Thirty Four |

                                    

                                          

Thirty Four |
Maybe it's because he brought up Mia. I convinced myself that was it. It took a moment of sloppy crying to gather myself enough to slip into the house through the back door. Waiting there was Bianca. She glanced up from her phone as I stepped in, and I sighed deeply. This was the last thing I fucking wanted right now.  
"He's heartless," she said simply.  
My cheeks heated, "I-I don't know what you're talking about." 
"Mhm. Sei un fottuto bugiardo."  
"I still don't speak Italian," I snapped, "If you're going to be a bitch then be a quiet one, yeah? I really don't need advice or critique from you."  
She was quiet for a moment, and I moved towards the steps.  
"I'm sorry," Bianca said suddenly.  
My eyes widened, "What?" 
"I'm sorry," she breathed slowly, "It's difficult for me. To see an outsider want this life, it's hard. We must understand for woman like us; it's hard." 
I relaxed slightly and I understood it.  
"You want to leave?"  
She gave me a small smile, "Questions offer choice. I don't have a choice. Elena does not, and Mia did not. There are others too. At least I'm in this house, under the protection of the boss, there are many who do not. You only see those closest to Diavolo, the one's whose lives depend on his success. You do not see the others."  
"And Luigi?" I demanded, "He betrayed Gabriele." 
Her gaze dropped, "Sometimes, power and wealth are not enough. Sometimes, men like Luigi think they have a choice when they do not."  
I nodded slowly, "I want us to be friends." 
"Friends?" she echoed, her eyes narrowing, "I don't want to be your friend. Idiota." 
Despite her hard look, her tone was light, and I couldn't help but smile, "See you later." 
"Hopefully not," she muttered, "Rimani in vita Outsider."  
I slept for twelve hours and then proceeded to avoid Gabriele for a week. I was beginning to get restless. Mattia was finally up and limping around slowly, and I wanted to leave. Luigi was proof that not even Gabriele's roof was entirely safe. So why the hell was I staying here? I had to find the keychain and fuck off to a different country. I didn't know yet, but I didn't want to stay here as soon as possible.  
Gabriele had been a nightmare too. He had Lorenzo or Elena following me around like glorified babysitters. Lorenzo's company was pleasant but Elena? Not so much. I had to figure out a way to first sneak away then find the keychain in his office. Without Mia I really had no reason to stay in this city, nor stay with Mattia's family. They were always good to me but they weren't Mia. No one was.  
Not to mention Gabriele stormed around the house on a fucking rampage. He grabbed Elena by the throat for being on her phone in a different room while I was in the kitchen. His words spoken were only Italian and he didn't offer me so much as a look. Then there was the time he stabbed Marco in the leg like a fucking psychopath for a glitch in the security system at the house, and then punched Giuseppe in the face for something else—who knew why.  
It was scary to say the least.  
Another reason I should fuck off. He was a walking red flag, and I didn't play capture the fucking flag. I spent most of the days on the laptop and some hours looking into dropping out of school—it seemed pointless now. I had murdered a man and shot a woman, what was the point? Mattia hung out with me a lot. We were good. I knew he was trying to be Mia for me but he wasn't that and it was sad to watch him try.  
Tonight, I sat on the couch in the living room watching a horror movie. I didn't even know what I was watching. Gabriele speaking lowly in the kitchen had all my attention. I was tense and I could see Lorenzo was too. He sat on the other couch, his head glancing back and forth between Gabriele and the movie.  
Mattia walked into the room with a smile. 
"Hey Pops," he greeted, throwing himself beside me on the couch.  
I let out a playful screech as he crushed my side, "Get off me you fat fuck!" 
"Fat? I'm just trying to give you all my love," he joked.  
I wiggled under him, playfully slapping his arm while avoiding his healing wounds, "I don't want it! You smell like fifteen-year-old boy. With all your money you still buy Axe?" 
He groaned, "You wound me. The girls love Axe." 
I cackled, "You're lucky you're cute. Maybe the girls will ignore how stinky you are." 
"Puoi stare zitto? Non mi interessa sentire come provi a scoparti l'amica di Mia," Gabriele suddenly thundered to Mattia, "Patetico."      
 Lorenzo muttered under his breath and I glared at Gabriele.  
"Sai che non è così," Mattia sighed, resting his arm around my shoulder, "Lei è come una sorella per me." 
"Are you talking back to me Ricci?" Gabriele purred with a smirk, his eyes flickering towards me, "Or do you just miss being in Marcella's care?" 
Mattia tensed and I bit my tongue. Was he trying to get a reaction from me?  
"Do you have something you want to say American?" Gabriele demanded towards me. 
I practically foamed at the mouth, "No. Not a thing."  
"Good," he growled before walking away.  
We turned back to the movie but I was sure by the time the credits rolled not a single person actually knew what the fucking thing was about.  
"I should go pretend to work," Mattia joked, his voice thick with tension.  
I nodded, watching as he humbled out of the room.  
"Who shit in his cereal?" Bianca muttered stepping into the room with Elena.  
I flinched at her words. 
"Careful," Lorenzo sighed. 
"Please," she snapped, typing on her phone, "He's not the first Italian to show his wrath and won't be the last."  
Elena rolled her eyes, "When did you get a backbone?"  
"Whatever. American you want to come with us?"  
I perked up, "Where?" 
"The club. I'm on babysitting duty now," Elena grumbled, "I'm also needed at the club." 
Excitement filled me, "Okay!"