Page 8 of Don't Let Go

Everyone attacked the bacon. I was smart enough to put three pieces on my plate before giving the rest to the hungry wolves.

“You’re always so bossy,” Carmen muttered, taking a bite of bacon, and crumbs fell all over the ivory tablecloth.

“Don’t sass me. You know when Mamma is gone, I’m in charge. Do you want me to—”

Carmen’s brown eyes widened in horror as she poked out her lower lip. “Please don’t tell Mamma. I’ll be good.”

“Stay on your best behavior, and I won’t.” I flashed my sister a mocking grin.

The threat of telling Mamma always worked. She was the one you feared the most after the wrath of God. The entire community looked up to our mamma; she was the backbone. She’s the Carbone’s cleaner, and it has nothing to do with being a maid. For the past two decades, my mamma has overseen cleaning crime scenes, washing away blood, brain spatter, and bone fragments. She made a crime scene spotless, and the bodies disappear. It was as if nothing ever happened.

I didn’t mind taking care of my siblings. They were my heart. The only issue was I wanted to figure out myself without being at their beck and call. I did story time with Lizzy. I helped Carmen with her homework. I made sure my brothers didn’t get into trouble. Then I had band practice and my boyfriend, Paolo. Life got tiring after a while.

Everyone left the table. Franco and Lorenzo snagged another piece of bacon as they ran out the door and hopped into their truck without so much as a thank you or a goodbye. Carmenwent upstairs to finish getting ready and Lizzy disappeared into her room, shoving homework into her backpack like she always did in the morning.

I sighed and ate my last bite. The next thing I needed to teach my siblings was to take their dishes to the kitchen after I cooked for them. They never did this to Mamma; the boys dashed to clear the table, and Carmen hand-washed the dishes without any sass because Mamma didn’t trust the dishwasher. As for me, I was a servant girl who had to do everything.

I loaded the dishes into the dishwasher and turned it on because there wasn’t enough time in the day to do everything how our mamma liked things.

After putting away the carton of eggs I forgot by the stove, I ran upstairs to grab my jacket and backpack. Thankfully, I was ready for school before cooking breakfast.

The horn of my Charger made me jump after grabbing my metal water bottle from the fridge.

I locked the front door and cursed under my breath. Of course, my sisters were in the car waiting for me. They didn’t cook and clean up.

Carmen leaned over from the passenger’s seat to lower my window. “You’re so slow, Rory! Come on! I have a test first period. I can’t be late.”

I opened the driver’s door and slammed it closed. “Well, if people could help clean the table after I made breakfast, maybe I could get my crap together faster.” I turned over the engine. “And I thought someone would load the dishwasher for me.”

“Sorry. I’ll help you tomorrow,” Carmen grumbled, looking at her phone. She put in her headphones and was lost to the rest of us.

“Play my Disney princess playlist. Please, Rory?” Lizzy begged from the back seat, hugging her well-loved brown bunny to her chest.

“Of course.” I connected her phone to the car and selected the playlist. The first song, “Under the Sea,” came over the speakers. Carmen moaned and made a point to lift her phone to show she turned up the volume. Little did she know, I didn’t give a damn about her hearing. I wasn’t her mother. I couldn’t help but laugh and sing along with Lizzy. She was my favorite as soon as she was born.

The routine consisted of taking Lizzy to the elementary school a few blocks from the high school. Lizzy always turned back and waved at me before going into her school. I, in turn, would blow her a kiss, and she’d pretend to catch it as she laughed. At least someone appreciated me.

The drive to South Ridge was quiet. I parked in the student lot, and Carmen muttered a quick goodbye before ditching me for her friends. “Love you too,” I said under my breath as I walked toward the senior building. We always went our separate ways until the end of the day when she needed a ride back home.

Paolo didn’t see me coming down the hallway. He was too busy scrolling through his phone as he leaned against my locker. I cleared my throat, and his hazel eyes met mine. He shoved his phone into his back pocket. “There you are. Jesus, you’re slow.”

I gestured for him to move aside. “Hello to you, too,” I replied, opening my locker to grab my science textbook.

Paolo hooked his arms around my torso, kissing my collarbone. His foul morning breath wrinkled my nose. “Paolo, please,” I protested, wiggling out of his grasp.

The bell rang, warning us there was only a minute before the late bell tolled. It usually freed me from Paolo’s control.

He held out his left arm, caging me between his body and the lockers. I glared at the dragon tattoo curling its way up his wrist. How its claws dug into his flesh like I knew he wanted to sink his fingers into my skin and destroy the fabric of who I am.

“Rory,” he murmured, annoyance on his tongue.

I gently touched the dragon tattoo, trying to be kind so he’d release me. I always hated that damn tattoo with its red scales and green belly, holding a blue world, like a marble in its paw with a golden eye that always followed me.

I dared to stare Paolo in the eye and stood straight like an arrow, keeping my back from slouching. I needed to be strong.

He took a step back and dove one of his hands into his perfect dark locks. “I wanted to talk, but guess it’ll wait until lunch. See ya.” He kissed my lips, but it was so quick that it was more like a peck.

“Bye.” I rolled my shoulders and shut my locker. I hustled to class, and the bell chimed as I walked to my desk.

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