The Beginning (The Life 1)

“I’m right outside the door Gianna, get dressed and come to me when you’re done.” My mind was clearing up enough that I could hear engines running outside and men’s voices coming from the driveway and downstairs where I’d left the mangled door.

“You haven’t answered me; what are you doing here? How did you get into my house?” I didn’t look at her, didn’t acknowledge either of them, in fact. I was too busy teaching myself how to breathe without choking on anger with each breath.

I waited for the door to open behind me, then took her hand and headed for the stairs. The mother stepped in our way. I think I forgot she was there for a second. What the fuck? Something, a soft whisper somewhere deep inside me, uttered Gianna’s name as if urging me to focus on her and her alone.

“She can’t go anywhere with you unless I say so.” I leaned in close enough to count her lashes. “If you don’t want me to fuck you down those stairs headfirst, you’d get the fuck, out of my way.” Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes filled with something approaching fear.

She didn’t or couldn’t move, so I pushed her gently out of the way. Victoria still wore a smirk on her face until I checkmated her with my signature smile. The coldness of it had the smirk sliding off her face, and she hid behind her mother.

“You better hope and pray she doesn’t lose even one strand, yeah!” I kept walking until we reached the first step heading down. “Victoria, you really should’ve listened to me. Come on, Gianna, let’s go.” I made my way downstairs to find Pop standing in the entryway with half his team outside on the driveway. “You, okay? You hurt?”

“She is!” He looked her over but didn’t ask any questions.

“Let’s get out of here before one of the neighbors thinks it’s a good idea to get three-digit happy.” His voice was as calm as mine, but I could see the worry that was only just starting to fade from his eyes. I’d left the car door open, and maybe I’d imagined turning it off because it was still running.

I helped her into the passenger seat and belted her in before closing the door. A newcomer pulled into the driveway, and her dad stepped out of the car, looking around at all the strange men in his driveway. “What’s going on? Mr. Russo? Was there an accident or something?” I ignored him and walked around the car, leaving Pop to deal with him.

He looked through the tinted window and recognized her, but by the time he opened his mouth to say something, I was pulling out. “You’re going to be okay.” She looked like she was in shock, still shaking but no more whimpers. I reached for her hand and held it feeling grounded for the first time since I heard her scream.

I pulled into the driveway to find my whole family, minus Pop standing outside on the large marble porch. I walked around and lifted her from the car as they came running. The questions came hard and fast then as I tried to get through them.

“She’s fine; I’ve got her.”

“What happened to her? Did she fall? Why did you run out of the house like that? You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Ma, I need you to call the stylist and tell her you need her earlier tomorrow morning; the earlier, the better.”

“Why? What happened?”

“There’s glue in her hair.”

One of the twins screamed, or was it both? “Was it that bitch Victoria?” Anna asked as I walked by them into the house. “Don’t.” The footsteps that started to follow came to a stop, and I made my way up the stairs to my room alone with her. I put her to sit on the bed and walked into the bathroom to turn on the tub.

I think I was moving on autopilot, not quite sure of my moves, just doing everything by rote. My mind was crystal clear, though, and I knew what was most important right now, taking care of her. My rage was like a separate part of me. I could feel it beating away inside, wanting to be heard, screaming to be let out, but I kept it in check because taking care of the girl who was still shaking with emotion comes first.

“Come take your bath.” I held out my hand, which she willingly took, and led her into the next room to the bathtub. “I’ll find something for you to wear.” I turned and left the room.

DRACO

Well, fuck! I guess my son became a man tonight. But how is the boy so much like me? That shit can’t be learned. I thought it was hereditary. But I know that look; cold, emotionless, with precise heightened intelligence in every move. How the fuck do I fix this?