A Mafia Daughter 2

Part 7

Amy was excited- Matteo had never flat out asked her to come over before. Usually she would show up on her own and would let her in.

It was something that had bugged her- he never seemed to be seeking her out. Sometimes she felt like it was always her: she kissed him, she touched him, she made love and he just didn't stop her. She had wondered if this was what he was like with his previous lovers or if he really was still hung up on Viviana Aliotta. She never would have mentioned it but he did seem to always be so far off, in his own world, thinking or dreaming of something he couldn't have.

She laughed at herself, after all, if he was in love with his ex, she wouldn't be his ex. It's as simple as that.

Amy smiled to herself as she crossed the street towards Matteo's apartment, excited to be an invited guest for the first time. She'd even dressed herself up a bit, wanting to mark the occasion. She wasn't sure she could ever reach his ice cold heart, but she could try.

"It's me." She said into the buzzer, wondering if maybe someday he'd give her a key to the apartment. Amy shook her head laughing. She was getting ahead of herself, she needed to take one step at a time. She looked up at Matteo, who as usual was standing drink in hand as he stared out the window of his apartment.

"Hey." She said moving towards him. Matteo turned to look at her. Every time she came over it was the same, she rushed over to him, planting kisses all over and he stood there, catatonic until some almost primitive instinct took over. He was searching for something in her and she was determined he would find it.

"Hi." He said this time, making her eyes grow wide. Amy usually had to coax him into speaking with her. Matteo watched as Amy made her way towards him gleefully. No matter how many times she showed up, he couldn't get used to her. She was a woman, she looked older than even Viviana, but she acted much like the young person she was.

"Amy..." He said, pulling her away as she reached for him. An alarm suddenly went off in Amy's brain, telling her why he had invited her over.

Amy took a step back, hoping she was wrong.

"What's going on?" She asked, trying to remain calm. She didn't want to make a scene, she couldn't.

"I got you something today." he said, picking up a small box from the coffee table and handing it to her. Amy took the box and opened it, her fingers trembling.

"Thank you, It's beautiful." She said, pulling out a small necklace. It really was very nice but it but Amy was too scared to be enthusiastic.

"Amy- I wanted to thank you. You've kept me company during the last few months, and I'll never forget that. You're a great girl..." He began but Amy shook her head with a smile.

"No. You don't have to. It's okay. I understand. Thank you, Matteo, for letting me a part of your world even for a brief time." She said. Matteo leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, surprised at her for taking it so well.

"I should go." Amy said, turning and heading towards the elevator quickly, wishing Matteo would stop her but he didn't and he wouldn't. Matteo stared at the elevator for a few minutes, feeling sorry for her.

He never would have gotten involved with someone so young, she was not quite 19, still so impressionable and he had no intentions of ever taking her seriously. With a sigh her turned back towards the window.

Viviana is 23 now- he wondered if she had changed, if she would think he was too old now, if she would tease him about it. He imagined her creeping out of the room, her long dark hair hanging loosely to her waist.

"Not tired?" Viviana's voice cut through the silence as she would join him to stare out the window. Matteo turned to look at her, arms crossed over her chest, standing only in the over sized dress shirt she took from his side of the closet.

"Can't stop thinking about you." He whispered to her ghost as with a sigh it took a step closer to him.

"Why'd you do it then? You knew I'd be at your side no matter what." the ghost said, reaching out to touch his face. For a moment, Matteo could almost smell her perfume, that same scent he'd smelled on that girl in the shop today. He looked at Viviana, those lips- what he would give to kiss him.

"I didn't want to see you in harm's way." He said. The ghost shrugged.

"It's silly- I'm the ex wife of a mobster, I'll never truly be out of danger." She said, taking her hand back and facing the window.

"You were so unhappy with me the whole time." He said with a sigh. Viviana nodded.

"No, I wasn't unhappy because I was with you, I was unhappy when I wasn't with you. You should have seen that difference." She said.

"I let you go, you never wanted this life." He said, looking away from the ghost as she began to fade away.

"You took a choice out of my hands, it was I who should have decided, not you. That's the part that's going to be hard to forgive you for. But don't worry, I will forgive you- You just have to come get me first." Viviana's ghost disappeared.

Matteo had often had this conversation with her, imagining her standing next to her. It was always the same, she reminded him that she was waiting for him to go find her.

He thought about her for a second, as usual, considering breaking all decorum, driving to New York and finding her then he would stop himself. He would tell himself it was for the best. With a sigh, he walked over to the couch and looked up at the ceiling, closing his eyes. Her smell was so fresh in his mind, and that girl today...

Matteo sat up shaking his head. That girl today smelled just like her. He needed to get a grip of himself- that girl wasn't Viviana. But a part of him did want to be back in that shop just so he could smell that scent one more time.

-------

"That dress is amazing." Debbie said as she lay lazily on Viviana's bed. Viviana stared at herself in the mirror, the dress was very different from one she may have worn before but it was definitely amazing.

"It goes nicely with my new look." Viviana said with a smile.

"You're going to make that poor man fall in love with you." Debbie said, referring to Charlie. Viviana laughed.

"I doubt it. He's so proper and stiff, I absolutely doubt he has a romantic bone in his body." Viviana said, heading into her closet to take off the dress.

"So, is this a date?" Debbie asked, putting on one of Viviana's shoes and staring at it.

"No. At least he hasn't said it is." Viviana said, coming back out of the closet.

"I don't see how you plan to get Matteo away from his mother and spend time alone with him without offending your date." Debbie said, taking the shoe off with a sigh.

"I'll find away. I know it sounds insane, he hasn't even tried to see me all this time but I can feel him. I can feel his voice, I know he thinks of me. I know he loves me. I know." Viviana said.

Debbie was quiet, knowing this was true. Matteo hadn't left her because he didn't love her, he left her because he didn't want to see her in anymore danger.

"Viviana, I don't want you to get your hopes up and then be let down. Even if he does love you, he must have had a reason for pushing you away and whatever that was, it may have not changed." Debbie said.

"But if I can speak to him..." Viviana began.

"What? You'll convince him to change his mind? You know how Matteo is, once he has his mind set on something..." Debbie said but Viviana shook his head.

"I have to try. All I need is to be alone with him a few minutes... I'm not giving up on him just like that. Even if he does turn me away, I need to know why." Viviana said.

Debbie was quiet, feeling guilty because she couldn't bring herself to explain things to Viviana but she was afraid if she knew she would go running to the circuit and put herself in danger.

"Okay. So tomorrow night, You'll see him. Be brave, regardless of what happens." Debbie said, taking Viviana's hand, "And please be careful. The last thing we want is for his escorts to spot you."

-----

Amy walked up the steps of The Don's home, her fingers nervously twitching. The Don had been ill and so she had decided to bring him a gift of cured ham like the type her mother had made.

It wasn't unusual for members of la famiglia to drop off gifts at their home, so there could be no reason why she shouldn't in the name of her family. She would have preferred to have waited a few weeks before visiting their home, but The Don was sick now and it couldn't be helped.

Amy had cried inconsolably the night before. She'd held her breathe almost from the moment she left Matteo until she reached her pillow, sobbing wildly as she muffled her own cries. She knew somewhere deep inside her the affair would eventually end but still, regardless of reason, she'd hoped to hang on as long as possible.

Amy stood in the large empty hall of the house, impressed with the luxury and opulence of the Don's home. Her own home was quite run down and threadbare. She'd never complained, she was happy and they never needed for anything but they certainly weren't in the money. With a sigh, she waited patiently as one of the maids went running for Mrs. Bianca Peroni- The Don's wife.

"Amy." She heard someone say as she looked over photos in the hall.

"Mrs. Peroni. Mam- how are you?" Amy said, turning to the woman and greeting her formally. Amy felt suddenly shy- Bianca was such an elegant woman, always so finely dressed and had such poise. She felt quite embarrassed, knowing she had no refinement of her own.

"I'm fine. And you?" Bianca asked. Bianca had made it her business to know all the girls in the circuit, to have at least some knowledge of who they were and what they did.

"Good. I heard from my brother that the Don was ill. I only wanted to bring you a gift and to check in on his health of course." Amy said. Bianca smiled.

"It's very kind of you to think of us. I'm afraid the Don is quite ill, nothing too serious we think but we won't know until his physician gets back in and that won't be until tomorrow. It's been quite hectic." Bianca said, thinking about all the things she had pending to do. She would really rather just stay home with her husband.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Amy asked, trying to warm up to the woman.

"Oh no, you're too kind. Don't worry, we can figure it out." Bianca said but Amy shook her head.

"No, really. I'm afraid I have quite a bit of free time so if you need me to run a few errands or anything like that, I'd be happy to have something to keep me busy." Amy said, making Bianca look at her for a moment.

"Well, I do have a few things that need to be picked up- are you sure you don't mind?" Bianca asked, standing and walking towards a desk.

"not at all. " Amy said, standing and walking towards her.

"Mother." A voice from the door made them both turn. Matteo spotted Amy with a bit of indifference, not really wondering why she was there. He imagined she must have some business.

"Hello Amy, Mother." He said, greeting them both.

"oh, you know each other?" Bianca asked.

"Of course. I know everyone." Matteo said, non chalantly.

"One second, excuse me." Bianca said, turning to her phone as it rang.

"How are you?" Matteo asked perfunctorily. Amy tried not to show how hurt she was that he was so casual.

"Good. Thanks." She said, turning back towards Bianca who looked quite exasperated.

"Well, there goes the fundraiser. The Doctor won't be able to come by until late tomorrow and I can't leave your father." Bianca said with a sigh. Matteo shrugged.

"I'll go alone, it will give me an excuse to come home early." Matteo said, not really affected. Bianca looked at Amy for a second, as if giving it some thought.

"Well, that's silly. Amy, dear, I don't suppose you'd like to go with my son to a big party tomorrow night, would you?" Bianca said.