Aurora (Book #1)

Chapter 27

When we get back I go straight to my house. I am not able to go to work today, but not I am able to sleep. I thought that the atmosphere of my house might help me feel better . But ,of course, everything reminded of him. Every corner, every room is filled with memories and his scent. It reminds me that I didn't keep my promise to Luca and I have to apologize to him tomorrow. Tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a huge day.
Nuovo Don.
Sofias voice echoed in my head.
It would be either Mark or Erik. Elena never wanted any of them to take over the family. She never wish to give to men, in general. But are there any other options? I really hope, that it won't be Erik at least. My life would turn into a living hell if he becomes my boss.
No, Elena would never do that.
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I enter the doors of our base. Exhausted. I didn't even close my eyes tonight, because every time I did I saw either him or Elena.
"Hey, Rory" I hear Sofias voice,"Feeling any better?"
Her faced changed, when she realized how stupid her question was. But I look at her with the fakest smile i ever wore. She nods with hope in her eyes that I am actually feeling better. But how could I?
You don't have to pretend with me.
I brush the his words away.
Sofia looks at her phone and nervously says.
"Marc calls a meeting"
The time has come.
Everyone fills the room. I sit at my place near Elena, imagining she is sitting there with me. Tears form in my eyes when I look at the empty and cold seat, but I can't cry. At least not now.
Dalois enter too. All out soldiers reflectively put their hands on their guns and knives. Dalois copy the gesture.
This is a start of a rivalry between Rinaldis and Dalois.
I see Luca, who looks at me with worried-father expression. He wants to know about him.
I negatively shake my head and see him disappointingly sigh.
"Thank you, everyone, for gather so quickly" Marc starts, "Unfortunately, the reason of our gathering is..."
He pauses for second, not being able to finish his sentences.
"Our Don left us" he deepens his voice to prevent cracks in his voice, " My sister left us. And too soon. She was one of the most demanding, but fair leader of our family."
Eric stands up. Marc is a kind of emotional men. He is not cold like any of us. And seeing him in pain for his sisters death is expectable. But I have never seen Eric so lost. He always argued with Elena. About every single thing. But I know he loved her.
Who didn't?
"I want us to keep a moment of silence, as a gesture of our immense respect for my sister" he says. They both emphasized the word sister, to show how personal this death is for them.
We all stand up. I close my eyes. Every moment with her flashes in front of eyes in that one minute. Her comforting embraces when I was upset. Her voice singing to me when I had a nightmare and screamed in fear. Her praises when I did something right. The way she called me "miele" .
"Alright" He takes out a letter from his pocket. Wait, I've seen this letter before. That's the one I saw her writing a while ago. I'm dying to know what she wrote in it.
"Elena left a letter for us" A shows everyone the letter, " A guide for our future, if you will"
He opens the letter and starts to read.
"I'm writing this letter in case of my sudden death, i do not with this family to die with me. I want this family to blossom and grow. And to fulfill my demand I'm writing this letter-order."
This letter kind of made me feel weird. In case of sudden death?
Did she anticipate her death?
Marcs eyes widen as he reads the other part of the letter. He blinks twice and rubs his eyes.
Come on, Marc.
He sighs and finally reads it.
"Marc Giovanni Rinaldi remains in his current position as Consigliere.
Eric Giuseppe Rinaldi remain in his currents position as Capo."
Marc anxiously glances at Eric. He stands up and Marc brings letter closer to his face. Eric gasps and they both look at me.
What's going on?
Marc continues.
"Morana Aurora Rinaldi"
Rinaldi?
What?
Why am I even in the letter?
What's happening?
Marc sighs.
"Morana Aurora Rinaldi, my heir, becomes the head of Rinaldis family"
My mind goes  blank. The whispers in the room felt so loud to me.
Heir?
The head of this family? The Don?
"Get up" Sofia whispers. I do and walk towards Marc and Eric. My head is spinning and my feet were shaking. I can't believe she made me her heir. Eric takes Elenas chair for me and gestures me to sit.
"But it can't be. It's wrong. I am not a family"
"From this day on ,nipote, you are a family" Marc says and hands a paper, which was attached to the letter.
Nipote?!
I take the paper. I read as fast as I can and I refuse believe my eyes.
Certificate of adoption.
She adopted me. I am Elenas Rinaldis adopted
daughter.
Oddio, Elena.
I drop the paper from my hand.
Now everything makes sense. She always gave me those advices and sometimes let me to take over the leading.
She always prepared to be a leader one day.
"Don Morana Aurora Rinaldi" Marc utters, takes my hand and kisses my knuckles as a way to indicate me as a Don. Eric does the same and every person in the room,including Sofia, and I just emotionlessly nod.
Don Morana Aurora Rinaldi.
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"Are you ready, Don?" Sofia asks me, entering my room. Well, not my exactly. I moved to Elenas house, by Marc's advice. He claims it's one of the most secure buildings in Sicily.
"No, but do I have choice?" Today is  Elenas burying ceremony. After I was kidnapped our group took her body to prepare for burying. I put huge black glasses to hide my puffy eyes.
"Also, I told you not to call me Don, when we are alone" Sofia nods and we leave. I've been a Don for few days now, and I haven't got used to it yet. I've been treated so differently. I was always respected, but that was a different kind of respect. Even Eric treats me with respect, even though I know deep down he hates it and he's angry that Elena made me her heir and not him. But Elena always told me that he's too emotional and hot-tempered to be Don. And  Marc? He would make a good Don, but he family needs military consigliere. And he never complained. However, I can't believe she saw a perfect Don in me. I am the second woman Don in the history.
As we walk into cemetery, a little away I see a bunch off people gather around. They all came to conduct Elena to afterlife. I can't believe the respect Elena had, even by being a woman. Would I ever be able to gain as much respect? I stand by Elenas coffin, with our entire family, watching other families putting flowers on it. All of the five families are here, adding Andreas, which were not exactly Cosa Nostra and Nico also came to the funeral.
"Don Rinaldi, DeLuca conveys his sincere condolences and apologies that he could not appear in person." he says after putting his flower. I just nod. He leans in for a hug and I let him. "I'm so sorry for your loss, darling" he whispers into my ear so only I can hear it and kisses my cheek.
Dalois are also here. Luca, as a temporary leader, is the one who puts a flower. My bodyguards and soldiers tensed when he came up to me and didn't let me near then one meter.
"Our family is very sorry for your loss, and since we are the reason for your todays grieve, we own you for life" Luca says.
"Grazie" I say coldly, "What about your latest Don? Any news?"
"We haven't found him yet, singora"
I nod.
"You do understand that after these ceremony your family is not welcome in our territory"
Luca silently nods and we exchange our goodbyes. This has to be done for the sake of my family. I can't let Dalois freely walking around our territory, after what happened.
After the burying ceremony, there's short funeral service and then everyone dispersed.
Sofia drives me to my house. We are silent during the entire drive. If I speak, I would start to cry and my state doesn't allow me to look weak anymore.
"Rory" Sofia breaks the silence,  "I know that our position are very different from before, but I want you to know that, if you need someone to talk to, I'm always here"
"I'm fine, Sof, no need for that" I lie. I need my best friend, more than ever, but I have to learn to be alone, for mine and her sake.
They always come for your loved once.
She parks the car In front of Elenas house.
My house.
Haven't fully considered it as mine, yet. And other five cars that were driving behind us stop too. Two of them go inside, as they are my personal security. Oddio, so much security. No shit, no one ever even considered attacking her mansion. There so many soldiers and all armed to their teeth.
As I'm about to leave the car, Sofia takes my hand and reassuringly squeezes it. I squeeze back and put on a small smile.
I am so thankful for her.
After all, the fact that I'm still breating and not lying in random building in Spain, with a hole in my forehead, it's a work of her hands.
I wear my black glasses, which is stupid, because it's dark outside, but I guess tears are  forming in my eyes. Tears that no one is going to see anymore.
Don has to seem invulnerable.
Her all advices wash over me every second. She truly was preparing me  to become a Don, but I know she would wish to see me be a Don. I quickly walk into her house, go up her stairs and go into her room.
I am finally alone.
I lay on the bed and collapse into tears. Oddio, if she was here I know she would make me a tea and hug me with one of her reassuring hugs, maybe would give some piece of advice, which would print into my mind like many others. She always saved me from darkness from the first day she brought me here.
But she's not here.
She's gone now.
And darkness filled my soul again...
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hi friends <3
So this was the last chapter of my book, but be upset there's a surprise waiting for you if you swipe up😉

your humble author ;))