The Story of Blood and Roses

"Crime runs in my blood, Mia. My family has been in the business for as long as I have been alive and even before that, but you... you are purer and not used to being close to the deadly games. You are a fast learner, but you didn't grow up facing the adversaries of life or threats to your existence." I suppressed a chuckle as I fought off the image of me in sweatpants and sweatshirts trying to go about and finish before anyone else in the academy. I didn't give up until I got it right. Most of all I had come from a family who eradicated disturbing people in broad daylight and cooked up some bullshit about normal jobs, until the day I realized that someone had killed my mother while she was away at a business meeting. I faintly knew what business meant, but I had never expected her to die. And the man who I was romanticizing was the person snatched my mother away from me before it was time. I wondered if he had any repercussions. I doubt he would feel anything that was close to repercussion.

"You thought you knew things about me, Anthony. I'm pretty sure you have no clue about anything when it comes to me." The coldness that seeped into my voice left him intrigued. He scrutinized my face for a moment, his mouth opening and closing as if contemplating the best answer to my judgement.

"I don't care about your past, Mia. I only care about the woman... the warrior you have become today." His eyes brighten at the thought, and from the corner of my eyes I see his hand twitch. "You might have had a life where you knew what loss was, but you've never come face to face with people who you knew wanted you dead. They might have been your best friend or your father, but they will never hesitate to pull the trigger when the time comes. Just remember that, Mia because I learned it the hard way. I did everything I had to do to please my father, but it was never enough. He tried to do away with me... I didn't budge. I made him believe that I was dead. He, of course, knew me too well to let me go. My mom died of grief..." he frowned as he spoke of her. "He hunted me down when he should have been with the woman who he said that he loved with his very existence. He used to say that he loved her the most the day she gave birth to him. The man betrayed the two people he loved most in the world because he could not fathom a future where he was not in power, yet alive. He could not for the life of him, let me take over in fear that I would do away with him. If he had not alienated me and tried to kill me, I would have spared his life, I would have let him help me to build the empire that I call mine today, but he didn't. So, I went back on the promise I made to myself. I killed him." I stared at him in shock. His reality was something I could not grasp. We were different, yes. But to think that this man was the way he was because he was capable to feel... to feel vengeance; it shocked me to my very core.

"Do you miss her?" I whispered gently, trying not to startle him as he stared at my face. He blinked once, and then twice before he opened his mouth to answer.

"I killed him because he was a lousy husband."

"You killed him?" I gasped.

"Yes. I entered the house while Cain and his partner were raiding the house. I murdered him with my own hands. I didn't want to miss the look on his face as he realized what a big mistake he had made by shunning me." The records started floating in my head. Thousands of words that testified how Cain had murdered the Boss filled my head.

According to his testimony, during the assassination of Dorian Murray, Cain had been the one who killed Dorian. Ray was supposed to be breaking into the security system without detection, and Jasper was across the Murray estate acting as a sniper.

Something didn't add up. Cain had lied in his report? Why would he do that?

"You killed your own father? It wasn't Cain or his wife?" Confirmation was the key. I didn't know why I did it, but he did.

"Are you horrified?" he asked. The hands that had been balled up at his side moments ago, cupped my face. He leaned into me until our faces were inches apart. I couldn't even shake my head. His eyes bore into mine as he spoke. "I killed him because I loved my mother. She was the only person I loved in the world, Mia. I do not spare anyone who hurts people I love."

"You speak in the present tense, Boss."

"I do," he admitted.

"What do you remember about your mother?" I ask him.

"Nothing," he choked. I felt the need to grab hold of him and never let him go. That was what I did. My arms wrapped around his neck and his hands fell from my face in shock. I pulled him to me and held him as tight as I could.

"It's okay..." He let his head fall to my shoulder. His breath spread over my neck. "I trust you. I'll never leave you. Even if I can't be with you; if I die... I will never let you forget me."

"Don't."

"I promise," I vowed.

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