His Corrupt Mafia Queen

Chapter 6: Wounds of the Past

Christina Ace

Another sleepless night. Another night, counting the cracks in the ceiling, the jewels that hung from the chandelier, and loose threads from the duvet, I drowned in. I eagerly waited for the sun to rise and when its golden lights peered through my windows, I shot up from my bed. I was always excited about starting a new day, because it distracted me until night fell and I began to think of all my traumas. So, when bathing, I washed it all away temporarily. When I patted my face with makeup, I covered all the bags from lack of sleep and painted over the pain I wanted to hide. Clothing wise, jeans and a sweatshirt were what I succumbed to. 

Thick, jagged, dark, it felt like rubber, it looked like a disgusting scar to strangers, but the scar was better than the vivid memory of that night. Being left alone in the darkness to die, cold, the only warmth I felt was the blood of my cousin being poured out into my hands.

“Christina?” Before those dark memories conquered me, a voice pulled me out. I pulled my hoodie back down, concealing my deformed waist. Tara, who was a distant friend of Sebastiano, had opened the door and stood in the crack of it. She became my closest friend, my right-hand woman, after the events that happened a year ago. She was really there for me during my recovery.

“Hello Tara” I stepped away from my vanity mirror and approached her. We engaged in a hug before leaving my bedroom and walking through the halls of the Ace estate. It makes me sick that Raina once walked these halls freely. 

“How did you sleep?” She asked. I contemplated whether or not I should lie. I don't want any focus to be on me, especially with Sebastiano’s wedding so close by. With everything that’s happened, he should be able to enjoy his wedding day.

“Good, how’s Phillip?” I asked, noticing his absence. He usually comes to see me early in the mornings. Tara let out a soft sigh and shook her head at me.

“Thinking about Zeke, especially around this time, he always is. He never quite recovered after losing him” Tara responded. I could understand that. Death does evil things to a person, being on the brink of it poisons your mind and once you’re pulled back from the edge, you think of nothing but pain and revenge. He has been a good friend to me, and he has opened up to me about the man named Zeke. Raina once did as well.

“What’s the agenda for today?” I quickly changed the subject, the last thing I wanted to do was go down a path of loss and suffering. Tara, who jumped at the opportunity to discuss something else other than death, laid out the details of our day.

“Bride demands that all the bridesmaids go in for one last dress fitting and Sebastiano called for a meeting. He didn’t disclose any other information” Tara had a bit of confusion in her voice. I was taken back when Sabrina asked me and Tara to be her bridesmaids. The two of us weren’t all that close, but she seemed like a nice girl. I just hoped that she could make Sebastiano happy.I nodded and both of us made our way to the meeting room.

Desperately, I wanted to say that what happened to Sebastiano changed him for the better, but I was wrong. He became ruthless, more closed off, had no respect for Sabrina or the fact he was getting married. When he had the opportunity to, he brought home a different woman. He drowned himself in work and alcohol. He became his father, something I had feared deeply. 

The doors to our meeting room were opened for us by two security guards. Locking the doors behind us, both me and Tara left our phones in a basket provided upon first setting foot in the room. It was a security measure. Every other day, the Ace family and close associates gathered to discuss important matters. When handing in your phone, there was a stack of black folders, one belonging to every single person in this room. Every folder had a person’s name written out on the front. Me and Tara were the last ones to arrive. The room was only lit by artificial lighting. Our meeting room was set up like a classroom. Two columns of six long identical black desks, seating two people, were aligned in the room. Tara and I reserved a desk in the front next to Pedro and Rossi. Once we took our seats, I inspected the room and caught eyes with my uncles, and a few of their close associates. It was concerning how me and Tara were the only women in the room, or ever to attend Ace held meetings.  Eager to open my folder, the next person I was in search of was Sebastiano. We were only allowed to open the folders when he was in the room. His designated area was in front of the room, sitting at a black desk facing the rest of us. Other than a digital smartboard and a computer sitting on Sebastiano’s desk, this place was kept very simplistic and bland.

Sebastiano was nowhere in sight. It wouldn’t be the first time he was inconsiderate of everyone else’s time. Although irritated, no one dared to complain. In silence, people glanced at their watches and sighed with annoyance laced in their voices. Time slowly walked on by with no sign of Sebastiano or Philip, matter of fact. Where could they be? After an hour, the inhabitants of the room began to give up. I did too. Tara was hunched over sleeping, when the sound of the doors opening, without a second to lose, Tara lifted up her head and we all focused on Sebastian and Philip acquainting themselves with the room’s protocols. Philip quickly took his seat among us. He had looked remorseful for his tardiness but Sebastiano couldn’t care less. He didn’t acknowledge anyone as he made his way to the front of the room.

The length of his hair grew but it was never out of place, always slicked to the back of his head. Always clean and well groomed, a stubble beard sat on the bottom of his face. Wearing black from head to toe, the only thing that stayed the same in his life was the consistency of wearing suits. Sebastiano grew to be a completely new man after the accident, a cold hard expression sat on his face all the time, his eyes were lifeless but somehow still filled with a hungry rage yet to be fed. Any kind of softness or love was gone. Sebastiano survived the shooting but his humanity died, and his heart turned into cold concrete. I didn’t know the man in front of me, I was afraid of him, and it was all because of her.

“Shall we begin?” He spoke, and every time he did, it sent shivers down my spine.