Chapter 16 Goodbye And A Gun I
Cedric stumbled out of the club's back entrance, he knew he needed to see his mother one more time before it was too late and his cage dooor would slam shut.
Gianni's driver was waiting by the black Mercedes, but Cedric waved him off. "I'll walk. I need to walk."
The driver's expression didn't change. "Mr. Falcone said one hour. Not a minute more."
"Yeah, I got it." Cedric was already moving, his legs carrying him toward the subway on pure autopilot.
One hour to say goodbye to everything he had ever known, before living inthe same house as that crazy, sex-obsessed, dangerous Mafia boss till God knew how long..
Cedric stared at his reflection in the dark window, barely recognising the person staring back. When had he become this? When had he stopped being the kid with Cornell brochures taped to his bedroom wall and turned into someone who stripped naked for mobsters in blood-splattered basements?
When Cedric reached the third floor he could already hear shouting. Glass breaking. Ray's voice, slurred and vicious.
"No," Cedric breathed, breaking into a run.
He slammed through the door and stopped dead.
The living room looked like a tornado had torn through it. The coffee table was overturned, picture frames smashed on the floor, and his mother,
His mother was pressed against the wall, one hand clutching her face, and even from across the room Cedric could see the dark bruise blooming around her left eye.
"Get away from her." Cedric's spat.
Ray spun around, nearly losing his balance. His shirt was stained with what looked like whiskey, and his eyes were bloodshot and mean. "Oh, look who decided to show up. The family disappointment. Come to spread your faggot germs around my house again? Who invitedyou here?!"
"This isn't your house," Cedric said quietly. He moved toward his mother, keeping himself between her and Ray. "Ma, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, baby," Linda whispered, but her voice shook. "He just had too much to drink, that's all. He didn't mean..."
"Like hell I didn't mean it!" Ray lurched forward. "I've had it with this family! Your useless son, your freak daughter who won't talk, and you..." He jabbed a finger at Linda. "You can't even keep a job! What good are you?"
Cedric's hands curled into fists. Every muscle in his body screamed to hit Ray, to make him hurt, to give him a taste of what Cedric had just watched Gianni do to that man in the basement.
But his mother's hand touched his arm. "Don't. Please. Just go check on Lily."
Cedric swallowed the rage burning in his throat and moved toward the hallway. He could hear Ray still ranting behind him and hear his mother's quiet, placating voice trying to calm him down.
Lily's door was locked.
"Lil-bit?" Cedric knocked softly. "It's me. Can you open up?"
Silence. Then the soft pad of footsteps, and the lock clicked.
His baby sister stood in the doorway in her purple star pajamas, her face streaked with tears. She looked so small, so scared, and when she saw Cedric she threw herself into his arms.
Cedric caught her, holding her tight while she shook against him. She didn't make a sound, she never did, but her fingers dug into his shirt like she was afraid he'd disappear.
"I know," Cedric whispered into her hair. "I know, sweetheart. I'm sorry I wasn't here."
He pulled back just enough to see her face, to check for bruises, for any sign that Ray had touched her. She seemed physically okay, just terrified.
"Listen to me," Cedric said, his voice cracking. "I have to go away for a while. But I'm going to make sure you and Ma are safe, okay? I promise. I'm going to fix everything."
Lily's eyes widened. She shook her head frantically, her grip on his shirt tightening.
"I have to," Cedric said, tears burning his eyes now. "But I'll come back. I swear I'll come back."
He didn't know if that was true. Didn't know if Gianni would let him come back, or if he'd even survive whatever was coming. But he couldn't tell his twelve-year-old sister that.
Lily pulled something from her pocket: a folded piece of paper. Her latest drawing. She pressed it into his hands, and when Cedric unfolded it, his heart broke.
It was the three of them, Cedric, Linda, and Lily, holding hands under a bright sun. A house with a garden in the background. The life they were supposed to have.
"I'll keep it with me," Cedric promised, folding it carefully and tucking it into his jacket. "Always."
He kissed her forehead, pulled her into one more crushing hug, and then forced himself to let go.
In the living room, his mother had managed to get Ray onto the couch. He was passed out now, snoring, and Linda was picking up broken glass with shaking hands.
"Ma," Cedric said softly.
She looked up, and when she saw his face, fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "Where are you going?"
"I got a new job. Good money. But I'll be living on-site for a while." The lies came easier now. "I won't be able to visit much, but I'll send money. Enough to get you away from him."
Linda crossed the room and cupped his face in her hands. "What did you do, Cedric?"
"What I had to." He covered her hands with his. "I love you, Ma. Take care of Lily."
"Cedric,"
But he was already moving toward the door, because if he stayed one more second he'd break down completely. He'd tell her everything, about Gianni, about the debt, about the trap closing around him, and what good would that do except make her worry?
The door closed behind him with a soft click.