ADRIEN'S POV "Your training starts soon, young master." One of the guards reminded me with the same flat efficiency they always used. "I'll be there shortly." I stood, leaving the only room in the entire mansion that ever felt like mine. Everything else belonged to the name, the legacy, the machine my father had built. I had spent years reminding myself who I was supposed to be: the heir to Victor Montrega's empire. The boy who would one day inherit every dirty business and every bloody title. My mother had died because of this world, yet I was still expected to step into it without question. That expectation had been drilled into me since I was twelve, as if it were something natural instead of a sentence. "You need to improve your aim, young master." My trainer said. Today was one of the days I hated most 'shooting practice'. Twice a week, without fail. I had never been good at it. Maybe I simply never wanted to be. I raised the gun again. Bang. Missed. I was already tired of the sound, tired of the failure, tired of the entire ritual. "That cannot be a shot from the Montrega heir." I didn't need to turn around. I would have recognized that voice in my sleep the deep and commanding voice, saturated with the same authority that had shaped every corner of my life for twelve years. Victor Montrega. We never managed to occupy the same space without arguing. I had no energy for another round today. I turned to leave. Five steps. That was all I managed before his voice followed me. "Running away again. Just like the coward you are." The mockery in his tone was deliberate. I stopped. "Yes. I am. What are you suddenly terrified that your precious heir won't be able to run the business because he can't shoot straight?" I hadn't wanted the fight. He had started it anyway. "Is that how you speak to your father?!" The shout made every person in the room flinch. I turned fully, dismissed the trainer with a look, and gestured for the guards to clear the space. When the door finally closed behind them, only the two of us remained. "Where were we?" I said, voice low. "Ah yes your question. "Is that how I speak to my father?" Let's examine which father you mean. The one who handed his fourteen year old son over to military trainers? The one who forces his child into things he never wanted by threatening him? Or the one who" "Shut up." I almost smiled. "What? Afraid I'll keep listing the reasons you've been a terrible father to both me and Isabella?" I knew the words would land. I said them anyway. He had opened the door. His face darkened. "You are exactly like your mother. Always fighting for some imaginary version of what's right. That isn't how the real world works, Adrien. It only exists in those pathetic songs you write. I did what I did because I refuse to raise a weak heir. Apparently it was all wasted effort. You're useless." The rage that hit me was sharp enough to steal the air from my lungs. How dare he put her name in his mouth. I had once believed he still held some quiet respect for her. I had been wrong. The only thing he had ever truly cared about was the empire. "If I'm so useless," I said, voice shaking, then stop wasting time on me. Let me go. You know I never wanted this. She never wanted this for me either. Or have you already forgotten? She wanted me to have a normal life. Let me have it." Tears burned at the edges of my vision. I doubted he even noticed. He was too busy being angry. I turned toward the door. His final words followed me like a chain. "I will not let you disgrace the name I built with my own hands. You will take over after me, Adrien. That is not negotiable." The tears finally spilled over as I walked out. What had I expected? Understanding? Empathy? He was blinded by the same hunger for power that had cost my mother her life. We had never found common ground. We never would. "I wish you could see past your greed", I said quietly, more to myself than to him. "I really wish you could." The training room was vast, lined with equipment meant for soldiers rather than sons. I had tried to escape this life more times than I could count when I was younger. I never made it farther than the airport or the bus station before someone brought me back. Now the stakes were higher. If I left, Isabella would be forced into the role I was rejecting. My father was capable of many things. Taking his frustration out on her would not even rank among the worst of them. I climbed the stairs slowly and paused at the top, looking down at the servants moving through the entrance hall like carefully directed pieces. The mansion was beautiful in the way prisons sometimes were. Pale marble floors stretched beneath a soaring ceiling. A grand staircase curved upward. A heavy crystal chandelier scattered light across. Wide corridors. Tall doors. It felt like a carefully maintained cell guarded day and night, monitored even when I left for lectures. Every minute of my life belonged to the name Montrega. That was the truth of it. And it showed no sign of changing.

LUCIAN'S POV I had always felt jealous of my older brother because I always wanted to inherit my father's mafia legacy but, I am not so sure anymore after my brother died in an encounter with the enemy a month ago, I didn't feel so good, I am supposed to be happy now that he is gone, I get to inherit my father's business but no I was sad.  "Lucian, are you crying?" It was my dad's voice I forgot I left the door open "Santora's don't cry" He said, "We remain strong even in the hardest times, so buckle up now that your brother is dead you are going to be my heir" He said. I had waited all my life to hear those words from him, he said this exact same words to Antonio my brother, oh god I should be happy but I wasn't, I didn't know what to say to him because I know that even though he did not say it he was also sad about my brother's death.  But one thing about being a mafia, is that you are meant to be strong no matter what happens.  "Yes, dad". Was all I could say I couldn't find any words of comfort for a mafia boss but I could see the hurt in his eyes, I too was hurting, after a few minutes of giving me instructions on what to do which I just replied with a soft  "hmm" He left, I was alone again with my thoughts as company. I just closed my eyes when I heard a knock on the door "Knock, knock"  Who was it again? "Come in" I said it was Rosalie one of our oldest maids but what the hell did she want now  "What is it Rosalie?" I asked sitting up to face her. Rosalie was a middle aged woman. She has been our maid for almost fifteen years. She had stayed here longer than any maid so she earned the chief maid title. She had been the closest thing to a mother figure in my life for the last fifteen years.  My mother left my dad when I was ten, so she practically raised me. "You don't have to stand every time you enter my room Rosalie seat anywhere you want to" I said taking her hand and leading her to my bed squatting beside her "What's wrong" I asked her. She put her hand into the pocket of her apron and handed me a letter, when I saw the title "To my younger brother Lucian" She did not need to tell me who it was from, she led me to sit beside her and patted my head saying "I know how you feel, don't worry dear he is in a much better place now" I leaned against her shoulder and started crying. Aside from Natalie, my best friend and my dad and brother, she was the closest thing I had to family.  "Your father wouldn't like to see you at dinner with swollen eyes" She said with a cue.  "I've got work to do" Looking at the letter she said  "Read it when you are ready'' She stood up and hurried to the door before she opened it. I said. "Thanks Rosalie for always being there for me'' She smiled and replied "You're welcome but find yourself a girlfriend. I would love for you to stop being all by yourself all the time''  She said then left, closing the door behind her. I needed to do something to take my mind off Antonio and nothing was better than going out for a drink with my drinking buddy and best friend Natalie. Keeping the letter safely in the drawer beside my bed I grabbed my jacket and left my room.                                             *        *           *          *       * "What took you so long'' It was Natalie's voice she was at the bar and I was across the room "Family issues'' I responded to her question as I reached the bar, turning to the bartender "Some whiskey with ice and another glass of martini for the lady" I said turning to me she asked "How are you feeling?'' How was I supposed to respond, was I to tell her how guilty I felt for being jealous of my brother who sincerely loved and cared for me? Well I could not burden her with my problems. I was here to comfort my best friend's broken heart.  Natalie is an average height girl with brown eyes, she is a chatter box and always full of surprises, she is not Italian like me but she feels like the sister I never had, me and her have been friends since high school.  But she knows next to zero about my life. She just accepted me without knowing who I am. I know that one day I will have to tell her everything but for now,  I want to enjoy her company as long as I can. "So who is it this time around?" I asked Natalie who changes boyfriends ten times a week and always gets her heart broken but she has refused to change or give up on dating. "I don't know his name but he is drop dead handsome you have to see him for yourself I like him but there are rumors he already has a girlfriend so please help your best friend here, you are also a guy so just make it work for me, please bestie''  She said with teary eyes. "Why are you so bent on dating this guy? There are many guys on campus, plus I don't know him and I don't want to help you court a guy''  I said with detest she dates the worst scums even though I warn her and she always end up running to me when her heart is broken "Please Luciano he is in the same class as you, please just help me this once, please lucy" She begged, how could I say no to her, it was just to make acquaintance with my fellow student  it shouldn't be hard "I'll think about it" I said irritably. "Thanks, I knew I could count on you''  She said leaning on my arm "I haven't said yes, yet"  I said as I shrugged her arm of me "I know you will do it I am your only best friend after all Lucy", if not for me then who would you do it for, ugh"  She said looking intently at me, This girl will drive me crazy one day I know it. I thought to myself as I took the last sip of my whiskey.

ADRIEN'S POV "Adrien over here" It was my mother's voice, she was playing with me as she used to when I was a kid, but what was she doing here? She was supposed to be dead. "What are you waiting for? Dear come" She said again, I didn't care, I went to her. I saw that I  was a kid again, but we only played for a while before she was dragged away by men wearing masks and all she said as she left was: "Don't be like your father Adrien be different, pursue your dreams Mi amor" "Mama!" I screamed as they took her away and just then, I woke up drenched in sweat. Isabella was beside me. I guess I woke her up with my screams. She slept in the room next to mine whenever she came over. Isabella stayed in a different mansion due to safety reasons, but she came over frequently. "Did I wake you up?" I asked worriedly. "I am the one supposed to be asking if you're fine, not you. You were screaming so loud, thank god dad's room is at the end of the hall, I'm sure he didn't hear you" She said looking more worried than me "Just a nightmare, nothing much, go back to sleep now c'mon" I said pushing her towards the door I didn't want her to see me in this state and give her a reason to worry. "It was about mom right" She said, I didn't respond, she held my face in her hands and said "It's about time you face your fears Adrien, you need to talk about it you have kept it bottled up for twelve good years" She said but I didn't have a response to give her "I'm always here Adrien whenever you are ready, let me do something for you, you raised me all by yourself so please Adrien give me chance to take care of you too", She said with my face still in her hands "Ok mom I've heard you, now leave me to get some sleep. I'm the one driving tomorrow and you'll be the first person to know when I'm ready, ok? I'm fine" I teased her, smiling childishly, I wouldn't want to burden her with all my dilemma "Okay, get some sleep bro I'm just next door if you need anything" she said still looking worried, I just gave her a smile as she left closing the door behind her. Who was I kidding? I knew I wouldn't be able to get any sleep again. I had experienced this a lot of times after my mother died. I had these dreams every time but growing up my condition became better, although I still have it sometimes now and today was one of those days. I stood up and walked to where my mothers picture was hanging. My mother was a petite woman with blonde hair like Isabela's, she had a feminine jaw line, her nose bridge was perfect, her eyes were hazel colored like mine, her brows perfectly carved, her lips were always bearing a smile on it amidst all the chaos she lived in. I wish I could be like her, but I guess I will only smile when I am able to fulfill her last request she had told me before she died. "Don't be like your father, pursue your dreams mi amor" She said as she held my hand after she was shot, I will forever remember that day like it was yesterday, the day my mother departed from this world all because of my father, it is one of the reasons I don't want to be a mafia like him "Sorry mami, I couldn't fulfil your last wish" I said as tears rolled down my cheeks, I felt so sad and confused, next week would be my first meeting with my dad's partner's and rival's and I could not refuse not with Isabella on the line. I checked the time it was half past one I needed to get some sleep, I didn't want to appear with baggy eyes before Isabella tomorrow giving her a cause for concern. LUCIAN'S POV "Get up let's go" I said to Natalie as I dragged her up and supported her with my hand. Who is this guy that Natalie is so crazy about? That she's asking for my help badly. Well I guess I will just have to wait to meet this drop dead handsome guy and find out. "Take her home and make sure she enters the dorm safely" I said to one of my bodyguards, I would have taken her myself but my personal bodyguard Morale just informed me that my dad wanted to see me urgently. I couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to talk about that could not wait till tomorrow? "Nothing should happen to her" I said sternly to the bodyguard with Natalie, I could have asked Morale to do it but my dad would throw a fit if he found out Morale was not by my side. He wouldn't want to lose another son and his only heir on that note. "Yes sir" He replied then got in the car with her, "Let's g". I said to Morale who was standing beside an open car door, I got in and Morale started the car. We've arrived" I was informed by Morale. The whole drive was suffocating, my dad has never called for a meeting, at this time most especially, but I guess I'll find out once I enter. "Knock knock", I knocked on the door of the study, the study was practically my father's office, "Come in" A voice came from inside the study, it was my father: Roberto Santoro. He is one of the deadly mafia bosses in New York city, he may be cold to outsiders but he has been a good father to me and was a good father to Ethan. He practically raised us after my mother left when I was ten years old. When we were young he was very close to us but growing up we became distant. "Good evening dad", I said as I entered the room. "Have a seat son", He said as he gestured me to the chair beside him. The study was like a luxurious office. It was huge and spacious with some documents and weapons lying here and there. It looked just like a mafia boss's office. "Scotch or brandy", He asked bringing me back "Water will be fine" I could not take another glass of alcohol Natalie made me drink a lot already "Here", He said, handing me a glass of water. "Thanks, but I'm sure you didn't call me to have a drink with you, so what's wrong?", I asked him with deep curiosity layering within me. "Whatever I tell you, you have to listen very carefully Lucy, our business is at stake here", He said sternly.