ruthless

chapter 47: tired soul

funerals are always hard.

putting on the off the shoulder black midi dress i head into the bathroom. I pull out my makeup and tie my hair back. you can do this niki.

I finish up my makeup pretty quickly. grabbing some blush i pick up a fluffy brush and look in the mirror as i apply. today is your final goodbye. tears fill my eyes and i take a deep breath pushing the tears back don't cry.

I finished applying the blush and put everything back. You're gonna put on a strong face for him. for everyone. I walk out of my bathroom and pick up the black heels on my floor and slip them on.

I head out of my room and downstairs into the living room where everyone is sitting on the couch. I take a seat next to Luciano and take his hand. Dad walks out of his bedroom he looks tired. I've never seen dad so quiet for so long.

He's sad,he doesn't talk much at breakfast. He wakes up,goes to his office,meets us at breakfast for coffee,and then goes back to his office for the rest of the day.

I've never seen the house so lifeless. there's no mafia members walking around on business, we only see the maids for food. the house is so quite that i can hear what is said in the dining room with my bedroom door closed.

it will get better,but not right now. "the cars are here we're now waiting for alice.we're going to the funeral home and then the Deluca crypt for the funeral" we all nod.

After a few minutes there's a knock and the door and dad walks over opening it. "hi Dominico " Alice's soft voice is heard from outside and the door closes.

She walks in and we all stand. Alice greets everyone before walking up to lucaino. "hey" she sends him a soft smile, alice opens her arms and luciano hugs her. "i'm really sorry" she pulls back "i lost my mom too,i understand how hard this is" he nods "thank you alice"

she walks over to stefano "okay let's go" dad walks out of the living room and we all follow outside and each pair gets into an suv.

stepping into the car luciano closes the door and sits down. The car starts to move and Luciano looks at me. He looks really tired. I know he hasn't slept in a few days. After his 2am shower I pretend to sleep when he gets back into bed.

he doesn't do anything,he just lays awake. He doesn't cry,or talk,or hum, just nothing and it hurts to experience. i sit closer to him and luciano's arms wrap around my body

"We haven't talked much. how are you holding up?" i look at him "I've been better.'' I nod and send him a small smile. My thumb brushes over a fresh tattoo on his hand.

Looking down, the tattoo is placed on the area between his thumb and pointer finger; it's the same butterfly he has all over his body but has august 15th 2021 above the right wing. her death date. "Do you think she would like it?" Luciano nudges me.

"she would love it" i smile a bit and luciano smiles back a little. I haven't seen him smile in days it's good that I got something out of him.

After a while we pull up to the funeral home and the car pulls over. stepping out of the car luciano and i wait for everyone else before walking in.

"Keep going straight up the steps. our mortician lacy will be in the last room down the hall." Dad speaks from behind me and I keep walking holding Luciano's hand.

The air is cold as we continue to walk up the steps. getting to the end of the hall i knock. I hear a man say come in and I open the door.

a small gasp leaves my throat. there she was with her casket open. she doesn't look like haylee. "i though i said close the fucking casket before we got here" luacino has his head turned away.