Page 5 of Forever Mine

“Well fucking change your mind there, too!” Joseph roars.

As their voices get closer, I slide as far under the salvia as I can manage without making any noise. I fear I’ll be done for if I’m found right now.

“You can find another wife, Joey.”

“Not one that meets my specifications.”

“What the fuck does that even mean?”

“Obviously, I like them young, Paulie. I’d have married her years ago if you hadn’t set up that fucking eighteen-year-old bullshit date. I want ’em young, so I can do whatever the fuck I want, and they’re too stupid to know better.”

“Are you seriously talking to me about my daughter right now?”

“Oh, please. Like you respect women any better. Does your wife know about the number of women you’re fucking on the side? What about the two other kids you have?” Joseph taunts. I cover my mouth with my hand to keep from gasping.

“You watch your motherfucking mouth, Joey. I’m still the fucking don of La Famiglia, and you’re disrespecting my family and me.”

“I’ve been one of your captains for twenty years, and this is how you repay me? Taking my bride away from me weeks before our wedding. You wanna talk about disrespect now?” Joseph asks.

My father sighs. I’ve heard the sigh. It’s the sigh he gives us kids before he either screams at us or beats the hell out of us.

“You could have left quietly, Joey. You could have walked away and gone to lick your wounds in private. But now, this is what you’ve forced me to do.”

“Wait. Paulie, wait! No. No, no, no! I was out of line, I know; I’ll do better, I swear …” I hear a muffled sound, and then a body falls next to me. I turn my head slightly and look directly into Joseph’s open eyes. His unseeing eyes, with a bullet hole right between them.

“Get out here, Monica Rose,” my father snarls.

When I don’t immediately move, my feet are grabbed, and I’m unceremoniously yanked out from under the salvia.

“Stand up.”

I stand up and avert my eyes. I don’t want to look at my father. While I don’t think he’d shoot me, I really don’t know.

“Never forget what I just did for you. Do you understand me? Never forget,” my father says as he pushes my chin up to look into my eyes. I cry out as the gun burns my skin where he’s pushed it against my skin. “Your grandmother sold your inheritance for your freedom. Get the fuck out of my house. You’re no longer my daughter. Don’t ever come back here. Don’t try to contact any of us. You’re dead to us. You and your grandmother are dead. Tellno onewhat you heard tonight.”

He takes one last look at me before turning and walking deeper into the garden. I don’t wait for him to change his mind. I run back into the house and scream for my grandmother. I find her in my room, already packing my belongings.

“Dolce bambino, we don’t have much time. Take only what you feel is a necessity. I have a friend in Oklahoma who will allow us to stay with her until we get on our feet,” Nana says as she shoves clothes into a suitcase.

I look around my room longingly, trying to decide what I can’t live without. A stuffed animal my grandfather gave me, a few pieces of heirloom jewelry, and my kindle all make the cut. I debated about grabbing some high school pictures but realized I was never close with anyone outsideLa Famiglia,so that would be a pointless thing to take. I grab my pillow, way too much makeup and skincare crap, and all my hair products. I might be willing to live without childhood memories, but I’m not willing to go without my hair stuff. A girl has needs.

“Are we taking your car or mine?” I whisper, afraid to speak too loudly and have someone realize we’re leaving.

“Both. We’ll sell them both when we get to Oklahoma and buy cheaper cars that we can register there. We’re going to change our last name, too. We’ll go by my maiden name. You’re no longer Monica Rose Russo. You’re Monica Valducci.”

That’s a lot of information to process in thirty seconds. I love my car. One of the rare things that I actually enjoyed aboutLa Famiglia. We all have nice cars. I’ll miss my little BMW Coupe. And changing my name? Woah. But if it means I’m out of this horrid mafia lifestyle, then it’s worth it.

Nana leaves the room briefly before returning with two more duffel bags. She stuffs both with my clothes still on the hangers, then adds the comforter from my bed.

“I don’t know the sleeping arrangements in Oklahoma,bambino. We need to be prepared. We’ll stay at my house tonight and leave tomorrow morning. I don’t want that horrid Angelino man to find you,” my grandmother says.

“He’s dead, Nana,” I whisper as her eyes whip to mine.

“Your father killed him?”

I nod.

“Figlio di puttana!” Nana hisses.

---