Angel With A Shotgun | 18+

thirty seven

ALEC ROMANO

My father was blabbing on and on about how I was getting married to Tiffany. He was making a big deal out of it. The wedding, the guest list, the food. 

I was slumped in a chair, bored out of my brain. My mind kept drifting back to Amara and what she was doing right now. The last time I saw her was yesterday. She had slipped out of the house with Giovanni early this morning to do Christmas shopping and had been gone all day.

Giovanni had been keeping tabs on her for me, updating me every hour or so. But I checked my phone and the last message I got from him was 'leaving now'. I wasn't worried per se, but it was a little odd.

"Any special requests?" Father asked me. I pulled myself back into reality and shook my head, "Whatever you and Tiffany want, Dad." I gave him a tight-lipped smile and sunk back into my seat.

After another hour of him blabbing on and on, I was finally released from his prison cell of a house. As I was about to leave, my mother stopped me in the hallway. A scared look on her face.

"Mom?" I said, confused.

"Sit down, Alec. I have something to tell you." 

I sat down on the armchair of the leather couch, my knee shaking sporadically as mother paced around the room, "The reason you are marrying this Tiffany girl is so your father can make a deal with her father." She said.

I nodded, "Yes, I'm aware." Dad had informed me of the details. He was trying to settle a money deal between them and had roped me into marrying Tiffany. Apparently it was the only way.

"Tiffany's family are not nice people, Alec. Even Tiffany is in on the scandal." 

My phone buzzed for the third time tonight and I itched to take it out. But deciding to ignore it, I kept my gaze on my mother, "I fear that once the deal is done, you will be too." Her voice was low.

"I saw something in your fathers office the other day and I asked him about it but he denied every claim. But your father isn't very good at lying." 

My mother never got stressed or nervous. She claimed it wasn't good for the skin, so this, worries me, "Mom what is it?" I said.

"I'm afraid that when this deal is done, you my son will be what is needed to end it all." 

I stood up, "What are you saying?"

"I saw a file in your fathers office about you. Execution. I looked through it and saw receipts, bank details. Stuff like that. To a private investigator, a clean up crew and various other gang related stuff. I'm scared for your life dear."

What my mother was saying to me sounded like a scheme my father would do. But I also know my mother is also as malicious and mischievous, "How do I know you're not in on this?" I took a step back, suddenly worried for my life more than ever, "I know you don't trust me very much but you are my son and I do love you, more than anything in this world! I just want you safe."  

I nodded at her, exiting the room despite her pleading for me to come back.

I had made it outside to the cold, dark world as Marco approached me, "Thank God. I've been trying to reach you."

I pulled out my phone, noticing four missed calls from Marco and two from an unknown number.

"What is it?" I asked, dialling the unknown number, "I can't reach Giovanni." He said. Which is odd, because Giovanni usually always answers, "What? Have you tried his car phone?"

Marco nodded, "Tried that too."

I clicked on the voicemail I have and my eyes widened. 

"It's Amara." I said, clicking on the speakerphone icon.