I almost choked on my own spit hearing those words. I look at Francesco who shakes his head in denial of his brother's potential interest in the opposite sex.
Alexander grabs the knife and fork. "I'm glad to hear that he finally decided to settle down."
"You two knew each other?"
He sank the food between his lips, tongue grazing across it ever so slightly as his eyes lifted. "You could say...we're childhood companions."
What? I've never seen pictures of Alexander inside Anthony's house. Maybe, they are friends that fell apart?
"I've never heard about you." I'm digging a hole, my coffin hole. Francesco nudges my waist and shakes his head.
"Anthony and I don't quite see eye to eye."
I stare at him - It's a very long one where I rarely blink while he continues eating. The knife digs deeply into the steak, but it never makes contact with the plate. My eyes dash down toward his cuffs, and I realize that with each movement, it roll up slightly revealing a dark inkling underneath.
"Are you...in the mafia?" By now, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a bullet running through my head.
He snickers, "Shock?"
"Not really."
"What makes you think that?"
"There are tattoos near your wrists, you walk around with men in suits, and you talk back to Francesco whose family runs the Italian mafia."
"Make sense. You're not afraid?"
"Of?"
"I may kill Francesco and that little boy in the other room then take you and that sweetheart that's somehow still urinating to serve me than my men."
I clench tightly onto my shirt. "You won't do that."
He places down the knife and fork. "And why not?"
I swallow, "B-Because you're in the Italian's territory. You're strong, but I'm c-certain that Anthony's men are outside and they got more leverage h-here. P-Plus -"
"Plus?"
"You won't dare kill Francesco who is the brother of Anthony and me...I'm Anthony's woman." Those words left my lips, causing an unidentified spark inside my stomach - I'm Anthony's woman.
His gaze drops down towards my body. "And how are you so certain I won't touch another man's woman?"
"Because th-there's no benefit - only death."
He laughs, a peal of loud ruffled laughter "Oh, are you sure that Anthony's affection for you will go that far?"
I bit my lower lips and my fingers curled inward.
"Did you know, a floral garden is but a place where beautiful flowers are grown and displayed?"
What is he talking about?
He leans in closer, "Unfortunately, a flower can be admired for so long until they are no longer beautiful - until they wither into nothingness."
Oh, I understand what he's saying. Alexander is saying that Anthony's affection towards me is nothing more than lust - how he enjoys how I look, how I am pleasing to his eyes. Once my time is up, he will leave me.
"A flower is one of many."
Francesco ground his molars, "Alexa-"
"You're right. A floral garden is filled with numerous amount of beautiful flowers. The gardener's interest can rest in one flower for so long until it is lost," I want to cry. "But, for now. The gardener would do anything to protect this flower."
Alexander cocks his head, studying my reaction to his harsh words. "Then, should we see how long the gardener's interest lasts?"
A man came up to him and whispered something into his ear. Alexander places a finger in the air. "I believe I have some business to attend. I look forward to how the story unravels," He smiles. "It was a pleasure meeting you Angie."
Once he exits the door with the men that follow him inside, Francesco stands up. "I'm going to call Anthony." He left for another room.
I calm down my breathing, I look down at the moist shaky palms and realize there is blood on my nails.
The tears drip down.
Is this how my life will be?
How I am forced to bite down my tongue because I'm afraid to lose my life.
Lily walks out with tears rolling down her cheeks. A coat wrapped around her waist. She bounces on her sandals. "I-I accidentally peed on myself. I'm sorry."
We're still kids pretending to be adults. We thought we grew up because of all the hardships we went through, but everything seemed like nothing.
Lily burst out crying, "I-I don't want to die Ann."
I hugged her.
She holds onto me tightly. "I-I'm s-scared."
I clench her shirt. "Don't worry" I swallowed the lump inside my throat. "We will be okay."
How long will we be okay?
How long will it be until Anthony gets bored of me?
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