I stepped out of the Taxi to find my landlord next to the blue building with peeling paint that was my abode which I shared with my mum and little sister.
Seeing him, my first thought was to get back into the taxi and flee that Arena; maybe returning when it was almost morning or sleeping back at Lucia's place tugged at my mind.But then he immediately turned, spotting me on the sidewalk, and his face turned a shade of red, and it wasn't the cold.Squaring my shoulders, I scaled past running bicycles of rebellious teenagers before dodging balls of children trying to hit their goalpost made of piled stones; then finally, I stopped before Squalo, my landlordSqualo wasn't his real name, but few people knew what it was, and most of his Tenants weren't one of them, but I heard the reason he was called Squalo was because of his ability to instill fear in his debtors.And now I was one of them.Standing before him, I jumped into action, "Signor Squalor, things have really been tight lately; just one more week, and I promise unfailingly..."He held up his hand, and immediately I stopped talking.He was such a small man, but everyone knew the power he held or the power it was rumoured he had.His grey wavy hair was packed in a bun, and his brows were as full as his moustache, which was so thick that one couldn't see his upper lip, and when he chewed, which he always did, it moved."Ti ho dato abbastanza tempo," —I gave you enough time— He spoke rapidly, and with each word, his voice went higher, attracting attention from passersby.I tried not to wince, wishing I could disappear into my black hoodie; the eyes penetrated my back."Look, Lily, I do not run a charity organisation here. It's been three months!"More like two, "I paid half of it last week, you remember? It was everything I had on me" I panicked, taking a step close, and begged, "Give me the grace of two weeks. I promise I'll pay.""Two weeks too far.""Then one week, " I jumped in, but his gaze was unflinchingAnd finally, he said, "Three days are all I give you, then I kick you out.""But Mr. Squalor ..""Non gestisco un'organizzazione di beneficenza" —I do not run a charity organization— he began to walk away, "Last warning Lily."I sighed, watching him go; the pieces of paper in my hands reminded me of Greg's offer. Could I do it? And it seemed fate was making my decisions for me.Taking the flight of stairs for although there was an elevator, it never worked, for the rent that was collected here, it was a slap on our face.But it was the cheapest and closest for Mum to get her health care.Reaching the door of our two-roomed apartment, finding the door locked, I opened the door and walked in, immediately finding a note right on the only sofa in the apartment."We had to go to the hospital, Lily; Mum had a rushed appointment. Eva.Dropping the paper, I sighed hard, the throbbing in my legs reminding me that I still had to race to the hospital.I wondered what the doctor's rushed call was all about, and inwardly I prayed it was good news. Maybe I wouldn't have to go through with Greg's deathly offer.Dropping my bag and the paper the strange, crazy man at the restaurant gave me, I began my journey to the hospital.****I opened the door of my mother's ward to find her lying still, her hollowed eyes shut, her breath was the only sound in the room, and it filled the space alright, her once thick luscious hair now a scanty dull brown.Sitting next to her was Eva, holding her hand, squeezing some comfort in while watching her face strewn in pain.In front of Eva, speaking to the doctor, was Luciano, a neighbor who had become a friend and helped me out in many ways, including lending me money I always made sure I paid back.Shutting the door, I walked towards the doctor..."...We found another organ ready, judging that she has just a week to live. If we don't do this early, we will lose her."Behind him, I panicked, "You said two weeks, doc, didn't you?"He turned to me, looking a little surprised as to when I had appeared behind him, and Luciano, pushing back his sandy blonde hair, walked around the doctor; stopping behind me, he placed his hand comforting on my shoulder"I'm sorry, Lily," he shook his head, "I've done all I can, but if we don't have the transplant done in the next few days, then ..." He sighed, "That's all I can say."I looked past him, back to my mother on the bed, looking almost lifeless. Nasal cannulas were the only reason she had any life left.I covered my nose, the urge to sob creeping in, the lump in my throat increasing with every minute."I'm trying my best," I whispered.The doctor tapped me on my shoulder, "I know, and I'm sorry, Lily."He left the ward, and for minutes the silence stayed. I watched my mother struggle for her life on the sick bed.Luciano, wrapping his hands around my shoulders with the side of his face against my head, whispered, "It's going to be alright, Lily, don't give up yet.""I don't know, Lucian," my voice came out in a whimper, "It seems like every day I'm losing hope, ""The meeting with your cousin didn't go well, I guess."I shook my head, "I don't know if he wants to help me, " I rubbed my eyes. "I don't know how to feel."I and Lucian's first meeting was hilarious. On our way to work, we fought over a Taxi, claiming we flagged it first because we were both late. He worked as a bartender in one of Silvianno's bar chains.The following morning there was a knock on the door, and there he was with a box of chocolate and a mouth filled with apologies.Since then, we've remained friends."We'll sort this out, alright?"I nodded. When he released me, I walked over to Eva, who raised her eyes briefly and returned them to our mother's hands.Her center-parted hair accentuated the long face she got from our father, blue eyes like the ocean showing off her emotions, and right in it was annoyance."Hey Eva, are you okay?" I squatted before her.And she rolled her eyes before glaring at me, "And of course, we want to pretend like all of this isn't your fault Lily."I expected it; it wasn't the first time she had thrown the guilt on me, for when mother had fallen ill, it always arose in her fights and wasn't something I was proud of."I did what I had to do ..."She sneered at me, tears rolling down her eyes, "You are the reason Uncle Claudio kicked us out; if it weren't for you, Mum would have been getting the help we need right now!""But I had to say something," I croaked."Look where it ended us,""Eva," when I tried to reach for her hand, she snatched it away from my hold, pain eating at my chest. I croaked, "You weren't expecting me to die in silence?"She glared at me, "You're just so fucking selfish, thinking about your fucking self all the time!""Eva, you are being insensitive, " Luciano's voice held heat."back up, Lucian, it's not your fucking business.""you spoiled, insensitive stupid bi...""Stop!" I stood up abruptly, turning to Luciano. I forced a smile, "Could you help me ask Doc if there are meds we are taking home?"He eyed me, shaking his head. He left the ward, shutting the door after him, anger in his gait.Turning to my sister, I pulled the paper and phone from my pocket and typed in the number, "I know how to get the money for Mum's treatment."She eyed me as if I was mad, "Are you about to rob a bank? Or elsewhere, where the hell do you expect to get a million Euros?"Looking at my mother's frame on the bed, I confessed, "Greg wants me to marry Enzo before he can give me the money for Mum's treatment."She froze, her mouth dropping open, "Are you...""Yes," I replied, placing the phone against my ear, "If that's what it takes, then I'm ready...""But Enzo, you aren't even of his interest? You think he'll want anything to do with you?" She eyed me, still in doubt and puzzled.Before I could answer, Greg picked up the call on the other line, "You made your decision Lily.""Yes," I increased the sound of my voice, "Yes, I'll marry Enzo; where should I meet you."And he gave me directions.Hoodies had some way of making me feel safe. That it had been the clothing I had worn when Greg almost took advantage of me was the reason.It had taken him a lot of minutes trying to pull it off, giving me a chance to slam a kick into his groin—the best moment of my life.But now this gigantic hoodie was doing nothing to shield me from the coldness in Enzo's eyes, blonde hair slicked back just like Greg's, and his grey eyes held all the disgust he had for me.Surely Greg would have told him about me, and this had to be Greg's way of punishing me.Standing before them, hoodie cap over my head, eyes to the floor, but a few times raising my lash to stare at them, to see Greg's doting eyes on Enzo, whose heated gaze was on me.This was Greg's office, where his father's Art and photo frames were stuck to the wall. When I worked here with my mum, this was my favourite place to clean, intentionally spending hours in here but making sure not to touch any ammunition.The last time I had been
Losing the most important person in my life was my breaking point. Remembering back, it was at this time I lost the will to leave.Nothing held meaning anymore, not the urge to continue moving on when there was nothing to live for anymore.The beautiful house, bright lights, floral gowns, and made-up face.Speaking of a made-up face, there was a lot of mess streaking down my face, soiling the white gown I wore. My shoes had been kicked off my feet as I lay on the rug on the floor, sobbing with my hands wrapped around my knees.I couldn't fathom how many minutes or even hours I had been lying down here, blocking the outside world out. The girl who helped me dress looked helpless, trying to get me up and to the car.All she received was a teary stare before she scurried for.There was no use going to the church to continue this mess. The reason was dead; the cause could have been alive if two men who owned so much had just helped me out.𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒈! A burning sensation filled my chest at
'ADLER.Whatever that meant was lost to me, just that it was what was written on the piece of paper, mouthing it out to the stranger, feeling stupid and silly. How could I believe shit like that, by the way? How desperate had this made me?I felt Enzo's hand under my chin, pulling me to face him; I met his eyes, shivers running through my body like electric shocks, waves upon waves. Tears filled my eyes again."What the fuck are you looking at, Huhn" he leaned, pushing the ring into my hands. Put it on; let's get this over with," I nodded, whispering, "I'll do it, don't just hit me again.""You better," he snarled, "Else," he raised the gun's muzzle to my face.But then.But then, I could hear footsteps striding towards us, but too scared to find out what because Enzo's rage had me focusing my attention on him."With this ring, I pledged thee..."Opening my mouth to repeat the words, when I began to hear the congregations murmuring words I couldn't fathom, but still, I couldn't divert
My mother told me and my sister, "When life changes, go with the flow." And I always did that, got the negative news, cried the night and the morning, with my head held high, I was ready to brace the storm.But now, I was a hare caught in a headlight, against a fence, with nowhere to run to, a murderer with the gentlest touch holding me close.Leaning down, he placed his forehead against mine so he was looking into my eyes, raising the ring that had stopped at his boot some minutes ago, "I ditched the jacket," he grinned, "there's a suit, your gown looks beautiful, wanna get married?"Huhn?He threw the ring away, "Ha, just kidding," but why was he looking disappointed, and why did that sound like false cheer?Shadows suddenly filled the church door, Don Adler turned, and his face straightened, "What does it take for me to have alone time?""Jesus Christ Adler." I turned to the door to find two more men entering. The one who the voice had come from was in a black polo shirt and blac
LILY'S POV.I stirred to the feel of my hair caressing my face, the strangeness immediately hitting me out of nowhere; for the last I remembered, I wasn't supposed to be alive.And why was the ceiling a beautiful white design, or was it just my sight blurring from all the pain dancing in my skull?I winced, shutting my eyes, and when I opened them again, thankfully, my sight had cleared, and yeah, the ceiling wasn't mine. This was a very, very strange place.Although My brain felt void, I knew I was in a place I wasn't supposed to be.What had happened? I looked down at the light blue floral dress that stopped at the middle of my lap; I drew myself up in a sitting position, puzzlement nudging as I looked around.This place, the air, seemed too expensive.Where was I?The last I remembered was the shooting in the church, Enzo's blood seeping out of the crimson hole at the side of his head to the floor, I felt my body tremble as I slowly dropped my wobbly legs to the floor, my fingers
AUTHOR'S POV (ADLER.)He knew she was recollecting, her face dawning in recognition as more minutes passed but still staring at him in unbelief.For a moment, he thought she couldn't remember that afternoon years ago because she was someone who would jump at any opportunity to offer help to just anyone.So maybe their case wasn't that special.But she did; she kept him in her memories just like he had kept her in his, but maybe not as much as he had held her, like seeing her in his dreams, having nightstands with girls that had her features.It never gave him that fill, that thrill he had gotten lying under the shed, his head resting against a pile of bags she had gathered, for him while she continued to try to pry the gun out of his hands."Stai per premere il grilletto su te stesso!" She'd chided. You're about to pull the trigger on yourself.And even as he lay there fighting for his life, he remembered the only reason he had refused to let the gun go was so she kept repeating that
LILY'S POV.The fear I had felt waking up and seeing this place was gone, in its place, was a worry for Eva, but immediately I had spat out my concern; Adler and Rune left the room. Adler returned an hour later to tell me he had dispatched soldiers to the house, and Eva would be okay till I came to collect her.I didn't know which I thought was weirder, a man who seemed to hold all the hardness in the world, being this gentle with me, or that he had searched for me for seven years because of a one-day save.The day I lost my father, which was my fault, was a secret I was willing to keep with me until I died.Rune was gone, and Adler, after receiving a phone call, left too. I was left alone with Salvatore, whose relaxed demeanour was the opposite of my continuous fidgeting."You're in safe hands, Lily, wouldn't be the case if it was another human," a faint smile appeared on his lips, "But once it's you, Adler loses all of his psychos."I drew my knees under my chin, watching him speak
Author's POV (SALVATORE.)***"Adler fucking had a spark in his eyes from just watching her" Rune took a swig straight from the bottle, his forehead still creased in confusion as it had been since he saw Lily in the church, "You think it's normal?"Priest placed his cup under the coffee maker, frowning inwardly, fighting the urge to tell Rune it was just too early to be swearing and getting himself drunk.This meant he had to be the one in charge of driving, for no matter what, it was his religious duty to care for a full-grown adult who decided there was no care in this world for him.He and Rune, it was a wonder they stayed this long as friends when all they did was hate each other's choices, like how Rune had forced on him the name 'Priest' when he had clamoured to go to the seminary at age fifteen.He had always felt there was life for him in the priesthood, but his father was having none of that, and his ways of having his son focus on replacing him as Consigliere wasn't a memory