Silence And Submission (Editing)

The First Meeting

If there was anything I was good at, it was pretending to be alright when I was breaking inside. I'd done it when I was six years old, fighting on the streets of Rome for survival. I'd done it when mama brought me home for the first time and I'd been left in my newly assigned room. I hadn't been able to sleep that night and all other subsequent nights that followed for a week until I finally settled in.

That was why it was easy for me to change my formal knee length red dress to a pair of jeans and white shirt, take my purse and walk out of my bedroom.

Grand papa and uncles Vincentè and Paulò were seated in the living room having a discussion. I knew instantly that it was trivial. Sensitive meetings were held in the sound proof study. Grand papa believed I was too young and innocent for the business. I smiled. Yet he personally taught me how to shoot a gun. He also taught me the fastest way to kill a man. Self defense, he'd said. In private, he handed down centuries of family secrets to me.

"Only two people must know about this,' he'd said and pointed at me and himself, 'you and I. No one else. Until you feel death's cold skelectal hands on your neck stealing your breath. Even then it must be your trusted lieutenant."

I'd leaned forward that night.

'Am I your lieutenant, grand papa?'

He'd smiled and shook his old grey head.

'No, child," he'd said.

I'd frowned and pursed my lips.

'Then what am I?'

'You are my most precious treasure,' he whispered conspiratorily.

He was older now and fatter. He could barely walk. He spent most of his time indoors too. There were even rumours that this winter might be his last. That was why I came back home. I wanted to be there when it happened.

I descended the stairs and walked to them.

"Irene, my child, come give grand papa a hug," his voice boomed.

I smiled as I hugged him. I inhaled his lemon scent tinted with the musk of cuban cigar.

"Hello, uncle Paulò, uncle Vincentè."

"Where are you of to?" Uncle Vincentè asked, eyeing me strangely. He always had that strange look in his eyes when he saw me.

"The mall," I answered.

"I'll rather you stayed at home today. Write a list of whatever you need and Diana will get for you. You have a habit of running of and leaving your guards behind. I'll rather not let papa suffer a heart attack on your behalf."

Uncle Paulo punched him lightly on his left shoulder.
"You are too tense. She runs off, so what? She always comes home safe. Get going, Irene."

Grand papa nodded.
"Don't escape your guards today." He was being serious. I wouldn't either. Today was not a good day.

I smiled and walked out of the house. A car was already waiting outside with my usual bodyguards standing next to it. Uncle Vincentè must have called them.
They were scowling.

"Loose the scowl, boys. Today is going to be peaceful," I said as I entered the backseat of the car.

The thirty minute drive to the mall ended sooner than I would have liked.

Lucas opened the door and I stepped out. I should have worn a hat, I thought. The sun was scorching hot.

I hurried to the nearest shop eager to get out of the sun and in my haste, I bumped into a wall of a man. I looked up. He was tall, extremely so. His eyes were a mixture of greens and browns. His hands clenched my arms and drew me to him in an effort to prevent me from falling.

From the corner of my eye I saw Luca and Silva tense up, their hands slipped discreetly to the guns hidden beneath their jackets.

I pulled back.

"Thank you," I said.

His lips curled.

"Watch where you're going, little mouse. I might not be so patient next time," he growled.

I pursed my lips in indignation. I was aware of my small physique but he didn't need to rub it in.

"Watch how you talk to me or you might find yourself with a bullet in your head," I said coldly.

He smirked.
"Of course, the little mouse has sharp teeth."

"They are sharp enough to draw blood."

"De Laurentis' puppies guarding the little mouse. How cute," he growled when Lucas and Silva stepped forward.

"Di Mercurio," Lucas said, pushing me behind him.

The dark eyed man glanced at me.

"Until we meet again, little mouse," he said and walked away.

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