“What is it?”
“A surprise. So, can I meet you then? Say, behind the gymnasium.”
“Sure,” I replied, wondering whether I should break up with him tomorrow, because he really was too sweet for the likes of me.
“Grazie,” he said, sounding happy. “I’ll look forward to it. Ciao.”
“Ciao.” I hung up. The doorbell rang, making me run to my window. I looked outside, my heart coming to a complete halt. The Padre and his twin brother were at the front door. The Padre’s twin looked up and smiled at me. I shot away from the window, my heart pounding a mile a minute.
Voices started up downstairs. A minute later, footsteps approached my room, the knock on my door making me jump. “I expect you in the lounge in one minute, young lady,” my mother said.
Even though I really didn’t want to go down there, I left my room and descended the staircase. As I entered the lounge, Christo stood up and held a hand out for me to shake. He looked about forty, and had a head full of gray hair like his brother. Except for their clothing, they were identical: powerful enough to snap me in two.
I kept my hands to my side.
“Shake Mr. Donatelli’s hand, Sophia,” my mother said from the couch, her tone terse.
I took a hold of his hand, the man kissing the back of mine. Unlike with Frano, who made me go weak at the knees, Christo made them knock with terror. His bright blue eyes were too fierce, as if he was looking into my soul and judging me. I jumped as he nipped my knuckles, his body blocking my mother from seeing.
He let go of my hand. “My brother told me about you, ragazza. He said you are dating the D’Angelo boy. You do realize this is not appropriate?”
“Why?”
“Because Jagger—”
“His name’s Gabriel,” the Padre snapped. “Don’t use that evil name within my presence.”
“Mi dispiace,” Christo apologized. “You do realize Gabriel is being trained as a priest?” he said, directing the question at me.
My eyes widened. “He never told me.”
“That’s why my brother got very upset when he heard you were dating this boy. He spoke to me about it, but I said it was just a phase. Though, I concede I may have spoken too hastily, since Gabriel has now declared he wants to marry you.”
“He’s never mentioned that to me.”
“My brother found a ring in his room.”
My mind went to the present that Jagger wanted to give me. “It doesn’t mean it’s a wedding ring.”
“I can assure you it is, because Gabriel was questioned and admitted to it.”
“I don’t want to get married, not yet, anyway.”
“I understand that, but Gabriel gets infatuated easily, and since there can’t possibly be a future between you, you should cut ties with him.”
My back stiffened. “But, I like him.”
“And he loves you.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“Well, signorina, he has told my brother this, and my brother has also told me you have been watching Gabriel’s cousin, Frano.”
I stiffened. “I was just walking through the forest; I didn’t know he would be there.”
“Well, you must understand his concern. Frano is a ladies’ man, which means it’s best you keep away from him. Not to mention, he’s engaged to be married.”
“I told you, I didn’t go near him on purpose.”
He smiled, the curve of his lips wicked. “Both of us know you are lying.” His gaze shifted to my mother. “And trust me, she is. But that’s not what concerns me, what concerns me is my brother’s apprentice. Do you know the consequences of your daughter and Gabriel D’Angelo becoming lovers?” he asked her.
Looking pale, my mother nodded.
“So, it’s best you keep your daughter away from the D’Angelos or I will inform Frano’s father of what she has been up to. Do you understand the consequences of Don D’Angelo finding out what Sophia has been doing?”
My mother nodded again. “I will make sure she doesn’t go near Gabriel—or Frano.”
“Buono.” He looked down at his brother. “We shall take our leave now.”
The Padre pushed off the couch, his smile smug. He turned and left without saying goodbye to my mother. Christo instead took a hold of my hand and kissed it again, then stepped in close, whispering into my ear. “I’d love to make you my slave.”
I shot away from him; the man laughing. He turned to my mother and took a hold of her hand too, also giving it a kiss. “A pleasure as always, signora.” He leaned in close, brushing her ear with his lips, whispering something. He pulled back, then walked towards the front door. I watched him leave, what he’d said still playing across my mind.
My mother grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, making me cry out. “You are not to go near the D’Angelos, do you hear me!”
“But Jagger—”
A slap struck my face, making me cry out. My mother covered her mouth, looking horrified, then she grabbed my face and kissed where she’d slapped. “I’m sorry, bambina, I’m so sorry.” She pulled back, looking like she was about to burst into tears. “But please, I beg you: don’t go near the D’Angelos ever again. Christo Donatelli is a very dangerous man, no, he is a monster. But, as long as you stay away from those boys, he won’t do a thing to you.”
“I can’t ignore Jagger.”
“Sophia! You’re not listening. Christo will kill you if you go near him again, that is what he said in my ear.”
I froze. “But ... why?”
“I don’t know, but don’t go near Jagger ever again.”
“But, he goes to my school, and we usually sit together during recess.”
“Tell him to leave you alone, that you want to break up.”
I nodded, not wanting to do that to Jagger, except for the breaking up part. I only wanted to be his friend, because I did genuinely enjoy being around him, he just didn’t make my body tingle the way Frano did.
A thought came to my mind. “Papà has ordered hits before.”
My mother’s eyes widened. “Sophia! Why would you say that?”
“Since Christo threatened my life, papà should put a hit on him.”
“I can’t believe my sweet, innocent girl is saying that.”
I’m not sweet nor innocent, I thought, only acted it.
“Please don’t speak of such things,” my mother said. “There are ears everywhere.”
“No one’s here but you and me.”
She leaned in close. “The FBI has bugged our house.”
“The Americans?”
“Sì.”
“Why?”
“That’s not your concern,” she whispered into my ear, “just be careful with what you say.”
I nodded, wondering what the FBI would want with my famiglia.
4
THE PADRE
I applied a new Band-Aid to my eyebrow, the last one having bled through. Matteo had attacked me, leaving cuts and bruises all over my body, all because I had looked at him through the shower door. I hadn’t touched him, yet he’d taken his fists to me like some devil after holy blood. And Christo had done nothing, other than punching Matteo once, as if he thought that would appease me. Far from it, and now that Matteo had crossed the line all vows were off, because I wasn’t just going to look—I was going to punish.
The front door banged, followed by Matteo calling for Christo.
I walked out of the bathroom, making him stop in his tracks. “He’s at the farmhouse arranging the party,” I said, trying to tamper down my anger. I wanted to rush him, but I knew I had to bide my time until the right moment.
Matteo sneered at me. “Your face isn’t looking so good, Darth Wimpernator.” He quirked his eyebrows, no doubt thinking it was funny to taunt me, but I was the wrong person to taunt, especially now. He rolled his eyes at me. “You have no sense of humor.” He strolled over to Nino, who was watching a television program. “Why aren’t you helping Christo?” Matteo ask
ed, placing his hands on the back of the couch.
Nino looked up. “The Rossos are helping him, plus I want no part in the blood bath.”
“There’s not going to be a bloodbath,” Matteo said.
I cut in. “You are being naïve if you think that. My brother has already said he wants to kill all the mafioso on the island.”
Matteo looked over his shoulder at me. “He won’t kill Thierry, we need him, and I told him I want the soldier with the facial scar, and not to harm the girls.”
“He won’t kill Thierry or your soldier, but I wouldn’t count on him sparing the girls.”
“But, they will be useful to bribe Pedro Landi.”
“If Christo thinks they will be of use, he will keep them alive—for now. You don’t understand my brother like I do, Matteo. He has a sickness.”
“Yeah, like you.”
“No, ragazzo, he doesn’t have lust, he has blood lust. You need to be careful around him, he’s gotten even worse. No one’s life, but mine, is safe.”
“Stop talking Italian shit to me, and he wouldn’t kill me, he likes me.”
“He has killed people he’s liked before when he’s gone into a rage, so watch your back around him.”
“You’re just saying that to spook me because I smacked you around.”
“I don’t want you dead.” I smiled. “I want to fill you with love.”
Matteo shot up straight. “Are you talking about fucking me?!”
“You shouldn’t use such distasteful words, and you have more to be afraid of than me enjoying your virile body.”
“Christo won’t kill me; he’s been nothing but good to me.” He pointed a finger at me. “Unlike you. So, stop hitting on me, you sick bastard.”
Nino pushed up off the couch and stormed towards the front door, mumbling things about faggots. Matteo tensed, looking ready to follow him out of the house to exact revenge.
“No one likes us,” I said, pulling his attention away from the slamming door.
Matteo’s pretty face twisted in anger. “Christo likes me,” he spat.
“And he loves me, but everyone else looks at us with disgust.”
“Only for you, and Nino’s a homophobe.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I frowned. “And where’s Gabriel? I thought that’s why you went out.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “My sister wanted to keep him. She found a few good uses for him, if you know what I mean.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, by the way, your Angel Gabriel likes punk chicks. He looked to be enjoying all the different positions; Oh ... I mean uses my sister had for him.”
“Get him now!”
“Nah, he’s handcuffed to the bed ready for some more kinky fun with my sister.”
I stormed up to him. “You get him now, boy, before I lose my patience with you.”
He shoved me. “Stay back, you pervert.”
Having learned my lesson from earlier, I rushed him before he could react. Matteo was a skilled fighter, but I was stronger than him, and if I pinned him before he could attack—I had him.
I grabbed his arms and shoved him into the wall, jamming my body hard against his. He started thrashing his head about, trying to head-butt me.
“Be still, boy,” I said, keeping my head out of range.
“Let me go!” he hollered, trying to get me off him. He was muscular, but I was much bulkier than him. My muscle was built from hours in the gym, something I did to curb my obsession with sex. I knew I was weak in the mind when it came to men and boys, so I made my body strong, working out constantly to keep from giving into my demons.
Matteo continued thrashing about, causing my cock to harden, the boy not realizing his actions were arousing me even more. I had a need to take what I shouldn’t, to bite the forbidden apple, and right now Matteo was just that. He had an evil nature, and a body forged by the devil to tempt such men as myself, and worse, if I took him I would be committing the ultimate sin—incest, something I didn’t want to do, although I knew I would. I had tried to avoid him in the past because of it, but with him constantly being around, I could no longer curb my appetite.
I forced his arms between the wall and his back, trapping them with more pressure, then placed a hand on his forehead to hold it still. I cocked my head to the side and started kissing his neck, nibbling at his luscious skin.
“Nino!” he screamed. “Nino! Help me!”
“He won’t help you,” I murmured against his skin.
“Get off me!”
“I wish I could, but I am weak against such beauty. And if I let you go now you will attack me. I may be stronger than you, but you are a gifted fighter. So, listen carefully if you want to be free.”
“’Kay, ’kay, just let me go,” he said, his breathing now heavy. Not from desire, I knew he didn’t find me attractive, but from panic. Still, I found it delicious. His stunning blue eyes were so wide, giving him a vulnerable look. It made him appear younger. I liked that. My nephew wore fear well. I made a note to induce it again.
“If I let you go and you kill me,” I said, “Christo will kill you and much more painfully. He would tie you up, and strip the flesh from your bones, laughing as you screamed.”
“He wouldn’t do that, he loves me.”
“He loves me more, and the grief would push him over the edge. His blood lust would take over his sanity. He won’t even know it’s you until after you’re dead, that’s if he can identify the mangled mess left behind.”
Matteo stared at me in horror.
“So, I’m taking that as you won’t kill me?”
He nodded.
“He also won’t tolerate you hitting me again, so keep your fists to yourself.”
“I won’t touch you, I promise, just get the fuck off me.”
“I will—after I have a little bit of fun.” I started rubbing my groin against his.
“Stop! I’m your nephew!”
“Great nephew; so not so close.”
“It doesn’t matter, we’re related!”
“Yet you beat me up. So, give me a kiss to say sorry for attacking me, then I’ll let you go.”
“I’m not kissing you!”
“We Italians kiss all the time, it’s not always sexual.”
“You’ve got a fucking hard-on!”
“Stop shouting, and one kiss on the lips is a small price for freedom.”
“NINO!!”
“No use calling him. I told Nino to leave when you got here. You didn’t think you would get away with beating me up without retribution, now did you?”
Matteo appeared shocked. “But, I’m his brother’s son.”
“Unlike me, he’s never liked you. You’re a rude, disobedient boy who continuously insults him, so he’s allowing me to teach you a lesson in humility. So, kiss me.”
He shook his head. “I’d rather die.”
“That’s not happening, because despite your evil nature, God has bestowed upon you the gift of beauty, and it would be a sin to allow it to perish.”
“You’re fucked in the head.”
“And I’d love to fuck you in the ass.”
“NINO!!”
I laughed. “Oh, your panic is delicious, so much so that I’m considering taking you right here and now, regardless of my brother’s wishes.”
Matteo shook his head, his eyes scared, which made my ache throb even more. I pushed my hand in between us to flick open his pants, causing him to thrash about again, the pleas coming from his mouth arousing me beyond what I could take. I’d watched him for so long, seen him naked, ached to fill him, to make love to him, and now I had him helpless I didn’t think I could walk away; my lust for him was just too strong.
He started screaming for help, help that wouldn’t come. I shunted his pants halfway down his legs, my mind completely gone; the need he’d created in me blinding all reason. Matteo continued to struggle fruitlessly against me, the boy no match for my strength. I pushed his pants
completely down with my foot, preparing to spin him around.
“Please don’t do this, Uncle Michael,” he pleaded.
I hesitated, the word ‘Uncle” breaking through my insanity. I had pleaded for my uncle to stop, but he never did.
“I’m your nephew,” Matteo said. “You can’t do this to me.”
I breathed out, my lust clearing a fraction, allowing sanity to start seeping back in. Matteo was staring at me in horror, not something I wanted to see. Horror was different from fear—because it spoke of incest.
“Please forgive me,” I said.
Matteo nodded rapidly. “I will, I will, just let me go.”
“No, don’t let him go, “Satan hissed into my ear. “Take him.”
“It’s a sin,” I said.
“It would be a sin not to take him.”
“He’s my nephew.”
“No, he’s God’s gift to you.”
“Like I was God’s gift to my uncle?”
“Your uncle was evil, you are not. You want to impart love, not hate.”
“What do you know of love? You are the Devil.”
“I was once an angel. So take him.”
“Matteo doesn’t want me.”
“What he wants is of no consequence, plus he needs to be punished for his sins. You also need to start living up to your namesake. As with Archangel Michael, it is your sacred duty to punish all fallen angels, of which Matteo is. So, spear him with your holy sword.”
“That is vile blasphemy!”
“I do not blaspheme, I speak the truth.”
“No. You are a liar and a deceiver.”
“Then why do you listen to me?”
“I am weak.”
“No, you are strong, which is why the fallen angel trembles before you. He knows he is caught, he just has to accept his punishment for all the evil he has done.”
“Sì, he is evil.”
“As you are holy. You have not fallen like this creature before you did, you hold strong to your duty as God’s soldier. So, punish him.”
“All I want to do is kiss him.”
“Then do it.”
“I want to plunder him to.”
“Do it!”
“I will.” I went to kiss Matteo.
“No!” he screamed, trying to avoid my lips. “You can’t do this to me, you can’t!”
My Masters' Nightmare Season 1, Episode 8 Questions Page 5