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CHAPTER ONEDOVEI wake up to a dream about my cabin in the woods and tattooed bloody knuckles. My German Shepherd, Storm, nudges my face with his nose, urging me to let him out of the room. Pushing the curtains away, I open the glass doors to the conservatory attached to my bedroom. With Storm at my heels, I walk around the corner to the door that leads to the backyard. Just as I reach the door, I find my brother sleeping face down on my couch, his hands covering his eyes from the sunlight filling the conservatory. He is shirtless, his hair a mess, and he reeks of whiskey, vodka, weed, and God knows what else. Storm immediately jumps on the couch over him, burrowing his nose through Leo's arms to lick his face. Leo wakes up startled and falls off the couch."You look like shit," I tell him, and he just glares at me with red eyes. I return to my room to finish my morning routine; I fetch some aspirin with a glass of water and return to the conservatory. I notice Leo has gone back to sleep on the floor; he has pulled the smooth rug off the floor as cover and is using my dog as a pillow. "Get up, Leo," I say as I kick him repeatedly. His hand snakes out of the rug and catches my leg. He groans loudly, mumbling something in Italian. "If you are not going to wake up, I will call Dad." That threat has him sitting up immediately. Storm looks around to investigate the loss of warmth and snuggles himself into the rug lying in Leo's lap. I extend the aspirin and the glass of water towards him. He takes it from me with a grunt of acknowledgement. "This is not how I envisioned my Sunday going," I mumble as I start cleaning around the place. I collected Leo's belongings except his shirt because that wasn't there. "I can't find your shirt, but keys, wallet and an empty flask are here." Dropping the stuff on his lap, I move around to open the door to the backyard. Storm sprints over to me as soon he hears the beep of the doors unlocking. He rushes out of the backyard, and I go over to the bird feeding station and water bath to refill the seeds and dry fruits. When I returned to my room, Leo wasn't there anymore; he must have already left to inhale the Frittatas and pancakes our cook Marie prepared. If I didn't go soon, I would be left with nothing.My brother doesn't have breakfast daily at our family home, but if Leo's here, my cousins are, too. As expected, when I reached the main wing of the house, I could hear rapid Italian mixed with some English curse words being spoken. My gaze first lands on Papa; he is talking on the phone with someone sitting on the kitchen counter. He is already dressed up to the nines in a crisp black Armani suit. His eyes meet mine as I pick up my mug to make my coffee. "Good morning, mia cara." He says, covering his hands over the phone. I walk up to him with my coffee in hand and plant a kiss on his cheeks. "Morning, Papa." He returns to his call, and I make my way to the dining table. The conversation that was in full swing before I entered the room abruptly stopped as I entered. Alessio opens his mouth to say something, but Leo and Luca glare at him, indicating for him to shut up. I could guess what they were discussing; it was probably Cosa Nostra's business. But I don't understand why they are hiding it from me. My brothers never shy away from talking about the brutality in the Mafia while me and my sisters are present. In fact, they think we must know from a very young age that the world we live in and the men who run it are dangerous. From the gory details of my Papa and his brothers punishing the sinners who confessed their sins to their hotline service 'Sinners Anonymous' to Matteo shoving a metal spiked baseball bat in a traitor's ass, I have heard it all. These stronzos wouldn't stop on my account, it must be something else."What's with the breakfast here?" I ask them, but Luca shrugs as if it's no big deal. It may not be; it could just be another Sunday morning when they crash at our parents' place after Saturday night's party. But I can't help but be suspicious about all this united front they are projecting to stop me from asking questions. It doesn't surprise them that they don't want to include me in whatever they are up to. Alessio and Leo are thick as thieves. They have been together since they decided to enter the world twenty-four years ago on the same day. Growing up inseparable, they have had a special sibling bond much more potent than what they have with the rest of us. My suspicions about them hiding something from me are confirmed by Luca's presence. He is Alessio's younger brother by two years, and he is a lookout for them whenever they go on their various escapades. If they don't spill the details by the end of breakfast, I will ask Matteo or Isabella; that would be too close to snitching, but I cannot help it; I need to know, especially if it concerns the Russians and him.Despite the fear slithering into my spine, I force a cheerful smile onto my face. "Whatever you are hiding, I will make sure I find out. You know I have my ways." I say and add a wink for good measure so my brothers don't notice anxiety coursing through my veins. Luca shakes his head in annoyance and picks up his plate to go to the kitchen as Papa enters the dining hall. He murmurs something that has my father clenching his jaw in response. My heart starts hammering against my chest; I turn my gaze towards Alessio, noticing that he is already looking at me. He might have seen me panicking because his eyes narrowed in on me as if accusing me of something. He taps on Leo's shoulders, and they both leave. The entire interaction had my stomach tightening with nerves, making me want to throw up whatever I ate. As soon as they go, I rush to my room; I pick up my phone on the bedside table and text Matteo.
Me: Alessio, Leo and Luca came by. They are acting weird. What is going on?
Matteo unsurprisingly answers immediately; for him, family always comes first, and I cannot name a single incident where he failed his family or Cosa Nostra. Even if it's for something as inconsequential as answering a text. I can bet my entire Valentino fall collection he is going to be the best damn Capo there ever was, other than Papa, of course.
Matteo: You mean they will finally form a boy band and leave all the action to me?
Ah, did I forget to mention Matteo is a lone wolf. He is not a big fan of working in a team; that is also because nobody in the entire Devil's Dip is crazy enough to be on his team. We are all just pieces on his chess board; he manipulates to get what he wants. You only know you have been a part of his games once he is finished with you.
Me: Unfortunately, not anytime soon. Matteo: Well then, I don't care what the little shits are up to. But if you are interested, I will find out.
Me: I am not interested. I just want to know. You know us girls, it's all just gossip.
Very subtle Dove, very subtle.
As soon as I close my chats, I regret telling Matteo about this. If he gets a sniff of what I have been up to behind the entire family's back, I am not sure he will be too brotherly and support me. I can only hope he doesn't dig too far. But even as I wish it was true, I know I am only lying to myself. Matteo Visconti forgets no one and nothing.
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DOVE, Age 11“"No man's cub can run with the people of the jungle," howled Shere Khan. "Give him to me! "” Papa sat up on the bed and growled like the tiger from the story. I shivered and burrowed under the covers closer to mommy. Papa reads me bedtime stories every day and tonight it’s my favourite story of boy named Mowgli who was raised by the wolves in the jungle.“Come on, Angelo stop. It’s scary.” Mommy said tucking me under her arms. Papa laughed and kissed her on her the lips and murmured “Ahh but you like it when I do that Magpie.” I don’t know what that meant but I saw mommy turn pink. I asked Matteo why it happens and he said “It’s because they are in love” he gagged after the word “love” like it’s ugly, nasty stuff. I don’t think so, mommy and Papa looked very happy to me. I suddenly remember something. Jumping out of bed, I snatch the book out of papa’s hands to run to my room.“Where are you going mia cara, do you not want me to finish the story?” papa asked. I shrugged and said “I already saw the movie.” Papa was a little disappointed to not have my story completed but he’ll live. I went to my room snuggled next to my two-month-old puppy Storm who was already sleeping on my bed. I open the book and turn over to the last page. A drawing of Mowgli returning to the village with his human friend who is a girl is depicted. Above their images are two names, mine and his. I wrote it in blue glitter pen, my favourite colour. I almost forgot it was there. If papa saw this, there would be a lot of trouble. Tracing my fingers over the letters I fall asleep eventually. That night I dream of being in the woods, chasing my puppy and playing hide and seek with a boy. He wasn’t raised by wolves nor could he talk to animals but he was special because he was mine. My friend, my secret, my Artem.