Chapter 23 Stupid Little Girls
Just when Gia thought her life couldn't go any more downhill, Carla walked into her room two days after the fight with Daniel to announce her father was at the airport.
"Luca is picking him up," Carla said as she leaned against Gia's door frame. "He asked me to make sure you understood that you are not to talk about Daniel under any circumstance."
"Or what?" Gia arched her brow.
"Oh what?" Carla's brows furrowed. "Gia, is this a game to you? Or are you having trouble understanding that Angelo will kill you, you stupid girl. You and I may have gotten away from Del Mare but the rules still apply to us."
Gia didn't respond. She did not wish to argue with Carla just in case she needed her aunt in a good mood later for something. Lately, it seemed as if her whole life had turned into a chess match. All the right moves needed to be made at the right places. But the only problem was, Gia never learned to play chess.
"Go fix yourself," Carla pointed with her long finger. "When was the last time you brushed your hair or took a shower?"
"I don't see the point," Gia sighed. "I don't have any plans on going anywhere today."
"What about your internship?"
"Are you telling me that my darling brother is still allowing me to continue my internship?" Gia gasped sarcastically.
"Don't be so dramatic," Carla pushed off the door frame. "We're doing this to save your future. And your internship is a part of your future. Focus on that."
"I quit my internship."
"What?" Carla looked over her shoulder and watched Gia shrug.
"I quit," she said once more.
"When?"
"Last night," Gia said.
"Are you out of your mind?" Carla's voice dripped with anger.
"I don't see why it matters," Gia shook her head. "It's not like I ever have to work for money. I never have to do anything. I'm going to drop out next semester."
"Gia," Carla slowly took in a deep breath as if to keep herself calm. "Tell me you're seriously not this stupid."
Gia smiled, "I am seriously this stupid."
Carla's face dropped like a stone. Her jaw tensed as her eyes narrowed. She took a step into the room and grabbed Gia by the arm. Carla hurled the girl up to her feet and yanked her forward to make sure Gia heard every word she said.
"You want to know why Luca treats you like a little girl?" Carla asked. "It's because you're stupid and reckless like a little girl."
Gia tried to pull her arm back but Carla wouldn't let her go. She pulled her forward and dug her nail deeper into her arm.
"If you think we're going to bend to your will because we care too much about your future then you're dead wrong, sweetheart," Carla declared. "You want to ruin your life? Be my guest. Your father doesn't give two shits about what you do with yourself. He'll marry you off to anyone who will present a good enough business deal to him. He won't even care if the man is a murder or an abusive piece of shit."
Gia had never heard Carla use such language in all the years she had lived with her. Carla had always been logical, nurturing, encouraging. But the woman before Gia was anything but. The Carla who stared into Gia's eyes had lived a lie Gia knew nothing about. And she was trying desperately to keep Gia from ever finding out what that life was like.
"If you want any chance at living a safe normal life then you will do what your brother and I say," Carla hissed. "We're the only ones fighting for your future here. No one else cares what happens to you, you understand?"
Gia stared at her aunt with nothing to say. She was speechless and stunned.
"Do you understand?" Carla asked, her voice rising. "I'm serious, Gia. Stop acting so fuckin' stupid and think for once in your life. You're throwing everything away for some boy you won't even remember twenty years from now."
Gia felt a fresh wave of tears rise to kiss her eyes. She bit down on the inside of her cheeks to keep herself from whimpering as Carla's nails dug into her skin, leaving small crescent shaped marks.
"Now go get ready and fix yourself," Carla said as she slowly let go of Gia's arm.
Gia immediately stepped back and began to rub her upper arm. Her skin burned from where Carla had clawed her. If it weren't for the horrible sickness Gia felt inside of her stomach, the pain on her arms would have been much worse. She stared at Carla until the woman turned on her heels and walked out of the room.
Gia didn't know what to think as she sank down on the edge of her bed. She knew Carla was right. Luca would never give into her demands. Oftentimes Gia wondered if it was her brother's will or his iron stubbornness that made him so difficult. But whatever it was, Gia knew she would never be able to sway him. And as far as her father was concerned, Carla had been right again. Angelo would not hesitate to use Gia as a prize to lock in a business deal.
Hour by hour, the light in Gia's life slowly vanished. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how impossible her dreams of being with Daniel were. She knew in her gut that they would never make it.
For a moment, Gia had forgotten where they both came from. She had lost touch with reality and how could she not when he looked at her like she was the only girl for him. Every time he touched her, every time he kissed her, every time he stole glances towards her, Gia knew there would be no one else who could ever make her heart beat like that.
Maybe the greatest things in life are meant to be longed for, Gia thought. Maybe she was damned like Maria said. That would explain why she had tasted the forbidden fruit only to have it be taken from her so quickly.
Gia became a ghost of herself as she stood in the shower scrubbing herself clean. Her body moved like the wheels of a clock as she washed, cleaned and dressed herself before Luca arrived with their father. She felt as if her senses were taken from her. It was like floating beside her body and watching everything happen to her.
When Luca and Angelo arrived, Gia made her way to the living room and greeted her father with two kisses. Angelo patted her head and pressed an extra kiss to her forehead, something he sometimes did when he was in a good mood.
"How are you feeling?" He asked Gia, taking a seat on the sofa.
"I'm good," Gia tried to smile but she wasn't sure if she had managed. Luca and Carla watched her from where they sat around the living room. "How was your flight?"
"Fine," Angelo waved his hand. He was a tall man with long legs and arms that could stretch into your body and steal your soul. His nose was hooked and sharp like the blade of the reaper. Unlike Gia and Luca, Angelo's eyes were icy blue. They always made Gia shiver as if instead of eyes, her father had two frozen ice cubes.
"How long are you visiting for?" Gia asked.
"Why?" Angelo arched his brow and chuckled. "Are you already tired of having your old man around?"
"N-no," Gia shook her head. Her eyes shifted towards Luca. "I was just wondering..."
"I think I heard a knock downstairs," Carla leaned forward. "Gia, could you see who it is?"
"Yes," Gia immediately jumped up and ran out of the room. Her heart drummed inside of her chest as she flew down the stairs and landed in the foyer. Gia's eyes flickered up towards the second floor where home used to be. She could no longer think of that place as a safe haven for as long as her father was staying.
With trembling hands, Gia reached for the door and pulled it open. She could spot Manny and a few of the other guys hanging around on the other side of the street as the mailman standing before Gia looked up and held out a package.
"Gia Silvano?" He asked.
"Yeah," Gia cleared her throat.
"Please sign here," the man handed her the brick-like machine he carried.
Gia quickly scribbled her name down on the screen and handed back the machine to the man. She took the parcel he held out and thanked him before closing the door. Curious about what was inside, Gia tore the envelope open and peaked inside.
At first she didn't see anything. There was a light weight to the paper envelope but Gia's eyes couldn't find anything. She shook the parcel and gasped when a long silver necklace slipped out and fell to her feet. Gia reached down and picked up the piece of jewelry with numb fingers. Her eyes watered and her breath caught in her throat as she read the words over on the small silver bar.
Una promessa è per sempre
From the top of the staircase, Luca stared at his sister. Gia did not hear him make his way down to the foyer as she held the necklace in her hand and wiped her eyes. It wasn't until Luca was standing beside her that she became aware of his presence. Gia looked up slowly with her heart in her hand. In the silence of the moment, she watched Luca raise his hand to pick up the necklace from her palm.
"No, don't," Gia's small voice cracked.
"You can't keep that," Luca said, knowing very well who had sent the necklace from the way his sister held it in her hand.
"Stella gave it to him," Gia whispered. Her eyes dropped to the necklace as her palms closed around it. She heard Luca shift uncomfortably beside herself as he ran a hand through his hair and then rubbed the back of his neck.
"Go put it away," Luca surprised Gia by saying. "And shred the envelope before dad sees it."
Gia nodded. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and gathered the papers on the floor. When she stood back up, Gia looked at her brother and paused for a moment.
"What is it?" Luca asked.
"Can I have my phone back?"
"No," Luca shook his head.
"I need to call Daisy."
"I told her we were out of town."
"What?" Gia frowned. "Why would you do that?"
"Because I don't want her coming around here while dad's visiting," Luca explained. "Or until you get Daniel out of your head. The last thing I need is for her to put more ideas in your head."
"She didn't put any id-"
"Go put the necklace away before dad sees," Luca said.
"Daisy's not going to believe you," Gia announced. "She knows I would never leave without telling her."
"We'll deal with that issue when we get there," Luca sighed.
"Let me talk to my best frie-"
"What are you two doing down there?" Angelo's voice made Gia jump in fright. She whirled around to find her father standing at the top of the stairwell looking down at his children with suspicious eyes.
"Nothing," Luca said casually. "Gia was just telling me about her internship at the UN. She's working with a project manag-"
"We have dinner plans," Angelo announced as he cut off Luca and checked his watch. "I want to be there on time."
Luca slowly closed his mouth and gave a nod, "Yes."
"Have the car brought around in twenty minutes," Angelo ordered. "Gia, go change into something presentable. And put a smile on that face while you're at it. You're miserable to look at."
Gia's heart shriveled up into the size of a pea. Luca turned his head to look at her as she slowly began to climb the stairs. Her thick brown hair fell down her back and protected her like dark wings as she wrapped her arms around her midsection for comfort. Luca watched her until she made it all the way to the top before noticing the small silk down she had in her hair. His heart contracted inside his chest when he realized it was the small silk bow with the pearls Stella had given to her years ago.
__________________
In record time, Gia had changed into a black dress and a pair of comfortable heels. Carla stood behind her and twisted her hair into braids that kept her unwashed hair hidden.
"Do as he says," Carla instructed. "Don't do anything stupid."
Gia nodded her head.
When Luca knocked on the door to let them know the car was downstairs, Gia followed Carla down and climbed into the backseat.
"So where are we going, exactly?" Carla asked.
"Do you remember Marty Lombardo?" Angelo asked from the passenger seat.
"The construction company?" Carla arched her brow. "Weren't they on the news a few years back for hiding bodies in the foundations of buildings all around New York?"
"Rumors," Angelo shook his head. "No one found anything."
"No one demolished skyscrapers to check," Carla snorted. "Why are we going to have dinner with them?"
"Marty's got a son," Angelo announced, his eyes finding Gia in the rear view mirror for a few seconds. "I thought we should have our families meet. Mark, Marty's son, and Gia might get along well."
"Mark Lombardo is in his forties," Luca said from the driver seat. "What could he have in common with Gia?"
"And isn't he married?" Carla asked, her eyes concerned as she watched her brother. "With kids?"
"Divorced," Angelo announced. "Gia, you like kids, right?"
Gia looked at Carla. Her face was pale and she could no longer keep her heart beat calm.
"Angelo," Carla sat forward. "Mark's kids are only a few years younger than Gia."
"What is this?" Luca asked, his eyes shifting to his father. "What are you planning?"
"I'm securing something for her," Angelo announced, his voice firm as if he did not wish to be questioned about it. "She couldn't close the deal with Louis and now he's marrying some other girl. I don't want the same to happen with the Lombardos. We need them if you want to expand your real estate business."
"Stop the car," Gia somehow found her voice in the backseat. Her numb hands reached for the doorknob and he began to pull on the lock. "Luca, stop the car."
"Gia," Carla pulled her back and pushed her against the seat to keep her from jumping out of the moving car. "Stop. Stop it."
"No, no," Gia couldn't see anything with the tears in her eyes. "Stop the car."
"Sit down," Angelo demanded. "We'll talk about it when we get home. We're just stopping by for dinner tonight."
"You can't be serious," Luca shook his head. "Are you seriously thinking about Mark and Gia? That's ridiculous! He's older than I am."
"It's an idea," Angelo said sternly.
"That shouldn't even be an idea, Angelo," Carla scolded. "It's disgusting."
"Listen, just because you and Tony didn't work out doesn't mean Gia will be the same," Angelo said. "She's going to have to do her part as a member of this family. Just like you should have done your part."
"Tony used to beat me," Carla gasped. "You want the same for Gia? Your own daughter?"
"Luca, stop the car!" Gia yelled.
"Everyone calm down," Luca slowed to a stop and put the car in park. He turned toward his father with disbelief in his eyes. "Are you actually kidding me right now? She's still in school. Her whole life is ahead of. She wants to work. She has a great internship with the UN."
"No one's saying she has to stop any of that," Angelo checked his watch. "Now hurry. We're already late."
"I'm turning the car around," Luca said.
"No, you're not," Angelo's eyes grew sharp. "I gave them my word."
"Over my dead body," Luca pushed the car into drive and swerved the steering wheel to the right until the car had crossed into the other line of traffic. Horna began to blare all around as Angelo started to shout and Carla tried to calm him down. Gia put her hands over her ears as her tears soaked into her dress. She trembled in her seat as Luca zigzagged through traffic raced home. She knew the night was far from over as her father's angry voice demanded Luca drive to the Lombardos over and over.
"You're sick, Angelo," Carla declared as she stepped out of the car once they arrived back at their townhouse. She slammed the door shut and grabbed Gia's hand and marched into the house.
"Carla, he can't be serious," Gia said as she followed her aunt upstairs. "Tell me he's not going to force me to marry some forty year old ma-"
"Do you believe me now that no one cares about what happens to us women in these families?" Carla asked. She whirled around to face Gia at the top of the stairwell where they could hear Luca and Angelo shouting downstairs. "Those fucking rules in Del Mare about protecting women are bullshit. They protect us the same way they would protect their drug mules. We're just properties to them. Something worth protecting only when others want it."
Gia's stomach churned as she listened to her aunt's words. Her hollow chest quivered like an empty bird's cage as she looked over the railing to where Luca's voice could be heard.
"Gia, you have a chance here," Carla said. "Luca and I will never let Angelo do this to you, you understand? But you have to stop acting so stupid over this boy. They're all the same, darling."
Gia slowly nodded her head despite the petrifying fear running through her system. Her thoughts were jumbled and the only thing she could focus on was the sound of her father shouting and yelling. It made her flinch every time as she dug her nails into her palm and bit down on her molars. The speed at which Gia's heart raced would have been enough to send anyone into cardiac arrest. Maybe it was the adrenaline or her body's inability to function properly enough to recognize the danger she was in that kept her heart from giving out.
"Go to your room," Carla said, heading for the stairs once more.
"Where are you going?" Gia followed her.
"Gia, go to your room," Carla repeated her command. "Let Luca and I handle this."
Gia stopped in the middle of the stairwell as Carla handed over her clutch and raced outside. The door opened just enough for Gia to see Luca standing on the sidewalk with his face pale and eyes enraged.
"You already made the deal," he said in disbelief as if he just realized what his father had done.
Gia's legs shook. She grabbed the railing and stopped Carla's clutch from slipping out of her hand as she climbed downstairs and stood beside the door.
"Are you out of your mind?" Carla yelled. It pained Gia to hear the anger in her aunt's voice. Carla would never air out her dirty laundry in the street like that. Gia could tell they were all losing their mind bit by bit. "She's a kid! She just turned twenty one!"
"Her mother was just twenty one when she had Luca," Angelo shouted. "She's old enough."
"What did they offer you?" Luca asked through his teeth. "How much could they have possibly offered you that you practically sold your daughter away?"
Gia couldn't hear anymore. Her ears were ringing and breathing was next to impossible. Her head began to spin and her vision blurred. The white walls around her moved closer as if they were hell bent on burying her alive. Holding the door knob, Gia slowly sank to the floor as a sob bubbled out of her. She felt the cold floor beneath her as her body began to heat up to dangerous heights.
While the three raged war outside, Gia sat on the floor gripping Carla's clutch like a safety blanket. She could get a hold of her thoughts as something inside suddenly vibrated. Gia stilled and looked down at what she held in her hands. Her numb fingers slowly undid the small clasp and she pulled out Carla's phone. Gia's eyes didn't even bother to read anything on the screen as she unlocked the phone and automatically dialed a number from memory. With trembling hands she brought the phone to her ear and pressed her fingers to her lips to keep herself from crying out loud.
"Hello?" Daniel picked up after a few seconds.
Gia couldn't speak. She opened her mouth but no words came out.
"Hello..." Daniel spoke once more, very slowly as if he could hear the way Gia's heart pounded. "Gia...?"
Gia couldn't find words. All her energy was focused on her catching her breath as if she had run a marathon.
"Gia," Daniel moved closer to the phone. His voice began to fill with panic as he rushed with his words, "Where are you? Are you okay? Say something, damn it!"
Gia's voice finally broke free as she let out a sob.
"Gia!" Daniel called to her. "What's wrong? Are you hurt? Where's Luca? Did he hurt you?"
"Can...." the words tumbled out of Gia's lips as if they had a mind of their own. "Can you..."
"What's wrong?" Daniel asked. "Where are you? Are you hurt?"
"Can you come get me?" Gia whispered.
Ah shit... :/