We all sit at the large dining table I was never before allowed to sit at. Heavy black curtains line the room, dirty red walls, a huge chandelier over the middle of the table. Everything screams old and dark. I sit between Luca and Luciano, Tony beside Luca and Matteo by Luciano, the rest of our men stand near the entrance. Across from me sits my brothers and Sam clicks his fingers in order for servants to bring in the food. I make a point to thank the young lady who just bows her head with a smile. Lunch is nice or it would be if this whole place didn’t make me sick to my stomach, I just push the food around on my plate and glare at my brothers.
“Ari.” Sam starts. “We know we can never apologize enough, but we do wish you would listen so you can understand from our point of view“. Tony squeezes my knee under the table, and he gives me a reassuring smile.
“Go on then.”
“Father was a horrible man. He killed our mother simply because she loved you. We had promised her the day you were born we would do what we could to protect you from him. In order to do that, we needed to be alive.” Sam looks to Carlos who continues.
“If we had gone against what father wanted, he would have shot us without a second thought. We would have been no use to you dead.”
“You weren’t much use to me alive.” I mutter out.
“Who do you think made sure the servants brought you food and medicine? We did what we could, talking in fathers‘ ear to give you more time between training, to not advance to levels until you were older, to allow you to see your victims weren’t good people. We made sure you were able to escape that night and gave you ample opportunity to evade us on the run. We made sure it was us that was tracking you and not one of his men. We did what we could every step of the way without him getting suspicious that we were on your side.”
I slam my hands on the table. “And yet you still stood by and watched as he beat me, threw me in the ring and turned me into a fucking killer!”
We are so sorry.” Sam says.
“So fucking sorry. We were doing all that we thought we could.” Carlos says.
Luciano rubs circles on my back, Tony has stood to place his hands on my shoulders and Luca is now holding my hand. My men, here for me. Breath. I close my eyes and steady myself.
“We do not expect your forgiveness Ari… but we hope that one day we can be a part of your life in the way we always wanted to be.”
“We would also like you to know that we have sold the house. All of his assets. We d three ways and have already wired you, your share.”
don’t like the memories here, so we have split everything
“I don’t want his money… but I will try to understand where you both are coming from. Your side of things. There is something that I want from the both of you though.”
“Anything“, they say in sync.
*Ten minutes in the ring.”
“Ari, you can’t, you’re not healed…”“
“Oh no, not me.” I look at Tony and Luciano and smile at my brothers.
“You can’t be serious Ari! A Don and his head warrior? You know we were not trained like yout
“Well, that is the point. You weren’t trained like I had to be, and I’d like you both to understand my side of things. I’m not our father so we will keep it clean, but if you want me to see your side, you must feel what was mine.”
They both gulp and look at my men
“Okay, Ari, that’s fair. Sam says.
Carlos just nods and stands. “Let’s do this then, shall we?”
Luciano and Tony have taken off their jackets and shirts and are bouncing on their toes and warming up. I haven’t witnessed them fight before but I know from their bodies they are born and bred warriors of their own right.
“Alright lads, ten minutes, one round each. We keep it relatively clean, a knockout ends the match, no weapons, no backup, and no deaths. Luciano and Carlos up first.” Luca states the rules while I sit on his lap. Tony comes to give me a kiss for good luck, not like he needs it. He jumps into the ring and I take a moment to appreciate his large form, his muscles, his agility. I should have asked to see him fight sooner because this a total turn on. I shake my head back into reality as he swings his foot around and slams it into Carlos’s jaw. My brothers can fight, but they weren’t trained for this. They were trained to wear suits, follow fathers orders and have guards protect them. It takes all of five minutes to have him on the ground submitting. Tony has his chest puffed out and a big smile on his face as he looks at me to see if I’m satisfied with his efforts.
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