Chapter 19 #2
“TMI! Gigi!” I follow behind her. My hands are itching to strangle her. At the same time I’m fighting a gag that this creep who is a suspect and possibly responsible for my attempted killing, is fucking my baby sister.
“You know you do have your own house in case you forgot,” Gigi teases as she fills up a glass of water and starts pouring it into the plants on the sill.
“Why are you here?” I repeat.
She opens her mouth and I cut her off. “Say one more word about this and I’m going to smack you.”
“Wow you can’t take a joke for shit.” Gigi rolls her eyes.
“Mom texted me and asked me to water her flowers because she was still at lunch with Franco. She said her flowers need to be watered at exactly two and not a minute late. She’s so type A.
So I did what she asked but I never expected to find you here. ”
“I forgot something here and Dominic was helping me look for it.”
Her smile gets bigger. “Oh, this is like one of those romance books, enemies to lovers, second chance type shit.”
“It’s more like a horror movie since everyone is getting shot.” I throw my hands up.
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
“No.”
“Maybe you lost it in your panties.”
“Gigi!”
“Alright. Alright. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Mom but you owe me a huge explanation later.” Gigi washes the glass and puts it back on the cabinet.
“You’re not mad?” I ask.
She looks at me weird. “Why would I be mad?”
“After everything that happened between us.”
“Cipi. I think this is wonderful. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you with a man that I’m actually relieved. I know I was very young but I always remember how happy you were around him.” Gigi walks back into the living room where Dominic and Elio are waiting.
“Hello, Cipriani, nice to see you again,” Elio smiles at me.
“Hello, Elio.” I want to punch him in the face now that it’s been confirmed he’s fucking my sister.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
“I’m fine.” I pause. “I wanted to ask you what made you want to come to my party? I don’t mean to be rude but we don’t even know each other.”
“Oh, trust me, I didn’t. My grandmother wanted me to go. I tried to get out of it but she guilt-tripped me. She said we don’t spend enough time together. Now I’m glad I went. If I hadn’t gone I would have never met your beautiful sister.”
“Aw, Elio, you’re so romantic.” Gigi links her arm through his.
I want to gag.
She turns to me. “You said you were looking for something in here?”
I know she’s trying to change the subject. I decide to use this opportunity to see how Elio will react. “Yes. I’m looking for Dad’s chess set. It used to be in the living room, but now it’s not there.”
Elio doesn’t flinch.
“Dad’s chess set. I had forgotten about that.
I remember when the whole family used to play together.
You should ask Mom. I’m sure she moved it somewhere.
She gets sad thinking about Dad.” She turns to Elio.
“Elio loves chess. You would have loved Dad’s chess set.
It was handmade out of golden rosewood.”
“You play chess?” I look at him.
“Yes.” Gigi answers for him. “He used to play in all kinds of tournaments. Maybe he can teach you when you find it. He’s a real chess champion.”
Discomfort crosses Elio’s face, but his lips twist into a polite smile.
“It’s true, I do love chess. I’m not a professional, but I enjoy playing.
” He leans against the wall, his gaze drifting to the window.
“I don’t mean to nerd out. But there’s something about a game of chess that thrills me.
Every piece has a role. A purpose. A strength.
A weakness. The board looks orderly, but one wrong move and the whole structure collapses.
” He glances at me. “It’s like a family.
Everyone has a part to play, but sometimes there is dishonesty and not everyone survives the endgame.
You never know who’s pulling the strings and what the next move will be. ”
Goosebumps rise on my skin.
Dominic catches my eye and gives me a look that says we should go.
“Do you know Bruno De Luca?” I turn to Elio.
He gives me a blank stare. “Bruno? No, I don’t. Who is he?”
“A very good chess player.” I give Gigi a hug and whisper that she needs to be careful. She ignores me like always. I nod to Elio and we head out.
“Are you sure that was a good idea telling him about the chess set?” Dominic whispers to me as we cross the street and head back to my house.
“Yes, because now we know he loves playing chess.”
“But he couldn’t have stolen the chess set. The first piece was delivered the day of your party and that’s when Gigi first met him.”
“True but he could be working with someone.” My brain replays Elio’s words over and over again as I step onto the porch and unlock the door.
Like a family. One wrong move and the whole structure collapses. Not everyone survives the endgame.
The pieces click and a sickening feeling churns in the pit of my stomach. I grab Dominic’s arm.
“Cipi, are you okay?” He opens the door and guides me through it to the living room.
I’m not okay.
I feel stupid.
The signs were there.
How could I have not seen it?
“Dominic,” I sink into the couch. “The chess pieces are not random.”
“What are you talking about?” He folds his arms.
I look up at him. “Like Elio said, the chess pieces are like a family. One wrong move and the structure collapses and you never know who controls the strings.”
Dominic looks confused.
“Don’t you see, Dominic. The chess pieces that we keep getting. They’re not just chess pieces. They’re us!”