*Jackson's P.O.V*

"I'm not your enemy son," Jeff sighed. " Don't look at me like that"

Ever since I was little there's been three stages of my anger. Level one is internal —solely based on my emotions. Level two is where everyone can see the dark side within me and level three is where it gets physical. Nothing helps; not counting, not closing my eyes but one day Ashley managed to pull me out of it. I still don't know how. When I'm at level three I only listen to one voice, my Boss's voice. At that level I can't trust myself because I make rash decisions. However I think there's another voice that I—

" Save your anger for the battlefield like I taught you. We don't have much time." Jeff urges.

Everyone remained quiet so he continues.

" Me and Susan had been trying to have a baby for years — I even considered to have one of my pleasers bear my child but I loved Susan too much. When she announced she was pregnant I was so certain it would be a boy that I bought a lot of male clothing. We didn't check the gender because I 'knew' it was a boy. When Ashley was born...man was I surprised," He paused to take a sip of water. "I guess I must've looked too devastated because her birth ruined our marriage"

I looked around the table, everyone had the same thought as me I know.

Poor Ashley.

" Don't get me wrong," Jeff continued. " I loved her with all my heart and still do but Susan was heartbroken by my disappointment. We made a deal before Ashley was born that if it was a girl we'd keep trying but Susan wouldn't even look at me afterward."

"One day," Jeff smiled sadly. " I was having one of the many heated discussions you have to look forward to Jackson. I'm almost certain it was another Mafia leader but I believe Ashley thinks it's her grandfather. She came into my office...she was so young and she just wanted to play with her dad. She accidentally broke something and I snapped at her the look she gave me was just like the look her mother constantly gives me. I couldn't take it. Them hating me became the perfect opportunity for me to fully immerse myself as a Mafia Boss. It was my chance to leave —end the marriage for good. Since I wouldn't get a son I'd have to create one. I knew that the other Mafia leaders would be upset if they found out my only child is a girl."

"Yeah we all know the story about Rosella —women are too gentle, too kind to rule a famiglia so large," Marco interjects. " If the others found out you only have a daughter with no plans for a son they would—"

" Deem your bloodline weak and try to rule that community" I ball my fists.

" Jackson some people won't respect you because you aren't truly my son but you can make them," Jeff adds. " I told you Ashley's story so you can tell her what I was too scared to say and because it connects to your own story. What do you remember of your parents?"

Everyone looks at me. " Um, they were kind, sweet—"

"Where did they die?" He pushes.

" Uh—"

"Was it here? or was it in Italy?" He urges.

" I don't..." My mind buzzes.

" How did they die?" He asks.

" A sniper. Someone—"

" Have you ever wondered why your name isn't italian?"

Everyone catches their breath. Aiden pales as if it's all coming together.

" What? I never really..."

" Now that you mention it," Charles began. " Jackson Miller sounds like an average American name. It's certainly no Donatello" He chuckles.

" Oh and Charles is such a ladies man name?" Zara rolls her eyes, speaking for the first time.

I look down at my hands. I'm not angry anymore but i'm very much confused. I was pretty young when my parents died and...it's all kind of blurry to be honest but—

" Jackson your real Mom died when you were 3 years old. In Italy. Being a Mafia Boss...you make a lot of enemies. When people who owe you money don't want to pay they try to kill you, or when you're forced to turn someone's daughter into a whore...they look for your daughter, or your wife. That's what happened to your mom. I didn't really know her but Vito was so in love with her —she went everywhere he did." He pauses and locks eyes with me. " I'm assuming you and my daughter now have that same relationship"

My cheeks grow warm. Do we? am I...in love?

Jeff continues. " I don't oppose it. I actually hoped you'd start liking each other which is why I made you roomates. You could have just been a behind the scenes bodgyguard type but I knew Ashley would be forced to live in my world one day and...who better to look after her than the future Boss? I had to make her off limits because Jackson, everyone wants what they can't have." He smiles genuinely. " If you two get married no one can question your position as Mafia Boss because your wife will be your connection to the bloodline"

I don't know how to feel about this. He didn't force us together but it's almost as if he knew. If I know Ashley at all I know she'd be pretty upset to know her father planned this whole thing. You gotta hand it to him. He's smart.

" If my Mom died in Italy, how did I...?"

Jeff starts wheezing again and Zara slips out of the room. The same woman that helped him before walks in and slides another pill between his lips. She notices me watching and smiles apologetically.

" He doesn't have much longer i'm afraid"

" I don't need long just—"

" Do those pills help you or hurt you?" I ask worried.

" They ease the pain son. They ease the pain." He takes a sip of water and clears his throat. " Now, pay attention. I'd hate to roll over and die right before I get to the good part"

Zara re-enters with diet cokes and a Nutribar for everyone. I thank her silently. We've been here for almost two hours now and my throat is really dry.

" Hmm, where was I?," Jeff thinks for a moment. " Right. Vito was devastated. Mafia Bosses are allowed to have women but it's frowned upon when they fall in love because they can be easily influenced by their lovers. Vito wanted to moved to America —he had plans to move for a while to expand his territory but his wife was American and she didn't plan on moving back anytime soon. So he stayed. When she died he moved and left you at her sister's doorstep. She raised you like her own with her husband."

" So my name...?"

" Your first name really is Jackson but Bianchi is your real last name. Since you were neglected and Your father wanted nothing to do with you, your Aunt —the woman you used to call 'Mom' changed your last name. Miller is your birth Mother's real surname. Hence you have that name. You have your Dad's olive complexion but a lot of your features belong to your Mom. Your temper came from all the hardships you were forced to endure." He frowns. " it's rumored that Vito's Dad sent henchmen after his son's wife because she 'clouded his judgement' he got stronger after she died but he became evil."

" So..." Santiago began. " That explains how his real mom died but what about...?" He trails of, not trying to cross a line.

" Well," Jeff sighed. " I think Vito killed them. The family never accepted the fact that Julia Miller ran off with a 'criminal' everyone blamed him and he knew it. He blamed himself too. It pained him to see her sister running around with you. He was jealous —that's the life he wanted. I don't know if he killed them or had them killed but they died and you were left alone. Maybe you looked too much like your Mother for him to murder you"

The air is so thick I feel like I might suffocate.

" Jackson," Jeff's voice sounds weaker and weaker each minute. " He's after Ashley because he knows she's my only child and the backlash from that will give him the the opportunity to expand his territory. You're a Mafia Boss whether you want to be or not. He won't let you take over because he no longer has your Mother —the Mafia is his life now. That's what his father wanted. He's always known you were alive. He's always known you were with me but now that he knows about Ashley he wants to kill her to take what's mine. When he learns i've passed my title over to you —if he hasn't already. He will try to kill you also. You can't be the Bianchi Mob Boss because he has that title and you can't be the—"

" Oh right!" Aiden chirps. "I know your last name isn't really Sunshine"

" No," Jeff looks past me into the distance. As if the past is projected on the wall behind me. " It's a nickname. Susan used to call me that because I was always happy. My famiglia picked it up as an ironic joke and started calling me that also. My real surname is Sulliano —when I was a kid people called me Sully."

" My brain feels like its frying from all this info" Zara groans. Everyone mutter their agreements.

" Alright then, you're all dismissed" Jeff concludes the meeting. Everyone gets up.

" Wait," I call out. They all pause. " Zara I'd like you to find Ashley and look after her until you hear back from me"

" I'm doing this as a favor. Not 'cause you're my boss or anything" She leaves.

" Aiden as my second in command i'd like you to check most of our facilities and make sure everyone has heard the news of my inauguration...and are still loyal"

"Consider it done" He leaves.

" Santiago you may leave but listen out because I may call you. Charles, Marco—" I face them both. " I need you to head home as soon as possible and prepare for war. I have a plan"

They nod and leave me alone with Jeff. His rich italian complexion is fading to gray like his hair. Yet he manages to smile at me warmly.

" What is it?" I ask as I wheel his chair out to hand him to the nurse.

" You're gonna make a great leader and a wonderful husband," He pauses. " Tell my daughter I have no regrets about having a girl. If I could change it...I wouldn't. Let her know I love her"

" You can tell her yourself when you see her" I say firmly. It feels like he handed me this position just so he can die.

" Jackson?" He says. His voice a whisper now. I freeze.

" I'll be expecting grandkids soon" His head tilts forward and stays there.

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