For Better, For Honour

AVA 

They don’t knock. The front door flies open, and men in masks pour into the house. Before I could begin to grasp what’s happening around me, I’m shove onto the ground, a gun pinning me down. 

A startle scream cut through the air as my sister fall on the ground next to me. The rest of the mask men are on Dad, despite the chaos, I can still make out about five of them. 

“What the fuck is it going to be, Dagger?” Their leader demands, signaling to his men to pause. 

Dad lets out a disgrunt groan, spitting out blood on the carpet.

“The fucking code, Dagger!” The leader hisses impatiently, sticking out his leg and storming on Dad’s throat with his boot. 

“Please stop!” Mom cries, struggling against the men that restrain her. “Take whatever you want—“ 

Her words trails off as one of the men restraining her grabs a hold of her head, forcing back her neck. Seeing this, Dad snaps, attempting to launch at the man but is hold back by their leader now applying more pressure on his throat. 

My body jerks instinctively with the need to protect my parents, the need to help. It takes only a second for the man holding me captive to remind me of my place, shoving me back down with the mouth of his gun.  

Slightly lifting his foot off of Dad’s throat, he demands. “Are you ready to fucking give me what I want?” 

“Let my family go, I’ll fucking give you whatever you fucking want!” Dad cuss, panting through his words. 

“You seem to be forgetting, Dagger. You’re in no position to fucking make demands! You want me to give the orders to blow off your family? Give me the code right now!”

Behind me, the man presses me to the ground, forcing a scream out of my lungs as he digs his heel down the back of my neck. Feeling the spike from his boot, I cry out from pain.  

“How about you tell your daddy to cooperate, pretty girl?” He taunts, pressing harder. 

“Fine!” Dad snaps, his voice shaky, 

Hearing the faint sound of steelness buckle, dread fills me. The pain pressing down my neck becomes a fleeting thought as I become aware of the bigger one looming over me. 

“Please, don’t hurt her. We will cooperate, please.” Mom begs, pressing my little sister to her side, trying to shield her from the men.

A sudden loud piercing noise rings out, and for a solid minute I couldn’t hear anything above the ringing sound in my ears. Something drops  behind me, making me turn. My eyes widens at the clean bullet shape hole on the mask man forehead, bleeding out in front of me. 

Dad grabs his weapon, his movement restrictive. Before the other guy can react, he fires at him. Another shot from the entrance went through the man at the same time. 

As the man collapses in front of us, I sit up, looking at the entrance as Don stands there  majestically. Several men appear behind him, bullets raining down as full confrontation begins between the two sides. 

Knowing the drill by now, I crawl under the bed. A second later, both Mom and Sophie appear beside me. We remain there until the sound dies down, and Dad announces it’s safe for us to come out. 

“Is everyone alright?” Aunt Beatrix inquires, standing beside her brother as she blows air into the mouth of her pistol. 

Still suffering from shock, I find myself nodding along with everyone else. 

“Don, how were you able to find out we were under attack?” Dad asks, limping across the room to talk to Don Thane. 

“It was too quiet. I sent a patrol guard to sniff around, he reported the situation back to me. As a family man myself, I apologise greatly for the grievance your family was forced to endure tonight.” 

“This is the second attack in two weeks,” Aunt Beatrix points out. “We need to do something Thane.” 

“The world knows not to mess with the Tuhkas, but they don’t know not to mess with the Heavens. You’re my right hand man Dagger. You have proved your loyalty to the Tuhkas family over and over again. It’s time we reward you for it,” Don glances at his sister, a thin smile appearing on his lip. 

“Mother, Beatrix and I have been discussing this for a while now. It’s time we go ahead with the merge.” 

I frown, having no clue on what they are talking about. Usually, the adults wouldn’t be having discussions relating to the family business in our presence. My body slumps on the bed, relief washing over me at the realisation that I’m truly safe. 

“The merge?” Dad echoes. 

“Yes, between the Tuhkas and the Heavens blood-line. The merge will be announced tomorrow at the heir ceremony—“

As if just realising Sophie and I are still present, Don stops talking. Using his head, he motions at my Dad and the three of them walk out of the room. 

Alone with Mom, she immediately pulls my sister and I into a comforting hug. I can feel her body shaking slightly against mine. 

“Mom? What’s the merge?” Sophie asks quietly, ever the curious one. 

“Shhh, go to bed.” 

“I don’t think I can fall asleep after what happened,” I inform her. 

“Try, tonight you both can stay in your room. We are just outside the door, okay?” 

I nod, finding comfort in her words. Sophie and I got into bed, watching as she leave the room. Sophie is quick to fall asleep, and I envy her for that. 

I can’t. Tonight only reminds me how much I loath the family I am born into. Not necessarily my parents, despite the nature of Dad’s job, I think he’s great. 

Being the second in command of the Tuhka’s empire, a feared and ruthless mafia empire in the country. Usually, the children are shields from the violence of the world, but attacks happen, break in and stuff.

I doze off some seconds later, even though I’m convince, I won’t.

“Ava!” 

I jolt up at the sound of my name, my heart almost taking leave of my chest. Sophie stirs as well by Asher’s abrupt entrance. 

“Gee, you scared me!” 

He jumps on the bed, a crook smile on his face. “I heard, are you okay? Anything broken?” 

I swat his hand away from my body like it’s a fly. “It was really scary, Asher. The man pointed a gun at my head, he was going to shoot me.” 

I gulp, leaving the other part out. 

“Well, cheer up! Caden is getting introduce as the heir today. How cool is that?” 

“I know, your Dad mentioned it last night. He also said something about a merge happening between our families.” 

“The merge huh?” He leans real close to me. “Don’t tell anyone, but I eavesdrop on Dad, Grandma and my Aunt talking about it. The merge is a betrothal arrangement to strengthen the relationship bond between two families.” 

I give him a look, doubt written all over my face. We have been best friends for the past seventeen years, he is always coming up with new ways to be funny. 

“If it were a betrothal, that word would have been used instead of merge. Besides, my Dad is married to my Mom, and yours to your Mom. See? Not funny.” I slide out of bed while he makes himself comfortable.  

He laughs, making me pause. 

“What’s so funny?” 

“You’re getting betrothed, silly! You and Caden are going to be the merge!” 

“What?”