Chapter 18 Sophia
Sophia
There’s no way I can relax with the way Massimo ran out of here.
I briefly contemplate calling Anna, it’s been so long since we spoke, but I also made Massimo a promise.
Not only that I wouldn’t try to communicate with the outside world without him by me, but that I would trust him.
That means trust him to take care of my family, too.
He knows what he’s doing. It’s just going to take time to break through the barriers his father has put up, his family’s resistance to our marriage, and try to deal with old man Amorte, who hopefully now that his plan to use the detectives to get to me has been shattered, will just leave us alone.
I don’t really believe they will stop, but one can only hope.
What looks absolutely inviting is a long swim in the ocean but it’s far too cold for that right now.
I resign myself to a long run, throwing on some joggers and a pair of tennis shoes before finding the gym on the second floor.
It’s well equipped and I settle in for a long run on the treadmill after getting acclimated to all the bells and whistles that make this baby hum.
When finished, I’m drenched in my own sweat and head up to our room for a long shower.
My mind slowly clears and some of the pent-up energy from days of not running or doing anything more strenuous than having sex with the dark-haired god has been worked out.
I stand in my panties and swipe through the extensive collection of dresses, slacks and blouses that Massimo has had purchased and placed into the walk-in closet, trying to decide what to wear, not really knowing if I’m going to be alone for dinner or if whatever pulled him away is done or not.
I walk to the dresser and turn my cell over, checking for the hundredth time today for a message from Massimo.
Not one word. He and I are going to have to have a conversation about what I find an acceptable amount of worry, because I am not going to sit at home like the good little wife my mamma used to be, growing gray with worry and dying of a broken heart.
Not fucking likely, and I plan to tell him exactly that tonight.
Much later in the day, a folded piece of paper on the floor just inside the door catches my attention.
My brow knits, having not seen it before I got into the shower.
I stepped right over that very spot on my way into the bedroom.
Wondering if Elsie left me a note for some reason, I stoop to pick it up.
My whole body begins to tremble with paralyzing fear as I read it first once, and then again.
Dear Sophia,
I am not well, growing weaker each and every day.
The storm has demolished our home, our life, and the well laid future that was to be ours.
I may not be here tomorrow so am taking a chance sending you this note via unorthodox routes.
I pray that you make it in time to say goodbye but fear that you, too, are caught in a storm of your own. Love Always, Anna.
My heart races with unprecedented fear as I grab a pair of jeans, slide into them, almost jumping into my bra and pulling a sweater over my head.
I pull on a pair of dark tennis shoes with a lot of grip and sole.
“Hang on, Anna. I’ll be there soon.” I glance outside the window and grimace.
Fucking soldiers, they are never going to let me out of here without Massimo’s say so, and of course he’ll say no.
Well, he’s going to have to get used to the fact that I’m a Cassone, and we take care of our own, no matter the danger, or what he says. I’m going to Anna.
Elsie walks in at the very right time, and I pounce on the lady who has become more than a dear friend.
I’m putting her in a shitty position, especially with Massimo, but I’ll iron it all out later.
Right now, I just need to get to my sister before something really bad happens.
“I need your help. No questions, just help, understand? My sister is in danger and Massimo is gone. The guards won’t let me go to her.
” Lights shine into the window from outside and I pull her to the window.
The perimeter lights shine onto the white laundry truck that comes onto the property every three days to pick up all the soldiers’ clothes and take them away, returning them freshly washed, pressed, and sorted in a few days.
“I need to get on that truck. Take me to wherever it is that they come into the house at. Now, Elsie. No time to think about it. Massimo will agree once I explain everything.” I hope against hope that it’s true for her sake and for mine.
She doesn’t look convinced, and I am fucking running out of time. This is my only chance. “Please. Look at this, Elsie. What would you do if it was your sister?” I’m the last one to ever use tears to get my way but they roll down my face in waves. “She’s the only person I have left.”
Her face softens. “Come.” She takes my hand and as little as she is, she is a force to be reckoned with when the need arises.
Elsie almost drags me down the stairs, and then instead of going through the great room, leads me down a long hall and opens the door to another set of stairs. She closes the door behind us. “Hurry.”
I follow on her heels until we reach the bottom. There are bags and bags of laundry, big duffels on wheels that are packed to the tops with clothing, dirty smelly clothing. She points to one. “Help me unload one.”
There’s no hesitation on my part. I’ll go out however I need to in order to reach my sister in time, and going through the soldiers upstairs is going to be an exercise in frustration because they’re only going to say no, forbid me to go at gunpoint if necessary and send me back to my room.
That will take far too much time, and alert everyone that I may be planning to run.
No, this is my only chance. I drag the clothes from the big bag as quickly as I can until there’s enough left at the bottom to disguise me, but enough room for clothes to be piled back on top.
I hug Elsie to me as I lean it against a wall and slide in, pulling the sides of the big green duffle up as far as they will go.
“Pile it high, and close it, Elsie. If Massimo asks you where I’ve gone, mums the word.
Do you understand? You know nothing until I’ve had time to get to my sister.
Just stall for a little bit at least, okay? ”
A loud screech comes from the other side of the room.
“Down,” she whispers. “They’re coming.” She packs smelly clothes on top of me, while I scrunch down as much as I can, hoping to hell they use the wheels and don’t try lifting the duffel.
I may not weigh that much but I sure as hell weigh more than a pile of clothes, and they’ll know it the minute they pick it up.
But they’re in far too much of a hurry, yelling at each other about a schedule delay, and how it’s ruined one of their plans.
All of a sudden, the duffle gets lifted, one by each end and tossed into the back of the truck.
My neck kinks as I land but luckily, I wasn’t the first bag to go in the truck.
“Fucking family goes through more clothes than anyone I know. Shit’s getting heavier all the time. ”
“Quit your granny bitching. A job’s a job. Now let’s get the fuck out of here before I have to listen to my wife bitch about me being late all night long.”
The clanging of the doors locks me inside, but that sound, it rings over and over in my mind, summoning a warning that came long ago, and causing my blood to run absolutely fucking cold.