Lilith

Revelations

Sal storms into the house like a whirlwind, his usual composed demeanor replaced by an air of urgency. Vincenzo and Marco exchange a glance before Vincenzo steps forward, clearing his throat. "Sal, we need to talk," he says, his voice tense.

Sal's brow furrows in confusion. "What's going on?" he asks, his gaze shifting between his brothers.

Marco jumps in, his tone serious. "E' Lilith. Conosce la mafia"

(It's Lilith. She knows about the mafia.)

Sal's eyes widen in disbelief, and for a moment, the room falls silent as the weight of their revelation hangs in the air. Then, Sal squares his shoulders, his expression determined. "Bring her to my office," he instructs, his voice leaving no room for argument.

I watch the scene unfold from the sidelines, my mind racing with a million questions. As they lead me to Sal's office, I can't help but crack a joke to lighten the mood. "Well, this isn't exactly the family meeting I had in mind," I quip, earning a small smile from Marco.

Once inside Sal's office, the atmosphere grows tense. Sal fixes me with a serious gaze, his eyes searching mine for answers. "So, Lilith," he begins, his voice measured. "What do you know about the mafia?"

I lean back in my chair, trying to appear nonchalant despite the gravity of the situation. "Oh, you know, just the usual. Guns , shady business deals, oh and the fact that you happened to be the Don of the italian mafia," I reply, a hint of sarcasm lacing my words.

Sal's expression softens, and he lets out a sigh. "Listen,fiore," ( flower)he says, his tone gentle yet firm. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I need you to understand that we're here to protect you. We would never hurt you."

I nod, my mind spinning with thoughts and questions. But amidst the chaos, one thing becomes clear: my brothers may be involved in some shady dealings, but they'll always have my back. And as daunting as the truth may be, I know I can count on them to keep me safe.

Then, as I'm about to leave the office, a thought strikes me, halting my steps. The earlier conversation echoes in my mind-something about the truth regarding our mother. I turn back sharply, facing Sal who seems ready to close this chapter.

"Wait, Sal," I say, pausing to gather my courage. "You mentioned something about Mom earlier. What was that about?"

Sal hesitates, his hands clasped together on the desk. He looks up, meeting my eyes with a mix of reluctance and resolve. "It's complicated, fiore,"(flower) he begins slowly.

My heart races, and I can feel the gravity of his words weighing me down. "I need to know, Sal. No more secrets," I insist, my voice firmer than I feel.

He nods, understanding the resolve in my tone. "Alright," he sighs. "It's about how she died. There's a lot you've been shielded from, to keep you safe. But it's time you knew the whole story."

The room feels like it's closing in on me as Sal starts to talk. Marco is standing quietly by the window, his presence a silent shadow in the corner of the room. The weight of the secret hangs heavy in the air between us.

"Lilith, Marco... there's something about our mom you both need to know." Sal's voice breaks the silence like a hammer to glass.

I glance at Marco, catching the confusion knitting his brows together. I feel it too a tightening in my chest, a prelude to something terrible.

"Our father... he killed her," Sal continues, his words dropping like stones into the stillness of the room.

My breath catches. "What do you mean he killed her?" The question is a whisper, disbelief coloring every word.

Sal looks from me to Marco, his face lined with regret. "He believed that having a daughter...,having you, Lilith was a sign of weakness. He thought girls were not fit for the mafia. He blamed Mom for bringing a girl into the world."

I feel numb, my mind struggling to piece together the horror of what I'm hearing. Beside me, Marco stiffens, the impact hitting him just as hard.

"And... he couldn't live with what he had done," Sal adds, his voice almost inaudible. "He took his own life shortly after."

"So, I was the reason?" My voice cracks, anger and pain weaving through each syllable. "My birth... killed her?"

Sal nods solemnly. "Yes, but you can't think like that. It was his madness, not your fault."

Marco finally speaks, his voice raw. "Why didn't we know this? Why lie to me, say she died in childbirth?"

"We thought it was better to protect you both from the truth... We wanted to spare you the pain," Sal explains, but his words feel hollow.

"Protect us or protect the family's dirty secrets?" I shoot back, the anger rising like a tide. "We deserved the truth, Sal."

Marco moves closer, his own turmoil etched across his face. "How can we trust anything now? How do we know what's real and what's just another lie to 'protect' us?"

I'm spiraling, each breath sharper than the last. "He saw my birth as a curse," I say, the reality settling like chains around my heart. "A curse that led to our mother's death."

Sal reaches out, attempting to bridge the gap his revelations have forged, but I step back, shaking my head. "I can't... I need some time to think about all this."

Turning, I leave the room, the echo of my steps mingling with the chaotic rush of thoughts. Marco follows, his hand on my shoulder a silent vow of shared pain and confusion.

Outside, the cool air does nothing to soothe the burn of tears on my cheeks or the heat of anger in my chest. We walk side by side, alone together in our grief, bound by a history rewritten by the sins of our father, a man I never knew, yet whose legacy clings to us like a shadow we may never escape.