Hidden Away (Mafioso Series Book 2)

by Serena Light

  While they ate, she could almost picture the room like it had been: set up with chairs and sofas, a foosball table and a flat-screen T.V. Men sitting, talking, relaxing. Granted she had never come here since Paolo forbade it, but she had seen peeks of the room when she would come down to the basement with some random excuse. During her initial days at this estate, she had been a very curious little mouse, not having left a single stone unturned and knew every man by name.

  The longer she stayed, the more indifferent she felt.

  She had yet to go to the place that used to be her old bedroom, a part of her hoping it to be untouched, but the realistic part of her knew, it would have gone through its fair share of changes.

  "What happened to Paolo's bedroom, Silvio?" Serafina dusted her hands before wiping them with a napkin, unable to control the curiosity and the need to know.

  "His old bedroom was the one on the top floor, end of the hall, right?"

  "Yes,"

  "Boss converted it into his personal office."

  She fell silent, trying to imagine the bedroom she slept in having been turned into a place of business. She could no longer deny that she missed the time where she was blissfully unaware of everything, living under the delusion that Paolo loved her. And deep down, Serafina knew he did love her, but his hatred and thirst for revenge had overshadowed that loved for her.

  "Oh, Paolo, if you had just asked," Serafina muttered to herself, knowing that if Paolo had asked her father whether they had anything to do with Ricardo's death, he would have been provided with all the information telling him otherwise. "We would have been so happy,"

  Sighing, she stood from her place, going to a few more men and asking them the same question, and receiving the same answer from everyone.

  By the time it drew dark and she was going to leave, she had grown tired of all the sympathy and condolences each man gave her. Telling her how sorry they were and wished her all the best in her future endeavors. She was tired of the pity in their eyes and the lack of information on their minds. She needed answers, but she wasn't getting any.

  Running a hand through her hair, Serafina pulled open the back door, turning back to the house to give it one last look. Her eyes drifting watching the snowflakes fall as her gaze caught the image of a man standing at the edge of the house, looking at her with a gun loaded in hand, pointed at the floor before he turned around and began walking.

  "Wait here," She muttered to Tazio, walking after the man and disappearing behind a corner.

  Her breath gave in fogy mists as she caught up to him, grabbing his shoulder and turning him around.

  "You know something," She stated with certainty. "And you want me to know that you know something,"

  "I don't know what you're talking about ma'am," Alessandro shrugged.

  He had been the second last man she had met with and his response had been very much like that of the others, but now, his eyes gave away the truth. Something was going on and this man was in on it.

  "Tell me, what's going on?"

  "I've told you before," He stated with nonchalance, beginning to walk away. "I don't know."

  "Alessandro," She called after him, chasing after him, but gasping when her foot broke through the snow, nearly sending her toppling as a shallow ditch was beneath her feet.

  Pulling out her soaked boot, she looked up, grunting when he had disappeared.

  With resignation, she knew it was time to head back.

  Once at the estate, she went up to Salvatore's room and settled down at the edge of his bed as he was slowly walking the length of the floor.

  "I had no luck with learning anything from the guards," She sighed, bracing her knees. "What about you?"

  "Just learned all that we already knew: it was Gia who had ordered the weaponry; and Gia who ordered the attack; and Gia who wants to see you dead," He informed as he scratched the pup behind his ear. "Nothing new,"

  "So we have made zero progress," Serafina groaned, falling back on the bed and rubbing her eyes.

  Salvatore came and settled against the headrest, rubbing his temples before nudging her with his foot. Removing her hands from her eyes she glared at him.

  "What?"

  "Let's watch a movie,"

  "How can you think of watching a movie when I might be dying?" She sat up, staring at her brother incredulously.

  "Yes, dying of boredom,"

  She gave him a deadpanned look before relenting. Thinking that a movie would help combat the lack of progress they've had.

  Leaning against the headboard, her brother turned on the flat screen T.V. before they bickered back and forth on what movie to watch before eventually relenting and picking one with their eyes closed.

  Halfway through the film, Salvatore fell asleep, but Serafina sat upright, watching the screen, but not comprehending as the events of the day buzzed through her mind. The change, the people, the faces, the news, it all had a very sad feel to it and Serafina didn't understand what to do. Heaving a sigh, she leaned against the headboard and closed her eyes, falling asleep without meaning to.

  Chapter XXXV: Twice the Rebellion

  Serafina's eyes fluttered open not even two hours after she had fallen asleep, the sight of her twin brother eating a bucket ice cream greeting her as he was watching a movie on low volume. Rubbing her eyes she looked down at her phone screen, blinking away the bleariness before flopping onto the pillow.

  "What are you doing awake at 3 a.m. in the morning?" She sat up and took the spoon from his hands and taking a bite out of the chocolate chip ice cream.

  "The medication I'm on has screwed up my sleep and given me weird cravings," Salvatore stated dismissively, not tearing his gaze away from the T.V and blindly taking the spoon from his sister.

  "You sound pregnant,"

  "Am I showing?" Her brother looked down at his flat stomach, patting it before looking up at her. "They're saying its been 5 months,"

  Serafina couldn't help but laugh at her brother and shake her head before both of them started to fight over the bucket of ice cream.

  "Hey! It's mine, get your own," Salvatore pulled it away from Serafina.

  "Oh, come on! I don't even know where the kitchen is,"

  "Ground floor, next to the dining room," Her twin winked and ate another spoonful of ice cream, giving her a kick and sending her sprawling on the bed. "Shoo, peasant,"

  "Peasant?" Serafina looked at him with a raised eyebrow before pouncing on her twin with a laugh and sending the ice cream clattering out of his hands as he grasped hold of her shoulders and turning her over, both of them rolling on the bed and play fighting. Salvatore reminded her to watch his just as she rolled them over and banged his head against the headboard. "Shit!" She gasped and got off her brother who was clutching his head in pain.

  "I'm so sorry!" She shrieked, looking at her twin in panic. "Please don't tell mom,"

  "Fuck, I told you to watch the head," He squinted up at her, rubbing the abused area before slowly sitting up in bed. "And I'm definitely telling mom,"

  "No! I'll...I'll give you my chocolates!" She bargained as her brother glared at her.

  "Oh, first you give me a concussion, and then bang my head against the bed, and expect it to be okay with chocolates? I'm not 5, Serafina, I'm not gonna be happy until mom beats you,"

  "I'm 24, she never beat me," Serafina stuck out her tongue in his direction.

  "Oh, want me to tell dad, then?"

  "Dad loves me,"

  "Not after hearing how you banged my head against the bed after you slammed it on the floor,"

  His twin glared at him as he just gave a smug smile in response.

  "Fine, what do you want?"

  "Be my slave for the next 5 days," Salvatore grinned as Serafina gave him an incredulous look.

  "Excuse me?"

  "You heard me,"

  "I'm not going to be your slave,"

  "I'm telling mom otherwise,"

  "Go ahead, it's not like it was my fault anywa
y,"

  Salvatore looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

  "Not your fault?" He repeated as she smirked at him. "Oh, so the concussion was my own doing?"

  "You're the one at fault for that," Serafina shrugged. "You had it coming,"

  "I had it coming," Her twin scoffed in disbelief as his sister turned away haughtily as a silence fell over them. "It was either my sister or my best friend," He murmured quietly, Serafina looking up at him at the words.

  "I get that he was your boyfriend of 7 years and was supposed to be your husband, but Serafina, he was my best friend since I was 13 - sure, we had our fair share of fight and our ups and downs, but that doesn't mean that I cared for him any less," Salvatore sat cross-legged on the bed, looking away from her and the at the wolf-hybrid puppy licking away the spilled ice cream. "You think it was any easier for me?"

  "I didn't want to kill him, believe me, I wanted to be just as ignorant as a child to what dad told me, but then he played the recording to me and I had no choice." Serafina looked at him quietly, feeling the lump forming in her throat as she didn't think about how it would have felt for Salvatore. "I wanted to go to you and tell you, I wanted you to know so that I could have saved from all of this, but I couldn't. Hell, I was prepared to stop the wedding, just so I could protect you, but I couldn't. I'm sorry, I failed to save you from all of this trauma and put you through all this," He let out a shuddering breath and looked up at the ceiling.

  "Salvatore..." Serafina trailed, moving towards him, but halting when a knock sounded on the door.

  Getting up from the bed, he disappeared behind the corner and attended to his visitor at this hour. Her brother returning with an impassive mask.

  "Did you meet with an Alessandro, today?"

  Instantly she sat up in bed, throwing the covers off her before stepping onto the wooden flooring.

  "Yes, why?"

  "He's downstairs and asks to meet with you and me,"

  Instantly Serafina ran downstairs, her brother following behind much slower before he joined her at the ground floor, Alessandro flanked by two of Salvatore's men, holding their guns out and watching him with beady eyes.

  "You wanted to speak with us," Salvatore stated, standing beside Serafina.

  "I did,"

  "Regarding what?"

  "I have information regarding the plans of Gia Costa," He informed, Serafina internally grinning, knowing that he had information. "But I will provide it to you if my price is met,"

  "I will tell you all that I know at a price," Alessandro informed, seated at the table in Salvatore's sunroom with Serafina sitting opposite him and the Mafia Boss leaning against the windowpane, looking down at the man with his ice-blue eyes and an immaculate poker face.

  "Depends on your price," Her twin shrugged, pushing himself off the glass and walking towards the table. "How much?"

  "I'm not talking money," Alessandro spat with a humorless laugh, Serafina looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "I'm talking about second chances,"

  The twins looked at each other with amusement before turning their gaze back to him.

  "What about second chances?" They spoke in sync, Alessandro suddenly looking uncomfortable.

  "I will tell you and you will provide me with safe passage out of here and to America,"

  "What's in America?" Serafina inquired.

  "Redemption," He shrugged. "You will provide me with a brand new identity, a passport, a way out of Italy and a way to fake my death so that no one questions my absence,"

  "The New York Mafia is dealing with a little rebellion and it's rumored that ordinary working men are at each other's throats for the position of boss." Salvatore grasped the back of an empty seat. "Is that what you mean by redemption? Rebellion,"

  "You plan to become the boss of the New York Mafia?" Serafina was unable to control her chuckle, Alessandro's face burning at her laughter.

  "I have more mafia knowledge than any one of those ordinary working men trying to get to the post," He seethed, his hands gripped tightly in his lap. "I have just as much chance of becoming the boss as you,"

  "Oh, no, no, no," Salvatore chuckled patronizingly. "Serafina and I were born into the Mafia lifestyle, you were hired into it. There is a lot of difference between living it first-hand and watching it from an outsider's perspective. And being a Mafia boss is a whole new game than being a bodyguard to the boss,"

  "Do you want the information or not?" Alessandro demanded, standing up from his place and sending his chair toppling back, clattering against the marble floor, the two Regnante twins watching the man with the same mask of indifference.

  "Why should I waste my money, my resources, my time, and my men on you?"

  "Because I have information regarding Gia Costa and her plans-"

  "-Plans for what?" She interjected, catching onto what her brother was doing: he was testing whether this man was genuine or a fraud.

  "To kill you," He glared across the table at her, Serafina looking at him with a raised eyebrow before leaning back in her seat. "She plans to kill you since you killed her husband and son,"

  He's legit.

  "We did no such thing," Salvatore shrugged, Serafina schooling her features, letting her brother handle this negotiation.

  "That's not what Gia and her army think," Alessandro scoffed.

  "Oh, so am I to believe the words of a lowly patrol guard?" Her brother taunted, watching the man's face turn red with fury. "I don't believe a single word coming out of your mouth, boy,"

  Serafina watched as Alessandro curled his fingers into fists, his teeth gritted and his face as red as a tomato. She knew, if it were possible, his ears would be smoking too.

  "Come, Serafina, let's not waste our time on a fraud," Salvatore beckoned Serafina after him, his sister standing from her chair and following after him.

  "Gia has 3 crates full of weaponry with over 300 men at her disposal to take you down and 1500 more men on their way," Alessandro cackled. "Her warehouse in Milan is echoing with the cry for your blood, Regnante,"

  "Not if I get to her first," Salvatore smirked over his shoulder. "Thank you for your corporation,"

  Swinging open the door, Serafina watched her brother nod towards two men who came inside and restrained Alessandro. She heard the struggle and looked over her shoulder before Salvatore placed a hand against the small of her back, gently urging her to walk out of the room.

  "Let's have breakfast,"

  The two had been sipping their coffee when her twin's second-in-command and capos were ushered inside the dining room, one guard holding a rolled map under his arm and a file in hand.

  "Come, sit," Her brother instructed.

  The five men took seats around the table as Salvatore had the map rolled out and pointed to a spot.

  "Gia has currently 300 men with 1500 more on their way and 3 crates of useless firearms." Salvatore sipped his black coffee. "And is residing in her son's warehouse in Milan. A gentleman under the name of Alessandro was very kind to provide this information to us,"

  The five men looked at him in silence, trying to grasp what he had said as Tazio the first one to speak.

  "And what are we to do?"

  "We will go to Milan and take them unaware. They won't be able to fight back since their guns are useless and would give up without much a fight." Salvatore stretched his arms over his head, lazily. "Then we'll take Gia, doesn't matter whether she is dead or alive,"

  "What about me?" Serafina asked, putting down her coffee mug.

  "You?" Salvatore stood up from his seat, buttoning his blazer. "Stay home and clear matters with mom and dad. Hopefully by this time, tomorrow you all will be back in your own homes,"

  Chapter XXXVI: The Cadavers under the bed

  Men went about grabbing their preferred gun of choice, loading it with bullets, and storing additional magazines into the folds of their vests. Each one having replaced their immaculate suits for all black camouflage pants, matching t-shirts and combat boots. Bulletpr
oof vests covering their chests with additional weapons hidden in their pockets. Salvatore was one of the men in the midst of all the preparations, dressed like every single of them and loading the mag of his semi-automatic pistol.

  "Are you sure you should go?" Arsenio asked hesitantly from the side, glancing uncertainly at his parents who watched with disapproving looks. "Given the concussion and all..."

  "I will do," Salvatore trailed, putting the gun in the waistband of his pants. "Whatever is necessary to protect my family,"

  "All these men are doing just that," Their father stated. "What is the need of you going?"

  "All these men are risking their lives for me and you, alright?" He sighed, having had this conversation at least 6 times with his parents. "The least I can do is be there with them,"

  "And die?" Rosalie taunted.

  "The weapons they have are useless,"

  "They have weapons other than those in the crates," His mother hissed in irritation. "They would have figured out by now that those weapons are useless and ordered more-"

  "-Who will supply them the weaponry against my order?"

  "Men who want to live." Marco sighed. "Men who have been threatened, Salvatore, they are the ones who will do everything in their power to stay alive and keep their families safe. Salvatore, you are better off staying here than in the middle of the battlefield."

  "What sort of a leader would I be if I hide behind my mother's skirt while these men with families, with wives, with children, are out there, fighting my war?"

  "It's my war," Serafina finally spoke up from her seat, having watched this exchange in silence.

  "And what do you propose, huh?"

  "Let me go with you,"

  "Absolutely not," Every single one of her family members stated in sync as Serafina leaned back with an exhale.

  "And why not?" She demanded.

  "Why should we?"

  "Because Gia is after me-"

  "-Which I exactly why you should stay here," Her father and twin spoke together, both the former and current Mafia boss thinking the same.

  "You will stay out of this," Salvatore commanded in a tone that left no room for any further discussion. "And that's final."