Page 54 of Inescapable Ties
I was starting to regret telling him about the monotonies of my everyday life.
“She just started seeing this guy,” I lied.
Tall Dino was on the verge of asking more questions, but I quickly pulled into the Alto’s driveway, almost drifting the car as I took the turn.
“I’m surprised they don’t have anyone here to valet it,” he said. “The Alto’s are filthy rich.”
“Uhm…yeah. We can just leave it here.”
Carefully scanning both directions, I cautiously opened the door and stepped out. My heart raced as I considered the possibility that one of the attackers could still be lurking nearby, waiting to strike again. I reminded myself to stay vigilant and keep my guard up as I cautiously moved forward.
Tall Dino was none the wiser. He walked behind me, whistling an old Italian song I hadn’t heard in years.
I walked slowly through the front door, scanning once more for any danger. After determining the coast was clear, I picked up my pace and headed towards the stairs.
“What the fuck is that?” he asked.
A small amount of blood, so miniscule I had missed it while scanning, was on the corner of the railing of the stairs. It was still wet, showing it had been recently spilled and hadn’t had time to dry yet.
Most people wouldn’t have noticed it. Sometimes I forget how good of a Mafioso he is because of how goofy his personality is. And there was no way Emilio would have hired him if he wasn’t the best.
“We’re leaving,” he said, moving towards me.
I turned and bolted up the stairs, my heart racing with fear and concern for my friend. As I ascended, each step seemed to grow steeper and longer, as if trying to slow me down. The sounds of my footsteps echoed off the vaulted ceiling of the extravagant Alto mansion, reminding me of the urgency of my mission. I could hear Tall Dino’s right behind mine, threatening to catch up and take me home.
I pushed the handle to her door open right as he grabbed me by the back of my shirt.
“You,” he panted. “Are in so much trouble. I’m in so much trouble. Emilio’s going to kill me when he finds out about this.”
“Don’t tell him,” I said, struggling against his firm hold.
“Luciana?” Liria’s voice called out.
Tall Dino was caught off guard when Liria called out, so I stomped on his foot and ran into her room.
“Sorry, TD!” I called out behind me.
Liria had been crouched in the shadows under her bed, trembling and trying to make herself as small as possible. Slowly, a sliver of her face emerged from beneath the bed, revealing a mess of tangled hair and tear-stained cheeks.
“I’m here,” I said, reaching my hand under the bed to grab hers. “Let’s get out of here.”
Her hand felt cold and clammy as I pulled her from the darkness. I didn’t even have time to offer words of consolation before Tall Dino ushered us down the hallway, back towards the car. He walked in front of us with a stern expression on his face, checking for any danger that might lie ahead. My heart was still racing as we reached the car and I got in, slamming the door shut behind me.
“What were you thinking?” Tall Dino yelled at me as he started the car and drove off. “You could’ve gotten us all killed. Oh my god. Emilio is going to kill me.”
The sound of Tall Dino’s voice, usually smooth and confident, shook with a ferocity I had never heard before. It echoed off the interior of the car, causing me to shrink back in fear. Growing up in a Mafia family, I had been yelled at by plenty of men, but something about Tall Dino’s towering figure and flamboyant personality made him the most intimidating of them all. My heart pounded in my chest as his words cut through me like shards of glass.
“Just don’t tell him,” I whined, while trying to hide my fear.
“It doesn’t work like that,” he responded, slamming his hand on the steering wheel. “Why didn’t you just ask us to send men out here?”
“Because your group doesn’t like the Alto’s. It would take like seven to ten business days before someone even checked!”
“Nobody likes the Alto’s,” he paused, looking at Liria in the rearview mirror. “Sorry.”
“You’re not wrong,” she mumbled.
“It’ll be fine,” I told him.
