MERCURYS POV.

Gino had made it very clear that he didn't want to be near Angelo for the remainder of the grocery shopping.

  
    "Gino, he's not going to kill you while we are in public." I reminded him after he shoved me in between him and his brother as we walked out of the store.

    "You don't know that." They both said at the same time.

  
Can't take them anywhere. Can't not take them everywhere.

Boys.

"Oh my god." I gasped audibly, interrupting putting the bags in the trunk.

"Jesus, what?" Angelo asked. 

"Look at that dog! Oh my god, Angelo-,"

"No."

I'll wear him down.

An old man and his gray pit bull were walking past us.

    "Excuse me? Hey, can I put your dog?" I couldn't help myself.

   The old man smiled. "Of course! He'd love that."

     Yes!

"Mercury-,"

"You can't stop me. Come here boy!" I reached down, eager to pet the cutest thing I had ever seen.

    "I don't know why I try." I could feel Angelo rolling his eyes.

  "He's so sweet." I looked up at his owner.

"He was apart of a dog fighting ring. It took him a long time to like people." He reached down and scratched behind the dogs ear.

   "That's terrible! How could someone do that do this sweet little guy?" His tail wagged excitedly as if he knew we were talking about him.

   I guess he's smart too.

"Are any of  you interested in adopting?" The man looked up to Angelo and Gino.

"No."

"Yes. Don't listen to him. He doesn't know what he's talking about."

   "Would you like a card?" The man chuckled. "My wife and I own a shelter."

   "Yes please. Angelo, take his card, my hands are busy." I ordered as I continued to smother the dog.

    "God help me." he muttered before taking the small white card. "Believe it or not, I happen to be the parent."

   "We'll definitely have to give you guys a call." I ignored Angelo as I stood up.

    "We'd love that. Come on boy, we've got to get you a new bone." He lightly tugged the dogs leash before walking away.

"Ange-,"

"No." He put the white card between his lips before continuing to put the groceries in the trunk.

"But-,"

"I'm not changing my mind on this one."

"Come on, they're rescues!"

"Give me that card." Gino grabbed it from his brothers mouth. "I might want something to keep you away from me. A guard dog if you will."

"Ginos allowed to get one?"

"Gino can't even take care of a plant. Or himself, for that matter."

"Yes I can!"

"Then why are you always here?"

I'll get a dog one day.

"Look, all I'm saying is if you get me a dog for Christmas, I would love you forever." I tried to reason with Angelo as we drove back home.

"And if I didn't?"

"Then I'd hate you for a month." I shrugged.

"I can deal with a month."

Ugh.

"Don't worry Mer, I'll bring my dog over."

"Thank you Gino, I appreciate that."

"Are you serious right now?" Angelo glared at him in the rear view.

    "What?"

"I have obviously made it clear that I don't want a damn dog in the house."

"That's not my problem."

He's really asking for it.

"Don't think that just because you're in the back I won't be able to inflict harm on you."

"That's literally why I'm in-,"

Angelo put a firm hand on my shoulder before coming to yet another screeching stop.

And of course, Gino hit his head again.

"Stop doing that!"

"Wear a seat belt. This is easier than what it should be." Angelo shook his head.

You'd think at least car rides would be normal in this family.

"Hold still." I instructed as I placed a bag of frozen peas above Ginos eye.

   "I'm going to kill him one day." He muttered.

"No you're not."

"Oh yeah? Says who?"

"Me because if you kill him, I'll be an orphan and we'll all be screwed." I reminded him. "And good luck with that. I tried to tackle him down once, I ended up flat on the floor."

     "What? He didn't even let you win?"

Ha. Yeah right.

"He thinks letting people win is stupid."

"Yeah, well at least he goes easy on you. Last time I did that, my collar bone broke in three places." He winced as he thought of the memory.

    "Can you blame him? Look at me. I'm adorable." I jokingly rolled my eyes.

   "Yeah, well I wasn't kidding about that dog thing. I'm hoping I can find one that eats mafia bosses."

    That would be a big ass dog.

"As long as you adopt." I pat his shoulder. "And as long as you don't name it spike. All mean looking dogs are named Spike, and it's pretty boring. You should try something like Lawrence. You know, switch it up a little."

   "I'll keep that in mind." He sighed as I got up.

I've never seen someone bruise that fast.

    As I made my way toward the kitchen, I caught one of Angelos men giving him a box.

A very familiar looking box.

"Where'd you get that?" I asked as I realized what it was.

   It didn't look like much.

Just an old, beat up brown cardboard box.

    "Apparently Adaline wanted me to have it. I'm guessing you know what it is?"

    "Yes I do."

"Should I have been warned or something?" He gave me an odd look.

    I smiled as I shrugged. "I don't think you'll hate going though it."

"Mer-,"

"Come find me when you're done looking through it." I laughed. "I'm sure you'll have questions."

      He was about to go through the past fifteen years of my life.