5

Nicholas' POV

"Who made Birds the code name?"

Carlo, my consigliere (advisor) says as him and Enzo enter the warehouse.

"It's distinctive."

He replies.

"Woahhhh. Why's he already dead Nicholas?"

"You guys were slow."

"Ok we seriously have to get a hold on your violence."

Carlo says. Enzo goes over to the bloody body.

"Damn, did you cut his ear?"

I nod taking off my gloves and tossing them in the bin.

"What'd he do?"

"He's a Russian associate."

I reply.

"How exactly are we dealing with the Russians?"

Carlo says.

"Alana."

Enzo intercepts.

"I think she's innocent. They're out for you, you're not at all worried?"

Carlo asks.

"They haven't done anything, I'll kill as many of them as I have to."

"That's true, they've been pretty radio silent since..."

Carlo clears his throat to get Enzo to shut up.

"You can say her name. She's dead, not a disease."

She might as well been a disease because of how much she affected me.

"Get the shipments out. I have to go."

"How's Stasia?"

Enzo asks.

"It's her 8th birthday."

"I'll get her a present."

Enzo replies.

"It's 8pm Enzo."

I reply.

"I sent her a gift."

Carlo says.

"Thank you. Don't fuck up the delivery. I'll be back tomorrow to check."

They both nod and I leave the warehouse. Even though they're both my most trusted men, they both share one brain cell.

At home

"Dad!"

Stasia says as she hugs me.

"How are you mi amor?"

"Velina made me a cake and took me out. I got Carlo's present it was a new dollhouse."

"Do you like your new room?"

I pick her up and take her to the living room. She nods.

"Is that my present!"

I nod and hand it over to her.

"Gracias."

She opens it excitedly.

"I know that you've been wanting one."

"The bracelet makers cost so much!"

"You deserve the best of everything mi amor."

She gives me another hug.

"Thank you!"

She pulls away and opens the box.

"I'll take the weekend off, we can spend some time together."

"Okay, you should get some rest, it's really late."

She tells me.

"You too, but I'll let you stay up for a bit today."

I stand up and head up the stairs. Before I enter my room, I see Velina by her door.

"You should've taken the day off."

"I know...I had to sort some things out."

"I know that her death was a lot, it was for me too but you cannot continue running the mafia forever."

"The only reason I'm still continuing is for her. I can't live knowing that they did that to her."

"If you won't listen to me on anything else, listen to me on this, don't hurt innocent people who had nothing to do with her murder. I saw your files."

"I don't kill women. I'm tired, so I'll head to my room. Goodnight."

I open my room door, and head to my closet, seeing the picture of my 'dad'. I guess it's time for a flash back.

On my 18th Birthday, I was planning on going to university and become an entrepreneur but my father found me. My mom died 2 years prior, she was an alcoholic and I'd been raising myself ever since because my dad left my mom after her pregnancy.

When he found me, he explained everything. He was terminally ill and the reason why he abandoned our family was because he didn't want to endanger us. He was the head of the Italian mafia and I didn't believe him at first but he'd given me proof. Since he was about to die, he wanted me to succeed him. He wouldn't leave me alone and continued chasing me down until I agreed. I knew I wasn't ready for it but he'd have his people watching me to make sure I live up to his legacy.

He'd forced me into an arranged marriage with the daughter of the Russian Mafia to try and solve the ongoing war but that failed miserably.  We'd fallen in love unexpectedly and she'd left the Russian mafia making her father upset. She wanted to have a child someday and didn't want them affected by the mafia lifestyle. We had a baby later on - Stasia. Less than a week into her birth, her dad planned Irina's death. I knew her dad was abusive to her, but I never thought he'd kill his own daughter. Ever since then, I'd changed. Into everything I knew she didn't want for me. Into everything she'd feared, hoping one day, I'd find the people who did this to her.

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