Damon

"I don't understand" Sophia said breaking the hug

"Three years later my mom died in a tragic car accident. Her breaks failed and car ran off the bridge. She drowned." "Oh my God I am so sorry " she said "Yeah worst part, I wasn't home. I was there at Russo's getting trained. In those three years I learned every aspect of being a hitman. My shooting improved my hands still used to shake though but I managed to hit the target. I became a good fighter though. I was the champion of street fighting in my high-school. I remember I had my first fight almost a year later after my mom's funeral in the ring at fifteen." I told her.

"At the funeral my Dad decided since Ric is now eight its time for him too to get started with training and I remember this big fight I had with Dad to keep Ric away from this. I put my foot down and was ready for any punishment whatsoever to keep Ric and Laeila away from this. I made a deal with Dad and I promise to succeed him to serve Russo family only if he agrees to let Ric and Laeila off the hook or he won't get me too. I was not going to allow my kids to be a part of a world that dark. Its been three years yet I cannot get over killing Dante and I could never let Ric go through this. Because no child should go through this. No one is a born murderer and it should not be anyone else's decision to turn a child into a killer. "It was what we are born into. Your grand dad followed I did and you are doing it and Ric should do too" my dad argued with me. "Dad you even think of dragging them into this and I promise you I will run away from here with them and trust me you and your so called Mafia family will not be able to find us." Dad was kind of broken with mom's death and hence didn't put much of a fight. He let me have them. I started staying here. I mean of course school and training was there but instead of living there and come home on weekends I started living here and so did Dad. With Violet gone and mom gone dad asked Rose to help out with children and she did. Dad and I used to come home daily so that they didn't feel abandoned. Dad kept his word and didn't dragged them. Though they know what we are but they were not the part of it.

"Years passed and Enzo and I started our jobs instead of training. As in we started being part of the cartel. I saw Giovanni retire and his son Matteo took over when he was 30. He however, goes by the name Russo. Familiar with the name?" I asked her with a sarcastic chuckle. "I heard once or twice" she responded in the same manner and I chuckled a bit. I continued further.

"Russo was considered as the manwhore of his cartel. He was smart, cunning and a playboy. A druggie. He used to snort cocaine more than kids drink milk. But he was street smart. He know how to do business. He was hell of a negotiator and he was brutal when it comes to show his power. He was though a coward at heart I knew. He do whatever he does only because he was born a Russo. He could have never be the Don if it wasn't inheritance. He and I never got on well. We always tend to get involved on some kind of feud and I had to back down because he was the Don. He couldn't win me in fight so he always used to play this card.

Ric and Laeila started their high-school and then Laeila recognized that her passion is fashion designing. God she used to be so excited about this. I remember how her eyes used to sparkle when she used to sketch or sew a dress for herself. She was so passionate for this and I knew she had talent. I remember her coming to me to let her go and study in Paris for this course. "Brother there is no place better than Paris for fashion. Please tell me you will let me go. You know I have talent." she came to me to ask. "Have you asked Dad?" I asked her. "I am asking now" she said calling me Dad. I laughed. "What? I am not kidding. Brother you were always there before Dad. You were the one who taught us how to ride a bike. You used to stay up all night when I used to be down with fever. You took care of all my tantrums. I remember you buying me things before I even ask for them. You are the one who plays piano for me to sleep. You always protected us. You are more dad to me than dad. And the only thing I am scared of is letting you down brother." She said. "Come here" I called her and hugged her."My princess can never let me down. Show me your designs and I will think if you deserve to go to Paris." I said to her. "Seriously after such speech I have to prove you with my designs." She said frustrated because I kind of called on her. I laughed and said "Yes kiddo. You seem to forget I am not stupid. Now go bring your portfolio let's see what you have in you" I said to her. I mean of course I would have send her but I wanted to teach her that she needs to make herself worthy too. If she wants to fulfill her dream she needs to work for it and I needed time to review this school of hers. As in how safe it was to send my baby sister there. She did real good work. She put in a lot of effort in her designs and the school checks out too. So I gave her permission to go. She was so happy. I remember her jumping and dancing around the house telling everyone. She was so happy. I told Dad about this and he was okay too. He loved her way too much to say no. She was the only one dad never got angry at.

She left for Paris and Ric started his high-school here. He never figured out what he wanted to do. I mean for a year it was football, then doctor, then he wanted to own a bar. The only thing he was sure of was his girlfriend with whom he used to sneak into the woods in that cabin. Caprice. He thinks I didn't know. Stupid kid.

It was summer break and Laeila came home. She came to meet me first directly from the airport. I was at Russo's and she came there. I was so happy to see my little girl. I bear hugged her as I saw her.

"Heyyy how are you pumpkin?" I asked her. " I missed you so much Brother. I am good. And I had so much to tell you. I already bragged a paid internship. Can you believe it? And the school, its so great. I was so scared of being bullied or being the outcast you know because I am not French but God I made such good friends. And food oh my God I bet you can never have better macaroons than -" "Stop, stop, stop take a breath." And we laughed on her blabbering. "Hey Caprio didn't know your were into kids. But just so you know you wanna meet your girl, keep it out or are we all getting a round" I heard Russo's annoying voice. I gave him a look but it doesn't backed him down." Pumpkin why don't you go home kiddo, I will see you there" I said to Laeila. "Okay cool I will wait for you." She said and left.

I turned and as I passed Russo. "Nice rack nice ass" I just couldn't tolerate more and I punched him hard. "Are you crazy? Do you forgot who is the boss?" He shouted at me. "Not yet but you say one word against my sister and I will forget you are a human" I said holding his collar and left him with a jerk.

The summer went good. It was the day before she had her flight back when she left for shopping and then...

"Then what Don?" I realized I kind of dozed off at Sophia's voice. I looked at her and she waiting for me to proceed and I don't know why but I just kept looking at her. I couldn't find the words. Nothing I can say that can explain what happened. "Damon?" She asked again.

"Yeah...yeah..then...then she didn't come back. Something else did". I said. "I don't understand " she said confused. I found myself struggling with words again. So I took her hand " Come".

Its better if I show her.