Leonora Bernardi locked in the dark. Hurt for most of her life, scared of her own shadow. Not knowing what the outside world is like, she's the epitome of innocence. One look at her and it's like her aura could light up the room.
Nikolai Volkov fut...
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Insipience: - Lack of wisdom; foolishness.
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Leonora's POV
"M-Mafia?" I ask wide eyed, my tiny form moving to shuffle slightly off my papa's lap. He hugs me close, pushing me back into his chest so I can't escape. Papa's palm brushes against my cheek, brushing my hair out of my eyes.
"Y-you hurt p-people?... k-kill?" For the past half hour, my papa had been discussing what our family does. After Nikolai and I had that talk in the kitchen earlier, I decided to question him. I knew something was going on in our family, but I didn't suspect it was this. But am I really surprised. They carry weapons with them in the waistband of their trousers or in their jackets. They keep little gadgets around the house, and not to mention the guards that are always standing on watch outside the house.
"Y-you h-hurt people just l-like him." I say shakily, papa's hand freezing on my cheek, his body tensing up.
When I thought I'd managed to get away from someone who hurt people, I only managed to walk right into the arms of another. The world was an overwhelming labyrinth of pain and isolation, and I had mastered the art of blending into the background, shielding myself behind a timid façade. The thought sent tremors of fear coursing through my veins. My family, the very people who were meant to protect and cherish me, were entwined in the merciless grip of the mafia.
Suddenly, the shadows that once offered solace now seemed to loom with a sinister darkness. The realization that my fragile world was built upon a foundation of lies and violence left me cowering in the face of an uncertain future.
"No bambina. Not like him. Never like him." (translation: baby) He said caressing my back with soft strokes to help calm down my quivering form.
"There's a difference between what we do, and what Dietrich does. He hurts... kills for the fun of it. He thinks of it like a game, a chase of cat and mouse." He pauses to let this sink in.
"But what we do bambina. We do because we have to. We do it to protect the innocent. We do it to protect those who can't protect themselves." (translation: baby)
"Y-you take down the b-bad people?" I ask, my form slightly relaxing now against his.
"That's right principessa. And Nikolai and his family, they help us too. That's how they found you." (translation: princess)
"Please don't be scared of us bambina. I don't think my heart could take that." (translation: baby) He sighed, placing his cheek against the top of my head.
"I-I'm not. I'll tell y-you the s-same t-thing I told N-Nikolai. I-I'm not s-scared of y-you. I-I'm scared f-for you."
Papa's arms tighten around me a sigh leaving his chest.
