We were Born to Die

Chapter04

As I sat at breakfast table, swirling my spoon lazily in my cereals, the conversation around me seemed to blur into a dull background noise. Giovanni, the eldest and the authoritative figure, was calmly spreading butter on his toast, seemingly unfazed by my lack of enthusiasm. Matteo, on the other hand, waltzed in with his usual nonchalant attitude, making a beeline for my jam—covered toast. I shot him a sharp look, my expression practically screaming, “Touch my toast and suffer the consequences,” and he responded in kind, flipping me the bird before settling down next to Giovanni.

“What are you guys on today?” he quipped, his gaze shifting between us. Giovanni paused, his hand frozen mid-air with the butter knife, before answering in that smooth, reassuring voice of his.

“Well, Alessandro and I were just discussing the idea of sending our beloved little sister on a brief tour to Italy.” He explained casually, taking a bite from his toast before continuing, “We thought it might do her good to get away for a while, you know, clear her mind at all.”

Matteo’s eyes widened slightly, his usual half—lidded gaze now fully alert. “I thought her mind was already clear.” He joked and I gave him a mocking laugh and then he added, “That sounds like a great idea, Bella.” Though his words were laced with a hint of something else, something I couldn’t quite put my fingers on. It felt more like, “It’d be nice to have a break from your antics for a change.”

Rolling my eyes, I took a big bite of my toast, the jam oozing out onto my fingers as I struggled to get my point across. “But I don’t want to go,” I protested, my mouth still half—full. Swallowing hastily, I turned to Alessandro, my eyes wide with desperation. “I promise I’ll behave,” I pleaded, hoping against hope that he’d take pity on me.

Alessandro, however, was having none of it. “Nice try, Bella,” he replied, shaking his head with a faint smile. “But we both know that’s not going to work.” Defeated, I slumped back in my chair, staring down at my half-eaten toast with a mix of frustration and resignation. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried, I was always destined to be the troublemaker, the wild card in this family of calm, collected mobsters. And as much as I hated to admit it, maybe they were right. Maybe a few days away would do me good. But that didn't mean I had to like it.

As Alessandro wrapped his arms around me, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of frustration bubbling inside me. “I hate you for this, Alessandro.” I muttered under my breath though I know he could hear me loud and clearly. Despite my perfect rejection, my brothers still insisted on sending me off to Italy for what they deemed as my “Betterment”.

Giovanni was next, pulling me into a tight embrace and patting my shoulder in a comforting manner. His warmth did little to ease the knot of annoyance tightening in my chest. Then there was Matteo, that insufferable grin plastered across his face. “Finally, we will have some peace.” He declared, taking a step towards me with his arms open. Without a second thought, I delivered a swift punch to his stomach, relishing in satisfying sound of his painful groan.

A smirk played on my lips as I watched Matteo double over, my message loud and clear. Daniella, approached me with a gentle hug and a warm smile. “Take care and enjoy.” She insisted, her words ringing hollow in my ears. With one last glance at my family, I waved goodbye and made my way inside.

As I settled into my seat on the plane, I couldn't shake the feeling of resentment that lingered within me. Why did they insist on controlling every aspect of my life? Couldn't they see that I was perfectly capable of making my own decisions? But deep down, I knew the answer. In the world of the mafia, family always came first, even if it meant sacrificing your own desires for the greater good.

As the plane took off, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. Italy may be known for its beauty and charm, but for me, it was nothing more than a prison, a reminder of the life I was forced to live. But perhaps, just perhaps, this trip would offer me the chance to break free from the shackles of my family's expectations and forge my own path.

Only time would tell.