by Bree Porter
What in God’s name? I paused. Maybe I didn’t know them and I had just scared the living daylights out of a mourner.
Their umbrella flocked to the side as they ran and golden hair shone through.
Cat.
I took off at a run but they were further ahead than me. The ground squelched beneath my boots but I didn’t slow down.
“HEY!” I yelled.
The person ran faster and into a thicket of trees. I was out of breath when I reached the trees and pressed my hand to one to steady myself. The rain was falling hard now.
Through the trees and rain, I couldn’t see anything. Where had they gone?
I opened my mouth to yell her name, to yell for my sister but fell silent.
Had I really just chased an innocent person because I thought they were my dead sister?
I groaned and rubbed at my face.
“Mrs Rocchetti?” Shouted a familiar voice through the rain.
Oscuro was heading towards me, Polpetto under one arm and gun in the other. He searched my surroundings.
“Are you okay?” He demanded. “Why were you running?”
“I thought I saw…” I trailed off. “God, I sound crazy. I thought I saw my dead sister.” Tears began to slid rapidly down my cheeks. “I really thought…” Sobs began to rack my body.
“Oh, ma’am.” Oscuro gave my back a rough pat. “It’s okay. Grief makes us see things. It makes us crazy.”
I nodded through the sobs.
“Come on, now,” he sounded uncomfortable. “Let’s get you dry. You’ll feel better then.”
Oscuro led me to the car. I couldn’t stop blabbering but managed to get a hold on myself when we reached the road.
I scrubbed furiously at my tears, trying not to break down again. “I’m sorry, Oscuro. I don’t know what’s in my head…”
“It’s okay, Mrs Rocchetti.” Oscuro said kindly. “You have a lot on your plate.”
I sucked in air rapidly, trying to get my breathing under control. I took Polpetto from Oscuro’s arms and held him tightly to my chest. His cuddliness comforted me.
The rain stopped in that moment. I laughed. Of course it stopped now.
Oscuro helped me into the car before walking around to the drivers seat. I rested Polpetto on my lap, scratching his little ears.
At the end of the road, a dark car was stationed. I felt sympathy for them. They had someone buried in this cemetery too. It really sucks, I told them through my mind. I understand.
Oscuro started the car and we began to leave the cemetery. As the car grew closer, I narrowed my eyes.
The car was familiar…so damn familiar…
“Pull over!” I shrieked. “I know that car, Oscuro! They’re following us!”
Oscuro didn’t pull over but his jaw twitched. “My job is to know when someone is following you, ma’am. They’re not.”
“No, they are. They were parked in front of the church at my wedding and the funerals—“ Oscuro pressed on the accelerator and we zipped past the black Dodge Charger.
I looked at him, flabbergasted. “Oscuro, why did you speed up? I’m not crazy. I recognised the car.”
“Did you recognise the number plate?” He asked.
“Well…no. But—“
“Do you know how many Dodge Charger’s are in this city?”
I collapsed back into my seat. “I’m not going crazy.”
Oscuro pulled onto the main road. “You’re tired, ma’am. And pregnant.”
“Not crazy.”
He didn’t say anything else.
I turned my head around to try and spot the car. It grew less visible the further we went. When the rain started again, I gave up.
The silence in the car became unbearable pretty quickly.
“I’m not losing it, Oscuro.” I murmured.
“I know, ma’am.” He had that same patronising tone that men always had when they were trying to placate women. “You’ve got a lot on your plate and today is a very emotional day.”
I looked out the window. Maybe Oscuro was right. I was dealing with my red wedding, my marriage, my pregnancy. To add my sister’s death on top of that was a lot to take on. But that didn’t mean I was losing it.
It also didn’t mean my sister was back from the dead or that I was being followed.
I sighed deeply and leaned back into my seat. Polpetto whined on my lap.
Your sister is not alive and walking around as a zombie, I told myself. You just…just freaked. And now you’re going to have to pay some poor woman reparations for all the terror you caused her.
I traced the droplets on my window.
“Oscuro,” I called.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Can we please go to the University of Chicago?”
Oscuro made a noise of surprise. “What for, ma’am?” “I…” I swallowed. “I just need to check something.” Oscuro didn’t look convinced. “Please, Oscuro. It would make me feel better.”
He flickered his eyes to me and then back to the road. “Alright then.” He grunted. “But I’m coming in with you.”
“Of course. You have to hold Polpetto.” I turned back to the window. “He hates the rain.”
The University of Chicago was beautiful and huge. With rolling grounds and old haunted buildings. In the distance, you could see the city. It felt like a city outside the city, with a campus perhaps bigger than the CBD. Oscuro and I couldn’t figure out the best place for us to park, so we ended up walking a considerable amount to find the office building.
I looked around at the students with interest. Most of them were a little younger than me, but plenty of them were older. It was strange to me to take them in. They weren’t married to Mobsters and pregnant with their children. Instead they were worrying about tests and assignments.
This could’ve been you, said a voice in my head. Young and free.
Not really, I answered back. I’m an idiot.
A few skateboarded pass and I watched them go with interest. “Did you see that, Oscuro?” I asked.
Oscuro nodded. He was getting many nervous looks from the students and professors. However, Polpetto was getting the attention he deserved. Many students stopped and went out of their way to say hello to him.
“Did you go to college, Oscuro?”
“No, ma’am.”
I smiled at him. “Studied the blade, did you?”
“I prefer guns.”
“Oh, that’s not what I meant—The office building!” I passed Polpetto’s leash to Oscuro. “Make sure he gets the kisses he’s deserved.” Oscuro gave me a warning look. “I’m going in with you.”
“It says no dogs.” I patted his arm. “I’ll be five seconds. And you can see me through the windows.”
“Ma—“ I ducked into the office building. Inside was quiet, but warm. The walls were covered with achievements and plaques. A few trophies lined the shelves. The lady at the reception narrowed her eyes at me.
“Can I help you?”
I gave her my best smile. “Hi, I’m Sophia. I was wondering if I could buy some graduation photos.”
“Of course you can. What’s the name of the student?”
“Can I still get the photos even though it has been a few years? Our house recently…flooded and we lost all my sister’s photos.”
The receptionist nodded. “They’ll be on the system. What’s your sister’s name?”
“Catherine Padovino. She did a Bachelor of Law, if that helps.”
She tapped away at the keyboard. I looked outside and saw Oscuro glaring at me through the glass. A bunch of girls were crouched by Polpetto, scratching his belly. I waved at Oscuro before turning back to the receptionist.
“Here we go…” She clicked on something. “Catherine Padovino. Graduating class of 2013?”
“That’s her.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry but we have no photos of her on file. She was unable to get graduation photos.”
“Oh.” My stomach droppe
d. She must’ve passed away beforehand. “That’s okay. I’m sorry to bother you—“
“Ah ha! But there is a photo of her receiving her diploma early. She must’ve graduated early. Really smart your sister?” The receptionist turned the screen around.
Cat was grinning at me, holding up her diploma. She was wearing a simple pair of jeans and purple shirt. Her golden hair gleamed in the flash.
“Yeah, she was really smart.” I whispered. “How much?”
“Depends. You want a keychain? Coffee mug?”
I shook my head. “Just a normal photo.” The receptionist asked for my address and I gave her the one of the penthouse. Hopefully, it would get to me before it got to Alessandro. Though, Alessandro already knew Cat had a diploma. He probably wouldn’t give a shit about me being sentimental.
Once I had paid, the receptionist bid me a good day and I went outside. The rain had started up again.
“You get what you need?” Oscuro asked, angry with me.
I nodded. “I think so.”
“Good. Let’s leave.” He tugged at Polpetto. “All the attention is going straight to his head.”
We made our slow way home. I felt reluctant to leave the campus. I wanted to see the library and walk around the trees. Oscuro was patient with me until the day began to wane.
I imagined my sister walking along this paths and studying beneath these trees. All the while I had been at home, none the wiser. Had she found what she was looking for here? Had this sated her thirst for a different life?
Or had it only encouraged it?
Duty is inescapable, I use to tell her whenever she got too rowdy.
No, it’s not, she use to reply.
Yes, I thought to her, as if she could hear me. It is.
That night I had the strangest sensation of missing Alessandro. It felt weird to only cook for one, to sit alone at the kitchen counter. I had been avoiding him lately, but it was still familiar to hear him moving throughout the apartment.
Now, the penthouse was silent. Only Polpetto’s pattering paws to be heard.
I walked around the house, dressing gown whispering behind me, and felt slightly rebellious. There was no one here to tell me what do. No one watching, no one waiting to strike.
I got up onto the couch and tried to jump, but found myself worrying about breaking something. I went through Alessandro’s liquor cabinet but couldn’t drink anything so there was no fun there either. I even went sleuthing in his bedroom, but there was nothing there. It was as cold as the rest of the penthouse.
But…the office.
I stood in front of the door, my heart beating fast. This is wrong, I told myself. This is none of your business.
If he finds out, you’ve been snooping, he’ll kill you.
I placed my hand on the doorknob.
This is dangerous.
I turned the handle and pushed open the door.
I don’t know what I expected to happen. Some part of me thought an assassin would jump out and kill me for daring to enter the Capo’s space.
Instead, the dark office greeted me. The curtains were drawn down, but rays of the cities lights managed to peek through, casting shadows around the space. It didn’t look dangerous, only darker. But my heart began to pound and sweat pricked at the back of my neck.
Very carefully, I flicked on the light.
Behind me, Polpetto whined.
“Don’t worry, my darling,” I whispered, despite being alone. “There’s no one here but us.”
I stood at the doorway of the study.
Alessandro would’ve taken his laptop and phone with him, and anything he deemed important. But what had he left?
I took a tentative step.
What business of mine was it anyway? These were not my businesses and men. I was only the wife.
I took another step.
The feeling of doing something wrong became too much. I turned on my heel, flicked off the light and shut the door.
You wouldn’t like it if he went through your stuff, I told myself.
The 1st of March ended the same way it had started. Rain poured all through the night and I cried with it.
My sister wasn’t here and she wouldn’t be here next year either. Or the year after that. Or the one after that.
The thought stayed with me until I fell asleep.
Chapter Fourteen
In the darkness, I caressed the photo.
The sonogram had been a success. Dr Parlatore had been happy with how the baby was growing and my amniotic fluid. She said a lot of smart things that ran off my back like water, but I got the general idea. My baby was healthy. And had began forming their little heart.
I ran my nails over the photo once more. The baby was nothing more than a shade of white against grey, but I couldn’t manage to look away.
It had felt a little surreal up to this point. But now looking at them…I was really growing a life in my body, all by myself. Of course, I was nauseous and ached terribly. My boobs felt so tender that I couldn’t lie down on my stomach without crying out in pain.
“Why does your grandfather want to keep you a secret?” I whispered. “Why are the Rocchetti’s so curious about you?”
My baby offered no answer.
From downstairs, there was suddenly a loud bang.
“What in the world…” I muttered, rising up onto my hands.
Fear gripped me. Who was home? Alessandro wasn’t meant to be here until this afternoon. Was it the Gallagher’s? Had they returned for round 2?
Another crash came from downstairs. Followed by familiar voice swearing.
I grabbed my dressing gown and hurried out of my room.
In the kitchen, Alessandro was sitting at the sink. He was shirtless and covered in blood. There was blood everywhere. Beside the blood, there was gauzes, antiseptic and stitches.
His dark head was bent down, his attention on the blood on his chest.
I could see him trying to clean up a cut but it didn’t look like the wipe was doing anything.
Perhaps the most surprising thing was Polpetto by Alessandro’s feet. He was sitting and wagging his tail.
“Can you grab that?” Alessandro asked Polpetto.
Polpetto just yapped in reply.
“Damn dog.” He grumbled. He leaned down to try and grab something on the ground, but came up groaning and empty-handed. “Fucking hell.” He hissed.
I rushed down the stairs. “Let me do it.”
Alessandro snapped his head to me, eyes narrowing. When he saw it was me, a gleam ignited in his eyes. “Ah, my wife.”
He had dropped a packet of antiseptic wipes. I swiped them up and pulled one out.
Alessandro leaned back, not making any move to grab the wipe from me. Along his chest, there was great large cuts. Someone had gotten him good with a knife of some sort.
I frowned and pressed a gentle hand to one of them. “You’ll have to get your tattoos redone. This is going to scar horribly.”
He shrugged. “Are you going to clean it?”
I ignored his tone and went to work cleaning his chest. Feeling his hard flesh beneath my hands made me blush but I kept my head down to keep some dignity. If he knew I was blushing, he would jump on the chance to stir me up.
Alessandro had three cuts. The one located near his heart was the worse, whereas the one on his side and the one over his abdomen were not as bad. They had both stopped bleeding naturally, but the one near his heart would need stitches.
“Only a shower is truly going to get all this blood off.” I said, throwing the fiftieth wipe into the sink. “And they keep bleeding.”
“Cuts do that.” Alessandro grunted. He reached for the needle and thread.
I stepped back. “I have never stitched anything in my life. My Home Ed teacher said I was unteachable because I’m left-handed.”
He made a noise that could’ve been a laugh. Or a growl. Alessandro grabbed one of the needles and positioned it by his skin.
Oh, God, he’s going to do it…
“Do you want something to bite on?” I asked. “Or some Tylenol, at least?”
Alessandro made a dismissive noise. “No.”
I watch, half horrified, half fascinated, as he pulled the stitch through the cut. He worked methodically and fast. It was slightly nauseating to watch his skin going through the same process that fabric did. My brain kept telling me that it was wrong.
When he was finished, he leaned back and took a deep breath.
“You did a good job.” I told him.
Alessandro flickered his dark eyes to me. “Can you patch them up or do I have to do that too?”
“No, I can do that. Let me get the gauze tape.”
“It’s upstairs—“ I disappeared into the pantry and came back with the First Aid Kit. Alessandro eyed it like a bomb about to detonate.
“What is that?” He asked.
“I bought a First Aid Kit.” I told him. I opened it, revealing the momentous stuff I had bought. Alessandro looked slightly impressed. “Here is the tape.”
Alessandro watched me beneath heavy lids as I taped him up. I tried to avoid touching his skin, but it was inevitable. Every time I felt the heat of him, I jolted away. When I had covered all his wounds, Alessandro stretched back.
“You won’t be able to shower.” I said. “The wounds can’t get wet.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Are you offering to clean me?”
I stepped back. “I don’t want you stinking up the house.”
A wild smile grew up his face. The look in his eyes made my heart begin to race.
“How did you get hurt?” I asked before he could make some comment.
Alessandro didn’t look surprised at the question. I half expected him to make up some lie, but was pleasantly surprised when he told me, “We were ambushed at the airport. The Gallagher’s retaliation for Gavin.” He huffed. “It was a shitty effort.”
“You got stabbed three times.”
He gave me a strange look. “Yes, but I am alive. The same can’t be said of those who attacked us.”
My stomach dropped.
I slid my eyes down to his hands. Beneath the nails, dried blood had began to darken.
How easily I forgot who he was, I thought.
There was something about them, these Rocchetti’s. I found myself enjoying their presence and engaging with them. Then they would say something, or do something, and my instincts would wake up from their enchantment and remind me who I was talking to. It happened with Don Piero and Alessandro multiple times.