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"What's going on here?" I hear someone boom from near the door, and I shrink into the dog, thinking I'm in trouble. Bruno licks my hand, causing me to giggle again.
Mrs. Volkov stands before patting my head, and turning toward the voice.
"Don't worry, darling. Bruno ran toward Sofia, scaring her, but they're best friends now." She says it with the sweetest smile, looking down at me, then winks, making me smile, too.
Mr. Volkov smiles when he sees Bruno laying on me.
"Sofia, it looks like you made a new friend." He says it very sweetly, making me beam and nod enthusiastically, making everyone laugh.
My Papa comes from behind Mr. Volkov, giving me a smile and chuckling when he sees the dog nearly laying on top of me. He shakes his head a little, then walks toward me, and bends down to pick me up, making Bruno whine, lifting his paw to stop Papa from taking me. I giggle at him, which made the adults laugh, too. I wrap my arms around Papa’s neck and lay my head on his shoulder, sighing. I'm such a daddy's girl. I look at Mamma to give her the big smile that she loves, but she's no longer smiling, instead she seems mad at Papa. She gives me the stink eye, like I did something wrong. I shrink into Papa's arms, confused. He looks at me with a furrowed brow, then looks at Mamma. His expression turns hard, and he holds me tighter.
Huh, weird.
Mamma's been doing that a lot lately, when Papa picks me up or spends time with me.
"Sofia, sweetheart, I want you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Volkov's children. Alexandr, who is thirteen, and Damian, who is twelve." My Papa puts me down, then points at each boy.
Alexandr smiles at me, taking my hand and giving it a little shake, making me giggle. Then I look at Damian, and he is scowling at me. I tilt my head to the side, wanting to step behind my Papa's legs, because Damian seems mad and scary. Still, I don't hide, because Papa says I'm strong and brave, just like him.
I step forward with a bright smile, and say, "Are you in a bad mood? My Mamma bought some chocolate cookies, they will make you happier. Would you like me to get you one?"
Damian looks at me for a minute, both his eyebrows raised to his hairline, and I hear a couple of people chuckling, not sure why, because I was being serious. He takes a step toward me and holds out his hand.
"Show me where they are, then, printsessa." I beam at the nickname and smile wide. "We're going to be the best of friends." I take his hand, making everyone smile, while Damian shakes his head a little, tilting his lips up, taking me into the kitchen.
three
Damian – Age 17
I walk into the Russo residence, the penthouse on the top floor of the Preziosa, one of many buildings they own, and shout out for Sofia. I've done exactly as Father and Stefano asked and made her feel special; she says we're best friends. We spend at least three nights together during the week, having dinner, then all day on Saturdays going on outings to zoos and boat rides. Five years I've been doing this shit, basically babysitting, and she's now thirteen, becoming a fucking handful, wanting to be around me all the fucking time. I know she's developed a crush on me, so everything is going according to plan. The problem is, I don't feel anything for her in that sense; she's just a kid. Don't get me wrong, I care about her as a friend, and I'll hurt anyone who dares make her sad, but I don't see it going any further. I have to wait until she is seventeen to make my move. Still, I have to make sure she understands we have to wait until she's eighteen before we can even kiss, which will probably feel like kissing my fucking sister.
Fuck my life!
"Sofia, where are you, printsessa?" I shout again, but there is no answer.
Hmm, strange.
By now, she normally runs into the room, jumping in my arms so I can spin her around. I leave the living room, approach her bedroom, and open the door. Pink greets me, and I scrunch my nose; it's such a blinding color. All her furniture is white, while everything else is pink. I shake my head and look around the room. And there, lying on her queen, princess-style bed crying is Sofia, her hair in a tangled mess.
"Printsessa, what's happened?"
I move toward her, climb on her bed, and pull her into my arms. She holds on tight, squeezing me.
Crying and shaking, she stutters, "Donny in my class, h-he pushed me over and c-called me a fat ass after I told him I d-did not want to be his girlfriend. So I got up and p-punched him like you, Sergi, and Al taught me. The school called Mamma, and I got s-suspended."
Hmm, okay, so Donny is a dead little shit! It wouldn't be the first time I killed someone; my first was when I was ten. He stole from the Bratva, and I shot him between the eyes, while my brother did the same to his accomplice. But I don't understand her crying, though. She's tough, and it won't be the last time she'll get suspended if her dad, Alexandr, Sergi, and I have any say in how she continues to defend herself, which is fucking spot on so far. She needs to keep up her self-defense classes, especially as a Don's child. I lift her chin up with two fingers, wiping away the tears on her now red face. "Why cry though, malyshka? You shouldn't cry." Baby girl slips out unintentionally, but thankfully, she does not notice.
"Because when we got home, M-mamma said it w-was my fault I got suspended. She s-says I should be happy that someone wanted me b-because I'm getting fatter, and no one wants a f-fatty." She says this, then bursts into tears once more.
Fuck's sake, Victoria! Can't she act like a normal mother?
"Okay, printsessa, dry those tears. Your mother should never have said that; you are beautiful and perfect, do you understand me?" She looks into my eyes and nods, her dark blue eyes looking sad. "What do you say we go to the pizzeria down the street and get some ice cream? I want some best friend time, what do you say?"
She beams at this, nodding, and jumps off the bed, running into the bathroom. I shake my head. The littlest things make her happy these days, which makes me wonder exactly what goes on between her and her mother.
I get my phone out and text Stefano.
Me: Your wife has done it again! I just found Sofia in tears.
