"Julie, can you have your meals from Aunt Sarah's place while returning from school for the next week," questioned her mom in a loud voice as she packed her documents in a huge suitcase along with the travel tickets.

"Sure mom," Julie whispered in a soft voice. In a hesitant broken tone, she continued, "How long is your business trip mommy ?"

A few tears rolled down Julie's eyes at the thought of her mom leaving the town.

"It's okay Julie. You are a strong and brave girl, after all your daddy would be here to look after you," she said with a strained smile grazing her face.

Both the mother and daughter were familiar with Julie's abuse when left alone in the house. Though Janet wishes to save her daughter from the abuse, she knew it was either herself or her daughter who had to go through it on a daily basis. And as selfish as it sounds, Janet didn't like to be on the receiving end of the abuse.

"Mommy, I don't like daddy," whispered the thirteen-year-old girl.

Janet kneeled in front of Julie with a strict expression on her face, "Where have your manners disappeared Julie? Haven't I taught you to be grateful for what life has given you?"

Tears slowly rolled down the round cheeks of the little girl, as she held on to the hem of her mother's skirt.

"Mommy, please take me along with you. I promise to be a good kid, and never misbehave," she requested in a heartbreaking voice.

With a quick tug, Janet slapped Julie harshly. The force of the slap was mildly heavy that caused the little girl to fall on the floor with a bright red mark on her right cheek.

"Behave and stay. Listen to your daddy and don't cause me any troubles," ordered her mother and left hastily with her heavily packed bag.

Tears flooded and fell freely from the emerald eyes of the little girl. Her low broken-hearted sobs, were unheard to any, as she was all alone in the broken house.

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Ricci brothers were known for many things, but ruthless murder, violence and crime would top the list. Following their long familial roots of bloodshed and crime, they were introduced to the underworld with consecutive murders and assassination of country leaders who failed to listen to their orders. This impact was great, to the point that everyone in the country from young to old knew not to cross the Ricci brothers.

The eldest Ricci brother, Stefano and his blood brothers ascended to power smoothly, while giving fear and ruthlessness a new meaning.

"Have you done your job?" the cold voice of the Royal underground King Stefano was heard questioning his second youngest brother, Damon.

The room was eerily low lit. But, the brothers relished in darkness with a drink in their hand, calmly discussing their blood-filled business.

"Yes, brother. The ports have been thoroughly checked. Our men are ready for the incoming packages, the security has also been tightened at both seaports and airports," informed Damon.

"This should be the last time we are using airports for our package transportation Damon. You know the rules by now," Vincent the second eldest brother commented, as he stretched his legs leisurely, on the footstool with the tall wine glass in his hand.

Stiff tension was seen on Damon's face, as he regretted making the mistake. The Ricci brothers are always strict on rules, after all, their word is the law of the country.

A sudden knock was heard on the door interrupting their conversation. A narrow streak of anger, passed on the Ricci brothers' eyes as their meeting was cut short. The guards on duty were always warned, to never interrupt their meeting unless it was of at most importance.

Leonardo, the youngest of the four was the quickest to react as he strode towards the door with his long fuming steps.

The dark look cast on his eyes were enough to scare away the guards. The rules were clear, and they were not foolish enough to disturb the Ricci Devils for no reason.

"Sir, Anthony Ceasere has requested an immediate meeting. He is waiting downstairs and isn't willing to budge," the guard said with stutters as his legs were shivering at proximity with the youngest Don.

"Take him to the basement guest room, and accommodate him well," he hissed at the petrified guard.

Leo turned around, and with a look towards his elder brother, " May I have the privileges of cutting his limbs down, for all the offences he has made," questioned with an evil smirk on his face.

"Calm down Leonardo. Anthony wouldn't arrive here out of all places when he knows that we would murder him for all the crimes he has committed against the family," voiced out Vincent.

King Stefano, had a dark look cast on his face, as he raised from the chair and buttoned up his cuff links.

"Let's pay our guest a visit and see what he has to say for helping my 'so-called mother' run away with her affair," he hissed with a dark look on his face.

"I guess we would have a very interesting night," added Leo as he gulped down the rest of his drink and followed his brothers to the basement.

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After four long cruciating hours, the Dark Mafia King waved to one of his soldiers signing him to rip the tape off of Anthony's mouth.

The brothers were seated comfortably on their chairs as their trusted soldiers carried out the punishments under the burning gazes of their Dons. Everyone in the building knew that the Dons never hand out punishments personally unless it is crucial, but if they do, it will not be a sight that many can tolerate.

Blood was splattered all around the room with its stench dominantly overpowering the revolting scene. Anthony Ceasere was smiling proudly at them, though he was beaten with blood oozing from all the cuts and whips on his naked torso.

"Didn't think you had the guts to come back after going off the grid for twelve years now Anthony," spat Vincent in a low voice. The hatred for this man ran deep in the bones of the Ricci brothers. It was almost equal to their mother. Almost.

"Duty called me back," replied Anthony with an annoying smirk plastered on his face.

With a sudden lunge, Leo gave a solid punch to his face. " If helping Janet to elope, was your so-called duty, then we would gladly cut you into pieces and return your head to her as a prize," he hissed.

A burst of small laughter was heard from the back giving chills to everyone in the room. The Dark King, watching the entire scenario from his throne-like chair continued laughing with an evil glint in his eyes.

Ricci brothers, never laugh. And if they do, it wouldn't be for something good. These words were tattooed in every guard's brain, as they kept their head down in trepidation.

"Keep him arrested in the lowest part of the dungeons. I would cut each of his limbs every week and feed it to my tigers," he ordered in his dark emotionless voice. "After all, he doesn't deserve an easy death. Death would be a privilege that he has to beg for," he continued smoothly with a deranged look in his eyes.

The cold order, cast a forlorn shadow on Anthony's face.

"Wait. Wait..., let me go I have something to say. Honestly speaking, I am here to solemnly follow the duty I abandoned before twelve years," he struggled with his ropes, as he tried to get closer to the brothers.

With a sharp kick, Leo threw him out of the chair like a sack of potatoes.

"Shh. Save your energy traitor. We have a long way of fun to go, and you can tell all you want along the way," he hissed while grabbing his hair as the Ricci prisoner's signature mark was burnt on Anthony's skin.

Anthony knew it was going to be the end of his happy days, but he was still fighting against the guards' grip. Not for himself, but for the princess.

As his vision encircled on the Dons leaving, he yelled at the top of his voice,

"You have a sister. There is a Ricci princess. Your mother's last letter to me mentioned her existence."

Pin drop silence was heard followed by a slow clap from Stefano.

"Now that caught my attention," he said mildly as he turned slowly to face Anthony with a dark shadow cast on his face.

"I swear. I came to you immediately after I received the letter. I took a blood oath to your father, that if a Ricci Princess was born, I would stand guard with her and pledge my entire life on her name. I would never break that oath, sir" he said in a broken tone.

With a flick of Stefano's hands, the guards held Anthony with a knife to his throat. He slowly walked towards Anthony with steps akin to that of a Predator.

As he held his palm out, a sharp knife was placed on it by his brother.

Stefano slowly trailed the tip of the knife on the struggling man's face, as he hissed slowly,

"Let's hope for the sake of your life that your information is true. Or else, I would keep you alive in my personal jailhouse for the next twenty years to do my experiments on you. "

With a flick, he threw the knife close to Anthony's ear. The knife lodged itself on the wall, not before leaving a trail of blood down his ears. The King turned and walked out of the dungeon slowly along with his brothers, a passive emotionless facade remained on their faces. Noone seemed thrilled to hear this news, causing Anothony to think about their once joyful childhood, where they always wanted to have a sister.

As they neared the exit, with a slight tilt of his head Stefano muttered a cold sentence, which made Anthony break out of his thoughts and further freeze in shock and fear,

"Also, I am not oblivious. I never was. I knew she was having an affair with that Russian rat 12 years ago. If this princess you say is not of my father's blood. Then, things might not be as bright and dandy for both yourself and her."

The four brothers or as some would say the four Dons, were indeed a force to be reckoned with. And, Anthony just felt the intensity of it.



(1736 words)



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