Chapter 31 Going To The Club
SANCIA
I wasn't let out of my prison until three days before the wedding. And that's because Mama had told Papa that I needed to go for my mani-pedi.
Papa had refused to let me go anywhere, which was why we were now in my Aunt Francesca’s house. I heard he has a meeting with his underbosses at home.
“How's the wedding preparation coming along?” Christina asked.
Stretching out beside me on her bed after the long hours, I'd been prepped to shine like a new coin. I have a plate balance on my thigh as I stuff my face with cake.
I'm always stressed eating these days, probably because I've starved myself. Today's the first time I've seen her since everything has gone down.
“Please don't remind me. I came to your room to take a break from it all. I don't need you talking about it, too. And there's something I need to talk to you about,” I ended, my voice lowered. Christina glanced at the door, got up to shut it, and was back on the bed in a moment.
“What is it? Did you manage to have sex with Antonio?” she asked, a bit excited. We haven't had time to chat all day, and Mama has her eyes on both of us like a hawk.
Fortunately, Mama and Aunt Francesca had left to go check on some of the wedding arrangements at the hotel where we were going to get married—but not without warning both Christina and me not to do anything stupid.
“No, that's not it,” I said as angry tears slipped down my defenses. Then I told her everything, how I had done everything she'd told me to do and went even beyond.
How Antonio had rejected me, afraid my father would kill him if he found out he'd disrespect me by having sex with me without the sanctity of marriage, and how Lorenzo, that bastard, had stormed into the hotel room, shot at Antonio, and captured us both.
Bringing me back home to my raging Papa, who hadn't bothered even to see me and had locked me up like a criminal for days. And how Lorenzo had taken Antonio to only God knows where.
I told her how I made a deal just to get him to release Antonio. My eyes had gone all teary by the time I ended the story, but I refused to shed another tear because of that bastard; if he thought he was stubborn, I would show him I was more stubborn than he was. Instead, I shove more cake into my mouth.
“Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Sia. Mama has been angry with me, too. Nobody told me anything. I can't even imagine the hell you must have been through these days.”
“I'm sorry too. For getting you into trouble, I heard from Sergio that you were grounded.” She shrugged nonchalantly.
“Nothing new. I'm always in trouble.” I felt guilty because I was about to get her in more trouble.
“How are you doing with everything?”
“I can tell you with a hundred percent surety that these are the worst fucking days of my life, second only to the day I met that Lucifero,” I said, frustration eating at me. My stomach cramp as a much worse day came into mind.
I glare at the empty plate in my hand before placing it on the bedside table, then use the Kleenex to wipe my hands clean.
As always, I banished it from my thoughts before I fell into that hole that always pulls me into the worst memories in my head. Some memories are best left buried.
“Look at you; you've already found so many pet names for him, special ones too. Diavolo, Daeman, Lucifero. I can already imagine you calling him ‘Oh my Lucifero,' Tina teased, probably trying to lighten my mood.
All it did was make me glare at her as she reminded me of my impending marriage. Not that the thought is far from my mind these days.
“Sorry,” she said when she saw how fast my mood had plummeted. “So, how did Diavolo…I mean, Lorenzo reacted when he saw you with Antonio.”
“He was spitting mad but controlled, which was even more disarming than when he's threatening me, the bastard,” I said with unveiled contempt.
Even as my face flamed with how he'd kissed me, damn it, I tried not to think of that kiss, but my stupid brain wouldn't let me. I was too ashamed to even tell Christina about it.
“I just don't understand how he found you. Did he tell you how?” I sigh.
“It was me,” I guessed. “Lorenzo must have traced your phone to find us.”
“That was stupid; You should have thrown away the phone on the way. I wouldn't have minded.”
“Well, I forgot to do that,” I said. Guilt assailed me as I remembered the last time I saw Antonio. Though I'd call him, and he was okay.
I can't help feeling guilty that he got shot because of me. God bless Sergio. He'd seen how utterly miserable I was, and he allowed me one call. Mama had been right; he was safe and back in Italy with his family.
“What are you going to do, Sancia? Now that your plan has failed.”
“That was only plan A. I have plan B,” I said stubbornly. Tina chewed on her bottom lip.
“What if it also fails?”
“It won't,” I said confidently, though I didn't feel all that confident inside. Tina arched her brow doubtfully.
“And even if it did, there's also plan C, D, and E. I won't give up, Christina. I refuse to allow that…that Diavolo gets what he wants.”
“You know you're my cousin and best friend. I will always support you. But I don't see how you can win against him, Sancia. He's a Capo. Everyone fears him, not just in his family or back home, even here in the States, and he wants you. He's already getting possessive of you.”
“I know all that. I have a plan, Christina. But I will need your help to execute it; you are the only one on my side right now, and no one cares how I'm feeling. Please help me.”
“Anything for you, Sia,” she said. Nervous that she would think I'd gone mad, I hesitantly told her my suicidal plan. But I should have known Tina would never disappoint me.
An hour later, I was dressed in a short black dress that I wouldn't be caught dead in, not because I don't like short, revealing dresses, but because Papa will never allow it.
I don't even know how Christina got the dress because her father is as bad as mine and would have her grounded for life if he ever saw her in a dress like this.
I checked myself out in the mirror; the long blonde wig looked amazing on me; Christina had done my makeup perfectly. I hardly recognized myself like this; I doubt anyone who knew me would recognize me.
Maybe if they were close and really looked, but from afar, I doubt it. Christina wore a red wig that complemented her pale coloring.
“Here you go,” she said,
“The final thing you'll need tonight. Now remember you can't forget this ever; safety comes first, or we'll have a whole new problem on our hands,” Christina warns.
I bit my lip, my stomach cramping with nerves as I fingered the three condoms she'd thrown on the bed. I'm curious how she got all these things.
The wigs, dresses, makeup, and everything, but we haven't got the time for me to dive into it; at most, we have three hours before either Mama or Aunt Francesca comes back.
I expect it will take about 30 minutes to and fro. Ten minutes to find someone to do the deed, another ten or twenty to get it over with, maybe it wouldn't even take that long. I don't know how long it will take after the actual insertion, so I'll leave it at twenty max.
That's less than two hours, assuming there's no queue outside the clubs. I bite my lip nervously.
“Do…do you think we'll need to do it three times before my virginity is completely gone?” Christina burst into a fit of giggles that made my cheeks flame with my ignorance and naivety.
Though it wasn't my fault, rather my upbringing, which is why I don't understand how Tina knew all this and I didn't.
But she'd grown up here in the US, and despite the tight security around her, Christina had found ways to give them the slip. She knows a lot of things I didn't; I just hope for her sake that she won't get into trouble one of these days.
“No, silly, these are all different sizes. They are made of latex and are the best for protection against STDs and pregnancy. You can't know the size of a man's dick. That's why I gave you three; I guarantee one of these will fit,” Christina explains—wiping the tears from her eyes.
“Oh, thank you, Chris,” I said, putting them inside my bag, though I felt anxious.
“You're welcome.”
“Now, how do we get out of the house without being seen by the guards?”
“Don't worry. I'll give you a sign. Just leave through the window when you see the light flash twice; I'll be right behind you,” she said before walking out.
Leaving me a bit confused as to what light she was talking about. I glanced down at the window and saw a thick rope that seemed to be made of curtains. And just as she said, the light in her room went off and on twice.
Oh. I don't know which one of us is crazier. That I was considering going down through the window means we're both crazy. She wasn't gone for long before she was back, grinning wickedly.
“Now, we can leave. Cassio will cover for us.”
“And why would he do that?” I asked incredulously. The dark, handsome man wasn't someone Tina could manipulate.
“Because I have something on him,” she said with a wink, smiling. Oh, I smiled back. Why didn't I ever think of doing that?