Chapter 1

MIRABELLE'S POV

Sitting on the roof of my old run down house, looking at the endless sea of stars in the black sky, thinking of my life, what my purpose is in life. I have no family, no friends, hell even pets. I have no one, nothing, nothing to lose, nothing to hope for. I'm simply surviving not living, I'm breathing but I feel dead.

If only feelings had an off-switch. If only I can block out the hurtful words, the thoughts, the feelings. I try to tell myself that its not true, all the words,all the pain, that its a chapter and it will pass. But I guess that's a lie, I have been lying to myself. This chapter is not passing, all my life I have been in the same chapter, over and over again, my life is a repeating record, everyday is the same.

But, I learned to block it out, to numb the pain away. Now, now numbness is all I ever feel. It helps with the words, thoughts, feelings and everything. I learned something when I was 9 years old. I would always cry when my parents would start hitting me, but I realized something, that if I cry or mope around nothing would change, nothing. The kicking, punching, slapping, whipping and degrading wouldn't stop nor will it ever stop.

They love when I cry, when I beg, but nothing ever works it comes in an ear and out the other, I haven't cried since I was 10 years old . Crying won't solve my problems, it wont do anything. So I just stopped, I bottle everything up.

I don't burden anyone with my problems or what goes on at home. I know they wont do anything, they will pity me, and if their is one thing I hate most in life that its pity. I don't want people to pity me, I don't need anything from anyone. There is God, God gives me faith, hope, love, everything. I know he will help me. He kept me going till now for a reason.

I always wanted one thing as a little little girl . I wanted them to love me. I wanted them protect me and care for me. I wanted her help me with my hair, clothes or simply advice me in life. I wanted him to call me his little princess, to chase away boys, to protect me from bullies. But we don't get everything we want. Because it turned out they became my biggest bullies, I needed protection from them. They became the monsters from under the bed that you need protection from. They ruined me. He ruined me, she ruined me. Both of them broke me, shatterd me, broke me into a million pieces that can't be put together.

I always wondered what I did wrong, what I did for them to hate me, to harm me, to despise me that much. But I always came up with nothing. I was a kid who could barely stand, so I never came up with an answer.

Its currently 4:00 in the morning and I need to go make my stepfather breakfast and clean the house or else I will get my daily dosage of love (note the sarcasm). With that thought in mind I got up and streched my sore muscles, Obviously that was a mistake as I bent over in pain. Yesterday I came 10mins late from work and he whipped my back and dislocated my knee. I don't even know how I'm walking right now but I guess you could say I'm used to it, the pain.

I walked to my room which is basiclly the attic. My room consists of a really thin mattress, a thin blanket, no pillow, and a chair in the corner of the room where I keep my stuff. I went to the broken mirror in the bathroom and lifted my shirt just over my ribs. My stomach has burn marks, open flesh, and bruises. My stomach is a mixture of black, blue, purple, yellow, and green. One thing I hate when looking at my stomach is the word my mom (if you can even call her that) carved there. The word "whore" is carved in the middle of my stomach. She carved it with a small pocket knife when I came late from school for doing a project with a boy.

I don't even know how she found out. I don't dwell on the thought anymore and start dressing my wounds and sanitizing the cuts with rubbing alcohol and white, big antiseptic bandages. After that I put on my clothes.

I make sure to cover the bruises on my face and hands with foundation. Don't want anybody knowing.

After I finished stood and looked at myself in the mirror. My green-blue eyes hold no life, they are dull, lifeless, no shine in them whatsoever. They used to be so bright, full of life and happiness but now they are dead, nothing in them, they look so empty . My face is too thin and pale from the little food and dehydration, My clothes are too big and baggy because i'm too thin. Overall I'm not the most appealing to look at.

When I finish I make my way downstairs to start on breakfast. I make my way to the kitchen and open the fridge and take the ingredients out. I make four pieces of toasted toast, two with fried eggs and the other two with strawberry jam with half an avocado on the side. I put the plate on the table and open the fridge to take out a beer. The second I put the bottle down I hear loud booming footsteps alerting me he's coming.

I stand in the corner in the kitchen and keep my head down . Its one of rules I have to follow or else I get punished.

He makes his way inside and sits on the stool and starts eating. Next thing I know a fist is being thrown in my face. He punches me in the face and I feel the familiar taste of metal in my mouth. He busted my lip when it just healed. Another punch is thrown and he says "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT YOU FUCKING WHORE???"

"T-toast s-sir." I stutter looking at the floor,

another rule is that I call him sir and never make eye contact, he considers it disrespectful.

It looks like he didn't like that answer as he threw me on the floor and started kicking my stomach.

This went one for 1hour and when he finally had finished I could barely keep my eyes open.

"That's what you get you filthy bitch." He spat,

I saw him through blurry vision pick up his car keys and leave slamming the door on his way.

Slowly I stand up with the support of the wall and make my way to my room. I open the door and go inside, I reapply my foundation to cover the new bruises. I then eat small granola bar from the kitchen and take two painkillers for my ribs because he broke three I think.

I then make my way outside to leave for work. I close the door and lock it behind me. I work as a waitress in this really cute popular cafe that's 30 mins away. I have been working there for 2years and the owners are really sweet and treat me as their own.

Once I reach the cafe I open the door and the smell of freshly baked goods and coffee fills my nose. I bid Martha and Jerry the owners good morning and move to put my stuff away. I hear the bell above the door jingle indicating someone came. I put my apron and take my small notebook and pen and head outside to start working. Let the day begin.

Chapter 2

MIRABELLE'S POV

Its now been a couple hours and I'm so tired. My legs feel like they're about to give out any second. I finish the last table and go lean on the counter. I sigh and close my eyes for minute. Then Martha comes up to me,

"Darling you look tired, why don't you get your stuff and go home and rest?" She suggested with a soft smile.

"But Martha their is still a couple people left. " I said, trying to convince her to let me stay, but she wasn't having it.

"Its okay hun I'll take care of it and anyways your shift ended hours ago, you always stay overtime, you need rest my sweet girl." She said.

"Are you sure? You know I don't mind staying I love working here." I asked to make sure.

"Yes honey its okay now go get your stuff, its getting late I don't you walking late at night." She replied. I nodded my head and went to get my bag and put my work stuff away. I said goodnight to Martha and Jerry and started my way to hell.

As I was walking, I had a feeling like something happened. I don't know what it is but I had a feeling like something big is going to happen and soon. Too lost in my thoughts I didn't notice the bright blue and red lights and the police cars outside my home. I felt my heart start beating faster with each second.

Why is the police here? Oh god what if John did something and they are going to take me instead? With all those thoughts I didn't notice a police officer walking towards me.

"Excuse me, Are you Mirabelle Thompson?" Asked the officer.

"Yes sir, is everything okay?" I asked, concern clear in my voice.

"I'm sorry, honey but your stepfather had an overdose and sadly he didn't make it." He said, pity in his eyes and voice.

I felt my heart stop. John is dead. He's finally dead. He can't hurt me anymore. I'm free from his claws. I never thought that he would die before me, I always thought that maybe he would go too far someday and kill me for good. My dream has come true.

But then suddenly, a thought came to mind. Where will I go? I don't have a father, my mother always told me that when he found out she's pregnant he told her that he didn't want me and left. I have no aunts, uncles, grandparents that I know about.

I have heard about the foster system and I don't wanna go from one bad house to another.

"But where will I go? I don't have anyone that can take me in." I said, fear gripping my heart and chest.

"We will take you to the station to get a blood sample and see if you have any relatives that would like to take you in. If not then you will be placed in an orphanage or the foster system. For now why don't you go pack your stuff and then we will go ok?" He suggested, sympathy clear in his voice.

I nodded and went to the house to get my stuff. I didn't have a lot of stuff so it didn't take me long to pack them up. I had two shirts, two sweatshirts, one pair of sweatpants, one pair of leggings and a pair of underwear and a bra. I put them in my backpack and took out the money I have been saving all my life. I counted them and they turned out to be 1,500 dollars.

I put them in my bag and looked at the room one last time. The thought of leaving sounds so surreal, It feels too good to be true.

I looked at the room one last time and went downstairs. When I reached down I went to the officer that I talked with before and told him I was ready. We got inside the car and started driving towards the station. Once we reached we parked and went inside. He told me to sit down and wait for him to come back.

Once he came back he took my blood and told me the results will be back in an hour. It was 8:30 by now and I was exhausted. So I closed my eyes and I felt myself drift off.

ONE HOUR LATER

I felt someone shaking me from my shoulder and I immediately shot up thinking it was John. But once I saw the officer I relaxed. But he had a wide grin on his face which confused me. But what he said next confused me even more.

"Well I have some good news for you, we found someone that would love to take you in." He said with a wide smile.

" Who?" I asked curiously.

"Your father and older brothers." He replied.

I stood there frozen. I couldn't hear anything else he was saying. 'Father', that word kept repeating in my head over and over again. Why would he want me now? Why? He could have saved me years of pain and anguish and now he wants me? I couldn't believe this. My ears kept ringing, my heart kept beating out of my chest.

I didn't notice the officer calling my name until he started shaking my shoulder. I flinched and stepped away from him with wide eyes and mouth hanging open.

"F-father?" I whispered, still in shock about what I was just told.

"Yes father, isn't that great? Well how about you rest for a while, it'll be a couple hours till he arrives since he's coming from New York." He explained.

I nodded, I couldn't form any words, nothing could come out of my mouth. Its like my tongue was tied,

'Father' I have a father and he said I have brothers.

How many brothers do I have? Will they like me? What if they hate me? What if they never wanted a sister? Oh god what if they hurt me? I could barely keep up with John and now a father and brothers. I couldn't think anymore as I could feel a headache starting. I rubbed my temples and took two painkillers.

My body hurts so much and with this new information. I rested my head against the wall and thought about something, will this be my new start with my new family or will it be my new hell? With that I drifted off.

Chapter 3

ANTONIO'S POV

I'm sitting in my office signing papers for the company and looking at a few designs for my next opening club. Sighing and taking a small sip of the rich alcoholic flavor I lean my head back on my leather brown chair trying to ease the headache that's forming.

I suddenly get a call from an unknown number. I usually never answer but my gut was telling me to and my gut is always right. So I picked up the phone and answered.

"Hello"I said coldly.

"I-is t-this Mr A-Antonio Romano?" The person on the other line stuttered. Since I'm in the mafia I'm always cold and rude except with my family.

"Yes, now who are you and what do you want?" He's wasting my time I need to finish work so I can be on time for dinner with my sons.

"Sir this is Texas Police Station we have your daughter here, her DNA matched with yours and she doesn't have a guardian, her stepfather just died. Would you like to take her in? If not she will be placed in an orphanage." The officer said making my hand freeze midair from where I was signing.

What the fuck is he talking about? I don't have a daughter, I mean, I have always wanted a daughter but me and my ex-wife didn't have one. And I never slept with another woman.

"Listen you have the wrong number I don't have a daughter." I answered rudely.

I was starting to get annoyed they can't even dial a number correctly.

"Sir your ex- wifes name was Vicky Simpson right?"Asked the officer.

What does that bitch have to do with anything? She could be dead for I care."Yes why ?" I asked getting really confused."And she left you and your sons and ran away right?" By now I was really starting to get mad. What the fuck does he think this is?A guessing game?

"Yes now spit it out I'm fucking busy "

"Sir your wife changed her name and she was pregnant when she ran away." He replied.

I sat their frozen. No this can' be possible, she wouldn't just take my child away from me, this is impossible. Fuck I can't even think clearly. I must have been quite for too long because the officer spoke again.

"Sir are you still there ?"I cleared my throat and replied "Yes I am can you send a photo of her and what's her name?" I spoke calmly after taking a few deep breaths."Yes sir I will send a photo and her name is Mirabelle Alexandra Thompson." Said the officer.

"So would you like to take her in? " Asked the officer.

"Yes I will take her in I will be there in a few hours since i'm coming from New York. " I replied, feeling my throat clog up.

"Ok sir I will get the papers ready for when you come." I hung up and put my phone on the table.

I couldn't believe this, a daughter, my daughter, I have a daughter. FUCK,that bitch, how could she? How could she keep my daughter away from me, my principessa, my babygirl. I missed 17years of her life from that bitch. I could never forgive myself. I felt something wet on my cheek. I raised my hand and wiped my cheek, I didn't even realize I was crying. I haven't cried in 30 years. I threw my phone across the room in frustration and watched it as it smashed in a thousand pieces. But that wasn't enough

I called my pilot from my other phone after hanging up with the officer.

" Get the jet ready we're going to Texas." I said as soon as he answered. "Yes sir." After that I couldn't control my anger anymore.

I sent a message to my 2nd oldest "Get a duffle bag ready we're going to Texas." Their was an instant reply "Yes dad." good.

I still need to take my anger out on something. I threw my glass coffee table across the room and watched as it broke in a million pieces. I kept throwing everything in my office. I didn't keep a single thing. At the end my office was trashed with glass everywhere and papers on the floor.

I took a deep breath and thought of how I'm going to tell my sons. I know one thing and that they're going to be happy. All of my sons wanted a baby sister ever since they were young. And now that they have a baby sister they're going to be over the moon.

I took a long deep breath and pressed the speaker that is connected in the whole house so no matter where they are they can still here "FAMILY MEETING NOW DON'T BE FUCKING LATE."

Let's see how it goes.

While I was walking down the stairs, I felt my phone vibrate in my black trousers. I paused my steps and unlocked my phone and opened the e-mail sent from the officer. Once I opened it and saw the picture I stood there frozen in my spot. There was a beautiful girl that looked to be in her teenage years. She had blue- greenish eyes that looked absolutely fetching. Her light brunette hair looked so soft and silky and they were a little past her shoulders. Her face had had nothing on it, not even an acne scar. Her eyebrows were arched and she had a cute button nose.

In that moment all my doubts vanished. I now know that this girl is absolutely my daughter. She looks just Alexander. Heck they could be twins if not for the obvious age difference. Though, as I looked at the picture more closely I noticed that she looks a bit too skinny and pale.

I immediately started thinking the worst. Was she not fed properly? Didn't they have enough money to buy food? Is she sick? Does she have small appetite? Was she being starved? I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart and continued walking down the stairs and passed the kitchen until I reached the living room where I could hear my sons bickering and yelling.

I took a breath and opened the living room doors, immediately all the yelling and shouting stopped as soon I stepped in the room. You see, the very first thing I taught my sons is respect. Respect is very important in general but more important in the underworld. People need to respect you in order for you to be powerful and strong. Although my sons and I are extremely close they make sure to never disrespect me or their elders, their is always boundaries. But if a person hurts their family, then it doesn't matter if they are old or young.

Family should always come first no matter what and I made sure to engrave that into their minds 'prima la familia.' Is our motto and we will always live by it till we take our last breaths.

I enter the living room and look around to make sure that all my sons are here. And sure enough, they are all here. Everyone has confused faces on expect Alexander and Giovanni who are looking at me emotionlessly but I could see the curiosity swimming in their eyes.

"What do you wanna talk about dad?" Grumbled Elias, who looked like he just woke up from a very good nap.

"I got a very intriguing call today. " I started, but got cut off by Giovanni "What call?" I shot him a glare and saw him shiver and he muttered a small 'sorry.' I was too happy to care about being mad at him right now.

"Don't interrupt me boy."I said and he averted his eyes away from me in shame.

"What was the call about dad?" Asked Vincent calmly and respectfully.

"Well boys I got a call from Texas police station and he informed me that Vicky died years ago." I Informed calmly and waited for them to absorb the new information.

I looked at my sons and saw that they had disgusted looks on their faces. The boys never really liked their mother. She never treated them well and never took of them and their necessities.

"That witch was never and will never be our mother." Spat Gianni.

And a chorus of ' yeses' and nods of approval were thrown his way.

"What does that have to do with us dad ?"Asked Alfonso.

"It turns out when she ran away she got remarried, and he died a couple hours ago from an overdose " I said.

Once I got nods to continue I continued "And I need to go to the station because there's a special someone waiting for me." Ismiled wildly at them.

All of them looked at me weirdly because I rarely smile. Maybe a sadistic smile but that doesn't count.

"Who is the special someone?" Asked Elijah.

"My daughter" I smiled wildly as I thought of my little princess and how she's going to be in my arms soon.

The mafia princess is coming home.

My thoughts of my babygirl were soon cut off by all of them asking, more like yelling "WHAT?!!!" Shouted all of them.

"Let me explain " they nodded and I soon continued, "Turns out when Vicky ran away she was pregnant and she didn't tell me and when I tried finding her, looks like she changed her name and ran away so I could't find her, trust me when I got that call I was as shocked as you, and when the officer told me she matched my DNA I was so happy, I always wanted a daughter and you guys always wanted a little sister, so that's it."

I finished and I looked at them all. I saw different emotions, Alexander looked emotionless but I could still see the happiness and contentment in his eyes, Vincent, Leo, and Alfonso all had small smiles on their faces and tears of joy in their eyes. Giovanni looked mad, which I couldn't understand why , Gio has anger issues and could barely control it sometimes.

I made a mental note to ask him why he's mad

later. Gianni was jumping around cheering and hugging his brothers. Elias and Elijah were already making plans of what they can do, where they can go, and more stuff. And lastly, my youngest son, Ezekiel, he was sitting on the couch and had a small smile resting on his face. When he thought no one was looking, I saw him take off his glasses and wipe them from tears that dropped on them. He, then proceeded to wipe the tears in his eyes.

"WE FINALLY HAVE A BABY SISTER !!!!!" Yelled Gianni making us all laugh "YESSSSS FINALLY WER'RE NOT THE YOUNGEST ANYMORE!!!"

Yelled Elias and Elijah making us chuckle softly at their silly antics.

"Technically you're not the youngest, Zeke is, aren't you baby bro?" Smiled Leo ruffling Ezekiel's brunette hair.

Zeke only huffed in amusement and fixed his hair back to how it was.

"Wait do you have a picture of her? We wanna see her "Asked Alfonso, all the others nodded in agreement.

I nodded my head and fished out my phone out of my pocket and looked up my babygirl's cute face. I motioned for them to come closer, and I gave Alexander my phone and immediately the all of them surrounded him to take a look.

All I heard were gasps in the big modern living room. All of them were staring the phone intensely

And a few sniffs were heard indicating some of them are crying.

"She's so pretty. " Mumbled Vince.

"She's soooo cute Ahhhh!!!" Gushed Gianni.

"She's so adorable" Smiled softly Leo as he looked at his sister's photo.

"She's so precious." Whispered Alfonso, Elias and Elijah nodded their heads, agreeing.

Gio just stood there frozen looking at the photo in amazement.

"She looks just like Alexander" Whispered Zeke.

Everyone gasped and looked at him with wide eyes and mouthes open. Zeke rarely talks, he only talks with his twins, he's just quite, he likes to observe more. So we were surprised when he spoke now. He glared at them and they all looked away from him.

Alexander still hasn't looked away from the phone yet. Its like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He then spoke in the most serious and coldest voice, "No boy will ever come near my baby sister."

Getting a 'Fuck yeah' from the rest of his brothers as their eyes filled with determination - a sort of promise that no one will ever think about breaking their baby sister's heart or think about hurting her.

I had messaged Vincent earlier to pack a small bag. So, when I got a message from the pilot telling me that the plane was ready. I told them that its time to go. Elijah started throwing a fit about how he wanted to go get his sister himself but one look from Alexander was enough to make him quite as he started muttering about how we were being 'unfair and mean' I just shook my head at him softly. That boy never fails to amaze me with his goofiness and energy.

I looked at Alexander and nodded at him, me telling him to take care of younger brothers till I come back and him nodding at me back at me and silently telling me to bring his baby sister home.

I looked at Vincent and told him that we need to leave he nodded and made his way to the waiting car outside. I looked around one last time and left making my to the car. I got in and soon we were on our way to the airport.

We reached 20 mins later and went on the plane. We buckled up and soon enough we were in the air and on our way to my princess. With that thought in mind I drifted off with my daughter on my mind.