All Chapters of Romeo and Juliet - The Mafia Version: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

She knew the outcome of this story, it had happened so many times before over the many years she had been at this little cottage and while these stupid feuds between the Mafia Families existed it would happen again in the future. She looked down at the beautiful baby boy and was surprised to see him watching her solemnly with his milky blue eyes as if he knew what his life held for him and he was not afraid. She crossed herself and shook her head,‘Caro Dio, mi sto spaventando un neonato, che ridicolo’ [Dear God, I am getting spooked by a new born, how ridiculous] This little boy was special because she had cared for his father in the same way, Alessandro had always been her favourite, a sunny child with a ready smile who won the hearts of all who met him. He rarely cried and as long as she spoke to him he would smile up at her adoringly and when

The baby’s mother said that she was screaming to be fed when the little boy quieted the baby after she had woken them all up in the early hours. The two women had tried everything to calm the raging baby but all it had taken was a gentle stroke of his small hand and the soft words from his lips and the baby had fallen into a deep peaceful sleep. He had smiled up at her Mama and said confidently,‘No, non un angelo, ma io sono il suo protettore e lo sarò sempre’ [No not an angel but I am her protector and I always will be]The elderly woman had crossed herself at the matter-of-fact way the little boy had spoken somehow, deep in her heart, she knew the lives of these two tragic infants were inexplicably joined forever. As the weeks passed the little boy grew closer to the baby girl spending all his spare time near her, chatting away as if she could reply and anyone watching would have seen the little girl follow him with her eyes keeping him in view at all times.

‘Nonna, tu chiedi a molto’ [Nonna, you ask to much]They sat on either side of her holding her frail hands,‘Egli è vostra sorella Figlio, è vostro dovere ora. Voi siete i suoi zii.’ [He is your Sister’s Son, it is your duty now. You are his Uncles]She lay back exhausted and the two men stayed close talking to her gently, it was clear her time was near at almost ninety-six she had lived a long productive life caring for all their children at some stage in their lives. They told her how much they loved her, she was their Grandmother too and they remembered many happy times visiting her as children, she was never happier than when her little cottage was full of happy hungry children and they adored her and the cakes and biscuits she made for them. She had summoned them when her Doctor had told her the cancer was aggressive and there was nothing more anyone could do. She knew Romero was going to be unhappy she had not had the time to tell him of his family she had not expected to leave

The first few days had been such an adventure the two of them had hidden in barns and outhouses, stealing food whenever they could, it was exciting and exhilarating as they kept one step ahead of their families. It was summer and the days were warm and golden, it was easy to find food the farmer's wives felt sorry for the beautiful young couple who knocked on their doors begging for scraps. They would bring them into their kitchens and feed them a nourishing meal or give them bread and cheese to take with them. Sleeping under the starlit sky and making love whenever they wanted it was a magical time for the young couple.Both of their Fathers had been enraged and blamed the other and it almost started a full-scale war between the families it was Nonna who stopped them. She called both Fathers to her cottage and raged at them telling them they were to blame for their pigheadedness and could they not see it was they who had pushed the young couple together. If they just backed off and i

He had to do this every day no matter the weather, in the heat of summer, the pouring rain of autumn and the freezing winter snow. If he dared ask for a break he was placed across Miguel's knee and spanked so hard he could barely stand so he learned fast and kept his tired tears to himself. Every bone in his young body ached and he had blisters on blisters but he bit his lips, clenched his little fists and carried on. He would not let them win, he knew about his family now, his Uncles left no time in telling him he was nothing but a hated ‘bastard’ born out of wedlock and a stain on their family's bloodline. Every chance they got they belittled his efforts and told him he would never be good enough to be a part of their ‘family’ but he truly was his father's Son and he gritted his teeth determined they would not break him. This part of his life would not last forever, one day soon he would be grown up and his time would come. For the time being his young body adjusted and after six mo