" Hi, Cora. It's Anastasia. Delete this number and buy a new phone after you listen to this voicemail. "

" I left. "

" Thank you for being my friend these passing months. I know we had planned my grand escape I wasn't going to leave until at least a few more weeks but there was chaos going around the family and I took that opportunity to leave while everyone was busy dealing with their things. "

" I have a goodbye gift for the Salvatore's. It will be delivered to the estate shortly after Nick returns home so watch out for it. That will be all. "

" Thank you, again. "

....

The old breeze of Washington DC hit my face sending shivers down my spine. I wrapped my arms around my body as I walked in the cold weather under the clear morning sky of the place I missed so much, the village my grandmother had moved to years ago where she was safe from my father.

I walked across the familiar street into the small cozy town full of victorian style houses. The road was silent and isolated as it was only dawn leaving me the only person walking around town so I assumed the town folks were in church as usual or asleep in their beds.

A white building stood tall at the far end of the street popping out of the blue color of the water behind, the property was surrounded by white fence and the splendid nature that grew around the homey house especially the familiar tall tree in front of the yard.

I stepped into the porch of my grandmother's unique three bedroom house with a big grin on face, happy to finally be able to visit her after years. I carefully bend down to take the key under the small door mat, a cliche place to hide your house key but my grandmother and I were all about that shits.

I unlocked the door then stepped inside, another grin broke on my face as I closed my eyes inhaling the scent of lavender mixed with the slight smell of cigarettes reminding me that my poor grandmother lived in a house next to my one and only friend.

" You're home, my sweet child. " my grandmother shouted running toward me before throwing her body on me giving me a bone crashing hug.

I wrapped my arms around the small frame of her with a smile on my face. After, a few minutes of welcoming hug she finally let me go. I took a look over her body making sure she was happy and healthy while she did the same to me.

" Where's the drug addict? I thought you two would be in church right now. " I grinned looking around the place.

" RUDRIKA ROSSI GET YOUR ASS OUT OF MY KITCHEN. " grandma Lou shouted making me flinched back.

The thudding footsteps down the hall hit my ears following by low curses before my friend appeared in my sight.

Twenty four years old Rudrika Rossi was as beautiful as the last time I saw her which was years ago when she and I shared a dorm in college. Her silky black hair went down to her waist, the loose strands falling down shaping her already beautifully sculpted face, her eyes as dark as the sky at night, and body built fit for a soldier.

I still remembered our youth days in college going to frat parties together consuming as much alcohol as we could and especially got into fights. Rudy loved to fight and she was impressive, she even made a career out of it by being a underground fighter until she met her Jason Rossi, the drug lord of the state.

They got married soon after and I called it fate. They were perfect match made in hell both of them. While the husband was out selling drugs, his wife stayed home and smoked away her life.

" There's my kick boxing champion. I have missed you so much, Ru. " I said pulling her into a hug.

" I have missed you too, Stass. " she said wrapping her arms tightly around me.

" Please tell me you have been protecting nana like I asked you to. " I asked nervously.

Rudrika was the best and youngest fighter out there with all her successful experience in kick boxing. I trusted her enough to protect our grandma, not to mention that her husband was basically the most dangerous man in town.

" With my life, Stass. No motherfuckers can touch a single hair on her gorgeous head. " she smirked making me smiled bigger than ever.

" Let's catch up over breakfast. " grandma Lou said pulling both of us to the dining table.

The sight on the table made my mouth watered almost immediately as we all took a seat around the small table. There was stack of pancakes, bacons, eggs, nutella toasts, and orange juice. It wasn't surprising that there was way too much food on the table for only two people because knowing Ru she would basically inhale all of it in a breath.

" Shouldn't you two be in church with the other town folks right now? " I asked stuffing the food into my mouth.

" The church elder banned the two of us. " grandma sighed glaring at a guilty looking Ru.

" What did you do, Ru? " I asked my friend already prepared myself to be amused.

" I screamed fuck the devil in the middle of bible reading. I thought we all hated his ass. Guess I was wrong. " she shrugged earning a chuckle from myself and grandma.

We spent the entire morning on the table just eating and catching up. It was safe to say that I missed this, I missed having these two around. Grandma Lou was always fun to be around and Rudy was something out of this world.

" Let me show you around town. Jason is out for awhile if you stay long enough this time you might catch him. " Rudy said sipping on her tea.

I was staying for good after I was done dealing with my father. I didn't have anywhere else to go.

" Why don't you show your friend your new vegetables garden, Ru? " grandma huffed looking slightly annoyed as she poured tea into her mug.

I narrowed my eyes at her and the sky friend of mine who were smirking liked she had just won a million dollar lottery as we walked out my grandma's house and into hers.

My jaw dropped to the ground when I saw what was in front of me. There were rows and rows of growing weeds in her backyard.

" Is this even legal, Ru? " I shook my head not taking my eyes of the garden.

" This is totally illegal. But, what are those people gonna do about it? My husband is a famous criminal around here. Nobody messes with us, Stass. " Ru shrugged lighting the joint that she had taken from inside the house.

Touché. I smacked the weed out of her hand making her groaned in frustration before grunted curses under breath.

" Not you too. I thought you're the cool one. Nana Lou has buried me with her wrath everyday. Can't a girl smoke her joint in peace. " she pouted making me laughed.

This girl had a weird obsession with smoking. I feared her lungs were going to turn grey one day. She took me around town for the rest of the day showing me everything I had missed the last few years since I visited. And, it felt great to know that my grandmother was in good hands living around people I could depend on.

The town was small nothing compared to London but it was peaceful. I didn't have to worry about the world outside the walls. I would never have to worry about anyone finding out about me or worry about my father's wrath.

" Father, it's Anastasia. " I spoke into the phone as I arrived at my grandmother's porch.

He would never be able to track me down here. I had a special device installed here that no phone call could ever be traced.

" It's about time you call me, daughter. I heard what you did-

" I want out. You and your plan can go to hell. I'm done. "

" And, if you do anything to mess with them I will come after you myself. " I cut him off before hanging up the phone.

It felt like a heavy rock had been lift off my shoulders. I felt free, for the first time in my life. I had always wanted this, a life outside the mafia and without my father. I was supposed to be happy because I had been waiting for this moment all my life, but how could I.

Not when I left my heart in London.

" Welcome home, my sweet child. " grandma Lou greeted me as I entered the house and pulled her into a tight hug as silent tears poured down my cheeks.

➺ ✿ ➻

thank you for always be an amazing friend and for always believe in me🥺💖