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Killian

Age Fourteen

My dad said in order for people to be afraid of you, you always have to appear bigger. Only way to do that is to become stronger, have more money, become more powerful.

But the most important thing that Ace De Luca ever taught me was you have to not care.

If you don't care, then there is no point for anyone to try and piss you off. One of the main things you have to have to not care is no feelings or strings.

My dad fucked up there because he has my mom, who he would die for.

He said that mom helped him stay alive in a way, which I don't understand and never will because love is something I never understood in general. Watching my dad be a man who has no remorse for those who are not blood made me vow to never have any strings, and if I fuck up like him, to keep those strings close so no one will be able to cut them.

As my family and I walk towards the ball room, cameras flash our way which makes it blinding for us to see where the fuck we're going. People are telling us to look in all kinds of directions, but we don't pay any attention.

My mom is smiling at my dad while Thalia just has that resting bitch face that she always has. I’m observing because that's the best thing I can do.

"Welcoming, Ace De Luca and Aria De Luca," the announcer says in the mic. As we walk closer towards the ballroom, I see small groups of people from various crime organizations.

There is the Yakuza; Japanese organization, Clanuri Interlope; Romanian organization, Chicago Outfit, which is the American organization led by my uncle, La eMe, the Mexican organization, and many more that are just too much to list.

I know a lot about the business side of what my dad does because he taught me young, and I'm still learning. I need to learn if I want to be on top someday.

At a young age, I already know exactly what I want. I've always been a needy kid but living in this kind of world, the dark and ugly, how else are you supposed to be?

"I'm going to go find Jane," Thalia says before walking away without another word.

"Thalia!" my dad yells, his jaw clenching while my mom calms him or at least tries to ease him by resting her hand on his chest and whispering in his ear. "She always does this and if she doesn't want to get fucking killed, she needs to stop and listen."

"She's a teenager, Ace. They don't care and won't listen. You'll just end up arguing with her like you always do in front of everyone," my mom explains, which sort of eases my dad even though I know he wants to say something back to her. "Let's go sit down. I'll text Layna that Thalia is looking for Jane."

My mom and dad walk towards our assigned table while I follow behind them.

This suit I'm wearing is itchy and I'm close to ripping the thing off. My dad always makes me wear a suit, whenever I am in meetings with him, observing, or at events like this. He tells me it's because I need to get used to it and when I told him, "When I rule the world, I won't need to wear suits." He replied with, "Well if you want people to respect you or be afraid, then you must listen and do as I say.”

Arguing with my dad is like arguing with the wall. In his mind, his word is law. That goes for everyone except my mom.

She is the only one who can do whatever she wants without getting my dad’s wrath.

I sometimes think that he might love her more than anything else in the world whether that be him or even Thalia and I. I try not to think of it because it hurts.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats," a man says, getting everyone in the room's attention. "Tonight, we are here . . . "

His words drift off as I scan the room, seeing who's here and who needs to be looked out for.

When my eyes catch bright blue ones, I feel like I'm at a beach with deep, vivid blue water. The sun shines down on the water, creating a glow and sparkly blue color.

And when she smiles it feels like everything seems like it's actually okay. Like the world isn't falling apart around her.

Why is a girl like that at an event full of people with guns in their pockets and blood on their hands?

She seems like the type to ignore everything around her as she dances around murderers and on pools of blood with a smile on her face.

I keep staring at her, confused but also enchanted. She looks at me with a smile that makes my chest ache.

They say the eyes are the window to a person's soul. They tell you whether that person is kind and has a good heart or if there is darkness and fire in them.

This girl who is staring at me with a small smile on her face, looks like the most innocent person I have ever laid my eyes on.

I'm almost jealous of her.

"I hope everyone enjoys their night. We'll be announcing awards after the briefing," he says before walking off the stage.

"I'll be back, amore ," my dad says, making me look at him as he stands up after kissing my mom on the forehead.

"Can I go outside on the balcony?" I ask my dad.

"Why?" my dad asks, furrowing his eyebrows down at me.

He does that a lot.

Questions me.

It annoys me to the point of no return.

"I want fresh air."

"Let him go, Ace, he'll be fine," my mom says, looking at me with a smile on her face.

I love my mom. Every time she smiles at me like that, I always feel safe and like nothing could happen to me. I know I said my dad would do anything to make sure she stays happy and smiling but me, I wouldn't die for her, I would probably burn the entire world to the ground for her. I've always been closer with her rather than my dad even though she says I'm a lot like him.

"Fine but check in in twenty minutes. I'll be back by then."

I nod my head before getting out of my chair and walking towards the doors that lead to the balcony outside.

Every time we go to these stupid events and galas, I always end up waiting outside for my family to be done fucking around. My mom always wants me to stay with her but it's always so boring talking to my uncles and aunts. They ask the most ridiculous questions like what I have been learning in school, any girlfriend yet, and other bullshit.

I would hang out with Thalia but all she does is gossip with Jane or argue with Alexander.

Once I am at the edge of the balcony, I rest my hands on the railing and look up at the sky.

The stars in Bulgaria seem to shine brighter than they do in Italy.

This is the first time I’ve been to Bulgaria because my family never had a reason to come here until now. The Bulgarians joined the families not too long ago. Maybe three years ago? But this year they hosted their first gala because they got the pleasure of hitting the top five in the families.

My family, Italians, are the first in the rankings while the other side of my family, the Americans, are third in the rankings. The Bratva has been demolished because of the issue that happened with them and my dad years ago before Thalia was born, but there is always a possibility of them coming back in the future.

"Hi." I hear a soft voice making me turn my head. It's the girl with the big blue eyes and warm smile from earlier. I look at the dress she is wearing and admire the white fabric that makes her skin glow. I look at her face and she has her hair down and messy. It looks like she didn't even brush it. "I'm Reign." She thrusts her hand towards me.

I look down at her hand and look back up at her. "Killian."

Despite me not shaking her hand, Reign still smiles and walks closer to me. "So why are you out here by yourself Killian?"

"Because I don't want to be in there," I say, pointing to the doors that lead inside the building.

"Why?"

I shrug and look back at the sky. "Because I don't like people."

"You don't talk very much, do you?" I look back at Reign and her head is tilted a little and her smile is gone.

She now just looks confused as she narrows her eyes at me and doesn't smile.

"I don't like talking to people," I say bluntly.

"Why not?" She furrows her eyebrows, and her nose scrunches a little bit.

Damn she asks a lot of questions.

"Because it's a waste of time when they don't listen."

"I can listen," she offers, smiling softly. She puts her hands behind her back and walks closer to me. Why is she walking closer to me? "But if you don't like to talk then I can do most of the talking. My family hates that I talk too much, and I wish there were more people I could talk to because I feel like they don't ever listen to me either," Reign rambles before looking at the sky above us. "I sometimes go outside my house and sit on the grass to stare at the stars. I’ll talk for hours to myself while looking at them. Kind of weird right?" Reign snickers while still keeping her eyes up at the sky while smiling.

I look at the stars and they shine brightly down at us.

"As long as nobody catches you talking to yourself then it's not weird," I say before looking back at her.

Reign looks at me and her smile brightens almost making me want to smile.

She looks like a good girl.

And good girls always want a bad boy, even if they don’t admit it.

"Killian, I think that you and I could be really good-" before Reign can finish, I hear someone yell her name.

I turn my head and see the Bulgarian stronzo from the stage walk outside with a vein prominent on his forehead. He must be mad but at what?

"Reign! What are you doing out here?!" the Bulgarian stronzo says before turning his eyes away from Reign’s to meet mine. His face forms a look of disgust, and it makes me want to kick his shin to show him something really disgusting I can do. "Why are you talking to him?!" he hisses at Reign.

I clench my fist as I see Reign try to look away from the man, who I assume is her dad.

"We were just talking, papa," Reign mumbles.

"Not with him," her dad hisses.

"Hey, what's going on out here?" I look to my left and see my dad walking outside of the building to where Reign, the Bulgarian stronzo , and I are standing. "You, okay?" my dad asks me once he stands by my side. I nod my head and my dad looks in front of me and he tenses immediately. "Malcolm," my dad states and he look down at Reign who is staring at my dad.

"Ace. Is this boy yours?" Malcolm asks while glaring at me.

"Yes. What's the matter?" my dad asks with a stoic expression on his face as he speaks calmly with Malcom.

"He shouldn't be anywhere near my daughter," Malcolm says while pulling Reign closer to him.

I can't help but look at Reign. Her hyper, easygoing personality vanishes, and now she shies away while still looking at me. I can't help but worry if she is okay or not.

"This is the one time a year that all families are civil, and you are really going to go after two teenagers who are hanging out? Really Malcolm? Not very mature if you ask me." My dad narrows his eyes at Malcolm.

"If he comes near my daughter one more time, I will make sure to cut his head off. Don't underestimate me, Ace. You may be the devil everyone says but I am not afraid of you," Malcolm states with confidence and I can't help but snicker. Anyone who isn't afraid of my dad is stupid because he is the one person who will you make cower from just a simple glare from him. This Bulgarian stronzo obviously has a death wish. "Got something to say, son?" Malcolm glares at me.

I’m about to open my mouth to say something, but Reign’s soft, calm voice speaks up.

“Let's just go, papa. Mama and Baba are probably waiting for us," Reign says while trying to pull her dad away from my dad and me.

But before Malcolm does leave my dad speaks up. "Careful, Malcolm. Not a lot of people walk away with two feet and a pair of eyes after threatening me or my family," my dad warns, and Malcolm looks back at him.

"You have no clue what I can do, De Luca. You be careful," Malcolm says before walking away while holding Reign's hand.

The last thing I see of Reign is her bright blue eyes piercing into mine.

All I know is that I want to see her again and hear what she has to say about everything.