Amy POV"I need a normal day." Zander sighed, leaning against the kitchen counter. I didn't even want to know what happened out back, but I'm sure my brother did something."What is normal?" I laughed, snapping lids on the containers of extra pasta and sauce from dinner. I had never made a full meal for so many people before. It was odd that I felt this weird sense of pride. "You seem to be enjoying yourself." Zander smiled as I put away the leftovers."Maybe." It was peaceful cooking for hours, talking with my family and even Lucy. Then we gathered around a table and had a feast. It was nice, something I wanted more of, but Zander was right too. This wasn't normal, no matter how much everyone tried to make it."How about a movie?" Zander suddenly asked and it caught me a little off guard. It was just a movie, something we did often before, but somehow felt wrong now."We haven't been to one in months." I tried remembering the last time we even went out as just normal kids."It'll b
Michael POVIt was so good to have my family around me again. A handful of them I detested, and unfortunately they were the ones that ran our affairs for so long, but the rest, I did truly care for. Nonna was my favorite, of course. She was funny as hell with a filthy mouth and fast hand that was always gripping a wooden spoon. She was a harsh woman, but she did it out of love. Her life was never easy. She had an arranged marriage with her husband, a high player in the families back then. She speaks of their union as one of the greatest love stories though. They had many children, mostly men and mostly fools. I always wondered how our lives would have been if her husband hadn't died so early on.Nonna always taught me not to dwell on things that cannot be changed. She also taught me how to love, not just a woman, but my family. To her, there was nothing greater in life than love. For so long I channeled all that into Amy, my little sister who needed me to be strong enough to protect
Amy POVI spent most of the day and the whole next one in my room, too pissed to see or talk to anyone. Dylan became a complete ghost that I wonder if he chose to go to Siberia just to get away from me. I knew I was a total bitch, but there was this itch inside me. I was uncomfortable in my skin and needed a release, any release. It could be screaming harsh and painful words at my friends, or letting a man own my body and give me a feeling of relief. I was more messed up in the head than I ever felt before, but luckily, a bunch of new shows loaded online and I had weeks' worth of entertainment to keep me from reality. But every time something funny or a shocking twist happened all I wanted to do was talk to Lucy or Zander about it. I needed them, but I also needed them to escape this life of danger. I wish they would just disappear.I hated Lucy right now. She was stupid to get involved with my brother. I knew her, and this isn't a life she can thrive in. Not only will it eat away
Lucy POVFor hours I laid in bed, fingers swirling Michael's chest. Yesterday was hell, between Amy fucking Dylan for the entire house to hear, to me running around arranging plans for our new guests, all 60 of them. This was a big house, but not that big.Oddly, Michael didn't even care about Amy and Dylan though. He told Paul to slap him around a little for being so disrespectful, but nothing about him touching his sister. When I questioned him about the lack of rage he just said 'She is an adult and I'm too damn exhausted to waste my energy on her bullshit'. Then he went to bed and hadn't woken yet. He slept a solid 16 hours, which concerned me until the doctors said he needed it and not to wake him.He slept so peacefully beside me. All night I was glued to his side, my arms wrapped tightly around his body. I never thought I would want nothing more than to lay in bed with a man or want him to do nothing but sleep and recover. He wore his scar proudly, but it made my heart squeeze
Amy POV"What did I do now?" Lucy whined like I was some nuisance. She was the one causing so many problems. She almost killed my brother because all of a sudden sex didn't freak her out."Why are you moving the Grasso on the same floor as us?""Michael wanted them close. He has the entire house wired with cameras, but just in case they try to make a move no one from Niko's side is hurt.""Then why am I still on the third floor? I should be moved with Niko's men." "Amy." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I thought you liked your room and wanted to be close to your brother. Besides, you seem more than happy to shoot some people if the occasion arose.""My brother is down here. I'm only close to you." I shot back and Lucy got nervous real quick. "Great!" I shouted in disbelief. She actually plans to share a room with him. "Are you trying to stay here now? You don't belong here, Lucy. You don't want to be here! You by Michael's side will only get you both killed. You can't
Lucy POVThat night with Michael felt like another reality. The way he was with me, how open and vulnerable he became. How he loved me without any concern or fear about what it all meant. He wasn't anything like I thought he would be but was everything I wanted. We came together like we were always meant to be. But the next day, he slept, a lot. He was awake only a few hours to eat, took his medicine, and passed back out. I felt like a total idiot. I was so worked up from everything and just wanted to feel him. I shouldn't have even considered having sex. He seemed so strong though, and we had fooled around before."Michael wants you." Vinnie came into the kitchen and my entire body tensed. I knew he wouldn't be mad at me, but it was kind of embarrassing. "Ok." I nodded to Vinnie and finished a few arrangements for our new guest arriving. The entire house was about to be turned upside down, and no one was sure if this was the right move."Don't worry, you didn't break him," Vinnie
Michael POV"Lucy," her name slipped right off my tongue like it was the only word I should ever speak. "I love you Michael, and I don't understand why." She roughly shoved my chest, forcing me to lay back down. Her long legs moved to straddle my waist, those thick thighs flush against me. It was sexy, but the look in her eyes was a little scary. Was she pissed? Horny? "Lucy, I...," It wasn't even a thought of how I felt, it just was, but she didn't let me finish. "No, don't say it. I can't hear it, Michael. I just need to tell you how frustrated it makes me. I don't understand how I could love you. I don't understand why I can't walk away and it pisses me off." Her tone became sharper."This isn't sounding like compliments, baby." My eyebrows knit together, a little unsure if I should move or say something to defuse the situation. "It's not! I'm mad at you and I want it to stop! I want my life back." She shouted even louder, confirming this was definitely a hostile situation. He
Michael POVI didn't know how I was going to let her go, but I knew I had to. Our time together was running out, and I wanted to stretch every moment until my last breath, maybe even beyond if that were possible."They so grown!" Viv cried on the large iPad Paul held up to watch the kids all get their diplomas. Dylan made a bit of spectacle, hugging the principal and jumping with his fist raised as he walked back down the other side. That one had me a little worried about the true value he had in my world, but Amy trusted him. She needed as many friends as she could get right now. "They sure are. It's only been ten years. How does that feel like both a lifetime and barely a year?" Paul wiped a few tears from his eyes and I gave him a look of disgust. This man was supposed to be my Second."Damn! Are we sure that one is really in high school?" Vinnie googled-eyed some girl with long tan legs in very high heels walking the stage. "Technically, no, since she just got her diploma," I sa
Lucy POVIt was a quiet and very awkward ride to School. Zander tried making conversation, noting how this was our last moment as Seniors. It felt more surreal than anything to me. Almost as if I was brought back in time to relieve this day. I was no longer a Senior or teenager the day those men snatched me up. "Where is my brother?" Amy asked Paul with scorn."He is resting but will be there before it starts. I got Viv on standby too. All the kids are excited to see you get your diploma." Paul spoke cheerfully but it was met with nothing but hate from Amy. She didn't say anything else about it because I don't think she could be mean to her Aunt and cousins like she has been to all of us. "I can't believe I'm graduating again." Dylan laughed and we all looked at him confused. "I'm ordered to stay close to the package." His knee tapped Amy's and she turned to look out the window. "I thought I would at least get a smile. You're really that pissed about going?" He said, sounding annoy