Repaying the Mafia’s Dept

ISABELLA The scent of jasmine and freesia tickle my nose. There are flowers all along the window of this room.

It’s beautiful just like the rest of the house.

I met Tristan’s brother earlier. The boss, Massimo.

That was a few hours ago.

I’ve been in the room mostly, just wondering what I’m supposed to do now. it seems like I’m just meant to be a sitting duck.

I haven’t eaten since we arrived so the queasy feeling in my stomach shouldn’t surprise me. Nor the headache that snuck up on me. Both are what you get when you don’t eat enough.

It’s just that there’s too much going on and I’m on edge. I’m on edge just being here, knowing Tristan is in the same house. We haven’t spoken since last night.

It’s night again. Another day has passed by and I’m one step closer to the end. What’s filling my soul with angst is I don’t know what the end looks like. I won’t know what the and will look like until I get there.

There’s a knock at my door. It makes me jump at the sound because it cuts through the silence.

“Come in,” I call out. I’m grateful to see Candace come in but I bite the inside of my lip when I see the tray of cookies and cupcakes she’s carrying in one hand and the giant tub of ice cream in the other.

“Don’t even try to tell me you don’t want to eat. You didn’t come down to dinner. I’m not having you faint on me again.”

I giggle and I have that appreciation again for her friendship.

“Candace you’re like the sugar fairy.” I smile.

“That’s fine. I’m happy to be that. Come let’s eat. These muffins are still hot from the oven.”

That’s why they smell extra nice.

“Thank you. I will eat.”

She makes her way to join me on the bed and sets the tray down.

“I was thinking we could watch some films, just until we’re tired or fall asleep.”

I smile at that. “That would be cool.”

“Nothing takes your mind off like a little sugar and a great film. What do you feel like watching?”

“You pick. I think the average person would consider my choice of films boring.”

“I’ll have to raise you one on that since I’ve seen Gone with the Wind a hundred and one times and I could watch it again a few more times.”

I gasp. “What, you like films like that? That’s exactly me.”

“No way.”

“Yes, so you should know that I beat you because I’ve seen it two hundred times.”

She starts laughing. “This is gonna be good. I’ve never met anyone who was into classic films. I like anything though.”

“My mom got me into watching classic films. She loved all of them.”

“For me it was just something I got into. The older the movie the better. Look at as talking about films.” She beams. “See, good distraction, if only for tonight. Do you feel better for laughing?”

“Yeah, I do.” I reach for a muffin and start eating. It taste amazing and opens up my tastes buds to want more. “These are amazing.”

“Thank you. Eat up we have plenty. I thought it might help you to settle in, especially being in another strange house, and I … noticed you looked a little off all day.”

“Yeah… things are going to change again. In a big way.”

“Change could be good. Especially when it’s in line with your goals.”

“Yeah. I just wish…” I’m wary of how much I say. I can’t say much if anything at all.

She reaches out and touches my hand. “I’m sure whatever he chose to do was well thought out,” she says and I gaze at her.

She said he.

“Tristan,” she clarifies. “Tell me to mind my own business if you want but I sensed you must be sad because of him and not because of the situation. I guessed you stopped wanting to escape awhile back.”

I release a labored sigh and relax my shoulders. “It’s wrong of me to feel anything.”

“Why? Who says it’s wrong? Especially if you seemed to like each other before he took you.”

“I don’t know.”

“What did he say?” she looks curious.

“This week is goodbye. That’s basically it. It’s goodbye and I wish it wasn’t.”

“I know him Isabella and I assure you he would have thought about all sorts of things before he made that decision. I saw the way he looked at you and what I saw was his heart. I haven’t seen him look at anybody like that.”

It means a lot to hear that. “Thanks for saying that.”

“It’s true. Sometimes it helps to hear what others can see. That’s what I saw when I looked at him.” She gives my hands a gentle squeeze. “This week is going to be a very difficult week. We’ll need anything we can hold on to for hope.”

I nod agreeing.

“I think whatever happens next is what’s meant to be,” I say.

“Yes.”

That is what I have to accept. It will help me prepare for better or for worse.

TRISTAN I walk into Massimo’s house and sigh.

Today was long and stressful but I got everything done. Plans are all in place for our trip back to Rhode Island.

Everything is ready and the men we’re taking have been briefed on the mission plans. It’s just to get it done now.

I walk down the corridor and decide to go through the back passage to avoid everyone. Everyone meaning Isabella. I managed to avoid talking to her all day yesterday and being away today has helped with the distancing.

I turn the corner heading into the second living room and it’s just my luck that I nearly crash into her. I have to steady her to stop her from falling over.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going,” she apologizes quickly.

As I hold her I remember how much I miss her, and miss feeling like she was mine. Realizing I’m just holding her and staring, I let go.

“Sorry, I wasn’t looking either.” I was, but it’s something to say.

She gives me a coy smile and the sweet rose color fills her cheeks.

“Well it’s nice to see you. I was just getting something to eat. Candace gave me sugar last night and I can’t stop eating.” She sounds nervous.

“It’s good you’re eating. Regardless to what it is.”

“Yeah I guess.”

I should go. This prolonged tension is throwing me off and screwing with me. I would like to know how she is though. Just to see how she’s doing.

“Are you okay?”

She nods. “Yeah. It’s nice here. Everyone’s been great. How are you?”

We sound like that old married couple who are struggling to find things to talk about.

“I’m okay.”

“Are you ready for Friday?”

“Yeah, all set.”

“Good.”

“What no kiss?” comes a voice from the dark living room.

Isabella and I both turn to look. The lights comes on and Dominic comes into view with it.

My blood runs cold when I see he’s got his gun resting against the side of his head. Casual, like it’s nothing.

“Dominic,” I rasp out.

He stands but he staggers and his eyes have that spaced out look which look more pronounced when he smiles.

“I came in here and I can’t remember what for. To polish my gun, sniff a little heroine or watch you two,” he answers with a laugh that sounds off key.

He’s high.

Fucking hell. Christ… this is all we need now. But there’s going to be a reason for it. I’m just not prepped.

“Dominic put the gun away,” I demand.

“No. Not yet. hate that fucking vase,” he says and shoots the vase in the corner. It smashes and I move Isabella behind me. “And that fucking picture of that stupid shit.” Another bullet echoes and lands in a painting of some abstract designs.

“Dominic stop it,” I yell.

“Fuck you,” he turns to me and waves the gun around. “Look at you acting all noble. The underboss by day, and by night you fuck the enemies daughter. You should be ashamed of yourself.

How quickly you forget it was her father’s fault that Alyssa’s dead. Her father did that to you and you don’t care. All you care about is your fucking dick and pussy.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I’m numb and I’m infuriated. He’s saying things I’ve already battled in my mind. While I can’t see Isabella I know she must be completely humiliated.

“I saw the two of you on the island, fucking, fucking without a care in the world. Alyssa was reason enough not to go there Tristan, but Pa…” he winces and then I see the answer to what happened to him. He’s grieving. “Gonna deny it? here’s proof.”

To my horror he presses a button on his phone and the wide screen tv comes on with footage of Isabella’s bedroom back on the Island. The two of us are in bed having sex. The image of us is there and our moans and groans of pleasure fill the room.

My eyes are fixed on the screen before me of me devouring the woman I shouldn’t have had.

Dominic is high and acting on it, but what he said is shit he’s wanted to say. What he’s doing is what he truly wanted to do.

Isabella grabs on to my shirt and I dare not look at her. It was my fault we crossed that line. Not hers. I took the first step.

“Switch it off!” roars Massimo from the other side of the room. Candice is standing next to him.

The two are staring back at both Dominic and the recording with dismay.

Dominic switches it off but he smiles. “Of course boss, you would side with him. You’re well versed in fucking the enemy’s daughter. Maybe I should find someone to fuck too to join the club.”

“Dominic you’re in trouble,” Massimo says.

“No, I’m not in trouble. I’m fine. I’ve never felt better. Never felt more alive. You should try it.

When I’m like this I forget the pain. I forget I have no one.”

“That’s bull shit and you know it!” I cut in.

“Is it? You two stick together. Andreas was the loner. All I had was Pa and he’s not here anymore.

He’s dead and I was just expected to move on and get revenge. Like that’s gonna solve anything or bring him back. We don’t talk about how we feel, not with me anyway. You all leave me out.”

“That’s not true,” Massimo says.

It isn’t true but Dominic believes that.

“It’s fucking true,” Dominic counters and fires another shot. This time he gets the window and the glass smashes.

“Dominic please put the gun down,” Candace says.

“No.” He wails and shoots the metal panel on the wall.

I almost die as I watch the bullet ricochet off the metal and recoil into her, hitting her right in her chest.

She screams out a sound so piercing it seems to rock reality.

“Candace!” Massimo shouts as she falls to the ground. He grabs her and Isabella rushes over to them crying hard.

It must be shock that has me paralyzed because I can’t move. I watch Dominic as he realizes what he did.

He lowers the gun first and then it slips from his hands. He’s shaking his head and looking at them.

“No… oh God, no. Candace, my angel,” he says. He takes one step to go to them but I intercept.

I rush him with the rage I felt and send a punch straight to his face knocking him to the ground. He scrambles to get up but can’t. He’s stunned from my blow and the fucking drugs he’s taken.

“Fucking bastard, don’t you dare go to her. You don’t deserve her. You don’t. We all grieved when Pa died. Don’t tell us bullshit to make it okay for you to believe the lies you tell yourself.”

He’s staring back at me with tears streaming down his cheeks.

I pull out my phone to call 911.

When Massimo starts CPR, my heart breaks. There’s so much blood everywhere.

Candace isn’t moving and she’s not breathing, all she’s doing is bleeding.

I can’t lose her. We can’t lose her.

Massimo continues CPR, but it’s not working.