Burning Ties

Chapter Seven

Leandro POV

For the longest time, my life has lost its purpose, I failed the ones that I promised I would always protect, and if I couldn't do that then what good am I?

For years, all my life has been about is my siblings and the mafia, but I lacked feeling, I didn't remember what it was like to genuinely feel like I was needed.

My sister, the one person who made me feel like I had a purpose was taken away from me, and I could do nothing to stop it. I still couldn't find her, and I think that says it all.

What good am I if I can't find her?

Before the birth of Iris, I always felt like an extra, someone who wasn't meant to be there, but after her birth? I finally found out why I was born, it was for her. She was my saving grace, she pulled me out of the darkness, she made me feel needed and once she's found, I'll do anything to keep her safe. She will never be let out of my sight again.

Don't get me wrong, I love my brothers more than I love myself, but compared to Iris, they're nothing, there's nobody that compared to her, and I know that each and every single one of them feels the exact same way about her.

Our world fell apart when she was taken, and fourteen years later, we still haven't found her. There's been so many pranks that I know that a few of my brothers have lost hope in ever finding her, but I haven't. How could I when she is the reason that my heart still beats?

The door of my office suddenly opens, and I glare at Luka, my second youngest brother who happens to not know that he should fucking knock before entering.

Luka smirks, knowing he's managed to irritate me, and I find myself questioning his survival skills. Is he fucking stupid or something?

"Check your phone, dumbass." Luka says, crossing his arms and leaning against the door frame.

My glare hardens at his choice of words, and before he can register it, there's a knife flying through the air that nicks his ear.

"Have some respect, stronzo." (asshole) I say, my voice as hard as my glare. Luka nods quickly as he raises his hand to his ear to inspect the damage that I did, and I find a smirk making its way to my lips before I pull out my phone to see that papa called an emergency meeting.

Panic blooms in my chest, but I cover it up by feigning nonchalance. Luka gazes sceptically at me, but I give him no hint of what I truly feel.

When he sees that I won't be telling him anything, Luka sighs as he pulls a chair that's in front of my desk and takes a seat.

"What do you think it's about?" He asks, crossing his arms over his chest once again.

"I don't know, Luka. Maybe it's about the sudden trip he went on? But I don't even know where he went, or why he's coming back so soon. I don't think it's serious though, or he would have told us already." I answer, my voice comes out sure and confident when in reality, I feel anything but.

"Maybe it's about our alliance with the Mexicans? Alek says they've been causing trouble."

"Maybe, but we won't know until dad gets here. He should be here in about..." I check my watch, "Twenty minutes. So round everyone up, get them in the living room, I'll be there."