Mafia Prisoner

Ch. 67 - A New Life

Vivian POV

Amy and I made it on the bus just in time. I got to my apartment thankful it was untouched and my hidden key was still in a flower pot. Amy looked at me strangely as I dug through the dirt but it seemed like the best place to put it. I quickly got my ID and a few of my belongings.

There was a picture by my bed of Tommy and me. His deep blue eyes looked at me like he was inside the frame watching over me. His large arms wrapped around my stomach and we smiled happily in the courtyard of our campus. My mind floated back to that day, remembering how we laughed all afternoon together. Paul joined us and he was the one to take the picture.

I had one other frame with Tommy, Paul, and Danny. I never did get to see Danny again. He had a family so I was thankful he was left out of my drama. I couldn't let my mind wander to what punishment Niko was giving Paul for losing me.

I turned the photos down then left this life for good. It was over and I would never have it again. Too much has happened, too much has changed.

My hand rubbed my belly lightly as we sat for the bus to take us to the bank. "Are you going to have a baby?" Amy asked, watching me caress my stomach.

"Yeah. It won't be for another six months but I'll get big and fat then you'll have a baby cousin."

"I can't wait." Her little hand rubbed over my small bump. We sat there in silence, soaking up the hope of a better life.

We made it to the bank and they printed me a new debit card. Next, I got a prepaid cell phone and then headed to the car lot. I tried calling my aunt be she didn't answer. I really hoped she was still there. We made one more stop for gas and food then headed out of the city. My body had a light tremor to it as we approached the state line. Did I really escape?

An hour out of New York I finally let a wave of relief wash over me. I did it! Amy was fast asleep next to me and I smiled at her knowing I could give her a better childhood than she would ever have at her home or at Niko's. I was once consumed by the Mafia, but I got out.

The rest of the drive my mind kept wandering to Niko. I don't know why I missed him already. I was only there a few months but that house became my life. Marie, Mario, Paul, Sophia and Dominick were my friends that I would miss. Niko was a beast that treated me wrong, but I saw how he tried. I wish he just let his walls down and showed me that intense love he had for me. I couldn't live with him constantly trying to put those walls back up though. He didn't know what he wanted and it was obvious I wasn't enough.

I was a strong independent woman. I wasn't a slave to my emotions and I wasn't a slave to Niko Valencia. I was Vivian Sparks and this was my life and no one decided how I would live it.

After a few days of driving, I pulled on the dirt driveway praying this was still my aunt's residence. She had an old farm house style home on a five-acre lot. There were a lot of woods and of course her massive gardens. She never worked so I wasn't sure where her money came from. She spent most of her days tending to her flowers. Lilys were her favorite and she had an entire area filled with every kind, including a lake with water lilies.

I turned off the car waking Amy softly. We were here. It was time to see if we could stay. Even if it was just a few nights until I figured out my next steps.

I knocked gently on the door already knowing my aunt would be pissed I came so late.

"Who is it?" Her old voice called out, making Amy a little scared.

"It's me, Aunt Kathy, Marissa." I called out and Amy gave me a weird look. "My middle name is Vivian." I explained.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" She scolded me as she opened the door. "And with a child. What trouble did you get yourself into? I told you New York was a bad idea." She ranted as she walked away.