Engaged to the Mafioso

Plans

I wake up with a start.

The room is much lighter than before, so it's safe to assume it's daytime. I note that the door is still closed and that is a small comfort. But anyone could have walked in while I was sleeping. I didn't wake up once. I couldn't sense anything, I was out like a light. This thought haunts my peace of mind, so I brush it aside for now.

I don't know what to do, so I start with washing my face. The t-shirt I wore yesterday is crumpled, so I change into a darker one. I sit back down on the bed and I stare at the closed door. Now that I got the chance to rest, I can think more clearly. I don't want to go back out there, but what choice do I have? I can't stay in here forever. Eventually, this haven I've created for myself will crumble to pieces, and I'll have to face whatever awaits me behind that door.

I think of that Alessandro and how I'm supposed to marry him. It makes me sick. How can I marry that man? He's a criminal, a killer. My first task will be to prevent that from happening, though I have no idea how to do that. How do I fight against them? That is the million euro question. I have to find a way to escape from their grasps, but with the shuttered windows and the man guarding the apartment, that will be a near impossible task. But I have to try. It's too early to give up now.

I stand and touch the knob of the door several times. There's no noise in the living room, so the TV must be off. That makes me feel anxious. Where is that man, Marco, then? I finally manage to open the door and I discover that the living room is empty. There's no one in the kitchen either. The other doors down the corridor are closed, so perhaps he's in one of them. I try the front door, just to try my luck, but of course it's locked. There aren't any keys around either.

I open the refrigerator, just for the sake of it because I don't think I'll ever have an appetite for food, and it's empty. There's absolutely no food in the apartment, and just as I close the last drawer, I hear keys jingling.

Marco enters the apartment carrying a paper bag. It's filled to the brim with a large variety of foods. Bread, canned tomato soup, but that's all I can see from here. He sees me and smiles shyly. "Did you rest well, miss?" His kindness catches me off-guard. I simply nod.

"I'm glad. I've brought you some breakfast. I don't know what you like, so I brought a variety. That way, you'll be more comfortable." He places the bag on the counter and starts unpacking. Nothing makes my stomach grumble. Maybe I'll die of starvation. At this point, that might very well be the case. I feel weak, but I have no appetite. I don't think I've had a single drop of water since everything happened. Or a morsel of food.

I watch him place everything on top of the counter, but I make no move to reach for them. After he's done, we stare at each other awkwardly. He then returns to the living room and turns the television on. He's watching the news, and I briefly wonder if the news of my family's murder would show. But of course, it never would. They undoubtedly covered the crime up. There would be no trace left of what they did. Men like them get away with everything. It's up to me to avenge their deaths.

I leave the food untouched and go into the bedroom. My fear has dissipated, but there's still a concoction of emotions I can't sort out that are swirling in the depths of my mind. There's a lot of anger, that I can understand, but grief, sorrow and regret are all one big tangled mess. I think about mother and Lili and there's no pain, just numbness.

The whole day passes by just like this. At this point, I'm sure Marco sleeps in the apartment. In one of the other rooms, perhaps. I thought this would turn out differently, but I'm glad it's like this. It could have been much worse, if Alessandro intended to act like my fiancé. Or whatever. I haven't seen him since that day, and deep down I know I should be concerned. This deal wasn't meant to facilitate my life, and at some point, things will change. But for now, all I plan on doing is keeping my head clear and sorting out my priorities.

I don't know what time it is, but Marco switched the TV off ages ago. My stomach starts growling, and I feel a cramp deep in my gut that I know only food will soothe. It's strong enough to make me sit up in bed and make my way to the kitchen. The food he brought earlier is still in the counter, and I go for the easiest option: some bread and butter.

My hands tremble and the butter knife slips from my grip occasionally. It tastes wonderful, like the best piece of bread I've ever had. I think about how guilty I should feel of enjoying this, of eating when my family is dead, and the nausea hits me so hard I run to the bathroom and actually manage to throw up in the toilet. I retch until there's nothing left, but it doesn't make me feel better. It only serves to make me feel emptier than I was. There's a sour taste in my mouth that makes me even more nauseous. How long will I endure this?

There's a knock on my bedroom door and I tense up. "Is everything alright, miss?" That's Marco.

I don't answer him. I flush and wash my hands. I then wet my face and support all my weight on the wash basin. I look at the mirror above it and I look terrible. There are dark circles under my eyes and my cheeks are bright red from the exertion.

"Miss?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Just close the door." He does as I say and I trudge back to the room. The door is closed, and he walks down the corridor. My stomach starts grumbling as soon as I lie down, but there's no way I'm going to eat. Some day, this will pass. But tonight is not that day.

I close my eyes for a few minutes, and then I hear this loud crash that makes me jump out of my skin. I sit up quickly and I stare at the closed door. There's some running and then a shout, and I contemplate hiding under the bed. I hear Marco's voice. "Alessandro? What's wrong?"

There's some mumbling and I hear a click. They closed the front door. I stand and creep towards the door. I press my ear to the door. "The girl?" Alessandro asks.

"Asleep. She has not eaten."

"That's not a concern." I hear him pacing around the living room. My heart is still racing. "Has Donato stopped by?"

"No, I am still awaiting instructions."

"Just keep an eye on her. We don't want any unnecessary problems with Luigi. Anything else, inform me."

"Alessandro, what was that commotion downstairs?"

"It's been taken care of."

Then, there's silence after he leaves. Marco curses silently and then goes back to his bedroom. I stand by the door still, breathless.  Not knowing what is happening is really getting to me. I have to find out how long this will last, or something. Marco seems like a guy I could talk to, if I did it well. He doesn't seem very smart, or maybe I'm completely underestimating him. But I should give it a try. Staying in this room locked up isn't beneficial in any way. Out there, trying to have a conversation with him will get me somewhere, at least.

I lie back down in bed and I look at the ceiling. I start thinking about ways I could approach him. If I start talking to him out of the blue, he'll find it suspicious. No, I have to make it natural, completely normal. If I could oy manage to eat without vomiting, I'd get somewhere. I'll just have to try harder and not think about mother, or Lili.

I think some more and the idea finally occurs to me. I don't know why I didn't think about it before. Earlier, he was so eager to help me when I was sick. Who know how far he can go? I'll need to gain his trust first, though. But that's the easy part. I finally close my eyes, content with the progress I have made. It isn't much, but it's a step in the right direction.

Yes, that will do.