MASSIMO'S VISIT

Massimo's visit

Ariana’s pov~

“I'm not standing on that coal, I'm pregnant,” I replied.

Mother’s face turned instantly red and I could tell this was no ordinary nun.

Something else is going on here.

“Here at the shelter we are merciful are we not? So why were you seen seducing one of the maintenance workers ” She asked, turning to the girls around her.

They nodded almost immediately in response.

What happened to these girls?

“What? No, I wasn't!” I quickly said in my defence.

How did we get seen so fast?

What are they doing to them, no one is willing to walk out the front door!

“Step on the coal Ariana, you must learn the ways of the woman” she added.

“To be a woman is pain!” Everyone echoed together.

I started to get anxious, and my heart suddenly sank.

“To be a woman is pain! Step on the coal Ariana or I'll make your sister eat it!”

I was scared, the look in her eyes terrified me.

This wasn't an ordinary shelter.

No one ever knows what goes on on Massimo's island.

Girls who came here, most never made it back home.

The ones that didn't dare look a man in the eyes.

Leaving Italy was the best decision I ever made.

Leaving this life.

And every opportunity I've had to leave, somehow I let Mateo drag me away from my freedom.

I could see Luna was still quiet, she didn't look up either. 

What do I do?

“On the coal Ariana!” She yelled again.

I instinctively moved back in fear.

Maybe I shouldn't have picked a fight with Margaret.

“Let me do it Lucia” a voice called from behind us.

Lucia…. A beautiful name for an awful woman.

I turned to look at who just walked through the door.

He looked familiar, but I didn't know where to place him.

He was a big man, he wore a perfectly fitted tuxedo and his shoes shone.

“Don Massimo” Mother's superior called before lowering her head.

“Ariana right? You must be new, I'm Massimo” he mentioned.

I looked closely at him, he was almost the same age as my father but much stronger.

His build was almost like a man in his youth.

He had white beards and he wore Viking cornrows.

I didn't talk back and from Lucia's face, I could tell she was happy I didn't.

Massimo nodded and smiled before walking past me towards the coal.

We watched him take his shoes off before standing on the coal.

“Someone is going home today” he started, as the coals burned he didn't flinch.

He stood on them perfectly still as his feet burned.

“To be a woman is pain, to be a woman is a duty” he said.

The girls chorused after him.

I can't believe this! In 2023!

As fury took over me I felt a sudden twist in my head.

No cayenne not now!

Trying to keep my uglier side in check I shook my head and this made Lucia angry.

Massimo stopped talking and looked at me for a long time before stepping off the coal.

He walked towards me and stood big and strong and I felt like an ant before him.

For the first time, I was very terrified of what might happen to me here.

He smiled again.

Terrifying me even more.

“Lucia, who are the lucky girls going home tonight?” he inquired.

I watched Lucia move to the front of the girls and addressed them.

“You all have shown real change, I'm proud of you, but  Fortunately two of you are going home with Don Massimo tonight” she started.

It wasn't fortune, doom awaited them and they knew it.

“Antonella” she started, a girl from the back started weeping profusely before two of Massimo’s guards escorted her out.

Lucia looked around again, before calling a name I never thought she would.

“Margaret” 

Margaret started to panic, she couldn't believe it.

“But mother, I've been good! I've been a very good mother” she kept wailing, she tried to jerk herself free as she cried for Mother Superior to have mercy.

“It's nothing personal sweet girl, you have overstayed your welcome at the shelter, it is time for the next phase of your life” Mother said casually.

Even Margaret had started to irritate Mother.

I started to reconsider my plan,

Is it worth it?

I decided to do nothing like Mateo said.

I lowered my head and waited for Massimo to leave.

“Great work Lucia, you have given me wonderful girls as always, they will serve their purpose well” he started “But I want one more, to stay with me a while, you know how I get lonely, don't you Lucia?” 

I gasped in fright,  what the hell kind of monster is this?

What kind of shelter is this?

This is a front for his prostitution ring!

Lucia nodded immediately and hastily walked toward Luna.

I raised my head immediately defying the great benefactor.

“This one, she’s fresh, brought in by her mother today” she offered.

“No!” I yelled, “Silence Girl!” Lucia screamed back.

“Hmmm, who is she to you?” Massimo inquired, turning to me.

“They are sisters, their mother dumped them here today” Lucia replied pointing at me.

“Sisters hmmm” he murmured.

“Good choice, I'll take her,” he smiled again.

“No! No!” I yelled, standing between Luna and Lucia.

“Touch my sister Lucia and I promise you, today will be the last time you feel anything” I threatened.

“You don't have to defend me, I don't need you” I heard Luna whisper behind me.

Finally, she speaks!

“I'm not letting you take my sister you sick fuck!”  I lashed at Lucia, hitting her hand away from Luna’s wrist.

“You ungrateful wretch! You whore you….”

“Lucia,” Massimo called calmly, interrupting her.

Lucia went quiet and quickly withdrew behind him.

He walked up to me again and pulled my cheek lightly.

“Now you see dear Ariana we are caught in a dilemma” he started

“I want your sister, and I always get what I want one way or another” he smirked.

“Fine, take me then! But I'm not letting you touch my sister” I blurted.

He grinned cheerfully.

“Great!” He exclaimed.

As the guards came for me, he snapped his fingers and guffawed loudly.

“Finally I can finally remember where I saw you! You are Silvio Argento’s runaway wife aren't you?”

I froze in fear, oh my God, I finally remembered where I saw him.

He was at My wedding rehearsal dinner!

“Oh don’t worry Ariana, I'll make sure you get home safe to your husband by the morning after I'm done with you tonight”