The Mafia's Flower ( #2 in the Mafia Series )

thirty two

{ Reia's POV }

Stefan is tied up in the same cell I was tortured in for the tradition test.

"Out of everyone Cristian, sent you three.."
Stefan spits out as if it disgusts him

My mother, Vera, and I walk further into the cell. My mother stops just right in front of Stefan and stares him down before she speaks.

"What happened to the Stefan I first met? The one who was protective over his family, and loved his family blood relation or not. The one who was so in love, and full of life." My mother Tori asks Stefan

Stefan laughs and says "He died the moment he left for Russia."

"That isn't true." Vera tells him

"Russia was a dark place at the time, and after Annika was born, Vera had more health problems. I started seeing other woman, and that was when I realized Russia broke me."
Stefan says

"Don't blame Russia for your foolishness."
My mother says seriously

Stefan looks angry and gives a hateful glare to my mother which she returns with one of her own.

"You are the one who sent me there! The mafia ruined my life. I blame all of you." Stefan all but yells

"You were involved in the mafia before I even showed up in Italy. You also could've said no. We didn't make you do anything. I'm not even a Don, I had no power over you." My mother replies

"If you weren't involved in the mafia then you and I would've never met. We would've never had Annika and Cristian. Are you going to blame them too?"
Vera asks him

"I blame everyone. I was happy. We were happy. Until Russia. Then you got sick and we started fighting more. Even when we would get along, we had two kids, and a wild and disgusting mafia to take care of. Our lives were surrounded by filth."
Stefan replies

"We changed things in Russia." Vera reminds

"You say we did..but open your eyes Vera, we didn't do nearly enough. Besides the mafia will always be surrounded by filthy people who never have their eyes set on the bigger picture." Stefan says

"I think you could've done more had you of focused on the family itself. Instead of focusing on the filth." I add in there

Stefan snaps his head towards me.

"Ungrateful is what you are." Stefan spits out

"How is my daughter ungrateful?"
My mother questions

"She had everything. The only thing the selfish girl couldn't have is the very thing she wanted. I tried to keep her out of the mafia, and out of my way. But no she just had to stick her nose in my plans."
Stefan rambles

"The mafia family, was my birth right and despite that I still fought for it fairly. I don't see how that makes me selfish or ungrateful. I don't even consider it your business." I tell Stefan

"I let you spend time with Cristian and Annika, and yet when they went away for training you had to cry about it. They are my kids. I had a plan for all of us." Stefan says