I've been sitting here feeling like a nervous wreck all day.
He said he was coming but he didn't say when and I think that's what scaring me.
Where no longer on his grounds so this is going to be tough, but I don't want anything to happen to him or anyone for that matter because regardless of what my father really cares for me even though his method of showing this is a bit off.
"Francesca?."
" Huh?". I turned to see my brother standing there looking at me confused.
"I asked if you want to go into town with me today, you must be bored out of your mind stuck in here all day". he said, im not bored it's more like a dull looming feeling that won't settle at all. Getting with Vinny against my better judgement got me where I am right now.
"Sure I don't mind."
I put my coat on and Angelo and I headed out the apartment.
When we got to the front steps two men were standing by the curb and they looked at us like we were about to break some arbitrary rule of my father.
One of the men held his hand you and took his phone out. He muttered a few words into the phone before slamming it shut.
" Your father wants to have a word with both of you, come with me I will take you to him ."
I sighed feeling annoyed by my exasperating father.
The men took us to a two story house which look secluded and secured.
When I got into the house my father was sitting around a table with two other men his age, they looked like they were having a small game of poker.
" Francesca, Angelo come my children have a seat."
" Is there a reason for you bring is here? " I said immediately.
He shook his head.
"I was on my way back to Philadelphia when I heard some alarming news. Why were you leaving the apartment?."
" Because I'm a grown ass woman.". I said sternly.
" Language Francesca." He warned.
" Dad I was just taking her out of the house she's been held up in there like a prisoner."
" Angelo we already spoke about this." Dad said to him sounding disappointed.
One of the men came running in the house with blood on his clothes.
"We're under attack sir". He said to my dad.
Vinny.....I smell trouble.
Before what the man said could register in my mind dad rushed us up the stairs to one of the bedrooms.
"Stay here both of you." He said that but it felt like it was directed towards me.
"I moved all the way here to avoid this kind of shit." Angelo said running his hands through his hair.
" I'm sorry we got you involved in this, but blame your father for this he was the one insisted on me coming here."
" Because you wanted to throw your life away Fran."
" By being with a man just like my father if your're going to judge him then don't put our father in a different category ." I hate the way everyone thinks they can judge my life like it's theirs.
" Are you trying to justify him?."
"No I'm defending him from you, my father and anyone else that has shrewd comments to throw at him." He may be a sick twisted, arrogant, egotistic....okay the list is long but he's still my Vinny.
Before he could respond a few loud explosions echoed downstairs making him pull me to the floor.
They sounded like they were getting closer and closer.
The door for the room burst open and my father came in.
" Off the floor-"
The door flew open again and in came a group of men with extremely big guns and leading them Vinny. My heart fluttered, wow he looked hot when he was in kill mode.
He looked like he's been sitting at home contemplating his attack for days. He glanced over at me then at my father who was looking on intently.
"On your knees both of you-". He said pointing at my father and brother." Francesca get in the closet."
" Why?."
" I said get in the fucking closet!." he shouted making me flinch, this is why we could never see eye to eye why does he always talk to me like i'm his pet, this is the greeting I get? seriously? how can this ever be love? i'm not asking for some sort of special treatment, nope, i'm asking for a better treatment, this right here is unacceptable.
"I'm not going anywhere, in fact i think i'll sit right here-
"Marko." he came over to me and hoistered me up, what the.... this is fucking unbelievable, letting his men treat me like this?. come on. Where does it end.
"No!, what are you going to do to them!".
" Put her in the closet ". He said to one of his men.
" Don't fucking touch me! ". I shouted at him, but he still picked me up and shoved me in the closet.
" This is personal Joe, your boy here get to watch me teach you a lesson. I think you underestimated me and my men." he started to say, i could see that glint in his eyes, he was going to kill him.
"I know exactly what you're capable of Vincent, do you really want to kill me in front of my family?." My father said and i could hear the apologeticness in his voice, he didn't want this, he just wanted me safe.
"I'll take it anyway I can get it." His voice was so cold and villainous I barely recognized him.
" Vinny don't kill him!." I shouted as I pounded in the closet doors
" You shot me Joe, in front of my men on my turf that takes balls. You've been in this lifestyle longer than most of us, I even looked up to Joe but you crossed a line. Nobody crosses me-."
"If you kill me do you think she'll forgive you?."
" I'll take my chances."
" Vinny no!."
There was a few loud explosions and I heard my father pleading with him until I couldn't hear him again. Instead I heard Angelo crying and begging him.
"Let me out!."I screamed until the door opened to Vinny standing there with te gun still in tow.
When I got out my father was lying in pool of blood but he was still alive and Angelo was leaning over him.
"What the hell did you do to him!." I shouted at him.
" I did this for you, if it was up to me he would have been dead." For me? in what world killing someone's father could ever be a token, was he serious? for me? you want to impress a girl by roses or chocolates not kill her fucking father!.
"And you think wounding him won't kill him?, open your eyes he's a fucking old man he could still die! You're a heartless bastard!."
" Not when it comes to you, I'd do anything for you and only you". he said, his eyes were so dark I couldn't even see my own reflection, his words wasn't even remorseful nope they were cold and callous just like him.
"No!, you did this to keep a good image so people could say Vinny Mancinelli took down the infamous Joe Salvatore, you can shove your over grown ego right up your ass."
He looked taken back like is said something foreign. Was he expecting me to run into his arms and declare my love? Sure maybe, in midieval times that would have fit but not here."So your telling me you don't want me anymore."
Ignored him, he didn't desever a repsonse, I turned to Angelo who was lifting our fathers frail body up to carry him out.
I was following behind him.
" Francesca!."
I didn't turn around.
"Francesca!."
" What!."
"Don't do this to me". He said in a strained voice, oh now he was sorry, a moment ago he was shouting at me like i was nothing, now i'm suddenly the only one he sees.
" Stay away from me and my family and this time i mean it Vinny, no more, this time you've gone too far, I don't hate but i certainly don't love you. This is it, I won't do it anymore, we've been through to much for you to pull this shit on me."
He scoffed. "Is that what you want?" he didn't wait for a reply. "You are so hard to please!, Didn't you want me to come here for you?, you knew this was bound to happen!, why do you give a shit about that man who walked away from your family because he....." he stopped.
"Because what!." i shouted.
"Nothing, sometimes I wish you could see the things i've seen or know the things I do, then maybe just maybe you'll understand why I am this way. Go, I clearly don't fit into this happy family." he said, his words were so distant. he took a seat on the blood stained couch and pulled up the small table and began reconstructing the gun in his hand getting lost in his vice. "Why are you still standing there?, I said go!."
"Screw you! why do you get to talk to me like that-
He stood up really quickly walking over to me like I was his next target. "I said to fucking go, don't make me do something I regret." he whispered in a tight clipped voice. "You don't want me because im too dangerous, then you'll hate me when I prove you right." he practically pushed me away.
Fine with me.
**************************************
3 weeks later.
"So I met someone."
" You did, who is he?."
"His name is Antonio, I met him yesterday, I told him we could double date."
" Gia!, no why would you tell him that you know I'm not ready for that yet." I've been trying my best not to think of mr you know who but damn it that was hard, if we were so meant to be like my mother always would say then why did it feel like someone trying to place to wrong pieces of puzzles together, it felt so forced.
" Oh come on, it's been almost a month I think you need to move on."
I sighed. No. I just need to breathe again, I hate lieing about the way I feel, I miss Vinny, I really do but I just can't do it anymore.
"I'm trying, I really am but it's just really bitter sweet. I saw him yesterday you know but he was just passing with his entourage." The car slowed to a near stop and I felt his weakening gaze on me even through tinted glass, it felt like he was drawing me in but that only lasted a few minutes before the car sped away.
" Ok, that does it we are so going out with the guys."
"Can't you take Gabi?."
" No she's dating someone."
"Gia please, I really don't think this is a good idea. I'm not ready."
"Fran, stop it, i'm not asking you to sleep with the guy just come out with us and have a good time no pressure, please, you've been moping around here like a hermit,please?." she begged.
" Fine, but he better not be weird ".
**************************************
" You ready?".
"I guess". I shrugged.
The guys were outside standing but their car. I noticed Gia walked over to the one who was smiling brightly at her.
" Antonio, Francisco this is Francesca ".
" Hi". I said to them feeling a little awkward.
"Shall we go?".
We got in the car and I sat in the backseat with Francisco. He was cute looked about two years older than me but I wasn't ready for anything serious, not yet.
" You're not much of a talker ."
I couldn't help but laugh, Vinny was always telling me my smart mouth and here this guy was now telling me that i'm not much of a talker. note to self stop thinking about Vinny!
" I have my moments, so tell me about yourself ."
"Well I work in the bank as an accountant, I like to go fishing and I'm currently building my own boat."
" Sounds good, maybe we could go fishing some time."
"If you're not busy tomorrow then sure."
" I'll let you know."
They took us to a small restaurant where we talked for a bit, until Gia suggested we go back to my new apartment and watch a movie which I gave her the hardest glare ever.
" What movie do you guys want to watch?."
She and Antonio looked at each other before standing. "Fran I'm sorry but an emergency came up and we have to go."
" Both of you?, that's not weird at all."
"I'm really sorry I'll call you later, bye Franny."
She planned this from the start.
Francisco was sitting on the couch and he looked unfazed by this and I flopped down next to him.
" So..."
"So...?."
" Look I don't know what my friend told you but I just got out of a relationship and I'm not really ready to date yet."
" That's fine I completely understand, we can just hang out and watch a movie just as friends."
That was easy..
"Okay, I'll be right back Im gonna change into something comfortable."
I got up and went into my room I took off my dress when I heard loud shouting coming from the living area. I grabbed a robe and ran out to see Vinny standing there pointing a gun at Francisco.
At seeing at first it made my heart skip a few beats.
He looked at me and what I was wearing and that seemed to piss him off more.
" You slept with this asshole.."
"What the hell is wrong with you, no I didn't sleep with him and that isn't any of your business!."
"Get the fuck out before I put a bullet in your head." He warned Francisco who didn't even glance at me before running out.
" Why is he in here."He shouted at me.
"Why are you in here!."I shouted back.
" Is it sex?, is that what you want I can give you that, fuck I'll give you anything you want Francesca." Woah.............
"How about staying out of my life can you give me that."
" Francesca, please I miss you so much. Just give me another chance baby please."
"Vinny, you shot my father, he almost died. He would never forgive me if I get back with you."
" Then take this-". He said handing me his gun "Kill me right now, if you don't want me back then just end my fucking life." Dramatic asshole!
I backed away from him.
" I'm not touching that."
He moved closer towards me and I could smell his deep musky scent, it was enticing.
" You know it'll never be over between us, and I promise you any man steps a foot in here I'll kill them. Your mine and only mine."
" So you're just going to make my life miserable because you can't be with me?."
" No I'm going to make it miserable until you forgive me, I know you want me back I can feel it. Even the way you look at me."He put his hand on the side of my face and traced his finger on my neck. "You're dating again? Come on Francessca, you and I both know it isn't over."
" You're not playing fair. You told me to go and I did, why are you back here now, it's been weeks."
" Neither are you, standing in a half opened robe. I'm finding it hard to control myself right now, I told you to leave because you wanted to go, i'm not going to make you choose between your father and I, I gave you space but I'm not giving you to another man." he said, he was so close to me making my insides melt, why must he be so damn hot!. It's never really about looks with him though he's just Vinny, who wouldn't want him?.
"Just leave." I breathed out, I could already feel myself being sucked back into his spell.
His face was inches away from mines and I wanted him to leave before we do something stupid.
" Not without a kiss."
"Vinny-."
He cut me off when he crashed his lips onto mine and pinning me with his hips.
His kiss was hard and fast and filled with so much emotions.
I pushed my hands against his chest but he just grabs it and holds it above my head.
He started trailing kisses along my neck nipping at it as he go.
" Vinny stop." I said but it came out as a moan.
He pulled back and looked at me. "Why are you torturing me like this?, I would do anything for you."
" Would you leave Mafia for me?."
He looked taken back like he never expected me to ever ask him that, I had to know how much anything he would do. " You know that's impossible, if I leave I'll be a dead man."
" And if I be with you I'll be your enemies target which makes me a dead woman."
"I'll never let anything happen to you."
" What are you going to do keep me in a bullet proof box?."
He shook his head and walked backwards.
"No, i'll always protect you know that."
"You can't protect me from everthing. Everyone knows what happens in this lifestyle, it's killed or be killed. Isn't that what you did to my father?."
"I gave him a wanring, he deserved more. He walked on you, I've always been here for you especially when you didn't want me to, i'll always be here for you, it's always been you Francesca but your so god damn infuriating sometimes. I'm not asking you to go easy on me i'm just asking for you to understand the things i do. I want you back." He stated, he was right about one thing, i can't make it easy for him and I won't.
"VInny I told you I won't do it anymore and im sticking by that. It's not just about my father, you claim to want me and need me but then treat me as though i'm one of your men you shout at me all the time and I hate it!, It's more about controlling me than loving me admit it, you just like the idea of me being with you, we aren't kids anymore Vinny it doesn't work like that." I paused. You can't have everything you want just because you wave a gun around in the air."
He studied my face carefully. He was angry I could tell. "If I can't have you no one else can, remember that the next time you decide to bring a man into this apartment." He said as he walked over to the door.
" What is that suppose to mean ". He didn't answer.
" What the hell is that suppose to me mean! ". I shouted at his retreating figure.
"You're a smart girl figure it out or ask daddy dearest if he can still talk." He smiled, i love-hate his smile, He looked so dangerous right now. His eyes looked at my open robe again and his jaw went tight. He picked up a rose as he walked to the door pulled off a petal ruining the intricate delicate beauty of it. I heard him say something before he kissed it dropped it to the floor and stepped on it as he walked out the door.
"Ti ucciderò se si dorme con un altro uomo."
Wheeeewwww that was intense, for those who want to know what he said let me translate for him....."I will kill you if you sleep with another man" Dannnngggg. Vinny is so dramtic.