The Mafia Queen's Husband

Chapter eighteen - Alicia

"Hey, honey!" I'm slightly out of breath when I pick up my ringing phone, having run downstairs from Riley's room.

"Alicia," His urgent voice instantly puts me on edge. "Have you seen or heard from Seb?"

"I um, I spoke to him this morning. Why? What's going on?" I can't keep the panic from my voice, especially after what happened the other day. I still can't believe poor Sebby got shot.

"Apparently, he got Cole to distract Ana - the bodyguard - so he could fucking run away."

"What? That's not like him!"

Sebastian and Eva got home three or so days ago, after New years. We immediately went to visit him. Dante was rightfully freaked and furious because of the incident. I could see, it took everything in him to keep from blowing up at Eva. I think he refrained for Sebby's sake. She didn't seem to care about Dante's opinion anyway.

Sebastian, however, is a whole other thing. He was quiet and he smiled less, but the thing I'm sure Eva doesn't know, is that it is normal for this time of year.

"I can't believe he would be this irresponsible! I will fucking kick his ass the second I get my hands—"

"Are you really this much of an asshole?" I hiss into the phone. "Do you know what day is today?"

"What?" His incredulous voice forces me to take a deep, calming breath.

"It's the anniversary of his mother's death."

"Shit!" He whispers, hopefully feeling like shit.

Their mothers' death are a month apart, and Sebby always calls and visits Dante on that day, making sure to get him to talk about her. Dante always acts like he doesn't want to, but we all know he wouldn't be able to get through that day without Seb.

I'm not sure anyone knows the full story of what happened except Dante and his father, but I know his mother committed suicide when she found out Giovanni had cheated on her. I think, out of all the twisted, sadistic games his father played on him, his mother's suicide messed him up the most.

"I know where he is. Just let me take care of it." I hang up, angrily.

I know Dante means well, but sometimes he can be an insensitive asshole, especially to those he loves the most. He is mad because he is worried about him, but I'll be damned if I ever let him kick his ass. Plus, he has to get it in his thick head that he can't possibly control everything.

But for now, I have to find Sebby.

~~~~~~

I find him by his mother's grave. He's sitting down with his knees bent, his injured arm in a sling, and his head buried in a book, whispering the words to his mother.

When Sebastian was twelve, he went through a phase where he barely talked to anyone. He was always reading - even during dinner, which made his father really mad - and he kind of withdrew from us. Dante and I tried talking to him, but he barely responded.

So, one day, I put him in the car with his favorite book - which was 'The little prince' at the time - and we came right here. I put the book in his lap, told him to read aloud, and then, sat down on the bench a few feet away to give him privacy.

He reread the book three times before he broke down, crying. I didn't say anything, just got up and hugged him until he calmed down.

Sometimes, all people really need is a shoulder to cry on.

"I knew I'd find you here."

His head snaps up as I come closer then sit down next to him. He forces a smile. "Hey."