Chapter 2 The Tragic Birthday Party

ASHES

"Mum, where should I put the ballon", Benedetta asked holding a bundle of colourful ballons

I could tell she was more excited than I was,with her ponytail hair and her wide smile,she looked so pretty.

"Calm down girly, you seem more excited than I am ", I said cupping her cheeks in my hands

"I am happy because guess what...I'm the mini celebrant", she said laughing.

Decorating was her favourite thing to do,she looked so happy while doing it and that alone was heaven. I loved my little sister so much and her being so happy meant everything to me.

"Let's hang it in the sitting room,near the ceiling, it'll look festive", my mum said while setting the table with plates and cutlery.

"Can I use the edible glitter mum",I said raising the container to show her. I was in charge of decorating my birthday cake.

"Yes of course, just sprinkle it lightly",she said smiling.

Meanwhile,my father Anthony Amato was just entering from a morning business he had to take care of.

I was the first son and child of Anthony and Cecilia Amato. My dad was a mafia Lord and he was also a Father. I was a mini- replica of my father while Benedetta was a mini-version of my mum.

"Ash",someone whispered my name,I turned around and saw my bestfriend, Valarie.

"Valarie hey...you came", I said opening the door for her to enter but instead I got pulled outside

"Happy birthday, Ashes",she said hugging me.

"I brought this for you", she said placing the little box in my hands.

"I have to go, Grandmother isn't feeling too good and I can't leave her alone,I'm sorry, we'll see another time,I promise to make it up to you",she said smiling and she threw her hands around my neck one more time hugging me,while I wrapped my hands around her waist.

We've been friends since I could remember but she stays with her Grandmother.

"Uhmm....okay,thanks for the gift", I said as I entered the house back.

"Is everything ready?",my father asked, looking at my mum.

"Just about....wait, where's Valarie", my mum said

"She couldn't stay for long",I said sitting in front of my cake.

"Alright, I think we're all set",

"Buon compleanno", my father said rubbing my hair ( Happy Birthday)

They all proceeded in singing me a birthday song,we took a family photo before we all settled down to eat .

Suddenly we had a loud voice

"Down everybody", the masked guys said holding their guns up.

It was so unexpected that everyone went down immediately,we weren't sure of what was happening at that moment.

My mum pulled my sister and I closer to herself while my dad tried to have a conversation with the armed men.

"I think you've got the wrong address" he said

"Anthony Amato, that's the name and that's you so it's definitely not the wrong address", he said laughing loudly

"Alright, whatever the case may be, don't hurt my family,you can take me away", he said.

I looked at my father and I suddenly saw him pull out a gun from his trousers in self defense because he always had one everywhere we go but it was too late, their leader had seen it.

And then I heard a loud bang,I screamed as I saw my mum fall lifelessly behind me,her grip loosening on my shoulder.

"Nooo",my father screamed in pain as he saw his dead wife.

I thought they were done until I heard another bang, closing my eyes, embracing death,I heard someone whimper in pain.

"Bene...detta", my dad shouted admist sobs.

"That's what you get from being too smart", one of the masked guys said.

I stayed there,unable to move,eager to embrace death,so I could see my sister and mother once again.

"I'm sorry,I couldn't protect you", my father said shaking my mother's lifeless body.

He was in agony and I've never seen that way in my 13 years of living.

"Don sends his greeting", the leader said once again as he pulled the trigger. My father fell flat to the floor drowned in the pool of his own blood.

I couldn't stop crying with my silent sobs, closing my eyes.

I was waiting for it,but it never came.

I opened my eyes and saw that I was alone, surrounded by the lifeless body of the people I cherished the most. They had managed to kill everyone around me including my father's guards.

I was left alone in a house filled with silence and death.

******************

I stared at the picture in my hands, clenching my fist,it was a perfect family photo until they were all taken away from me 12 years ago.

Angrily,I smashed the cup on my desk to the floor,it was 12 fucking years and I had failed them.

I was yet to avenge their death,I was yet to find the Don that was mentioned twelve years ago on this day.

Angrily,I hit the wall and I couldn't stop,I kept on hitting it,not minding my knuckles,not minding my pain,I had failed the people I loved the most. I didn't notice anyone enter until I was suddenly held back from hitting the wall.

"Ash, your knuckles are bleeding", he said

"Of course,I'm aware", I said my voice coming out harshly.

"Im sorry,I just wasn't okay seeing you hurt yourself", he muttered.

He was Jude,my personal assistant and my most trusted guard,he was more like a brother and he had worked with me for four years,the longest anyone had ever worked for me.

"Bring me a first Aid kit,thanks for your concern", I said

He left and came back few minutes later with the kit.

"Going out might help", he said as he walked out of my office.

I winced in pain as I poured the spirit on my knuckles

" Fuck", I muttered cleaning the wounds with a gauze

I was still angry,I needed a distraction.

"Maybe going out will really help", I said picking my keys.

I was going to drive because I wanted to go alone.

As I entered the club,I walked straight to the VVIP section..it was a club I had built few years back.

I asked for a bottle of drink, taking in the atmosphere, looking around until I saw a girl dancing alone,she looked so perfect dancing with her curved body.

Looking at her rolling her waist made me hard already. I wanted her in my bed and I was going to get her with or without her approval.

I stood up and walked right straight to her.