~The lost one~

Chapter 42

simi's POV :

my thoughts turned to Vittorio, the mansion, and the formidable bodyguards stationed outside. It dawned on me that there was no way I was sneaking out with those guys on duty.

They'd spot me in a heartbeat. So, my brilliant teenage mind decided that the best course of action was a daring escap.
Classic Simi, right?

My plan was to slip out of the balcony. It wasn't that high up, and I've climbed trees before—how hard could it be?
Spoiler alert: harder than I thought.

I crept to the balcony with all the stealth of a cat burglar, though a bit less graceful. I threw one leg over the railing, then the other.

Balancing on the narrow ledge, I awkwardly shimmied down the side of the mansion like a reluctant monkey. The wall beneath was only about a foot high, so I carefully placed my feet on it, doing my best not to make a noise. It felt like I was auditioning for a clumsy spy movie.

The real challenge was knowing one of my brothers was probably in the room next to mine and another one was likely on the other side of the mansion. So much for easy escapes.

I had to come up with a distraction.

I found a rock on the ground, and, after a moment of contemplating my newfound rock-throwing prowess, I flung it towards the opposite side of the yard.

The rock landed with a satisfying thud, and one of the bodyguards immediately turned and walked off in the direction of the noise. Score one for Simi's sneaky plan.

This was my chance.

I darted towards the front gate, feeling like I was in an action film montage, except with a lot more wheezing.

I pulled out my phone and checked the map for the nearest park. Luck was on my side: there was a park nearby with a coffee shop. It was 4:05 AM, and I was on a mission.

I ran the 2 kilometers to the park, my legs feeling like they were filled with lead by the time I arrived. The park looked peaceful, bathed in the soft glow of early morning light. I checked my phone—it was 4:16 AM. Impressive timing, if I do say so myself.

I approached the coffee shop, half expecting it to be closed and locked up like a vault. But hey, a girl can dream, right? I tugged on the door, and to my surprise, it creaked open. The place was empty, but the coffee machine was on, and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.As I wandered in, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, I noticed a barista behind the counter. She was a pretty girl, maybe three years older than me, with bright eyes and a warm smile. Her hair was pulled back in a casual ponytail, and she looked like she had just rolled out of bed, though she managed to look effortlessly chic.

"Good morning!" she said, her voice cheerful despite the ungodly hour.

"You're up early."I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Yeah, I guess you could say I had a bit of a rough night."

She raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Sounds like you've had quite an adventure."

"Something like that," I said, glancing around the shop. "Is it okay if I make myself some coffee? I could really use a pick-me-up."

"Sure thing," she said, walking over to the counter. "Help yourself. I'll just be here in case you need any assistance."

I approached the espresso machine and started fiddling with it, trying to remember how to make coffee that didn't taste like cardboard. After a few minutes of trial and error, I finally managed to brew a cup of coffee that didn't look like it was brewed from an old shoe.

The barista watched me with an amused expression. "Not bad for a first-timer. What's your name, by the way?"

"Simi," I said, taking a cautious sip of my coffee. It wasn't half bad. "Thanks for being so chill about this."

"No problem, Simi. I'm Jess," she said, leaning on the counter. "I've seen a lot of early birds, but you're definitely one of the more interesting ones."

I chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease. "I'll take that as a compliment."

We chatted for a few minutes while I enjoyed my coffee. Jess told me about her early morning shifts and her favorite coffee concoctions, and I shared a bit about my impromptu escape and my not-so-great navigational skills.

By the time I finished my coffee and said my goodbyes, it was starting to get light outside. I felt a bit more refreshed and ready to tackle whatever the day had in store. As I left the park and made my way back to the mansion, I couldn't help but smile. Who knew that sneaking out of a mansion and chatting with a friendly barista would turn out to be such a good start to the day? And who knew that escaping the clutches of a mansion full of mafia men would taste so sweet, with a side of unexpected friendship and a decent cup of coffee?

(BTW it was now 5:30AM)