No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 6

"I'll come by and pick you up tomorrow," Ari rasps as I step out of the car. "You guys sure you want to get into this shit with me?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at him. He chuckles, "Of course Ana, a promise is a promise,"

I know he's talking about his promise to Dad so I just smile, "I'll see you tomorrow then,"

He sends me a wink and drives off, leaving me standing outside home. I walk into the parlour and sit down at the desk, checking to see if there's any last minute appointments. I'm happy to find there are none, giving me the afternoon to myself.

I walk up to my floor and go into my bedroom, walking over to my desk and opening up my laptop. We've done some surveillance of the De Santis' over the past week and familiarised ourselves with their family. Call me a stalker but I've been taking notes so I can know each member and how best to take them down.

I feel guilty planning to kill them, but I have to, in order to escape my Grandfather. I've grown attached to the De Santis family, all except Vincenzo, who remains a cold hearted brute.

Luca and Adelyn are practically inseparable, always doing shit together, so we would have to deal with them both together. Alessio De Santis is the second-in-command but by all accounts seems to be quite placid. He's always smiling and I've noticed is quite the hugger. He goes to the gym a few times a week, and goes alone each time, making it the perfect setting for us to hit. Azalea De Santis is the youngest, the same age of me, and spends a lot of time with their cousin Clarisse. The two go out together frequently, on walks or to the mall, so ideally we would catch them there.

Then stands the problem of Vincenzo. He's by far the most aware of his surroundings, and I can't blame him. He has made many enemies whilst in leadership and it honestly wouldn't surprise me if we were too late to him.

And as Ari pointed out, we need to be careful of the Spanish Mafia. We've noticed that on Sundays the two families go out to dinner together, and by looking at footage we've established that it's every week and always at the same Italian Restaurant.

I scroll over the information we have on Vincenzo and it amazes me to see the changes he made to both his Mafia and the reputation it holds.

Luca was a firm leader, but by no means went to the same extent that his son does. Vincenzo is nothing like Luca, and it makes me want to know why. Vincenzo is a man everyone hates, who people fear and dread meeting, as they know he's more likely to kill them than not. Luca was more soft than this, and it makes me wonder why.

Usually with this many targets I'd be quite trepidatious about it, but with Le Aquile Rosse on my side and knowing we have the element of surprise, it gives me confidence that we'll be able to pull this off.

And the fact that I'll finally get rid of my Grandfather afterwards excites me further, reminding me that although I feel bad for killing such close allies of Mom and Dad, at the end of the day it's for my good. Which is what they'd want.

I subconsciously start fiddling with my necklace as I close my laptop, leaning back in my chair.

I suddenly notice the quiet coming from upstairs, signalling that my Grandfather is out. He has his own men at his dispense, something which has always bothered me. He has so many tools to take people down on his own, yet he always chooses me to do so.

I know I'm the most efficient assassin he has, but even he doesn't know I'm The Fiore Mortale. Only me and Le Aquile Rosse know that, and it'll fucking stay that way until the day I die. If people knew my identity I would be in immediate danger. Although my Grandfather would probably like that.

I look at the cabinet in my room and sigh, it's too depressing to get drunk in my room alone. And yet the idea is tempting.

I shake my head, knowing the bad history alcohol has in my family; for every time I drink it just sends me back to that night. My parents never drank, and I heard stories the abuse Mom was subjected to when my Grandfather was drunk.

I sigh and stand up, unsure of what to do. I've spent almost all of my spare time over the past few years working. Either out doing hits for my Grandfather or at the parlour, for every spare moment my mind has is filled with flashbacks.

I go outside onto my balcony and sit down at the small table stationed outside. I sigh again and light a cigarette, a bad habit I should really stop. I take a long breath in and exhale, watching as the smoke forms small circles before me.

I smile at the thought that one day I could feel this tranquility all the time. Away from everyone, only keeping in contact with Le Aquile Rosse.

One day I'll escape my Grandfather, which is the motivation behind why I do all this. For with every hit I make, I become closer to my freedom. I've spent my entire life since the moment my parents were murdered putting my emotions aside. Forgetting them as I take life after life, never stopping long enough to let the guilt settle. I know that if I ever failed on a hit my Grandfather would kill me, or more so have someone else kill me.

I take another drag and let the cigarette roll between my fingers, the dirty smoke making me feel at home as it clouds before me.

I lean back in the wicker chair and put my feet up on the glass balcony.

Fucking hell, what has my life become?

//

sorry for the short chapter, it was just a filler before the next one,

idk when i'll post next, i have a few assessments coming up, but i'll try to get another one out by the weekend,

so until then have a good day/night and don't forget to vote!!

Abi <3