by Haley Stuart
I cough again, even harder, and look at Ari through my cloudy vision. She is staring at me in disbelief and fear. No, not me. I feel a jacket around my naked shoulders and realize Luca is behind me.
“I think you’ve had enough time to say your goodbyes, Arianna.” His voice comes out cold and detached.
Ari doesn’t respond; she only stands and quietly leaves the room. I collapse in Luca’s arms, not having the strength to push him off me. My body feels like someone has stuck a lot of weight on it, and I can’t move. Luca is leaning over me with a worried expression on his face, but I can’t comprehend it, as darkness finally overtakes me.
Chapter 19
Luca
It has been two days since Elise has passed out. Tearing open her wounds and moving around like she has has caused them to get infected, and the infection is causing her a high fever. I sit once again by the bed as she breathes quietly, with her lips slightly parted. The doctor gives her some antibiotics to help get rid of the infection, so she will be waking up any day now. But all the shouting she has done and overexerting herself has worn her already-weakened body out even more.
I can feel the anger boiling up within me. If I haven’t made a deal with him, I will have already shot Arianna dead. I’ve told her to say goodbye to Elise, but she has come into my home and tried to convince her cousin against me. And by doing so, she has gotten her riled up and sick.
Someone needs to put Arianna in her place, and that someone is going to be me. Stefano obviously isn’t going to. He lets this bitch have her way with whatever. Arianna is too confident in her position, and I don’t like that. At all. I smile as a plan already unfolds itself in my head. I know just how to put her in her place.
I pull out my phone and call Stefano. He answers on the first ring.
“We’re going to have a little change of plans.”
* * * * *
I stand at the top of the massive dining hall, looking down at the grand dinner table. This is going to be fun. We are stationed above the table, and currently, only one person is seated there at the bottom. Arianna. She is unconscious from the sedative. She is locked in a chair, with her hands bolted to the underside of the table. Stefano stands next to me, squirming uneasily.
“Are you sure this is necessary, Capo?”
I frown immediately as Stefano’s voice cuts through my pleasure-filled haze. I look at him in irritancy.
“You’re not backing out on me now, are you, Stefano?” I ask.
I make sure to keep my tone steady. He obviously is uncomfortable. He can’t even look me in the eye. Hmmm. Maybe this capo thing isn’t a good idea for him.
“No, sir,” he says. But his voice is still wavering.
I quickly pull my gun out from behind me, aiming it right between his pathetic eyes. I have zero tolerance for pussies.
“Let me explain something to you. If you do anything to jeopardize this plan, I will shoot you where you stand and kill your wife slowly and painfully.”
He swallows and nods visibly. Coward.
I look away as Nicolai and Romelo step into the room, followed by several other men. I can feel the light tingling on my skin as the anticipation of what is about to happen draws nearer. Nicolai looks at me with a knowing gaze.
“Everything’s set, Capo.”
I nod in acknowledgment. Below us, Arianna is jolted awake from her drug-induced sleep. She quickly looks around, breathing hard, but unable to really move. And that will be from the little drug we have injected into her bloodstream. It lets her be awake and conscious, but her body is as good as paralyzed. The doors below open, and in file the people that I despise most in this world. The Trovolis. All the disgusting men in this family that have dared plot against me. We’ve used Arianna’s phone and sent a message to all the people of the Trovolis that she is having regular communication with. We’ve pretended to be her and have called a meeting in this location.
They all walk in unaware of the situation that is about to occur. Some are laughing. Some are silent. Some are skeptically scanning the room. I laugh softly to myself. Idiots. Once they have all entered and are seated, the doors close behind them and, unbeknownst to them, are locked.
Arianna is looking with frantic eyes as realization dawns on her about what is about to occur. Smart girl. I grab the mic and clear my throat, ready to speak into it.
“Good evening, Trovolis.”
They all immediately jump and scan the room, some even pulling their guns out. Idiots.
“I know you probably all thought you were summoned here by your dear Arianna to come up with another treacherous plot to dethrone the newest capo of the North, Luca Pasquino. Well, you weren’t.”
Some of them are shouting obscenities and frantically looking around. They won’t be able to see us, though. The way this room is built … well, it is built for massacres.
I raise my hand, and my men get their guns ready, aiming them down at all the filthy vermin below.
“You have been summoned here by the man you’ve been aiming to kill. I know all about your plots and schemes. And quiet honestly, I’m fed up with it. Thanks to your dear Arianna, I know all your business.” I can’t help the laugh that erupts from deep within me as I look at them all frantically searching and looking. Disgusting people.
“Rot in hell, motherfuckers!”
I lower my arm, and a chorus of gunshots erupts throughout the chamber. I watch in pleasure as they all get shot down. Each of them trapped like the cockroaches they are. A pleasurable feeling seeps into my bones, and I can’t help the smile that creeps onto my face as I watch the floor and walls slowly become painted with red. I see Stefano flinch next to me as his dear Ari is almost hit. Cunt. If it were up to me, she’ll be shot down with them. But since Stefano wants her alive, we’ve made sure to get the best shooters in the business so she won’t be hit by accident. Her punishment is to watch up close as her beloved family is all shot down like the pathetic weaklings they are. Maybe next time she will think before she decides to cross me again.
I turn to Stefano, and he turns to me with a troubled look in his eyes. This is why the Gudierri are always working under someone. All they are good for is information. He is too soft. Too weak.
“I’ve changed my mind. Nicolai!” I shout. Nicolai comes to me immediately. “You are the new capo of the South. Stefano will be your second-in-command. He will be working under you.”
I see Stefano’s face and almost laugh.
“You don’t really think I’d leave you as capo, do you? You’re too soft. Any man that flinches at the sight of blood isn’t a man at all. And definitely isn’t fit to be capo. Be glad that I’m still sparing your life. Especially after what your wife did.” I look over the balcony and see Arianna with heavy tears streaming down her face. Some people’s blood is on her. I can’t help but smile. Maybe now she’ll know.
“You should be thanking me. Now your wife will be a little more obedient. And you won’t have to worry about her getting you into trouble anymore.” I smile at him.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to look at the screen. A message from Dr. Shotwell appears.
She’s awake.
I smile. Now it is time for me to go see my beautiful wife. Even though she is tainted with that filthy bloodline, she is still mine. And different from any of them. And now she is awake. I can’t wait to see her. I exit the building with the sounds of screams and gunshots echoing behind me and a huge smile on my face. Yes. Today is going to be a good day.
Chapter 20
Elise
He is there when I wake up. He is there when I go to sleep. He is there when I am just sitting there, contemplating my miserable existence. He is always here. Acting like he loves me. Staying by my side. Making sure I eat. Making sure I get enough sleep. And always making sure I am not about to die.
Wouldn’t want his precious toy disappearing from existence, I think bitterly.
He is once again at my bedside. He has been
in an abnormally good mood lately. And it is almost creepy. He smiles a lot more, and I catch him on multiple occasions staring at me.
“I want to go outside.” My voice cuts through the thick silence that envelops the room.
I haven’t been outside since the day before Luca has caught me. I miss the fresh air. I am tired of being stuffed up inside this room. There is sunlight pouring in from the windows, and I am dying to touch it. My fever has dissipated, and the infection is gone. I also have less gauze on my wrist. My body is healing slowly.
Luca is writing something in a thick notebook like he hasn’t heard me.
“Luca, I want to go outside,” I try again, my voice louder this time.
He stops writing and looks up at me with a clear expression. “Why?”
I am a little caught off guard by his question but recover quickly. “I’m tired of being stuffed up inside this house.”
He seems to be thinking for a moment before finally answering. He lets out a deep breath and closes his notepad. “Okay. But only the backyard. The front is off-limits today.”
I tilt my head in confusion. “Why?”
His expression shifts immediately, and irritation is evident. “Maybe I’ll just make you wait till tomorrow, since that’s not good enough for you.”
I sit up immediately, shaking my head. “No! The backyard’s fine. I just wanted to know why …” I trail off, trying not to dig myself an even deeper whole.
He stands up from his chair. “Get dressed. I’ll have the cook make lunch, and I’ll join you later. I have some business to attend to.”
He walks closer to the bed and pulls my head in, giving me a kiss on my forehead. He then exits the room as if his mind is elsewhere.
I immediately jump out of bed and head straight into the closet. I really want to go to the front yard, because that is where all the beautiful flowers and scenery are. But since Luca doesn’t want me there, I will have to settle for the backyard. It is just as nice as the front, but there is more artificial nature. I settle on a tank top and shorts.
After I change, I finally walk out of the room and into the hallway. The sunlight is streaming into the house, brightening my damp mood. There is no sign of Luca, or anyone for that matter. Luckily, there are no screams echoing through the house. I can hear the buzz of a Weedwacker out front. Lawn maintenance must be here. That is why he doesn’t want me in the front today.
I step out into the backyard, sliding open the door to the pool. I don’t want to swim. Not like I can with these stitches, anyway. The yard is beautiful, and the plants and greenery are unlike anything I have ever seen. I step into the sun, reveling in the warm glow. It has been so long since I have seen sunlight. Tears well up in my eyes and spill over. Just this tiny luxury that so many people take for granted is enough to bring tears to my eyes. It feels amazing, the warm rays caressing my skin.
“Why are you crying?”
I almost jump out of my skin as a young voice startles me. I open my eyes and look down to my left. There is a little boy definitely younger than me standing next to me, with big green eyes. His hair is pitch-black and curly; it is also wet with sweat and sticking to his head. He has a wheelbarrow filled with colorful plants and mounds of dirt. His face is streaked with dirt, and there are two big garden gloves on his hands. He is adorable, actually, and there is something familiar about him, but I know I’ve never met him before.
“Well?” He crosses his arms, looking at me still, and I realize I still haven’t answered his question.
“I … uh, just the sun felt so nice. It made me happy.” I smile sheepishly. I probably look ridiculous to him. He smiles and begins laughing at me.
“Well, I guess the sun would feel nice if you weren’t working in it all day,” he says, looking toward the grass.
It is really nagging me where I’ve seen this kid from before, but I can’t put a name to his face.
“What happened to your arm?” he asks, pointing to my wrist with gauze wrapped around it.
He is a blunt little thing, isn’t he? I decide to answer a question with a question, not wanting to explain to this kid why I have a wrap on my arm.
“What are you doing working here?” I ask him, genuinely curious.
He narrows his eyes at me and reluctantly answers. “Mr. Pasquino came by my house one day, asked if I was interested in a job, and I said heck yeah! He pays me really good, and all I have to do is tend to the flowers and keep the yard looking pretty.” He pauses for a moment. “He pays really good. So now I have enough to get my own food.” He smiles like he is proud.
“What do you mean your own food?” I ask.
“Oh. Well, my mom kinda blows all the money she gets on drugs. We were fine at first, but then my dad died, so we were on our own when the money stopped coming. But it’s okay, ’cause Mr. Pasquino said he’d take really good care of me. But I had to earn it.” He motions to the yard. “So here I am.”
I can’t help but smile at him. Well, at least Luca is doing some good in this kid’s life.
“I’m sorry about your father,” I say, feeling pity. I know all too well how it feels to have your father taken away from you.
He only shrugs. “It’s okay. I never really knew him. He came around rarely and only ever talked about how I was destined for greatness.” He bends his head and begins picking at a scab on his arm.
“What are all the different flowers for?” I ask, trying to change the subject to something a little less depressing. His eyes light up at the mention of his work.
“Mr. Pasquino requested them. He said his wife likes all the different-colored flowers.” He motions to each of the flowers as he speaks. “I got lilies, azaleas, sunflowers, all the different colors I could find. Mr. Pasquino said his wife was feeling under the weather lately, so he wanted different flowers to cheer her up!”
I can’t help but be shocked. Luca has actually paid attention to something that isn’t for the purpose of inflicting pain on me? He has requested that these be planted for my expense?
The boy’s smile slowly disappears as he thinks of something.
“Which reminds me … I should probably get to planting these before she gets up and sees them on accident.”
I would laugh if I weren’t so shocked at the thoughtfulness of Luca’s actions. He obviously doesn’t know whom he is speaking to.
“Can I join you?” I ask.
I know he has work to do, but I don’t want to sit around the yard doing nothing, and something about him is comforting.
He looks as though he is thinking it over. “Hmmmmm, I dunno. I mean … I guess. But you can’t slow me down. I have to have these done before noon.”
I giggle to myself at the serious face he gets with me. It is adorable.
“Okay. I’m Elise, by the way.” I give him a small smile and hold my hand out.
“Matteo.” He smiles and shakes my hand with his.
We work on planting the flowers in the backyard. Each time I try to plant them somewhere that isn’t right, he will stop me in frustration, getting upset when I’ve almost messed up the order. He keeps fussing about how these have to be perfect. I am sweating and have dirt crusted under my fingernails, but I am the happiest I have been in a long time.
Matteo is a funny kid. Turns out he is fifteen. His mom has gotten knocked up, and the guy that has gotten her pregnant has to get rid of her because he is married, but instead, he has put her up somewhere, living in luxury. But she is a greedy woman, using the money he sends her, blowing it all on drugs and alcohol. And since his father has died a few months ago, the money has stopped coming, and his mom runs through what is left of it, leaving them to struggle.
There is a light tap on my hand, and I look into Matteo’s frustrated green eyes.
“You can’t put that one next to the azaleas, for the millionth time, Elise.”
I give him a small smile. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing.”
“Well, you should. Mr. P
asquino will be really mad if we mess this up. And he’ll definitely get mad at me because I let the maid help do it.”
I turn my head away, rolling my eyes in the process. If only he knows.
“How do you know Luc—I mean, Mr. Pasquino, anyways? You sure do talk about him a lot,” I ask.
Matteo is digging a hole to plant the next set of flowers before he begins talking.
“Well, Mr. Pasquino actually showed up sometime last year. I thought he was another one of my mom’s suitors, but he actually has helped me a lot. He taught me how to shave, how to drive, how to play cards. He said he was getting married soon to someone special and wanted to learn more about being around people, whatever that means.” He pauses to wipe some sweat from his brow. “He actually talks about her a lot, which is why these flowers have to be perfect. He has helped me so much. He even paid our bills sometimes and made sure I had food at night when Mom wasn’t around.”
He looks up to the leaves of the massive tree above us.
“I asked him once why he was helping us out so much, but he just shrugged and said he was doing it for someone special.”
“Matteo! What the hell are you doing back he—”
We both jump and look behind us, where one of the workers stands. He is shouting at Matteo to come but stops immediately when he sees me.
“I … I’m so sorry, missus. He knows better than to be roaming the grounds. He knows the job he’s been given.” The man looks at Matteo with a stern eye. “We’re leaving, Matteo.”
Matteo jumps up frantically.
“But we’re not finished with the flowers!” He is genuinely upset.
“Look, kid, we told you our shift is over at twelve. You’re going to have to explain why the job on your behalf isn’t done. Or you can stay here and finish and walk home.”
I decide to step in on Matteo’s behalf.
“I can take him home. This is really important to him.”
“Elise!”