"Go!" I waved my hand in dismissal of them, Claire's eyes growing wider and my wife's becoming more teary by the minute. Leo stood by the door with his head hung and several of our men standing behind him.

"I-" Donna began speaking once again but I wouldn't have it.

I interrupted, "Just go, this won't turn out well. You'd be better off."

"Okay." Claire turned around nodding once at Leo as he opened the door for her, once she stepped out Leo followed and the men trailed behind him. Donna gave me a weary look, she hesitated but eventually gave up the fight, seeing as I wasn't moving a muscle. She shook her head slightly, walking out after the group. She could see just as well as I, this family was no more.

A threat had arrived last night and this morning a few of our men were assassinated. My first instinct was to send out some agents but the few we had were nowhere to be found, the rumours floating around the house of them abandoning the familia to join Dominic were not to my liking either.

I told Donna to take the kids and leave, Claire and Leo had already planned to join Dominic along with the several men who had been close with Dominic growing up. When I'd heard of the establishment Dominic was suspected of building I knew the kid was prepared - so I sent them away.

A loud explosion went off in the left wing, many of my men held their arms ready to attack. Dominic had refused to help us and this was the result of that, no one was to blame but him. All the women and children had been evacuated this morning, and the estate was coming to an end. There were many memories here, this had been my empire. Now it was his turn.

I wasn't expecting anyone who stayed behind to survive, many members of the familia were branching out to live normal lives and the few that wanted the same environment graced our doorstep now.

Alex and Alfie, my mother, Claire and her model friends, Leo with Mike and my boys, the twins and the others were also here. Five moving trucks graced the long driveway of the secluded estate and rooms were being allocated by Amara upstairs. I marked the different boxes being brought in with the letters of names as the movers went up the stairs.

After all the boxes had been brought in I paid the movers and watched the trucks as they disappeared through the trees, on the small road that lead back to the highway. I'd chosen an area that was pretty difficult to spot unless you actually knew where it was, as you were turning in it looked like normal grass and so the impression of it just being forest was disorienting for whoever drove past.

As I walked back to the house my mother stood out front, I approached her wary of her motives. I stood just a mere few steps away from her, she closed the gap engulfing me in a very motherly hug, blubbering apologies in italian and not taking a breath until she was done. I assured her it wasn't a problem, the past was the past after all though I can only imagine how much Claire had put her through. The child was terrible with grudges.

After the small reunion with my mother, clearing the air about a couple things - we walked back inside. Everyone sat in the living area. "Welcome." I smiled at the people who sat before me, there was quite a handful of children - most of which we'd met at the party.

A round of 'grazie's erupted around the room as everyone thanked us for allowing them to stay here, we waved off the thanks of course as it was what we'd intended. "You didn't think we'd build a place this big for just ourselves did you?" Amara chuckled.

Once the pleasantries had been exchanged, drinks were handed out and Leo started a barbecue for dinner. It was already looking so positive, this had been a wise decision.

"Yep, this is yours too." I smiled at the girl as she picked up the stuffed bunny rabbit, she looked around her new bedroom in awe. Her mother came in behind me.

"Now now Sophie, you better keep it nice and clean otherwise Regina Amara will make you share with your brother." she chastised the little girl.

I'd never heard my name like that, I wondered what it meant but let it pass as Sophie's little brother tugged at my dress asking where his room was. To which his mother gasped apologising, which I didn't mind at all and took the little boy's hand leading him to the room right next door.

After having the kids settle in the little games room we'd thought up I went back downstairs to join the other girls, they were discussing their work situation before I came.

"Do you think it's a good idea?" Claire asked before licking her finger that had accidentally swiped some icing off of her cupcake. I shrugged.

"You'd have to consult Dominic before asking me anything," I chuckled, "I've never run a familia before and I couldn't possibly know what to tell you. As far as I know, what you see here is what we've got and having you roaming around would be... dangerous? I don't know." I tried my best to sound authoritative but it only caused Claire to quirk her brow, I shrugged grabbing a cupcake from the tray she was decorating.

Joane just sighed, "Let's just quit." causing Amber to shake her head chuckling.

"You're just saying that because you're engaged now, you don't need to work anymore." she pointed accusingly at Joane who's cheeks tinged scarlet at the mention of Uberto. I remembered him being a tad provocative and flirtatious at the family game night that one time, he seemed to have calmed down now, I observed him in the yard shaking his head at Taddeo.

"Joane, I had't pegged you for the bad boy type." I giggled. She shook her head as if to say 'me neither'. I'd missed so much of these people's lives, I really wish I'd gotten to know them better but I'd have to start my catch up right now. I hadn't even known Joane and Uberto were dating.

I rubbed my chin not taking my eyes off of the screen, the news was catching most all of the massacre. The estate looked a mess, two of the three houses were on fire and there was more bodies than I could count littering the grass of the once beautiful landscape. It looked as though someone had tried to use the head of the state out front to squash someone, I observed. The statue head was rolled off as another one of my men came to their feet, those men trained extra hard everyday preparing for battles like this. I can only imagine most of them had family waiting for them back home, I can only imagine my father sat waiting to appear for the finale - dirty bastard.

I unclenched my jaw as my teeth started becoming sore, this was expected of my men but I couldn't help but feel the dread as more of the attackers arrived for the fight. My mafia wasn't the strongest because we had the most men, that had never been the case - it was because we were strong and our strongest now had left us. We stood in wait, those that remained stayed loyal to me. Most of them had trained with me as kids, or had been recruited by me out of charity after they'd found themselves on the street or shunned from their own familia.

I remembered the days I scouted the streets trying to find young people to build my army, my father had left me with a majorly intellect based familia which wasn't my strong suit. Looking at the home I'd built now I realised Dominic was only doing what I had done at my own time. He built a new home, invited his closest and left his father to die. I'd done the same, the idea brought a feeling of peace to my stone heart. The heavy organ that hadn't bled red in years, it thumped in acknowledgement of the emotion.

Pride.

My time had come, I stood adjusting my leather coat, I hadn't worn in it in years. It was worn a bit here and there, the boots I wore were from my last battle and last thing I ate was a macaron from the last batch Donna had made before her leave. I'd ticked off my bucket list, this was the end.

I wouldn't want it to end any other way, the moonlight greeted me from outside as I flung the doors open - ready to juice out the last of what I'd learnt in that institution. The skills were yet to run dry.

I knocked on the office door but not hearing a reply I opened it anyway, he sat with a contemplating look on his face and the news on the tv screen being his only source of light - that and the moon.

"Considering helping the old man out." I stated, it wasn't a question. Not a single child wants to leave their parents to die, especially not an over thinker like Dominic. Though he may deny it, masking it with that cool demeanour of his - he over thought a lot of things. This wouldn't be excused.

"Almost." his gruff voice echoed around the room, I came to sit in his lap resting my head on his shoulder and nuzzling my nose into his neck.

I cleared my throat, "Its for the best."

He closed his eyes, letting his head fall back. "I know, I said that."

"Thought I'd remind you."

We sat in silence, listening to the frantic reporter continue to update on the events as they took place. There was no world where this wasn't how it would end, I believed a bad person would come and rid of Santo - he was a much worse person. I thought it would be me, I hoped it would be me. But it wasn't, and maybe that was for the best. For mine and Dominic's sanity. He may not be too pleased with me after that, my being responsible for one of his parent's deaths wouldn't be such a good thing.

"I still wish I'd killed him." I blurted honestly, I'd been saying what's on my mind lately.

Almost as if he'd been expecting it he replied instantly, "Me too." he paused, "It would have made for a beautiful ultimatum." he admitted.

I frowned opening my eyes to look up at him, his still shut. "How so?"

He breathed, "The idea of the light cancelling out the darkness seemed appealing to me. You are the light Amara."

Curious, I asked, "What are you to me?"

"Still the darkness." he replied, I gave him a disappointed look. He gave me a small smile before elaborating, "There is no darkness without the light, I am only the shade to your light mi amore."

"We're both the darkness stupid," I corrected, "Carmyne is the light."

He sighed hugging me closer to his chest, "You're always right."

"Damn straight." my eyes fluttered shut once again.

"Where are they?" a female voice spoke up from behind me, I moved only slightly - triggering her to speak again, "Don't move."

I chuckled, "Who are you looking for?"

"I'm sure if I kill you, this family will cease to exist. I want to make sure of it."

"You won't kill him." I informed the poor child. I was tired, I'd spent the last hour non-stop killing them and now as the battle came to an end I didn't have the energy in me to deal with this.

She scoffed, "I can try."

It was only a moments hesitation and the blade she held pierced threw my back to my front, taking one look at the dagger I figured it was all or nothing at this point. "I won't kill you," I stepped towards her which shocked her seeing as she'd impaled me, "I don't care enough to do so."

"What the f-" she stopped speaking as her breath hitched in her throat due to my close proximity, I could feel my pulse quickly fading but the majority of my body was metal and until I let myself fall - I wouldn't.

"I wish you good luck," I smiled, "Though it will make no difference."

Dominic had managed to kill the entire Russian mafia, with that wife of his. He was a god. She pushed me causing me to stumble backwards into the wall and push the dagger further into my body, I coughed up the blood threatening to spill and gave her the stink eye.

Before I felt my heartbeat stop I managed only a few more words, "A man dies standing."

Stupid, yes. But I hadn't lived much of a life, I didn't have some inspirational sign off.

A/N: Sorry if you didn't want me to do that, but I've done it now so... at least the faves are still breathing! Love xx