a murder
1010 Words
~CHAPTER FIVE:
Tesoro. Matteo just called her Tesoro.
That was all Alessia could think about as she followed him out of the hall.
"Where are we going?" She asked him.
Matteo did not bother looking back. He just kept on walking. "Don't act like you were enjoying your birthday party."
"It was manageable until you showed up!" Alessia snapped.
She did not have a relationship with any of her cousins. They only spoke cordially just for the sake of formalities.
Now that her father was dead, Alessia was certain that she had no reason to hide her disgust for them.
"You are testing the waters, I see." Matteo chuckled.
Alessia felt disgusted so she stopped walking.
Matteo noticed this then turned around. "Why did you stop?"
Alessia folded her hands. "you seem to be having the time of your life."
Matteo shrugged. "I have the time of my life every single day. You only live once."
Alessia scoffed. "Today seems to be better then. You are walking in long strides and making jokes."
Matteo ran his hands through his hair. "Is that a problem for you? I don't know if you have noticed but I am not your father's child. I have every right to live my life."
Alessia chuckled darkly. "Who said you didn't? Besides, I never expected much from you."
"Says the person who proceeded to celebrate her twentieth birthday like nothing happened." Metteo accused.
Alessia breathed out disbelievingly. "Stop acting clueless! The both of us know that this party is only happening because your father insisted it happened."
Matteo shrugged indifferently. That only made Alessia's anger ten times worst.
"You and your family planned this whole thing so I could be painted like the evil daughter in front of everyone." She pointed out.
"I see that you still care about your image even in all these chaos." Matteo accused.
"My image was projected on me. Unlike you, I have certain responsibilities and one of them is to uphold that image."
"I am not judging you..."
"You have no right to! I am here because I was threatened to be here. You are not any better if you could have just sat your a*s home and not come here!" Alessia snapped at him.
Matteo scoffed mockingly. "this is my home now, Tesoro."
Alessia sucked in a deep breath. "I swear on my papa, if you call me Tesoro again, I will kill you, Matteo."
Matteo looked indifferent as he folded his hands. "You think I am scared of an accessory like you? You don't even know how to use a table knife. A perfect doll is what you are."
Alessia smirked. "At least I have perfection attached to my endearment. Can't say the same for you."
Matteo stormed towards her and grabbed her elbow. "Watch your tongue, Tesoro! Your papa is not here to slap me for misbehaving with you."
Alessia's heart was beating violently against her chest. "So, you finally accept that you were not drunk that night? You snuck into my room intentionally!"
Matteo smiled mischievously then twisted Alessia's hands behind her back. He pulled her flush against his chest then whispered into her ear. "I guess you have no papa to tell the truth to now."
~~~~
"Happy birthday, dear." Mr Paulo, the capo of Naples and late Morani Vincenzo's boss said to her.
She forced a smile. "Thank you, capo."
He shook his head. "Oh, you little girl. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Your father adored you."
Alessia hated the fact that everyone who had seen her tonight referred to her papa in past tense.
She just nodded then looked away. The capo was more fond of her than her own uncle.
He walked away after he noticed her hesitance to make conversation.
Just as Alessia was about to call it a night for the second time today, Andrea approached her.
"What was the meaning of that?" Andrea asked.
Alessia raised her brows. "what are you talking about?"
"Don't act like you do not know what I am talking about." Andrea snapped.
Alessia rolled her eyes. "I do not need to act if I am merely stating the facts. Just get to the point already!"
Andrea clenched her teeth. "Why were you speaking to the capo earlier?"
"Since when do you care if I spoke to the capo?"
"I am not talking about Mr Paulo! I am talking about the capomandamento of the Sicilian outfit! Giovanni Tommaso." Andrea had to lower her voice when she said their names.
It was considered disrespect to call a capo's name without a respectful endearment.
"He spoke to me first." Alessia stated.
"You should have walked away."
"Why would I do that?" She asked.
Andrea scoffed. "Stop pretending already Alessia! Your act of being clueless is getting old. Try something new."
Alessia rubbed her forehead in exhaustion. She was traumatized and tired. All she wanted to do was sleep. "Listen to me, if you want to keep speaking in riddles, count me out."
Andrea hesitated for a while before speaking. "You are already engaged to Emiliano. He is a capo too and he has his own outfit. He may not be as powerful as Giovanni but he has his own influence. You are getting married soon so stay away from Giovanni."
"What relationship do you have with Giovanni?" Alessia asked.
Andrea crossed her hands. "I am going to marry him."
Andrea was shocked. "Is it finalized?" How could Andrea think of marrying from the Tommaso family?
"No, not yet. But it will be soon. I will make him mine, so stay away!" She warned Alessia.
Alessia wanted to say something but she was too drained to do so.
Andrea was about to say something else when their aunt, Gretta ran into the hall screaming.
Luciano ran to her and demanded she told him what happened.
The music had stopped and everyone had their attention fixated on her.
Gretta fell to the floor. Her breathing was uneven but she managed to speak. "Mat...teo... Matteo has... been murdered!"
- Writer
