My Brothers Mafia Friends, My Bullies.

Starting Over

Vittoria

I had been at my brothers for a week and so far things were good. I wanted badly to look for jobs but until I was officially divorced I figured it would be better to stay put for now. Not to mention Ray had to be seething by now. He no doubt would be looking for custody of Mia just to destroy me.

Neither Ray nor his family knew what my family did entirely. They did have legitimate businesses, but some underground trafficking as well.

Now I was back and I had to stay for my safety. And more importantly Mia’s.

I was reading a book and sipping some chamomile tea,tension leaving my shoulders when I heard the doorbell downstairs. Luckily my bruises and cuts were healing well. Must be staff of some kind since they were able to get through the gate.

I didn’t bother looking at the security cam and swung the door open, regret clawing it’s way through me immediately. There before me, all 6 foot 4 of him, fu*king Dante.

“Well hey there Princess, long time no see. Mind if I come in?”

Anger rose within me. Like he*l he could come inside.

“No, you can’t. You can leave.”

I went to shut the door and his foot flew out, stopping me from shutting it completely.

“Da*n princess. That’s no way to treat a guest. I’m actually here at your brothers request. He wanted me to check on you. And you know I can’t disobey the Don.”

“Well as you can see, I’m fine. So let my brother know I don’t need his hooligans checking on me.”

“Hooligans? Sh*t baby that’s hurtful. But no can do I need to-“

Just before he finished Mia started wailing upstairs. We both looked up and then made eye contact. For the first time in my life the stoic, never changing face Dante normally had shifted to something else. Confusion. Shock.

“Sh*t.” I let go of the door and jogged upstairs. I lifted Mia in my arms and kissed her gently. She was an easy baby but very clingy. Sometimes it just took me holding her to calm her down. And bingo, that’s all she needed.

I turned around and jumped. Dante was standing in the doorway, face blank. I almost laughed at the scene. This giant of a man, in his Armani suit, looking like someone just put a puzzle in front of him. His eyes darted from me to Mia over and over. I couldn’t help but smirk, and just waited calmly, rocking Mia in my arms.

“You have a fu*king kid Tori?”

“No I stole her. Yes I have a kid. And could you please ease up on the cussing? She’s like a parrot these days.”

I brushed past him and went to the kitchen. Placing her on the countertop, I poured some puffs into my hands and she went to town. Munching them happily.

“We need to talk princess. Now.”

I rolled my eyes but picked up Mia bringing her to the living room and placing her on the floor, spreading the few toys she had in front of her. Her favorites. I needed to get a cab into town and get her some things as soon as possible.

I stood and walked behind Dante back into the kitchen to where I could still see Mia.

“Are you or am I going to tell your brother you’ve been your dear husbands punching bag for the past ten years?”

“Why the fu*k do you care Dante? Hmm? You get off on seeing my suffering like always? It’s none of your business. You never treated me much better so get off your high horse.”

His jaw clenched and I practically heard his teeth grind. The old fear I had whenever Dante was around rose to the surface. My body shook and I couldn’t find my breath. He must have noticed.

“Sh*t princess I’m not mad, I’m frustrated as fu*k, but I won’t hurt you. Listen. I know I fu*ked with you back then but it’s been ten years Tori. I’m not the same immature man I was back then. I feel bad I really do. I’m not like that pri*k that did this to you. Who by the way is dy*ng, you know that right?”

Those words hit me hard. I should have known. Even if I didn’t tell my brother at this point Dante knew now. And mafia, at least this one, didn’t tolerate violence against women or children. He was as good as de*d no matter what I say.

“Its fine. Look I don’t need Massimo going crazy. I’m sure he already hates me for having no contact for this long, we lost our dad and I wasn’t here for it. I just want to get a divorce and move on, for Mia.”

Like the little angel she was Mia broke the tense moment with her babble.

“Mama! Up!”

I took the moment to leave the room and headed towards her. Of course she was fine. Just babbling on her back, her favorite gator toy in her little chubby hands biting the tail.

“I need to get you some teethers for those teeth baby. Your going to chew through all your toys.”

I sat on the floor with her, swiping her dark hair from her eyes.

“She looks just like you Tori. She’s beautiful.”

I smiled. Because she was of course. But she would never have to go through any hardships ever again. Not as long as I was alive.

Dante

When she opened the door my jaw practically dropped. Vittoria fu*king De Piero. The myth. The woman who eloped and disappeared.

When she left 10 years ago we were all pis*ed. That fu*ker that she married didn’t deserve her. No one did.

No one but me.

Sure I fu*ked with her. Mostly because it was fun to see that fire in her eyes. But also because if I didn’t fu*k with her I would pursue her when she got older. And that wouldn’t do well with her dad or brother.

So I did the only thing I knew how to keep her at arms length. Make her hate me. We all did. I wasn’t blind. I saw the way the guys looked at her. She was perfect.

And looking at her now, holy fu*king sh*t. She was a godda*n goddess. Her beautiful jet black hair flowed down her back, her icy blue eyes could cut a diamond. And those curves, I practically drooled. Even in the heavy sweatshirt and sweats that were clearly her brothers my di*k was screaming.

And finding out she had a kid? That didn’t settle well for me. Mostly because that as*hole bred her. It should have been me.

But the kid was beautiful. Same dark hair, same piercing blue eyes. And watching her babble broke some kind of dam inside my chest.

“So I’m guessing since you are hiding out you didn’t leave with a moving truck.”

She looked ashamed. Like leaving that as*hole wasn’t the best thing she did.

“No, I uh had a bag packed for when I grew a pair. Bought a car seat right before I left town.”

“And correct me if I’m, um, fugging wrong, you don’t have much cash.”

“Is there a point to this conversation Dante? Or are you just trying to shame me. I’m aware I haven’t made the best decisions for my child but it was this or nothing.”

That fire. It was slowly creeping back in. And I was living for it. My next moves had to be precise.

“Get her ready, we’re going into town. We’ll get you some stuff, for you and the kid.”

“I just need to open a credit card. My credit is sh*t. But I have some cash. I think about 100.”

Jesus Christ. This woman had nothing. He took everything. Including her confidence.

“Right, let’s go.”

No way in he*l was I letting her spend a dime. Her and the kid were my responsibility now. At least until Massimo came back.

Or so that’s what I’m going to tell myself.

I watched her from the corner of my eye the entire ride. She was wound tight. Knee bouncing, fists clenched. I badly wanted to ask more about this ex of hers, but she was already on edge.

He was de*d either way. And I’d be the one to do it.

Then she’d be mine.