CHAPTER 4 #3
“Believe it or not, the only reason I agreed to come back here at all, was because of you. Because I missed you and wanted to see for myself that you were happy and safe.” I dared to glance up at her, but she was still watching me like she wanted to claw my eyes out.
“And Mum…I’m sorry you feel robbed of the chance to know her, but I believe it was better that way for you.
Our mother was not a warm, or loving person.
She was an addict, and it made her selfish, negligent, and violent at times.
I know you won’t like this, but I’m glad you never had to face her.
It would not have been whatever fairy tale ending you were hoping for. ”
“You don’t know that. Maybe she would have loved me. Maybe she just couldn’t love you.”
“Maybe,” I nodded. “But I doubt it. I don’t think that woman was capable of love.”
“I’ll never know, will I?” she growled.
“Can’t we just start over? I promise I’ll try to stay out of the way more and give you time with your family. I won’t get in your way, and you’re right. Rafe should be the only one who can tell you what to do. I’ll keep my nose out of your business,” I offered.
“No,” she shook her head. “I don’t want that. You said you only came here to check on me. You’ve done that. I’m fine. I think you should just go back to wherever you came from now. I want you out of this house, and preferably out of this country too.”
Just because her words were calmer, didn’t make them any easier to hear. But she had been clear at least.
“Okay,” I nodded.
“Absolutely not!” Dante bit out as he rose to his feet and leaned over the counter towards me with anger. “You’re not leaving. It’s not safe!”
“He’s right,” Rafe agreed. “Cara is not leaving this house just because you threw a tantrum, Gia. This is her home as much as it is yours or mine.”
“No it’s not! Dad paid for this house and everything we have. Our Dad! Not hers!”
“I paid for everything we have, Gia. This house, the business, everything you own, and every penny you spend, I provide! Not one penny of the blood money Marcello De Santis built, exists in this family any longer. I made sure of that! I run this family now, and you would do well to remember that, and your place in it!” Rafe raged as he leaned in over Gia threateningly.
“Oh, I know my place, Rafe. Right at the bottom of the pile with the rest of the bullshit you tossed aside!” Gia cried, but she was sniffling now.
“Enough of your drama!” Rafe told her more calmly as he stood.
“I don’t want to hear this crap. You know I love you, and you know that you are now, and have always been, at the very top of my list of priorities.
The only reason you’re behaving like this now is because you suddenly have to share that position with Cara, because I love her too, as should you!
You’re spoiled and jealous and I am sick of it impacting Cara when she has done not a bloody thing wrong! It’s time you actually grew up!”
“I don’t have to put up with this!” Gia yelled as she shot to her feet and backed towards the door. “Get me a car! I’m leaving!”
“Get you a car?” Rafe scoffed. “Where exactly do you think you’re going? You don’t have a penny to your name without my bank account and credit cards.”
“I’m staying with friends!” Gia announced stubbornly.
“No, you’re not.” Rafe said flatly. He returned to his seat and picked up his half filled cup of coffee taking a sip.
“You are not leaving this house. Go to your room and get your phone, laptop, and tablet. Bring them to me. I’ve already notified school that you will be unable to attend for the next week while I clean up this mess and ensure it’s safe again.
During that time you’re going to do some thinking.
No TV. No phone calls. No electronics of any kind.
” Rafe said flatly, brokering no argument.
“You can’t do that!” Gia screeched.
“I can and I am. You snuck out of this house when you knew the danger we all faced, and you didn’t stop to think for one second about your selfish actions.
You blamed Cara for endangering your family, but what do you think you did last night?
We were all out on the streets, searching for you, with targets on our backs.
Did you even consider that? Did you think about the lengths me and your family would have to go to in order to rescue you if you were taken, which you were!
You didn’t care much about any of your beloved family when you slipped out of that back door yesterday, did you? ”
“I should be allowed to go out!”
“You’re sixteen! Underage!” Rafe snapped. “When you’re older I will allow you to have all the nights out you want, but safely. Right now you’re still a child.”
“She did this! I told you! She made you hate me!” Gia waved her finger in my direction again and I tried not to grimace this time.
“I said enough of your drama!” Rafe barked. “Go and get your electronics and return here, then we’re going to have a discussion about Jase and what exactly you thought you were doing with him!”
“Rafe…” Gia tried, but Rafe cut her off.
“Go. I want you back here with everything in five minutes!”
Gia stormed from the room with another crash of the door, but I was prepared for it this time and didn’t jump.
“Maybe we could just make that doorway into an arched entrance or something?” Terza suggested playfully, making me smile, all be it a little wobbly.
“Dante, check with our team outside. Make sure they know Gia is not to leave the house at all without my permission until further notice. And I want that door downstairs alarmed,” Rafe ordered, sounding exhausted.
Dante just nodded, but he looked to me for several moments without moving. Eventually I realised he was worried about me and how upset I was. When I gave him a small nod and forced another wobbly smile, he nodded back, then got to his feet and left the room.
“Are you alright, Cara?” Cal asked gently.
“I won’t lie and say that didn’t hurt, but yeah. I’m okay,” I assured him.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She’s always been a little spoiled and selfish, but never like this. She was like another person,” Rafe spoke up.
“Maybe she could benefit from some kind of counselling or therapy, Rafe? She seems to have some issues she could do with working through,” Cal suggested.
“Maybe, but I don’t think I’ll suggest that just yet. Maybe when she’s feeling calmer,” Rafe proposed and we all nodded our agreement. Suggesting she speak to a professional right now, would be like throwing gasoline on a fire.
“I think I should leave, Rafe,” I confessed.
“What?” Rafe gasped.
“I know it’s not what you want, but it’s what’s best for Gia and we have to respect what she needs right now. Like you said – she’s only a kid. I could get a hotel room or something…at least for a while.”
“No. It’s not safe. I need you here where I can protect you. Even when I clear this situation up, there will always be others. You won’t be safe alone,” Rafe argued.
“I can take care of myself, and I can check in with you all regularly. I know how to stay under the radar. I’ll be okay,” I assured him.
“I can’t Cara, please. I need you here and safe. I can’t stand to send you away again. Not ever again,” he pleaded as he leaned over the corner of the counter and pulled my hand into his. “I’ll fix this. Please just give me a chance to fix it.”
“Okay,” I gave in easily, turning my hand under his and linking our fingers. He looked so beaten down and exhausted. I had never seen him that way and it scared me. “I won’t leave. I promise.”
“Thank you.” He seemed to deflate before me with relief.
“But I want a promise in return,” I continued.
“Tell me.”
“I want you to promise to go to bed and get some proper rest for a few hours at least. You look exhausted. You have to sleep,” I told him firmly.
“Gia…”
“I’ll handle it, Rafe. Ye already laid down the law wi’ her. I’ll see that we get all of her technology and keep an eye on her. Dario’ll be back soon, and he can question her about Jase,” Arran stepped in, and I turned to him with a grateful smile.
“And we’ll keep an eye on Cara too. Make sure she’s resting enough,” Cal added.
“I really should just spend the day in my room. I told Gia I would stay out of her way more,” I pointed out.
“No!” Rafe countered urgently. “I don’t want you locked away in your room alone. You told me it helps you feel better, having people around. I don’t want you getting lost again, Gioia.”
“I agree. Yer no’ hiding away just because Gia spat her dummy. We havnae once done anythin’ to stop her joining us all. She’s the one who’s isolated herself, and that happened a long while before ye came back in to the picture, Cara.”
“We’ll try harder to make Gia join us when we watch movies, and boxsets, and stuff, okay? But you don’t have to stop spending time with us,” Cal added.
“I guess we could try,” I agreed. Rafe looked worried when I turned back to him and found him watching me closely. “I’m okay. I won’t get lost, Raffy.”
I just wanted to soothe his frayed edges so he could sleep. He didn’t need to know that inside the chunks that my sister had torn from me that morning and the night before, were just adding to the swirling confusion, fear, chaos, and anxiety that used to be my mind.