Alonzo Rossi
23 years ago.....
"Mamma?" I question her for the third time with tears in my eyes as she runs with me in her arms upstairs. "Mamma what's happening?"
She continues carrying me upstairs, holding me tighter every time I ask. "Shh my bambino I've got you." I feel like putty in her arms when she talks again. (baby)
"Mi dispiace mamma," I start to cry all over again in her shoulder, "Mi-" I sniffle, "Mi dispiace." (I'm sorry)
"Shh daddy is almost here, va bene?" I nod holding on to her as tightly as I could so she wouldn't leave. Like Papà did. (Okay?)
"Your sister and brother are going to meet us with daddy okay?" she pats me on the back running faster. "I've got you my baby," she says but her voice becomes shaky. "I've got you."
I take my snotty nose out of her shoulder and her eyes are red overpowering to the pretty blue in her eyes, I reach up and rub her tears away with my thumb. "Don't cry mamma," I wrap my hands around her neck. "I hate it when you cry," I mumble into her neck.
She nods looking at me.
I was just in my room downstairs with papà and mamma tucking me into bed when papà got a text and told mamma that 'they're coming.' I didn't know what they were talking about when they went to the corner of my room and began to whisper shout with each other. I didn't like it. Mamma picked me up and ran out the room heading straight for the big staircase in our house. Silently ignoring my questions.
Now we've reached the top and mom takes us into a room locking the door and takes us both in the walk-in closet. When we sit down and she hugs me I realize she's shaking, I try to hold her as tight as I can so she would stop.
Someone knocks on the door and I jump looking up at mamma. She looks scared, and that makes me scared. My lip starts to shake in a pout and I silently cry.
"Shh shhh," she comforts rubbing my shoulder.
"Amore mio, I have the kids." Daddy. It's Daddy. I make a move to get up but mamma drags me back down softly. "Stay right here mi bambino, I'll be back," she says with a small smile. I cup her cheeks and nod. Her smile widens and she picks me up and scoots me to the very corner. "I love you," she whispers, kissing my forehead then turning to leave.
(My love, I have the kids) (My baby)
I hear daddy and her talking when I see my brother and sister in papà's hands walk in. He smiles when he sees me and puts them next to me. "Papà you're here," I say jumping up into his arms. He hugs me and hurrily puts me back in the corner with my siblings. My 3 year old sister is sleeping in my older brothers arms. I cling onto my brothers arm when father kisses all of us saying, "Me and your mamma have to take care of some things, stay here okay?" he says looking at us expectantly.
"We will papá, we promise," my brother says while clutching me to his side.
He nods and leaves the room to go get mamma. They leave the room locking it behind them.
...
I don't know how long me and my siblings have been waiting here in silence waiting for papà and mamma to come back. But that's when we hear it. A loud bang. Three of them. Me and my brother both jump and our sister wakes up crying really loudly.
"Shh please be quiet Alex," my brother tries to whisper to her but its no use she won't stop.
It's too late anyways. A tall man has fathers hands behind his back walking him into the closet his eyes trained on us. Papa looks terrible, there's blood everywhere on his clothes, his shoes. and some on his face. He looks scared. He is never scared.
"Well, well, well," the man says. He has the biggest smile on his face and I can tell he's a bad man. My father is shaking his head no with tears in his eyes.
"Do not touch them you filthy piece of shit, kill me but not them," he pleads like his life depends on it.
"Mr Rossi begging? It must be a cold day in hell," he starts laughing to himself clutching his stomach with his other hand thats not holding papàs hand together. "Oh wait it is I just killed your beautiful wife." I see papà tense looking straight ahead with no reaction.
He what? He killed Mamma? He killed my mamma.
I look to my brother who's crying uncontrollably and I do the same holding onto him for dear life when the man lets go of father who makes a move towards him but stops when the man lifts his shirt revealing a black big thing tucked in his pants. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," he says his smiles growing wider.
He killed mamma. My mamma.
The bad man moves closer to us. "What a beautiful family you have," he brushes my sisters cheek shushing her and I fight the urge to jump on him and take his hands off of her. I don't want him to kill her too.
Kill her like he killed my mamma.
I cry again.
"You don't ever shut up do you?" he slaps me across the cheek and I bring my hand to my face looking at him silently my lip trembling.
My father charges towards me. The man pulls out what was in his pants and its a gun. Father always has them and never hid it from us letting us know its for protection. Only my brother knew more but he wouldn't let me know.
He points the gun at father. "Uh uh," he says tilting his head at papà.
"Back the hell up Rossi," he commands. My father just stands there fearless and calm. "What the fuck did I just say Rossi?!"
"The cops will be here in 5 minutes so if you don't want the mafia to be done for good I suggest you leave and take your men with you before all you've worked for is over."
The bad man stiffens and turns to us narrowing his eyes. "I will be back, I don't care how long it takes, years, centuries, you're whole family will be dead."
I make sure to remember his face. Remember his curly hair. His darker skin, his thick Spanish accent, his scar on the side of his face, and his build.
He runs out of the room and yells words in Spanish that I cant understand.
My father looks at us with sympathy coming up and hugging us with everything he has. But I refuse to cry.
"Papà is she really gone, is mamma-" my brothers words is choked up in his tears looking at papà.
He nods and starts tries to comfort Matteos sobs.
I will not cry again. I will find this man and make him pay.
I have to.
For my family. For mamma.
YOU ARE READING
Obsesión
Romansa"I hate you," I profess hitting his chest. "I hate you more, Tesero," he adds stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Then get the fuck out and don't come back here." I look towards the door expectantly and wait for him to leave. Only for him to take...
