Page 1 of Driftwood Daffodil 3

Atlas

I’m dead, and all of you are probably thinking, good riddance. Atlas Mancini was a bad man. Well, suck it up. The world is run by bad men who’ve done way worse than I have. I destroyed people’s lives, so what? That’s the game, isn’t it? Fuck someone up so you can rise above them.

Name one person who is remembered for being good. And religious figures don’t count. In fact, they are some of the worst motherfuckers out there. It’s okay to kill someone in the name of God, but cut your wife’s head off and you’re evil. Fuck off.

As much as people complain about the dastardly deeds of the past, they are entranced by them. There have been more movies and television shows made about King Henry the eighth than any other historical figure. If you want to leave your mark in the world, then notoriety is where it’s at.

So, yeah, I hurt people and would’ve hurt more, including my own blood. That’s just a drop in the bucket compared to what would’ve happened.

I had an endgame in mind and it was much bigger than any of you know. If everything had gone as planned, you’d be reading my story instead of Giovanni’s. But I was taken out before that could happen. Everything I’d worked for was destroyed with a few swings of a tire iron.

There wasn’t much that surprised me, including the fact that my brother Romeo watched my life end without lifting a finger. Sibling rivalry was a bitch. But having my death come at the hands of Kato fucking Ford… Now that shit I didn’t see coming.

I didn’t even know the Ford family existed until my buddy showed up one night with Veda. She was asking for it with those big doe eyes and innocent smile. And we gave it to her. Iprobably would’ve given it to her baby sister too, if their brother hadn’t gotten involved.

Yeah, I was a bad man. Now, ask me how much I give a fuck about your opinion.

I don't.

I don’t give a fuck about your tears, feelings, or motherfucking flowers. The only thing I care about is the legacy I left behind, in the whispered words of advice I gave to a little boy forgotten by his father. I may be burning in hell, but Gio was alive and well. My baby brother was out there defending my name and seeking revenge.

Even if he did find out the truth, he wouldn’t be able to forget me. Some part of him would always look up to me. He could thank my father for that. So, in the end, I still won because monsters could die, but heroes…

They were immortal.

GIOVANNI

Murder was only one thing on my mind as I followed Romeo down the hall. Bloody, torturous, and wrathful murder. The same kind of pain my mother went through. I remembered every scream and whispered plea she let out. The sound of her voice haunted my dreams for the past twelve years.

I heard her final gasps every time I closed my eyes. And soon enough, I would hear Aldo’s final breath. Every ounce of pain she suffered, my uncle would pay back tenfold. His torment would quiet the ghost haunting my mind.

“You can stop grumbling under your breath, Little Brother.” Romeo paused to light a cigarette. “You’re not the only one inconvenienced by our uncle’s visit.”

Oh, but that’s where he was wrong. I found the timing of Aldo’s visit perfectly convenient.

“What time does he land?”

My brother looked back and cocked a brow. “Why?”

Because I was going to fucking kill him.

“No reason.”

“Uh huh.” Romeo stopped at the top of the stairs and leaned against the railing. “You’re many things Little Brother. A good liar isn’t one of them.”

I had plenty of secrets my brother didn’t know about, despite what he thought. Romeo would have to pay attention to me to know anything I did.

Crossing my arms, I remained silent while my brother eyed me. If he thought I’d give away a hint or answer to my plans, he was wrong.

“What were you looking for in that room?”

That question caught me a bit off guard. But not enough to crack my resolve.

“Does it matter?”

“That right there, is why you don’t have my job, Little Brother.”

I rolled my eyes. Birth order was the only reason I didn’t have his job.

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