Going Up In Flames

Chapter 2

DANTÉ

It's not what you are that is holding you back. It's what you think you are not.

Danté's father's handwriting looks a little faded on the back of the photo of him, his father and his brothers.

Danté's father, Gerardo, wasn't a saint, but he wasn't a bad man either, considering being the Don of the Sicilian mafia. He ruled his empire as it should be ruled.

He was a good man who just did bad things. That's what this lifestyle is all about, or atleast, that's how it is from Danté's perspective.

Danté always admired his father, his work and power more than his father himself, but admired him nonetheless. He wouldn't say that he ever loved his father though. Their relationship was complicated and deeply flawed.

Danté and his father only ever really communicated when it was about business. Even when Danté was a young child, his father always made sure to expose him to all the aspects of ruling the Cosa Nostra.

Everything.

But Danté was still close with his father, in their own way that only they understood, they looked out for each other. They cared. And despite everything, Gerardo's death took Danté and his four brothers by surprise, but more than that, it sent them, Danté especially, into a fit of rage. They seeked vengeance. Their father was their leader, everything they knew was because of him.

Danté swore on his father's grave that he would find the sick killer and serve justice for his father.

His mother's death was already too much, so the death of their father sent the five brothers over the edge.

Their mother's death, on the other hand, was a completely different story. It wasn't because of the mafia, no one targeted her, she was never in any danger, Gerardo made sure of it at all times.

Their mother's death was unfortunately, a self inflicted act.

Suicide.

But to their mother, it must've been her last act of courage, and bravery.

Danté remembers it so clearly, the day his darling mother was declared dead.

She was schizophrenic, some who knew about the woman would call her crazy, a lunatic, a psychopath. When in reality she was everything but the ludicrous remarks.

She was an amazing woman, a lovely wife and a great mother and friend. She was kind and her heart was always in the right place. Which is why Danté always found it strange that such a lady as herself would find herself in a lifestyle full of crime and murder.

But she was always encouraging, and she definitely kept her husband on his toes. As kind as she was, she had a tounge as sharp as a blade, and she knew how to stand up for what was right.

Unfortunately, every rose has it's thorns.

She was getting better, but thinking back, Danté supposes that she was just putting on a brave face for her husband and children.

She battled her demons silently everyday. She tried her best to hide it away, and when trouble came, she would try and get herself away from her family. She didn't want her children seeing her so broken, and scared, or even sometimes, violent.

One day, she had enough. She didn't want the voices controlling her life any longer. Even more than that, she didn't want to end up hurting someone she loved.

She left a short note on the fridge:
'My little rays of sunshine, I'm so sorry, but I don't think I can handle this anymore. Tomorrow morning when you all wake up, I will be gone. I can't risk hurting one of you, and I don't want to go through all this agony any longer. Don't be sad, please. I will be looking down on you all, and I will protect you as best as I can from all your irrational thinking. Especially you, Gerardo.
I love you all, always.'
-A