Chapter 2
1524 Words
Alex Romano
I was shocked the very moment I saw this girl. She looked like a f*****g carbon copy of Alexander Russo, the Italian Mafia boss and my father's friend. I've known him since diapers, and I know the five sons he has. She even looks a bit like Dante. For a moment, I thought it was Dante in female clothes... And her name is so... so much like his... Mirabella Alexander Russo!
Could it be...?
No way. He has five sons, no daughters — or my father would know if he had any illegitimate children out there.
As we toured the company, I couldn't help but look at her time to time.. She talked so fluently and elegantly that I almost didn't hear most parts but just stared at her.. And from her behavior, I knew she was damn professional to her work..Other women couldn't stop gawking at me but she stayed composed all the time which impressed me.. Now I know why the CEO appointed her to assist me.. But she looked very young, almost underage.. But of course we don't employ underage people.. And I can't jast shake of the fact that she does look alike.
I stood outside the CEO's office while she kept apologizing after joking about Alexander Russo. She clearly doesn't know him — otherwise, that’s not the tone she'd use.
"Okay... Let's go inside," I said.
We both walked in and discussed business for a bit, but my eyes kept drifting back to her every minute. She stood a bit distant, and I saw the discomfort in the way she moved, quietly wincing occasionally.
The meeting ended and she walked me out. Before I got into the car, I turned back to her.
"What's your mother's name?"
Please... let the dots connect.
She looked confused at my question.
"Mirael Russo."
I huffed and got into the car.
How many Russos are there?
The driver started driving, but I kept looking at her in the mirror — crouched down on the ground, holding herself. I knew something was wrong.
"I want her full information on my desk the moment I reach the office," I said sharply.
My right-hand man confirmed, and I ended the call.
Being in the Russian Mafia taught me: trust your gut — and my gut was never wrong.
---
New York
As soon as I landed, I pulled up to the Russo Penthouse to meet none other than Dante Russo, who owned the place.
The security knew me too well to stop me.
The moment I entered, the smell of alcohol hit me hard.
"Get. Out!" Dante slurred, chugging down alcohol like it was water.
"Not a nice way to greet a guest," I said, sitting down and pouring myself a shot of tequila.
He snarled, "Guest? You're a f*****g intruder!"
I smiled and drank.
Dante's weird like that. Works on Sundays, drinks on Tuesdays. He’s two years older than me, but since we're both first heirs to Mafia families and CEO positions, we were as close as Europe and Australia — very close but very different.
"I was in D.C. and met someone," I started.
He should know about this. If my suspicion is true, it’s serious.
"Don’t tell me Alex Romano is in love! I’ll throw up all this alcohol," he teased.
My hand froze mid-air.
I had been attracted to her — a little. She was my type. But one meeting, that too business-related, isn't enough to know if it’s something deeper.
"She looked like you, Dante."
He choked on his drink and sat up straight.
"I didn’t knock up any women, dude!"
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Dante... she also looks like uncle."
Now he looked offended.
"My father didn’t knock up any woman either!"
"Oh Lord, Dante! I'm saying maybe she’s your sister!! She's seventeen and your mom—"
"Don't you dare talk about that woman in front of me!" he snapped, throwing his hands up.
I sighed.
"I don’t want to, but... I think you need to look into this."
I stood and left.
He'll contact me once he sobers up.
---
Mirabella
I walked slower than a turtle, my ribs screaming in pain. I was sure at least one was broken. My shoulder felt dislocated. I could barely move it. I limped a bit — my legs bruised beyond belief.
As I took the last corner to my house, flashing blue and red lights blinded me.
My heart thudded painfully.
Not again!
Ignoring the pain, I sprinted toward the house, horrible images flashing in my head — Please don’t let it be Puto! Please not again!
As I neared, I saw it wasn’t Puto.
A much larger body was being carried out, blood staining the white cloth that covered it.
For a pathetic moment, I wished it was one of my stepparents.
Two small arms hugged my waist.
I looked down — Puto.
I dropped to my knees and hugged him tightly.
"What happened?" I asked, pulling away to check him.
"They fought... Dad stabbed her... and ran away," he whispered.
I blinked, confused.
There hadn't even been an argument today.Even if there were, Damon could never kill Amanda.. As mom freezed my assets for him until I turn 18,Damon's ATM was Amanda.. He isn't so foolish to cut down his only source..
But honestly? Who cared?
One of them was dead. The other had fled.
Relief flooded me.
An officer approached.
"Are you Mirabella Alexander Russo?"
I nodded.
He looked hesitant, like he didn't know how to break it to me.
"I’m sorry, sweetie, but your stepmother has passed away... and your stepfather... umm... he ran away."
I nodded, feeling no sadness — only freedom.
But then terror set in.
I'm not 18 yet.
Puto is just 7.
The assets my mom left behind are locked until I turn 18. Foster care is shitty here..
No family.
No guardian.
The chances of placing us in foster care is not zero..But I doubt if anyone would want to take us in..No body fosters a nearly 18 years old and sick child..And if we’re separated by foster care... I’ll never forgive myself.
"I don't want us to be in foster care.. "
I said, truthfully and honestly.. The officer looked apologetic..
"We will not put you in foster care right away.. We'll try to find any relative.. If they don't take you guys in or you guys don't have any, I have no other choice.. "
He said and I nodded..
"Can I pack my bags, please?" I asked.
He nodded.
I grabbed Puto, packed our things — his medicine most importantly — and we left.
We were taken to the station.
Puto fell asleep beside me, his small hand clutching my sleeve.
I hugged my pink dolphin plush — the one mom gave me — I waas deep in thought and worried about the future..I had little savings to support myself..How will I take care for him? What if there is no relatives? What if we end up in a much worse household? My brain finally decided to shut down after a long day and I didn't realize when sleep took me.
---
I don't know how long I was asleep but I felt a hand on me..
I jolted awake, shaking in fear, thinking Damon was back.
But it was just an officer.
I sighed in relief.
"We have good news," he said with a smile.
"We found your family — your father and brothers. They'll be here in a few hours to pick you up. You'll be moving to New York."
I sat frozen.
Father?
Brothers?
I have father and brothers? Where had they been my whole life?
Did he abandon us? Did he abandon Mom?What if he only wanted sons and abandon us because I was a girl?
Would they even want me now?
What if they hurt me?
Or worse — what if they take Puto away from me?
No matter what happens — I won't leave Puto behind.
---
Alexander Russo
I was in my office, signing contracts and sipping whiskey when my secretary called, telling me Alex Romano was here.
I told him to come in.
Alex came in and sat in front of me. We nodded at each other, being aware of each other's presence..He seemed uneasy..Alex was the least person to visit here so I was ready to hear him..Before he could speak, my phone rang.
DC Police Station?
I usually would have let my assistant take it, but something told me to answer it myself.
"Hello?" I said coldly.
"S-Sir, is t-this Alexander Russo I'm speaking to?" the officer stuttered.
He probably knew who I was — most people did — and feared the Mafia name attached to me.
"Yes. What do you want?" I snapped.
I didn’t have time for games. I had to talk to Alex and then have dinner with the boys.
"Sir, we have your daughter here. The DNA matched. Her stepmother was killed by her stepfather. She has no guardian. If you don’t take her in, she’ll go into foster care."
- Writer
