Tenderness in a Snake’s Skin

It is very common in our family to live with your parents up until your 21 birthday and then they push you out of the nest and you take on the chapter of your own adult life. My dad, Salvatore Talon, however was in full swing trying to convince me that this tradition was ridiculous. “There is plenty of space in this house for all three of us sweetheart, you don’t need to flee just because your birthday is tomorrow” “Dad please, don’t make it sound like I’m my mother because I’m far from it” I respond trying to stay as calm as I can while also fighting back the tears welling up behind my eyes. “Was that really necessary Aria? You know how dad feels about us mentioning her, let alone when he’s already going through a hard time with you leaving” pipes in my younger sister, Amelia. She is one year younger then I and she kisses the floor my father walks on which has always helped make her the favored child. I have no doubt that my father loves both of us, but I have always been more resilient and slightly more defiant, while Amelia practically praises our father. “Girls please don’t fight if this is our last night as a family” my dad said with a frown “Dad with all due respect, we will still be family after this night. I’m moving across town not across the world, I will always be your daughter I just want to lead my own life.” “I understand Aria just after your mother left I didn’t really think you moving would come so soon” he said looking to the floor almost as if reminiscing in all the time that has since elapsed. The time might have felt quick to him because he’s stayed busy with his empire but for me the agony of even waiting out this last day before my next chapter can’t end fast enough. My father is Salvatore Talon, he runs the Hawkeye Brotherhood which is one of the two largest mobs in Aspenport. He was always a loving father but beyond that he is well known as a cruel and ruthless man to everyone and my mother was no exception, and for that reason it’s been hard not to blame him for her disappearance the last 15 years. The last time I saw her was on my sixth birthday, after my party she put my sister and I to bed normally, but I was too wound up to sleep, when I went looking for her I heard muffled arguing between her and my father. I was too young to understand much about the fighting but he struck her across the face and the house fell completely silent, I hurried back to my bed completely stunned by what I saw and when I woke the next morning she was nowhere to be found. We never heard from her again after that. “While I understand her leaving left a hole for you I think it’s unfair that her choice to leave should effect my choice to grow up” I said quietly as I stood up from the table “if you don’t mind I’d like to head to my room to finish packing” “Do as you wish, I have work to attend to once I’m finished anyway” my dad growled irritated but not wanting to fight with me. I returned to my room and shut the door softly, as it clicked closed the tears I’d been holding back flooded out of my eyes and I threw myself into my bed holding a pillow to my face so tightly I’m surprised I didn’t suffocate. My bags sat fully packed beside my door and the faster I slept the faster I could take them to my new home. Crying blurred itself into sleep quickly and next I knew it was the morning of my birthday. My fathers right hand man, Evan Cardinal knocked politely on my bedroom door “Happy Birthday Miss Aria, your father sent me in a car to take you to the apartment he secured for you” he said in a soft voice. Evan was quite a bit younger than my father, he was a tall slightly scrawny man with blonde curly hair in his early thirties. My dad had hinted about setting us up together over a dozen times in the last year but I wanted to escape the brotherhood not build onto it. Evan grabbed my suitcases and walked me out to the blacked out Range Rover and opened my door for me before loading my clothes into the back. The drive across town might have only taken 20 minutes but it was the most space I’d had from my family ever. I could see the end of the tunnel and the light was blindingly bright. We pulled up to this high end apartment building with security guards and a valet, Evan handed me the keys to the apartment and followed me up with my bags in hand. “My dad, he didn’t want to take me?” I said trying to keep the disappointment hidden in my voice “Aria I’m sorry it’s me here but you know how things can get for him” I turned around to look at Evan before unlocking the door “I’m glad your here honestly, you’ve done more with me the last decade then he has anyway” I said forcing a smile but I could see the pity in his eyes as he also attempted to smile at me. “I’m happy we’ve gotten to spend so much time together Aria” and as he finished that sentence I pushed the door open and my best friend Lilah Swift stood in the main room with balloons everywhere and a confetti popper “Happiest Birthday Aria” she howled as the confetti rained down on me. I screeched and ran into her for a hug, we held the hug tight as we spun around the room “what are you doing here! I wondered why you hadn’t called yet! I was almost worried!” I said as we spun. She pushed away from me while holding onto my shoulders “I couldn’t risk ruining the surprise silly girl” she said with the biggest smile. Lilah was me longest and best friend, we had been friends since before I can even remember. She is the daughter of one of my dads close ‘friends’ and we’ve practically grown up together since she is only about two months younger then I am. She is pale skinned and has the blondest hair I’ve ever seen, at glance you might even say white hair her eyes are a piercing icy blue color, and Evan very much fancies her but would never admit it because my father has some hope left that we will end up together. She also has a giant crush on Evan but refuses to acknowledge it because she thinks my father will eventually make me marry him and doesn’t want that to effect our friendship but as her life long bestie I can tell when love is in the air and that love is for Even. “And the surprises don’t end there birthday girl” she says with a giggle looking up at Evan who had just sat the suitcases of the the side and closed the door, he smiled and winked at us and she giggled again blushing this time. “What else could it possibly be, this is already by far the best birthday I could’ve asked for!” I said looking around at the apartment I had just inherited. “Well”…