;)
Hey guys! Happy belated Valentine's Day!
Check out the new Omertà trailer attached to this chapter!
Don't forget to VOTE & COMMENT!
* * *
“Oh great," I said.
My gaze slid over the elegant woman wearing sitting cross-legged in front of me. She wore a grey fox fur spiral trim cape, cream slacks, tasteful boots, and her hair was twisted up into a tight bun.
“What kind of greeting was that?” Mother demanded, her shaped eyebrows rising as far as her plastic face would allow her. “Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? You weren’t answering any of your calls. I cleared my schedule and came to your apartment. Imagine my surprise, to find that you moved next door!”
When I didn’t respond, she stood up from the bed, offering her arms in an unquestionably cold hug, which I reluctantly took. Her perfume somehow reminded me of my childhood home, and I started to feel very sick. Now was my opportunity to tell her everything: that I had been drugged, tied to a chair, and suffering from Stockholm syndrome. That my neighbor was in the mafia and although I had slept with him in the same bed the night before, I was terrified of him…
“Say something, Scarlett! Are you and him serious?” Mother pulled out of the hug and smiled—or at least I think she was smiling. That damn Botox…
I avoided her prodding, feeling as though a dark haired Italian boy was a mere two feet outside the bedroom. “How are you and Greg?” I asked.
“He’s wonderful!” She looked past me, smiling. Oh god, why did you let her talk about herself? “Yesterday we picked out a new hot tub for one of our houses!” She pressed a finger against her lip. “I think we installed it in the one in Vermont. We haven’t used it yet, of course, but we will eventually.” Not. “We’re spending Christmas there, I believe!
“That’s nice.” Don’t invite me. Don’t invite me.
“Oh, darling”--Mother lowered her voice to a whisper-- “Ferro’s a dream. He’s so handsome, polite…and rich. He complimented my hair, offered to make me coffee. I approve.” Approve. That wasn’t a word I heard from my mother often. “But those bruises on his face were so dreadful at worst, I thought he was a criminal or something!” She laughed, her extremely high cheekbones never budging, like concrete. “I don’t know how he does it. Kickboxing, that is. I always wanted to take it up with my trainer, but my manicure would get ruined! He must be very good!”
I bit back a smile. “He does love his kickboxing…” Aka getting his head kicked in with my foot.
“Excuse me ladies,” an Italian lilt announced, startling me. My gaze shot over my mother’s shoulder, and I made eye contact with the Linguini Sex God himself. “I’ve made espresso for you both.”
Ferro held my gaze from over my mother’s shoulder, and I couldn’t help but feel as if he was angry with me. He was leaning a shoulder against the arch of his bedroom door, wearing a suit and tie that made the room temperature surge to a boil. His dark hair was styled out of his face with a bit of gel, and it curled slightly at the tip of his collar. My fingers twitched, like a cocaine addict wanting their fix. I had touched that soft, thick hair last night…
“You made espresso? Oh!” Mother made a face at me that read: ‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about him’, and then turned back to Ferro and clasped her hands together like an excited child. “Ferro, you are both handsome and smart! Espresso is the key to my heart. How did you make it? I’m sure your Italian blood will make this the best espresso I’ve ever had.”
I rolled my eyes. Cougar alert.
“It’s Caffe Americano, made with more water than I would normally drink it. Don’t want to make you too jittery,” Ferro answered politely. When he smiled at her, it felt as if it was really meant for me, and somehow, that smile came off as an animal bearing its fangs at an enemy. What the hell is up his butt?
“You almost won my heart, young man.” She crossed the room to the criminal, placing a hand on his generous bicep. “However, I was expecting caffé correcto,” Mother joked, and I couldn’t help but feel like a spectator on the conversation. Nobody knew more about excluding me from conversations, as my mother did.
“What’s caffé correcto?” I asked.
“Espresso with a little liquor in it,” Ferro answered with a chuckle. “Adds an extra kick start to your day and warms you up.” He winked at my mother. That manipulating sex-addicted bastard better not try to fück my mother! “I can put a splash of Sambuca in yours, Mrs. Clemente, if you would like.”
“Please, call me Diane,” Mother practically purred out. My mouth fell open when she placed her hand on Ferro’s bicep and squeezed. “I might take you up on that Sambuca in my espresso, if that’s quite alright!”
“Sì, certo! Of course. Why don’t we let Scarlett get dressed, and talk at the table?”
“Sounds like a plan!”
Ferro gave me a look that brought chills down my back. He was angry about something, but what? He led her out of the room. “So you’ve been to Italy, Diane? What part?” I heard him ask.
“All over! I’ve been to Europe plenty of times…”
I hurried around the room, throwing myself into his closet and quickly putting on Ferro’s clothes. I was slightly concerned that the guy would slaughter my mother or cut off her pinkies, if I wasn’t monitoring his every move. And if he didn’t kill her, Mother would surely talk about fat camp, start talking to him about my awkward tennis playing years, and bring up the fact that I was afraid of tampons until I was eighteen.
“Not at all, I find your accent very charming! Stimulating, even!” I heard Mother laugh out, before entering the room. My mouth fell open again. Stimulating? Had I heard that right? “Yes, I’ve visited a few times. Beautiful place.” She sipped her espresso, and I wondered if my crazy Italian mobster had poisoned her drink. My? “Oh, this is delicious! Just like I remember in Sicily. Scarlett would never come with me to Europe. If you ask me, the poor girl’s afraid of traveling abroad—“
I cleared my throat loudly, entering the room. “Mother, don’t you have anything better to do than talk shit about me when I’m not around?” I snapped. “And you,” I addressed Ferro, who had made a kissy face at me when my mother wasn’t looking, “don’t you have work?”
He sipped his espresso. “Not until eleven, baby.”
Mother’s analyzed my face. “Don’t you have work today, Scarlett? Didn’t you say you were working at that restaurant?”
“She was fired,” Ferro answered for me, staying in control of my situation. I understood that his job was to make sure my mother knew nothing about me being held captive, and nothing about me being watched by the mafia. Now I knew that Ferro had terminated my job for me.
“Fired? Doesn’t surprise me,” Mom sighed. “Scarlett never could keep a job. She gets too bored.”
I flushed. “That’s—that’s not true!”
“She’s also never been a morning person,” Mom muttered into her espresso.
“Mother, I think its best that you leave now,” I said.
“Oh, stop! I’ll be good. Scarlett, do sit down. It’s very impolite to stand as you are. Besides, I have something important to tell you.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Really? Because it seems to me like you’re trying to insult me until you’ve overstayed your welcome. Which, by the way, you have.”
“Scarlett,” Ferro urged, pulling out the chair next to him. He inclined his head towards the abandoned seat. “She’s your mother, hear her out. I’ll be in the bedroom, returning a call I got this morning.” Ferro left the room in a few long strides, shutting his bedroom door behind him.
A frown wedged between my eyebrows. I reluctantly sat down where Ferro once sat. What the hell was going on? My mother seemed to be collecting her thoughts, and my own thoughts began to race through my head. Was my mother sick? Did someone pass away? Had my mother watch that video of me måsturbating?!?!
“Scarlett, there’s something you need to know about Todd,” she began, and my heart dropped the deepest pit in my stomach. “I know you’ve clearly moved on—“
“Ma,” I sighed, taking a large gulp of Ferro’s espresso on the table. “I really don’t want to hear this right now.” I have a complicated love life as it is.
“Our family’s wealth and reputation is deeply routed with a handful of decisions, Scarlett. Decisions that I’ve made. I’ve made some very smart decisions in my life, one of which was divorcing your father before it didn’t end in more of a disaster than it already has.” She brought her espresso to her mouth, and I could have sworn there was a hint of tears in her cold face. “So I hope that my opinion here matters to you, Scarlett, and that your decision here will be smart as mine usually are, as well.” “What exactly are you getting at?” “There’s only one reason why I wanted you to go back to Todd, even after he cheated on you. And that was so you would have protection. I wanted you to have a man who could protect you from this world, because as a woman, I’ve seen the worst of it and it’s changed me. I’ve always wanted to protect you, Scarlett. I’m your mother; it’s what we do.” She sipped her espresso again, her eyes growing significantly sad. “Call it my maternal instinct, as to why I came to visit today. I see now that you need my protection the most, because this man, Ferro, his apartment, the bruises, and the way he looks at you…it’s happening all over again, Scarlett. You’re falling in love too quickly with a man who wears a different façade around you, a man who can hurt you all over again. There’s something off about him—something off. He’s no different than Todd. Don’t you see it?” “Ferro is nothing like Todd.” “Scarlett…” Mother placed her hand on the table towards me. “I know I’m a judgmental bitch most of the time, and I’ve made many mistakes that has affected our relationship, but I love you so, so much. I’m just trying to save you from any pain.” “Mother.” I looked her dead in the eye. “I’ve tolerated your impropriety for too long. I’m not kissing, dating, moving in with, or marrying a man that you choose for me. If I haven’t made it clear, which I have, with the whole moving away from you and refusing to take your money thing, I don’t care about your opinion. You’re rude, Mother. I’m not going to make what you have decided are ‘smart decisions’ simply because your opinion and your decisions have made you rich. I’m literally piss poor. No money. Zilch. And it feels fücking great. I’ve never been happier.” “But Ferro—“ “Doesn’t buy me twenty yachts with his money, and I don’t need him too. I’m comfortable the way I am right now.” You’re lying for a criminal. Are are you? “I wasn’t happy back at home.” I swallowed a lump in my throat. “And I wasn’t happy with Todd. Why do I feel like this is really about Todd?” “Because it is.” Mother sighed. “Todd called me earlier and let me know that you moved,” she whispered. “He still cares for you deeply, whether you like it or not. He called you a few times weekend to see if you were well, and when it went straight to voicemail, he visited you. I’m assuming it was Ferro he saw moving some of your things, so he left. He was crushed to find out about Ferro, to put it lightly, as was I. I thought, maybe…” She sipped her espresso. “You know how much I love Todd. But I see now that you have fully moved on.” “So Todd told you to check in on me?” I inquired. She nodded. “Of course.” “Why?” Mother pursed her lips. “To make sure you were okay, probably.” “Figlio di Troia!” Ferro cursed loudly from his bedroom. Mother turned over his shoulder. “Well, that didn’t sound too pleasant…”
Because he really is a psychopath, I didn’t say.
I stood up from my seat. “I need you to leave, Mother.”
Mom held my gaze for a long moment, before finally gathering her purse and standing up.
“I’d invite you over for Christmas in Vermont, but—“
“Don’t tell me,” I said, “Todd is invited.”
“Well, yes. His mother is one of my best friends. She’s the planner for our wine tasting club, and she has a house in Vermont, too, so we’re all going up there--”
“I don’t need an explanation. It’s fine.” Our hug was cold, distant, and I could help but feel like I needed a good cry. “I’ll find somewhere else to spend Christmas.”
“I’d like to say goodbye to Ferro before I leave.”
Speak of the Devil. Ferro opened his bedroom door, his skin noticeably paler. His dark gaze fell on me, briefly honing in on his clothes I was wearing, and then shifted to my mother. “I see you are leaving? It was a pleasure meeting you, Diane.”
“The pleasure was all mine!”
They embraced in a quick goodbye. Ferro kissed the back of her hand, and she flushed. Freaking Italians. I crossed my arms over my chest and followed Ferro and her to the door.
“I’ll see you, Scarlett! Please stop wearing chunky clothing, you’re going to give me a high blood pressure!”
I waved dryly. “Bye, Mother.”
Ferro shut the door behind her. When he spun around, I was terrified of his expression.
“We need to go,” Ferro said, rushing towards me. He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me into his bedroom. He threw me a shoulder overnight bag. “Pack lightly. Now. We’re going somewhere safe.”
“What?” My heart pulsed in my ears. “Why?”
“I don’t have time to explain, Scarlett. Please, just trust me. I'll explain everything later.” He grabbed me on both sides of my head and kissed my forehead. I had never seen Ferro’s skin so empty of color. He picked up his cell phone and wedged it between his shoulder and his ear.
“Ciao, it's me…” He then went on in a quick conversation in Italian, so I couldn't understand what he was saying.
"Tell me something," I pleaded, once he hung up. I shoved clothes into the bag he gave me, locking eyes with him from across the room. "Anything."
"We’re not safe here anymore," Ferro answered. "Your mother was a diversion. It didn’t click until I sat down at the table with her. I expect there will be men here in ten minutes. Maybe even less. We have to go, keep up." He rushed out of the room.
With my heart in my throat, I followed him out of the apartment.
* * *
Twitter & Instagram: Katrocks247
JOIN THE OMERTA BOOK GROUP ON FACEBOOK! (External Link & on my Wattpad profile)