## Chapter Two: "A History of Hate"

The evening air was thick with tension as I helped my mom prepare dinner in the kitchen. The sound of sizzling vegetables and the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, but my stomach churned with anxiety. My dad sat on the couch, his eyes fixed on the TV as a news report about a recent gang-related shooting flashed on the screen. I felt a familiar sense of unease wash over me, a feeling I'd grown accustomed to in my family's world. As I chopped vegetables and stirred the pot, my parents' hushed conversation drifted into the kitchen. They spoke of the ongoing feud with the Valentinos, their voices laced with anger and fear. I caught snippets of conversation, my great-grandfather's name mentioned in passing. He was the one who had started it all, the one who had killed a young Valentino son. The incident had sparked a chain reaction of violence and retaliation, leaving a trail of blood and hatred in its wake. My grandmother's words echoed in my mind: "The Valentinos will never forgive us for what happened." I shuddered at the thought, feeling a chill run down my spine. I'd always known that our family's history was complicated, but I'd never really understood the depth of the hatred between the two families. As bedtime approached, I retreated to my room, feeling trapped and uncertain about my future. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was living in a world that wasn't mine, a world controlled by the mafia and its rules. I resented the way it dictated every aspect of my family's existence, the way it seemed to suffocate me. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling as the darkness closed in around me. My mind wandered to my great-grandfather, to the choices he had made and the consequences that had followed. I wondered if I would ever be able to escape the cycle of violence and hatred that had defined my family's history. The sound of my parents' footsteps outside my room broke the silence. My mom poked her head in, a gentle smile on her face. "Goodnight, sweetie. Try to get some rest." I nodded, forcing a smile. "Goodnight, Mom." As she closed the door, I felt a sense of isolation wash over me. I was alone with my thoughts, alone with the weight of my family's history. The darkness seemed to press in around me, and I knew that I had to find a way to break free. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my social media feeds, trying to distract myself from the thoughts that plagued me. Alina had sent me a message, asking me to meet up the next day. I smiled, feeling a sense of normalcy wash over me. For a few hours, at least, I could forget about the darkness that surrounded my family and lose myself in the simple pleasures of life. But as I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't imagine. The shadows of my family's past seemed to be closing in around me, and I wondered if I would ever be able to escape their grasp.