The devil you begged for

009

ISLA

~•~

My first day back at school was stressful. I had so many people asking me why I hadn’t been to school for a while. When I told them the reason, they suddenly became awkward and found an excuse to leave as if I wasn’t the one uncomfortable with telling everyone about my family’s fate. I even had to explain to some professors so they could excuse my absence. Most of them were understanding and offered their condolences. Some told me I could have said something in advance.

My friend didn’t let me out of her sight because she ‘didn’t want me to do anything stupid’. It was overwhelming.

I almost didn’t want to go again.

As the car came to a stop in front of Lorenzo’s house, I was more than happy. I never thought I’d be relieved to be back there.

I was out the door before any of Lorenzo’s men could even open theirs. As I headed toward the front door, it suddenly opened, revealing a man in his fifties and a young girl my age. She was smiling too happily for someone who had just been in Lorenzo’s house.

Her eyes met mine and her smile dropped. Her eyebrows furrowed and she turned to the man beside her. “Who’s she?” She whispered, but it was loud enough for me to hear. I, however, pretended not to hear her and continued walking up the small steps that led to the door.

The man beside her shook his head and leaned in to whisper something I didn’t catch as I walked past them.

As I closed the door behind me, I saw her turning around to get one last glance at me. It made me frown. Who was she? Why was she curious about me?

“You’re back,” a voice suddenly spoke, bringing my attention to the figure on the couch, busy playing games on his phone. I had seen him around the house and we had even eaten on the same table yet I’d never spoken with him. I only knew his name was Ricardo and he was pretty close with Lorenzo. The fact that he was initiating a conversation made me feel awkward.

“Uh, yeah, I’m back.”

“I thought you’d run away once you got the chance,” he chuckled, his attention still focused on the mobile game he was playing.

Not knowing what to say, I just hummed and headed for the stairs.

“Hold up,” he called out, making me turn around to look at him again. “Please save me a trip and help deliver this to Lorenzo.”

I stared at him, then at the brown file that was beside him on the couch. I sucked on my teeth. While I lived in his house, I tried my best to avoid conversations with Lorenzo. “Why can’t you do it yourself?”

“You’re already standing. Please help me, okay?” He was begging me to help him but since I came in, he hadn’t even looked at me once. Was his game that important?

Holding back a sigh, I relented and picked up the file from the couch.

“Thanks, he’s in his office!” he yelled out as I walked past the staircase.

As I walked toward the office, the brown file was pressed against my chest like it was heavier than it actually was. The plan was simple: knock, drop it off, say nothing, and retreat to my room.

The hallway was quiet, only the muffled hum of voices coming from the door at the end of the hallway, Lorenzo’s office. I’d already wondered what the other rooms were for. I was curious to know the ins and outs of this house. I was certain I would need it for future purposes but I couldn’t wander too much in case I ran into something I wasn’t supposed to.

As I reached the door, I hesitated. Was there any reason to knock? I could just slip the file under the door and leave, right?

I raised my hand but froze when I heard a familiar voice through the door. “You wiped them out completely. Didn't even spare the boy.”

I paused. Who was Romano speaking about?

Lorenzo’s reply was unhurried, almost amused. “That’s the point. Her family was too messy… too noisy. Someone had to clean them up. These Americans always get under my skin.”

My blood ran cold. They couldn’t possibly be talking about me, right? Maybe it was the girl who just left?

Romano scoffed. “But you’re keeping the girl under your roof. Do you really think that’s wise?”

My hands shook against the file and my knees almost gave up under me. My ears rang, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

There was a pause before Lorenzo spoke again, his voice as cold as ever. “She’s more useful alive than buried.”

He thought I was useful. That was why he kept me alive. That was why he kept me under his roof. I knew Lorenzo was sick but I didn’t think he’d keep me with him after killing off the rest of my family, including the extended ones.

My chest constricted and my heart was beating so loudly that I feared they would hear it through the door. What did he mean by that? Why was I useful? How was I useful? What did my family do to him?

I pressed my back against the wall, praying it would swallow me. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t.

“You’re playing with fire,” Romano chuckled like they were having the most casual conversation ever. “What if she burns you?”

“She won’t,” Lorenzo replied, his voice steady and sure. I bit down on my tongue. “She doesn’t have anywhere else to go.”

Lorenzo was a twisted man.

A sharp pang of fear jolted me into action. I bent down carefully and placed the file on the floor, just outside the office. My hands trembled so badly that the file slipped, the papers rustling inside it. The sound made me flinch.

The voices inside stopped completely.

Without thinking twice, I turned on my heels and hurried down the hallway while trying to keep my footsteps light. When I reached the living room, I slowed down. Thankfully, Ricardo was still immersed in his game and paid me no attention.

I gripped the railing of the staircase as I ascended quickly, my breath shallow and uneven.

I was out of breath by the time I reached the top of the stairs and I wasted no time rushing to my room. I went in, locked the door behind me, and leaned against it.

I’d only gone to deliver a file yet I ran into my nightmare. I’d been so scared, wondering if it was really Lorenzo behind my family’s death. I’d wished, hoped, and prayed it wasn’t him because that was going to make my life easier. I'd gotten the truth but I wasn’t sure if I wanted it.

I felt so stupid. I should have just run away from the city that night. He kept me here on purpose and I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave even if I tried.

No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t unhear his words.