Finding Her

C H A P T E R - T W O

"Two—"

"Go steal Savino's phone!"

"Thr—"

"Wait! Val!" Marcello huffs and I lean back on my chair, Eleonora whines slightly at my movement. "I was thinking about taking a trip down to New York. You think I can stay at your place?"

Oh, yes sure. Stay at my place. The place I'm currently not in. Actually I'm in Italy at the moment but yes! Come stay with me for the weekend.

"No." I grunt.

"Wha— no?" Marcello whines. "Why no?"

"Yes, that's what I said." I find myself brushing through Elli— Eleonora's hair, finding a sense of comfort. "You should've just texted me, why call? It would have been easier not to listen to your complaining."

"Because if I call then mamma won't bother me but if I text she will."

My eyes roll.

The loud speaker comes on to announce that we've arrived and my attention jolts. My brothers can't know I'm on a plane. My eyes snap to John who is already up and shutting of the robot's voice.

Oh for fucks sake.

"What was that?"

Of course he can't mind his business. It runs in the family.

"Was that a plane attendant person thing? Where are you going?"

"Mio Dio." I mumble.

"Wait.. you're actually leaving work for once? It's a miracle! Enzo's got some competition!" Mar chuckles.

"No I'm not." I retort quickly. If anything is out of the ordinary, he'll tell our parents and then everyone will find out about the kid that nobody needs to know about. She'll be gone soon anyways. "I'm on my way to..", my eyes snap to my computer where and e-mail waited to be sent out. ".. California. To see Richard.. he needs my help." Richard is the head to the American mafia and definitely does not need my help with anything.

"Oh.. does papà know?"

"He doesn't need to. He's not Don." I shut his question down.

Of course my papà does not know I am harboring a child.. and back in Italy.

It took some work but eventually I got my brother off the phone and the flight attendant took our luggage, handing it off to my guards outside.

I gently shake Eleonora awake. Her eyes snap open before reregistering that it was me who had her in my arms. She relaxes.

"Piccolina.. do you know what Italy is?" Her eyes glance around the plane, shaking her head no. "Italy is a country and it is where you will live now, sí?" Her body shifts so I sit her up in my lap. I notice how tired she always is. I level it down to the exhaustion from what she has been through. "Can I show you?"

Eleonora stretches and falls back onto my chest. I smile without even registering it. She nods, her tired eyes shining at mine.