When Roses Bleed

I slowly open my eyes groaning to the sound of my alarm blaring telling me to get ready for the day. As I get dressed I make my way down the long spiraling stairs, to my surprise my brother Anthony was already in the dinning room waiting for me as my mom prepared breakfast for us. Sometimes it’s not easy being the daughter of a mafia boss and having your eldest brother Anthony be next in line.

“Hey sis! You ready for your first day of college?” He asked as he scratched my head playfully my brother looks like your typical heir to the throne of a big mafia family heavily tattooed, dark hair tan skin, and hazel eyes. All of my friends swooned over him wishing they could be his wife.

I looked at my brother and said “I mean yeah but it’s no big deal” I shrugged as his eyes widened at me.

“Baby sis this is a big thing! No one in our family has gone to college let alone a pristine college at that! You’ll be the first in our family to graduate college, let alone graduate from Princeton!” He exclaimed.

Before I could even respond mom called out “Boys breakfast is ready!” And soon you hear my three other brothers come tumbling down the stairs yelling and laughing as they rough housed with each other. In total I have four older brothers you have Anthony or as my family calls him Tony he’s 27 and never graduated high school Tony is the one that will take over when daddy dies and he is the overprotective one always making sure his younger siblings are in line.

Then you have Antonio 25 been expelled from multiple different schools because of his behavior he is the true definition of a bad boy light tan skin a lot of tattoos, dark curly hair, small scars on his face from drunken fights and just overall being reckless, and green eyes. He’s also been in and out of juvie and jail more times than I can count.

Then you have Amelio 23 I would describe him as the sweet heart dark tan skin, tattoos, but non of his tattoos show, and beautiful hazel green eyes. He’s the only one besides me that graduated high school. How I would describe him is he is the peacemaker of the family but don’t get me wrong he will knock someone off if they threaten our family.

Last but not least you have the youngest of the brothers Adriano 21 dropped out of school and he’s always getting into trouble with Antonio but there is always little to no evidence that pin points him to being involved with Antonio’s antics. He is the quiet one out of all of them but don’t confuse his quietness for shyness because he will pop off if you rub him the wrong way. Light tan skin, very few tattoos, dark hair in the style like a greaser from the 50s, and dark brown eyes so dark that they are almost pitch black. mom likes to call him her wild card because you never know what he is going to do.

Then there is me Cecilia 18 years old tan skin, long dark brown hair, and bright green eyes. I just graduated high school this last summer and now I am about to start college. All I’ve wanted was to live a normal life plus being the only girl daddy never wanted me apart of the family business to begin with. He always told me it was a man’s job to worry about business and it’s the woman’s job to be a wife. Cook, clean, have kids and look after them, and to always support your husband regardless if you know the business or not.

Lastly are my parents I like to describe my mother like Morticia Addams long thick dark hair, her eyes are an emerald green and always wears red lipstick. mom had us all young and she is the true definition of a mom whatever you need she’s there for you.

Then you have daddy black hair turning grey always dressed in suits tailored to fit him, and his eyes a dark brown. Daddy is very stern and strict but even more so with me because I am the only girl. Daddy has also worked very hard to achieve the things he has and for years he has been teaching and guiding Tony the ways of the business so when the time comes Tony will be Don.

“Boys settle down!” mom shouts as she prepares the plates for everyone. “Oohhh it’s a big day for you sis!” Antonio exclaims squeezing me tightly

“I can’t breathe” I mumble as Tony chuckles “Antonio you can let her go now don’t want to kill her before her first day”

Antonio releases his arms from me “I apologize sis this is just a big day not just for you but for all of us!” He smiles brushing his hair back.

Amelio smiles as he gives me a side hug and says “I think I can speak for all us but we are so incredibly proud of you sis” he kisses my forehead as he lets me go

Adriano then chuckles as he says “just don’t get any boyfriends in college other wise he’s gonna get jumped by all of us” he laughs slightly but I can tell by looking at his eyes that it wasn’t a joke.

“Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do sis” Antonio laughs as he tries to steal a piece of bacon off a plate but before he could mom smacks his hand.

“Antonio you know we eat as a family! Now all of you sit down at the table” she looks over to me and then says “sweetie go get your father please” she smiles warmly

“where is daddy mom?” I asked

“in his office babe” she replies as she sets the plates down on the table.

I quickly make my way down the long hallway and walk through the double doors into daddy’s office. He was having a meeting with his consigliere . Giovanni is a tall 6ft sicilian with Irish roots. He has short brown hair and brown eyes. Him and daddy have been childhood friends.

Giovanni sees me standing in the door way and smiles “I heard about your big first day today! Good luck small one” he says warmly as he gives me a quick hug before turning to daddy and says “I must go Don duty calls” he says as he exits the room faster than I could blink

Daddy smiles “hi my princess” he says as he stands up from his desk as if knowing I came here to tell him breakfast is ready.

“Hi daddy mom sent me to tell you breakfast is ready”

he nods and he smiles as he makes his way over to me and he cups my face. “I am so so proud of my little girl today is a big day” he smiled with joy. He then proceeds to place a kiss on my forehead and smiles. “Now let’s go have breakfast shall we?”

daddy and I both make our way down the stairs as we hear my brothers conversating about business and then mom says

“now now children no business talk at the table” as she takes her seat right by daddy’s seat everyone goes quiet as daddy takes his seat next to mom and Tony takes his seat at the end of the table then the rest of us take our seats.

Daddy looks at everyone before he says “children let us say grace before we enjoy this wonderful meal that your beautiful mother worked so hard on” he smiles as we all join hands and begin to say grace. After we say grace I look over at my brothers who are all scarfing down their food like ravage animals who haven’t eaten in days.

“Boys!! enjoy your food for goodness sake! You act like your father and I have been depriving you of food!” Mom shouts.

“Sorry mom” they all say in perfect unison as they slow down their eating.

I look over at the time and my eyes widen “shoot I have to get going before I’m late for my first day!” I exclaim as I slowly rise from my seat and look over at daddy then at mom “daddy mom may I please be excused?”

Daddy smiles and nods “yes sweetie you may but before you go one of the body guards will take you to school and will be following you around” he says his voice stern.

“But daddy!” I sigh “can’t I just have a normal day?” My brothers all hold back a laugh as daddy looks at me

“I’m sorry sweetie it’s not that I don’t trust you I don’t trust everyone else for all I know their could be people from our rivals and if something were to happen to you…. To my only daughter…” he takes a deep breath before continuing as his eyes grow dark so dark they could basically be labeled black

“I would kill everything and everyone and so would your brothers now please my decision is final a body guard will be by your side at all times” he wipes his mouth with a napkin his voice calm. Before I could argue any further my brother Tony looks at me and says

“sis just listen to dad please don’t make it a bigger deal than it needs to be your the only sister we have and the only daughter dad has of course we’re going to take extreme caution when it comes to you” he slowly rises from his seat and gives me a reassuring hug and kisses my forehead. “Have a good day at college sis I love you” he smiles softly

“I love you to brother” I say as I make my way around the table hugging my brothers telling them I love them as they wish me a good day at college. I then hug mom and tell her I’ll be home in time for dinner and then I make my way over to daddy and he gives me a squeeze and says his voice low and calm

“I love you sweetie have a good day Bruno will be with you all day and will let me know if anything’s wrong”

I nod as I quickly grab my things Bruno is one of daddy’s body guards been in the family ever since Tony was a baby Bruno has a husky build very broad shoulders, very tall I’d say at least six foot four, always has a wire in his ear so he can communicate with daddy, mostly wears suits and sunglasses but I guess daddy told him to dress normal he came out wearing blue jeans, and a hoodie.

“Ready to go miss?” He says very monotone

I nod as he leads me out the door and drives to Princeton. Luckily for me my family lives in Pennington New Jersey it’s a very quaint town known for its historic downtown area it’s about a fifteen to twenty minute drive to Princeton. Hopefully my first day isn’t too chaotic I say to myself as I look out the window.