head to escape him. I think he was still lecturing me when I finally drifted off. In the morning, we went downstairs to a madhouse. There were boxes of food covering the kitchen counter, the girls were talking a mile a minute with excitement, and even Gianna looked like there was some life in her. I was still too unsure of myself to face her, so I focused on the extravagance of food and the culprit responsible. "Pop, what did you do now again?" He looked over from h
The Life The Beginning Chapter 41
GABRIEL As expected, the twins were still up rehashing the night's events when I walked into their room after leaving Pop. "Hey, big brother, what's up?" Nice try! "What's with the uninvited guests?" "It was Sheila's idea, ask her. You know how impatient she is." Anna was quick to explain. "Impatient about what?" "Nothing, look, they're going to be at the party in a few weeks; everyone just thought it would be a nice icebreaker for Gia to meet them tonight, so by the night of the party, they'd be like old friends." Who the fuck is everyone? I keep forgetting that I've taught my sisters everything I know, but I get the feeling they're using that shit on me. "Are you two running game on me?" "Never, who would dare? You'd just beat us at it anyway." Uh-huh. "Do me a favor, don't do anything where she's concerned without running it by me first." They both rushed to agree, but that wasn't good enough. If it were, we wouldn't be here. "Eh, look at me, both of you." I waited
The Life The Beginning Chapter 40
GABRIEL The ride home was a testament to my patience and the love I bear my family. As soon as everyone climbed into the limo, the twins went on some kind of campaign. "Ooh, Gia, you were a hit. The guys couldn't stop asking about you. I got you their num…bers. Give them to you later." Anna changed her tune after I gave her a death glare. Thank heavens the conversation changed to something less annoying, and I was able to keep my cool until we reached the mansion. "For heaven's sake, Gabe unhand the girl." Rosa tried to get in between us once inside, but I thwarted her. "I'll see you and your sister after I get Gianna settled." "Uh, okay." So damn obvious. Now I think it's those two who forgot that I taught them everything they know. I walked Gianna upstairs to the guestroom, and she was dragging. Not used to late nights, I guess. "You tired?" "No, I'm too excited to sleep. You?" "I'm fine. Why don't you get ready for bed? I'll stay until you fall asleep." Yeah, beca
The Life The Beginning Chapter 39
GABRIEL "Let's go, people. We can't always be the last ones walking in everywhere we go." Lance grabbed the twins leaving me to take Gianna's arm to follow. "You don't know why they like to be late?" He gave me a look like I was stupid over his shoulder. Of course, he knows; he knows them as well as I do. "How else are we going to show off this?" Anna did a flourishing wave of her hand up and down her body clad in a black and gold evening gown that came to her knees. Of course, Rosa was dressed the same, the two of them a perfect accompaniment, to the more grownup style of Gianna's gown. Jewelry, I forgot to get her some. She wore a pair of diamond and sapphire studs that I was sure belonged to one of my sisters and a choker to match that went well with her eyes. I would've gone with D-Grade ice diamonds; flower petal-shaped maybe. Her eyes are the only colored gems she needs as far as I'm concerned. Besides, are we at the jewelry buying stage? The ass walking ahead of me wou
The Life The Beginning Chapter 38
GIANNA "Breathe, Gia, breathe; he's gone." The twins surrounded me as if they thought I really was going to pass out, which may not be far from the truth. I'm not sure what's making my heart race faster, the way he looked at me, or the way he looks in a tux. "Come, sit." My legs were still rubbery from that kiss on the forehead. I could still feel the light pressure of his lips against my skin. They led me to the bed, and I plopped down since my knees were barely holding me up at this point. They've been like that ever since I walked into my borrowed room to find the mountain of shopping bags waiting for me there. Since Gabriel was the only one to leave the house, there was little doubt that he was responsible, and the realization had filled me with a warmth so intense it took my breath away. I'd been both embarrassed and pleased that he'd done it, and when I finally opened the bags and saw what he'd bought, I could've cried. Beautiful dresses and skirts, blouses made of the fine
The Life The Beginning Chapter 37
GABRIEL My family should change their name from Russo to Obvious. Everyone did their best to ensure that Gianna and I ended up next to each other, which turned out to be a good thing. "You're afraid of flying." She had a death grip on the seat arm, and we hadn't even left the ground yet. She turned wide uncertain eyes my way. "I've never flown before. Mom and I used to take the train to the city, or sometimes dad would drive us." I reached into my bag for my iPod and wireless headphones and placed them over her ears. "Close your eyes, just listen to the music, don't think about anything else." I covered her clenched fingers with mine and rested my head back against the seat. "Close them!" I felt more than saw her open her eyes to look out the window. It was the tension in her fingers that gave her away. "Ready?" I felt her nod and pressed play on the iPod where I'd left it earlier. I wasn't surprised to feel her start to relax, but then there was a different kind of tension comin
The Life The Beginning Chapter 36
GABRIEL I don't expect them to listen; more importantly, I don't want them to. I want them to fight me on this so I can destroy them at will and get this shit over and done. They can have no way of knowing that whether they listen or not this time, they're still going to pay for the tears she shed today and every tear she shed before we met on account of them. The best course of action was to give them over to my sisters for now, until my anger cools enough that I can think of something other than putting a bullet in each of them. I've had years to channel the anger against Ricci and tame it into some semblance of order. But her shit was just sprung on me out of nowhere, and there's no time to plan the way I'd like to. That doesn't mean that I'm going to let it end there, though. I'm just going to let the twins start shit off, give myself time to be rational again. Maybe they'll wish for death by the time I get through with them, who knows, but I know there's no way I'm letting t
The Life The Beginning Chapter 35
GABRIEL After my little talk with Pop, I was still nowhere near close to being calm, but I was able to speak without grinding my teeth. "You can call him, let him know she's fine, but it's going to be a while before I can get to him. I've gotta get back to her; she should be finished with her bath by now." I started to leave to go back to her. I've been nervous the whole time away from her, something else that's new. I don't do nervous energy. "By the way, I've got the guys working on fixing the door." It took me a second to figure out what he was talking about. "It might be a wasted effort." "What do you mean?" "There's no need for a door if the house is no longer standing." He muttered the word ‘fuck' under his breath, but I heard him all the same. I wasn't interested in hiding my anger this time, wasn't in the mood to wear the mask of tranquility that usually shields my inner thoughts. In fact, I haven't handled any of this with my usual practical calm. Even as
