Taken by the Mafia

Chapter 4 - Goodbye

Lily

It's been a month of the same routine. 

i eat with Thomas. i sleep. And i do nothing else. We don't talk to each other. 

Honestly the only thing i've been doing is eat. if i don't, he shouts at me. and he looks very dangerous when he shouts.  

Mary cooks delicious food, though. better than my mom. at my house i was only ever given stew. or when i was lucky, roast. 

And right now, i am eating a better roast than the one i ever got on my lucky days.  if it were anyone else, he would be making noises of satisfaction.

Thomas is sitting across from me as we eat our dinner. As usual he is reading something on his phone. after a while, he places his phone on the table. The metal clangs lightly on china as he puts his utensils down and turns the full attention of his gaze on me. i don't look up at him. i realized this long ago that looking at people who hold any kind of power over you only makes you more vulnerable before them. 

"We're leaving the country tomorrow," he say in an icy tone. i stop eating but don't raise my head. "I don't live here, you know, so we're leaving for Italy tomorrow at eight in the morning," he forces out the words like he is jabbing a knife. Or maybe like i am a very difficult child and he's trying to make me understand his simple words.

"I want to meet my brother." these words leave my mouth before i can stop them. 

Thomas looks up, shocked. He seems to be as surprised as i am.  this is the first sentence i've ever said to him. Before this, the only that i ever said to him was my name. 

A slow smile twists his lips. He leans back in his chair and folds his arms across his chest. "So you speak."

"Of course, i do." My voice is a little shaky and low from disuse. 

He nods lightly as if agreeing with me. "Mother too?"

"No." i shake my head a little. 

"Okay, finish your dinner." he orders. 

i can't believe i broke our month-long silence. it's not like i don't want to talk to him or i hate him (i have nothing to hate him for - yet). He just intimidates me. and to be perfectly honest, i do fear him. 

When we are both done, he takes my hand and leads me out of the apartment and into an elevator. out in the parking, he climbs into the driver seat of a very impressive red car. he motions me to sit in the back.

Not like i wanted to sit in the passenger seat, either.

After a short drive, he pulls into the street in which is my house but parks the car a few paces short of it. he takes out his phone and calls someone and speaks when the person on the other side of the phone picks up. "Outside. Three houses to your right. Climb in the back." he hangs up and waits. 

a few minutes later, someone opens the door and Raul sits beside me. he only has a second to close the door before i engulf him in a hug, resting my head on his heart. He hugs me back. For reasons i don't even know myself, i can't stop the tears that are leaving my eyes. My dear brother makes soothing noises, running a hand on my back. 

i pull back and he holds my tear-stained face, tucking the strands of my hair behind my ear. 

"What is it?" he asks, looking into my eyes. 

"He's taking me." My voice gives way to an audible hitch. "To Italy."

"Oh. But it's okay." he caresses my cheek. "You'll not be here anymore. And any place is better than this. Right?" he nods and i mirror the movement once.

"I won't see you." 

"It's okay. I'll ask him to let you talk to me on video-call every once in a while." 

Thomas sighs audibly. 

"It's okay." Raul says again. he bends to kiss my forehead and i hug him again. 

some minutes later, Raul detaches me from his body and smiles. "Good bye," he says as he climbs out of the car. i sink back in the seat. Raul says something to Thomas from his open window. Thomas nods and Raul leaves. 

The ride back was tense but to my surprise, Thomas didn't remark anything about my exchange with Raul. 

I will miss him.