Mafia High

Chapter 9: Gia

“You forbade me to give a single detail on Alessandro," Maria grumbled in frustration, literally pulling both sides of her hair.

We'd finally left the party and come straight back to the dorm where I could regroup, throw up, and plan my future funeral.

“I know I did." My exasperation at myself was through the roof. “He's making threats and Matteo is involved and I didn't see it coming. What is going on?"

It was time for me to pull my head out of Maria's ass. I thought avoidance was best. I was wrong. What happened tonight was not something I saw coming and I wasn't prepared. A Mafia princess is always ready, and I needed to find my Rossi b***h. Unfortunately, she was in hiding and considering going to the mattresses. Could I be more pathetic?

“Alessandro slept his way through half the princesses over the past three years. This year, you're on his radar."

At her words, my head jerked up. I knew some of the girls broke that sacred rule, but I didn't think it common knowledge or a large number.

“Why me?" The surprise over being on Alessandro's radar was clear in my voice.

Shock twisted into thorny vines in my gut. No way. Alessandro Brambilla's hatred should have kept him away.

“He's warned the other guys to stay away," Maria exclaimed. “I didn't know how to tell you and keep my promise that I would never talk about him."

I stopped listening because my head and gut were now communicating and I had the overwhelming urge to vomit.

“Why would he want to sleep with me? He hates me," I protested, hoping Maria would shed light on something that made no sense.

Maria's eyes swept my curled body on the couch. The little makeup I started with this evening was long gone. I had my favorite comfy nightshirt on that read “Italians Do It Better" which at the moment, I did not believe. I was tired and still the last thing I wanted was to fall asleep. Tonight's episode replayed in my head and I freaked. Sleep would turn my horrible thoughts into nightmares.

“First," Maria began, “love and hate have nothing to do with a guy's d**k. It doesn't care." She rolled her eyes. “Second, you simply won't believe what a knockout you are. Every guy in this school wants a piece of you. They stay away because your father and mine are scary dudes. In our world of scary dudes, ours gets props."

“I'm not a knockout," I argued, ignoring the scary dude part of her consoling because it was true.

“That's the major problem here. You don't see yourself the way the guys do."

If I hyperventilated too much, could I die? It could be my easiest way out. Alessandro had to stay away from me. I was actually looking forward to this year and now he'd ruined it because of his d**k. And revenge. It didn't matter how good he looked or smelled. I could never forget why he hated me.

Out of desperation, I changed the subject.

“Why didn't you say anything about Matteo?" His actions made sense now that I knew about Alessandro's declaration but there was more to it.

This was a turf war for lack of a better word. They were fighting for the top dog spot and I was in the middle. Unfortunately, Maria decided to spill all the beans and none of it helped my sinking ship.

“Ten years ago, a junior took the top spot and held it through his senior year. Alessandro broke the record and took it his sophomore year and he's been fighting to keep it since. Matteo wants it and he's been smart. No one is sure how it will go down and who will win. I couldn't tell you without mentioning he who should not be named. And remember, you b***h, you even made that phrase off-limits."

I had. I totally sucked.

What it came down to was attending the same school with the guy whose mother was killed by my father. I couldn't believe it when my father told me I was going to Rochester with the Brambilla heir and that I would be safe. Freshman year was a nightmare and I expected to be stabbed in the back any moment. Sophomore year was easier and junior year I actually calmed down.

Why couldn't it stay as it had been? This was senior year, and then we were done. It was apparent I would not escape the retribution Alessandro owed me. Maria had the same problem with Matteo, though the reasons were completely different. We both knew our time was coming and only hoped we survived the retaliation.

I marched into the bathroom, vomited, and went to bed with Maria's pathetic eyes following me. I needed a game plan.

Our weekend was a blur of preparation for the coming year. We unpacked our trunks and turned our dorm into this year's home. Maria had a flair for style that came through in her clothing designs. I would pay more than some people make in a year to buy one of her creations in a few years. She was headed to the top.

We made dinner together Sunday evening but I couldn't eat.

“It won't be that bad," Maria promised.

I did not have a solid plan and my anxiety was through the roof.

“No, it will be worse, I feel it."