Mama came running out of the house in a frenzy, though I had just seen her a few months ago; she looked worn for wear. Her peppered black hair, now a solid grey. Her sparkling crystal eyes now a dull blue. Losing Papa must have taken a toll on her.
I opened the door to greet her with equal excitement. She grabbed me up, hugging me for dear life. "Figlia mia, Cuore Mio." Tucking my hair behind my ear, she bent down and kissed me atop of my head. "Siete voi davvero voi, grazie al cielo."
My smile reached my eyes; I say, "Yes, Mama, it's me."
She hugs me tightly. Stepping back to check me out. "Tati, I worried; there's much to tell you." She spoke with an accent, but she was learning English which was a start. Anytime I tried to get her before, she would wave her hand and dismiss me.
"Mama, your learning English?"
She blushed a little."Yes, it's lovely. I needed change. My grande bambino will need to kno
I walked through the door Mr. Pollozi behind me. The talk we had was just what I needed. I can't be mad at Mama or him, really; they were doing what they thought was best. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel so empty. Yes, I'd lost my Papa, and there wasn't a day that I didn't think of him, but today I had gained a family member with who I hoped someday I might develop a father-daughter relationship.We walked down the hall that led to the opened double doors. Mama was looking out the window while Axon sat with a grim expression on his face. Neither of them had noticed that I'd entered the room. I walked over to Mama and tapped her on the shoulder; she turned around her beautiful face was littered with tears."Tati, my beautiful girl, I'm so sorry,"I took her in my arms and hugged her for dear life."Mama, it's alright. I forgive you. You only did what you thought was best."She hugged me for what felt like hours before finally
Five years later............ We parked our car in the driveway of a painted yellow house surrounded by a white picket fence. I took a deep breath, my nerves getting the best of me. I hadn't seen my best friends in so long. It's true what they say mommy life is hectic, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Once Annabella was born, I had no time for anything. I had my modeling career to think of, but juggling the two was impossible. Slowly I stepped away from the limelight and started Fashion by Tati. The clothing line I had always dreamed of creating. As luck would have it, my line took in the first year. I am now the proud owner of a multi-billion dollar fashion industry. As for Axon, he recently stepped down as CEO of Blaze enterprises. Now he spends his days being the best dad to our daughter Annabella. He claims he has left his old life behind, and he no longer talks to the family. I can only hope it stays that way.Axon opened his door to get out an
Chapter Thirty-SevenAxon quickly ran to get the car, as Kate and Kia grabbed my arms and led me to the front door. I looked around for Bella; Bella was jumping up and down in excitement.As if Aiden had sensed my anxiety, he said, "I'll keep Bella, Kenston, and Kensley while everyone else goes to the hospital."Kate let go of my arm long enough to kiss Aiden goodbye.Kia and Clayton led me to my car, and Axon and I took off in a flash.Axons POVI pushed my foot to the floor with my wife sitting in the passenger seat, practicing her breathing. It may be the birth of our second child, but I am still as nervous as if this is our first. The day Bella was born, I was just as scared. I remember it like it was yesterday. As Tati was pushing her last push, I mistakenly looked down and passed out. Im not going to lie. It was pretty embarrassing, and I hope this time to be by Tati's side fully as we welcome our little boy.We reach the
Past in Axons POV I go by the name of Axon Blaze, and I am a freshman at the University of Stanford. Unfortunately, my life is anything but average for a college student. The truth is Axon Blaze is not my real name. It is an alias I use, so no one knows who I am. Thanks to my father and his powerful enemies, I have to hide. My real name is Benedetto Amato, and my father is the Capo of the Amato family. I want no part of my father or the family business, and my Mama knows that. That's why she tricked my father into letting me attend school for a business degree. As far as my father knows, he thinks I am using my degree to run a front for the family. My actual plan is to start a company that specializes in new technologies. Im going to call my company Blaze enterprises, and nothing is going to stop me. I force my mind back to my studies and sigh; this upcoming test will be complex. It's a little after 8 p.m; when I decide to put my books away and
Chapter Thirty-Nine Present Day"Benedetto," A voice I hadn't heard in a long time called out my name."Mom?"The phone hung up, and I was left speechless what just happened? I thought she was dead.Tatianna looked up at me from the hospital bed."What's wrong, love? Who was that?" She asks with worry lines around her eyes.I look back at her with a fake smile while holding our newborn son. I'm not sure who it is. So I shouldn't worry her with nonsense."It was a wrong number," I say as I put away my phone.She smiles at me and asks to hold our son.I lay him against her chest and relish in our little family. There's a place in my heart hurting, wishing my Mama could be here to share this moment. There is no way the person that called is my Mama. Her last words echo over and over. "I love you, son." The day I found out she died, I made a promise to revenge her death. Up until this point, I have not made good
Chapter Forty Today Bennie is a week old. Were still in Ohio, but our hotel suite is getting cramped.Tatianna is finally feeling up to house searching. What she doesn't know is that I have beensecretly in contact with a contractor for months. Tatianna is about to have her dream home. I tryto hide my excitement as I look down at my phone. Today is the day our house is finally going to be ready. I can't wait to show Tati, Bella,and Bennie. Given my hi
Chapter Forty-One Finally, the last of the moving boxes are unpacked, and our house in Ohio isstarting to feel like home. I stare out my upstairs office window at the pond below. Theleaves are beginning to fall off the trees, which reminds me of the time around our firstdate. I've been working on recreating it as a surprise for Tati. When the moments right. Bennie is only a month old, so I don't see that anytime soon. Tati won't lea
My phone goes off in the middle of the night, and I turn over to silence it. I then turn over and check on Tati's sleeping form to make sure that it didn't wake her. She's softly snoring curled up in a ball. I check who's texting me this late; it had better be important. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach as I read the message Marco had sent.'I told you, you wouldn't like the truth. I may have found out who is behind the murder of your mom. Call me as soon as you get this.'Quickly, I slip out of bed and sneak to the door. I go into my semi- soundproof office and lock the door. My fingers tremble as I dial Marco's number. I'm so close to my revenge; I can taste it."Boss," I hear Marco say through the phone."Marco, this better be important. Who is behind my mother's murder?" I say with annoyance."I don't have the murderer yet, but I found out that your father had a lot to gain from the death of your mother."My mind is not processing
I pull up to the dimly lit brick building an hour later. Three Black SUVs are already there. Meaning I’m late.Running my hands through my hair, I take a batted breath. This is it. The men are waiting. We could end this. It’s all on how we play the game. My hand reaches for the door, I know I’m taking my time, but the thought of telling the Don the news has me stalling. Even though he is Tati’s father, he is still a stone cold killer. Although he is older and wrinkles cover his face, he has seen more blood than a blood bank. And his withered hands have held more life in them than most. He doesn’t take bad news well. The fact that it was one of my men that put the family at risk, has me worried. I enter the solid concrete room where Vito is waiting patiently with his hands behind his back. Two men are strategically placed on both sides of him. “Bendetto, my boy!” Vito walks over to me and pats me on the back. His eyes are bright. I let out a breath that I didn’t realize I
Johnny stares back at me with a look of pure terror in his eyes. I can smell the fear mixed with blood. I walk towards him with a predatory glare. “ Johnny, Johnny, typical. I should have known you were the traitor.” “Mmmmm” Johnny wiggles against the ties that bind him. Sweat pours into his eyes. I rip the gray duct tape from his smile and smirk in satisfaction as he screams out in pain. His beard hairs pull along with the tape. “Bendetto you son of a bitch” Johnny bellows out. Swiftly I rear back and punch him in the mouth, blood pours out and he spits it back at me. I grab him up with a fistful of his black curly hair. And bring his ear to my mouth. “Now you listen to me, you son of a Bitch!” I growl out in frustration. “ One of us is going to walk out of here, the other in little pieces. You can either tell me what I want to know and I will end your miserable existence quickly and painlessly, or option two I take great pleasure in torturing every last drop of informatio
Vito, Marco and myself are gathered around the antique Mahogany desk. I’m still not close to learning who is the traitor within the midst. It’s been a week and I’m going stir crazy. “Benedetto, if we wait any longer. Carl will take it as a sign of weakness. The family's fate rests on us taking the initiative.” Marco says as he walks up to the bookshelf with his hands behind his back. I can’t read his facial expression. But I know he is right. “Son Marco is right. We can’t hide. If you don’t act I will call the orders. Be warned that will risk an all out war. We don’t know who Carl has gotten too. I lost my best man. He was a traitor and I didn’t even know.” I rub my temples in frustration l know no matter who orders this attack, we are all screwed. “I have a traitor in my midst too. Vito no matter who orders the attack. Neither of us will have the upper hand. Give me a few days. Let my best men investigate. I will go down to the other warehouse and see to it person
Marco and I have finally made it out of the tunnel. My head has stopped bleeding and I am starting to feel the pain. I got a glimpse of myself in the car mirror. I could look a lot worse. We’re finally at the hideout. I took extra precaution to make sure we weren’t being tailed. As much as I want to get home, my family's safety is more important. I enter in the key code and prints to unlock the door. Just as I open the door I see a nine gauge pointed directly at me. “Don’t shoot.” I yell out. My final plea. Tati is going to shoot me. Tati lowers her gun, and lets out a sigh of relief. I wipe the sweat and blood from my brow. “Axon it’s you. I was so worried.” Tati says. Her eyes are swollen and it looks like she has been crying. All I keep thinking is I caused this. Everything that Tati has gone through is because of me. “Axon you’re bleeding, are you badly hurt? Come here and let me help you clean up and bandage your wounds.” The fight in me is gone and I am mentally and p
I pull the hidden lever on the floor and reveal a secret passageway. Dragging Marco with me down the slope, I tightly close the entrance. The fire above me burns, destroying everything my father built. Those things could be rebuilt, I only hope my men were okay. As soon as I get to the safe zone. I will be able to investigate and calculate the damage. I set Marco down. He starts hacking and coughing. The black soot is covering his face. We are both gasping for fresh air. My head is aching. If I would have stayed in that building for five more seconds I’m sure I would have passed out completely. Currently we were safe, but for how long? I should have known Carl would come after me sooner rather than later. How did the package make it past security? I scratch my head in frustration. For Carl to have delivered a bomb at the direct time I was there, there must be someone working for him on the inside. But who? I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone. Just as I thought
I’m sitting in the living room surrounded by family. Yet something is missing. Axon is off trying to end this war before it begins. It’s all hush, hush. I can’t help but to be frustrated. I can feel my nerves spark through my body. I never wanted this life. All my life I wanted to be a princess, but it turns out I am just not the type I’d hoped to be. Papa was right by keeping me from this life. As much as I love him, I don’t want my babies growing up in this type of lifestyle. I still have nightmares of the day the bomb went off. I try to clear it from my mind, but as soon as I close my eyes. The vivid image is there. I’m trying to put on a smile for Axon and the kids. I’ve been trying so hard to be the sister my brother needs, but deep down I’m just a scared little girl. The worst part is Axon has us all locked up, where nothing and no one can get to us. I feel so useless. “Tatianna are you okay?” Bianca asks with a small frown. “ I’m fine.” I try to give her a sma
I gather my men at the compound. At this rate the element of surprise is over. We either attack Carl now. Or wait for his attack. Now that Mama has escaped and told us his plans there’s no chance he will try to meet me, and storm my compound. I could have Vito rally everyone else, but their forces have been weakened. Not to mention there is a rumor Carl is working with the Russians. They have tried to get their foothold in Italy for a while now, smuggling firearms and women. None of the families have stooped low enough to work with them. None until now. I look at the information that my men have been able to collect. Along with the map my mama drew by memory of Carl's house. The house is tighter than Fort Knox, and I’m certain Carl has beefed up security. As dangerous as it is I may have to activate my mole that I have hidden deep in the organization. I shouldn’t take all the credit Marco hid him there years ago. When he first took over the Amato family. He managed to get one in
I stare at the crumbled statue in shock. All this time Paul accused Marco as the rat and it was him. Something told me there was something off about that guy. I reach for my phone to call Marco to gather only the best men, and do as the God Father asked.Only I'm interrupted by some unexpected visitors. Bianca comes into the room with her head lowered and Marco comes trailing in behind her. She doesn't even look at me,instead she goes straight for Mama and hugs her for dear life. My heart aches, this is a bittersweet reunion. I wish my sister would forgive me,but she's stubborn. Hell even Marco has forgiven me and he is the one I punched. I ignore the two's reunion and head straight over to Marco and whisper in his ear. "Marco, make the call and gather my men. The house needs to be swept ,and we need to be escorted to the safe house." Marco pulls away from me with a serious expression. "I'm on it boss!" He leaves the room in an instant to make the arrangement
I stare at the two in shock. How could this be? The woman resembles Axon, but Axon’s mama is dead. I watch as her crinkled eyes look adoringly at him. I know I shouldn't meddle, but shouldn’t Bianca be here? I still have no idea what happened between Axon and his sister, but it’s high time for a family reunion. Discreetly I slip my phone from my pocket and snap a picture of the two hugging and send it. Bianca won't answer my calls, but just maybe this will get her attention. A few minutes later she replies. ‘Is that my Mom?’I type back a simple ‘yes’ and instantly she replies ‘I’m on my way.’I put the phone back into my pocket so I don’t draw attention to myself. My papa stares at the woman like he has seen a ghost. Eventually, Axon and his mother break apart. “Mama I thought you were dead!” Axon exclaims as tears of joy fall down his face. “I’m so