Gangster's niece

Family business

I wake up in his bed, and for the first time in my life, I'm actually waking up happy and with no worries at all. After our moment last night next to the fire place, I can't stop thinking about what he said while we were consuming our love " I love you " ; did he really mean it? Or was he just caught up in the moment? What I do know is that I didn't reply to that. I just ignored it and enjoyed our moment. I didn't know what it meant, and didn't want to overthink it, but enjoy the moment before it was gone.

Aiden comes up to bed, and he brought-
-I brought breakfast! He says with a happy smile on his face. He's such a sweet guy, and I'm thinking to myself how did I get so lucky.
-Hmm, what did you bring with you?
-You hungry? He asks while sitting on the bed next to me.
-Depends on what you have with you, I say while coming closer to him.
He leans in even closer, his face right next to mine, we close our eyes and I can feel his breath on my face, he says;
-Whatever you want, I have it. He kisses me gently, and while he's kissing me I take the package of food he's got in his hand and we both laugh.
-Oh so you hungry hungry, he says while laughing.
-Told you, I say while opening the package, I don't joke with food.
-Well may I have another kiss?
-Just let me finish my croissants and you'll have whatever you want.
We eat breakfast in bed and mess around, both enjoying each other and feeling each other again and again, each time more passionately than the other.

I break our kiss, and ask him hesitantly;
-Is it true? What you said yesterday, while we were... you know.
-What's true? He says, while pressing his lips against mine again,
-That you-
-Yes Jay.. Iike you. He whispers on my lips, you don't need to say it back just yet. But just know that I do.
I kiss him back and leave it to that for now.

The day passes by, and I spend it enjoying my time in the breathtaking nature that surrounds us, and for once, I don't have to think about anything, at all.
Aiden's phone doesn't stop ringing but he doesn't pick it up, not even once.
-Aren't you going to answer? It's the ninth time already, maybe it's something important.
-I know it's something important, but I don't care. My brother can drown himself in this whole mess. I'm keeping us out of it.
"Us" that's the first time someone includes me in their life decisions that way.

I look at Aiden sitting next to me;
-How much are you still involved in your brother's mafia?
-I'm not involved anymore, and I don't know their plans or anything they do. I just helped out because Vincent meant a lot to us.
-Do you know why Jaxon helped me out? I mean do you think there's something behind that?
-I don't know, probably. Did you ask him?
-It's not like he would tell me anyways, but yeah I asked him.
-I'm just as clueless as you are my love. But you're in safe hands now. Come here.
He hugs me and kisses me on my forehead. I look up to him and ask;
-How did it all start?
-What did?
-Your brother's mafia. And why is it a secret? It just doesn't make sense. Usually mafias have allies and enemies among other mafias. But to be a secret from the rest is dangerous. If your secret gets out, you won't have allies and everyone will want to get to you.

-You must really know about these stuff. Aiden says with a smirk on his face.
-Didn't they tell you? I'm the most powerful mafia leader in town's niece, I say sarcastically. He already knows.
-Well, I don't know why he keeps it a secret. Only Vincent knew the reason behind the secrecy, they were best friends. Even our parents don't know.
-Your parents? I thought they gave him the leadership of the mafia.
-Our dad has his own mafia. Remember when he said he needed a fiancée?
-Yes.

-Well Jaxon's twenty three now, our dad promised him he'd get the leadership of his mafia at the age of twenty five. And it's in our tradition that every mafia leader should have a woman by his side.

The more I spend time with them, the more I find out more secrets, and it seems like Aiden doesn't have anything to hide from me. He really just told me about his dad's mafia.
-I had no idea that your dad's mafia is different from your brother's. But that doesn't make any sense.
-What doesn't?
-I mean if Jaxon had already a mafia to join, and lead, why would he form a mafia of his own, without even telling his own father?
-I don't know, but at the age of seventeen, he told me he was going to secretly form his own mafia, I was only fourteen by then, but I made him a promise I would never tell dad.
-Do you think he'll also lead his father's mafia?  Or do you think he'll leave it to you and lead his own?
-I don't know. But I don't want anything to do with it. I only joined my brother's mafia when he formed it at the age of twenty, because I wanted to have his back.
-Why didn't you both already join your father's?

-In my father's mafia, it isn't right but to join when Jaxon's twenty five, so that he could be my dad's successor. He's the oldest so he would lead. And by then, I would be twenty-two, and would join it.
-So in two years?

-None of it will happen. Look, I don't know why Jaxon's formed his own secret mafia or why he wouldn't even tell our dad about it, but I know he won't join our father's, he's only making him think he will. And as for me, I left my brother's mafia, and I know I won't join my father's either. Can we just forget about them for a second?

There's just so many questions laying around. Why did Jaxon form his own gang when he could've led his father's easily? And why is he secretive about it? To everyone else and to his father? And why did he save me? He said he's keeping me safe, but how is he even aware of the danger I'm in? Something's just not adding up.

-Sure. I'm sorry for all the questions.
-It's alright. I know it hasn't been easy for you either.
-Either? You think my type of not easy is the same for you? No. You were respected in your mafia, you were treated like a human being. I wasn't even in it. I was my uncle's prisoner.
-I'm sorry about that. Was he violent with you?

" Violent " isn't even a close word to describe it. Flashbacks of him beating me and making me work as his men's puppet make me tremble, just the thought of him touching me after I would've been abused by his men, as if it wasn't enough, makes me nauseous. I close my eyes and bite my lip, I try to block all these dark memories, and before I could realize it, water is coming down my eyes.

I feel Aiden's hands around me as he presses me against him so tight that I can barely breath.

-Shh, it's okay, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked. You're safe now, I promise...
I wonder for how long I'll have to fight these memories that keep on coming my way. One way or another I should deal with my past. I want revenge.