5 years ago
"NO! NO! NO!" I repeated, assuring myself.
There he was, my little brother, lying lifeless on the ground.
"Enzo please" I called out for my little brother under my breath, walking closer to him, but
nothing.
"Lorenzo" I said, with seriousness now. Why did this happen?! Why did it have to be Lorenzo?
Tears are streaming down my eyes now.
I looked at my parents, tears in my eyes. Mamma was beside papa like always, her fist was
clenched and she was staring at Lorenzo's body like she was staring at nothing. Papa was staring
at Lorenzo's body as well, with no emotion.
I looked over to the chief security that brought us to Lorenzo's body "What happened to him?"
"I don't know Miss Rossi" he replied.
I nodded. I looked over to the other driver that brought us here. "What happened to my
brother?" I wanted to hear, 'He's unconscious, he'll get up soon'
The driver shook his head.
"No one seems to know what happened to him?!" I shouted
"Enough!" Papa yelled at me. His voice always makes me jump on my feet.
"But he's your son, your heir and he was murdered" I wanted him to feel something, he has
always been like this but I never thought he would be like this looking at his son's lifeless body.
"I know that. I can always make another heir." he said, still with no emotion.
He cut me off before I could talk "get into the car. Now!" he demanded. I wanted to hold my
little brother for the last time so I sprinted towards his body and knelt beside it and grabbed
him.
"Who did this to you Lorenzo" tears streaming down my eyes, blurring my vision, I couldn't hold
it any longer.
"Enzo you left me alone with papa" I whispered so papa won't here."Who would tend to my wounds when papa hit me? Who would sneak into my room when
papa locks me in? who would give me part of their meal when papa starves me? It's only you
Enzo so stand the fuck up let us go home!" the tears kept coming.
"Time to go" papa said
I just couldn't let go of Lorenzo. My head was aching me so bad.
My world was spinning.
"II mio fratellino, sarai per sempre nel mio cuore. A presto, amor mio" I said to Lorenzo and
blacked out.
Present
I looked out from my window, looking at the city. We live on the hills and no normal civilian is
allowed to trespass.
It was late in Milan but the streets are so busy and bright.
My life isn't the same without Lorenzo. It's been 5 years now and it still feels like yesterday.
I am going to his grave soon and I'm dressed in black, already prepared.
I go there alone every time, papa has never gone to his grave, he didn't even attend the funeral
and I see mamma there sometimes, always putting new roses on his grave, she has a different
way of showing affection.
I left my room and went to the garden, where Lorenzo's grave is.
Seems that mamma changed the roses again.
I stood facing his grave. 'Here lies Lorenzo Rossi. 2004-2020'
I have never imagined my life without Lorenzo. Looking at his grave brought chills down my
spine.
"He was just 16" I said to myself as a tear rolled down my eyes.
I can't get over his death. A part of me was buried with him, and the fact he was murdered in
the Volkov territory angers me.
I never imagine Damian Volkov would go after my brother.
Lorenzo is too innocent to even hurt a fly.Papa keeps forcing his duties on him as the heir of the Rossi Empire.
Lorenzo wouldn't have done anything bad, Damian is just too cruel to murder anyone he wants.
I still wonder why father haven't waged a war for Lorenzo but papa doesn't care about us.
It's been hours and I've been sitting beside my brother's grave, remembering our past and
envisioning our future if he wasn't murdered by that vicious monster.
"Miss Rossi" my thoughts were interrupted by a maid. I looked at her and she flinched because
of the state of my eyes, it is red from all the tears.
"Mr. Rossi sends for you" she said, I nodded and dismissed her.
I kissed my brother's grave and said "Vivrai per sempre nel mio cuore" and left.
I strolled down the hall towards Father's office, halls holding bitter secrets I didn't care of, the
only thing I cared of was my brother but now he's gone.
I looked at father's door frame, my hands were shaking, preventing me from facing my father.
I knocked twice on the door and a voice from the office said "Come in" and I did.
It's been long I heard my fathers voice or even seen him.
"Sit" Papa said, and I did. I didn't want to risk displeasing him and getting punished.
"Isabella" he said then exhaled.
"Yes papa" I replied.
"You know the state of the Rossi Empire" father said, looking at me directly, shivers ran down
my spine.
"I do" I said to him, trying my best to maintain eye contact.
The Rossi empire has witnessed a massive depth and is going bankrupt. I know it's all my
father's fault, he's too selfish. The Rossi empire has always been the top in Milan for decades
but everything changed when my father became a Don.
"Good. You should learn how to behave like a proper girl and wife, if things don't work out well,
you would have to get married to a don for our empire to stand on it's feet again"
I felt a slight pain in my eyes when I heard papa say the word 'wife'.
He wants me to get married to a Don, someone like him and Damian Volkov?!I looked at my father with pleading eyes "papa please" I don't want to get married not even to a
Don. I've always imagined myself taking my last breath beside Lorenzo's grave, I won't let a don
kill me or abuse me after what I've gone through here.
"Get out of my office" Papa said. He looked at me like he wanted to give me another beating but
he can't, he wants to keep me unhurt for the Don I get married to.
I sighed and stood up and headed for the door.
"This is not a negotiation" papa said
"If this doesn't go as planned" he said "you will marry him.
"
"Who?"
Papa eyes lifted to mine, not wanting to answer me but to see if I was crying. He would love it if
he made me cry but beat me if he sees me crying.
I left his office and as the door slammed shut, I knew it was real. My future had already been decided and it has no face