My whole world seems to come crashing down.

I stare at the woman who raised me, the only other person besides Dad who my heart belongs to.

And she stands right beside the man who I hate with a passion.

Mum looks just like the day I had seen her last - The day I left Australia.

Her long brunette hair cascades down her back, straightened and pinned back from her face with a black clip. Her face shows nothing but sadness as she stares ahead of her, at the coffin. She wipes away stray tears that fall down her cheeks with the back of her hand, and she leans into Harry as he supports her down the aisle.

It takes everything within me not to stand up and shoot that bastard right where he stands. I want to desperately scream and beat him until he begs for mercy.

This wasn't a part of the plan - Mum was never a part of the plan. She wasn't accounted for, and there's no way we are going to be able to get close enough to kill Harry without hurting my Mother in the process.

Oh gosh. This was his plan all along? Him using my mother as a shield? He's daring us to attack him while she's at his side.

This man is sick beyond words.

"Do you know who that is?" Valentino asks.

"My mother." I breathe.

Valentino mumbles colourful curse words beneath his breath and I can't help but do the same.

I look over to Angelina and Matteo, and they seem to be just as surprised as I am. Matteo's face appears confused, however he doesn't look towards me - Only ahead.

Once Harry and my mother have looked into the coffin, they retire to front row seats besides Antonio and close to Matteo and Angelina. I watch closely as Harry turns to look behind him at Angelina. His mouth turns into a wicked smirk, while his hand wraps over my mothers shoulder.

He's teasing me.

Harry says something which causes Matteo to place a hand on Angelina's thigh. He spits something back, which leaves Harry laughing.

"If everyone is seated, we would like to begin the ceremony." A loud voice says, making everyone turn silent.

I turn my focus away from the ghastly human which happens to be my brother, and try to focus on the ceremony at hand.

There's nothing I can do right now, all I can do is pay attention and give my father the respect he deserves. I will sit through this ceremony, and I will grieve for my father. Only once it is over will I take action and destroy Harry.

"Today we are gathered here for a grievous occasion - To celebrate the life of Roman Marino; A friend, husband and father..."

The priest's words lull me into a strange state where I am conscious, but no longer present. I listen as he discusses the man that my father was, but none of it is the father that I knew. I listen and watch as people stand to talk and tell the world about my Dad, but it all sounds foreign.

After an hour, I feel like I've drained myself. My body is exhausted from all the tears which I've silently shed.

It appears that I'm not the only person who's shedding tears, as I scope the guests, who also seem saddened by the passing of my father.

"Roman's family will now speak." The priest says.

My ears perk up, and I look over to Mum, expecting her to stand. However she doesn't move an inch, and rather it is Harry who stands and walks towards the podium.

He walks with confidence and pride, and it's sickening.

He is not my family, he is not a Marino.

"Roman was a great man." Harry begins. "He led his empire with a ferocity that couldn't be matched. He commanded respect from all of those who he met, and this is what gave him the reputation that lives on till this day."

I want to rip his head off, he doesn't have the right to say these things, not after what he's done. Not after he was the one who killed him.

"Roman was my father, and he gave me everything that I ever needed growing up. He was always there for me, he made me the person I am today, and I am eternally grateful for him for that. I know that he would be proud of all that he has left behind, and I hope that I can follow in his footsteps, and become even a fraction of the man that he was."

I can't do this. Not when I know he is telling these blatant lies.

I ball my fists and chew on my lip.

"Lunga vita all'impero Marino." (Long live the Marino Empire.) Harry says.

"Lunga vita all'impero Marino!" Everyone repeats after him. Everyone except for me.

Harry's lips pull into a taught, smug smirk. He's enjoying every minute of this. Knowing that I'm watching, knowing that my mother is watching. He steps down from the podium and once again takes a seat besides my mother, I can't help but tense at the action.

The rest of the funeral goes on without delay and I manage to keep my attention mostly on the priest and other speakers, however my eyes always remains on Harry and my mother - Just in case he pulls something unexpected.

I wouldn't forgive myself if he hurt my mother.

"This concludes the ceremony. The wake will be held at the Marino manor." The priest says.

The whole tent bustles with soft whispers that resemble the sound of wind on a rainy night. The tension is still thick, and it seems that everyone is desperate to escape it - Shuffling out of the tent as fast as the crowd will move.

There are few of us that remain within the tent, once everyone has left - Maybe a dozen or so. They don't all appear to be our men, so they must be Harry's.

Harry stands from his seat, offering his arm out to my mother. She takes it, though I don't fail to notice the terrible shake in her hand. "It seems you didn't fail to break your promise, Matteo Giovanni." Harry smiles. "I can't lie when I say, I had expected you to leave your precious Mia at home where you believe her to be safe."

Matteo stands, along with Angelina. "Yes, I have kept up my end of the bargain - Now you must return Alice and Dante alive." His voice is determined and hard, normally it would get anybody to do whatever he wanted, however this is Harry.

"Ah ah ah, not so fast Matteo. The party is only just getting started... Or shall I call it the reunion. Wouldn't Mia like to see her dearest mother?"

My eyes flick to Mum, who stares at Angelina with teary eyes. As if she's pleading with her.

That's not me, I'm right here! I want to scream, but I can't. I won't let myself screw up this plan.

"We are not here to play games Harry. You got what you wanted, now hand over Alice and Dante before things get messy." Matteo orders.

Harry pouts and wraps his arm around mum's waist.

"Alright," He sighs in defeat, mockingly. "Bring them in.

I turn my head to the entrance of the tent, where multiple armed men enter, pushing two familiar figures.

My eyes lock onto Alice first. Her frail and dirty figure is almost unrecognisable - Her blonde hair no longer blonde, but rather a sooty brown. Her skin is painted with deep colourful bruises and seems even more corpse-like than my own fathers body. Her eyes glance up at us, holding nothing but emptiness.

My lip quivers as I feel the oncoming surge of tears building.

I did this to her.

I then look to Dante who is equally as awful. His hair looks knotted and long. He no longer has his straight posture that would exude confidence, he's not hunched, looking in pain. His face isn't smiling as it would normally be - And the dark bags beneath his eyes appear endless.

Did Harry really do this to them? I didn't think any human could be capable of such awful acts.

My fingers itch to graze against the cool metal of the gun pressed up against my leg, and pull the trigger, killing Harry in one shot.

My attention turns back to Matteo whose expression is as stone cold as ever, betraying no emotion.

"You see? They are alive and well, just as you had wanted." Harry says. "Now give me what I want, give me Mia. And then we can all be on our way. Let's avoid the bloodshed, it is unbecoming."

Unbecoming? He is disgusting.

There's only silence, and as time ticks by I feel as though something has gone terribly wrong.

"Of course." Matteo grips onto Angelina's arm and leads her towards Harry, who stands tall, with the biggest smile across his face. Beside me I can feel the anger radiating off of Valentino, as Harry grabs Angelina's arm and pulls her towards him, letting go of my mother in the process.

"Finally." Harry Mumbles. His hand rises towards Angelina's face. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long. Let me see your face, little sister."

Angelina doesn't move, and so Harry takes the liberty to remove the veil from her face in one foul swoop.

His expression changes from one of satisfaction to horror. And then he slaps Angelina on the face. She falls to her knees and clutches her cheek.

"You bitch!" Harry yells. "Where the fuck are you hiding?"

Valentino curses, and I watch from the corner of my eye, as he inches towards Angelina.

It doesn't take long before Harry's eyes land on me. "You think you can fucking fool me?" He growls.

"No one gets away with fooling me." Harry pulls out a gun from his jacket and walks towards the coffin, where dad lays. "You think you're so smart, huh?"

What is he doing?

Holding out his gun, he aims it at dad, and fires.

I let out a sob and bring my hand over my mouth. My stomach turns, and I feel the overwhelming urge to spill my guts. "How could you?" I yell at him.

Harry grins and takes a step in my direction.

I take a step back.

Just as Harry is about to take another step, he's swept off of his feet by Angelina, landing on the floor with a loud bang. Immediately the silence is filled with a cacophony of gunshots.

I'm pushed to the ground by Valentino, and I cover my head.

"I will kill you!" Harry screams. The sound makes my blood run cold, and the fact that I can't see him, makes me even more terrified.

Another gunshot rings, and I take this as the opportunity to reach beneath my dress and grab the gun attached to my leg. Removing the safety, I keep it at my side.

I throw away the veil, deciding there's no point in hiding my identity any longer. I look up from where I am, trying to see what is happening, but more shots ring out. "Stay here." Valentino commands, and within seconds he's out of my sight.

"Enough of this!" Harry yells, and the whole room becomes silent. "Come to me Mia, or so help me I will put a bullet through your mothers skull."

I have no choice. I can't let him kill mum. I won't let him. She's the only family I have left. The only family I know. If I lose her, who am I?

Standing on shaky legs I look my brother in the eyes. He holds Mum, with his arm wrapped around her neck and his gun pressed to her temple. "You're a monster!" I scream.

"I'm a monster? You're the bitch who's getting everything that belongs to me, you're the bitch who's taken everything from me. The bitch who doesn't even want any of it!" Harry laughs.

"You killed your own father!"

Harry's face turns solemn. "I did what I had to."

"No," I shake my head. "You did this because of your selfish desires." Tears well up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall, not while I'm facing Harry. I can't show him any weakness.

"You call me selfish, but you wont even come up to save your own mother. Do you not value your mothers life over your own?" He questions.

I stare at my mum, the woman who raised me. She looks at me with sad eyes. "I'm not like you." I whisper, taking a shaky step forward.

Harry just scoffs. "Ovviamente hai bisogno di un po 'più di motivazione." (You obviously need a little more motivation.)

My eyes widen and my mouth falls agape as I begin to scramble towards Harry. But it's as if it all happens in slow motion. I watch as Harry pulls the trigger and my mothers face pales, her eyes close and her face softens.

As soon as the gunshot goes off, Harry drops my Mum's lifeless body to the ground.

There is nothing - No more sounds or feelings. The world is gone, and all that is left behind is te lifeless bodies of those I love.

I let out a pained scream and fall to the ground.

"Mum."

This can't be real, this isn't real. Mum wasn't supposed to die. She wasn't supposed to be here - So how is she dead?

I can't hear anything - Nothing but silence.

My whole world has shattered into pieces, and I can barely see a foot ahead of me. Every piece of my soul is broken. The two people who I've always loved with the whole of my heart are... Gone.

The world is suddenly moving all too fast once again.

I hear my name yelled, but nothing seems to process.

And then another gunshot goes off.

And my whole body is engulfed in a world of pain.

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