Mafia Prisoner

Ch. 74 - Darkness

Niko POV

Viv's Aunt was always quietly observing her surroundings. She held a scorned face as she looked around this house, as if it held memories she didn't want to remember. I knew she was uncomfortable here.

Once she said she could tell us the truth about our parents it clicked. She was Peter's sister-in-law. Of course, she knew what happened over twenty years ago.

I wasn't sure I could handle this story, but I also knew I needed to hear it. Vivian needed this too. She had been lied to her whole life. As much as I hated Peter for what he did, I still prayed he wasn't the villain I knew him to be. Viv loved her father and I didn't want her image of him destroyed. She lost enough already.

"I would like to know the truth, or at least your version of the truth from back then." I told her aunt. "And I do care for your niece. You know a vow is unbreakable and I vowed to protect her always."

I didn't dare let my eyes drift to Viv. I already knew she would scruff at my words. They meant nothing now.

"I would like to know too." She responded. I wanted to grab her hand. Tell her it was going to be ok. I took a hard gulp and kept eating though.

"We will have lunch together in the garden. It is open enough so we can see if any unwanted ears are nearby. I want to be transported to my home afterwards though. After I speak my truth, my life will be over. I would like to die with my husband and child."

"Aunt Kathy, no one will harm you! I'm sorry about your family, but I won't let you face that same fate." Viv spoke with so much confidence I knew she would fight with everything she had to protect her. I couldn't let her words fail now.

"I will send ten of men to stay with you until this is over. They will protect you with their life." I spoke as an order.

"Thank you, Capo. I don't fear death though. If my time comes, then it is my time." She smiled to Viv then returned to her scowl face as she ate. She was an odd woman that has lived too long in pain. We all have.

The rest of breakfast most of the table remained quiet, even little Amy. We all felt the darkness surrounding us and it was suffocating. I lived in the darkness for over twenty years though.

"Here is a good spot. This garden is pitiful." Viv's Aunt scuffed taken in the dead flowers and over grown weeds. She should have seen the wonderland Viv originally created out here.

"These two men are my most loyal. I mean that for Viv, not me. They will keep watch that no additional ears are listening in." I assured her aunt nodding my head to Paul and Gio.

"Well, I guess it's time then." The old woman sighed. I could see the ghost of her past wash over her as she prepared herself to relive a part of her life she obviously wanted to forget.

———

Aunt Kathy POV

This was a story I never wanted to relive. I needed to this one last time though.

"My sister and I were the only heirs to my family. Our father was a hard, unkind man. Occasionally, he showed us his love, but in the end, the familial always came first. When my sister was first requested as Jonathan Grasso's bride my father rejected the offer."

I turned to Marissa, clearing seeing my sister in her eyes. "Your mother was a beautiful woman. Even at fifteen she had men turning their heads. Jonathan Grasso was in his mid-twenties and head of the California territory. He controlled most of the drugs coming in and spent too much time dabbling in his own supply. When he wanted something, he stopped at nothing until he got it.