Stella Romilly's povPastSome truths are meant to be kept. For if lies can create chaos, what can truths with many letters do?It was my first day at school.It was my third school that month. I was always hoping for a change. A fresh start. A new life. For my past was nothing but an unending trauma which I had no hope of curbing.I fastened my little backpack on my back and walked into the school. I looked around. At the bright compounds. The green grass. The happiness felt in the air. Parents with their children. And I wondered.I wondered. Where was mine?I scanned the place and spotted the door where the apparent teacher stood, waving at the parents and guiding the kids in. I walked to that place and queued up, awaiting my turn. I saw how the bags of the kids were removed. Bags that contained lunch. And I wondered.I wondered. Where was mine?The faces of the kids were creased with joy. At the fact that they get to be in school to see their friends and have fun. I was me
Stella Romilly's pov I parked my car somewhere in the shadows before getting out. I came out to take in fresh air and let my thoughts fly away in the meantime. I was wearing a mauve-coloured no-shoulder top with baggy black jeans held by silver belt chains. My shoes were black and I had stripped myself of all the jewelry I had on me. They were too heavy for fun. The heavy thumps of my shoes made their way in front of the club. The cold air blew on my bare chest and I immediately regretted wearing such a top. I was hit with blasts of music as I entered. The disco lights, familiar. I scrolled through the chaotic dancing bodies to the bar. The place I sat at earlier was empty so I sat there. My elbows rested on the table as I searched for someone. Someone with dark hair and green eyes. Dark hair and green eyes. Where was Michael? My eyes darted around the bar. I tried to see the furthest side but all I was met with was a bunch of clinking glasses and sounds of drinks being poured. S
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,Antonio Dante's pov,“Antonio.”“Antonio.” “Antonio.”My father is part of the mafia.My father is a Mafia.A boss. A Mafia Boss.“Open the door,” I might have been behaving like a child locking myself in the room but I needed time to think. “Antonio, please."My father is a murderer.“Antonio, please let me explain.”He kills people.“Please open the door.”For business.It was my mother's voice. Begging me to open the door. So she can explain. Explain what?What exactly? That my father didn't mean to be in a Mafia?Or that he didn't mean to kill people? I was angry at her. Angry at her for keeping this to herself. Angry at myself. Because I kept being stupid. And foolish.I was in no mood for sympathy from the pleas that came out of her mouth. I was worried that I was this calm. I sat on the bed, then got up. I paced the length of the room before deciding against my best wishes. My hand found its way to the knob of the door and I twisted it open.
Antonio Dante's povFIFTEEN YEARS AGO, The air suddenly became too heavy to breathe. My vision was blurred and I was sure my mother's was too. I watched as she carefully located the chair beside her and sat on it. As if she couldn't support herself. I saw the muscles moving, indicating a persistent swallowing.I slowly sat on the bed, opposite the chair and rested my arms on my thighs, waiting for her to speak. She pressed her lips together and looked down. “My father wasn't part of the Mafia,” she explained. “In fact, he was the opposite,” she voiced. “He was a police officer.”She fell back on her chair as if exhausted. “He hated the idea of killing people and murdering innocent beings.”“Like you,” she whispered, smiling towards me. I had never met my grandfather from my mother's side but I liked him already. He seemed good.“He even led the officers towards investigating crimes committed by mafia groups.”She smiled sadly. “I was a grown woman by then, ready to venture into
Stella Romilly's pov,PastSaying sorry is a selfish thing to do. You are doing that to relieve yourself of guilt. But what of the person who has been torn apart? Hannah was not like the other kids who snickered and laughed when I walked by.She was the nicest person I had ever met. She had volunteered to sit by me at lunch and guide me through my first days at school. We sat in the dining area. I opposite her. Her with food. Me with a space. “Here,” she said, pushing her full lunch box to me. I could smell the sausages and rice from where I sat. My stomach growled and my mouth watered.“Let's share,” she said.I looked at the food timidly, feeling guilty. “You don't have to be nice to me you know” I stated. She may have been forced into this but I would rather a genuine heart. She looked confused. Tilting her head to one side, she asked me.“Why?”I was startled by her question. “What?”“Why do you think I shouldn't be nice to you?” She poured, the redness on her cheeks prominent.
Antonio Dante's pov,Lisa entered my office holding a pale blue file. She looked grim as she tossed it on the side table. Her blonde hair scattered all over her face in waves. She sat on the sofa tiredly. “What's this?” I asked as I left the office chair for the side table area. “What an unexpected ally,” Lisa muttered, rubbing her eyes.“It's the evidence of transactions that Liam has had to convince them to join him.”I moved to the pale blue file, picked it up, and opened it. GENOVESE PARCAFISWritten boldly on the letters.“What a pathetic fool,” I said through the papers I had gone through, eyes moving faster than my brain could register.Lisa arose and approached me. “Don't look at this,” she whispered pointing at the huge GENOVESE written. She swiped off some papers, going through them quickly. I stared at the sharp contrast her red nails made with the white sheets.When she found it, she directed my attention to it. Her expression fell grim again and I looked at the pa
Antonio Dante's pov“Years and years and finally they have brought it out,” I muttered.“What?” I heard her ask. She was so anxious right now that she could barely catch on. I twisted my body slightly to sight her. “I need you to relax,” I advised. “They might be controlling the Parcafis,” Lisa said, moving her nails to her lips proceeding to bite them and only stopping when she saw she had nails on.“And we've got Alliance with them,” she continued. I sighed. She had missed a lot. If she was reacting like this with little information, how would she react when she was updated? “Firstly, Lisa, Robert Parcafis sacrificed his wife,” I said slowly. It didn't matter my tempo because she already looked stunned.Lisa gasped.“Is it not..?” she hinted, unable to speak out the words. But I knew what she wanted to say and so I nodded.“Yes it is.”“It was either his wife or child.”I remember when my guards presented me with the information that Robert Parcafis's wife was executed right in f
Antonio Dante's pov,Lisa and I stood, hovering over the papers that lay before us. We didn't know what to say to each other.We were just silent. Deep in thoughts.There was a knock on the door. Lisa moved to answer it before I could. The maid came into the room. She bowed her head as a sign of greeting and respect.“There is a box delivered to you. It is downstairs sir,” she informed. I looked at Lisa. Lisa looked at me.“Okay,” Lisa acknowledged.“We are coming.”A further bow and the maid was gone. “I didn't order anything, “I stated.“You might as well go and check. It could be anything of help.”I obliged. I went downstairs and the package was already on the table in the dining area.“Grab a scissors Lisa.” Lisa exited and came out with scissors shortly. I took it and ripped the box open. I was not sure how to prepare for the sight that met me. Two pairs of eyes stared back at me in horror.“Help my ass!” I hissed angrily. Lisa peeped.“Fucking hell,” she muttered. She kept