OO3 - Bunny

8 Years Ago, Age 16

Lorenzo Romano:

For two years I had been wearing a mask on half my face– all to wait for a fake glass eye to shield the disgusting sight of an empty eye socket at the hand of my own father.

The shielding mask refused to fall, the large scar crossing through my brow down to my cheek visibly red. A reminder that it will never fade.

It was too late, the monster was already carved into my face permanently.

I have remained Don Capo for Two years, ruling Italy and America with an iron fist. The youngest Don known to man.

Standing tall, looking at everyone with indifference and a cold glare, I sit in the warehouse- My ice-ridden glares shoving down the throats of those in debt.

I was at another deal, only there to settle my own between a protected member.

My face twisted darker as I saw one of the men in debt enter. Frank Amery.

A complete low-life asshole would be an understatement to describe him. he consistently came back, begging for more time to pay off his endless debts to the famiglia.

Soft, sweet squealing rang as a siren pleading for help from behind him as he dragged a delicate hand in his vice grip.

He walked towards my Uncle, throwing an extremely tiny girl in between them.

I feel my stomach resort to turning into knots as she aimlessly glances around the dim-lit warehouse she was forcefully dragged into.

deranged thoughts of experiments I would like to perform on Frank for bringing this girl near men like me flooded my mind.

something re-emerged inside my very soul as her green eyes darted from one man to another.

protective, something so sickly protective flooded me as I immediately stalked over to them.

A feeling I vowed to never think of again, protection was useless, it did not save my mother.

But like a second chance she was forced into this room before me and I felt the need to murder every man who merely glanced her way.

"Ah! Lorenzo." Alessandro began in a sing-song voice.

"Fuck is happening here?" I hissed coldly, staring into Frank's eyes.

Frank's face immediately turned to utter fear as I watched his Adams apple in his throat bop with his gulp.

"Frank here is simply paying off his debt, Enzo." He smirked, pointing to the girl.

We rarely sold people, let alone little fucking girls.

What kind of sick fucker would ship his own blood off not knowing the gut-wrenching risks of sending a little girl to men like me.

I looked down, freezing, my heart fluttering in my chest slightly.

the protective instinct that was dancing in my mind suddenly became my soul job.

She was extremely small– fragile. I wanted to treat her like glass, every inch of her resembled porcelain. Not a blemish on her lightly tanned skin.

Within a mere second, my eyes met her beautiful green ones, I felt a sense I hadn't ever felt, something that wasn't possible for made men. Need.

Euphoria rushed over me, emotions, taking my brain over for the first time in my 16 years of emptiness.

a soul I swore I wasn't given ached in the need for her safety, like if anything happened to her I would burn down the earth to make her happy again.

A Little stuffed bunny, clutched by her tiny hand by its floppy ear tightly remained in her grasp as she brought it to her chest to hug for comfort. She was so diminutive, the toy was almost the size of her.

falling to one knee for her is all I envisioned as I saw this sweet girl stare right back at me, the first human to not have fear burning behind their gaze.

Love wasn't real. It is another word for weakness. That is what I was taught since the mere age of 5. But the moment I examined the little girl underneath me, giving me an un-knowing, innocent smile, I questioned that entire facade.

I knew I craved her. Wanted her. needed her.

The sickly over-protective instinct engulfing me felt like drowning in sweet liquid gold.

A reason to be somewhat human.

I didn't feel, I couldn't love. I've watched men I had known for years die in pools of their own blood without batting an eye in their direction.

I was forced into training in army camps since I was 5- beaten bloody daily for simply stepping out of line and a tear never fell.

Tempting death was routine.

My own father gouged out my left eye-- and I still refused to say the word, 'please'.

But if I saw a frown brush her lips, the earth would turn to crisis as I burned it down to ashes to find the cause.

To watch her ruin me, break down every wall I had spent building around myself to remain a Romano, burn my empire to rubble, spend every last cent of money to my name all to shoot me in the stomach when it was over would mean I was complete.

I would spend my last moments of breathing on giving her more and more, just to see that curl of her pink lips.

Her cheeks were stained with tears, she looked completely wary and oblivious to what was happening.

Her face, completely ridden with tears, met my frozen gaze. She almost instantly relaxed as I looked at her, and she gave me a smile. The purest most innocent smile I had ever fucking seen. That was it, that's all she had to do.

Mine. all fucking mine. No male would ever get to merely glance at her again without suffering the most agonising, torturess death imaginable.

A little dove pleading to be freed stared at me with begging in her big green eyes that glossed over with tears.

Who are you, Baby Bunny?

But my unknown relaxed and eased expression faded, turning impossibly dark as I noticed she was littered with bruises.

Grazes brushed her porcelain skin and black and blue splotches contrasted the untouched pale skin, leaving her with evident white scars occasionally revealing themselves as her body swayed.

Small nose, plump lips, and big green eyes that could put Satan himself into a chokehold. I guess they did.

Wispy bangs, waist-length golden hair. Small golden earrings in her ears, and a little cross hanging around her neck in pride of her faith. An Angel.

"Get him the fuck out of here," I growled towards Alessandro, throwing Frank off the girl.

She squealed slightly as he got pulled backwards, towards the tunnel of the warehouse as he continued to cuss and yell.

Immediately, for the first time in my life, I kneeled down on my one knee to console her.

Like the entire warehouse froze as I gently wiped her perfect, rosy cheeks from stray tears spilling down, no sound remained in the concrete room other than her little sniffles.

"Are you ok, little bunny?" I calmly yet demandingly spoke to her, eyes darting across her face.

I didn't know what was wrong with me, she had trapped me in a box of need.

She tightly clutched onto the large hand cupping her cheek. Her hand was the size of my goddamn finger.

She was slightly buried in it like it brought her comfort like my blood-stained hands were the only thing on the earth to give her serenity.

"I want my mum." She whined, her voice less than a whisper.

I watched in fear as she sweetly wrapped a hand around my pinky anxiously as she placed her toy in her arm securely.

Fear.

Because suddenly I was willing to sacrifice my life for something- someone.

I was an enigma, never to be figured out. known for the icy face that remained no matter what came across my path.

never truly feeling anything but rage and complete emptiness. but here stood my only weakness, and she had green eyes and long blond hair.

like a beacon of innocence amidst the chaos of deranged monsters lurking around the room, time was standing still as our eyes stayed locked.

"Ok, is she at home?" My voice speaking to her so gently, something I did not know I was capable of.

I was not gentle.

tearing out a man's neck, prying off one's fingernails one by one, and Shooting one's dick off seemed like a perfect day's work in my eyes.

I tortured men for the thrill of it. And here I was, on one knee, caring for this little girl.

feeling the ice shielding my heart beginning to melt and crack with each passing second, her voice sounding like a siren's melody.

She gave a wobbly nod, her eyes glowing with a radiant relief as if she had met me before and knew she was going to be saved.

She wasn't scared of me.

Her arms wrapped around my forearm, crawling up as if wanting to be held while wrapping herself around it like she belonged there- like she knew my touch.

"I like your hair!" She whispered, reaching out to touch it.

Her delicate fingers stretch up and she jumps in an attempt to even begin to reach me.

My head dips before I can think, bowing down to let her fingers glide through my hair.

Up on her tippy-toes, her palm ruffles up my black waves messily, letting out a giggle that resembled a melody.

Ruined. I was Ruined.

And I had never been more happy.

Everything I had fought for. The deathly demeanour I had had on for 16 years, faded in 3 seconds.

My hair was one of the few parts of me that resembled my mother that was left.

My heartbeat increased, pumping in my chest. Warmth. I was feeling fucking warmth.

My lungs began to burn, and my throat tightened like someone was choking me. I was beginning to heave in need of her.

Gasps and whispers echoed around me, I didn't care.

Standing up, I took her tiny hand and she held onto my pinky finger as that's all she could manage to wrap her hand around.

"No," I growled, shoving Alessandro out of her view, and shooting my devil-looking eyes at Romero.

She was the ray of light contrasting against everything a man like me would ever know.

She was the silence amidst the chaos inside me.

She was the missing piece I had been trying so desperately to fill with drugs, murder and alcohol.

The burning desire to give in to the force drawing me to her was becoming unbearable, I could not hold back.

I was a man torn between two separate words. one of nothing but constant death and tragedy that brought me a sick sense of relief for a brief moment, the life I had built for myself after years of fighting.

Or finally having my missing piece in my arms. A life of sweet bliss in a suburban home, working a 9-5 and coming home to see everything I would ever need lying on my bed.

The choice was inevitable.

Her. Always would it be her.

"Take him home. Find his wife's number. She can come and pick her up." I quickly ordered without a thought, that same protective instinct rekindling.

My gaze shot to my Uncle's, I practically seethed in his direction.

"Cut his debt, Alessandro." I spat coldly, my voice deep.

"Lorenzo—" he took a step towards me in a weak attempt to argue as if I would not shoot him in the head.

"You Fucking heard me," I growled coldly, shoving him by my flexed shoulder to move from my view. He groaned at the force.

I firmly took her tiny hand in mine, causing her to stumble to keep up with my speed.

I slowed down the booming footsteps, resorting to taking a small step every few seconds instead as she skipped behind me as I gently guided this girl towards a small meeting room.

Opening the door made her green eyes graze along the golden trimming along the roof.

A smile forces itself across her lips in awe as she gazes up at the large crystal chandelier.

Her face of wonder was so sweet and curious. She didn't bother to tear her eyes away from the crystals as she sat down on the velvet-red couch.

The door shut behind us, quieting the muffled yells and talk of what had just happened.

Even I stood trying to process the endless new feelings for this little girl who sat, swinging her legs back and forth as she stared at a chandelier.

Like time wasn't relevant. Like life wasn't relevant. Like business was not relevant.

In that moment nothing was relevant.

The life that shaped me into becoming the monster I was, no longer mattered.

the mould I was born into, fitting to be yet another ruthless killing machine- all unravelled, I was human. I was human for her.

Love.

A force I denied was real for 16 years on this unforgiving planet was pouring through the cracks of my melting heart.

"You're mom is on her way, Goldilocks." I quickly reassured her.

"Th-thank you." She stammered sweetly, holding onto her toy tightly.

I gave her a stern nod in return. I felt the need to run from fear, fear of the swarming force of addiction to this girl I barely knew that had shattered me in half.

I was used to running, anything that did not suit me ended up nothing but a memory when I was finished.

But this memory had no chance of fading.

The Don Capo of the famiglia was breaking to bits over a girl in blond pigtails.

I released her delicate little hand that held my pinky tightly, losing the feeling of her skin on mine felt like searing my hand on a hot plate.

I turned my back but I immediately froze as she gripped the end of my blazer between her pink-polished fingers.

"Wait," She whimpered warily.

"Can you stay?" Her voice is a squeak, less than a whimper like a shy mouse.

"Please?" She adds, fiddling with the floppy ears on her toy.

Broken.

my pulse is thumping in my head as she awaits my response.

My little purpose.

She was what would make me human.

My stomach twists as if I am going to throw up. After witnessing guts, blood, brains, piss, vomit, shit and more all in one mission without a batted eye I thought nothing could bring me sick to my stomach.

But at the mere thought of her father selling her, I felt bile travelling up my throat.

Selling her to disgusting pigs, that would rape her, hurt her, and abuse her.

Do unthinkable things to such a fragile little thing until she was left battered and broken on the ground.

The idea of some disgusting monster taking her virginity, her pureness, her god-damn innocence. Fucking her for the first time with no hesitation, not caring about the pain she would be in.

My body defies my mind telling me to stay away as I turn back around- that same overprotectiveness washing over my entire body.

My hand trails absentmindedly back to her hand that was clutching my navy blazer, taking her fingers in mine as I sit down next to her.

In every reality, in every lifetime-

Whether human, dog or even spider, Miss Amery would have my entire soul as a shield of protection right in front of her.

I felt my eyes burn from going so wide as she crawled into my lap. Her legs draping over mine as she seats herself on her knee like it was made for her.

I groan at the burning sensation of relief. Like this was where she belonged. Like I had found what I had been missing- Like my never-satisfied mind– was beyond satisfied.

"You're like a big teddy bear!" She squealed excitedly.

I froze completely. A teddy bear?

I had bathed in my enemy's blood at just 16. I had killed more men than any other man in the mafia combined.

I was deranged, a psychopath. And here this little girl sat, calling me a teddy bear. I scoffed.

"What's your name, little bunny?" I murmured. That fucking nickname bridged my lips again. it felt so right that I would be teasing her with that name for the rest of time.

"Natasha. But— I don't like it. Can you call me tash? That's what my Mamma and sister call me." She answers, playing with a ringlet of her soft, long, golden hair.

"Ok then, Tash," I smirked.

"What about your father?" I quickly started, eyes going slightly narrow.

She didn't reply for a while, fidgeting with her hair as she stared at her hands.

"I love him. He's my dad..." She weakly mustered this response, but her sweet voice turned to a weak whisper again.

I stayed silent, feeling my heartbeat turn sour as the venom of bloodlust began.

He had just tried to sell her to pay off his debts, and here she sat, saying she loved him.

"Does he hurt you, Baby bunny?" I grumbled as I stared at the door, seething. She stayed silent.

"Yes. But he says it will only happen when I'm bad." She whispered tiredly.

Laying a finger on this little angel would cost him his life and sanity. He was sick. But who would she live with? I could not take her only source of income away.

"My mum said to not talk to boys. But I like you, Teddy." She smiles with her teeth, revealing pink braces.

I just stared into those sea-green eyes. Those perfect Fucking eyes.

"I seem to like you too, Baby Bunny." I managed to muster after I admired her for far too long.

I felt something- I was feeling something. This girl had made me feel something.

I wasn't a killing machine anymore.

I feared death, not for any other reason but for the fact it would mean I would never see her again.

"Why are you calling me these things?" I saw red flush her cheeks and nose as she smiled up at me.

I looked up away from her gaze, not sure what to make of my pounding heart of utter need.

"You're tiny." I managed to speak while trying to process my rapid heart rate like I was a regular teenager on his first date.

We talked, merely about nothing. And for the first time, I was meeting someone normally, like in that moment I was just Lorenzo- and not the devil.

I wasn't evil.

We talked for hours. My eyes not leaving her smile and green eyes once.

In too deep, drowning in the sigh of her big green eyes looking at me without any fear.

I could stare into her eyes for years. I could stroke her perfectly soft blond hair for the rest of my life. Having her in my lap felt right.

I fucked women, that was it. I didn't do relationships, why would I? I didn't need them.

Women presented themselves to me on silver platters, and once I had my fun, I was out the door before they could utter a word.

But here I sat, chatting with this sweet little girl, wondering what she was doing to me, wondering if I could ever be the same after her.

Never,

Maybe she had set me up to be even further deranged knowing once she knew what man I was, she would run in fear.

"I never asked what your name was, Teddy." She eventually asked the question I had been dreading.

If she knew who I was, would she not want to sit on my lap?

Would she not let me stroke her hair and stare into her eyes?

Would she ever look at me with those big green eyes without holding pure terror behind them?

My smile falters for a moment, as I stare at her in pure anguish. Don't run, Bunny.

My mouth opened but a word didn't leave.

A knock on the door sounded which felt like breathing in fresh air, but I feel my frozen heart break. My sweet girl was leaving.

She slides off my thigh while giggling and rattles the door knob to open.

"Is that my Mamma?" She squealed excitedly, looking outside.

I stood up, watching as she opened the door. Romero, and a woman In Her 40's.

"Mamma!" Tash squealed, wrapping herself around the sobbing woman.

"My sweet love. Are you ok my dear?" She whimpered, stroking the back of Tash's head, kissing it excessively.

I stood darkly, noticing the bruises on the woman's arms, shattered with blue marks just like her daughter.

She peered up at me, her smile of relief dropping.

"Mr Romano. Thank you." She quickly whimpered, bowing as tash stayed hugged onto her arm behind her. I gave her a stern nod.

"I will get you a driver to escort you both home safely." I quickly shot. She looked taken back.

"That is— very gracious. Thank you." She quickly smiled, tears rolling down her face.

I nod before my eyes drop down to baby bunny who is clutched onto her mother for dear life, squeezing her arm, I let my lip curl into a soft smile.

"Romero, show them to the car," I ordered.

"Of course. Right this way." He quickly helped, guiding them.

Tash looked back at me with knitted eyebrows, looking upset. This girl had me in a chokehold. I needed her, I craved her.

"Wait!" she squealed, untangling her and her mother's arm.

My stoic, dark face couldn't help but soften completely as she did her best to wrap her tiny body around mine, triple the size.

I fell to a knee in order to help her, but I froze as she kissed my cheek.

Her supple pink lips had the power of the world over me, leaving me stuck in my place.

"Thank you, Teddy!" She whispered. And for the first time in god-damn years, I smiled.

"You're welcome, little bunny." I managed to whisper back, attempting to mask my shock.

She smiled so sweetly before beginning to back away, her eyes still glued on mine before she ran back to her mother.

I watched as my driver loaded them in, driving off, the minute they did I stalked over to Romero.

"I need you to find out everything you can on the Amerys. All I need you to do is keep a close eye on the girl." I quickly demanded.

Romero looked at me, clearly noticing the change in my demeanour. Care.

"On it, boss."