Chapter 3

*Words and Meaning*

Proprio come la tua dannata madre. - Just like your damn mother.

~~~~~

The air in Sicily is fresh and calming. I instantly knew why people will love living here. The whole place is just bright and so full of life. The perfect place to head an illegal organization without getting caught. Dangelo's father had a car waiting for us at the airport. I was nice of him but I am pretty sure we would've done just fine in a regular car rather than a limo.

When you're trying to lay low, it's not in your best interest to be flashy.

"Where are we going?" I demand, my eyes glued to the window.

"Trapani. The original headquarters of our operation." Dangelo responds lightly.

He's efficient, quick to respond, quick to act. If things had been different I wouldn't have minded him working on my side if he wasn't such a spook that is. It isn't long before we come to a clean dirt road leading up a hill. It was behind a gate that opened automatically when we got close. Going up, it wasn't long before the mansion came into view. Smooth white stone walls stood out against the sun, the three-story building standing magnificent. Balconies were attached to some rooms and each and every one was decorated with potted plants and seating areas, as well as huge glass windows and doors.

We park and I could see a pool just in front of the house, only a few feet away from the porch. I gingerly stepped out of the vehicle and the view takes my breath away. You could see the ocean, the fishing ports, the cluster of houses and shops. I breathe in the clean air and allow myself to take in the beauty of this place. I can get used to this.

"Miliani, we must get you inside. My father wishes to speak with you."

Dangelo's voice pulls me out of my bubble and the first moment I ever felt like a normal person vanished.

"Right," I mumble back, holding in a sigh.

We enter the house; the guards did not go unnoticed. The inside of this place is just as beautiful as the outside but I didn't take the time to admire the beauty. I followed Dangelo with confident strides knowing I probably look like a wreck. I still had on my now tattered and dirty birthday dress and I'm sure I smell; even if it's a little.

"You would probably like to freshen up before you meet my father." he suddenly suggests stopping at a door.

"This is my room," he states, "You may take a shower and there is women's clothing in the closet, I am sure you can find something that fits."

I finally look at him and I catch a glimpse of hidden pain in his eyes.

"Dangelo, are you sure it's alright for me to use those clothes?" I ask softly. The vibe he gave off after mentioning them didn't sit well with me and I needed to make sure.

He nods sharply and opens the door for me, "I will be waiting out here for you."

Hesitantly, I enter and lock the door behind me. He may have been nice and even saved me from becoming a corpse but I cannot completely trust him. For all I know he could be working with one of my enemies. In this business, allys can switch up real quick. I take a quick shower and found the closet quite easily. Dangelo's room was actually quite kept for a guy's and the layout was simple.

I found a new set of underwear in my size and put it on and then I went searching through the many clothes and shoes there were. Whoever this person was she had great taste. Finally, I settled on a fitted, cream sweater dress that reached my knees and some gladiator sandals. I fluff my hair to give it a little extra volume and then I put things back where they were. Then I leave the room and just like he had said, Dangelo was waiting for me standing just beside the door. He takes one glance and me and makes a swift turn around.

"Come." is all he says.

I shrug off his sudden sullen mood before following him. He leads me t to a pair of doors with the initials G.R., the letters on either door. He knocked in a weird, deliberate rhythm, and a resounding knock filled from inside. SIlently, Dangelo then pushes open one side of the door and gestured with his hand through the doorway.

"When you are done, I will escort you to your room." he whispers as I walk in to which I just hum.

My eyes flit over everything in the huge room and I was impressed, to say the least. It was an office that seemed to double as a bedroom. I noticed an elderly man sitting on the edge of the bed in a blue Armani suit, his eyes glued to the floor. He looked so much older now, which is expected. The last time I saw him I was ten and grieving.

"HI," I greeted politely, "It's nice to see you again, Mr. Ravello."

He chuckles under his breath, "Proprio come la tua dannata madre."

"My mother taught me all I need to know." I respond.

The man looks up and I instantly realized that Dangelo has his father's eyes but not his features. This man's features were sharp and angular and his brown hair had clumps of grey scattered all over.

"Including Italian, I see. She really has prepared you." he muses and stands from the bed.

"I can speak ten different languages." My proud answer was met with a non-mocking laugh. That's a first.

"I have no doubt you do, young lady. How have you been and please call me Gerardo."

"I'm good as any leader of an organization could be," I sigh.

He held his hand out toward his office chair in a gesture for me to sit which I gladly obliged to. I crossed my legs and waited patiently for him to start talking. e trudged over to a random window, his eyes distracted by a sight outside as his eyebrows furrowed.

You have no idea what's really going on now, do you?" he asks breaking the silence.

"I know I just lost everything; my home, my means of living, all my money. I have no doubt that backstabbing coward brother of mine has already frozen my accounts. He is still the trustee of my money." I spit out in distaste.

Silent anger fumed through me. I can't wait to get my hands on Dwayne. Just wait, brother dear, I will get my revenge for that stunt you pulled.

"Do you know why all this is happening?" he questions this time.

"Because they'd rather kill me than take orders from a woman," I grunted in disgust, " The bastards! I trained each and everyone of the single handedly from the age of ten! Then they suddenly decide I'm not good enough because I'm a woman!"

"I understand your frustration, Miliani; they are ungrateful indeed. I heard stories of you. At age twelve you had your brother's girlfriend killed because she was selling your information to the Yakuza."

"The bitch had it coming. She was always mean to me anyway."

"At fourteen you ordered the torture and killing of your boyfriend and you watched every second of it."

"He tried to have sex with me against my will, he got what was coming to him. His mistake for trying to hurt a Jopok boss."

Gerardo turned and met my eyes with a raised brow, amusement running across his face., "And what was the purpose of you burning down a government building with 23 living people inside?

"They were all corrupt sir. I was protecting the people, my men and my business." I drawl lazily.

"You are a great leader, Miliani," he praises, "However, it seems your men were plotting behind you since the time you were a girl. I must ask, do you know the truth about your brother?"

His words spark my interest and I straightened my back. What does he mean?

"What about that fuckinf traitor?" I demand.

"Miliani, your real brother Gi Hwang was kidnapped at age seven," he starts slowly, "Your parents never found him. Aniva was already pregnant with you and your dad refused to leave her side for too long so I carried out the search for him but it was too late. The kidnappers were able to move from place to place, leaving no trail."

My body suddenly felt cold. My real brother is missing? I gave Gerardo a level stare, "You said my brother is missing, then who is it that I have been calling brother all my life?"

Gerardo sighs, "Dwayne was a friend of your brother's. Your parents didn't know of him until one night he came and knocked on their door. You were just a baby then. He was eight years old then; homeless, poor. Gi used to take food to him every night and he'd moved him into your father's tool shed that he didn't use anymore. Aniva was proud that your brother had been doing something so noble so she took him in."

I close my eyes and breathe in deeply, as my eyes stung lightly. I was upset but still somewhat relieved. Dwayne isn't my brother and my real brother is out there somewhere. He never got to see me grow up or even be there for me. He sounds like a wonderful person and I'm sure had he been here, my upbringing would have been very different.

"That's why he could try to kill me," I mumbled to myself, "He isn't my blood."

"He wants to take over the family business. If you're alive, that can't happen.." he explains, "He wants to prove to your mother that he should have been the obvious choice."

Of course. in the eyes of the law he is a Hwang but I can understand why my mother left everything to me. I am the last of her bloodline. I grit my teeth, rage building inside me the longer I mull on my fake brother.

"Is there anything else I should know?" I whispered with restrained anger.

"Your mother left some documents for you. I suggest you read them when you get back to your room. They will be there."

I nod at him and numbly rise from my seat, "In that case, I'll be leaving now."