With A Twist

FORTY-FOUR (THE LETTER & HAZEL)

Dear Hazel,

My love.

I thought I would never have to write this letter. 

Truth is, I knew the chemotherapy would never work. I just didn't want to leave you, yet. I tried everything so I could have five more seconds with my little girl.

Your father was never a good man. I would have left but I made the mistake of telling him about my pregnancy. Once the words were uttered, my fate was sealed. 

You and I both know how it works in the mafia. 

An heir is an heir. 

No matter the ranking. 

My one mistake was never having you, but having you without even trying to run away. I should have provided a better, safer life for you where you could shine brighter than ever. 

Instead, I did my best by you but that will never have been enough. 

So, my little baby, I am so sorry for dragging you into this mess. 

The only thing I can do, now that I am safely dead, is to provide you with the information you need to bring your father down, should you ever need it. I hope he will leave you alone, but I know him better than that. 

He has a safe within the bedroom of our house, that contains documents that will completely undo the entirety of his work in the Russian Mafia. 

These documents prove his involvement in killing the heir before Dmitri took over. 

Dmitri's father. 

Show this to Dmitri and you will have a protector for life. 

But please, my little diamond, do not fall for Dmitri. 

You deserve better than to follow in my footsteps. 

Choose a good man who loves you. 

Make sure you are the centre of their universe. 

The code to the safe is on the back of this letter. 

Keep the information safe until you can use them at its most powerful. 

I love you forever, my little diamond. 

Love,

Mum

I put the letter down on my bedside table, after reading my mum's handwriting over and over again. 

Fuck, I miss her. 

A wave of nausea has me clutching at my stomach before throwing the covers off my body. I dart into the bathroom, spilling my guts out into the toilet.