Rosalia sat on the floor inside her walk in wardrobe with her cell by her side. She was staring at the medium sized box torn with Emilia's words repeating in her mind. Show him you trust him, even just a little. Or you end it. She pulled the box closer to her stripping it of its lid and stared at the loaded beretta Giovanni had generously given her. He won't change. Emilia's words continued to repeat themselves making her more and more anxious. She pressed a button on her cell for what seemed like the thousandth time awakening the screen. No new messages or missed calls. She sighed pressing the side button killing the screen once again. "Fuck you" she murmured a little angrier than anticipated referring to the cell phone. How dare it not provide her with any hope of Giovanni thinking about her. She picked up the box leaving the lid behind then reached for her cell sliding it into her back jeans pocket. "Fuck you cell, fuck you Gio, fuck you beretta" the incoherent words barely m
"Make the call." Michael placed Rosalia's cell phone on her thighs waiting for her to pick it up and follow his instructions. He watched her head dip down to look at it then her eyes trailed back to him as he motioned with the gun towards it. "Be a good girl Rosalia, and make the fucking call. Invite your fucking boyfriend over." "It's late" she responded knowing damn well the excuse was ridiculous and there was no way that realisation was going to change his mind in any way. She watched Michael throw his head back and chuckle at her reply. She was right, he was not buying it. He dropped to his knees and shuffled towards her casually placing the tip of the gun downwards onto her thigh resting it over her jeans. "Call your boyfriend" he pressed the gun harder into her, "he'll come over for a booty call with you... I'm certain" his eyes wondered her body lingering a little too long at her breasts. His free hand now roaming the curves of her body slowly making her squirm. "We-we do
The moment Giovanni had pressed the buzzer and the door automatically opened without as much as an acknowledgement from Rosalia, he knew something was definitely wrong. It was the middle of the night and she hadn't even asked who she was letting in the building? He had pushed the door open to make sure the automatic lock system didn't kick in then retrieved Ricci from the car to join him. It was better to be safe than sorry. The pair quietly made their way up the stairs and leaned against Rosalia's front door listening in. It was quiet. Too quiet. A few minutes went by and still nothing. It wasn't difficult to hear Rosalia's muffled sounds when she finally made herself known. The scrapping of something across the floor was the final straw for the guys on the other side of the door as they withdrew their guns and kicked the door open. "Jesus fucking Christ!" Giovanni was on the floor with Rosalia pulling the tape from her mouth hastily as she cried out. He watched her in a panic suck
The interruption of loud music suddenly erupting within the apartment eventually forced the pair apart. Rosalia quite reluctantly pulled away from Giovanni who was clearly attempting to hide his disappointment. The pair quietly reminded themselves that this was not the time for affectionate encounters. She turned the shower off and pulled one of the two towels Giovanni had thrown over the shower door to wipe herself down. Giovanni followed her lead, still staring at her with hooded eyes. The pair stepped out of the shower, Rosalia disappearing into the bedroom for a minute to retrieve some clothes for herself. She pulled on some sweatpants and an off the shoulder sweater before making her way back to the bathroom with her wet towel as she vigorously towel dried her hair. "Throw the towel back in the shower," Giovanni instructed reaching for his underwear within the duffle bag. "I'll get the guys to bleach your shower, I'll destroy the towels too." He secured his black suit pants an
"What happens now?" Rosalia asked sitting on the floor of her freshly cleaned apartment. She sat leaning against the couch, underneath her lay the cool freshly mopped floorboards. The grey throw rug Emilia picked up at a closing down sale, now gone. It lay wrapped up in one of the bin bags by the front door. The dawn light now flooding into the apartment while the men casually drank their coffees as if they had merely come home from an all night bender. "Have some coffee," Giovanni urged holding his cappuccino out towards her encouraging her to get some caffeine into her system. "You can't miss your shift at work today, I need you to do exactly what you would do every other day Rosalia. Do not change your routine. Not today, understand?" She nodded while pushing away the mug in front of her. She could accept going about her daily routine, but there was no way she could stomach anything right now. Not after the bloodshed before her during the last few hours. How they could stand arou
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's quite simple. You all shut the fück up and keep your heads down and you'll be free to continue your night!" The aggressive masked gunman stated in a matter of fact tone waving his firearm around. All she could see were his pupils - they seemed wild and out of control. He was pacing back and forth along the bar counter, almost unsure of his next move. Rosalia took a deep silent breath from behind the bar. Not again, she thought to herself scared and also a slight hint of annoyance deep within her thoughts. This was the second time this month the bar had been held up and she didn't want to get fired or killed for that matter. She needed this job desperately and having this happen twice on her watch was unacceptable in her eyes. "Listen bitch" the wild gunman stated abruptly ripping her from her deep thoughts, "hurry the fück up with the money, I want it all in the bag!" She nodded obediently still looking into his eyes in an attempt to recognise him. "STOP
"BASTARD!" Rosalia was uncontrollably screaming the police station down. Frantically trying to get free her attempts were only causing her to hurt herself in the process. "So help me God I will throw you in that cell with the cuffs still on if you don't stop" one of the police men threatened now having more than enough of her. She was body slamming the police car door the entire drive to the station whilst simultaneously cursing. "I'll take it from here" Police Officer John O'Connor stated from behind the desk. He smiled at Rosalia as the previous officer pushed her forcefully onto the desk. "BASTARDO! NON MI TOCCARE" (BASTARD! DON’T TOUCH ME)the tone in her voice was beyond any anger that had ever escaped her lips. How could they do this to me? I was robbed at gunpoint and I'm the one being arrested?' She thought angrily unsure if she was now ready to break down and cry. The arresting officer slammed her unarmed gun which was now in an evidence bag onto the desk angrily, "she w
Ricci Marino had only been promoted from Associate to Soldier for a short time. He had been part of the De Luca family since he was a baby. His parents and the parents of the De Luca brothers were always in close contact. Although Ricci enjoyed and appreciated the privilege of being an Associate of the crew for many years he eventually outgrew the ranks and proved himself loyal enough to step up to more important tasks. Tasks such as bailing the brothers out of lockup. John O'Connor let out a small sigh of frustration the moment Ricci stepped towards the desk. He knew very well why he was here and who he was here to bail out. "Always the same story with you punks". John stated practically throwing a pen at Ricci before he even had a chance to speak. "I know why you're here" he continued in an aggravated manor, "no need to even explain it. Just sign the paper work and pay the amount stated. As usual I'm sure you're paying cash tonight?" Ricci smiled, "yes Sir. Cash it is" As Ricci
"What happens now?" Rosalia asked sitting on the floor of her freshly cleaned apartment. She sat leaning against the couch, underneath her lay the cool freshly mopped floorboards. The grey throw rug Emilia picked up at a closing down sale, now gone. It lay wrapped up in one of the bin bags by the front door. The dawn light now flooding into the apartment while the men casually drank their coffees as if they had merely come home from an all night bender. "Have some coffee," Giovanni urged holding his cappuccino out towards her encouraging her to get some caffeine into her system. "You can't miss your shift at work today, I need you to do exactly what you would do every other day Rosalia. Do not change your routine. Not today, understand?" She nodded while pushing away the mug in front of her. She could accept going about her daily routine, but there was no way she could stomach anything right now. Not after the bloodshed before her during the last few hours. How they could stand arou
The interruption of loud music suddenly erupting within the apartment eventually forced the pair apart. Rosalia quite reluctantly pulled away from Giovanni who was clearly attempting to hide his disappointment. The pair quietly reminded themselves that this was not the time for affectionate encounters. She turned the shower off and pulled one of the two towels Giovanni had thrown over the shower door to wipe herself down. Giovanni followed her lead, still staring at her with hooded eyes. The pair stepped out of the shower, Rosalia disappearing into the bedroom for a minute to retrieve some clothes for herself. She pulled on some sweatpants and an off the shoulder sweater before making her way back to the bathroom with her wet towel as she vigorously towel dried her hair. "Throw the towel back in the shower," Giovanni instructed reaching for his underwear within the duffle bag. "I'll get the guys to bleach your shower, I'll destroy the towels too." He secured his black suit pants an
The moment Giovanni had pressed the buzzer and the door automatically opened without as much as an acknowledgement from Rosalia, he knew something was definitely wrong. It was the middle of the night and she hadn't even asked who she was letting in the building? He had pushed the door open to make sure the automatic lock system didn't kick in then retrieved Ricci from the car to join him. It was better to be safe than sorry. The pair quietly made their way up the stairs and leaned against Rosalia's front door listening in. It was quiet. Too quiet. A few minutes went by and still nothing. It wasn't difficult to hear Rosalia's muffled sounds when she finally made herself known. The scrapping of something across the floor was the final straw for the guys on the other side of the door as they withdrew their guns and kicked the door open. "Jesus fucking Christ!" Giovanni was on the floor with Rosalia pulling the tape from her mouth hastily as she cried out. He watched her in a panic suck
"Make the call." Michael placed Rosalia's cell phone on her thighs waiting for her to pick it up and follow his instructions. He watched her head dip down to look at it then her eyes trailed back to him as he motioned with the gun towards it. "Be a good girl Rosalia, and make the fucking call. Invite your fucking boyfriend over." "It's late" she responded knowing damn well the excuse was ridiculous and there was no way that realisation was going to change his mind in any way. She watched Michael throw his head back and chuckle at her reply. She was right, he was not buying it. He dropped to his knees and shuffled towards her casually placing the tip of the gun downwards onto her thigh resting it over her jeans. "Call your boyfriend" he pressed the gun harder into her, "he'll come over for a booty call with you... I'm certain" his eyes wondered her body lingering a little too long at her breasts. His free hand now roaming the curves of her body slowly making her squirm. "We-we do
Rosalia sat on the floor inside her walk in wardrobe with her cell by her side. She was staring at the medium sized box torn with Emilia's words repeating in her mind. Show him you trust him, even just a little. Or you end it. She pulled the box closer to her stripping it of its lid and stared at the loaded beretta Giovanni had generously given her. He won't change. Emilia's words continued to repeat themselves making her more and more anxious. She pressed a button on her cell for what seemed like the thousandth time awakening the screen. No new messages or missed calls. She sighed pressing the side button killing the screen once again. "Fuck you" she murmured a little angrier than anticipated referring to the cell phone. How dare it not provide her with any hope of Giovanni thinking about her. She picked up the box leaving the lid behind then reached for her cell sliding it into her back jeans pocket. "Fuck you cell, fuck you Gio, fuck you beretta" the incoherent words barely m
The minute of silence which brewed between the pair seemed like a half hour of silence. Rosalia stared at Giovanni who remained near the door which he just slammed in the officer's faces. She watched him finally take a step towards her to which without even thinking about it she took a step back. She studied the confused look on his face as he proceeded to take another step towards her to which she responded once again stepping back. "What's happening right now?" Giovanni queried stopping his movements. "What did you do?" Rosalia responded back with a question of her own. She didn't dare to take her eyes off him; she wanted him to look her in the eyes for this conversation. She watched Giovanni open his mouth to respond but quickly cut him off, "please don't lie to me Gio." "Nothing" he responded barely taking a second to consider his answer. He quickly walked towards her taking her by the wrist and pulling her into him so her front was pressed up against his firm chest. Don't pus
The sound of an officer's voice and banging from the front door worked just as effectively as a bucket of ice cold water poured directly over the pair. Giovanni was pushed up as Rosalia sat herself up frantically in an upright position. She grabbed onto the bunched up material of her dress and quickly pulled it down covering her exposed legs. "Fuck" Giovanni groaned angrily, I had her just where I wanted her. He let out a frustrated breath as he watched her stand up, pick up the ice cream tub placing it on the kitchen counter and making her way to the front door. All without even taking a glance back at him. "Can I help you?" Rosalia asked angrily when she recognised one of the officers. John O'Connor. "Good evening miss Bernardi" John greeted her with a smile as did the other officer. "May we come in?" "What is this about?" Giovanni asked suddenly appearing making his way to the front door. What is this fucker doing here? He gave John a less than welcoming look as he placed his
"The body of missing Junior Finance Broker, Damiano Accardi was recovered in the Passaic River yesterday near Newark.'"Oh my gosh!" Rosalia gasped enthralled in the news headline quickly turning up the volume to catch any further details from her kitchen. Her eyes locked on the television screen, she vaguely noticed Giovanni get up from the couch and walk towards her."Police are yet to release the circumstances but foul play is suspected to certainly be on the cards."Giovanni walked behind the counter and into the kitchen casually making his way behind Rosalia wrapping arms around her. His hands travelled down her arms grabbing onto the remote pressing the red button killing the screen instantly. His lips brushed against the side of her neck while his other hand pushed her long black straightened hair aside."Hey!" She protested attempting to regain control of the remote control and failing miserably when he stepped back holding it hostage playfully. "I was watching that!" She let
"I really don't think your mother likes me" Rosalia announced to Giovanni when they were finally alone. All afternoon she had to endure his mothers less than welcoming judgemental glances which made her skin crawl. Just like any respectful Italian woman though, she endured every negative and sarcastic remark simply shrugging it off. She was grateful for little Sophia who provided quite a distraction for the remainder of the day. Giovanni rummaged through the guest kitchen discovering some leftover lasagne in the fridge. He smiled taking the plate out while listening to Rosalia's concerns. "Hmm" he mumbled almost disinterested, he was not one to take his mother too seriously. He imagined it would take her a little getting used to seeing though he had never attempted to introduce her formally to any woman. He pushed the plate towards Rosalia scrapping it across the stone bench top. "Can you heat it up for me?" He smiled at her almost little boy like shocking her completely. "I d