Chapter Eight

I have been driving for about an hour now, not that I didn't know where to go but I just needed the time and the space to clear my head and clear my hurt a little.

I let my windows down and let the warm midday air hit my face. Nature truly was a marvelous healer, and she was doing some really good things to my soul right now. I was so engrossed in the peace that was settling in me that I didn't notice that there were two speeding SUV's coming up behind me until I was rammed in the back and off the road. The last thing I remember was hearing Henrietta's voice.

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I woke up sore all over and tied to a chair, everything seemed hazy at first but then my memories began to come back to me slowly and painfully.

The argument with Al, me leaving the house, long driving around town, the SUV's, the crash, and Henrietta's voice...

Henrietta!!!

That bitch was going to get it. First, she kidnaps my son then she tries to kill me. Speaking of the devil's first daughter, she just walked in.

"Hello, Elena. I trust you feel horrible?"

"Fuck you!!!"

She laughed and came closer to me, delivering a really hard punch to my jaw. For someone her size, she packs a really good punch.

"Oh, Elena. You don't get to be mean to me. I'm in charge now dear."

"Just what exactly do you plan to gain from this? Alessandro still won't get back together with you."

I saw her hands form into a fist and I braced myself for impact. She didn't disappoint, and the first one hurt a whole lot less.

"He doesn't want me anymore because you took him away from me!!!"

"I met Alessandro after you two were divorced. How is your marital business, or lack of it, my fault?"

"You distracted him!!!"

"You left him and Ana."

"An honest mistake. I mean, everyone deserves a second chance. I know I do."

"You're crazy. How exactly is this crazy plan of yours supposed to work in your favor? My Al already knows you have our son."

Another punch was delivered to my face, this time sending me sprawling to the floor. I landed on my left shoulder and screamed when I heard a sickening crunch. Henrietta just laughed at me, she gloried in my misery.

"He is not your Al; he is my Al!"

I decided it best to not argue with her on that. I'm sure it would be best for my face if I got punched a little less.

"Where is Antonio?"

"Oh, I was coming to that. Don't worry, he's somewhere cozy and safe."

"Why would you kidnap him? What exactly are you trying to prove?"

"You see, I am in the mafia. I and my brother Matteo."

I stared at her silently waiting for her to continue, but it looks looked like she was expecting something from me too.

"Pay attention. I said I and Matteo are in the Mafia!!!"

"I heard you the first time."

"And..."

"What do you want me to do about it?"

She placed a hand on her waist while the other played with a strand of her hair.

"Why aren't you shocked or at least surprised?"

"That would be because I already know about it, he told me way before you showed up at our doorstep. You're not just in the Mafia, your equally crazy brother is."

Her face morphed into something I couldn't describe. First, it looked like she was going to lose it then like she was going to cry, then it looked like both...if that's even possible. One second, she was standing, the next she was on me landing punches and kicks. I think I lost consciousness because the last thing I remember is a kick to my tummy.

The sound of a door closing and locking woke me up from my 'beauty sleep'. I groggily looked up and saw a plate of stale bread on the floor in front of me. This was the routine for the past couple of weeks, I get fed once a day with stale or sour food, Henrietta comes in around midday and shows me she's a crazy human, her brother comes to pull her out shouting something in a foreign language. And to ensure I don't escape; I've been chained to the wall of my room.

Everything was perfect. Who could argue with 5-star quality?

I thought that today was going to be like any other day, but that thought disappeared a few hours after I woke up. The sound of bullets and heavy artillery rang out and the urgent sounds of footsteps running up and down the building built panic up in me. The only light that came into my room was from a tiny window that almost got to the ceiling, I would never be able to reach it.

It was the worst hour of my life; the anxiety was stifling. I thought about everything that has happened in my life up to this point, I wondered if maybe I had done something differently, maybe I wouldn't be here...but then I wouldn't have my Antonio.

My thoughts were interrupted by an explosion down the hall from where I was and the last person I expected to see came through the doors. Alessandro.

"Hurry up, we need to leave immediately!!!"

I didn't even get a chance to tell him how much I missed him, he was already pulling me down the hall and out of the building.

"Wait, where is Antonio?!!"

"He is safe, don't worry about him."

I was relieved, one less thing to worry about. Alessandro shoved me in the back of an SUV and closed the door in my face, a tap on the door and whoever was behind the wheel was speeding like a mad man. I didn't even have the time to put on my seatbelt and as a result, with every swerve and turn the car made, I turned with it.

I was officially sick of big black SUVs.

We eventually pulled up at a Victorian-style house, it looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. The driver opened the door and I held on to him as he led me into the house and to a room where my son was there and waiting for me. He told me in a very thick Italian accent to rest and that both Alessandro and Vincenzo would be with me as soon as they can. I quickly took a shower and curled up beside Antonio to sleep.

It has been a long day and I missed a good bed.

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I was having a nice dream about hot rice and oyster stew calling my name until J was jerked awake by some unknown forces.

"Elena, wake up!!!"

I turned and saw Alessandro, he looked tired and had smoked all over his white shirt. I sat up on the bed and stayed silent. To be fair, I didn't know how we were since the whole Vincenzo incident. It's not like I got to tell my side of the story or anything.

"I'm really sorry for how I reacted that day. I was angry at Henrietta for taking Antonio and became even angrier when I saw you kissing Vincenzo...."

He was beginning to talk too much so I pulled his head down and kissed him.

"It's okay, Alessandro."

"There's one more thing you should know. Vincenzo was shot, he's currently in the operating room. We are not certain he's going to make it."

That weird feeling of numbness fell on me again. I didn't exactly like Vincenzo, and on any other day I would probably say fuck him, but nothing can ever change the fact that he's still Antonio's father and a man I formerly called my husband. At the end of it all, I don't want him to die.

I looked at Alessandro and smiled faintly, he nodded his head, he understood. No matter the outcome, it was all good. We would move on like we always have. Antonio would always have a father in Alessandro.

And that was enough for me.