Hi guys! First off, thank you all so much for the awesome response I've been getting for this story. I am so overjoyed people are liking the story thus far, and I hope you all continue to stick with me. There is a time jump here... Bellamy is now 27. Happy reading :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and my original characters.

Chapter 2- Regrets and Reflections

As Bellamy stared out the massive wall of windows in his office, he didn't notice the darkening New York City skyline. His mind was too preoccupied with thoughts about the gun shipment for the Russians he had coming in that night at the docks. Normally he would go and oversee the transfer, but not having slept in the past four days and having half a week of work still in front of him demanded he get some sleep instead of going to the buy. So he had called Damian to find someone to cover the deal going down at the warehouse at midnight… His father had said he was going to send Finn.

The past four days had been sheer hell. First was the chaos of finally closing a massive business deal for a huge steel plant in North Carolina that his company had been working on for months. The construction companies he had now had a domestic source to buy steel from. Blake Global Enterprises Inc. was the multi-billion-dollar land development conglomerate he had started when he was 23. It dealt mostly in acquiring and building on land, but Bellamy had amassed such an empire that his company encompassed architecture, construction, technology, and energy resource companies as well as a few other odds-and-ends companies, so he didn't have to subcontract out to have work done often. Depending on what was built, Bellamy either sold or kept whatever was constructed, and thus is how he owned various other businesses such as clubs and restaurants… It was a very solid, lucrative business that had made him an extremely wealthy man.

Then, on top of getting that excruciating deal for his legitimate business done, he'd had to step in and get involved with a turf war between two rival gangs before things got out of hand and there was innocent blood shed on the streets of New York from the fall out. The negotiation talks were supposed to be just between the two leaders and their seconds with Bellamy and some of his men present at a vacant office space in neutral territory. Of course they both didn't listen and brought not just men, but guns too. Bellamy had not been amused or surprised. It was only after Bellamy's men pulled their guns on them and were ready to empty their clips that the gang leaders decided to listen and send their men home. After that, the talks were peaceful and a resolution to their problem was found. Bellamy gave each of them a stern warning, that if he had to get involved again to prevent a gang war, they and their men were each going to get bullets between the eyes. He was one of the most feared Underbosses for the largest criminal organization on the east coast… Not their damn therapist. Then he sent them on their way. He didn't need a swarm of feds sticking their noses in his business, where they don't belong, all because of a turf war that could easily be avoided simply by talking… It was all Collin Family turf anyway, they just operated in it is all. By the time all of that had been cleared up, he still had a full day's work to catch-up on in preparation for a majorly important mafia meeting next week.

Bellamy had always considered himself to be a cold, heartless person.

Growing up as the bastard son of a powerful mafia Don did that to a person. While he loved his father, uncle, grandmother, and his closest men, he had a constant fear that he would one day get them all killed like he did his sweet innocent mother. If had just waited another hour to ask for food, then his mother wouldn't have been viciously snatched from him by a convenience store robbery gone wrong when he was eight years old.

This fear he has often led to him being incredibly ruthless and overly precautious with every move he made. He was always thinking three moves ahead, assessing every potential threat, and how best to neutralize that threat. He was never afraid to put a bullet in a man's head if he threatened the people he was close to. He never hesitated, because that was often the difference between life and death… Living and dying.

Bellamy hadn't always been this way. In fact, he'd had every intention to have a normal life…

Bellamy never intended to use his various mafia skills. He knew how much his mother had sacrificed to keep him away from that life, and he had no desire to throw away that sacrifice. Instead, he made plans for a future that, if his mother had still been alive, would have made her proud. But that all changed when he was 14. He was always so much more mature for his age, both physically and mentally. No one would guess just by looking at him he was 14. He looked and acted like a 17 year old.

The man who shot and killed his mother, Cage Wallace, was released from prison on a technicality. The case was covered heavily by the media, and was broadcasted nationwide. Damian and Marcus worried about Bellamy's reaction to having the man out of prison, and warned him not to do anything irrational, that they would take care of it, and tell him when the deed was done. The teen seemed fine, and he seemed to accept that they would do right by him.

When in the presence of others, Bellamy appeared to be cool, calm and perfectly normal, but in private, he grappled with the overwhelming thirst of vengeance he felt. He knew that his sweet, kind, gentle mother would never want him to take revenge in her name. But as anger seeped into his bones, he was powerless to stop the bloodlust that accompanied it. When no action was taken to find Cage or make him pay for his crimes, Bellamy became more withdrawn and lost in his own thoughts as the months rolled on, and God help him, he began to plan.

One night in the middle of the summer, a couple of months just shy of a year after Cage was released, 15-year-old Bellamy disappeared. He contacted no one and left no message or note… He just packed a bag with a few of his clothes, guns, and all the money he had saved, and vanished. His father, uncle, and grandmother had everyone they could think of on the lookout for him and were beside themselves with worry and grief. They didn't know if he was coming back, or what had set him off. All they knew was that he was alone. Damian and Marcus took comfort in the knowledge that he could take care of himself with the copious amounts of knowledge they had drilled into his head over the years.

Meanwhile, Bellamy used the skills his mother taught him to disguise himself and hide from anyone looking for him while he was completing his mission. For a solid month, Bellamy hunted. He followed lead after lead as to where Cage could have been hiding out, and he finally tracked him down to Seattle, Washington… The irony of ending up there with the man who killed his mother, when that was the very destination he and his mother had been going on that fateful day was not lost on him, and it only served to make him angrier. It took him three days to get there and set up his base of operations in an old abandoned warehouse. He discovered Cage working as a drug dealer in one of the sleazier parts of town. He bid his time, and stalked his prey, watching his routines and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Two days later, the moment presented itself. Cage was doing a drug deal down by the docks. After the buyer had left, and Cage was alone, Bellamy crept up behind him and put him in a tight choke hold that cut off his air ways. When Cage was unconscious, Bellamy dragged him over to his own car and threw him in the trunk. He drove to the warehouse, unloaded the body, strapped him to a chair, and waited for him to wake up.

When he did, he was immediately fearful, until he saw Bellamy was just a kid. Then he laughed.

"Do you know who you're messing with kid?" He choked out between fits of laughter.

Bellamy picked up a knife and began to twirl it between his fingers.

"Yeah," he replied coldly looking Cage dead in the eye. "A dead man."

The laughter immediately stopped and anxiousness seeped into his voice when he spoke again.

"You're planning to kill me? Why? What did I ever do to you? I don't even know who you are." He said in a confused voice.

"My name is Bellamy Blake. You killed my mother, and for that, I am going to make you suffer the same pain that I am forced to endure every day because of your damning actions, before I kill you." He said in an emotionless hallow voice.

He went and retrieved his tool kit. He was past the point of no return. All his life had had been understanding and a good follower, always following the rules. If he could no longer trust and rely on the American Justice System or the Mafia Family he was born into to do right by him when he constantly did as he was told and followed the rules, then Bellamy would do whatever the hell he wanted to do. He would do what he thought was right, and to hell with the consequences. He would rebel.

Bellamy knew that what he was about to do, was going to be the start of his mafia initiation. He could no longer fight what was in his blood. The monster inside was chomping at the bit to be let loose from his pen. He was thirsty for blood. Torture was something Bellamy had been educated in, but never practiced. The killer in him was restrained, and the monster was set free.

With every infliction of pain on the man who had caused him so much, Bellamy felt the final pieces of his innocence and light leave him and the numbing cold take its place. With every slash of his knife, more ice flooded his veins. When he was through, and the monster had his fill of blood, the killer came out. Cage had long ago started begging for death, and a bringer of death was what Bellamy would be. He decided to be merciful and put a bullet between his eyes. With the echo of the gunshot in his ears, Bellamy felt the ice claw its way through his chest and settle around his heart.

Bellamy wanted to send a message to the mafia world that he was about to take by storm. He carved 'Il Ribellarsi' on Cage's chest. The message he was trying to convey was simple... Go against me and death will follow.

He left the body where it was, packed up his things, wiped everything down, and decided to go home.

Bellamy went to a small diner right across the street from a hospital, and called to order a plane ticket. The plane wouldn't be leaving 'til 10 A.M. He had about five hours to kill, so he sat back in his booth and people watched. He saw a couple of police officers grabbing a cup of coffee while on shift and various nurses and doctors ordering snacks and caffeine either before their shift, or after. The ones just coming off shift were haggard looking with dark circles under their eyes, and the ones fixing to start their shifts were perky and alert. He noticed one older man with sandy blonde hair and crystal ice blue eyes, walk in to the establishment. He looked to be the same age as his father and uncle. He ordered a cup of coffee, scanned the place and zeroed in on Bellamy, before he started to walk over. As the man took a seat, he sipped his coffee and stared intently at Bellamy as though he was looking into the boy's soul. Bellamy stared right back, unflinching.

"So you're him…" He stated quietly.

"Nah, you must be mistaken… Have me confused with someone else perhaps? I'm a no one." Bellamy shrugged coolly.

The man chuckled. "Oh you're him alright. I've heard a lot about you Bellamy Blake… Such modesty was not expected though. I'm Jake by the way. You left me quite the mess to clean up."

Bellamy raised an eyebrow "Is that so?" He asked lightly.

"Very much so. I've been waiting for you to show up, kid." He grinned. "You see, I had this problem with a recently released from prison drug dealer who was using too much product and not selling enough, and I was getting ready to have him taken out in an innocent drug deal gone wrong, but then I saw why he was put in prison, and decided to wait and see who came for him. If your father or uncle sent someone, it would have been a statement that said you really did want nothing to do with the life, but, well, you're here, so I guess that means I'll be hearing more about you. I just didn't expect such a gruesome mess." He smirked. It was obvious to Bellamy that Jake was genuine in his intentions, and he wasn't looking to blackmail or frame him.

"Don't worry, I covered my tracks well. No DNA or finger prints. You shouldn't have any blow back from my kill. Hell, I went as far as to sign the body." Bellamy said, hoping to appease the older man.

The older man nodded, and took one last swig of his coffee before standing. "I know you did. My daughter would say what you did was art. She would like the Italian signature a lot… Very bold if I do say so myself. I honestly can't wait to see how far you go… You're going places kid. But remember, in this life that you have chosen to enter in to, you constantly have to keep moving to out run your demons, or find a light in all this darkness that will cast your demons away. Don't get caught up in the past, because that will be your down fall. I'll be listening and watching out for you kid." He turned to go, leaving Bellamy with many thoughts to contemplate on his long journey home.

When he did get home, his father and uncle were both, equal parts relieved and upset. They wanted to know what happened and why he left, but he refused to offer any information. They could tell something had changed, and while they had a sneaking suspicion, it was only confirmed a week later when a national news report discussed a baffling case in Settle that had police stumped. The body of drug dealer and convicted murderer, Cage Wallace, was found mutilated with a head shot, but absolutely no DNA or finger prints were found at the scene to point to a suspect. Even more stunning was the writing on the body that was translated to 'The Rebel'.

After that, Bellamy threw himself into the underworld. He trained harder and longer and with more focus. If he got knocked down, he got back up. If someone tried to back him into a corner, he came out with a gun loaded, cocked and aimed at their head. He knew he could never be the head of the Family because he was illegitimate, he was reminded enough by the people who looked down on him because he was a bastard child, but he knew he could be made Underboss, and that was what he worked toward. He set out to surround himself with people so loyal to him, he never had to worry about or threaten punishment for betrayal, because whomever he chose would willingly kill themselves before betraying Bellamy.

He had a firm grasp on his real emotions and never exposed them for fear of an enemy using them against him. He cared for very few people. To an outsider it would have looked as though he never showed emotions toward those he cared for, but the reality was that, to those that truly knew Bellamy, knew he expressed his emotions through actions, not words.

Bellamy learned when and how to turn different emotions on and off to deceive people into giving him what he wanted, whether it was their fear and respect he wanted, or their souls. He had a charisma about him that drew others in. He had his own code that he lived by, and that garnered him a lot of respect from others. He was fiercely loyal to those whom he cared about, and expected loyalty and respect in return. This was how he was able to run his own crew by the time he was 18.

Bellamy handpicked and saved each and every member of his crew in one way or another, whether it was death, prison, or their own foolishness. He ran his crew with strength, discipline and skill that could rival military generals. The jobs and cons they did were picked and ran by Bellamy himself. He trained each and every one of his soldiers. They all became so in sync that they could take commands just by reading their leader's body language. His crew was silent and positively lethal when they worked. They took care of each other and became a family.

He gradually worked his way up the ranks, became a made-man, and was given the Underboss position by the time he turned 23, all while beginning to build his company, BGE. Finn was given the second Underboss position years later when he turned 24, with no type of real work put into getting the position.

When Bellamy was made Underboss, he set out to make changes, with his father's permission of course. Those changes included relocating the Capos and the crews they had authority over. They were spread out all along the east coast, and were placed in whatever city Bellamy decided to put them in. Finn made his own crew with his friend, Dax 'Slumlord' Smyth, in the New York area when Capos were being relocated.

Finn and his cronies took over most of the drug trade, leaving Bellamy to handle everything else. Bellamy had most of the Capos' loyalty, due to his reputation, and they trusted him to put them where they needed to be to earn the most money and maximize business and profit for the Family. Capos who gave him trouble were dealt with accordingly.

Bellamy kept Nathan 'The Enforcer' Miller and John 'The Menace' Murphy, in the New York area to help him run New York City as well as his other six main guys. Murphy and Miller went to high school with Bellamy, and were a part of Bellamy's original crew. His crew had a hard earned reputation for being the toughest in the whole Family- completely untouchable.

While to the rest of the world he was well put together leader with a planned future and goals, on the inside Bellamy was horribly lost. He was often tormented and plagued by nightmares and night terrors as a child after his mother died… Stuck in a constant loop of watching her die over and over again until he was woken. As he got older, it was no longer just his mother that he saw, it was the faces of the people that he had killed. He spent many a sleepless nights just sitting in the shadows of his balcony watching the city go by. He often contemplated his mother's last words and wondered… How he was supposed to get his light back, if he was in perpetual darkness? An even better question would be… Did he even want it back?

Now, at the age 27, Bellamy lived a very lonely existence, and while he longed for a woman in his life, a partner in all things, he knew he couldn't be selfish and subject any woman to the demons that hunted him both at night and in the cold, harsh light of day.

Bellamy was snapped out of his reverie by his phone vibrating in his pants pocket.

He pulled it out and hit the answer button.

"Blake" he said in a clipped tone.

"Hey Skip. Wanted to call you and tell you the deal with the Irish went down without a hitch… We got the guns." Came Murphy's voice from the other end.

"Good. I need you and the other guys with Miller tonight at that meet with the Russians. Nykoli likes to think he is a sneaky bastard. Last thing we need is Finn falling for one of his lies and losing us a ton of money and our swag." Bellamy grimaced. He had a feeling tonight was not going to go as planned, but shrugged the feeling off.

"Okay Skip. Will do."

Bellamy hit the end button without responding. He called Adam, his security detail, and told him he was leaving and to bring the SUV around front. He grabbed his black .50 Desert Eagle and slipped it into the waistband at his back, held securely there by his belt, before sliding on his suit jacket and checking his pockets to make sure he had his phone, keys and wallet. He did not want to have to come back later because he forgot something. Bellamy quickly grabbed his already packed black leather messenger bag and walked out the door, stopping briefly to lock it, before walking into his private elevator and hitting the button for the main floor.

He traveled down 46 stories, exited the elevator and the building quickly, slipping into the waiting SUV. As soon as his door was closed, the car was moving and 15 minutes later they reached Bellamy's apartment building.

He walked through the lobby to the elevators, inserted a key and scanned his index finger to start the elevator and traveled 52 floors up to his penthouse apartment. When the doors opened, he walked to his front door. He opened the front door with a seven digit pass code and his key. Closing the door behind him, he dropped the bag on the table and walked strait through the foray, past the stairs on his right that led to the other floor and entered his bedroom. He grabbed a bottle of water from his mini fridge and headed for his bed, stripping down to his boxers as he went.

Bellamy crawled into bed and set is alarm on his phone for the following morning at 7 A.M. He slid his phone on the nightstand next to his Eagle, and let his four-day exhaustion take over his body and lull him to sleep.

That's it for Chapter 2 folks! PLEASE REVIEW! The writing process goes so much faster with reviews flowing in, and I love hearing what you think. Same goes for favorite/following! Believe me, for Chapter 3, stuff happens that you won't wanna miss, so stay tuned...

These are just a couple of terms in case anyone didn't know what they were:

Family: an organized crime clan

Don: the head of the Family

Underboss: the second in command to the boss

Capo: the Family member who leads a crew; short for capodecina

Consigliere: a trusted Family advisor, who is always consulted before decisions are made

Crew: the group of soldiers under the capo/underboss's command

Made Man: an indoctrinated member of the Family. Essentially, you pledge your allegiance to the boss and the family for life.