“Do it,” Luna whispers from behind me, I didn’t even notice she walked up behind me. I raise my gun.
“Good night, Dad.” And fire one bullet right into his head.
Leo wails, falling into his chair with alarm. Dad’s limp body falls into his high back leather chair, in my spot. Grabbing him by the shirt, I pull him up, his dead weight heavier than I expected, and shove him onto the floor. Placing my gun in its holster, I sit in the chair that used to be his, and look out over the city. An imaginary crown atop my head.
Luna stands behind me, her hand on my shoulder.
“We did it,” she says lightly.
“We did. I’m the fucking Don, the goddamn king. I can run this crew however I want. For evil, good. Both.”
I mull over what I want to do first, but I can’t place just one thing. I know organized crime will come with its violent delights, but I would like to do some good with this position. I want to make sure there is never another trafficking ring in my city. Ever. I think it will bring more respect than any man that sat before me.
“Well if you’re a don, and your brother is a don with his girl… won’t that mean you’re enemies?”
I turn in the chair and look up to her. She’s right, technically we are up against each other, we should be fighting over clients and territory. Hate will breed, and our children will grow up like the Hatfield and McCoys, their only mission in life will be to hate and kill one another. I never thought about it that way.
“Do you think that’s why he didn’t bring his men?” Keeping the lines divided makes a strong statement.
“Possibly…” she whispers.
“You stole your father’s spot, kid. What are you thinking?” Leo asks from the other side of the desk.
I scowl, his comment annoying me. Maybe I should just kill him too.
“Yeah, well, he’s a beautiful thief,” Luna rebuttals.
Licking my lips, I stare Leo down. “You’re either in or you’re out. Which is it?” I give him an ultimatum. Take me as the new king, or get out.
He shakes his head and stands. “No, I’m loyal to the DeAngelos. Always have, always will.” Respect in his tone has me tilt my head to the side.
“Good,” I clip. Welcome to the shit show, Uncle.18LunaRiding back to the apartment, I feel different, I feel… relaxed. Maybe because I’m safe. There’s nobody out here that wants to take me in, or try to sell me for money. I’m no longer an object, but a human being. With every last breath of the people we killed tonight, it pumped my lungs with life. I’m so grateful that I met Romeo, he brought me out of a darkness and into a light I never want to leave again. I couldn’t have done any of this without him.
Watching him drive back to the apartment, his window is down so a light breeze blows his hair around. He has one hand on the steering wheel, and one on his thigh. He’s covered in blood and chaos, one look at him and you’d guess he’s crazy but… he’s beautiful. I want to stay with him, to see what unfolds, but I know I need to get out there and find some independence. I don’t want to be some girl that lives off of him not knowing what’s out there. Otherwise, what was the point of escaping?Waking up this morning, I find Romeo out of bed already. His spot in the mattress from where he sleeps permanently dipped, I slide my hand over to find it cold. He’s been up for a while. Slipping off the bed, the sheet wrapped around my naked body I step out of the bedroom and find Romeo in the kitchen, putting an orange bottle of pills up into a cabinet above the stove.
“Taking your meds?” I ask, sliding onto a stool at the kitchen island. He turns, his bare chest a little scratched up from the war last night.
“It’s for the best,” he mutters, offering a bowl of sliced fruit for breakfast. He sets it between us. It occurs to me that I should probably see a doctor now that I’m out. Being kidnapped as long as I have my emotions have been all over the place but I didn’t really have time to over think if I was normal or not. Now that I’m free, that will change. I will change.
Taking a slice of watermelon, I bite into it, the juice dripping down my chin.
“So, what now?” he asks with a grim tone.
Finishing my fruit, I lick my lips and stare back at him.
“I guess I go and live like a normal person.” I shrug before sitting back on the stool. “I need to find a place to stay, and to work.”