The Brambilla's, The Beginning

EPILOGUE: PART 1:

The boys were now around eight and ten and were typical siblings, arguing and fighting as brothers would do. Many times Eleonora had to discipline them. Sending them to their rooms and threatening to have their father deal with them. This one night during dinner they started arguing

Leone listened to them and looked over at Eleonora who was staring back at him. She was giving him that look that said he had better deal with them. He knew he had better comply or he'd be in the dog house, which meant no sex, and that he couldn't go without. He slammed his hand down on the table, causing both boys to stop fighting.

Lazaro and Anthony stopped and looked at their father, eyes wide and knew they were in trouble.

"Your mother has told me you two have been fighting a lot and it's got to stop."

"It's Anthony, he's always bugging me."

"It's not my fault you're a grumpy Gus and can't take a joke."

Leone once again slammed his hand on the table to get them to stop. "That is enough, you are brothers and need to get along. You have been driving your mother crazy so you have to be punished."

"But dad," Lazzaro said but closed his mouth when his father held up his hand.

"When you are both done eating you will gather up all the dishes and take them into the kitchen. You will then wash them and once that is done you will clean the kitchen."

"But Dad, that's not fair," Anthony said, pouting.

Leone leaned over and looked him in the eye. "For talking back you both will do it for a week and if you open your mouth again I'll make it two weeks." He looked at both of them. "So now neither one of you has anything to say. Good, now finish your meal and get busy. I'll let the kitchen staff know they have a few days off from the clean-up."

When the boys were gone Eleonora reached for his hand. "Do you think this will teach them a lesson?"

"It will teach them to learn how to work together."

"I'm not sure they will know how to clean and might end up breaking a lot of our dishes, they are just boys after all."

He smiled at her. "Dishes can be replaced. Now that our sons will be busy for some time let's go upstairs so that I can wreck that hot body of yours." Before she could answer he pulled her up and tossed her over his shoulders and upstairs to their bedroom.

Over the next few days, Leone kept an eye on them. The first couple of days they bickered, but after that, he noticed a change in them. Lazaro took charge, giving Anthony orders as to what he wanted him to do. And Anthony did them without arguing and before Leone knew it the boys were working as a team. They were even getting along better and he realized right then that Lazaro was a born leader.

It was now time to start the boys on learning to fight and defend themselves. He arranged for them to learn karate and other martial arts and self-defence lessons. When they got a little older it was time for them to use weapons. Leone, being one of the best shooters around took on that role of teacher.

One night a couple of years later after a round of hot, rough sex she laid in his arms. "Do you think the boys are old enough to learn how to use guns?"

"Lazaro is almost thirteen and Anthony is two years younger, so yes, they are ready. I learned how to use weapons when I was nine years old. Don't worry my love, I will make sure no harm comes to them."

Over the next three years, he and the boys practiced every other day and Leone was so impressed at how well they were doing. Both of his sons turned out to be great fighters and the best shooters he had ever known, even at their young age.

The family took many trips together, he wanted the boys to see what life was like in other parts of the world. Eddie had left when Anthony was a year old, he never came back but did call often. The last they heard was that in the years he'd been gone had been married twice more but ended in a quickie divorce.

Now Lazaro was eighteen and Anthony sixteen and after giving them a few more lessons one night in using their firearms Leone went upstairs, finding her already in bed. "I hope you are naked under those covers."

She chuckled softly. "Someone is in a good mood."

He started undressing as he spoke with pride in his voice. "There is nothing more I can teach our sons about guns. Lazaro is a top-notch shooter, he's fast, never misses his target."

"What about Anthony?" she asked, putting down the book she had been reading.

A smile crossed his face when he turned to look at her. "He's good, really good. He shoots with both hands."

"A lot of people use both hands, it helps steady the gun. I know that's how I do it."

"You don't understand, he shoots with a gun in both hands. I've watched him looking at his target and with his other hand, he fires his weapon hitting another target without looking at it. He has a special talent, I've never seen anything like it. Sure, I've seen it maybe once or twice in my lifetime, but not the way he does it."

When he jumped in bed and on top of her she felt how hard he was and how psyched up he was and she knew they were in for a very long night of hot and wild sex. Even after all this time he never slowed down, not even a little. If anything he got better and had more stamina than he did when they first got together.

As the boys grew into teenagers they still fought but were as close as two brothers could be and always had each other's back. Lazaro was more the serious one, only dated casually and stuck with one woman until the relationship ended. Now Anthony was a different story, he was always joking around, and getting into trouble. He never stayed with one girl after the first or second date. He also got a kick out of teasing his brother to the point where he got a fist in the face.

Many times Eleonora had to break up a fight between them, giving them both a swat upside the head. Not enough to hurt them, but to let them know she was mad and that they had better stop. The guys were not afraid of their father, but their mother could scare them straight with just one stern look.

A couple of years later as they were eating dinner when Anthony started in on Lazaro. "Bro, why are you so serious all the time? I think you need to get laid more often."

Lazaro looked over at his brother with a scowl on his face. "Unlike you, I am not a man whore. So just mind you're own business and stay out of my love life. One of these days you're going to knock up some poor girl, then what will you do?"

"Not to worry brother, I always use protection. Look, I know this girl who would be willing to service you. She's really hot and has big boobs and great in bed and I heard she'll do it with anyone."

Now Eleonora had enough and getting up went over and smacked Anthony across the head. "You listen to me young man, you will not talk about women that way. It's disrespectful and you are now old enough to know better."

"Mom, I was just joking around."

Leone could see how upset she was and one thing he would never put up with was seeing her this way. No one was allowed to upset his wife, not even his sons. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "Anthony, Lazaro, in the family room, now," he yelled and walked away.

The two looked at each other and swallowed the lump that got lodged in their throats. They both knew they were in really big trouble and were going to get a lecture.

"Sit down," Leone ordered them when they entered the family room. He looked at Lazaro first. "You are the oldest and should know better than to bicker at the dinner table and upset your mother."

"We're really sorry dad," Lazaro and Anthony said at the same time.

"I thought I taught you both better than that, to respect women. You, Anthony, your mother and I have heard the way you talk about women and are so disappointed in you. Women are not objects and their bodies are not to be talked about in such a disgusting way. It's one thing to sleep around, but it's another to talk about them the way you have been."

"I don't mean anything by it, dad, I'm just kidding around."

"Would you like it if someone talked about your mother that way?"

"Hell no, I'd kill them."

"Yes, I know you would but remember these women you go out with is someone's daughter and will one day be a mother. Women are to be treated like a queen and with respect. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, dad," he said, lowering his eyes.

Leone then turned to Lazaro. "Son, you shouldn't get so mad at your brother, he is just teasing you. The more you get angry with him the more enjoyment he gets out of doing it. It wouldn't hurt for you to lighten up a little, don't be so serious all the time."

"Father, in our line of business we have to be serious or our enemies will see weakness in us."

"Yes, we do have to be serious, but we also have to have some fun in our lives. Now I want you and Anthony to apologize to your mother and let her know there will be no more talk about women's body parts."

When Eleonora entered the room and sat down both men went over and kneeled in front of her, each taking one of her hands.

"We're sorry, mom. We didn't mean to upset you and will try to be the sons you will be proud of," Lazaro said, Anthony, agreeing with him.

"I am proud of both of you, but there are times I worry. Lazaro, you are always so serious. I know your future as head of the Brambilla family weighs heavily on you. But you need to enjoy life because you never know when it will end. You have your brother to help you and together you will both be great leaders. And you Anthony, it's okay to sow your oats. But you must be good to the women you are with and never hurt them. Someday you both are going to meet the love of your life and the things you do now will affect those relationships."

"I love you mom and I'll do better," Anthony said, kissing her hand.

"I love you too mom," Lazaro said, kissing her other hand.

Leone stood back and watched the scene before him and felt his eyes tearing up. It did his heart a world of good seeing how much the boys loved their mother. They were always so loving and protective of her. She was such a good mother and loved her sons so much, she was so gentle with them but could also be strict when needed to be.

Releasing her hands from theirs she cupped their chin in each hand. "I love you both so much and want only the best for you. You are both so smart and strong. Promise me that no matter what happens you will both love and have each other backs."

"We promise, Mom," they both said at the same time.

Leone cleared his throat to get their attention. "There will still be consequences to your behaviour at the dinner table. Go change your clothes and then I want you both to go outside and mend to the flower garden. Pull out the weeds, put down a bit more fresh dirt and then water the garden." Seeing the look on their faces he had to hold back his laughter. It was a chore that would take them a few hours and would also once again teach them to work together.

Lazaro and Anthony got to their feet after looking at each other in shock. They knew better than to argue with their father, doing so their chore would be doubled. Like the time they had to clean out the stable from top to bottom. Then they had to clean the horses, feed them and when they complained they were made to paint the outside of the building. Which to them was a waste of time since it had been done a few months beforehand.

When they left she went over to Leone. "Wasn't that a bit harsh? They will be out there for hours."

"It will do them good and this way they won't do it again. Someday when I step back they will have to be able to take over the business together. Our sons are good men, I am so proud of them but they are young and have a lot of growing up to do."

Outside as they got started cleaning Lazaro looked at Anthony. "You know, Mom is right. We shouldn't be talking about women the way we do, especially you."

"What am I doing that is so wrong?"

"Think about it. All those men who kidnap women and use their bodies for sex. Talking about them and treating them the way they do. Just because we are against human trafficking doesn't give you or anyone the right to talk about them disrespectfully. Dad is right, they should be treated like queens and protected."

Anthony rested his arm on the rake. "I guess I never thought of it that way. You're right, but I'm still going to enjoy the company of beautiful women."