Mafia by Blood (wlw)

17 - The truth

"Mother?" Madison asked, her eyes wide and jaw nearly dropping to the floor. Michelle looked at her two beautiful daughters, their expressions were a mix of confusion and disbelief. Her youngest daughter stared at her, trying to understand how the woman standing before her was the same holding her as a toddler in the framed picture on her nightstand.

"We have a lot to talk about," Michelle started, but Madison was quick to cut her off.

"You think?!" Madison's voice trembled with anger. "How could you not tell me? All those years working for you, and you never said a word! You made me do terrible things!"

"And you disappeared when I was just a baby!" Mackenzie's voice was rising now. "I never got the chance to know you!"

"At least you had a stable parent!" Madison retorted, tears welling up in her eyes. "I bounced from foster home to foster home because I was told my mother was an unstable alcoholic and drug addict. You could have left me with George and Mac!"

"I did not have a decent parent!" Mackenzie cried, her own tears starting to fall. "He was an actual alcoholic and a drug addict. My childhood was a nightmare!"

Michelle's heart ached with each word. "I know, girls. And I'm so, so sorry. I want to explain everything. Please, let's take a walk. There's a spot nearby where we can talk in private."

Reluctantly, they agreed. They walked to Michelle's thinking spot, a secluded area with a breathtaking view of a lake. The trees, nearly bare of leaves, surrounded them, and the serene nature was all they could see, aside from two wooden benches facing the water.

"I never wanted this life," Michelle began, her voice heavy with regret. "Before my father died, he revealed our family legacy and convinced me that I had to take on the role of mafia leader. If I didn't, the old inner circle would come for me. I didn't want them anywhere near my children. This was three years after you were born, Mac. I tried to refuse, but then... they murdered Madison's father."

"THEY WHAT?!" Madison screamed, needing a moment to process the revelation that George wasn't her real father. Michelle could see the shock and pain in her eyes.

"The ones responsible faced a horrible fate," Michelle continued, knowing that nothing she said mattered at the moment. Mac put a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder. Madison shivered but it seemed to be helping.

"So that's why I didn't stay with George," Madison mumbled, piecing together the fragments of her past.

"When George found out about my affair and that you weren't his, he wanted nothing to do with us. We divorced when you were six and Mackenzie was three. Not long after, I was forced into this life. I hoped you would find a good home," Michelle explained, her voice faltering.

"So that's why George's drinking started," Mackenzie muttered.

"There's more," Michelle said, steeling herself for the next revelation. "George's real name isn't George Grey, it's George Bonnano. He's the younger brother of Bonnano's capo, Paul. This makes Mackenzie an heir to both families. No one knows this except us and George, who has sworn to stay out of our business."

"So you're saying Mac is both Bonnano and DeCavalcate?" Madison's voice was filled with anger, while her past anger issues came to the surface. Mac, on the other hand, sat there in silence, her gaze fixed on the ground.

Michelle's heart broke at the sight of her children in such pain, but they needed to hear the truth, as one of them would eventually have to take over. With the Bonnano's capo currently childless, there was a chance that Mac's identity would be discovered, and she would be forced to inherit the throne. Michelle had promised herself to not let that happen.

"Yes, but no one can know. Not even your friend Noelle, or anyone else. Not even Carlos knows this," Michelle emphasized, hoping Madison understood the gravity of the situation.

"I understand. Family is everything," Madison sighed.

"I will tell you everything about your real father later, but for now, let's get back. It's almost dinner time," Michelle said, taking one last look at the lake.

"I should probably go," Mac mumbled, standing up from the bench.

"No, please, you're more than welcome to stay," Michelle urged. Keeping Mac close would also ensure she wouldn't betray them. Mac looked at Madison awkwardly before politely accepting.

"Since you've revealed yourself to us, will you do so to everyone else?" Madison asked as they walked back.

"Depends. The only reason I wear this mask is to keep you two safe. I never could with Mac staying with George. That would however change if Mac was to stay here," Michelle started and turned to her youngest. "Mac, would you like to stay here?" She hadn't planned to ask this so soon, but she desperately wanted her daughter close.

"Oh, I, uh, don't know. I'm not exactly going to fit in here," Mac muttered, taking in the sight of the villa in front of them. Her life could be better if she accepted, with no limits to what she could do.

"Yes, you will, darling. You're royalty here. You'll have everyone's respect, and you'll have everything you ever wanted," Michelle tried to convince her, but she knew it was a lot to take in.

"I need some time to think about it," Mac said, as they walked inside and joined the others in Michelle's inner circle for dinner.

"So, are you going to tell me what the three of you have been doing alone for over an hour?" Noelle whispered to Madison after dinner. Mac sat in silence, just taking in everything around her, imagining what her new life could look like. Michelle cast a warning look at Madison, who only whispered back to Noelle that she couldn't tell her yet. Michelle loved Noelle like a daughter, but she knew she could be dangerous, with many secrets of her own. The dark-haired girl's closeness to both her daughters scared Michelle.

"I should probably go. It's getting late, and I have school tomorrow," Mac said later that evening. Michelle had given everyone the night off to spend time with Mac. They were sitting in their homemade cinema, watching a soccer game with Madison and Noelle. The dark-haired girl sat with her arm around Mac, which the blonde was hesistant to at first, but eventually gave as she had missed Noelle's touch.

"I'll take you," Noelle offered. Michelle held her tongue, knowing it might be too much for Mac if she insisted.

"I just have one question," Madison said as she and Michelle were alone. "The old inner circle you mentioned, they all knew about your identity, didn't they? How could you be sure they didn't tell anyone? And where are they now?" Madison looked at her mother suspiciously. Michelle glared at her for a moment, reluctant to reveal what she had done.

"As you know, some of them were behind your father's death. I knew what they were capable of. I just couldn't risk them finding out where you lived, or Mac. Besides, you couldn't exactly grow up here."

"Why not? I mean, you could've protected me until I was fifteen, as old as I was when you recruited me," Madison asked, shifting in her lounge chair.

"That could've worked, but we don't know that for sure. But one thing is for sure is that I regret how everything turned out. I was furious at George for taking Mac to another state for so many years, but on the other hand, she was far away from here, which was a relief. I just hope she can be convinced to join us, but not in the illegal activities yet," Michelle sighed.

Madison sighed, "I hope so too."