chapter 1

LYXARIA

Once again I ran out of the house. The first time was two weeks ago when my step sister made my father almost kill me. It was either I run or my father locks me up in the creepy old basement. I will rather go with my first option. The last time they were able to find me because I hadn't hidden well enough. Even up till now I still don't know where to go.

I take a seat on the side bench and watched the street. I saw a man and a woman holding their little daughter's hand as they walked down the street. This had never been me. My mom ran away when I was just six years old. I waited for her in school for so long and she never came. The most brutal way to leave a little child. By giving them hope and then taking it away at the last minute.

Some times I wonder how life would have been if my mother was still around. She never let my father hurt me and Instead she always got beaten up by my monstrous father in my behalf. We had good memories but time seems to make it go away. It's been a very long time. Seventeen years is enough to wipe away some memories. I might have even lost some of them during an incident with my step mother. When I fell and broke my head. I was in a coma for ten days and my dad never once came to the hospital to look for me. The doctor said that I had to be careful and any more intrusion in my brain could cause a real damage to me.

I did not bother recalling the past incidents as it made my head ache. At some point I gave up.

The memories I have of my mother are the ones my Grandma always tells me. Even though she gave birth to a monstrous son,my father. She has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. Her and Sage.

I would have gone to her house but I don't want her to be worried about me any more.

She's getting really old and her son does not even care about her.

All my father cares about is the rich men and money,and how to earn money at every given time.

I stayed on the bench thinking and reminiscing about the past and how things had become so tough that I did not know when I fell asleep.

LEONARDO

I sat in my car watching the streets of New York. I knew the San Francisco bratva has already entered our territory. It was only a matter of time before they reached where we were.

San Francisco and New York have been in constant war with each other right from the days when my father was the Captain of the NewYork Mafia. he has never been a good leader and that did not surprise me one but. He was never a good father either.

He was an incompetent leader and the Mafia had thoughts about me succeeding his role even though it was hereditary.

I had to prove myself and fought 50 San Francisco men all by myself with only a knife and a gun with a limited amount of bullets.

I watch the street intensely. I could already hear the bratva where close by. It was better to wait for them to come to you and kill them off once.

I looked around for anyone still wandering the streets. I had the news outing announce that a huge storm was coming so that all citizens will be safe in their house. I saw a young girl sitting on the side bench. She appeared to be sleeping.

I was going to ignore her as I had already announced all citizens should stay indoors.

She seemed lost and sad.

I'm not sure when I became someone that cares about people's feelings.

I quickly approached her and tried waking her up but she did not bulge.

I could already hear the bratva close by so I quickly carried her up and was walking back to my car.

I suddenly felt her move in my hands and the next thing I felt was her struggling to come down and punching my chest. I continue walking to the car as if I was notfeeling anything. I'm sure it's her hands that will ache her from punching my chest.

"Let me go!" She tried to struggle out of my hands.

I continued walking. Not even stopping.

"I said put me down. Are you deaf?" She demanded.

I let go of her and she landed but first on the ground. I saw the way her face contorted in pain as she stood up rubbing her butt.

"What was that for?" She asked rubbing her aching butt.

"You asked me to put you down and I did exactly that " i replied nonchalantly.

" I did not mean you should drop me like a heavy bag of cement." She complained.

I could not help but chuckle. " I'm not even sure you weigh more than chicken. You are so thin and easy to break."

I saw the way her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she puffed it.

" Where were you taking me to you kidnapper?" Nice way to change the topic.

" To my car" I answered ambiguously.

I saw the way her facial expression turned into one of shock and then anger.

"I can't believe you will take advantage of an innocent little girl." She puffed her cheeks.

"I guess I like little girls more. They make a good collection." I joked with her. I love the way her expression changes every time I said something.

"What were you going to do to me?" She asked hesitantly. I saw the slight fear in her eyes.

"I love collecting girls especially beautiful ones. So I was going to add you to my collection of girls"

I saw the way her face contorted in fear as she turned around and began walking back to the bench.

"I won't go there if I was you" I warned her seriously.

"Leave me alone you girl collector." She yelled at me.

I did not need to say anything more because she ran back immediately she heard the gunshot.

"What's going on?" She finally asked. "Is it the San Francisco Mafia"

I knew she was smart but I did not expect her to be so accurate.

"Yes it is. I need you to stay in the car and don't come out until I tell you to understood."

She nodded her head as she stepped into the car and squatted down.

"Don't raise your head if you don't want a bullet to pass through it."

I could see the fear that was in her eyes but other than that I did not see any other sign of fear.

"Where will you be?" She asked me as I was about to close the door.

"That shouldn't be your concern little lamb" I handed her the gun that was in my pocket and patted her head. I saw the look of confusion on her face but there was no time to explain further as I closed the door.

I locked it from outside so that no one will be able to open it from the outside.

I turned around to see Alfredo and my men approach where I was standing.

Alfredo my right hand man and advisor handed me another gun.

"I hope you all are ready.make no effort to spare anyone if you don't want a bullet travelling through your body." As soon as I had finished talking I saw someone run towards us pointing a gun at us. The next thing that happened was my bullet trapped between his forehead. That was such a dumb way to attack your opponent.