Retribution of the Roar

TAYLOR MACKENZIE

The days of my life had turned into a cold nightmare, I could still remember the crash, the ruin, everything. The day I lost my father to a terrible accident.

My name is Taylor Mackenzie, the daughter to the richest man in Italy, and the strongest mafia leader, Abraham Mackenzie. My grandfather was a wealthy man and controlled a great empire. My father took after him and also developed an empire so great. I grew out of wealth and had a beautiful family. However, everything started breaking apart when a woman showed up with a young boy just my age then. She claimed she had an affair with my father and the boy was the result of it. Father didn't deny it so he wanted to pay them off but she refused to leave, she refused to be paid off and wanted a place in our lives. Mom had a weak heart and suffered a heart attack.

Immediately Mom died, dad brought the lady and her son in after a DNA test was carried out, I could remember Jason then, he used to be quiet, innocent but now, he was a monster. He fought alot with dad, argued and his mother always took his side, I thought everything would die down, I thought we'd get over that stage. Unfortunately, we didn't.

Dad and Jason had a fight the night before the accident and I had a hunch Jason was responsible for the tragedy, but how would I face him? He and his mother had frustrated my life to a core, they want me out of the house, their space, everything.

I hated myself because I couldn't speak out, I couldn't voice out, everyone took their sides, my uncles, aunties. I was so alone.

I'm just like Mom, weak and vulnerable and I hated myself for it, I hate myself everytime.

I stood alone in the cemetery, tears streaming down my cheeks as the gravestones of my parents silently paid witness to my grief.

It had been a month since the accident that took dad away from me, and I would give anything to not be around Jason and his mother. I clutched a bouquet of fresh flowers tightly to my chest, the petals dampened by my tears. "Come back to me, please," I wept, whispering into the quiet air.

My legs got heavy and I knelt before the graves, feeling it's texture with my fingers.

Suddenly, sounds of approaching footsteps caught my attention, I turned to see my stepbrother, Jason, standing behind me with a cold and indifferent expression on his face. His presence felt more like an intrusion than solace.

I cleaned my tears, standing to my feet. "What?"

"Your tears won't bring them back, Taylor," his voice cut through the somber silence, devoid of any sympathy.

I looked up at him, my eyes pleading for some semblance of compassion. "Can't you just have a heart? He was our father," I whispered hoarsely, my voice choked with pain.

Jason's expression remained unmoved. "He's gone, Taylor. Crying won't change that."

I recoiled from his callousness, and sniffed. "It wouldn't still hurt to at least pretend to care, without him, you'd be-"

He didn't let me finish before his hand shot out, colliding with my cheek in a powerful strike. I recoiled from the slap, placing my palm on my hurting cheek as hot tears flowed from my eyes.

"What did you do that for?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"That's what happens when you say nonsense. That's by the way, I had a visitor earlier. He wants to see you."

I took down my hand, shaking my head as I wasn't ready to meet any of his mad friends. "I'm not interested in meeting anyone right now," I protested weakly, hoping he would at least respect my wishes.

However, Jason's demeanor hardened further. "You don't have a choice," he stated flatly, his tone brooking no argument.

Before I could protest further, Jason grabbed my arm roughly and began leading me away from the cemetery.

I was confused and frightened, who was this that I needed to meet. Jason never cared of introducing me to his friends, he didn't even let me come out when they came around, now he was pulling me to them, something felt odd.

Unable to speak up due to the slap from earlier, I stumbled along beside him. He opened his front door and pushed me inside, just when he was in, he drove up with full speed that I had to hold onto something for my dear life.

He drove in silence until we reached the imposing gates of a grand mansion that once belonged to my late father.

He grabbed my arm, burying his fingers into my skin with a deliberate intention of causing me pain. I whimpered, unable to make a sound. "Behave, or regret it," he warned.

He was the first to get down and I followed. A tall, imposing man, dressed impeccably in a dark suit stood by the entrance of the house, holding a cigarette.

He tossed the cigar aside on seeing us, a calculating expression on his face as he acknowledged Jason with a nod.