Matteo's Eyes

Chapter 16

We stand there for a while. I take in Shay's warm embrace and he holds me tight. Suddenly the window shatters and someone enters my room.

I grab the gun from my dresser and hand the knives to Shay. A very old man stands up. Honestly, he's so old I don't know how he survived that. The man has a large ragged scar going right down the middle of his forehead.

"Hello, Ivory." He says in a menacing tone.

"Who are you?" I aim the gun and click the bullet in place.

"My name is Maxim Antonov."

I hear my parents running up the steps to us.

Mom runs in first, "I thought I killed you years ago."

I look at Mom who is already firing bullet after bullet at him. They all hit him in the head. Mom fires until she is out of bullets are grunts frustrated with herself.

"How the hell did you survive? How did you survive that many years ago and just now?" All the bullets seem to ricochet right off of him.

"Well once you put that nice right in the middle of my forehead the doctors managed to save me. I don't know how I didn't care how. They replaced my skull with a metal cap-" I fire at his chest when he says this. He stumbles backward but stays standing. "I am also wearing a bulletproof vest." He glares at me.

"What do you want?" Shay says with a growl in his voice.

"Well I want the pretty little lady," I'm keeping track now, little lady count: 4? "She looks like she could please me just like her mother did.

Shay protectively steps in front of me and pushes me behind him. "Try and take her." He glares at Maxim throwing the knife up and catching it.

Dad finally speaks up, "Why do you want her?"

"Well she is going to be the Russian Mafia boss, isn't she? It just feels right to traumatize both the current and the next." He pauses and smirks, "However it seems as though now isn't a good time. I will come back and get her later."

We all watch as he jumps out of the window and walks away. Nothing we can do other than stand there. We can't shoot him because he is covered in bullet-proof vests and armor.

Mom rushes out of my room and Dad follows after her. Inseparable as always. I have never heard them fight, not even once. Shay turns and looks at me, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I stare down at my feet and blush when I realize Shay was about to risk his life for me. Again.

Shay hugs me again and I fall into the comfort of his warmth. "I meant every word I said before, whatever that was, just happened. You are amazing and perfect in every way possible. Don't ever forget that." All I can do is nod. I'm afraid if I try to speak I will start crying again.

We both leave my room. I head to a guest bedroom. My room is covered in glass and has no barrier from all the threats outside. We are so vulnerable right now. To many people know where we live and there is a wide open door right inside.

I know what to do. I head to Mom and Dads room right next to mine. Shay heads downstairs to leave or go talk to Matteo.

I knock twice, "Come in." I hear Dad say softly from the other side.

I walk in slowly. I see Mom sitting on the edge of the bed and Dad standing in between her legs cupping her face. Mom quickly wiped away her tears, trying to never show her children any weakness.

"When you guys are ready, I think we should leave. As soon as possible. To many people know where we live and we have had multiple attacks directly at us. No doubt there will be more soon." I say quietly keeping my head down. Not because that I am afraid they won't like what I said, but because I'm afraid they will agree.

"I agree. Begin packing. Take as much as you can and everything you value. Tell you siblings and tell Shay to tell his family. I will call Lorenzo. We will all go stay in our safe house." Dad pauses turning to Mom, "It will only be temporary. Only till we get... the threats... out of the way."

I know he means Maxim. I know what Maxim did to Mom and how traumatized Mom is because of him. I also know I will hear her screams at night once again. I don't know if Dad will be able to help them anymore now that we found out he is alive.

I head to Matteos room and just walk right in. To my surprise he is not alone. "Woah." I cover my eyes. I just saw my brother making out...intensely with a girl.

"Ivory get out!" Matteo whisper yells at me.

"Nope I can't, there's an...emergency."

"I'm sorry. You've got to leave." Matteo says to wherever the girl was that was in bed with him.

"Can I turn around now?"

"Yes."

When I turn around the girl is almost complete out the window. I don't see her face, only her strawberry blonde hair blowing in the breeze.

"What do you need Ivory? I was in the middle of something." Matteo gives me a stern look.

"We are leaving. Pack everything you value and don't what to loose. Plus clothes. We are going to the sage house with the Orlovs and Lorenzos family."

"Why?"

I look at him like he's an idiot, "Because we have been attacked in our own home. Why do you think?"

Matteo realizes this and makes a face of realization and a hint of embarrassment. Maybe I was made to be a mafia boss because sometimes I think he wasn't.

I leave and tell Angelina. She doesn't take this well but I don't stay to calm her down. I have to pack and we have to leave.

Within the hour everyone is packed and ready to go. In the next hour we meet the Orlovs and Lorenzos family at the airport. And within 7 hours of deciding to leave our home, we are at the safe house.

I have never actually been to the safe house before. None of us have other than Dad and maybe Mom. I know that Dad recently added extra rooms there but that's about it. Everyone is running around choosing rooms while sitting go and find the kitchen. I need food. I haven't eaten in 7 hours.

When I finally find the kitchen Mom is already there eating a big brownie, "Like mother like daughter." She laughs as she says this. I laugh and grab a brownie to eat. Mom leans in and whispers, "You know we don't have enough rooms for all the children to hav their own. You might have to share with Shay. Alina and Gia are sharing and Matteo and Angelina are sharing."

Alina and Gia? "Why are Alina and Gia sharing?" I ask confused on my Alina didn't choose me to room with.

"I don't know." Mom says in a totally unconvincing tone.

I eye my mon suspiciously as I walk out of the room to find Alina.