Mafia Prisoner

Ch. 30 - Thank You

Vivian POV

After the kids were showered, the doctor came to check on them both. Amy was very apprehensive, and I quickly learned why. She had lashes all over her back, broken bones that never healed properly, and she was very malnourished. I thought her frail, bruised state was from Niko's men, but these were old injuries.

I tried speaking to her, but she closed down. Michael was getting angry, so I dropped the subject and took them to my garden. Amy's eyes light up with pure joy at the scene I created out here. I told her about my butterflies, and she begged me to help more survive. They were on the endangered species list, which broke my heart. These beautiful creatures need to be saved from the cruelty of our world.

I didn't know how long she would stay with us, but I hoped it would be forever. Would it be wrong to steal her from her dad, even though he allowed this abuse to carry on?

While Amy ran around the fields chasing fireflies that had just come out in the dusk, Michael sat beside me. He was mostly quiet, observing my every move as well as the guards. He was definitely trained to be one of these brute men. I hated how hard this little boy became at such a young age.

"My sister is my father's bastard child. He got a maid pregnant and then killed her when he found out she hid the child. Amy is often abused by everyone at home. I try to protect her, but if I step in too much, my father will come after me. I can't show her too much kindness at home, but I love her." For the first time, Michael looked like a little boy—a sad, lost child at the mercy of a true beast.

"I'm so sorry, Michael. I can't imagine anyone hurting someone so sweet and precious." My eyes watered a bit. The boy looked at his own hands, and it dawned on me he was probably forced to hurt her, too. What kind of fucked world was this?

"If this is really the life you live, could she stay with you?" He asked me, and I nearly fell over. Was he pleading for his sister to remain with their enemy?

"What about you, Michael? Do you really want to go back to your father?"

"I have to. I'm second in line to my family. I'll serve as my brother's second, and if anything happens to him, then I will be in charge. When that day comes, Amy can come home, and I'll protect her." He raised his head in honor of his words. This little boy had too much on his shoulder. I knew by the words he chose that he had already planned on killing his brother.

"Does your older brother hurt you? Or Amy?"

"He is my brother and future Capo. I won't speak bad of him." His voice was low, and his head bowed. I could see the struggle in his mind. He was honoring his family yet somehow protecting his little sister. That shouldn't be a choice for anyone to have to make. He walked off to Amy, pointing out some purple flowers, saying it was her favorite color. He didn't have a lot of emotion to him, but I could see his love for her.

I sighed, leaning deeper in my chair as I watched them.

"They aren't toys, and no, you can't keep her." Niko's voice wrapped around me, and I just wanted to curl in his lap. Wait! What? These kids are making me too emotional.

"I can't let her go back to that abuse. She deserves better than that." My words were soft, barely audible.

Niko crouched down by my chair. His finger lightly brushed a few loose strands from my face. "She doesn't belong to our family. She has to be returned to her father, Viv."

"He abuses her! Didn't you hear the boy see the doctor's reports? You have the power to help that little girl. Please don't let her life be one of beatings and eventually rape." My eyes pleaded with his.

He took a hard gulp, looking back at the kids. The boy stood stiff, watching her run around the fields with a smile.

"I can't promise she can stay, but I will promise her father's death and her older brother's. For Tommy, they won't be breathing much longer."