We pulled up to the house surprised to find Leo sitting on the curb, he had his head hung between his legs. He didn't look like he was in any rush, more like half asleep.

"Go inside." Dominic patted my lower back before closing the car door behind me, I just did as I was told and walked past Leo who then looked up.

I got inside then just changed my clothes, made a cup of tea and sat on the sofa in the living room that overlooked the street. They were still just standing there, talking like serious businessmen. I snorted to myself but switched on the television, turning my attention away from them.

After some time of me watching Korean variety shows I'd found on a random channel, Dominic closed the front door behind him and the obvious roar of Leo's car sounded from outside. I paused the television, I'd become quite attached to a celebrity appearing on the show and so I wasn't about to miss a thing.

"What's up?" I asked after taking a sip of my tea, Dominic stood at the wall - leaning on it and sighing.

"It appears we've been," he pouted a little looking for the right word, "severed from the ties."

"Ties with whom?" I put my tea down on the coffee table, Dominic walked over and moved my cup onto a placemat before continuing. I stopped eyeing the obvious sign of OCD and paid attention to him, egging him to speak.

He rubbed his temple, "I'm being proscribed for unethical mafia leadership. The entire familia has decided on it, I can only imagine it's been a pending decision for some time."

"You're right," I looked somewhere, "That kind of decision isn't just made within a month."

"Disappointing to know they'd been plotting against me since day one." Dominic said though he didn't sound like he cared all that much.

"What is unethical about your leadership?"

"Well, the mafia have a set of rules to follow. Most are unwritten and simply custom or tradition. Others are actual written agreements which every member signs upon joining the familia." he looked to the ceiling, "I believe they don't think I'm 'mafia' enough. Most mafia are pretty sexist, restricting and conservative."

He turned to me, "Yet here I am with a wife who can kill all my men in minutes, a sister who parades around half-naked onstage and a life completely bare to the media. The number of pictures the media has of my happenings has clearly exceeded its limit."

"They want you to be sexist and over-baring?"

"That is how it is, I can no longer put my finger on what is actual law and what is actual bull."

I frowned, "Doesn't proscribe mean 'forbid'?" He nodded.

"They can't use the word 'forbid' otherwise they'll look like desperate idiots." he snorted.

I shrugged, "They must be desperate. But why?"

Leo looked to the skyline, "I was shocked to find out, currently the only people I can say you are safe to trust are myself and your sister. Even your own mother is with the idea of proscribing you from your position."

"Okay, grazie." I looked at the window, Amara was immersed with the television. "What else?"

"Claire is currently covering for me, so I should get back." Leo turned to face me, pulling keys from his pocket. "I'm afraid they might take action should you reveal you're aware of the situation. Stay low." he nodded before walking.

"Ci vediamo in giro, Leo."

--

I stood, "We need to completely disappear, so we can figure this out and do it thoroughly."

"My guess is we'll leave most of our stuff here." Amara held her hips looking around.

"They will come soon after our leave to search the place, we have nothing to hide so there should be no problems."

"Any documents we have are their's anyway," she snorted, "And even if someone else gets a hold of them, they dug their own grave."

"Their own grave indeed."

We went off packing clothing that was practical, some food to eat whilst we waited to take out cash and all the weapons we had stashed. We couldn't let them grab a hold of our ammo now could we?

I waited at the door as Amara took a box she'd stored some important things and hid it in a spot she claims will be found only by the right person. I trust whatever she does so I didn't bother asking who or where.

We sat in the car for a few minutes, clearly the both of us were thinking of where we should go. That hadn't quite come up.

The car door was opened for me, I stepped out nodding to the man and walking to catch up with everyone else. My mother had chosen to tag along mainly because she'd never visited, it made me upset that she probably knew the first time she'd visit would be under such circumstances. I had been trying not to show my disgust with what she was doing, Leo and myself had tried to remain positive with their ludicrous ideas. Unfortunately our efforts only came out looking as if we were neutral, so people still suspected us a little.

We entered the house which had the key on the ledge of the window next to the door, one of the men looked back pulling a weird face but stuck the key in the hole anyway. Opening the door and allowing everyone to enter.

The house looked like it was still being lived in, I'd say almost nothing was missing. This was the level of trust they had in us.

The entire group looked around vigorously bordering on violent, my mother did keep warning them that if they banged the place up too much things may not look so bright should Dominic get angry.

I doubted they were far off from making him angry, his level of care of the situation was low apparently - this was only according to Leo. He may lose his temper but only if something else were to happen, right now he didn't seem like he minded it at all. He was probably very tired of running the familia anyway, having to do everything they say like that and killing people for business purposes...

It can get old.

It was soon darker than when we arrived and everyone was taking their leave. I remembered Amara showing me a secret spot in the laundry room when I was here.

***

She looked at it proudly, "If I were to ever hide something important, it would be here. Find it." She smiled at me.

"You speak as if something bad might happen." I chuckled.

"Claire, be honest with yourself." she laughed brushing her hand on my shoulder before leading the way out.

***

"I think I dropped my phone." I casually called before stumbling around whilst making my way to the laundry, no one was suspecting me so I rushed in and quickly pulled back the part of the wall Amara had carved herself. She sealed so it wasn't even noticeable. I saw the box and grabbed it, not caring what was inside.

"Hey, what are you holding there?" one of the men pointed out, causing a number including my mother to turn their attention to me.

I smiled, "I just wanted one pair of her shoes, the woman was a fashion icon in my eyes. What's wrong with that?"

My mother frowned, one of the men took notice of this and came over to me grabbing the box from my grasp. I watched nervously as he flipped it open, it was actually just a pair of shoes. I momentarily doubted her but I knew better than that. Amara was not an idiot, I couldn't sneak any type of box without suspicion - not to mention one as big as a shoe box.

"Why are these shoes so heavy?" the man commented closing the box hastily. I took it back and held it to my chest.

"These are expensive shoes," I glared, "That's why they're so heavy."

"Whatever, let's get out of here." at the word we all began to disperse.

I was stopped by my mother on my way out, "Did you find your phone?" she asked what looked like sincerely but I was not stupid.

"Mmhm." I hummed nodding my head to my jean pocket, my phone was previously in my bra but I moved it to my jean pocket before grabbing the box. At the time it was because I was sure it would interfere with my carrying of the box, it would be less of a hassle if it was in my back pocket. I've never been so grateful for a normal human impulse before in my life.

Looking at me suspiciously my mother walked ahead, a man offered to carry my 'shoes' but I politely declined - saying that this was the last thing I would have from my 'ex-sister-in-law.'

When we got home, I'd give it to Leo.

Claire came barging into my room as soon as she got home, kicking a box to the side and sending a quick 'shush' before closing the door quietly and slipping a post-it under the door. Soon after, the sound of her bedroom door closing sounded. I was guessing she didn't want them to know she'd made a visit to my room and was just doing a quick pass by.

I read the post-it note.

Found this at Dominic's place. Amara left it for us.

Get what you can out of it then quickly bring me the box and the shoes. They're under the impression I took the box because I wanted her shoes.

~ C

I took the shoes out, lifted the wrapping paper and found a number of things. Another note - with much better writing - two pairs of keys and a few documents. I took the items, storing them in the bottom drawer of my desk then put the wrapping paper and shoes back into the box.

I opened the door strode over to Claire's, sliding the door open I push the box inside and closed it again. I made it back to my room without being spotted but the whole thing had been risky from start to finish.

I sat at my desk unfolding the letter, I appeared in two different colours of pen. Black was obviously Dominic's writing so the blue must've been Amara's.

I read black first:

-

We've left home and you know this. We can't disclose our location or where we're headed to you, partially because we don't know - otherwise because you're easily manipulated. I'll leave the running of the familia to whoever is making these decisions, they can do it if they're so good. Stronzi.

-

I am not easily manipulated, he's just good at manipulation. I frowned to myself but started reading Amara's anyway - it was much more cheerful:

-

Oh so that's what italian words are spelled like! Anyway, I'm letting you know that we will definitely keep in touch... somehow. Expect a surprise visit! Also should you be found out for helping us tell them this: Heads will roll. Doesn't that sound cool?! We came up with it together :) And also before I sign off, don't forget to tell Claire that those shoes are for her and she did an awesome job so she deserves it. We love you guys so much and miss you tons xx

PS: don't hold your breath.

-

I smiled at her recognition of Dominic's italian word, little did she know it meant 'assholes' but she probably knows now and feels incredibly stupid for writing such. The little entertainment I got from the note didn't distract from the message though.

Heads will roll.

We sat on the roof of the car, watching the city from where we parked. We'd driven for some time, right now it was a waiting game. I'd contacted an old friend of mine who'd promised to take out cash and bring it to us. After we had cash we would decide where we wanted to go and rent out. Using a card would mean we could be tracked, so easily that they could be on our tail within five minutes.

"Why won't you tell Leo where we're going?"

"Right now we're in a legal crisis, we shouldn't let anyone know any information until we're certain of what kind of position we're in." I replied, "And plus he's really easily manipulated. You just have to know how, he gets emotional quickly and he easy to figure out."

She chuckled, "Makes me wonder how he got his title as your right-hand."

"He's a skilled fighter, a prodigy with computer and strategy and on top of that he's pretty connected. Though I can't imagine him having many friends, he can pull together some impressive stuff."

"Noted." she nodded.

We turned to the sound of a car pulling up, leaving dust in it's wake. Jon stepped out of the vehicle two briefcases in tow, I walked around our car and opened the boot. He placed them inside then moved aside as I closed it.

"Grazie Jon, ti devo una." I thanked him. He nodded to me and then to Amara.

He spoke, "Essere sicuri, successore." then made his leave, driving away with an air of dust trailing behind him.

Amara stood next to me, "Why did he call you a successor?"

"I am still the successor to the Vitiello empire after all." I turned from the road he took, "He is surprised such things are happening within our familia. He's never seen a familia turn on its successor before."

"Oh." Amara's expression softened. I smiled at her then nodded to the car, we would be hiding for some time starting now.

"Don't pity me Amara," I started the car, "Pity them instead."