23. Alessia
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ALESSIA
Mom:
Family dinner tonight, 6:00 p.m. Can’t wait to see you.
Me:
See you then.
I walk into my last final before Christmas break will officially begin, before I have one week left of freedom.
This last week, Astor has been missing more. Every time I ask him what he’s doing, he tells me he’s just been “busy”. I know it’s bullshit, but I’ve been finding the time to get used to the fact that this will be my new normal soon. He took his last final two days ago and I haven’t seen him since then. He calls every morning and sends texts throughout the day, but when I ask where he is, he’ll tell me our father’s favorite line they used to tell us when we were kids: when the mafia calls . That just gives me anxiety, because they always come back either hurt or on edge.
“Once you’re finished with your exam, you are free to go. Enjoy your last Christmas break! Oh, and Alessia, I hear congratulations are in order.”
I try to avoid ducking under my desk when my professor says it, instead I smile and nod. How the fuck did he know about that, and why did he announce it?
“Good luck, and you can begin. Please put all phones on silent.”
I glance at my phone to check the volume and notice a text from Astor.
Astor:
Make that exam your bitch. I’ll be home late tonight, stay with Caroline.
Me:
No. I’ll see you at home.
Stay with Caroline? What the fuck was that about? I tuck my phone back into my pocket and start the exam. It should have probably felt way more difficult than it was. I was studying business, just like my father. Not many women took over mafia gangs and those who did had to work way harder for respect. My father always wanted me to understand how business works and how to run one— successfully . By the time I got to college to study it, he had already taught me basically everything, so it was mostly repeated information.
I smile as I hit submit and close my laptop for the exam that I know I probably passed with flying colors.
When I get outside of the door, I feel my phone vibrate. Checking it, I find myself immediately rolling my eyes.
Astor:
Little devil…
“Hey bitch! How was your exam?” Caroline asks, linking her hands through mine as we walk towards the parking lot.
“Easy. Yours?”
“Fucking killed it. Let’s go out tonight.” I groan and she elbows me. “Come on..”
“My missing in action fiancé is kindly blessing me with his presence tonight.” I suddenly stop and roll my lips, my finger tapping mindlessly.
“What is it? That’s your thinking face.”
“He told me he’d be home late …and to stay with you.”
She tilts her head and pushes her hip out. “With me?”
“Yes. I haven’t seen him in two days, he hasn’t touched me in two days, and the day he can, he tells me to stay with you?”
“That’s...interesting.”
“Fuck him. We’re going out.”
“Hell yeah, we are!”
He thinks he’s the only one that can go missing doing whatever he wants? He’s got another thing coming.
The drive to Astor’s house feels like it’s taking forever. I need to pack some stuff to take to my apartment. When I finally arrive, I’m hit with annoyance. I’m annoyed that I can still smell him everywhere, even though he hasn’t been here in two days. I’m annoyed that a part of me still wants to stay here tonight because I miss him. And I’m annoyed that Todd is following me around like a fucking puppy.
“Ms. Ballerini, how are you? Can I get you anything?”
“Todd, if you Ms. Ballerini me again, I’m going to lose my fucking mind. And today, of all days, is not the day you want me to lose it. I’ve got it, please go away .”
“Of course, I apologize.” He practically runs to the other side of the house and I take the stairs two steps at a time.
I’m stuffing things to possibly wear in my bag when my phone starts ringing for the sixth time since I ignored his message.
“Yes?” I answer, holding back my annoyance.
“ Malyshka , what are you doing?”
“No, Astor. What are you doing?” Silence. Complete silence. “I’m hanging up.”
“If you hang up this phone, I’ll lose my shit. And we both know we don’t want me to lose my fucking shit.”
“Lose it, baby .”
Click .
“What are you wearing? I bought a bunch of shit here,” Caroline says, scrolling on her phone as she lounges in my bed.
“I don’t know, maybe this dress?” I hold it up and her eyebrows shoot up, an evil grin spreading across her face.
“You know he’s going to be pissed when he finds out we went out. Even madder when he sees that dress,” she says, standing to stretch.
“Oh bitch, I’m counting on it.”
Game on.