Peter

"Peter, just try to see things from my point of view, just once." Leo begged. I crossed my arms and raised a brow at him.

"I'm a twenty-nine year old who owns a multi-billion dollar company. I'm constantly stressed and constantly travelling and away from my family and friends, and on top of that, I have to run dad's secret business. Do you have any clue how nerve wrecking all this is?"

"Oh, poor you." I deadpanned.

"Is this about what I said to your girlfriend?" Leo asked.

"She's not my girlfriend, firstly. Also, yes! That was so out of line, dude!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, well, she snapped back at me! So I guess we're even!"

"No! No you're not! She was just defending herself! You are in no way, shape, form, or fashion even!"

"Okay, look, I'll apologize, but please just stop acting out! You already know your place here! Why won't you just fit in!"

"Because I don't fit in, Leo! I never will! I don't want this life! I never have!" I felt tears welling up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. "This isn't me! It never was and it never will be! Why can't you understand I never wanted this! This wasn't my choice!"

I fell to my knees and the tears that I tried to hold back fell like a broken dam. I held my arms tightly as I tried to calm myself down. I felt Leo's arms wrap around me and he pulled me close comfortingly.

Suddenly I was nineteen again and dad had just died. Leo and Fiona were hugging me and comforting me, just like now. I could still see the dirt being thrown onto the casket. I could still feel the rain as it drenched my suit and smell the wet grass below me. His colleagues and work friends surrounded us. But none of them hurt as much as my family.

"I'm sorry, Peter." Leo said as he laid his cheek onto my head. "I know how you feel. But, this isn't some choice that you can say yes or no to. You don't have a choice. I didn't have a choice. Fiona didn't have a choice. This isn't a choice thing."

He pulled away and looked me in the eyes. His once cold blue orbs were now warm and sorrowful. "This is the mafia. And once you're in, there's no leaving."