What Life Holds

Chapter 45

Jess's POV

Through the tinted car window, the scenery outside was mesmerizing. The green grassland stretched as far as my eyes could see. The snow slowly melting and caused small droplets of water to trail down the grass. The orchid buds started to bloom lightly, all these minute details were the only once which could keep my mind to from thinking back to Enzo. 

The car speeded down the lane in cautiously manner, showing that Enzo's friend, whoever he is, is very caution driver contrasting to Enzo's. "If you don't mind me asking, what's your name." Grace asked beside me. We both haven't talked much, thanks to irony of the situation, we were lost in our own thoughts. "Adrien Woods." The man answered, his brown eyes fixed on the road. 

"And how do you know Enzo?" I chipped in. "Collage." He answered curtly, proving my point that he wasn't much of a talker. "Look I understand that this might me a bit confusing for you, but you need to trust me." He said looking at us on rearview mirror, making us slowly nod. "There are warm cloths in that bag, and some food too. We can't stop anywhere, just put them on top." He instructed making Grace ramble through the rug sac. 

She pulled out two oversize hoodies and some sweats. I dropped the white clothing down my head, and hugged my body, soaking in the comfort. "There's a sandwich. You need to eat." Grace said placing the box in my hand. "I'm not hungry." I mumbled, just as my stomach grumbled in the sight of food. "You were saying." Grace challenged folding her hands. "Whatever." I muttered taking a bite, my taste buds enjoying the spice. 

"You should read the diary." Grace whispered after a moment. The diary, yes, I forgot all about it. Wordlessly, I rambled through the sac and paused my movements after my fingers landed on a red hardbound book. Pulling it out and carefully placing it in my lap. My fingers traced the symbol in the middle of the book, the family crest. 

My surroundings became blurry, the red solid between my hands became my main focus. Flipping the cover, I inhaled the rustic smell of the pale pages. It looked like it was made decades ago, but it wasn't used at all. I flipped the next page to see Enzo's neat cursive handwriting, who knew the bad boy had such a neat handwriting. Tracing the black ink, I started reading the text, probably the last words he wrote.

Jess, if you are reading this then I might not see you again. Way to start, brother.

I know your mind is probably flooding with questions, and I will try my best to answer them all. Firstly, you should know that I was never against our family or mafia, I will never be able to do that. Now let's start from the beginning.

It had always been dad's dream to dissolve the Russian Mafia, he was deeply troubled by the inhumane acts the Russians practiced. Sex trafficking of young girls was their main profession, thousands of innocent children were sold in black market every day. Dad was enraged, he forced the Russians to sign a pact saying that they will stop this habit of theirs or else there will be a war. The Russians compiled but they changed from girls to older women, pathetic.

That was the reason for war. That's when mom and you went in hiding. That was when Jazz was kidnapped, you might not know about this. She was kidnapped a few weeks after mom went in hiding. It took us a month to find and when we did, she had lost her voice. Her larynx was almost completely damaged, it took her about three years to regain it. That's one reason Jazz doesn't speak much or yell, the reason she tamed the lion inside her.

By now burning hot tears flowed down my cheeks as I came to know what Jazz had endured. I had always asked her how she was able to control her anger in a joking manner, not knowing how much pain it caused her.

The Russians had a very well-rehearsed plan when they started the war, we didn't predict so we lacked in resources and allies. Dad always dreamed big that he forgot to lie footstones.