Is Trust Really Earned?

Savannah's POV They say that trust is hard to earn, but so easy to lose. How do you earn it back? You don't, that's how, that night, all I remember other than the blood was the pain of betrayal when the love of my life believed someone else over me. I watched as he raised his gun to my heart with a sneer on his beautiful face, then I watched him as he pulled the trigger like I meant nothing to him. When he stood over me and smirked, I knew I had lost him, but at that moment he lost me and that would most definitely be his biggest mistake. .... TEN YEARS EARLIER .... Savannahs POV It's my first day of high school and I'm so nervous. I'm so glad I will be going with Dante and Enzo will be there as well. Although I'm really upset that he will only be there for a year with us, then he leaves and starts his training. You see, during the summer I found out that my family and Dante's and Enzo's are two of the biggest mafia families. I also learned that Enzo and I would be getting married. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not happy because I am. I have been in love with him since I was old enough to know what love is. Dante, Enzo's brother, is my best friend, and they couldn't be more different. While Dante is soft and gentle, Enzo is sharp and rough. Dante is sweetness and smiles while Enzo is all brooding and seriousness, well to everyone but me. He has always treated me differently to everyone else. He has never smiled at anyone other than me. I hope he feels the same way as me, but I don't know, he has never said he loves me. He did, however, agree to the marriage, which must mean something right. I had no idea either of our families were criminals, but it does explain a lot. I was told my Father owned bars and hotels, Dante and Enzo's family-owned casinos and restaurants, or so I thought. Turns out my Father is the head of the Costa mafia family and Enzo, and Dante's Father is head of the Marino mafia family, two of the largest mafias in England. Now logic tells you that I should be scared, but I always knew there was something more to my family and the Marino's. I mean how many kids have four personal bodyguards. Where I go, they go no matter the time or day. The same for Dante. Enzo did as well, but he only has two now that he's nearly done with school. Mum and Dad know the kids at my school know all about Enzo and his family, so it would be only a matter of time before they find out about mine. My parents didn't want me finding out from anyone but them, that's why they told me this summer and it was a good job they did. As I walked in with Dante, everyone stopped and stared at us, they whispered to each other as we walked past them to meet Enzo.  By the second lesson, I was sick of all the fake girls coming over trying to make friends with me, all they really wanted was to get closer to Dante and Enzo. I knew that straight away with all of them, but two girls, Sasha and Nora, introduced themselves and asked me to sit with them at lunch. I looked at Dante and back at the girls and they rolled their eyes at Dante, then both shrugged "Doesn't he want to sit with his brother and their friends?" Sasha asked me, completely ignoring Dante.  I think it shocked us both. "I like these two, go sit with them. I'll be fine with Enzo." he said, shrugging his shoulders and chuckling a little. Both the girls shrugged at him, not bothered by his comments, Dante kissed my cheek before walking off to meet Enzo. Both girls looked at me with smirks. "It's not like that, his like my brother." I explained.  I don't know why I feel the need to, but I do. They both shake their heads. "She doesn't see it, does she?" Sasha asks Nora. Nora chuckles, looking at me. "Clearly not Sash." she says, still giggling. I look at them both confused. "You may see him as a brother, but he definitely doesn't see you as a Sister." Sasha says, giggling with Nora. I looked at them both shocked. "N, no.... No, he can't, I'm not his." I whispered, but the girls heard it. They both raise a brow at me. "What do you mean, you're not his?" Nora asks. I looked at them both. "I'm promised to Enzo, while I'm in college we will be engaged and married when I finish." I explained to them. "That explains it!" Nora says, almost smacking herself in the head. I looked at her even more confused. "What does it explain?" I asked her. She looks at me. "My Brother is in the same year as Enzo. He said Enzo never got into a serious relationship with any girls in school, even those that throw themselves at him. He has always bedded then ignored them, now I know why." she explains. I looked at her even more confused, wondering how she knew all this. Nora sees my face and shoves her hand towards me. I take it in mine, still confused "Nora Quinn, Irish mafia." she says to my now understanding face. My family are on good terms with the Irish mafia, not as close as we are with the Marino's, but still good none the less.  I'm about to introduce myself when Sasha stops me. "We know who you are, Savannah Costa, only child of Rocco and Valentina Costa. Didn't know about eventually becoming Marino though. Sasha Maguire, Irish mafia, my father is second in command." she says to a very shocked me. I like these girls already and I've only known them for two lessons, but I can see us being really good friends. Lunch went OK except for the number of snaky girls that tried to get me to introduce them to Enzo and Dante. Sasha and Nora definitely have mouths on them.   I never had to open mine once. I did laugh a lot at all the shocked faces of the other girls though. When I got home, I was fairly happy, today had gone OK. I made some new friends that chose to be my friends, and except for the homework, the lessons weren't too bad. After a few weeks at school, things started to settle down. All the girls trying to get close to Enzo and Dante have given up asking me, only because Enzo threatened them, but still, they left me alone for the most part. Because I didn't always know what our families did, I was never trained in anything. My parents thought it might be time, so I've been doing some self-defence and gun-firing training.  I seem to be a natural with a gun, not so much with self-defence though. I was getting better. Don't get me wrong, it was just really slow progress. I enjoyed it though. Well, when I wasn't getting my a**e handed to me. Most of the girls hate me now and try to bully me. Nora and Sasha normally chase them away. I tend not to be alone at school. If Nora and Sasha aren't with me, then Dante and Enzo are. This morning before I left for school, my dad said he had a surprise for me when I got home, so after school I practically bounced into the house and straight into my Mum. She chuckled as she grabbed my shoulders to steady me. When I could stand alone, she let go. "Where's the fire?" she asks, still chuckling. I looked at her with a wide smile. "Dad said he had a surprise for me after school, I want to know what it is." I replied happily. She chuckles again "Ahh that explains why he's at the shooting range." she says more to herself. Then she looked at me. "Well you better go then; you know your Dad doesn't like waiting." She was practically shooing me away. So, I spun on my heels and ran off laughing. I don't think my parents thought I would manage everything the way I have. I think they expected me to freak out a whole lot more than I actually did. I've taken to everything really quickly as well. OK, all except self-defence, which has gone a little slower. I am getting stronger. I'm just finding it tough; I was always the book girl that you would normally find sitting under a tree with my nose in a book. That has advanced me a lot in my education. You see, Dante is 2 years older than me. I was meant to start in year 7 but when the school realised my grades, they instantly moved me up 2 years, which means I only have 4 more years and only three without Enzo. Thanks to my smarts, my dad has started including me in some of the criminal side of the business. I've always helped with the hotel side of our business. I'm not only good with numbers, but I am good with technology. I'm one of the youngest hackers in the mafia now and, so far, I've done my Dad proud. I headed straight for the shooting range; I couldn't wait to see what he got me. When I got there, he was already shooting, so I waited for him to finish his clip before making myself known. When he turns to me, he has a soft smile for me "Principessa (Princess) how was school?" he asks softly. I returned his smile with my own "Same as yesterday." I shrugged at him.  His deep laugh warms my heart. "Just like me, I didn't like school either," he said. I looked at him shocked. "Um no Papa I love school; it's just I'm bored with the curriculum." I explained in a huff. My Dad laughs again "That's my girl, too damn smart for school." He finishes placing a kiss on my head. I looked at him expectantly. "Oh right your surprise, I want you to pass one more shooting test and then your training will be complete. If you pass, then you will only have to train twice a week, but you are free to come and go as you please as well." he says with a smile. I looked at him and bounced. I love shooting, so this is going to be fun. I go and gear up and pick up my favourite weapon, a Glock Inc 9MM, I head to the starting point and get ready because, knowing my dad, this is in no way going to be easy.  Rocco Costa POV As Savannah steps up to the starting point, I can't help but feel proud. I never expected her to take to this as well as she has. She has impressed me every step of the way. She is really hard on herself when it comes to fighting, but she is better than she thinks. Once she passes this test, I have got her her own gun. Well, two both Glock Inc's 9MM. She is going to be so happy, I've had them customised for her.  I can't wait to see her face when she sees them. I have no doubt she will pass this with ease. I'm so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't cover my ears before she took her first shot, and then she was off dodging and shooting. She gets to train with real people, not just targets. At first it was paintballs, then blanks. Now, though they are real bullets, everyone is suited up in the best bullet-proof gear in the world. Nothing will get through it. Fortunately, Savannah is good and doesn't get hit once.