Page 50 of Memento Mori
I pushed open the heavy wooden door, Aaliyah went ahead of me, and I closed the door behind us.
A wave of nostalgia hit me hard transporting me back to a different time. Nothing had changed in here. Much like the study back in the States, the smell of Papa’s cigars wafted through the air.
“It smells like him,” I said as I made my way to the large oak desk, I remembered hiding
under during some of my father’s meetings.
He never said anything, but there was no way he didn’t know I was there, listening to every transaction, every order, and every death sentence. From an early age, I knew this would be my destiny whether I agreed with it or not. And I also understood I would have to make hard decisions. This was one of those decisions.
“It does,” Aaliyah said as she ran her fingers over the books my father had lining the walls. Many of them were first editions. “I can see you hanging out in here with him.”
“What do you think he would say if he knew what I was about to do?” I asked.
Personally, I thought my father would tell me to do what a Don would do, but I needed to hear it from someone else.
“He would be proud of you for making the hard decision.”
As she walked towards me, a heavy sigh escaped her lips, and she embraced me, tightly wrapping her arms around my neck. As we stood inches apart, I knew more than ever that this needed to be done. I couldn’t make it through this world without her. I refused to live this life without her.
“You’ve made the decision, now let me handle it,” she said.
I was shaking my head before she could finish the statement.
“Why not?” she asked. “It is me she has come after. It is me who should deal with it.”
Before I could respond a knock sounded. “Come in!”
Luca was the first to enter, Marianna right behind him, and Franco closed the door with a soft click.
“What is the meaning of this?” Marianna sneered, yanking her arm free of Franco’s grasp.
When she made a move towards me, I waved Franco and Luca off before they grabbed her again. She stood in front of me and didn’t even acknowledge Aaliyah who stood beside me. It pissedme off even more. She was the reason our family suffered so much pain. And today it all ended.
“We had a little chat with Dante,” I said. She flinched at his name but masked it quickly, but not quickly enough. “He had so many things to say.”
I walked to my desk and felt the smooth surface under my fingertips as I sat behind it. Aaliyah stood in front of my mother. She still didn’t acknowledge her, but it was okay. It was all about to end.
“Can you imagine the things he had to say?” Aaliyah asked and my mother brought her attention to my wife.
The intensity of her gaze on Aaliyah filled with nothing but hatred, made it clear that this was her last day on this earth.
Marianna scoffed, her eyes narrowing as she turned her attention to me. Aaliyah grabbed Marianna’s chin, redirecting her gaze back to her instead of me.
“On your knees,” Aaliyah ordered.
Marianna’s eyes widened in surprise, and she made a quick attempt to lock eyes with me once again. Aaliyah’s fingers dug into Marianna’s chin.
“Antonio...” she pleaded.
I couldn’t help her. I wouldn’t help her.
“He can’t help you,” Aaliyah said. Her eyes shot back to Aaliyah’s. “Get on your knees or I will make you.”
When she refused to move, Aaliyah reached behind her back and removed the gun she kept holstered in the waistband of her dress pants. Without warning she shot Marianna in her right foot.
My mother’s piercing screams filled the room as she crumpled to the ground in agony.
“Luca, Franco, get her on her knees,” Aaliyah ordered.
