Blood & Pain: My mafia brothers

Chapter 5: Shouka

Shouka's p.o.v.

I am a trophy. And if what Felix said is true then, I am a stinking trophy it seems. Whose only work is to sit like this, and smile. Like a good Russian Mafia princess.

A stinking Princess now. Ugh. I can't believe that giant. Really.

I can't believe that for a moment there, when I entered the Arena and my gaze found Felix...for that tiny second I forgot that he left to become a criminal.

I forgot my anger!!!

For a second there he was the old Felix, my older brother who used to give me piggyback rides...the brother who got so scared and almost cried when he accidentally let me fall down the stairs and I broke my arm. Or the brother who used to scold me whenever I acted like a brat and tried to run away from our family home.

Just...for that tiny second, I forget he now cuts and kills people, that he is now the leader of all the Italian drug lords in the world...that now, he might not even have a heart.

And Felix proved it right there and then.

I am stinking!!! My perfume is far more expensive than that hideous maroon shirt he was wearing...and he was more concerned about that.

Can't believe him seriously. Not even a sorry!

That foolish giant ruined my birthday. Anyway, I guess it was ruined from the very beginning. I sighed as I shifted my gaze up from the ground and on the stage instead...two men fighting to death inside a cage and countless dangerous criminals cheering for their deaths.

Women, being used and f****d on the corners or somewhere inside the private rooms. Some woman, sitting on the chairs too, cheering and drinking...as heartless as the men.

No wonder Mother left Papa...who in the right mind could have tolerated this s**t.

Shaking my head, I leaned over the throne...my panthers sitting near my legs. I think they are sleepy. I softly strocked their head. These three are the only ones here who understand how this all blood and pain and torture makes me feel. All I want is peace really. Just silence for a time.

I frowned, remembering one more person who doesn't like coming here. It was easier to spot him from up here. " Dominick..."

Even between these loud cheers, he heard me as soon as I called his name. I am on the throne that's right in front of the stage. Arena is build like some kind of stadium...so the audience is sitting in a circular seats above. And the capos, and soviet members of Italian and Russian mafia families are sitting on the couches near the throne.

Dominick was standing though. Not allowed to sit with these rich old criminals.

I met his bright green gaze when he stepped forward, probably to know why I called his name. " Come sit with us."

The dumbo pressed his lips together, " I would rather stand, Miss."

I glared. And just like that, he sighed, turned around...and sit right beside my cousin Romeo. Even though Dominick position in the mafia is far below than him. Technically, he isn't allowed to sit there. But I don't care. He deserved to be treated well.

Dominick... He is also like a trophy for Don Dane, my papa. A human thing, he can show off to people...the oldest son of a tamed beast.

Just for the show. Like some kind of antique and not a real human with heart and soul.

I don't know much, but the man who kidnapped me is also the man who was mastermind behind the killing of Roman Moretti. He was Felix, Knox and Rome's real father. I am not sure that person is still alive or dead.

All I know is that he had two sons, Dominick, the older one...and Dante, the younger one. Dominick dosent remember much about his mother...all he know she had red hair and pretty face. Anyway, everyone here hates him because of that.

First, because of his father Vinicent.

And second because of his younger brother Dante...who is trying to take our territories in Russia.

I gave a smile to Dominick when he raised his brow and avoided the piercing gazes of the elders who were scowling at him. Nobody can say anything to Dominick as long as he is my bodyguard.

It's not his fault who his father was...or what his family does. He wants no part in that. Just like me. Both of us only want to run far f*****g away from this mafia world...probably to a farm house in a small village where we can live peacefully with our panthers.

I giggled and poked my tongue at him when Dominick tried to show me his middle finger for making him sit there to suffer the eyes of elders.

" You two seem close."

A gasp left my lips at the sudden voice. Blinking, I looked away from Dominick and up at the man who just stood in front of me. Usually my panthers would have bit him by now...but they are strangely friendly toward him and purring like little kitten instead.

And soon, I found out why.

I look into the eyes of my older brother, deep green...a darker shade of emerald, unlike our other two big brothers. I used to find warmth in them. I used to dance for these eyes...to make them shine when I move my small feet in the rhythm of the piano he played.

Now, there is no life in them. Just haunting...and scary.

Despite my decision about not talking to them after how Felix reacted. I couldn't help myself but taunt, " Yeah, Rome... Dominick is the only one who really understands me here."

These is a frown in his forehead... And I noticed how old he looks. How old all three of them looks. I remember...they were clean shaved before. Without a single scar on their skin...and now look at them.

Look at Rome.

His jet black hair are wet and pushed behind...just a single strand touching his left eyebrow. There is a small cut, right under his beautiful green eyes, the scar looks painful...as if someone had tried to take out his eyeball before.

And it could be true.

There were rumors about them being captured during the training. Nobody knows what happened in these five years with them.

That makes me feel bad about how bratty I have been acting. But... It is there fault in the first place. They should have never left to become like our father in the first place!

" What about me?"

His soft voice snapped my eyes back to his face again... I don't know why I was expecting the same kindness in his face. Because it wasn't there.

Rome looks angry.

And he never got angry before. I never even seen him raise his voice at anyone but Felix. But Felix was like a animal so he always deserved those shouts. But with me...he never looked at me with this much....this much...intensity?

I can't put my finger but something seems off by the way he is staring at my face. Without even blinking!

What the hell is wrong with him?!

" What about you?", I snapped, annoyed to get this weird reaction by Rome too. " You weren't even here after Ram died. You know nothing about me."

Nobody even wants to talk about what happened five years ago...the day my brothers left for training, was the day everything just stopped.

And what happened to Romeo's sister Ram...everyone just forget about it I guess. She doesn't deserve that.

" Shouka..."

My name in his voice was like a whisper. Or maybe its because we are talking after so many years...or maybe it's just he is older than me, whatever that reason might be but his voice seems deeper than I remember. Huskier even.

All I could do was stare. Because honestly I have no idea how to react around him anymore.

" I know everything there is to know about you.", Rome kneeled near my panthers, just like he used to when I was a kid and he needs to make me understand something. " I am still the same Rome."

But I am not a kid anymore.

My eyes gazed down his lips...its red, as if he is been chewing for a long time. There is the infinity mark tattoo of our Italian mafia on the side of his neck...black and glaring.

The blood spots on his white shirt is the evidence of Knox's cruelty in the Arena earlier. Rome was trying to stop him I guess. Not because he wants to save that Russian fighter...but because he was more concerned about the gang war that might break.

At last, I stared at his rough knuckle that was resting on my bare thigh... It was cold and look bruised, probably got it by torturing someone.

The fingers those once were in love with the keys of piano are now being used in killing people...and my foolish big brother says he is still the same?! Such a joke.

I huffed, shifting my gaze up on his face again, " Are you still the same, Rome? Really?!"

There was no emotion on his face when he gritted his teeth. " Don't look at me like this."

" Like what?"

He stared between my blue eyes far longer than he used to. " Like you hate me, princess."

Another manipulation.

" I am not your princess."

Rome hadn't said anything after that. Just stood up and left. I don't know what I was hoping for... A sorry perhaps? Or at least an explanation that why had they ruined their lives!!!

" Since when did you become this harsh, swan?"

The sudden voice from my left jerked my head. I frowned at Knox who was sitting on the throne next to me. When did he came here?! I hadn't even noticed...was too busy staring at Rome I guess.

Knox looks exactly identical to Rome...just the shade of his green eyes is a bit lighter, and except that, he has the same jet black hair...same defined nose...sharp chiseled jawline and rose-like red lips.

For someone who doesn't grow up with them like me would get confused to identify them. But the black glasses he was wearing made it easier....tilting my head I let my gaze move lower, at the black blazer and black shirt he was wearing...too tight for his huge muscles. Knox is a bit muscular than Rome though.

They all look so different now. It's really weird for me to see them like this.

I peered up at his face when I noticed he was saying something. That was embarrassing. I should have been more focused. Breathing hard, I tried to listen to what he was mumbling so low. It's too loud in here.

" We had our reasons to leave, you know that, right?"

Seriously?!

" What reasons one could have to leave their normal life and become a criminal?", I snapped, glaring at his numb emotionless face. " You three had a chance Zero and I never got and you guys ruined it."

I stood up, not in the mood talk. Really, can't belive them! Once you born in any of these mafia family, your life is fucked...completly ruined. My older brother Zero had to go for training to torture and kill people when he was so young... I had no freedom to live.

We are not normal people. This is hell...and the devil is our own family members.

But Papa... He gave our triplet brothers a chance to leave. They could have become whatever they want. Anything. But they had choose to become like Don Dane. f*****g great. I am done talking to them.

" Just..." Fingers wrapped around my wrist as soon as I moved to leave. " Let me speak."

Tilting my head, I stared back at Knox. There was single frown on his forehead...that's it. I watched as he parted his lips to say something, but then closed it...the hold of his rough fingers around my wrist was harsh, painful even. It will definitely leave a mark... But Knox looks completely unaware that he is hurting me.

This is not the brother I know.

Gritting my teeth, I raised a brow at him, " I don't have the whole night, Knox."

He sighed, shook his head and removed his tight hold from my flesh. " Nothing."

Shaking my head I stepped down from the throne. My panthers and Dominick was following me when I took the biggest decision of my life.

Under the moonless dark sky...outside the Arena, I called a person I have been avoiding for years. Hoping that it won't get to this point. Hoping...that somehow everything will get better. But after seeing the type of men my kind big brothers had become, I don't think they will ever help me against Don Dane. That monster is a god for them.

And I can't let him ruin and dictate my life anymore.

The phone rings, and that person picked it up in seconds. I didn't even wait for hello as I told my decision. " I am in, but I don't want anyone to die."

" Are you sure?"

The soft familiar voice whispered from the other side. " And it will really hurt your brothers and Papa... You can't go back on your words after this, Shouka. It's a betrayal to the family. I want you to be absolutely sure."

Closing my eyes, I clenched my knuckles. I have to be selfish. Otherwise...like every other women born in Russiaan mafia family, I will be sold to a criminal as an arranged marriage. I would prefer death instead.

" I am sure, Mother."