🥀🥀🥀

"Get me the right motherfucking papers or I'll have no choice but to feed the wolves." Alex's eyes are serious, boring into the man before him.

"Yes, sir. Of course, sir. Sorry, sir."

"Go." Alex waves a hand, dismissing the trembling man before him, who wastes no time in scurrying out of the room. He picks up his ringing phone, holding it up to his ear while sharpening his dagger. "Alex Rizzo. Who is this?"

"Mr. Rizzo, this is Officer Johnson, Craig Johnson, from-"

"Get on with it, Johnson, I'm a very busy man."

"Yes, of course, sir. We found her."

"Found who?"

"Your sister."

Alex shifts, setting his dagger down and standing. "Aurora?"

"Yes. Aurora Raine. The DNA test we took links her to your mother. Would you like us to put her in the system, or would you like custody of her?"

"Custody!" Alex is already grabbing a bag and putting some things in it, heading up to his room to pack. "I'll be there relatively soon to pick her up. Have the necessary paperwork ready upon my arrival. We'll talk more soon." He hangs up without waiting for a response, grabbing the keys to Antonio's Koenigsegg.

He's out the door in minutes.



Seven and a half hours later, Alex enters the police station, looking around.

He doesn't like the police. Lawful do-gooders, always trying to arrest the mafia. They can't bring in the Rizzos, they have too much power, but those lesser gangs working for them? They're rotting in jail.

"Alex Rizzo," he tells the desk worker.

Her eyes go wide and she hurriedly pulls out a stack of paperwork. "Here you are, sir. Miss Raine is in Officer Johnson's office. It's-"

"I can find it," he cuts her off, grabbing the papers and shoving them into his bag. He heads down, searching for his office.

Looking in, he sees a girl around sixteen, her hair long, tangled, and brown, the stringy pieces falling into her eyes, which are emerald green with a vivid blue around the center, the result of heterochromia.

"Rora?" He pushes the door open and walks in briskly.

Her head shoots up, her eyes wide.

The officer at the desk stands. "Mr. Rizzo. I'm Officer Johnson."

Alex nods, not looking at Johnson. His only thought is that, after years of searching, he's finally found his baby sister.

🥀🥀🥀

I refuse everything offered to me.

The thought of eating breakfast makes my stomach churn, and I refuse to wear someone else's clothes.

When you live in a basement, you learn quickly personal hygiene makes a huge difference. Especially when it already smells like dead bodies.

I'm sitting in Officer Johnson's office, staring down at my lap as I count by threes.

"Rora?" a voice asks, the door opening.

I look up, shrinking back when I see a tall man with brown hair standing in front of me. His blue eyes shine as he steps closer.

"I'm not here to hurt you, Aurora. I'm your brother, Alex." He offers me his hand. "Come on, tesoro. We're going home."