Mafia Princess

chapter. 13

I walk out of dad's room and I am releaved that he is okay and out of danger. Heading to my room I look down at Barry, Jim and Ella from the landing, Bred must have left.
Without a word I keep walking to my room.

“so that is it?” Barry stops me on my tracks and I turn.

“what is what?”

“you’re not going to tell us where you've been, what happened?” that is Jim.

“If it were anything serious I would have told you don't you think?” I respond.

Am not going to tell them that Arnold kidnapped me, they'll track him down and probably send a bullet through his brain at worst.
Barry scoffs “Okay someone need to explain what is going on here.”

“Ella watched them throw you inside a van.” Jim says “Explain what is not serious about that.”

“They were just trying to have my attention.”

“Elaborate?” Barry says.

“its just a few friends of mine, I've been ignoring them and they chose to kidnap me to have my attention.” I realize my theory sounds alittle insane but I go with it either way.

“You have some pretty fucked up friends.” that is Barry.

“well, everybody around me is fucked up beginning with my family.” I say more to myself but they hear it.

Ella is seated at the bar counter and she doesn't look like she's listening. She's downing a glass of whiskey.

“what was that?” Barry asks and I shake my head.

“nothing.” I defend. “ I'll be in my room if you don't have more questions for me to answer.” I turn hoping that no one stops me because I don't have the energy to answer their questions plus I really need to freshen up.

Luckily no one stops me and I head straight to the bathroom after stripping naked. I get into the bathtub turning the water on and I letting them flow on my back. The water is warm and it sooths my skin making every tense muscle in my body relax, it's exactly what I needed.

I turn the tap off after the tub is full and the white foam is covering the whole tub.

I slide down into the water until I am fully submerged in it and I come out of it a few seconds after my hair sticking to my face and neck and I push them off my face.
Everything that has been happening comes to my head and I don't push them away.

The one thing that keeps giving me no peace is the fact that Arnold is someone I never knew before. I thought he was just a simple gardener only to find out he has alot of staff a gardener can't have.

The worst part is that I can't shrug him off, he has gotten under my skin and I can't get him off my head.

Mom's words keeps going on and on in my head, “there are days were things will be happening and you will be confused but don't let any of it change who you are.” were her last words to me in her own pool of blood before taking her last breath.

The image keeps haunting me till today, three years later. Whenever I close my eyes  I still see the bullet holes in her body with alot of blood oozing from each one of them and the one that went through her forehead keeps replaying in my head. Her blood allover my skyblue tank top and hands, The way her eyes turned lifeless and I couldn't believe those were the last moments of seeing her.

The most horrifying part is watching my dad snap into a different person from then, so distant and sad and lonely it was just too much for me.

She always knew that I would go through what she went through being a mafia’s wife. Being surrounded by everyone doing the illegal shit.

For some reason, her words keep me going. I honestly wish she was here. I could use a few words of advice from her.
Dad has never forgiven himself for her death he still says he should have done something to keep her safe.

“Rob?” Ella calls from the bedroom pulling me back from my thoughts.

“yeah?”

“you’ve been in there for an hour and a half.”

I didn't realize I've been lost in my thoughts that I didn't feel the time pass.
“be there in a sec.” I say getting off the tub and putting a dressing gown on wrapping a towel on my dripping wet hair.
Letting the water in the tub drain I walk out of the bathroom.

Ella is lying on her back her hands placed behind her head and she's facing the ceiling. she just glanced at me and keeps on staring so I also go ahead and dry my hair without a word.

I keep finding her glancing at me from the mirror, she does that when she has something to say but keeps on debating with herself on wether to say it or not.

I put on a pair of black sweatpants and seatshirt. I pull my hair up in a messy bun and I turn to her when she keeps doing that.

“What is it?” I finally break the silence.

“Nothing.” she acts oblivious.

“i know you way too well to be able to tell that you have alot to say.” I say putting back what I was using in it's place.“just spill it.”

“Fine, where were you?”

“didn’t I answer that question earlier with the boys?”

“They might have believed you but you didn't fool me.”

She is my best friend and the only person who I can trust with my secrets so why not.
“There is this guy...”

“what guy.” she cuts me off midsentence and I roll my eyes.

“Just listen Ella, listen.” I continue “He has been sending me mysterious messages and threatening me...”

“And you're telling me this now!?” she almost yells.

“it will be easier to tell you if you never interrupted.”
“ooh sorry, keep going.”

“he is the one who made dad's nurse trigger his heatattack to get me out of the house. He wants to kill me or whatever he is planning for me for a reason I haven't found out yet.”She nods so I continue,“ so Arnold was steps ahead of him and knew his plans so he kidnapped me to prevent me from going to the hospital.” I finish.

She keeps quiet for sometime and when she speaks the first word is, “Arnold,the gardener?”

“yeah”

“what is the deal between you two?”

“He is a puzzle I need to solve let alone the mysterious guy I need to find out who he is and why does he hates me so much.”

“Am just disappointed that you're keeping things From me.” she frowns “aren’t we friends?”

“you’ve been through alot because of me, the least I could do is add my problems on your list of problems.”

“Am not complaining.” she points out. “that is what friends do Rob, they be there for each other.”

“i promise to keep you in the loop next time.”

“at least let me help you find out who Arnold is.” she says.

“no I need to solve that one alone.”

She stands hugging me tightly, “well you know where to find me incase you need help.”

I watch as she walks to the door and my eyes grow wide when they land on Jim at the door smirking widely when Ella opens the door.

He's been there for how long?

What has he heard?