Cruel Vows: The Mafia's Promise

The Walk

SOPHIA.

Dante stood frozen, staring at the woman who was in front of us. His back was turned to me, his broad shoulders blocking my view of her face.

"How....?" He sounded so confused. "I thought..."

"I was dead?" The woman completed. "Yeah well, I guess you're not the only one who possesses the ability to come back from the head."

He scoffed, though I could still see the tension in his stiff shoulders.

"What? Are you going to keep staring at me all night?"

When she said that, Dante grabbed her towards him, hugging her tightly and affectionately.

After the first five seconds, I averted my gaze, my stomach dropped and I had a bitter feeling in my chest. Jealousy?

They embraced each other for almost twenty seconds, with Dante expressing how happy he was to see her.

"I should go," I said, trying to get his attention.

"Okay." He turned in my direction for less than two seconds before his attention was stolen by the woman again. "I'll see you at home then."

"Home?" The woman finally looked at me. Really looked. Sizing me up like she was trying to determine my worth. "And what does he mean by that?"

The question was directed at me, but I didn't feel like answering. "On what planet is it okay to disclose your personal information to strangers?"

She clicked her tongue, eyeing me with visible irritation. Seconds later, her friendly smile returned and her attention was diverted back to Dante. "We have a lot of catching up to do. Come on."

Just as they stated to leave, Leo walked outside, clearly annoyed. "What the hell is going on here?" He glared at me. "Why the f**k are you outside? You're supposed to be my loyal wife who stays by my side until this f*****g party is over." He voice was dropped to a harsh whisper, maybe to keep Dante from hearing.

Not that he had anything to worry about though, Dante couldn't care less about me at that moment.

His frown dissolved as he walked up to Dante, but he couldn't quite get himself to smile. "Did you forget who this party was for? Why are you out here?" He tried to sound friendly, but his voice still had the commanding tone he used with me.

"I'm sure you can handle it on your own. We can release a formal statement to the public after the deal is finalized, but throwing this party when I can easily change my mind is unnecessary, and if you ask me, I think it's kind of stupid too."

I watched in disbelief as he led the woman into his car and drove off. How could someone who was kissing me so passionately just mere minutes ago, disregard me completely?

"You!"

I flinched, instinctively backing away from him. "Y-yes?"

"Who was that? What just happened?!"

"How should I know?" I shrugged my shoulders, still angry at what just happened. "I should go back inside, Caleb is all alone in there." I tried to walk past him but he grabbed my hair, keeping me in place.

"Watch the way you talk to me, woman. I am your husband!"

I managed to nod and he pushed me away. "Now get back in there, and do your job as a wife."

The rest of the evening was a blur. I smiled when needed, replied whenever I was asked a question and refilled Leo's champagne when he asked.

Caleb never left my side, though I could see he was disappointed by Dante's absence. Not that I could blame him, I felt the same way.

After the main party was over, Leo and his friends decided to head to a club, for an after party.

"Shouldn't your wife come with us?" One of them asked.

"Oh no, of course not. Sophia has never been to a club, she doesn't even drink." Leo immediately refused. "Isn't that right honey?"

My lips twitched. Hearing him address me that way left an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. "Right." I smiled and took the hand he offered. "Bedsides, I have to look after our son."

"Yes, it's late. Her- our son shouldn't stay out past his bedtime." He added.

"Then... I could come with you?" Lily offered, pointing at herself.

"Who are you?" Leo's friend asked.

"Yeah, I was going to ask the same thing. It seemed like she was glued to you through out the party. Is she some relative we don't know?" another added.

"Uh, the thing is- she is-"

Leo stuttered, unable to come up with a believe lie.

"She's my cousin." I said, immediately cursing myself for protecting them. "She really looks up to Leo, and he treats her like his sister."

"Right, that's right." The relief on Leo's face was as clear as day. "Why don't you head home for today Lily? I'll take you out some other time. Hmm?"

Lily smiled and Leo looked like he wanted to run away and hide. It made me wonder what was really going on between them.

"Alright. Maybe I'll just go home with Sophia, then. I just remembered I had something to tell her." she smiled mischievously and held on to my arm.

"You know what? Let Lily come with us." Leo immediately grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from me. "Sophia, take Caleb home and get some rest, okay?"

He didn't give me a chance to reply before he and Lily got into the car.

Only after they pulled out of the driveway did I realize that Caleb and I were stranded with no way of getting home.

I took out my phone to call him but hesitated, he never answered, and it always made him mad.

"Mommy, why did Dante leave?" Caleb finally spoke.

"I don't know. He probably had more important things to do." I took his hand and we started walking.

"But why didn't he tell me before he left?"

I really didn't want to talk about Dante, but I couldn't take my anger out on Caleb. "I don't know sweetie," I sighed. "Something important came up at work, and he had to leave urgently. You'll see him at home." I assured him, still thinking of how we would get home.

The party was held in a reserved area, so getting a bus was impossible. I only had about enough to pay for Caleb's ride home, and the only other option was to walk a long way to a bus stop, ride a bus close to our estate, and walk all the way home.

I glanced down at Caleb and saw that he was still frowning. Though something else was on his face, drowsiness.

His steps were slowing, and he kept rubbing his eyes.

Thankfully, a cab drove by and I quickly hailed it down. I gave the driver our address, paid him and helped Caleb into the backseat. "Here." I pressed the keys to his hand. "Let yourself in and lock the door until I get back. Okay?"

He nodded but didn't take the key. "Where are you going? Why can't you come with me?"

"There's something I have to do first. I won't be long, okay?"

I pleaded with the driver to drop him at our entrance, and not at the estate gate.

Once the car was out of sight, I sighed and started walking. It was a long walk, and a cold night.

'If Dante was here, he would never allow me to walk'.

At the thought, my heart broke again. How could he leave me like that?

I remembered the kiss we shared and my cheeks flushed, embarrassment and guilt burned through me simultaneously.

I thought about what Leo would do if he found out, but then again, he was cheating on me with Lily. That much was obvious.

I took out my phone and checked the time, 11:34 PM, I had been walking for almost an hour, but I wasn't even half way home yet.

I heard a low rumbling sound and something cold and wet landed on my shoulder. I looked up and another landed on my face.

Two drops. Three.

Suddenly, the sky erupted in a heavy downpour. "Oh no," I clutched my purse tight, raised my other hand in a futile attempt to shield my hair from the rain, and started to run.

No more than four feet ahead, my heel slipped on the concrete and I fell forward. Fearing that I might land face first, I put out my hands to cushion my fall. A terrible mistake.

The weight of my whole body was pressed on my right hand, and I heard a snap, followed by a piercing pain from my wrist.

"Ah goddammit!!" I sat on my knees, hugging my wrist close to my chest. Salty tears mixed with the raindrops on my face, flowing down my cheeks.

The cold was seeping imto my system and my entire body was trembling, but I didn't move.

After all the pain I had gone through, why was fate still cruel to me?

All I wanted was a happy marriage with my son, but why was it so hard?

I heard the familiar tune of my phone and although my first instinct was to ignore it, I thought it might be Caleb, so I answered.

"Where the hell are you?"

Relief washed over me as I heard Leo's voice. "Please I need your help. I'm stuck in the rain and I-"

"Do you have any idea what time it is? I've been home for over thirty minutes and there's no one to make my hangover soup. Just what kind of wife are you?!"

"But Leo, I -"

"Save it! If you're not here in the next twenty minutes, then don't bother showing up."

"Leo-" my chance to explain was gone just like that. He hung up.

I tried calling him back but he didn't answer. Twice, five times, eight times. Still nothing.

I tried to get up but the pain in my ankle held me in place. It was probably sprained.

"It's not my fault," I said, even though no one was around. "It's not my fault, Leo. I'm hurt." My sobs grew louder, both physical and emotional pain weighing down on me.

Why was my life so unfair?