Prologue

1960

Marlia was summoned to her father's study, for the life of her she couldn't understand as to why he would summon her this late at night. The second she stepped inside the office she knew why she was in here this late. Across from him sat a man, a man that she secretly loved since the day she was 16 year's old. When she was first told about someone who was chosen for her. The man stood up and turned toward her, he walked till he was right in front of her, he picked up her hand, kissed the back of it and placed a ring on her ring finger. She was just standing there speechless, not knowing what to do or say even. The one thing she knew not to say was "I love you" her dad would have killed her right on the spot.

"I look forward to our wedding day Marlia. Everything has been planned and paid for, the date has been set and the invitations sent out. The only thing you need to do is get your dress." Treyvan said to her, but for the life of her she just couldn't understand why. Why now of all times, what is making this the perfect time for them to do this?

"You really don't know, come now dear, your 21st is coming up, and I would want the wedding to be on that day." Was her father's reply to her stunned silence

"Dad you of all people know we never married this early, why now?" Marlia asked her dad, but he just kept looking at her as if he was just seeing her for the first time in his life. Then she understood her mistake, she asked a question in the presence of another man, and questioning her father's judgement.

"I am sorry father; it seemed that I wasn't thinking before I spoke. I am sorry Treyvan. This action I took is not becoming of me. Thank you for the ring and for you taking me as your wife in marriage. I promise to show you how worthy I can be and that I will obey everything you tell me do." Marlia said as she kept her face towards to ground, looking neither her father nor her future husband in the eye. She knew that she made that one mistake right in front of her father, and he was such a stickler for rules. After she did that, her father looked at her for a few more seconds before he made a hand gesture for her to leave the room, which she did gladly.

"Now that she is gone, are you sure that you can do what have been discussed? You do know that once she marries you, she will be in charge of the family, and that you have to make sure that she will understand what needs to be done? Not only that, she will have to have an heir within the first year of your marriage. I know this is a lot of pressure that I am putting on you, but I know that you will be able to handle it." Kelly looked at Treyvan knowing that what lies ahead of them is not easy. Marlia can be a handful once she decided to do something and he should know, because he looked after her since her mother passed away when she was 10 years old. He knows her all too well, and he is trying to make sure that Treyvan knows what is going to happen.

"I am aware of that sir, I know that she can be a handful, and I am prepared to take that on. I made a promise to you that day and I plan to keep that promise. I want to tell you that I am ready for a family, but I am not really sure that your daughter is, seeing as she is still so young, I know that becoming the head of the family at such a young age can be very stressful on a young person, but I promise that I will help her where I can. If it is good will and faith that she is with child so soon in our marriage, then so be it. I know how it is supposed to be done sir, and I will try to keep to the code."

Three weeks after that meeting the wedding took place, precisely on her 21st birthday. Marlia felt that she is late, she consulted her doctor and he told her that it is just stress about becoming the new Donna of the family at such a young age. Little did they know that she is indeed pregnant. Never once did she confirm it with her dad nor her husband, it was only when she started to a show a bit that they knew. They kept it a secret until she was at least six months.

She had a bit of a scare when she was at seven months; she slipped on the frost that was thick on the ground. She called out to Treyvan really loud, once he was there; he picked her up and drove her to the hospital. Once they arrived it seems that the doctors were there waiting for them, looks like some of the family members called ahead to let them at the hospital know what is going on.

Jocelyne was born that night, if she had stayed longer inside of her mother, she would have died. At first Jocelyne was a model baby, never cried over things that wasn't needed, and as she grew up, she learned that if she ever wanted anything, all she had to do was ask. She wasn't vain enough to think that she was spoiled, but, she just knew what she wanted.

When Jocelyne turned 12 years old, she stared to hate her family, she knew that once she turns 21, her husband will be chosen for her, but she knew in her mind that it will not work for her.

On Jocelyne's 14th birthday, she decided to give the one thing a young girl and woman most value in her life, her virginity to her 17 year old boyfriend, when her parents and grandfather found out, let's just say she never saw him again, nor heard from him. Then on her 21st birthday, the same with her mother, she was supposed to marry someone who her father chosen for her, only problem was, she had that person killed, because she wanted someone else. She wanted someone who she fell in love with, and that person was 27 year old Andrew.

Andrew worked for Treyvan and the head of the family never really trusted him, he allowed Andrew to work for him only because he knew how to get things done, but he made a lot of mistakes and Treyvan overlooked it all. But once he saw that the man who was supposed to marry his daughter didn't show for her wedding day, he made a decision and that decision was the worst one he ever made. He told Andrew to get ready, because his daughter needs to be married that day, and that is how Andrew got what he wanted. He got Jocelyne thinking that he would be head of the family, never mind the old man still sitting in the chair.

No one saw what would happen next, especially not Treyvan. He knew that Andrew wanted to do something and what he did sent the family into a spiral. The first time that he ever saw his grandchildren was when he was told he has 2, one boy and one girl. The boy Chris was 8 years old and his granddaughter was just about to turn 1. Jocelyne came into his study and told him things that would have made him grey if he didn't have so much already.

"Daddy, you do realize that when I was married I was supposed to take over the family right?" Jocelyne said to her dad, but the old man just stared at her.

"Do you really think that I would hand over the reins to that husband of yours? You had the man killed who was supposed to marry you. Why do you think I never included either of you in the family matters? Because both of you betrayed us. Your mother never even once saw you after you married, she cries herself to sleep each night, and she misses you." Treyvan relied to her in an ice cold voice, something that would have made a lesser man cry.

Before she could answer her father the door burst open and slammed against the wall. Andrew stormed in and right behind him was very young man, looking like he was made out of ice. His name is Vlademir, Vlad for short.

"I am sorry to interrupt Boss, but I caught this man trying to steal from the family. When he tried to flee with the items me and some others stopped him and we got everything back, but before we could do anything he ran here." Vlad spoke with hard deep voice that would make you feel goosebumps on your entire body.

"Thank you Vlad, you did well, can you please collect mother for me, she needs to see this?" Treyvan had an instinct to call his wife mother when he was talking to his men, all of them respected Marlia and for them to call her 'mother' sometimes just made her smile. Vlad just nodded his head and left the room. He left the rest of the guards there while he went to retrieve their "mother".

"Do you really think that I would let this go? That I would allow you two to steal from your own family? Even after I knew that taken Andrew in was a mistake, but at least he got the jobs done that I needed. Even after everything we did for you, you do this to us. I knew things would turn out bad after I had to get rid of that boyfriend you had when you were 14, after that day, you were just a rebel, defying us at every turn, not doing what we asked you to do." Treyvan went on to yell at his own daughter, while her husband was just standing there never even thinking that his father-in-law can be this kind of man.

He knew that he has a bad side, and he has seen it too many times for his mind to comprehend, but this, is not something that he would have ever guess would happen. And while everyone was just looking at each other Marlia walked into the room with Vlad behind her. And behind him, was another man, one no one ever saw. Ivan was his name, some called him Vanya, it is a Russian nickname if you will.

"Ivan, please take a seat, Treyvan, darling calm down and come sit next to me. And you two sit down." Although Marlia's voice was soft, everyone heard what she said. She took her rightful place at the head of the table with her brother and husband next to her. One thing about this family, the women is always in charge, they make the decisions, and the men, well, they execute them.

"I heard from Vlad that you two wanted to steal form us? All you had to do was ask Jocelyne, but it seems that I was a bit too lenient with you as a child. You got what you wanted even if you never really asked for it. Once we got you started on training you hated it, and you refused to continue with it. I should have known that this would be the outcome. For that, I am really sorry to say this, but you are banned from this family, you may never return and the children will be taken away from you. They are after all mafia children and they need the family to guide them on the right path. Your husband will be killed for the treason he committed to this family. That is my final answer, I will not speak again. The guards have already started to pack your things, the children will be moved to our wing and yours will be cleared out. Your husband will be taken to the shooting grounds where he will be executed and you will watch."

The more Marlia spoke the harder it got for herself to contain herself. But once she was done, she stood up, her husband and brother next to her, she took Jean's hand and he willingly went with her. Vlad stepped closer to Marlia and handed Marina over to her, and with that he stepped away, but keeping an eye on his young mistress. He knows that when she is old enough to take over she will be a powerful force.

Everything after that happened in a blur, Andrew was taken by force and pulled out of the house by the guards, you could hear him screaming that he will have his revenge. Jocelyne just stood there, not knowing what to do, her husband was about to get killed and she was banned from the house for the rest of her life and her children, she will never see them again. Jocelyne took one look at her family standing before her and she made up her mind, she will not leave things like this. She grabbed the fire poker that was next to her and she charged at her own mother, with murder in her eyes. Chris saw what his mother wanted to do and he pushed his own grandmother away, not really seeing to where he pushed her. She fell with his baby sister still in her arms, hitting her head against the corner of the table. Marlia made sure that her precious granddaughter didn't get injured and in turn she was the one who got hurt the most.

Ivan ran to his sister's side, he had to make sure that she was not dead, they can't afford that anything must happen to her now, for there was a big project that needed her attention. But when she didn't move, not even making a noise he knew that something was wrong. He pulled Marina from his sisters arms and gave her to Vlad with a look that told him to make sure she is alright. He pulled his cellphone from his pocked and called for the doctor, telling him to come quickly, their Donna has fallen.

"Take my daughter with her husband and kill them at once. For what they have done, that would be a mercy killing." Treyvan shouted and the guards took his daughter from his sight and dragged her to where they were getting ready to shoot Andrew.

Treyvan walked toward his wife and brother-in-law knowing that it is a sad to him so broken, he worshiped the ground his sister walked on, even though he is older, just like with Chris and Marina, but for now, he will push that idea aside. His wife needed him more.

"Vlad take the kids to their new rooms, and make sure that Chris understand why his new name will be Jean. We can't let other people find out the truth of who they are." Treyvan said with his back still to them.

"I am sorry for pushing gram, I didn't know that she would fall like this, I really didn't. I just didn't want my baby sister to get hurt." Chris cried while stand next to Vlad, where he little hand had a fist full of Vlad's pants.

"It's alright my baby boy, you were just protecting both of them, grams just fell down badly, don't worry. She will be alright soon." Treyvan knew it was bad to lie to his grandson, but the poor child already felt so bad that he didn't want to make it any more worse. He pulled him closer, placed a light kiss on his cheek and pushed him back to Vlad who just nodded his head. Vlad took Chris's hand and he pulled him out of the room, taking them to their new rooms.

"Treyvan, she is losing her pulse, and I don't know what is going on, the doctor should have been here, and most of the guards are not even at their posts. Something doesn't feel right. I will take her to the hospital myself and I will leave to go the plant. I need to make sure that her plans are still going as she predicted." Ivan said, not even caring if he sounded dead in his own ears. All he knew is that his baby sister is about to die, and all because of his niece, who wanted the family so bad that she didn't care what happens. Good thing that she is about to be killed.

2002

12 year Marina stood outside of her grandfather study, she knows that she is not supposed to be there when he is conducting business deals. The only family she grew up with is her grandfather Treyvan; she was told that her parents and older brother died when she was just a baby. She was taught that family means everything, so at a very young age she began her training; Treyvan decided that he will not make that same mistake again. He pushed Marina hard with her training, and apparently she loved it. She excelled in everything he threw at her, the one thing he was hesitant to do, was to make her disarm a bomb, he was scared that anything could happen, but even that she excelled in. So, when she asked him if she can go this exclusive all-girls school in Cape Town, he said yes. Never even blinked at the price for the school tuition. Nor the housing or school clothes, whatever she wanted, she got, only because she never really asked for much. Only his attention and love, and that is something that she got enough of.

She also grew up with a few boys older than her, two in particular, Alexei and Jean. If they were home for school vacations, she would pester them to play with her, and Jean knowing who she really is always did so, it took a little convincing for Alexei to join them, but when Jean one day told his best friend who that girl really is, he never once waited till she asked again. He would sometimes wait for her, and when he was with her, her face would brighten up each time she would see him. She fell in love with Alexei since she was 10 years old, but never told him because he would soon be 18, and probably have a girlfriend.

Just before she left for her new school to get away from Alexei, she ran to Jean's room to cry, but when she got there he was also in Jean's room, she turned around and ran to her room, slamming the door behind her. Jean took off after his sister to make sure that she will be fine, it broke his heart to see her crying.

"Marina, open up, it's me Jean. Come on little one, I just want to make sure you are okay. Treyvan asked me to make sure, he heard you crying and then slamming the door. Alexei is worried too you know." Jean didn't know what is going on with his sister, but he know it has to be serious. He heard the lock click and the door opened. She looked around and then pulled him inside. Once he is in her room, she closed it and locked it again. She threw herself the small distance that was between them and she cried and cried. Jean just pulled her close and her tight. He was really close to tell her who he is, but he knew that if he tells her now, she would be mad, and she can hold a grudge against anyone, just ask Vlad, he has been on her crap list since she was 10. So for the last 2 years every time she sees Vlad, he gets her cold shoulder, and they still don't know why and Vlad is not saying anything.

"Hush now little one, it's okay, I know it is scary to leave the house and going to a new place, but I promise you, we will come and visit okay? Or when you have school vacation you can come home, and I promise that I will be here waiting for you." Jean tried to placate her, but she still cried.

"H-how am I-I to lea-leave the house, w-when I am i-in lov-love with him?" Marina asked with tears in her eyes and voice. Jean had an idea of who she spoke of, but it is not his place to say.

"Little one listen to me, he will be here, and I promise that he loves you too. He is just afraid right now. Treyvan will kill him if he does anything he is not supposed to do. You don't see how he looks at you when you are not looking, he misses you too. You haven't spent much time together, and for that I am sorry. But once you are back home, where you belong, I promise that we will spend all the time in the world together." Jean said with a very thick throat, he knows that he will not see her for a very long time. Both Alexei and him were going away on training, and he just hope that she will not be that mad at them.

The next morning Marina got in the limo that will take her to the private part of the Airport where a private jet would be waiting for her. None of them knew what would await them for the next 8 years. In those few years that she would be gone, a lot of things would happen inside the family and no one would expect what would happen when she comes back.