My New Assistant

26

Do you ever feel like you're doing something wrong, even though you're not?Or like you should call your mom and ask for permission to do something? When you don't feel safe but you know you should? That was exactly how Gio felt when she saw Antonio.

She left school hand in hand with Antonio, not understanding why her papa came to pick her up. She hasn't seen him in a few months and suddenly he shows up at her school. Gio looked around and saw no cars or other kids or parents at the entrance so school wasn't over yet.  She thought it was strange that her mamma never told her anything about her papa coming to pick her up so she stopped and let go of Antonio's hand.

"Papa where are we going?" Gio asked as she stopped walking.

"It's a surprise baby. You'll see when we get there." He said and smiled as he extended his hand again, waiting for Gio to take it.

"Does my mamma know I'm going with you?" Gio asked still not moving.

Antonio was getting very impatient. The more questions Gio asked the more time they were losing. He wanted to just grab Gio and put her in the car but he was sure that she would scream so he took a deep breath and bent down to her height.

"Of course she knows. She is even going to meet us there. We're going to have a lot of fun, like old times... just me, you and your mamma." Antonio said making Gio hesitantly agree after a few seconds. If her mamma was going to be there it should be ok right?

Gio held her papa's hand again, but she was still suspicious. Her papa didn't look the same to her, he had messy hair and a big beard, his clothes were too loose and he smelled weird. This wasn't how he used to be.

He put her in the car and buckled her up before Antonio began driving. She noticed how he pulled an alcohol bottle from the bag he had. Gio was now starting to get scared and wanted to be with her mamma and Maya. She kept quiet thinking that Carina would be there when they arrived, wherever he was taking her.

"Papa can we call mamma? I miss her." Gio Said with watery eyes.

"She's at work princess. She'll come meet us when she's done." Antonio said looking at Gio through the mirror.

"Is Maya coming to?" Gio Said and Antonio's voice was suddenly loud scaring Gio more.

"No! It's just me, you and mamma! Don't ask about Maya again understood!?" Antonio said stopping the car before looking back at Gio who nodded rapidly.

About 30 minutes later Gio began to recognize the place where he had parked, it was a house where they had spent a fun weekend last year, for Antonio's birthday. But she didn't understand why she was there now. There was no one there, just them. How could it be fun without the whole family?

"Can we call Mamma now please papa?" She asked as soon as she got out of the car.

"Of course, let's go in first. We're spending the weekend here, so you can choose a room for yourself. There are three and best of all, one of them has a Jacuzzi tub. You love those right?" Antonio says hoping the girl will cheer up, but that doesn't happen.

"Mamma and Maya are getting married soon papa. We're not staying here!" Gio says crossing her arms across her chest.

"I already told you not to mention that name again! We are staying here and that's it!" he said taking Gio's hand without much delicacy and leads her into the house.

Antonio spent days planning this moment. He bought a house and made plans to live with Carina and Gio there. He was sure that once Carina saw the house and the ring he bought for her, she would agree to marry him once again and spend the rest of her life with him. All he wants is to have his family back he just didn't expect to have to use his plan B.
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It had been about 3 hrs since Antonio had taken Gio and Carina was a mess. She didn't know how many Police officers and detectives were in her house. People were walking in and out trying to have her answer some questions but her mind was elsewhere. She needed her daughter to be ok.