roses made of lead | Vito Scaletta

Chapter 3 - A new beginning

Back to November again. I started noticing that Paulie wasn't doing too well with his money. He wasn't always bringing home lavish meals, and sometimes he was cooking. He was obsessed with counting money.

And he was sick of the life he was living. He'd tell me about it at night. Sometimes we'd open the window, sit on the sill, light a cigarette and he'd tell me what he'd sacrificed for this life. And that he didn't want to live like that anymore.

He dreamed of moving to Empire Bay. We'd start a new life there, and he'd open a pizza place, and we'd live in a lot more peace. But we need money for that. In Empire Bay, my name wouldn't be Valentina anymore. And we probably wouldn't even have the last name Lombardo anymore.

But those dreams were really just dreams.

I heard Paulie say something about Mr. Salieri one night when we had Tom visiting. And there were a lot of nasty words flying around, too. I was in my room looking out of the window.

I was thinking how much I'm gonna miss this town. But also thinking how great life will be when we move. New school, new friends, and Paulie will be happy. Finally.

But it all went wrong in two days.

He kissed me on the forehead that morning and told me I'd better not go out, he needed to sort something out and we'd be free tomorrow. And so I waited. Looking at the street, reading books and dusting. Sometimes I'd take Paulie's guns for fun and pretend I was a mobster, too. I always hid behind a closet and fought invisible enemies.

I'm sure he'd break my arms for that.

There were a lot of cops out that day, always honking, and I had a burning suspicion it had something to do with Paulie.

He returned in the evening. He had a bottle of wine and some steaks with him. And an unmissable bag.

-

"What's in it? Did you rob a bank?" I laughed. Paulie froze. He put the food on the table and gave me a stern look.

"How do you know?" he whispered, shoving the bag under the bed. Now I froze.

"Wait, really? There was something on the radio, was that you?" I whispered.

"Yeah, but don't say it anywhere. Tom's going to get his half tomorrow morning and then we're going away. I'm all set," he stroked my hair and I smiled a little. I was shocked.

"Paulie, we'll be all right, won't we?" I looked at him sadly and he nodded.

"We'll be just fine. I'm going to run my business and you're going to go to school to be something more than I am. Let's eat," he sat down next to me and unpacked the boxes of food.

"What's that wine for?" I pointed to the bottle.

"It's some kind of sweet wine, I don't know, I'm not that familiar with it. But you might like it," he laughed.

That evening the mood between us was really tense.

-

So we had dinner, Paulie gave me a glass of wine. I felt sick, not physically, but something was weighing me down inside. I was worried about Paulie, because I didn't even know at the time that it was behind Mr. Salieri's back. I thought they knew everything and would protect him.

I didn't sleep well that night, but it didn't beat the way I was woken up.

-

Terrible noise, screaming and banging on the door.

"Val, wake the fuck up," Paulie woke me up. Tears were streaming down his cheeks.

"What's going on?" I cried.

"Nothing, it's gonna be okay, hide in the closet, come on! Shit," he grabbed my head and pulled me to my feet by my hand. I was only in my nightgown.

I climbed into the closet and Paulie forcefully closed it.

"And be quiet," he muttered. It was really hard to keep quiet in this fear. I covered my mouth with my hand and closed my eyes.

I could hear Paulie reload the gun and then he opened the door.

"Where's the money!" I heard Sam scream. Sam? Why is Sam here? They're friends.

Paulie's voice was muffled.

And then the gunshots. Two. And it was quiet. I prayed that whoever shot was Paulie and whoever died was Sam.

After a while, I came out of the closet. If anyone's in here, they can shoot me.

But I'll never forget the sight I saw for the rest of my life.

"Paulie!" I screamed and ran over to his already limp body. I lay down on it and cried. And cried. And cried...

"You didn't deserve this, you should never have left me here!" I screamed. They killed my brother.

I turned behind me. The money wasn't there. So they took the money.

They only killed him because he wanted to give me a nicer life.

I was completely helpless. I had nowhere to go, nothing to do.

I quickly went to the bedside table by his bed. I pulled out the last of his money. My bag was already packed from yesterday. I took that too and went to the door. I gotta get out of here. I have to get out of here and they'll take care of me somewhere else.

"Hey, Paulie. I love you," I knelt down and kissed him on the cheek. I took the ring he was wearing off his finger and put it in my bag with my clothes.

When his death is dealt with officially, I won't be here anymore, and therefore I won't be here for the distribution of his belongings.

And so, I fled the apartment I have the fondest memories of to the station in tears.

-

That crying didn't stop for at least three months. Then all I had was anger and remorse. Maybe I could have done something differently.

I took the train to Empire Bay, just like we'd promised to do together. I headed to the police and sort of half-heartedly explained my situation to them. I was in an orphanage for about a year, and then I was placed with a foster family.

I found out that Sam died that day, too. And that Tom got locked up and then moved to Empire Bay, too. But he didn't last long here either, because history with Mr. Salieri eventually caught up.

And I was forced to start a new life. But without Paulie. And without everyone I'd ever known.