Page 106 of Alfie: Part Two

I scratched my nose. I had to be careful here. “From what I understand, the body parts that were found belong to the men who did that to you and the other women.”

She looked to me sharply. “And you know this how, Alfredo?”

Blergh.

“I saw it on the news.” I shrugged. “West was called in early because of it.”

I was sure he was waiting for the ratings to come in from this morning’s episode.

The screen beckoned her once more, and she covered her mouth with her hand. The two women in the studio were talking to some forensics specialist, and they were basically repeating what we’d heard since seven AM.

Dad glanced over at me. “Thank you,” he mouthed.

I nodded with a dip of my chin.

Without looking away from the TV, Mom grasped my hand.

She had tears rolling down her cheek, and I gave her hand a squeeze.

“Tell me you didn’t do this,” she croaked.

“What the—fuck no.Mom.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I just—I’m sorry, baby. This is…” She let out a shuddering breath and wiped at her cheeks. “They’re dead?”

“Dead and cut up,” I said.

“Dio.” She kept shaking her head as she stared at the screen. But then she shook her head quicker and waved something off. “Turn it off,amore. I can’t. I don’t want to see.”

Dad switched off the TV and turned his chair toward her. “What can I?—”

“They’re gone,” she whimpered. “They’re gone. I…I think—” She shifted in her seat to face me, and she wiped at her cheeks again. Nerves tightened inside me, and all I could do was wait her out. “Promise me, Alfie. Did—did the Sons… Did they do this?”

“How should I know? I sure fucking hope not.” I reached out and wiped a tear from her jaw. “They haven’t said anything to me.”

“Oh.” She let out a low cry and pushed herself up off the couch. “I-I need to pray. I want to go to church.”

“What—now? Why?” I asked.

“Because I need it!” She got heated, and she rounded the table and wiped her nose. “This is too much. I need to pray. It’s too much in my head. I know you are lying to me again, but the lies make me feel better. I have to see Father O’Malley.” With that said, she limped into the bedroom, presumably to get dressed.

Fuck me. I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled.

That could’ve gone a lot worse, couldn’t it?

“Not too shabby,” Dad muttered under his breath.

“Right?” I was counting this as a win.

“Phil!” Ma shouted. “Take me to church!”

I lifted my brows.

He chuckled quietly and got out of his chair. “I guess I’m taking her to church.”

“Damn mobsters,” I heard Ma cry to herself. “It will be better once I ask Father O’Malley for forgiveness.”

Whoa, what the fuck? “Forgiveness for what?” I was hurrying into the bedroom before I knew it, because I had fucking limits. She didn’t owe an apology to anybody.

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