THE MYSTERIOUS PROTÉGE

10 years ago. I stood very still, just as I was taught. I took a deep breath through my nose then released it slowly through my mouth as I concentrated on the target before me. I would like to have my phone in my hand instead I have a gun, aiming it at the target. I fired, I could smell the gun powder in the air, I missed the target by a quarter of an inch. “You missed.” Aster Morelli, my mother, said. “By a quarter of an inch.” I said with a sigh. “And that's the problem, that in itself could have gotten you killed.” She said, “you should take shallow breaths, you take deep ones and that messes with your aim.” “Or maybe I'm just tired. We have been here the whole afternoon.” I complained. “Because you don't get it right.” She insisted. I was about to speak when someone else beat me to it, “give the girl a break babe, I believe she's earned it.” Luca Morelli, my father spoke up. “Thank you.” I said as I cleared out the bullet in the chamber. “Normal 15-year olds are out at the mall shopping for clothes they might not even wear yet I'm cooped up in this target range, shooting target as though I'm going to war.” I said making my father laugh, my mother gave him a hard stare that made him quiet down, I smirked. “Dahlia you're the daughter of a Mafia leader. You need to know how to protect yourself, we won't always be there to protect you.” My mother said softly, she then looked at my father, “why are you here?” She asked him. “It's almost 7pm, we have the meeting with the members…” He reminded her. “Oh, I forgot about that.” My mother said as she took out her ear guards. “Finally, we're leaving.” I said putting my gun down. “Ah ah ah... Not so fast. I'm leaving you have to learn some defense moves with Mario, now go get ready.” My mother said sternly. I looked at my father for support but he just shrugged, I sighed then left. I personally didn't see why I had to learn all these things when they still had bodyguards for me everywhere I went, not that I went anywhere. I couldn't go to a normal school; my mother was too paranoid for that so I was homeschooled. I couldn't have friends unless my mother had run a thorough background check on them, in short my mother took the fun out of everything I wanted to do. She was the owner of a well-known clothing line, so I didn't get to go out for clothes shopping, the clothes were brought to me. I didn't know whether she was pampering me or just wanted to keep me from going out to the actual world. I couldn't go outside of the compound by myself, we lived in a massive estate. I had walked around a lot and still hadn't managed to cover half of it. I entered the room that was set up for me to practice my defense moves, Mario was already there warming up at the punching bag. He was so handsome he made the 2-hour long lessons tolerable that reminds me of the other rule my mother set up, I wasn't allowed to have a relationship with any of the staff but looking at Mario's muscles as he threw each punch I was about ready to climb this man like a tree. “You're finally here.” Mario said when he finally spotted me bring me out of my thoughts. “Not like I have much of a choice.” I said dropping the gym bag on the floor. “You won't be learning anything with that attitude.” Mario said with a smirk. I entered the padded area, “I guess you didn't get enough ass whopping from me yesterday.” I said with a smirk. He laughed, “I guess we both remember yesterday differently.” He said, “let's begin, shall we?” He asked as he changed his stance to one ready for a tackle. He pinned me down in less than a minute, I got up quickly not accepting defeat but I was back down in a minute. “What were you saying about ass whopping?” He asked as he was still above me and I was pinned to the ground. I smirked then I gently licked my lips, “Mario,” I said softly, “I'd let you whop my ass any day.” I said seductively. I guess this is why it was so interesting to train with him, the teasing we get to do with each other. He smiled but before he could answer someone else spoke up, “Mario? I'd tread carefully around that one. She's a sly one.” I didn't need to turn look to know who was speaking. “I guess one can't get privacy in a house filled with people.” I said my eyes still on Mario who was quick to get away from me. “No, you can't.” Antonio, one of my parents trusted handyman said. He then looked at Mario, “you know she's 15, a minor and more so the boss’ daughter. She's always hands off.” Antonio said. “That's going to be hard for him to do when he has to touch me to teach me.” I said with a chuckle. “Miss Dahlia please don't get him fired.” Antonio said. “I wouldn't dream of it. I'd rather look at his fine ass than your old ass.” I said as I picked up my gym bag. “Hey we're not done yet.” Mario said as I was leaving. I stopped by the door, “you already turned me on Mario, if I stay you'll definitely get fired.” I said with a smirk then I left. I entered my massive bedroom that I was always redecorating each year I grew up, now it was all grey with a few posters of the band or actor I liked most, typical. I dropped the bag on the bed, played my music then turned the volume up. I was about to get to the shower when someone banged on the door, I rolled my eyes who is it now I wondered. “Turn your music down.” Alessandro Morelli, my older brother, said when I opened the door. “Why are you still here? Aren't you supposed to go the meeting with Dad and mom?” I asked with a raised eyebrow and crossed hands. His jaw tightened, I chuckled, “they didn't want you there, did they?” I asked. “That's none of your business, point is I'm here and your music is too loud so turn it down.” He said and stormed off. I closed the door and turned down the music because if I'm being honest it was a bit loud. I got in the shower, relaxing a bit as I heard my songs. By the time I got out of the shower it was almost 8pm, I wonder why no one has called me down for dinner. I got dressed in warm clothes and went downstairs but no one was there, I went to the kitchen. “Alyssa, where is everyone?” I asked the lovely old lady that had worked for us since I could remember. “Your parents still aren't back. I haven't seen the young sir either all afternoon.” She said. “Alessandro is in his room last time I checked.” I said. “Do you want me to prepare you something to eat?” Alyssa asked. “No. I'll go for a walk as I wait for my parents. Thank you though.” I said as I walked out of the kitchen. “Do you want me to get someone to go with you?” Alyssa asked. “I will be in the compound so it should be fine.” I said offering her a smile, I put on my headphones and walked out of the house. I was trying to find a song to play when I heard some people arguing, I couldn't make out what they were saying or where they were so I tiptoed looking around until I spotted them, Antonio and another man who I couldn't see clearly. “...tell us how they move the product.” Antonio asked the man who was on the ground with his face bloody. “I would never betray the Morelli family, Antonio. And you…” He turned to the other man, “…you should be ashamed of yourself for turning against your family.” His family? I wondered, what did he mean by his family? “My family?” The man asked angrily and I recognized the voice almost immediately it was Alessandro my brother! “The family that does not want me to help run this empire,” he chuckled manically, “claiming I'm not yet mature and responsible, huh? I'll show them how mature and responsible I can get. Now tell us how they get the product into the country.” Alessandro said grabbing the man's shirt. He shook his head, “the Morelli family has been good to me and I, Matteo Russo, won't say anything.” “I guess we must take drastic measures then,” Alessandro said taking a gun out, “tell me now!” He yelled. Matteo chuckled, “kid I've been threatened by way worse than a gun.” Alessandro chuckled looked at Antonio then shot the man on the leg, I drew my breath shocked but quickly covered my mouth. Then there was silence, I tried to slowly crawl away but I was grabbed by the hood of the jacket I was wearing. “What the hell are you doing here Dahlia?” Alessandro asked, “did mom and dad sent you to spy on me?” “No. But I'm definitely going to tell them what you're up to.” I said. “You have to take care of her we can't risk having her going to tell Luca and Aster. They're going to kill me and God knows what they'll do to you.” Antonio said. I guess you can never really know anyone I thought once I heard what Antonio said. “They you'll have to take care of her.” Alessandro said, “she’s my sister I can’t just kill her.” Alessandro added. I guess the money was more important than my life. “I work for them I can't just disappear it would raise questions.” Antonio said, he took the gun from Alessandro’s hand, “take care of her.” He said hitting me with the back of the gun making me pass out.