Mafia Prisoner: Book 1

Ch. 75 - Where To Go from Here

Vivian POV

I couldn't believe the story my aunt just told us. Her and my mother endured so much pain for no other reason than for some men to have more power. All the years of my childhood she was cold and distant with me I now understood why. I was the reason she had to keep living.

"I'm so sorry Aunt Kathy." I whispered as she broke down in tears. She just said how she wanted to die but stayed alive to raise me. She had no pleasure left in this world.

"I want to go home to my husband and my child now." She wiped her tears and pulled away from me.

"Of course. Niko has a car for you all ready. You can go anywhere you want and they will protect you this time." I looked in her eyes, trying to convey her safety. She didn't care though.

"I will be leaving then. Don't come back causing me more trouble child." She scolded, then turned her back to me. I should be upset how little love she expressed for me but I knew how deep it truly was.

"Aunt Kathy, what was my cousin's name?"

She slowly turned halfway, never looking up to me. "Lily. She and her father are buried in my garden. The plain stones by the lake is the only marker I could place for them and it is where I will be buried too."

"That's a beautiful name." I spoke softly. Her obsession with the flower made sense now. It was a reminder of her daughter and also where her family was laid to rest.

I saw her wipe another tear then she continued to walk away from us. Gio met her and escorted her to the front where her ride waited.

I didn't expect a hug or even a goodbye from her. Sometimes the actions people show you are enough to know what is unspoken between you. My Aunt couldn't open her heart again after losing so much. I wish I could have been more to her, but at least I knew she loved me now.

I turned to Niko as his eyes remained trained on my face. He was gauging my emotions which made me melt a little to him. After everything we just heard I think his only concern was still my well-being.

"That was a lot." I said with a small smile.

"Are you ok?"

"No, but I will be. I still can't believe my family was so entangled in this whole mafia life. It just seems so far from the truth I knew my parents to be."

"It's hard for me to think my father let your mother endure all that pain for ten years. He was my idol that seemed to control everything. To learn what chaos the families were in and how your father killed him to save you... it just a lot." Niko spoke like a normal man conflicted with his emotions. It was the first time I really saw just the person he was and not some harden Capo trying to put everyone under him.

"I guess our parents weren't everything we thought they were. I'm sorry for what my father did. I understand the overwhelming need to protect your child, but I don't know if I could take someone's life like he did."

"I would. As much as I hated your father all these years, I can agree with him that you were worth saving. God, how different life would have been if Peter and Marissa could have divorced and then been together." Niko gave me a small smile before looking back to the ground.

Did he really just agree with his parent's killer? I didn't know how to react to this conversation at all.

"Niko... you seem different. I don't know what to expect from you."

"I am different Viv. Like my father, I made the wrong choices. I put the families above what was important and lost not only you, but our child. I don't think I can ever forgive myself for that. Everything I was, every ounce of hate I felt, is just gone. I just feel... numb and tired."

"Me too, but I don't want to be like my aunt. We are both young and we are both alive. We have a long life that we can choose to live making the right choices." As I spoke, I felt my words. I needed to make my life what I wanted it to be instead of laying in bed hiding away. I can't be afraid to live.

I stood up to walk back inside but quickly turned back to him. "I'm sorry we lost our son. When my aunt asked who the father was, I proudly spoke your name. I wanted to be his mother and I wanted you to be there. I couldn't live this life though, or allow my child to be regarded as a worthless bastard."

"He wouldn't have. I know I said differently before. I was lost in the ways I thought life had to be. I promise though, I wouldn't have let a single person harm my child, our child. I wish I could have said that to you sooner."