Gianni Massimo Petrillo, V stood in front of his floor length mirror and sighed. It was 8 o'clock in the morning and he was running late, but he couldn't help but stand there staring at his reflection.

Gianni eyed his newly chopped hair that was shorter than he wanted. His beard was recently trimmed after the constant scolding from his mother. His blue eyes shone brighter today thanks to the blue button down he wore underneath the dark gray suit. He had a day jampacked with meetings and couldn't afford to stand there gawking at himself.

And yet he stayed staring at the man he couldn't believe but obviously knew he'd become. He sighed once more and said the same thing he told his reflection every day since he turned 16 before walking out of his lavish room. "I don't want to be you anymore."

It took a few moments for Gianni to make it out of his wing of the mansion, but once he found himself in the main kitchen area he was greeted by his parents and youngest brother. Despite growing up in the mansion for most of his life, Gianni was still surprised with just how large it was.

He and his younger brother had their own wing, while his parents and youngest brother shared the center wing. They had multiple pools, both indoor and outdoor, with a basketball court and baseball area. There were various gyms, as well as, theatre rooms, ballrooms, and a bowling alley.

The number of acres of land owned by the Petrillo household was outrageous, as there were living quarters for extended family, the house staff, as well as the custodial staff that needed a place to stay. There was also a large house for the numerous bodyguards and men employed by the Petrillo family.

You may be asking yourself, what could the Petrillo family possibly do professionally that would allow them to amass such wealth? The Petrillo name was synonymous with power throughout the world. Way before the mafia was a thing, the Petrillo family had their hands in everything to ensure that one day they would be among the most power families.

They were a family of survivors and fighters with men and women that were smart, savvy and efficient. The Petrillo men were raised a certain way. Gianni Massimo Petrillo, II likened the way he was raised to that of Sparta. At the age of 16, every Petrillo male child was immediately thrust into "the life" and began learning lessons to ensure the family name remained at the top.

Every Petrillo male had their first kill at age 16. They had to get used to death and killing, which is why on their 16th birthdays the men of the Petrillo family would accompany their fathers and uncles to a job and do what was required of them. Gianni hated how easy the killing came to him.

The guilt and shame would burrow under his skin every time afterwards, but it didn't stop him from doing it. He was the heir to the throne and didn't have the luxury like his younger brothers to take a step back. He couldn't let himself succumb to the negative emotions and thoughts that called him a monster. He already knew who and what he was. He instead perfected his skill and natural talent of torturing and killing.

"Gianni, are you okay?" His mother asked looking at him with concern. Gianni hadn't realized he was daydreaming this entire time. "I'm fine, Ma. Just thinking about all of my meetings I have today." She smiled at him and motioned for him to have a seat by her for breakfast.

"He doesn't have time for that, Ana." Massimo, Gianni's father interjected. "He's got to meet Giovanni and Pietro at the club." Gianni nodded as he began to turn to leave. "Make today the best day, brother." Gianni looked at his youngest brother and smiled.

Giorgio Gabriel Petrillo was the baby of the family, but he never acted like it. Gianni and his younger brother Giovanni would joke that Giorgio was an 80-year-old wise man trapped in a now 21-year-old man's body. He was so calm, even as an infant, and didn't seem to fit the expected Petrillo mold.

He wanted his brothers to experience the finer things in life and he knew that those things had nothing to do with money. He wanted his brothers to bask in the things that made a man a man and wanted it most of all for Gianni who never seemed open to things that strayed from the family or the life.

Giorgio knew better than anyone how his family was affected by the life they lived. He had been paying attention to the subtlest of cues made by his family since he was a child. Gianni worried him the most, because he knew his brother felt he didn't deserve any good thing.

Giorgio was aware of his brother's "gift" when it came to their enemies. He was known throughout the world not just as Gianni Massimo Petrillo, IV's eldest son, but as the man that could kill hundreds in one day and by himself if necessary. His reputation proceeded him and that was a hard burden to bear.

Giorgio knew it was a burden, because his eldest brother had one of the biggest hearts he'd ever had the pleasure of encountering. Gianni needed to find happiness and love. Giorgio wanted him to have every good thing, so every day as he left the house he told him the same thing, "make today the best day, brother."

Giorgio knew the pressure wasn't on his shoulders as much as it was on his older brothers and he was thankful. His father attempted to fashion his life in the same way as Gianni, but he and Giovanni pushed back strategically.

When Giorgio turned 16, he told his father that he would forge his own path as a Petrillo. He had spent weeks coming up with a pitch for his parents on why his dream of becoming a lawyer and ultimately a senator would benefit the family and further their aspirations. There had never been a Petrillo to get into politics, though they had a lot of pull with the police and government officials.

Gianni knew Giorgio who was now 21-years-old had no intention of getting in the Petrillo family business, but his pitch allowed his father to believe that this would be the next step needed in amassing more political control.

Though Giorgio, like his brothers, made his first kill at age 16 he ensured that being called to the front lines happened few and far between. He could still count on one hand how many men he had killed and he didn't plan on that number exceeding two hands. He was headed to law school and planned on living as much of a normal life as possible for a son of a Mafia boss.

Giovanni Raoul Petrillo was the middle child, but never once sought attention or approval from his parents. In fact, Giovanni wanted to be invisible to his parents as much as possible, so he could do what it is he wanted. He was the goofball of the three boys and was always busy partying and socializing. When he turned 16, Massimo had hoped things would change and he'd get serious like Gianni. It never happened.

He was still wild, but managed to make it work for him. He decided to follow in his mother's footsteps and become a doctor and oversee the pharmaceutical side of the Petrillo business.

Giovanni knew he needed a specialty that would keep him otherwise occupied versus being in the field. Gianni stayed in the field as his specialty required a more hands on approach most of the time, but he wasn't built for that. Giovanni had cried for days after his first kill.

He remembered seeing the blood and the way the man slumped to the ground and vomited all over the floor in front of everyone. His father was upset, but it was Gianni that helped him get through it. Over time it got simpler, never easier, but simpler and he was able to do what he had to do to ensure the Petrillo name remained on top.

He wasn't a natural born killer like his older brother, but he was pretty close and he hated it. So, Giovanni poured himself into his work as a pharmacist and helped his family that way.

He was in charge of drug trafficking, as well as, weaponized drugs. He was good at what he did and utilized his success to convince his father that Gianni's real estate control should expand to bars and clubs. They would be able to use the venues to control the drug trade throughout the country and watch the suppliers that weren't owned by them to ensure they weren't overstepping the boundaries.

Massimo assumed his 28-year-old son was finally taking things seriously, but really Giovanni had found a way to have two of his favorite things at his disposal.

Luciana Petrillo was a world-renowned doctor who had a genuine love for chemistry. She had created various agents that have assisted in the curing of diseases and ailments. However, as a daughter of a notable mafia family from Sicily she knew what it meant to fight for what you wanted.

When she met Gianni Massimo, IV she immediately fell in love as did he. His father was impressed by her climb in the medical field and her family's history in the drug industry. Luciana helped the Petrillo family get into the drug trafficking game and after 30 years, they were the leaders in the industry.

She knew that the drug trafficking and weaponized drug arena of the family business was just one of the many fields they had and controlled on an international scale. Her eldest was busy amassing territories and land worldwide for the Petrillo family to expand and grow the business, while her youngest was going to be the first Petrillo senator and give them a strong standing in controlling government officials. Her middle son had her beat in his natural affinity for chemicals and seemed to be propelling them further ahead than ever anticipated.

They were golden and set up for success, but she couldn't help the moments she wished her sons would live normal lives like that of her employees at the hospital. She wanted them to find love and live happy lives even under the Petrillo umbrella, but she knew all too well just how hard that would be for them.

She looked at her eldest and youngest son and smiled to herself happy that they were healthy and as happy as one could get in the life.

Massimo Petrillo, IV was a man of few words. He went by Massimo like his grandfather who he felt was the most powerful mobster that ever lived. Gianni Massimo Petrillo, II brought the Petrillo name to new levels when he moved them to New York and the rest as they say was history.

Massimo was proud of the empire he built and ran. Everything was done to a science. A science that worked and allowed his family to remain on top for as long as they had. There were always people jealous and envious of what they had and that was a fact that was engrained in him and his younger brother Mariano, as well as, his sons and nephew.

Massimo knew that his empire was strong, but took pride in knowing it would only get better once he passed the keys to his eldest Gianni. Gianni chose to go by Gianni like his grandfather, Massimo's father. Massimo held resentment towards his father for various reasons, but mainly because his carelessness got his mother killed.

It was a lesson he learned early and trained his boys and nephew. "You don't get to fall in love in this business." He'd bark as they fought and had target practice. He knew it was a harsh lesson, especially for Giovanni who was the lover of his three sons, but it had to be learned and from an early age.

He knew he looked like a hypocrite. He knew that he had love in his life and should want that for his sons. But he knew that Luciana was a different breed. She came from the life and even then, exceeded the few girls that grew up in a mafia household. Nowadays, a lot of his colleagues were shielding their families altogether from their dealings.

Many had learned to try and disguise their dealings with legal and clean businesses and their families were none the wiser. No, he did not want his sons and nephew to go through what his father went through that nearly cost them everything. Love was a liability and he had done too much for them to fail now.

"Make sure you, Giovanni and Pietro actually get work done," Massimo called out as Gianni made his way out of the kitchen. "Watch your brother, Gianni!" Luciana exclaimed. Gianni chuckled to himself as he made his way to the garage. He passed by the lounge area for the bodyguards and nodded. "Luca, you ready."

Luca Di Vaio was Gianni's driver and bodyguard, but more importantly he was his best friend. He stood at 6'6" and was made of solid muscle. His dark hair, pouty lips that seem to be in a constant scowl did wonders for his piercing hazel eyes and chiseled jaw. Luca had worked for the Petrillo family since he was 15-years-old and in that time he and Gianni had sparked a friendship that was stronger than ever.

Massimo saw Luca in a fight outside a building they were working at and was filled with pride. The kid was a fighter. A survivor. And Massimo knew he would fit in his family perfectly. He and Luciana were happy to see how quickly the boys took to Luca, especially Gianni. They were the same age, but it went beyond that. Luca loved the Petrillo's like family, but especially Gianni. He would literally take a bullet from Gianni and has done so a couple of times.

Luca nodded to Gianni as he dabbed a few of the men and made his way to the rows of town cars in one of the garages on the property. "Pietro and Giovanni already left together with Tony," Luca informed as they made their way out of the estate.

Gianni noticed his Uncle Mariano standing on his balcony as they drove by. He shared his own mansion with his sons Pietro and Stefano and lived a few yards behind their house. "Let's stop at Mocha Joe's before we head to the club. I need a latte asap." Gianni sighed as he wiped his hand over his face. It was going to be a long Monday.

His days were blending together as it all seemed the same to him. Meetings. Torture. Kill. Repeat. Gianni was getting tired of it. He wanted something to happen to shake him. He needed something to wake him from the zombie-like trance that was his life. He sighed as he watched the scenery unfold around him. He didn't get to wish for things though, because good things never happened to monsters.