His Mafia Protector

Chapter 5: Death on the Doorstep

Chapter 5: Death on the Doorstep

Mom returned with Cameron, who was licking a candy, a few minutes later with grocery bags in her hand, just when we were wrapping up the mess Dad and I had created while fixing the door. The door was working in pristine condition now.

Mom kissed Dad and ruffled my hair for the work we had done. We both smiled at her and proceeded to have a family hug right there. With each thing we fix, it’s like we are connecting again, just thankful that our family is safe.  

I grabbed Cameron’s hand and made him go to his room while Mom and Dad started working on dinner. I had fixed his mattress today with a sewing needle I had found. Cameron jumped on the bed and sighed in pure bliss.

After the break-in, we were so involved in fixing other things that we had all but forgotten about the mattresses in our rooms. Then, when we would retire for the night, we would realize that we had no-where to sleep and groan.

So, for the past few days, Mom and Cameron had been sleeping on the small couch, which we had fixed one late night, while Dad and I had taken to sleep on the floor. It was uncomfortable but at least it was better than nothing. I knew it was not nice for Cameron as the little guy liked to move around a lot in his sleep and being in the couch with mom was restricting him a lot. So, being the coolest big brother, I was, I had fixed his bed.

Cameron grinned at me, showing all his teeth as I leaned against the doorframe. He jumped off the bed and ran towards me. “Thanks, Derek!” I laughed and picked him up. I swung him around twice, whilst he squealed. God, please never let him have that angst filled teenager phase.

After doing today’s share of my homework, I played some card game with Cameron for a few more minutes before the doorbell rang. I got up and headed towards the staircase to open the door and was just at the top when I saw Mom getting it before I could. I was about to go inside to play with Cameron a little more when what happened at the doorstep made me freeze.

I heard something like air whizzing past and suddenly, my Mom collapsed with a thud, her grey blouse, stained with a red color directly in the middle of the stomach, which was growing by the second. I was just too shocked to do anything…to maybe call the ambulance or call for dad. I just froze.

Suddenly, my mom’s pain filled eyes found mine and then they just…closed. Her rapid panting came to a still and I knew I was too late. Someone, who was wearing all black, entered our house and just stepped over my Mom’s body like it was nothing. This was happening too fast for me to even understand what was happening. I was like a dear in headlights, but a deer who could feel even with all the numbness. I felt despair, I felt pain, I left rage, oh I felt so many things. My mom…she is gone. She is no more. I could only watch shell-shocked as the rest of the events unfurled in front of my own eyes.

Dad rushed in when he had heard the thud but before he could reach mom, he was shot. Thank-God, he had ducked sideways, and the bullet just nicked him in the shoulder. Dad hissed in pain as the blood began seeping out, but he still managed to land a good enough punch on the man’s jaw.

But as if the intruder had known Dad’s next move- a kick- he grabbed dad’s leg and twisted it so that Dad landed on his stomach. He groaned but his groan was cut short when he was shot twice in the head. The sound of blood splattering caused me to come out my trance. Two more people entered behind the guy that was already inside and made eye contact with me.

 I made a quick decision. I desperately wanted to go and do something stupid like avenge my parents’ murder, without a weapon, but I had a life to take care of. Cameron. The little guy was oblivious of what had just happened and was still playing in his room.

I ran towards Cam’s door, opened it and locked it. I could hear footsteps coming down the hallway, and the banging of a door. I knew they were searching my room, which was directly beside Cameron’s. I had so little time. I rushed to the nine-year-old whose eyes were wide in fear, grabbed him and then frantically searched the room, for any opening or a place to hide him. I could sacrifice myself, but it was Cameron I had to get out. I can’t handle my brother dying too. I just loved him too much.

My heart dropped in my stomach and shattered into a million pieces, when I found no place to hide him.