When you chose to love someone who is damaged, you take on the weight of their past, their pain, their guilt. You must be strong, you must be patient. You can stop the bleeding and help them scar over but they will always, always be a little broken. If you can handle that, If you can accept the dents and the cracks, if you can get them to trust you, you will never find a better ally than one who is damaged. Above all else, they know how to survive.

-♛𝕠𝕒𝕜𝕝𝕖𝕪 𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖♛

I loud crash caused me to jump up from my sleep. I rubbed my eyes slowly walking out of my room following the sound of the crash. Walking into the kitchen the sight scared me. Ryder was on top of Reed with a knife in his hand pressed against his neck. I bit my lip to hold in a scream. They both turned to me I awkwardly stood under there as Reed kicks Ryder off taking the knife and putting it away. "Sorry.." Reed whispers with a smile. "Did we wake you? It is 12." He asks. I nod with a small groan.

I chose to ignore what I just saw.

"I slept until 12?" I sigh sitting at the table as Reed sits down next to me as Ryder grabs food. The front door opens causing all of us to turn our heads to look at the entrance. A blonde girl who looks oddly like Hannah walked in. Her green eyes deadly stared at everything in her path. She was dressed in a tight pink dress that was barely covering her ass and her boobs were practically spilling out of it. She had a small clutch in her hand that matched her dress. Her eyes landed on me causing her to frown harshly. She turns to Ryder and Reed fast.

"Another whore I see, she better be one of yours and not his. Why is the prostitute still here? It shouldn't be eating your food." She snaps like I'm not sitting right there, her voice high and winy. Ryder scoffs rolling his eyes. I cross my arms gently as Reed burst out laughing. I bite my lip harshly so I don't snap. I send her a harsh glare. "She's obviously his type!" She yells jumping to conclusions. Who's type? " Where is Roland? I have business with him." She asks walking into the room fully.

"Could you not? I'm not a damn prostitute" I snap my voice coming out harsh. Her head snaps in my direction as she walks over to me. I stand up to face her properly. She was a good 5"7 so she towered over me. I wasn't threatened she probably couldn't hurt a fly. Boy was I wrong as she gripped my neck harshly causing me to not breathe. I gasped for air as both the boy's eyes go wide. I grip the arm she had on my neck roughly pulling it off my neck as I snap it harshly in the wrong direction causing her to scream out in pain.

I then punch her in the face.

Hard.

Self difference lessons really do help. I watch as she falls to the ground holding her noise, crossing my arms. My neck winced in pain, I sigh knowing there will be bruising.

"Bitch." She snapped getting up charging at me but Ryder grips her arm stopping her.

"Where did you learn to do that.." Reed ask coming to my side tilting my chin up to see my neck.

"Self defense classes," I say in a bad mood as I stare at the girl who just tried to kill me. Reed chuckled softly from next to me. I saw my brother and Roland walk in both dressed in business clothes. I noticed the familiar metal bulge in both of their waistlines. My brother has never had a gun on him before. I know he knows how to use one, father's request but he never carried them around.

I frown harshly. "Milo we need to talk. Now." I snap at him causing him to roll his eyes. I grab his arm tightly pulling him to some room. It looked like an office. "What is going on? What business do we have? And why do you have a gun." I whisper harshly. He scratches the back of his head thinking. I also see him eye my neck but he ignores it.

"Oakley, our family is part of the Mafia." He says bluntly. I start laughing, he's joking, right? But his face was dead serious. "Dad told me about it when I was 14, I took over as leader when I turned 18." He says trying to explain. "Dad sent us here because we are joining our Mafia with the Ronan's Mafia. Italy is to danger but so is here." He says. That's why Roland had a gun... I crossed my arms as I passed back and forth. "The danger is much greater in the city, that's why I have my gun." He says not looking at me. "The Ronan's are our allies. We can trust them, only them." He says seriously. "They run the North part of New York along with parts of France." I sigh feeling overwhelmed.

"Your joking right? Why are you telling me this all now?!" I dryly laugh.

"You would have found out eventually but we aren't safe like we were before. You need to learn how to protect yourself.." He mumbles.

"How did I not know?" I yell. I stormed out of the room when he gave me no explanation but I ran into a wall. Well more like a chest. I look up to see Roland.

"Why are you so frustrated, angel?" He asks worriedly. He tilts my head looking at the marks on my neck, I tense under his glare. I push away harshly as I grab the gun in his pants. He stiffens as I pull it out.

"For intruders right?" I say harshly handing him the gun. He looks past me at my brother.

"You finally told her.." He huffs at my brother. My brother nods. "Good." He says wrapping his arm around my waist. "He kept this from you for your safety, not to hurt you." He whispered into my ear so only I could hear. I felt his warm breath on my ear. I nod slowly, I felt calmer in his arms.

It scared me so I stepped out of his hold, his arm lingered on my waist but fell slowly.

"Are you the boss of your mafia.." I whisper to him knowing he's the oldest. He nods hesitantly. I sigh. "Who will be the leader when the two merge..?" I watched as my brother's eyes harden and Roland looks down.

"Roland and Me will co-run." My brother says not like what he's saying.

"I'm going to my dorm, the storm is gone and I just need some quiet," I whisper pushing past both of them. I walk quickly up to the room changing into my clothes from yesterday. I was caught off guard by I gentle knock on the door. My head turned to see Ms.Ronan standing there with a soft smile.

"Can I come in?" She asks as I just finished changing. I place Reed's clothes gently on the bed folded. I nod slowly as she walks in sitting on the bed facing me. It was odd how much she reminded me of my mother. "I heard the boys finally let you in on what's happening..?" She whispers looking down. I sighed sitting down next to her.

"Yes, I don't know what to do," I say. "Will this change everything or nothing? I'm in danger so should I be scared to be alone?" I rant pushing my head into my hands. I felt her softly rub my back to calm me down.

"Now I don't know the answer to all those questions but my dear, you are safe." She whispered. "For now, we are all safe." She says as I lift my head, nodding. "This life is hard, your brother knows that. My sons know that. My husband, he definitely knows the risks." I hear the hurt in her voice as she takes my hands in hers. "But my dear, as a woman in this world we must be careful. One day no one will come to help you like I am now. You'll be on your own and you must be ok with that." She says causing me to stare at her. My mom used to tell me that every time I cried. Ms. Ronan sees me and laughs gently. "I knew your mother, she told me that. We were barely even 20, roommates in college. When I had met my husband I almost ran. I was scared of this life, scared of getting hurt. But your mother told me to never run from what might hurt us because it could also bring great joy. And it did, I found love with my husband and I had my 5 boys. It was a shame your mother was brought into this world as was I, but your mother was never one to run and I hope you follow her my dear." She smiles, her smile was so pure.

I stared at her, She fell in love with a mafia leader as did my mom. I wondered how could they give their heart to someone who caused so many hearts to stop beating. How could they look past all the wrongs they have caused. The horrible things.

I didn't realize it then but it wouldn't be that hard, to fall for a mafia leader.

I smiled at the woman in front of me. She was strong, I saw my mother in her. But not me. I gave her a quick but tight hug as I grabbed my keys. "Thank you," I whispered as I left the room and walked out of the house that I knew would soon be all too familiar. My neck still aching, I climbed into my car putting in the keys. I saw Roland walking to my car causing me to roll down the window.

"Tomorrow, you'll have school. Your brother, me, and all my brothers will be there. So please if you find yourself scared or in any type of danger, Angel. Please find one of us, we will know what to do." I didn't know what to say so I just nodded.

His mother's words ran through my hand. She was right my mother never ran, so I don't expect to either.

"I will, thank you." I whisper not looking up to meet his eyes. I felt his hand reach into the car to touch my neck.

"Make sure to ice it, I already talked to her about it. She will be punished." He said causing me to turn to him. His light gray eyes seemed darker than normal. I sighed.

"Don't punish her, I already punched her in the face. She should learn." I smile. A real smile as I stare at him. His eyes looked happy as I said that as he lets out a chuckle. He nods removing his hand letting me drive away. I watched him walk back into the house as I pulled away. The trees turn back to busy streets and I took a deep breath.

Knowing that I'll be fine. This feeling of being lost and unsure is just something that happens. I won't avoid this, I'll figure out my thoughts and do something then. But for now, I'll take another deep breath, I'll be ok even though it might not be ok right now. My mom always told me, just be ok even when you think you can't.

-♛

hope you enjoy part 4!!

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A little longer chapter,

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