Fear no evil and speak no evil
There are lots of things that happen before a war. You have a battle plan. It tells you what you will have to do, where you will have to be and when you have to do what you have to do. Then you have the background planning, the weapons, the machinery, the transport and the communication aids. The last part of war and what I say is the key of war, is your mind and how you prepare it.
Fear is inevitable as it is part of human biology to have a fight or flight mode. Naturally everyone goes for what they will decide to keep them safe. If you play it safe in the battlefield and take no risks there you will most likely lose. Your enemy will be able to predict your every move and therefore you will die. The people that take the risks and don't show fear to the bullet but make the bullet fear them.
They are the ones that survive the war.
"You know I always knew you were going to be the ruin of this family." Aunt Jessica sighed as she sat down next to me. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair and went through the checklist of weapons as the soldiers.
"I always saw you as your mother. This young girl with so much darkness around her who is just waiting to strike."
"Can I help you?" I spat harshly. Hoping she will get the hint. She is lucky she is married to uncle Luke and that he loves her. Because if i had to choose based on my feelings i would have left to rot in that cage along with her twins.
"I just want to make sure you know what you are doing."
Before I could say anything, mamma put her hand on aunt Jessica's shoulder harshly. "She knows more than you do. So I suggest you let her do her job because if i can put my money on it. You would be the first to fall." She scoffed loudly and I couldn't help but snicker to myself.
"How da-."
"How dare you! even thinking you can try and belittle my daughter while she is planning to save us all. So how dare you! You are a disgrace to the Moretti family and if anyone would be to ruin this family it would be you." I couldn't help the cheer squad that was cheering in my head. My mum was finally starting to grow her back bone back. Jessica being the sour worm she got up and stormed off. Probably to go and sulk a pity party with her horrible daughters.
Papa walked up beside mum and kissed her head. "There is my little feisty wife" I heard him whisper to her. It would gross me out but right now i just feel more proud than anything.
"How is everything going?" Enzo suddenly appeared and sat beside me. It was only a matter of seconds before nearly my whole family was sitting around the table. I couldn't help but remember the last time we were all sitting around a table.
And that didn't go very well.
"It's fine." I nodded then started marking the blue prink of the docks. Their painful stares watched me carefully as I was analysing every detail of the battle we were about to go into. But i couldn't focus with dad, enzo, Vince, Luke, Mathew, Bruno, mamma, Ben and just everyone in my family staring at me. I shifted uncomfortably then tried rubbing my temples to concentrate.
"How about you divide your men into squads."Louis suddenly suggested. I hadn't even realised he was looking at my chart. "That way you can match even the number of weak soldiers with the best ones. It would make a stronger defence." I nodded my head as it made plenty of sense.
"I can do that for you." Louis then declared and then grabbed a pen and highlighter and got started. I didn't have time to interject or anything.
"I can try and help with your database team to see if we can get some eyes on their side." Luke said and once again I nodded not really knowing what to say.
"Honey this is your time to embrace your title and your blood. You have two strong mafia leaders and men out there that we can bring in. Let us help." I looked at papa with conflict. My eyebrows furrowed and my fists so tight I could the white of my knuckles. All my life I have wanted to shelter them and hide them away and now suddenly I have to embrace them.
"I admit your fighting skills are more than any of us combined. I didn't think anyone could be better than Louis." Enzo started to say and then cleared his throat. "We may not be as strong as you but we hold power so let us help you." I nodded my head and sat up straight, trying to think as clearly as possible.
"Bring in your men and tell me what you can do to help."
For the next hour me and my family were talking, planning and going over everything. Even my aunt Alice, aunt susan, aunt elizabeth and mamma were contributing. It was the strongest I had felt as a family in my whole life.
It made me feel complete.
"Well I don't know a lot about you. But if I was Tony or that boss, I would be shitting my pants." Gramps suddenly chuckled along with the others. I didn't say or do anything because it was stupid to laugh or feel cocky before a war. Especially if you don't know everything your enemy has planned.
"So Ange and fam bam what have you come up with." Jace sang and jumped onto the table. Louis shifted uncomfortably and looked at Jace with so much heartache. The others just looked at him in pained silence.
"Well you lot are a tough crowd to please. Ange, I can see why you have had so much trouble." I punched Jace hard in the stomach and glared at him.
"What! You may have forgiven them but I reckon they still have a fair bit of grovelling to do." They all shifted uncomfortably and I rolled my eyes.
This boy is more petty than Kim kardashian herself.
He started reading the chart of what Louis had done and nodded in approval. "Well whichever mafia blooded person did this, I must say I approve. It saves a lot of blood loss doing it this way."
"Hopefully it will save blood loss." I sigh and then fold my hands onto the table.
"It will." Louis interjects which makes Jace stiffen. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. It was so thick, and it was only going to get thicker the more the two avoided each other. But I can't blame Jace. He had only just found out that Louis is his father. I cant imagine how hard this all must be for him.
I feel sorry for Louis as well as Louis has always been my favourite uncle but this situation does ino mean anything for me to interfere with. This was between them two and no one else.
Thankfully two warm large hands place themselves on my shoulders and I instantly lean back knowing that it is him. "Hello." He whispers.
"Hi."
Papa coughs uncomfortably and I can see all my brothers just stare blankly at Blaze. "I have come here to inform you all that a person is now here to take those who don't fight away."
And just like that the tension once again thickens.
"Where will you be taking my wife and daughter?" Enzo asks coldly. Blaze clicks his tongue and looks down at my uncle as if he was nothing but a worm.
"Somewhere only I should know." Enzo and papa stand up and look like they were about to go up against Blaze for even saying this. But Blaze didn't move a single inch. "You will know where they are after the war. But for now we cannot trust anyone as you never know where rats are lurking." Bruno looked like he was about to say something before Blaze quickly said.
"You don't want someone to murder your dear loved ones while you were all missing in action. Do you?" cocking an eyebrow it left all of them slumping back into defeat.
"Say your goodbyes now. Because the van leaves in 6 minutes." Giving my shoulder a quick squeeze. Blaze then left and went to go and sort out other business for tomorrow.
We all stood up and i could see my aunts and cousins starting to cry and some were just looking stunned. I guess they never thought they would be in this position. To have to say goodbye and to have to accept it could be the last time we see them.
"You will be safe, yes." Mamma suddenly asked me.
"Yes mum, I will be f-." Mamma then pulls me into a large tight hug. Holding me so tight like she was almost afraid I was going to disappear. "Mamma i will be ok."
She nodded weakly but didn't let me go. "I love you so much my little bee. Just keep your inhaler and keep your strength. You are the warrior I have always wanted to be."
"I love you mamma."
"It's time to go love." Papa says with pain. Mamma looked at me then gave each of my brothers a tight hug. "Just stay safe, my babies."
I saw the look of pain my family had as they saw each of their lovers go. But this is the price they have to pay when they have neglected their training and not let them embrace the mafia. It's their price to pay.
I couldn't deny that I was a little scared and a little sad but they were all a whole lot safer wherever they were going than on a battlefield. And I don't want to sound cocky but I know we actually have a good chance. A better chance now than what we had before now that we have let the mafia join our battle.
We now have mafia Soldiers, allies, more weapons, more bombs, more technology and more strategy than what we had before. Combining our strength with this new power I can already feel this power. I know Blaze can feel it too because he is not just planning on how to survive but how to win.
We can win this
"We are with you Angelina." Papa said, wrapping his arm around me. As we watched the van drive away. Gramps then grabbed my hand and held it tightly to his chest. "We will fight."
Enzo then came up to me and looked like a devil on the mission before putting his on my shoulder. "The mafia is now your power. You are its leader."
Giving me all of their cards I now have an abundance. I guess just leaves in position for tomorrow where I have to pick.
What cards do I play?
Do I play all of them and leave myself with nothing or do I play like poker. Play my best ones until my last dying breath?
I guess I will decide tomorrow.