mafia king

Chapter 6 - my birthday party

It had been two months since Tino's death. Sandrino had showed up for the funeral and had left again. We should be used to death, prepared for it and it seemed like everyone had been, expect for us. My mother had let me cry on her shoulder but decided that two weeks of grieve had been enough.

When I decided to get out of the house, which was rare, I went to the tattoo shop. Marco was always around. He had started to let other clients in then only guys from the mafia. He and I had talked about what had happened after a night full of drinking. I had also given him my title as group leader. Marco had denied it at first but after he realized that I was not going to be a leader to this group anymore, he accepted. After I had gotten rid of that burden and put it on more capable shoulders than mine, I felt a little bit better. I looked up and smiled at Marco tattooing Mario's wrist. Besides those two, I also had Georgino. We hadn't spent one night apart since the warehouse raid. He sneaked into my window and laid down next to me. Every time we were together my heart swelled with so much happiness. After losing Tino he was the only thing that had made me want to eat or take a shower. Even though my 21st birthday was only one week away I already knew that he was my soulmate. There will never be any kind of love that would come close to the one he and I shared. Nothing could ever come between us. I would die for him and he would give his own life for me.

I startled when Georgino put his book down to look up at me. His hair a mess because I had caressed it while he was reading in my lap. "What are you thinking about?" "You." He smiled cheekily. "That's good." I leaned down to softly kiss him and felt an old flash of nervousness go through me. I wanted it to always feel like the first week we had been together.

Today is my 21st birthday. My mother had vetoed Marco and Mario who wanted to do a boy's trip to Boston. We weren't a big fan of the party she was throwing me, but also not brave enough to contradict her. She had invited the whole family. The only upside was that Georgino was coming too. "There is no need for so much food, mum. They are all coming after seven." "They are going to be hungry. You should also get your cake at the bakery." "Since when don't you bake one for me?" "Since 40 people are coming. Do I look like a wizard to you. Now go! It's already five o'clock." With a sigh I grabbed my keys and drove to the bakery. Mario and Matteo had already given me their present. A make-up boys trip the weekend after my birthday. Sandrino hadn't talked to me yet, but I knew from my mother, who knew it from his mother, that he got me a videogame.

The cake was standing in the kitchen and my mother had started redoing the frosting, because it wasn't perfect yet. Her words, not mine. My friends had arrived with their families in tow. They all seemed to be over the family time already. Sandrino was solemn but he came to my birthday. That was a huge improvement. If Mario and Marco hadn't organized a real 21 birthday party after my mom's party, I wouldn't have felt like a 21-year-old. This reminded me of the birthdays I had when I was a kid. "We are getting out of here by eleven at the latest!" Mario murmured under his breath while he was drinking a beer. "Marco is driving and I'll get Sandrino to come with us too." "He hasn't hung out with us since Tino." Mario rolled his eyes. "I'll kidnap him if I have too. We are all going to be together. Tino would want us too." I smiled and agreed. "Uhh, look. Your secret boyfriend has arrived." I followed his direction and saw Georgino making his way straight to us. "Hey." I greeted and smiled. He cleared his throat and pointed to my bedroom. "Uh, didn't you want to show me this book?" I could practically feel Mario's eyeroll behind me. "Yeah, come with me." The place was already swarming with family, but we made it to my bedroom without getting questioning looks. Once I closed the door behind me, Georgino grabbed my face and kissed me. "I missed you." I laughed. "You saw me yesterday, but I missed you too." His eyes darkened. "Are you alright?" I asked, not missing his uneasiness. "You know I love you, right?" He pressed and squeezed my hands against his chest. "I love you too, but why are you so on edge? It's my birthday." I kissed his lips and pulled away to go back outside. Georgino followed me but pressed me against the bedroom door before I could open it. "I love you so much, Matteo." He whispered again and buried his head in the crook of my neck. "You are starting to freak me out a bit." I laughed and he let out a humourless chuckle. "I'm sorry. I just don't want to lose you. Ever." "You won't." Georgino caressed my cheek and I leaned into his touch. He kissed me one last time before we went back out to the party.

"Can you believe this?" My mother asked me, and I turned to her sitting on the kitchen island. "What?" She pointed very obviously to a young woman, leaning against the wall with a child sitting between her feet. "She brought her child to a party." "It's not very X-rated in here. No strippers, no drugs-. Autch!" My mom slapped the back of my head and disappeared with a last disapproving look. Worth it. I looked around the kitchen and living room. My mother seriously invited the whole family. Even Alonzo had showed up which was weird. After a while it was time to open my presents and fake smiles at the presents my mother told her friends to bring me. I loved her but she had no idea what I really wanted. After I was surrounded by presents and wrapping, I went to get up to thank everyone for coming but was interrupted by Alonzo. "Not to steal your spotlight, Matteo." Alonzo said and pulled the woman with the child on her hips next to him. "But I'd like to introduce all of you to Rose, the girlfriend of Georgino and mother of my grandson, Salvatore." Thunderous applause followed and I froze. I felt my mom nudge me, trying to get me to clap too. I turned my head to look at Georgino. Was this some kind of joke? He was looking at me too. I couldn't put my finger on what made me snap out of the daze. Maybe it was how Georgino's eyes welled up with tears or Mario's open jaw. Even the ever-stoic Marco had put his hands over his head in disbelieve. I blinked slowly. This can't be real. I let out a shaky breath of air. Everyone was swarming Rose and the child. Georgino's son. I had to get out of here. "Matteo." Mario called out after me, but I ignored everything around me. This can't be real. I breathed in a shaky breath which felt like knives cutting out my insides. I got into my car and fished through my jacket for the keys. I had to go away from here. This was just a bad dream. I started my car and drove down the driveway. I saw Mario try to run after me, but I soon lost him in the mirror.

It felt like weeks had passed before I stopped in front of the tattoo shop. I got in through an open window and switched on the light. Wiping away the tears that hadn't stopped since I left home, I sat down in the old leather sofa in the backroom. Had I been a joke all this time? Did everyone know about Georgino's family besides me? I wasn't the boyfriend - I didn't mean anything. I curled my legs under me and put my face into my hands and started sobbing.

I lifted my head after a while, my eyes stuck together like someone put glue on them. I felt disoriented but something had gotten my attention. I had heard keys. I somehow hoped it would be Mario or Marco but at the same time I wanted to be left alone. I listened to the footsteps coming closer to me and looked up when it was silent again. I felt tears pool in my eyes when I saw Georgino. It felt like an eternity where we just stared at each other. The longer silence enveloped us the more I started to get angry. Why did he come here if he was just going to stand there like an idiot!? "Shouldn't you be with your family?" I spat and Georgino flinched. Good. I wanted him to be as hurt as me. My sadness turned into something bigger, more spiteful. "Matteo, I-." "I never wanted you to get hurt." I trembled and jumped off the couch. "You hid that you are in a relationship! You hid that you are a father!" I yelled and pulled at my hair. "In what part of your brain did you think that wouldn't hurt me?!" Georgino ran his hand over his face. "I slept with her before we were together! And after that I couldn't just tell you!" "And ambushing me in front of the whole family was so MUCH better!?" I screamed and he recoiled. "What else could I do? You would have left me if you knew." I shook my head in disbelieve. "You were this perfect dream. My dream I had always wanted. I never wanted to jeopardize our happiness by telling you and risk that we possibly could break up." "There is no possible about it!" I roared and breathed heavily. Georgino's eyes widened, and we fell silent. I meant what I said, I realized. I fucking meant it. This was over. And Georgino knew it too. "Matteo," he whispered lowly. My chest hurt like I was having a heart attack. "You lied to me for years and you would have kept lying-." I trembled and broke down crying. I felt Georgino coming over to me. "Matteo, I-." I swatted his hand away. "Don't." "I love you." He whispered and broke my heart further. "I love you." He said, as if this would be the last time, he could say it. I wanted to scream and yell at him to leave me alone and stay and make everything better at the same time.

It felt like days had gone by. My eyes were red and swollen from all the crying. Georgino didn't look better. I rather be shot ten times than feel this kind of betrayal. I pressed the palm of my hands against my eyes. Get it together, I thought and slowly stood up. Georgino tried to hold me back, but I slapped his hand away. I couldn't stand this anymore. "I have always loved you. Only you, even if you won't believe me anymore." Georgino whispered, his gaze on me. I felt sick but kept going, leaving Georgino alone in the room. The fresh air did little to get me out of the dazed state I was in. An anguished sound escaped me. 

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