Caesar Leone

Chapter two

(Athena)

I've been running and hiding my whole life, even if it didn't seem like it in the beginning. But I know better. The switching from home to home, state to state. Never settling in one place for too long. Never having or knowing my place in the world.From one family to the next. Taking all the burdens and harm from that past family with me each time. Losing small parts of myself in each of my homes. Until there isn't anything left. But I guess that's to be expected considering that my parents never wanted me. That's why I'm here in the first place. But my plan was not to get caught, that was never supposed to happen. I just wanted to take the last part of me to somewhere it fit in. I mean for fucksake ive been at this for 21 years. So when I saw that ship full of crates, I wasn't really thinking about the danger that would come from hiding away on it. I was just trying to get away. I didn't care where it was going as long as it took me with it. Nothing could have prepared me for what amount of trouble I was gonna run into. Or the fact that the beating in my heart wasn't faint anymore. Like ive found my home. Little did I know that to get that I had to face getting caught. 

(Caesar) 

I raced over to the shipments as soon as I could. When I reached the docks, four of my best men stood holding their guns out ready to shoot at the slightest movement. Putting my hand out I signal them to drop their weapons. They drop their weapons but still clutching them just in case of the need for them becomes necessary. I walk slowly, my hands deeply dug into the pocket’s of my coat. Clutching the cold steel base of my blade. I crept around the corner to find...She was seated in the corner wrapped in an old ragged blanket laying her body up against a steel crate. At first I was unsure if she was alive. But I walked closer and her eyes darted open instinctively. She grabbed something under the blanket.” Was she thinking of fighting me.” I thought to myself, she stood gripping a steel pipe like she was ready for a pitch from the pitcher. I let go of my knife in my pocket and pulled my hands out slowly. I couldn't tell you what made me do that but If I had to guess I’d say It was her… eyes. They shined with hope but were darkened with heartache and pain. Two things that I am well acquainted with. She was confused at first then she dropped her guard enough for me to get close to her. I walked over to her but my movements made her jump in fear. But she didn't shake and hide. She stood ready to fight me again. Even if she knew she'd lose. 

“Hey it's ok i'm not gonna hurt you my name is Caesar. “ I said, staring into her eyes, I could see her contemplating her options. Choosing whether to talk or not. 

“My name is Athena. I'm sorry if I'm on your ship I'll pack and leave. “ she spoke so softly but seriously. Like it was something that was common. Like home wasn't a word in her dictionary like it was ripped out  and replaced with nothing but empty space. She turned away from me and began to pick up her stuff mind you all that she had was an old box of twinkies and her blanket. She staggered over to me trying to pass me. But before she could “thump” she fell to the ground. Her head hit the crate next to us . looking at her I realized what had happened one of my men shot her. Not only was she now bleeding out from her bullet wound in her side, but her head was bleeding too. But she was still alive, her breathing faint but present. I don't know what happened to me but I began to feel something odd in my chest like a sharp pain. I never felt such pain before. I've felt every kind of pain and torture one could ever think of. But this pain in my chest was worse than all of that. She’s an innocent girl and she was shot by one of my men. My men did this, I did this. 

I picked her up and the things she was carrying. I ran off the ship to my car yelling,” open the goddamn door, and call Mia to tell her to be there as soon as I'm there or she’ll end up with a bullet in her head.”  my men looked at me in shock but they knew better than to question me. They have a right to fear my words , they know I mean them when I say them. But I assume the surprise is my threat to Mia. You see I’m not one to hurt family. Or my team unless they are a traitor then they pay the price I was promised when they joined… their soul. We drove as fast as we could to make it just in time. Mia already had everything set up upon my arrival. 

“She was shot and hit her head pretty hard from the fall. Help her” I yelled with pleading in my voice. Almost like I was ready to drop to my knees if that's what it took to save her, I don't know what was wrong with me or why this random girl held such a hold on me. Mia took her away doing her job. I, on the other hand, was beginning to get pissed off. I decided to take my anger out on my heavy bag. Blow after blow each harder than the last. But they were just fuiling my anger. I knew I should stop soon when the sting in my left hand became apparent, but I couldn't stop. I needed to keep punching. 

“Whoa Caesar you need to calm down, you're hurting yourself man.” Lincoln yelled at me from the doorway. 

“I have to keep punching.” I said through gritted teeth. 

“Is this about that little girl you took home with you? Did she reject the poor little Caesar?”Lincoln joked 

“She didn't reject me, she was shot by one of my men. It's my fault. “

“What do you mean your fault? He did it, not you.” Lincoln said in a calm voice trying to ease me.

“No it is my fault, you didn't see her, her eyes remind me of a pair that i've seen many times.” I bowed my head as I remembered her words, she said them as if instinct just like when she was ready to fight me. Instinct. She was full of it , the same pain I carry in my eyes. The bittersweet realization that nothing will change. The memories of pain being a burden that hangs over our heads. Thinking of her in pain makes me angrier. 

“Lincoln, I want you to find everything you can about her.” I said , landing my final blow to the heavy bag. My fist going straight through. Sand falling out . “And call someone to clean this up.” 

I went to take a shower,getting dressed and rushing to find Mia. “ How is she?”

“She's fine, Caesar for now at least. The bullet only grazed her but she hit her head really hard. She most likely has a concussion. But she is also very dehydrated and malnutritioned. I suggest getting her food the minute she wakes.” Mia said, staring at the poor girl, unconscious on the king sized bed in the guest room. 

“When will she wake?” I asked, looking over at her small body laying in the bed only to look away right after. Shame coloring my face as I think about how this is my fault. 

“Soon she should be up in the next couple of days.” Mia said before taking her stuff and heading to the door. 

I looked over at Athena laying in the bed. She was in bad shape and I noticed marks on her. Making me mad I wanted to know who dared to touch her. I wanted to make them pay. What is wrong with me, why do I care? I huffed in anger at myself. My frustration was begging to be too much for me. I walked out of her room with anger and shame hanging over me. 

“Boss?” A soldier called out for me. I faced him to see him and Lincoln.

“Hey boss, look who I found?” Lincoln said with one of his sly grins. 

“And who is it that we have here?”I asked with a half grin of my own. Lincoln pulled the man in for a side hug before saying,

“Well he’s your trigger happy soldier, Boss.” Lincoln laughed at the last bit. But then he looked at me. What I could only imagine was that I looked as if the man in front of me was already dead and he was.  Like I was a lion about to pounce on his prey. I looked at Lincoln then back at the man. He was smaller than us. His hair was a soft brown color. And his eyes were green like grass. I said,” follow me to my office, we have some things to discuss.” the man shivered in front of me. He was afraid which was good. Too bad it's not enough to keep him alive. 

(Athena) 

I wake up to the feeling of warmth and softness. At first I relished the feeling. loving every second. But I quickly became anxious. Realising that I was laying in a bed. What the hell happened? Where am I ? I'm scared? Is anyone there? I yell but for some reason no sound comes out of my mouth. Or more like I couldn't hear it. Then in a split second he was there, standing at the side of my bed. The expression on his face said he was scared, maybe even anxious. Then like a heavy brick striking my head the memories of what I can only assume was yesterday came rushing back. I quickly reach for my side to find bandages wrapped around my stomach. I almost want to ball my eyes out, but before I can he comes closer. He hands me my blanket except it's clean now. I'm so glad it's been so long since I had a chance to clean my stuff. He pulls a chair over to the side of the bed. Sitting down he sighs . It was a reliving sigh like he was happy about something. Grateful? I looked over at him, his head bowed, his hands cupped laying in his lap. He seems deep in thought. Then he looks up from the ground and catches me staring.  I wanted to look away and pretend he wasn't in the room but I couldn't. Not after that sly grin he gave me. His way of telling me he noticed my staring. I could feel my face turn red with embarrassment. He let out a soft laugh, almost like he didn't want anyone to hear him. 

“It's ok you can look at me, I promise I won't bite.” the man said with a smile. 

I giggled at what I assumed was his attempt at making me comfortable. But to my surprise it did. I relaxed a bit. 

“Why was I shot? And I'm sorry but I can't remember your name.” I lied through my teeth. Of course I remembered him. you'd have to be crazy to not remember a man that looked like he does. Though I don't remember that scar across his eye. Is it wrong that I think it's kinda hot? Clearly I was spending too much time in my head because I hear a slight cough. 

“Ok are you done undressing me with your eyes? “ he said with a smile.

I sat up and stared into his eyes. Grey with a hint of blue. They were sad looking. 

“So what is it that you do remember, Miss Athena?”

“ I remember running.” I took a pause remembering what it was I was running from. But making it seem like one thing would be wrong. It's more like I was running from a lot. “ and somehow ended up being on the ship. And then you found me and everything went blank after that “ i finally managed to finish the sentence. He sighed but for some reason his face held anger. Before i could get another word in someone else came braggin in, 

“Boss!” The woman's voice sounded urgent. Caesar stood his face hardened as they spoak. 

“What is it Beatrice?” 

“Something happened at the warehouse in brooklyn.” Beatrice said, giving me a soft smile.

“Alright I’ll get the team together.” 

Beatrice left the room after that. Caesar turned to me with a small smile. 

“I have to go but please feel free to go to the kitchen and stuff, I’ll leave someone here if you need them.” and with that he left the room. Closing my door ever so softly. I stare at the light on the ceiling before getting up to flick the switch and drift back into the comfort of my bed. Falling into my sleep feels like forever.