Page 32 of Monster in Disguise

"It's going to be okay,piccola." He swoops Claudia up and swirls her around.

"Are you ready, moppet?"

"Yes!" Claudia exclaims. I don't know whether she understands that we are leaving the convent, given that she's never seen the outside world, but she's open to it.

"What about Mother Superior?"

"I had a few words with her. She was too distraught to argue with me."

"She was probably glad to see me gone," I add drily.

"I just told her I couldn't in good faith leave you here, at the scene of a crime." He grimaces at the word crime, and I look away. I hadn't told him everything, given my mental state at the time. But I will.

"Let's just get out of here," I say, and he nods.

We soon find ourselves in the back of Enzo's car and on our way to his house... my childhood house. Claudia, still a little sleepy, nods off. I am thankful for that, as I can discuss things with Enzo more freely.

"Guerra, you said?"

"Yes." And then, in a hushed tone, I give him a full account of what happened, from the moment I saw him touching Claudia, to Sisi and I burying him in the cemetery.

"And you have no idea who could have left that message?"

I shake my head vigorously.

"It was like a spectacle... of death. I feel like whoever did that was mocking me."

"It's not the best situation," Enzo grimly admits. "More so because he was a Guerra. We've never been on good terms with them."

"What do you think they'll do?"

"At best? Take revenge. At worst... take revenge," Enzo says cryptically, but I try not to think too much about it.

We get home and Enzo suggests I take my old room.

"I'll keep Claudia with me for now, since this is a foreign place for her."

"Go rest,piccola.If you need anything, just let me know. Allegra won't come home anytime soon, but Luca is here. I'll introduce you later. Maybe he and Claudia will get along."

"That sounds good," I nod.

Enzo takes Claudia in his arms and lays her down on my childhood bed.

"Everything is the same..." I remark as Enzo is about to leave.

"I told you I'd get you back,piccola.Maybe the circumstances aren't ideal right now, but this is your home."

"Thank you!" I kiss his cheek.

Closing the door, I take a deep breath and look around my old room. It still has my teenage clothes, and everything I'd not been able to take with me to Sacre Coeur. Shifting my gaze to a sleeping Claudia, I can't help but smile.

I don't care where I am, as long as she's with me—safe.

She's all that matters.

The following day,Enzo asks to speak with me. From the tone of his voice, I can tell he doesn't have any good news to share. After we'd woken up, Claudia and I had headed to breakfast, where we'd also met Enzo's son Luca.

As expected, Claudia and Luca had become fast friends, especially when Luca had invited her to play with his toys. For a little girl who's only ever lived within the confines of a convent, this was a whole new adventure. I'd encouraged her to have some fun.

---