4 – Alessia
I walk to the kitchen and lean against the counter. My mind is still foggy from that kiss, which was not meant to happen. I’m so totally screwed!
“Hi, this is Alessia.”
“Hi Miss DiSanti, my name is Eve, your father’s doctor. I’m sorry to call you so late but this couldn’t wait.”
“Spill it.”
“Uhm yes of course Miss. I’m sorry to tell you but your father just passed away in his sleep. It was peaceful.”
My heart hammers in my throat. Fuck, the old guy really can be killed. Not with a bullet like everyone expected but by a faulty and sick heart.
“Okay… Thank you for the call, can you make arrangements for him to be brought down to the basement? My people will collect him there tomorrow morning.”
I hear the doctor sputter on the other end of the line, but I already hang up the phone. I dial Elio and he answers on the first ring.
“Yes, Ma’am?”
“He’ s dead.”
“I’m sorry” His voice raising as if he’s not sure it’s a question or not.
“It’s okay, I’m glad it’s over. The hospital will make sure his body is ready to be collected tomorrow morning. So, make sure Vinnie gets him. Then call in the other Dons and make sure we can perform my coronation after his funeral.”
“And what about your meetings tomorrow?”
“Cancel my lunch meeting. That shit is not important right now. I’ll let them know that Alex will be taking my place in that breakfast meeting.”
“You’re sure about that boss?”
“Are you questioning me, Elio?”
“No boss, but I’m just saying we don’t want to appear weak right now. Without an official head of the family, I mean. Vultures will rise, boss.”
“I know, but we won’t be. I need to make the final arrangements for Leonardo’s funeral, you just take care of the things I said.”
“Yes boss, of course. Anything else?”
“No that’s it for now.” With that I hang up the phone. I slam it down on the counter and rest my head in my hands.
FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!
I hear someone scratch her throat behind me. CAZZO!
“Everything okay? Did somebody die?” Harper’s voice is so quiet I can barely hear her.
“Sorry, I forgot you were here for a minute.”
“Oh. Okay, I’ll leave you to it. Bye.”
“No! W ait! I’m sorry. My real life got in the way. Not this fairytale I just had with you.”
“Your real life? You mean your job at the hospital?”
I love how na?ve she is. Not a care in the world in that pretty head of hers.
The memory of just minutes ago flashes before my eyes.
Holy Mother Mary, she tasted delicious. Not just the white chocolate ice cream on her lips but just her raw natural taste.
Her body melted into mine, she was so soft and warm under my hands.
That rose and jasmine scent consuming me. I snap out of the memory.
“Yes, uhm… No, not really. It’s complicated.”
“Then uncomplicate it for me.”
“I can’t—not right now, maybe later… If you decide to stay.”
“What? You mean to tell me you can only tell stuff about yourself when I’m your girlfriend?”
I sigh.
“Honestly? Yes! My life is fucking complicated and if you want to know about me there’s no going back.” I am practically yelling at her now.
“Screw you! This was a mistake.” With that she calls the elevator and steps inside. She keeps standing in the middle with her back to me, not giving me another glance. The door closes and with that Harper Davis is gone from my life.
FUCK, ALESSIA! WHY ARE YOU SUCH A BITCH!
I hurl everything I see off the counter.
Glass shatters on the floor. I grab the vase that’s on the counter and hurl it against the wall!
Why can’t I ever just be normal, why do I have to push everyone away if they show even a little bit of interest in me?
My phone pings on the floor lying between the shards of glass, the screen cracked.
Elio: Do I need to make sure Miss Davis gets home safely?
Yes, please do. But make sure she doesn’t know she’s being followed.
Of course, boss!
And get me a new phone, this one’s cracked!
Do I even want to know?
I’ll tell you later… Maybe.
With that I put the broken phone back on the counter.
I turn around and my legs give out and I sink to the kitchen floor.
Broken glass and flowers all around me. Tears sting in my eyes and I let go.
I sob and howl. The pain in my chest is unbearable.
Not because of my father’s death but because of what my future will hold.
My life just changed. This morning, I was hoping to find a girl I could connect with and maybe even love one day.
Now I need to make arrangements to become a mafia queen and bury my father.
Still, I’m glad he’s dead but fucking hell my life will never be my own now.
The target on my back just got bigger. I gasp for air between my sobs, my hands trembling as I rake them through the shattered petals and shards of glass.
The Madonna Lillies are ruined, much like the remnants of the life I had hoped to live.
I sit there for what feels like hours when a ding from the elevator makes my spine stiffen.
Instinct takes over. The grief for life I once knew shoves itself into a dark corner, making room for the only thing that will keep me alive now, control.
I swipe at my tears and push myself up, my palm slicing open on a jagged piece of glass.
“Boss?”
I lift my chin at the sound of Elio’s voice. He doesn’t falter, doesn’t so much as flinch at the mess in front of him. His tailored black suit is pristine, his hands clasped in front of him like he’s standing in a church instead of my blood-stained kitchen.
“She’s home safe.” he says, his voice low.
My throat is raw, but I swallow down the remnants of my breakdown and step forward. My feet crunch over glass as I approach him.
“Good,” I say, though it doesn’t feel good. It feels like chains wrapping around my wrists. Like a weight pressing down on my spine. “Get this cleaned up. I have to tell Lorenzo and Bella.”
Elio nods once, but before he turns, his dark eyes sweep over me. There’s something there… Pity? Concern? I don’t care. I can’t afford to.
I follow him out of the kitchen, grabbing my phone off the counter and step over broken past and into the future.
A future drenched in blood.
I walk over to the windows that overlook the ocean and I unlock the screen and there it is. Her name. She has sent me a message.
Harper: I thought you would be different. Have a nice life. Don’t bother to come and find me at the hospital. We’re done before we even started.
Like hell we are! She will be mine if she wants to or not.
My blood starts to boil with anger. Then I remember why I got my phone in the first place.
I open up the video chat with my siblings.
Even before I dial them, I can see that my camera is cracked as well.
Fuck my luck today! I look around the room for my tablet and spot it over on the coffee table by the couch, next to the dripping molten ice cream on to my burgundy rug.
Olivia, my cleaner, is going to have a field day cleaning up that stain.
I pick up my tablet and take a seat on one of the chairs.
I push the button to dial the group video chat.
Lorenzo picks up after a few rings.
“Hey, big sis. What’s up?”
“Let’s wait for Bella to join us.”
A few ri ngs later Bella joins the call. Her dark eyes and curly hair fill the screen.
“Hi, sis! I miss you!”
“We live in the same building. If you were ever home you wouldn’t have this problem.” I say, taking no shit from her today.
“Yeah, I know but with you always working in that hospital and me doing my own stuff I barely get so see you.” She’s practically whining by now.
I decide not to go on about this. I look at my baby brother. “And where are you right now?” I ask.
“I’m in Italy visiting uncle Marco and overseeing the next shipment. Remember? You asked Elio to book a plane ticket for me last month.”
Oh yeah that’s right. I totally forgot I sent him there. Some mafia queen I’ll be when I can’t even keep track of my men.
“Well… I need you both home within the next twenty-four hours. I’ll have Elio make the arrangements for you both.”
“Why?” They ask in unison.
“Because I just got word from the hospital that our father died. We need to prepare ourselves for the funeral and my coronation. We need to be united now more than ever.”
My brother looks at the camera stone faced. My sister starts crying quietly. She was always father’s favorite so of course she’ll miss and mourn him. My brother is the first one to break the silence.
“I’l l wait on the info from Elio and then I’ll be home as soon as possible.” With that he ends his part of the call.
“How did it happen?” Bella asks between sniffles.
“You know the cancer got to his heart, fioro piccolo.” She just nods, smiling at the nickname I have for her.
“It had infected his entire heart, it was a matter of days, maybe weeks. The doctor said he went in his sleep. Peacefully.”
With that knowledge her spirit seems to lift a bit, I say my goodbyes and end the call. Task one down. About a million to go before the end of the week.
I walk down the hall to my bedroom. I switch on the light and my room is filled with soft ambient lighting.
I look around my room, I love this room.
Dark blue paint covers the walls and ceilings.
In the center is the most comfortable bed I ever had.
The head and footboard are made of dark oak wood.
Soft Egyptian cotton sheets make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud.
On my left there’s an archway to my bathroom with a bathtub big enough for two people, shower and double sinks.
On my right there’s a big walk-in closet with all my dresses and clothes and a separate section to house my shoe addiction.
I walk over to the bath and turn on the tap.
Steam immediately fills the room. I drop in some oils and a bath bomb and let it fill up while I undress in the bedroom.
The moment my body sinks into the bath I start to feel a little bit more like myself.
As if the water is taking all my worries with them.
Memories of today swirl around in my head.
Seeing Harpe r on the roof for the first time.
Bumping into her again outside the dressing room.
If I had only left a little bit later, I might have been able to see her in nothing but her lingerie.
My mind puts up an image of Harper in lingerie and my core clenches.
I let my hands roam across my body. Across my tits, twisting my own nipples.
One hand stays there. Twisting and kneading my breasts while the other one snakes over my stomach towards the throbbing point between my legs.
I softly glide my fingers over my clit. I already feel the slick feeling of my arousal.
Fuck, Harper has a vice grip on me. I let my fingers dip into my pussy, the feel makes me arch my back.
Water sloshes over the edge of the tub. I pull at my nipple and let my fingers slide in and out.
The image fades to a new one where she’s lying on my bed, naked with nothing else but some pretty leather cuffs holding her in place for me.
I start pumping my fingers in and out faster.
My orgasm almost at the point of no return.
I moan and flick my clit with my thumb. I ride my own hand until I feel my orgasm crashing into me.
My toes curling and my body bucking heavily.
Her name leaves my lips in a strangled cry. If only she was here to hear it.
After washing my hair, I put on my robe and climb into bed. I check my phone to see if any new messages came in but it’s blank. So, I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.
The next morning, I wake up with the sun in my face and somebody talking to me. I pry open my eyes, but everything hurts, even my eyelids. Who knew that was possible? Th e voice keeps talking to me and I manage to open one eye and see Elio standing at the foot of my bed.
“What the hell are you doing in my bedroom? You know it’s off limits.” I scold him.
“Yeah, I know but I don’t give a fuck! You need to get your ass out of that bed, we have stuff to do!”
“Who are you? My father? Oh no, wait, he’s dead!
” I chuckle into the covers. Elio can’t seem to appreciate the dark humor that flows in my blood.
It’s about the only tool I have to cope with the shit storm that is my life.
It helped me through some pretty dark days and made me see some light through it all.
My shrink says it’s unhealthy to use it as a way to deal with my feelings, but what does he know? I’m still here living, and he doesn’t even know my real story. Only bits and pieces that won’t incriminate me or my family. If he knew all of it, he’d probably say I’m doing just fine.
Elio pulls at my covers, and I pull the robe I slept in tighter around me. I know Elio my entire life but that doesn’t mean he has a free pass to see my tits.
“Okay, okay, I’m up!”
I fling my legs of the bed and walk towards the bathroom to fix my hair and face. Dark circles line my eyes and my hair is so spiky you could use it to receive the news channel, no brush can fix that.
I turn on the shower and wait for the water to warm up.
I bend at the waist making sure to only put water on my hair.
I am in no mood to go through the whole shower routine.
I turn off the shower and lather up my hair with curling cream, mousse and g el before combing it and twisting it into an old t-shirt.
I walk back to the sink to start fixing my face. Elio steps into the bathroom now.
“Lorenzo is already on his flight home from Italy. He should be here in about six hours.”
I put on my foundation and ask. “And Bella?”
“She’s here within the hour. I let her sleep before putting her in a jet, seeing as Lorenzo is still a few hours away I thought that would be the nice thing to do. Besides, you needed your own space and not your baby sister clinging to you.”
“Thank you.” A lump forms in my throat.
“I’ve put undercover guards in Miss Davis’s life to make sure she stays safe.”
Gratitude swells in my chest. That’s why Elio is my righthand man, he always knows what to do without me asking.
“Don’t tear up. You’ll ruin your make up and seeing as the Dons are coming in today you need to look flawless.”
That helps to snap my mask back into place. Enough with the feelings for now. Those need to wait until another time, place or maybe even another millennium.