The Godfather

CHAPTER 4 | Chris

People would pay my father in jewels, stones, gold, silver, and all sorts of valuable treasures. Some he would trade with celebrities for money, some he turned into jewelry and sold. The rest, the small but extremely rare items he received, was given to me as presents. I sometimes grew tired of the little gifts because I knew that it was going to be another precious stone or some famous piece of jewelry the was on the black market. But at the same time, I always loved it. The way the diamonds and rubies shone in the evening sunlight. The emeralds and sapphires in the moonlight...it was fascinating and beautiful. Though I was always careful to remind my father to not give me too much, or else I will either run out of space or someone will get suspicious.

I stood at my window admiring a pair of diamond earrings in the moonlight, the last gift my father gave me. How cold they looked...even with the small flickers of rainbows, so many beautiful colors trapped in a rock that looks like glass, and so fragile...

There was a knock at my bedroom door.

"It's open," I called out, without taking my eyes off of the beautiful stones.

Chris walked in, "They are ready for you." he said with a small but warm smile.

Chris has been a part of the Nikieveroffs since he was five. He was dumped on the streets when his parents decided they didn't want kids anymore. He is just three and a half years older than me, he is my best friend and practically my brother.

"Thank you," I nodded to him as I put my earrings on and fixed my suit.

"How are you feeling?" he asked with a look of concern.

"Perfectly fine..." I mumbled quietly, I was trying to distract myself from what was about to happen.

He sat in the armchair in the corner of the room "so how are you really feeling?"

Somehow he always knew when I was lying

I sighed and leaned on the dresser "scared...I'm only seventeen and I'm about to become the head of one of the biggest mafia gangs in the country!" I was hyperventilating at this point.

"Actually the whole of Europe-"

I cut him off "not helping!"

"Hey, Anya just look at me for a second."

I looked at him almost annoyed and on the verge of tears.

"You will be fine. Ok?" he walked over and hugged me tightly, "you pretty much ran the gang when your father went away on work trips anyway. It's not going to be any different." he said reassuringly

I nodded slowly and rested my head on his chest. He is nearly a whole foot taller than me.

"Now I know that your father isn't around to help you out from the other end of the phone. But just remember that you still have me. You know I will always be here for support and to give what advice I can."

"Thank you, Chris"

"Meh, you're my little sister, it's probably the least I could do. Now, are you ready?" he asked as he pulled away.

"I-i think so..." I stammered.

"Well that's better than not at all!" he beamed as he opened the door for me. He was always quite the optimist.

I smiled and stepped out of my room. He walked me down the hall to the closed door of the living room where the whole gang waited for me. Considering we are...or were, the biggest and most well-known gang in all of Europe, there actually isn't as many of us as most would think