16th August

Somewhere in England, a mansion hides away from the crowd's eyes. A mansion covered in a bitter mix of human luxury and nature. A lonely gramophone is playing a Vera Lynn's song quietly. It's old, but the music plays loudly, almost proud of itself. The room is cold, except for a cup of hot espresso that's lying on the coffee table.

A man grabs the cup, stirring the coffee with a silver spoon filled with brown sugar. He sits in a leather armchair in the corner of the room. The man whistles along to the song with a cheerful tone. He looks outside, the sky is clean, and an aeroplane can be seen on the horizon. A smile takes over his lips as he enjoys the peaceful morning ignoring his sister walking in.

"Are you high again?"

The man chuckled before looking at the woman beside him. Her ginger hair was in a ponytail, and she wore a pitch-black suit with a pair of long golden earrings to finish her look. She looked beautiful with the sun's light against her silhouette.

"Can't a man enjoy a nice morning with some warm coffee?"

"Damon, you're high. Don't lie to me."

He laughed, being entertained by his sister's attitude. Damon was a junkie but not any junkie. He was rich, having a whole business behind the police's eyes. He was the man who was feeding Great Britain and most of Europe drugs. Young, handsome, wealthy. He could have any person wrapped around his finger. He could hold the whole world in his hand.

On the other hand, his sister, Deetra, was quite different. She was always calm and serious She had saved her brother's arse a billion times. Deetra wasn't supporting his drug addiction or his lifestyle. Still, she was there for him when he needed a friend. Ready to help his new ex-girlfriend while she's crying. It's not her fault Damon couldn't maintain a healthy relationship for over a few weeks.

She had her flaws, too. She's a perfectionist; everything always had to be in place. Deetra wasn't the romantic type but was head over heels for a specific guy. She disliked the smell of cigarettes but would stick around her brother when he was smoking. To Damon, she was lame, a total buzzkill. When she was grumbling, he would put on loud music to make her even angrier while ignoring her.

Maybe they weren't the best twins in the world, but they loved each other. The only family they had anymore was each other. Deetra was a real bitch because every girl that would go to her brother wanted free drugs and money. Damon was a total bastard but didn't want to lose his sister.

"I am not... anymore! Did some weed a couple of hours ago, but I'm fine right now!"

"You look happy in a strange... way. Is it because of tonight's gathering?"

"You mean tonight's PARTY!"

Damon was organizing a big "party" at his mansion once a month to lure potential buyers. Rich actors, singers, and models were looking for the "good stuff". They all knew from a "good friend" that Damon was always trying his products to ensure quality. That way, most celebrities trusted him, coming to his fancy "parties" to meet him and grab a good deal.

Damon would always end up with some chick in his bedroom. It's not like he cared. The girl usually wanted some free drugs, and he would take advantage of the situation. He could be a total genius if cocaine hadn't fried his brain.

"You look beautiful today!"

"What do you want from me this time Damon?"

Deetra sighed in tiredness as Damon left his cup on the coffee table. He wouldn't compliment her usually, but today she looked stunning. Plus, he needed someone to organize the party while he was away, wasting his money on expensive clothes and useless stuff. He knew that she wouldn't say "no" anyway.

"Organize the p - ... gathering?"

"Fine."

"Thank you! Dad would be proud -"

"He wouldn't, and you know it."

Damon stopped on his track, turning around slowly. He could see his sister's sadness reflecting in her eyes. He felt dumb, reminding her dad's behaviour. The twin's father had all this business; he just wasn't drug-addicted like Damon.

One day, he and his lovely wife got two beautiful kids. The kids would receive infinite love and gifts, and everything seemed perfect, almost a fairytale. After a couple of years, the father disappeared, leaving behind a woman with a son and a daughter who had to take care of them and the business. The kids were only eight years old when he left, and conspiracy theories filled the newspapers when they discovered that the country's biggest drug baron was nowhere to be found. Some say a rival kingpin caught him - others that he was tired of his lifestyle and left alone or maybe even with a mistress. No one ever learned the truth; no one ever knew. All it mattered was that he left behind Deetra, Damon, and his wife, Selena.

"I still remember the day our mother announced to us that dad isn't coming back."

"I don't."

Deetra was surprised by her brother's response. Most parents don't pick a favourite kid, but she could remember clearly her father picking favourites. Jason would treat his one and only daughter like a princess and buy her tons of toys and clothes worth millions.

On the other hand, Damon had a different childhood, which was way different from his sister's. Jason had this dream that his son would continue his legacy as a boss, controlling all those small drug dealers and junkies. Damon's program was covered with private lessons from a young age. He wasn't good at shooting; the gun felt too big and harsh around his tiny, fragile fingers. His father would yell at him whenever he wasn't hitting the centre of the target. He would show him how deliveries work and what to do when the client isn't paying. More and more lessons were added to his program every week. Jason wanted Damon also to be educated and have spiritual welfare. He knew many different foreign languages, a variation of musical instruments too. Damon didn't have options -or a childhood- that was his future.

Damon had seen way more fucked up shit than Deetra. He was scarred to the core and had significant mental issues. His need to fill the void his father had created, plus his mother's death, drove him to drug abuse when he was sixteen.

"I am sorry, Damon."

"It's not your fault dad was crap."

She hugged him with force, feeling his body more stressed. Damon was almost in tears, and Deetra tried to calm him down by playing gently with his hair. Jason always said that men don't cry or show emotions. And Damon specifically should be a walking dead man if he wanted to survive in the business. Deetra could be egoistic, but this wasn't the time to put herself above her blood and joke with Damon about their father and his attitude.

"Damon, I am here for you. Even if I hate your drug and sex addiction - "

Damon laughed loudly before she could manage to finish her sentence, changing his attitude quickly. He pushed her away and tried fixing his tie with a severe tone, even if he didn't manage to do it. He drank the rest of his coffee as Deetra scoffed.

"I don't want you to get Chlamydia, you idiot!"

"I always use protection, you idiot!"

She groaned, fixing his tie correctly. Damon looked at her carefully; he felt proud and lucky to have such a caring sister. He would barely show affection towards her, though.

"Return before seven p.m. Please don't bring a random chick home. Pretty please don't get drunk or high. I mean it."

"You aren't fun, but fine. Just because I feel polite today."

"Thank you."

He grabbed his car's keys leaving a sigh. When their mother died and got this whole thing into his hands, Deetra got extra protective and sensitive. Who could blame her, though? There wasn't a safety net anymore. Every decision would cost them.

"I love you, and be careful!"

"Yeah, yeah, okay, love you too, bye!"

He rolled his eyes, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving.

Damon had countless cars but would mostly use his white Lamborghini. It was his favourite car because it was the first he had bought with the deals' money.

His mansion wasn't close to the centre of London, but he was okay with it. He loved the fresh air and the summer blue sky. Plus, he didn't want the police to find him that easily. He tried to live every second of his life like it was the last. He didn't want to find "true love" nor have kids "continue his legacy". The life of a total casanova was beautiful to his eyes. The only women he ever loved with his heart were his mother and his sister.

People of all ages were covering every part of London's centre. The shops were packed as the weather was perfect for a walk. Little kids ran around in the parks, played, and had fun.

Damon didn't care for any of these lives; he wanted to feel free and independent through shopping therapy. He was deep into his thoughts, walking down the road, when he felt something hit his left leg. It was a small blue ball; he kneeled and grabbed it with his hands. It reminded him of a similar ball that he had when he was young. He felt like a child again for a couple of seconds. Damon saw a girl running towards him, stopping far away, scared. He was afraid of kids; he didn't know how to behave and act around them. They were little nightmares with legs to him and his eyes.

"Can I have my ball back, mister?"

The girl smiled softly, extending her arms. Damon gulped, and his hands started trembling. The kid smiled more as he was left confused. Children were such innocent souls. People would try to steal from him or even kill him. Adults were chaotic, but kids were a total pure dream in this messed-up society. Maybe that's why they were so scary to Damon. He grew up in violence and chaos, not in a dream made of happy noises and laughs.

Damon gave the ball back, even if his whole body was stressed. The girl didn't flinch, even when she felt his cold thin fingers and smelled the weed in the air. She hugged the ball, thanking him, but he wasn't feeling comfortable at all.

"Where's your mama, kiddo?"

"Oh, down the corner! She's working at the bakery!"

Damon sighed sadly; people having regular jobs were always such a soft spot for him. He was cursed to be surrounded by evil and torture. On the other hand, most people barely made minimum wage when Damon was winning billions every day. It's a hard life, but he never felt the consequences of being poor.

He grabbed his wallet from the back pocket of his trousers, opening it gently while kneeling. "Mom would be proud, at least," he mumbled under his breath, taking out one hundred pounds. He lifted his arm, offering them to the girl.

"Have it, go and give it to your mother."

The child looked at the money and then at the man suspiciously. She took a small breath, snatching the money. Damon sighed in disbelief at what he was doing. He hadn't given money to anyone before besides his sister and one-two good friends.

"Thank you, Mister... May God bless you!"

"Oh, they better will! Now go!"

He puffed as the girl ran away, leaving him behind alone. Damon was baptized but barely believed in God or any religion. According to him, if a God existed, they wouldn't allow him to have such a miserable life with an abusive father. God wouldn't want any of their kids to be dipped in abusive households with imperfect parents and harsh conditions. There were times he behaved like an atheist, and times he acted like a true believer. He looked down, taking a big breath. Mother would be proud, and Deetra would be happy. Those little happy thoughts mattered a lot to him.

"I didn't know a rich arse junkie as you had a heart, actually!"

A familiar voice was heard a few meters away. Damon turned his head, staring at his buddy, James, who was grinning at him.

"Oh, you're back! Well, at least you could give me a call, ya know!"

"I wanted to surprise you with some good wine from the corner shop, but it looks like you got me. Care for a hand, old man?"

James kept grinning, offering his hand. Damon rolled his eyes, grabbing it and standing up.

James has known Damon since high school. James was older than Damon, but he always made fun of him, calling him "old man". The drug abuse made Damon look way older than he was, and exercising with a good diet made James seem younger than him. They've been buddies for years, and they supported each other. They were always so close, spending so much time together. James was pretty famous for his job. An average person couldn't be friends with the man that was covering the UK's drug needs.

You could find James on the dark web as he was a professional hitman. He would travel worldwide for some millions and have just returned from his trip to France with tons of money. It had been almost a month away from friends and home, and he had missed the twins.

Although James was way more different than Damon, they had a perfect friendship. James would rarely smoke or drink but couldn't say no to some beer. He was hitting the gym five times a week and hated drugs. James could have any woman with his toned chest and ocean eyes, but his heart was beating only for a girl. A girl that could make him blush and go all red. A girl that wouldn't leave his mind for the last five months. He wanted so much to tell Damon and scream in his face. But he was shy, believing he would judge him and make fun of him.

"So, how's France? I heard it's beautiful this time of the year."

"You know, the same for me. Violence, blood, get the job done."

They kept walking as Damon sighed. Even James' job seemed more normal to him for some reason.

"Where are we heading anyway?"

"To the closest Gucci shop. I need to spend some money, and I don't know if they let peasants as you step in, though!"

"I make tons of money, idiot!"

"You kill people for a living!"

"You do the same!"

James laughed, making Damon smirk slightly with his comment. Well, technically, he wasn't wrong. Drug addiction is a big problem, and hundreds die because of it, leaving behind families. It's not like anyone cared, though, as long as people like Damon were making money.

"How's Deetra?"

"Good, but still has to organize my party. You're coming, right?"

"Of course! I can't wait to make fun of you with Deetra when you're high flirting with some random person!"

"Well, I helped someone today, so if there's a God, they better pay off my generosity...!"

A/n: Remember to comment, like and add the book to your libary if you liked it :)