Catching The Girl (FIRST BOOK COMPLETED)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“I’ve missed you so much, little girl.” The man said to Nicole. He then turned to face Eric, “By the way, I am Adone Salvatore, Nicoletta - I mean, Nicole’s grandfather.” He said her name like it was disgusting.

“I don’t care.” Eric felt the anger build inside him. He really wasn’t surprised. He could tell by the way Nicole tensed up next to him that this was the man. Nicole was shooting him looks, pleading him to be nice but Eric didn’t respond.

What was wrong with her? How can she expect me to act even slightly civil? I’ll kill him, Eric told himself.

Nicole wanted to slap some sense into him. He needed to listen to her, for his own sake. She wanted to face him on her own. Eric did not know who he was up against and evidently, was going to get himself killed and not vice versa. She needed to think.

“You have grown into a beautiful woman.” Adone smiled at Nicole, ignoring Eric.

“You are still a - “ Nicole looked at Eric and then back at her grandfather, “stronzo.”

“Nicoletta! You will not use such language! Vergogna su di voi! A pity, such horrible words coming out of such a beautiful mouth!” Adone yelled, walking towards her and Eric instinctively pushed her behind him.

“The only shame I feel is because I am your granddaughter!” Nicole retorted.

There was a knock on the door and Adone smiled, a sick and sadistic smile.

“No! Who is it? Who have you called here?” Nicole yelled out, knowing the answer. After Adone quickly pushed the latch and pulled the man in, he pulled the latch once more, trapping them.

“Tom!” Nicole and Eric yelled at the same time. Tom looked confused for a few seconds, then a bunch of emotions crossed his face. Confusion turned into shock. Realization. Fear. And then he was blank. It must have been taught in the family, Eric thought, to feel nothing. How horrible.

“Well, Tom, how do you feel?” Adone asked Tom, still smiling.

“I feel fine, you going to change that? If you don’t want to, just die, you soulless-” Tom asked.

“Do not provoke him, Tom!” Nicole couldn’t take it anymore, she plunged herself at Adone, screaming angrily. He couldn’t do this to her, not again.

Before Eric could do anything, Tom stepped in front of Adone and Nicole banged into him.

“Nikki. It’s okay. I love you, baby girl. You know that. Your parents and Nate would really approve of Eric.” He whispered in her ear and then drew back so she could see him wink.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, Tommy.” Nicole only ever called him that when they were kids. He meant the world to her. Although he was just a lost boy they found in the streets of Italy, he had brought life to their family. He was just a month older than Nate, actually, so they were like twins.

Tom never spoke about his parents and where he had come from and the Salvatores never even asked. He was as much a child to them as Nate. He left them when he was 16, and Nicole was 12, in order to escape from Adone who never appreciated an outsider’s presence.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.” Tom said soothingly. “I... I want this. It’ll be easier. It was always supposed to happen. Who knew the homeless American kid in Italy would live this long?” Nicole couldn’t hear this, she knew he was trying to be strong for her.

“But I don’t want this!” Nicole’s voice cracked when she spoke.

“I love you, Nikki. You were the sister I never had. I’ll say hi from you to Nate and your parents. Hopefully I’ll get some of that yummy pizza from your mom up there?” Tom said softly, smiling. The smile didn’t meet his eyes.