"Unveiled enigma:shattered illusions"

Sofia's POV:

....."24,25,26,27...33,34,35" this is what I have been doing for what feels like an hour but happens to be just 2minutes in reality.I have been counting each second that went by and at the same time shooting daggers at the not so innocent wall clock that was hanged in front of the class wall.I swear on my last M&M's that the hand of the clock has been in the same position without moving for the past one hour and it says 2:55pm which meant we had 5minutes to the end of the day, but since everything happens to be so against me today the long hand of the clock has refused to move.

After what felt like an hour later and at this point I am not even exaggerating.

"Grrrrrrng" I released a sigh of relief because had the bell not rang at that time i would have gone crazy.

I packed my books into my bag and reluctantly pushed myself from my seat because I was too tired and exhausted at that moment all I wanted was to get home and take a long shower so I could snuggle into the comfort my blanket provided me.

Immediately I stepped out of the class and into the hallways I was tackled from behind or rather someone kept on my back making me stumble and almost falling face flat on the floor if not for me catching my balance at the last minute, I didn't have to see the person to know who the culprit was, it was my best friend Stella because I had only two friends in school and the other was male.

"Hey girl I missed you" Stella said after I had miraculously manage to prevent us from falling.

I looked at her like she had grown two heads

"Uhhhm why are u looking at me like that"

"Like what?" I asked even though I knew what she was talking about.

"Like I have magically grown horns on my forehead"

"Well maybe because we've practically been together throughout the day until our last class" it's was true Stella and I had all our classes together except for our last class of the day,while I had AP maths she had history.

"Is it now a crime to miss my best friend" she said feigning hurt, I rolled my eyes at her action.

Stella was the dramatic one amongst the two of us.

Stella and I were of the same height 5'4 while she had pale skin and bright blue eyes I had tan skin and boring light brown eyes that could pass as honey color,she was a blonde with her hair just below her shoulder whereas i on the other hand had long dark brown hair that is always mistaken as black unless looked at closely. She was slim and could pass as a model with her body while I on the other hand was a thicker than her and had bigger boobs, bigger ass and curves in the right places.

Stella had always said I had a killer body" according to her, even while she thought I had a perfect body I didn't or couldn't see it because I have zero self confidence that's why even while she is able to rock clothes that showed her figure I always wore baggy clothes.She was a social bee and a party freak sometimes I worried about how energetic she was.

"Well..... she started looking at me apologetically, I got myself a detention I can't take you home and Christian ditched already"

I knew why she was worried it was because it was about to rain and she was my ride home,she had been my ride to and fro for almost a year since she got her license not because I couldn't afford a car but because my brother Alex didn't trust me to drive alone heck I didn't even trust myself to drive,but sometimes if Christian our other best friend was in school he would take me home in situations like this but the thing is he is always ditching either halfway or full day he was your typical high school bad boy I don't know what he has against school but he usually says he want to run some errand which he would never tell what it is about but I trusted him so I never worried.

"Ahh Mr Steve again right"

"I swear to you sof I don't know why but that man hates me" she said with a dramatic huff

"Or rather you can't just keep quiet and stop asking him stupid questions in his class" I said chuckling

I didn't know what she had against the man but she had made it her ulterior motive to piss him always with her dumb questions during his class

"Ohh puh-lease I don't ask dumb questions in his classes"

"Right you don't" I said rolling my eyes as we walk down the hallway.

"No I don't" she snorted

"Yeah maybe that was why one time you asked him what keeps him motivated to keep running his mouth in classes" I said laughing

" that wasn't a dumb question if you ask me the man can't literally stop himself from running his mouth"

"Sof are you sure you would be okay going home alone or would you wait for me" she said with concern

"Nope I don't think I can wait any longer than I already have because I am exhausted right now and also no need for you to worry" Just as I was about to step out of the hallways the thunder roared with a loud boom making me shriek and move back hurriedly

"You know what I change my mind let me just call Alex and see if he is not busy so he can pick me up"I took my phone out of my bag and dialed my brother's number.

Fortunately for me he picked on the second ring

"What is it why are you calling me" he said with a gruff voice

"Wow what a way to greet your sister hello to you too brother dearest"

"Sofia are you in trouble"

"And what makes you think I am in trouble" I rolled my eye, I swear if I got a penny for every time I rolled my eyes I would have become a billionaire by now.

"Because you don't call me unless you are in trouble"he said with a snort

"Well I wouldn't say I am in trouble I just wanted to see if you are not busy so you could pick me up from school Stella got a detention and it's about to pour"

"Shit sof I am on my way"I heard the shuffling of keys in the background and not long after I heard the roaring of his car.

"I knew Stella was gonna ditch you one of these days"

"Hey she didn't ditch me she got a detention that's why" I heard Stella snort beside me

Stella and my brother never got along and I do not even know why because I can't place a finger on a particular reason, whenever Stella came over to our house they bicker forth and back like old married couples.

"Sure she didn't " he said sarcasm dripping from his tone

"Just get here already"

"I am on my way okay and hey stay calm okay I would get there in 5" he added softly

Even though he tries to hide it but I still heard it in his voice I knew he was worried about me heck even Stella was worried about me.

They all knew about my panic attacks during the rain and what had caused it.

"I would" and it came out as a whisper

"Promise"

"I promise" I said and the call ended with a click.

Sofia's POV:

Exactly 5mins later my brother's sleek red Audi R8 pulled through the school gates,yeah my brother and I are living off pretty good because after our parents death we were left with more than enough.

Our father was a lawyer and our mother was a doctor and they both worked their asses off to provide us with the luxury life we have and for that I am always grateful because I can't imagine not being able to pay my school fees or not being able to pay the bills working 2-3 jobs daily just to meet ends meet not that I am lazy or can't work heck I even work in a small restaurant around us not only for the pay though but also to kill boredom and loneliness.

My brother also had a a job which pays really good I don't know what he does but he usually leaves in the morning and come back late at night and sometimes he even takes up to 2 days before he is back but I trust him not to do anything illegal that could get himself in trouble.

Immediately he parked his car he rushed to where Stella and I were standing and pulled me into a hug

"Are you okay"

"Hey I am fine stop worrying alot"

"Of course I have to worry about you sof it's my duty as the big brother because that's what big brothers do"

"Okay okay enough of it let's just get going"I turned and hugged Stella

"Bye stells see you tomorrow"

"Ohh I didn't even notice you before blondie"Alex chirped in before Stella could say bye to me

"How would you have noticed me when you don't seem to notice good things at all" before they could go on with their unending bicker I pushed my brother towards the direction of his car and said bye to Stella

"See you tomorrow sof bye"

The thunder boomed once again after I closed the car door which made me sink further into the seats and clutch my bag to my chest tighter I just wanted to get home

"Please take whatever it is you want but don't hurt me and my family I beg you"he begged furiously

"Non l'ho fatto!" He repeated the same words he seem to have been saying since they came (I didn't do it)

"Allora chi l'ho fatto?"It came from one of the men in black suits(then who did)

"I swear to you I have no idea"he said with a shaky voice

"Ma tutte le tracce portavano a te"(but all traces lead to you) the man said

"I swear someone blackmailed me but I am not the one who did it"dad said

Who did what? my 12year old self had asked myself

I was beyond confused because I didnt understand a word they were saying because I don't understand the language they were speaking and again blackmail? I wish I could get some answers to my unending questions but I had promised mummy not to get out of the safety of the closet and all I could do was watch and silently praying for the bad men to go away without hurting mum and dad.

I was brought back from the thoughts that has been hunting me for the past 5years now by Alex's hand on my shoulder

"Huh"

"Sof I called you out three times but you weren't even answering me"I raised my hand to smooth out the worry lines on his forehead

"You always worry about me and I feel bad for always making you worry but it's okay I am fine don't worry "I said and it came out as a breathless whisper

"The fuck I won't worry sof you are crying for Pete's sake"I didn't even know I had been crying until he said it and i raised a hand to my face and sure I felt the tears,and that was when I also noticed we were pulled over by the side of the school's tall building.

"It's okay you've got me sof I won't let any harm come to you no one's gonna hurt you and that a promise"he said as he stroked my hair which seem to relax me a bit

"I know you won't thank you"I said

I trusted my brother to the moon and back

"Okay cheer up and let's go get some ice cream from your favorite ice cream palour"and that seem to have done the magic,I smiled,I loved oak and blades ice creams they literally have the best ice creams and just like that I was relieved of the moment.

The drive from Queens high to oaks and blade was short just about a 10minutes drive,I had known oaks and blades for over 8years now it was mine and moms favorite place,I release a sigh at the thought of her

A sense of nostalgia hit me as I walked into the place I was used to it already.

"Only good people deserve good things and that's why you my dear deserve a huge chocolate ice cream"she had said once when we stopped by

I had beamed with joy at that time wanting nothing more than my chocolate ice cream at that time

"Hey Sofia it's been long you came here" Suzan the owner of the place had said when I got to the counter to place an order

"Yeah school and stuff been busy lately I have my exams coming up nextweek I've got to prepare"I replied and I wasn't lying our exams are starting the following week it was the end of the sessions exam and we move to 12th grade i can't wait to be done with high school.

"Yeah my son mentioned it to me"her son josh and I were in the same grade we offer about two courses together if I can remember clearly and we often say hi to each other we aren't friends but we are cool

"What do you want? Your usual right"

"Of course you know how we roll"I said smiling

"Just a minute"

" Okay"

After I had payed for the ice cream I bid Suzan goodbye and went back to meet Alex as he was waiting for me in the car because he had a business call to take

"I got you your fave"yeah I did get him one even though he had said he didn't want one I know my brother

"Ahhh thanks you are the best"

"Thought you said you didn't want one"

"I knew you was gonna get me one"he said grinning

"Sure you did"I rolled my eyes

"Let's just finish our ice cream in the car before we get home if not it's going to melt"and that is exactly what we did before we drove home.

The weather was no more cloudy like it wasn't about to rain just some minutes ago.

Alessandro's POV:

"You wanted to see me"I said as I walked into the library already annoyed by the sudden call

"Sit"he commanded

"You know I didn't come here for you to command me around"I don't deal with people telling me what to do very well,I do what I wanted when I wanted to do it and not even my father the Italian mafia don could boss me people might be scared of him but not me and he knew it.

"I guess you could use some sit because what I am about to discuss with you is very important young man and don't use that tone on me"he bit back

I knew he was serious about the important part because it's not everyday he calls me for a discussion

"I am planning on handing you over the CEO position of the ROMANO Inc.and at the same time I want to step down as the don"he paused and took a sip of the his liquor

Taking over the ROMANO inc. and becoming the don has been my biggest dream but I managed to keep my face neutral and not show any emotion for I wasn't raised to

"But" he added and immediately I knew he was going to say what I won't like"on two conditions"he added and my scowl deepened

"And what are the conditions father dearest"I said sarcasm lacing my words

"You get married"he said skeptically

"The fuck I am not I am just 18 for fuck sake"I said with my patience wearing thin

"Then I guess Antonia would make a good CEO and don"He knows what he is doing he is well aware of how much I want to become the CEO and don of the Italian mafia and how much I have trained for it all my life even at the age of 18 I can't count the amount of sins I have committed and I don't even regret any of it

"You must be kidding me Antonio is 17 he is not ready"

"He might not have committed your amount of sins but he has his own fair share after all"

"So the choice is yours you get married you become the ceo and don after 2months of your marriage and you refuse then the position goes to your brother"

"And secondly I choose the wife you marry"

"Hell I am not even getting married not to talk of getting married to your choice so fuck you and your conditions whatsoever"I said boiling internally

I had known since I saw his text this morning that I wasn't coming to discuss something good with him I trusted my instincts my father never called me for something good it's always me going to do his dirty shits

"Those are the only conditions I have for you it's either you abide or you loose the positions and you've got two weeks to decide"he said coolly

I left the library banging the door very loudly on my way out because I was already visioning about a thousand ways I could end him right then and there with so much ease but I knew for a reason he was still my father.

My father and I never really got along he never saw the good in me and all I wanted was just to please him that's what I have been doing ever since I began training to become the don he made me kill countless of people destroyed countless lives so we could keep staying ontop, our mafia was the largest and strongest in the world and trust me being the heir came with its pecks and price and I was fully ready to face and pay the price.

On my way out of the mansion I met my mom in the living room

"Hey son how was the talk with your dad" she asked

I took a deep breath trying to not loose my cool before I reply her

"Uhhhm I guess not good with the way you are"she added

"Have I ever discussed anything good with him before mom like I don't even know what that man has against me for Pete's sake all I do is try to please him but he never even sees the good in me all he does is make me do his dirty shits"

"If this is about the marriage Alessandro I am sure you are going to be fine you've always been"

"So you know"

"Yeah just found out this morning""he told me"

I really adored my mother I loved her so much she has been with me through the good and bad times she had been with me the night my father forced me into my first kill she has always been there for me and Antonio

"But how can he do this he knows how bad I want to take over him how much I have worked hard just for this and now he lay out some god darned conditions for me"I said not trying to raise my voice at my mother because she wasn't the one who did me wrong

"I promise I tried talking him out of it but he refused to listen to me i even tried telling him you are just 18 and he said you are an adult afterall all my plea fell into deaf ears"she said apologetically

"Hey think of this in a good way if you do as he says you take over the company and the empire what you've always wanted and you have a partner that you might one day love"

"You know I don't do love mom I just can't I don't even have a heart it died ten years ago"I was nine then and that was when the cruel man I call father had me made my first kill I can still remember it clear as day

I held the heavy metal with shaky hands

"Pull the trigger or I pull the trigger"he said

He was holding another gun to my head

I either kill or be killed and even at nine I knew I had to put myself first

I raised the gun and pointed it to the man who was begging furiously

"Please please please don't kill me I beg you I have a pregnant wife and a kid at home and they all depend on me"he had cried my heart broke at his words

"Pull or I pull"my fathers voice has boomed in the warehouse

I took a shaky breath before I heard a loud bang

I was waiting for darkness to consume me not until I heard the thud of the man's now lifeless body did I know that I was the one who pulled the trigger not my father then everything became black.

"Just relax and think it through do what you want it's high time you do something for yourself too you've lived enough for your father it's either your freedom or the company"

"But what if my freedom is the company and that what I want"

"I know you are going to have it all figured do not stress yourself over it"

"Thank you mom I would think about it bye"

"Bye"

I left the house and drove off with many possible solutions in my head but none seem to be making any sense to me.