Men and women dressed in head-to-toe in black, guns in their hands and several weapons strapped against their bodies. Cars are turned on, ready to drive.

Three guns are strapped against my leg. Two daggers are strapped against my arm and my other leg. Ammo inside my pockets and rage in my heart.

I love you Nonna

*3 hours ago*

"Stefano, find who the hell just killed seven of my people and my grandmother!" I yell.

Angela is sitting on the couch, her head in her hand, water pooling at her feet.

My father enters the living room full of people, his face dark and full of anger. His hands in his pockets. I can see that he is trying to hide his sadness by putting up a wall, pretending to be tough.

I am doing the same thing.

All of a sudden Stefano slams his hands against the desk. "The fucking Serbs. It was the fucking Serbs."

My father walks over to Stefano side and stares at the computer. "Where?" His one, single word silences everyone.

Stefano explains who, where and how is it best to attack them with minimal casualties.

"Today, we leave today," The Don of the most powerful mafia says before walking out of the room. The room remains silent even after he leaves.

"Go get ready, get weapons, start your cars," Giovanni's voice breaks the deafening silence.

*back to present*

"I'm leaving," Ella says storming into the living room. She rolls around a suitcase filled to the brim, the zippers looking like they are about to break off.

"What," I ask, turning around. When I see the suitcase in her hand, I realise that she wants to leave the mafia.

"My best friend died in my arms. She bled out while I held her," Ella says, digging her hands into her pockets.

Gabby runs over to her and wraps her arm around her neck. Ella doesn't wrap her hands around Gabby but begins to sob into her shoulder. I walk over to my best friends and join in on their hug.

"Please don't leave us," I whisper .

Gabby tightens her grip around the two of us as Ella's breathing begins to even out and slow.

"Fine, I'll stay," Ella says pulling back from the hug. "But I stay here. I'll stay so when you all get back, the hospital rooms will be ready."

"Keep doing what you love," I say wiping Ella's tears with my thumbs.

"Try not to get shot, please," she says pushing us away jokingly.

We walk outside to a large crowd of men and woman, armed to the teeth with guns and daggers.

Mateo stands infront of the men and women. "Family is not just by blood, but it is also by loyalty. You all are my brothers and sisters, and I will willingly fight and devote my life for anyone of you, which is why I will end this bloodshed tonight. Soon we shall fight until we cannot continue. Even if we fall we will fight from the ground. We shall fight with blood, sweat, and tears running down her faces. We will fight with tooth and nail, but we will not fight with just blunt force, but with intelligence. And the scars that we will get tonight will serve as a reminder of the ones we lost, the pain we felt, and ultimately the victory we deserve.

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-that single paragraph took me weeks to write