Chapter 4 — Mother Flunker!

Allegra

─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─

"Why did he wink at you?" Chiara asked for the umpteenth time since we left the church.

As we lounged on her bed, I couldn't help but marvel at the stunning view above us. The glass ceiling showcased the twinkling stars, creating a breathtaking sight that left me in awe. Her bedroom was a masterpiece, and I couldn't help but admire every intricate detail of it.

I squeezed my eyes shut, "I don't know, he was probably trying to annoy us or something."

"He didn't even bat an eye at me, which is surprising considering I fit the bill of everything he usually looks for in a woman," she said shaking her head. Her tone was laced with bitterness as if she couldn't understand why he wouldn't be attracted to her. "But of course, he was staring at you the whole time. It's not like you're his usual type or anything," she added, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And to top it off, he even winked at you and smiled," she emphasized each word, making sure to let me know how hurt she was.

I swallowed hard, I had no idea why he did what he did if anything his behavior disgusted me. How could he stoop so low? His shameful behavior only made me despise him more. I mean, who does that? Who willingly has an affair with a married woman who also has kids? It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it. And don't even get me started on Mrs. Gastone; that woman is going straight to hell for what she's done. They have no respect for the church or the sanctity of marriage.

"He is disgusting. I can't believe you're attracted to him," I stated with disdain. "He's absolutely repulsive. How can you be blind to the fact that he has no regard for religion or basic human decency? All he cares about is exploiting the people he interacts with, either by taking their lives or using them for his own twisted desires."

Chiara blew out a breath, "He isn't that bad, and not everyone's life revolves around the church, unlike you some people actually have a life."

I shrugged, Chiara will take his side no matter what, no matter how obnoxious that man is, "I hope you find a good man for yourself, judging by the scene we saw in the ladies' room this afternoon he doesn't seem like a person who would loyal and would respect his wedding vows. He seemed to have no problem in breaking up other people's families, let alone having one of his own."

Chiara glared at me and then pursed her lips, "Many men change after their marriage. All they need is a good woman by their side to show them the right path."

I cringed at her point of view, "A wife doesn't equal a personal therapist, Chiara. It's a two-way street. If you're looking for a loving partner, it's important to find someone who is capable of both giving and receiving love."

"Maybe, I just want a man who is experienced in bed."

I rolled my eyes, her ridiculous crush on the underboss was getting out of hand, "He will cheat," I said, trying to knock some sense into her.

Her eyes narrowed, "He won't cheat. Once we're together, he'll be a changed man. You just don't understand."

"Oh please. You're only fooling yourself. He's a player, and you're setting yourself up for heartbreak."

"Don't be so pessimistic," she retorted. "I know what I'm doing. You just can't handle the fact that I have faith in him."

I shook my head. "You're delusional. But fine, go ahead and learn the hard way. Just don't come crying to me when he breaks your heart."

I pulled myself away from her bed, my lips pressed tight. Collecting my belongings, I stowed them inside my bag.

In the midst of my preparations, she rose from her position. "Leaving so soon?" she queried.

"I have to be home by eight, or else, you know mama," I disclosed, taking a quick peek at myself in the mirror and running my hands through my hair.

"Sheesh, your mama is a real pain," she grumbled.

I scowled, "She's still my mother, you know."

I had to come up with an excuse for my mother. I can't deny that she wasn't the best mother to me. She didn't always prioritize my needs and desires. But, I can't blame her completely. Especially not after what I did to her.

I said goodbye to Chiara and exited her room, only to freeze in my tracks at the sight of Benedetto lounging in the living area. Chiara's elder brother was a couple of years senior to us. Despite Chiara's repeated assurances that Benedetto had no romantic inclinations towards me, his queer stares always managed to unnerve me. In fact, his behavior changed drastically in Chiara's absence, leaving me feeling anxious and discomposed.

My eyes quickly glanced toward the floor, and I made a move to leave their apartment without any further interaction. However, I knew that luck wasn't on my side when he rose from his seat and uttered my name, "Allegra...".

As I heard Benedetto's voice, my heart skipped a beat and I turned around slowly, trying to hide my uneasiness. "Oh hey, Benedetto," I said, forcing a small smile to appear on my face. "I wish I could stay and chat, but I should probably head home..." Before I could finish my sentence, he surprised me by taking my hand and planting a soft kiss on the back of it.

Benedetto loomed over me, his massive frame sending shivers down my spine. Chiara had warned me of his sadistic tendencies, and I couldn't seem to shake the notion that I was in danger. His coal-black eyes pierced through me, and his thick mane of dark hair only added to the ominous aura he exuded. Despite his twisted fixation on me, I couldn't bear the thought of reciprocating his feelings. The idea alone made me feel uneasy and nervous.

"I heard a rumor that your folks are on the hunt for a husband for you?" he asked, with a note of curiosity in his voice.

I felt a twinge of discomfort and shifted my weight, clutching my bag. "I think it's best if we don't discuss this," I replied tentatively, "And we shouldn't be alone together."

He took another step forward, his expression was serious. "Come on, don't be shy. You can tell me," he urged, with a hint of playfulness.

I looked him straight in the eyes, I wasn't the one to cower away from Made men, I have spent my whole life with them, I was not the one to get scared easily but sometimes when my honor is at stake, it does make me unnerved, "Yes, they are..."

His grip tightened around my hand, and Benedetto asked, "Allegra, tell me honestly, do you have any kind of feelings for me?"

Caught off guard, I stumbled over my words before finally blurting out, "You are my best friend's older brother, I don't think we should be having this conversation."

But Benedetto persisted, "Please, just tell me what am I to you?"

Unease creeping in, I watched Benedetto as he leaned in closer, his questioning eyes making me a little scared. He had never crossed the line with me but these interrogations were becoming too frequent.

"I don't think of you that way, Benedetto. It's inappropriate for us to be alone together." I tried to keep my tone calm as I looked around for an escape route.

He held my hand and placed it on his chest, he let out a sigh before saying, "I want to ask for your hand in marriage, Allegra. With me, you will have a secure life and protection."

I swallowed hard. I had never really given much thought to marriage before and wasn't even sure what kind of man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. "I appreciate your proposal, but I'm not sure. Maybe you should talk to Father Linus about it."

"What is going on here?" Chiara's voice resounded in the spacious living room as she stepped out of her bedroom, watching us with furrowed eyebrows.

I yanked away my hand from Benedetto's grip, but he refused to release me. I stared at him, feeling uneasy as he hoisted my hand and pressed his lips against the back of it again.

I cleared my throat and turned to Chiara, a skeptical look spread across her face as she looked between me and her brother. "I will call you once I get home," saying that I strode towards the elevator with hurried steps.

"Yeah, you do that," she voiced from behind me.

My heart raced uncontrollably as the elevator descended. The thought of leaving the building made my palms sweat and my knees weak. When I finally made it outside, I bolted towards the bus stop, anxious to reach the safety of my home as quickly as possible.

As soon as I stepped inside my house, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The sight of my grandpa's comforting smile immediately put me at ease, and without any hesitation, I ran towards him and held him tightly in my arms.

"Is everything alright, my sweet?" he asked.

I owe all of the freedom that I have today to him. He is the only person in this vast universe who has been there for me through thick and thin. "I am so scared..." I whispered into his chest as he led us into the sitting room.

"What's bothering you?" He asked, his eyes filled with concern.

"I am scared of getting married, Grandpa," I admitted, my heart heavy with anxiety.

He sat down with me still wrapped on his side and rested my head over his chest, caressing my head, "You have to marry sooner or later, my sweet."

I looked up at him and nodded softly, knowing that he only had my best interests at heart.

I nuzzled my nose into his comforting smell, "Benedetto Gambino wants to ask for my hand in marriage."

"Hm..." there was silence between us for a few seconds before Grandpa spoke up again, "Do you wish to be with him?"

I leaned back and locked eyes with my grandpa, "You know, I don't really like that guy in that way. He's controlling and impulsive, he will try to control me and prevent me from studying. We will kill each other in a week."

Grandpa shook his head, "Darling, you won't find a man in the Cosa Nostra who would support your educational pursuits after marriage. It's just not how things are done. He'll expect you to focus on taking care of the children and household."

I winced, "I really wish you could find someone who understands my ambitions and lets me pursue them. I promise to still take care of the family and house, but I also want to follow my passion."

Grandpa kissed the top of my head with a smile, "My little dreamer..."

The timing couldn't have been worse when Mama barged into the tiny sitting room, and stated, "The Cerone family will be joining us for dinner tomorrow night. Their son, a top-ranking soldier of the Cosa Nostra, has taken a liking to Allegra. And, I believe it's a good match for her."

Grandpa's face contorted in disapproval. "Aldo Cerone? He's quite old for our Allegra."

Mama snapped back, cutting him off mid-way, "Perfectly aged for a girl like Allegra. We need a man in the house, not a boy."

I glanced at Grandpa, "Who is Aldo Cerone?"

Mama glared at me, "You will know tomorrow, Allegra."

After having an eerily quiet dinner with Grandpa and Mama, I went back to my room. I changed into my pajamas and slid under the covers, I closed my eyes and let sleep take over.

His voice echoed in my head, "Aly, cuore mio..." I was stuck in a nightmare, a flashback of that fateful night.

"How was your party?" he had asked.

"It was perfect!" I had replied.

"She is still mad at me for allowing you to go," he had said, his words haunting me to this day.

"I know you can take care of it, you always do, like Superman!" I had said, trying to make light of the situation.

He had raised an eyebrow at my comment, "Superman?"

I had nodded my head up and down, "Yes, you're my Superman—"

But before I could finish my sentence, a loud bang had interrupted us.

"ALY!" he had yelled, and in that moment, everything had changed.

I shot up from my bed, my chest heaving up and down. I looked to my side and glanced at the wall clock, it was four in the morning, and the room was dark, so dark. I wiped the sweat off my forehead. I touched myself all over as if I was still there, stuck, hardly breathing.

My heart was racing and my throat was parched. I reached out to the nightstand and fumbled for the water bottle. As soon as my fingers found it, I unscrewed the cap and chugged down half the bottle in one go. The cool liquid soothed my dry throat, and I let out a deep breath.

As I placed the bottle back on the nightstand, I couldn't help but feel a lone tear slide down my cheek. The nightmare was still fresh in my mind, and the fear was suffocating me. I hastily wiped the tear away and slid back under the covers, desperately trying to push the images out of my head.

Why bother sleeping when my mind won't settle down? Might as well get up and start my day. A refreshing shower always helped clear my head. Now, what to wear? Ah, this long sleeve button-up and maxi skirt combo should do the trick. And flats, of course - can't be bothered with discomfort today.

I rarely wore heels, simply because of my height. I stand 5 ft 8 tall already, and when I add heels, I become almost 6 ft tall. And we all know how boys react around tall women. They often get offended, thinking their masculinity is being challenged.

As for my mama, she never lets me buy high heels. According to her, it draws too much attention, and as a nice, modest Christian girl, I shouldn't be seeking that kind of attention. Sometimes, I wonder if my mama is right or if I am missing out on something. But then again, it's not like I have any place to wear heels these days anyway.

As I trudged down the stairs, my appetite was non-existent. Mama's harsh words were sure to follow me around, and I simply couldn't bear it this morning. So without a word, I headed towards the door, escaping the hostile environment that had once been my home.

I boarded the bus to NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Helping others, saving lives, and all that jazz. It may sound cliché, but that dream ignited in me when I was nine, and it never fizzled out. I burned the midnight oil to reach this point. It wasn't a walk in the park to secure a fully-funded scholarship to NYU. And maintaining it was even harder. I had to push myself harder and harder to maintain my CGPA. But it doesn't matter because it will all be worth it in the end.

Or not, if I get married to a dirty, old-fashioned Made Man who wouldn't let me pursue my passion, even the thought gave me the shivers.

I entered the campus and my eyes scanned the area for my two best friends, both guys. If my mama found out that I had been fraternizing with college boys, she'd definitely lock me up in a room.

After the first lecture, I went to the library to study, I always kept myself ahead of everyone in the class, people kind of hated me for it but I didn't care. They thought I was stuck up and selfish just because I study too much.

Someone smacked a book in the back of my head, "Hey, loser!"

I groaned as Enrico and Silvio slumped on the chair on either side of me, both were Italian, and both belonged to the mob life they wanted nothing to do with hence they were here with me.

The study session turned into an hour-long gossip session, they knew everything about everyone. They both didn't belong to the Cosa Nostra but they also refused to tell me where they belonged. At first, I was weary of them but then slowly I realized I had nothing that could be beneficial for them and they weren't interested in knowing anything about the Cosa Nostra.

Silvio asked with a smirk on his face, "Hey, are you going to grace the floors of Sam's party with your presence?"

I chuckled in response, "I'd love to, but I don't want to risk facing the wrath of my mama."

Enrico quipped humorously, "Ah, come on! Live a little, my friend!"

I shrugged playfully, "I'd rather not risk my future. By the way, are any of you handsome gentlemen interested in being my mom's future son-in-law? My family is looking for a suitable husband for me."

They both cringed, "An arranged marriage?"

But I decided to give them a little tease and gestured towards myself, saying, "Who'd ever fall for this?"

Silvio quickly replied with a shrug, "I would."

Enrico chimed in with a laugh, "Me too."

I couldn't help but grin and drape my arms over their shoulders, saying, "Aw! Look at us, we'll make the perfect throuple."

I often wonder how my college life would have been if I hadn't met Silvio and Enrico. Those two are the reason why I look forward to attending classes every day. We may be enrolled in different programs, but we spend most of our time together. The public library outside the campus has become our second home, a place where we exchange ideas, stories, and laughter. I'm glad I have them in my life.

As soon as I stepped into the bus that would take me home from college, I felt an impending sense of doom. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something terrible was waiting for me when I reached home.

And boy, was I right! As soon as I entered my room, my eyes locked on the most hideous dress I had ever laid my eyes on.

Mother flunker!