Finding Sebastian

Chapter 13

Pietro's heart wouldn't stop beating. He had just gotten away in time before they could reach him. His mother was panting hard beside him as well. "What was that?" she yelled at him. She then hit him in the head with her purse.

He caught his breath and then explained. "The Ricci's, they're trying to steal this boy." He pointed at the baby wrapped up in blankets and a hat. He wore a confused look on his face. He thought he heard his mother's voice back there. Why didn't she come for him?

She couldn't believe her ears. The Ricci's? But she heard they were trying to find their baby boy. Even though the Ricci's tried to hide the fact that they're child was missing, somehow the paparazzi was all over it. Why would they need to steal another one? It clicked. She turned to her son and started beating him with her purse. "You are no son of mine!"

Then she took the stroller an ran to try to find the boy's parents. She spotted them and was about to run over to them to deliver their child when she felt a hand wrap around her neck. Pietro held her captive. Pietro whispered in her ear, "Mi dispiace, madre."

A sharp pain entered into her neck and she groaned in pain. She fell to the ground and watched as the parents slipped away with pain on their eyes and tears on their cheeks. Her vision became blurred as she yearned to meet up with them. "Aspettare," she whispered out with her arm stretched out to them.

Sebastian began to hiccup and cry. Pietro couldn't have any attention on him. He left his mother on the ground and took back the stroller and ran back to his apartment.

**

"Ma'am." A voice called out to her. The darkness surrounded her as she tried to understand where the voice was coming from. "Ma'am," the voice called out again.

She groaned as she managed to open her eyes. Striking green eyes stared back into her own eyes. She was befuddled. "Sebastian?" her weak voice sounded out.

The green eyes looked away and to someone else. She couldn't see who it was. Her vision was still a bit hazy doe to whatever happened to her.

The green eyes were brought back to hers. "Do you know him?"

"Sebastian?" her weak voice cracked at the end. Gosh, she was thirsty and confused. Where was she? Why was she lying down on a gravely surface?

Her neck was stiff, and as she touched it, memories flooded back to her. Sebastian! Pietro! "Are you Oliver Ricci?"

Green eyes nodded his head. "My wife and I have been searching for our son." He glanced at the woman beside him. Her vision was coming back, so when she looked to her right, she was met with blue eyes. "How do you know him?" His voice was tender as well as confused and angry. She could understand. She was angry at herself for not recognizing Sebastian as the Ricci's son.

She tried to lift herself up but she fell back down. Oliver was quick to help her up into a sitting position. He sat on the ground, blocking out the pebbles poking into his butt, and let the woman's back lean against his front. "M-my son has him."

"Who's your son?" Oliver asked. He had a hunch, but he prayed it wouldn't be him.

She bent her head so that her chin was against her chest. She was conflicted. Rat out her only son, or help them find theirs. "Ma'am, please help us." It was Mrs. Ricci who pleaded with her. "I need my son back."

She could see the pain in Mrs. Ricci's eyes and the depth they held. She had bags under her eyes and sadness seeped through her. Through first experience, she knew what a mother's love was. It was the most honorable yet horrendous feeling in the entire world. Both of them were experiencing the latter.

"Pietro. His name is Pietro," she said with a sigh. She heard Mr. Ricci curse from behind her. So he knew him? Has Pietro done something like this on the past? If so, she was going to beat her son.

She felt a soft hand on her own. She looked up at Mrs. Ricci. She was surely a beautiful woman who did not deserve this type of treatment. She inspected her and found a little cross hanging around her neck. She brought her hand up and touched it. "It's beautiful," she stated.

Mrs. Ricci blushed. "Thank you. I received it from my mother when I was confirmed."

Pietro's mother smiled. She wanted Pietro to go to church when he was little, but he was far from interested. "You like church?" Her English was not always the best, but nonetheless, Mrs. Ricci could decipher what she was saying. She nodded her head. "Good. I do, too."

She sighed and looked side to side to see not many people around the market. "Where is everyone?"

"I know some people here that helped me," Mr. Ricci said. Her top lip turned up a bit. That's what Pietro would always do: never give you directions information, but just enough to help you out.

"Do you know where Pietro might be?" Mrs. Ricci asked. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were welling up with tears. She was definitely not cut out to be the wife of a Mafia leader; however, she fit in at the same time.

She noticed that while Mr. Ricci could be dominant and at times rude without a filter, Mrs. Ricci was submissive and always thought before she spoke. She admired the both of them. They were fighting for their son. They were great parents, even if they didn't realize it.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Ricci, I no clue. I think he went back to our apartment."

The Ricci's glanced at each other. "Where would that be?" Mr. Ricci asked.

"Pen?"

Mrs. Ricci sifted through her purse and retrieved a pen and a pad of paper. She handed it over to Pietro's mother. She noticed how gentle she was compared to Pietro. The woman before her looked frail and tired.

"I'm Marcia Ricci, what's your name?"

The woman looked at her in bewilderment. First, this lovely couple helps her up, then, after knowing whose mother she is, continue to be kind to her. This couple was odd. She liked odd. She loved the comfort. "I'm Talia. Thank you for helping me."

Mrs. Ricci smiled politely at her. "It's our pleasure. We'd help you anytime you need us."

Talia finished writing the address and handed it over to Mr. Ricci. He looked at it and handed it over to his wife. "Can you stand?" he asked politely. She nodded. He wiggled out from underneath her and held out both of his hands. She took them and he lifted her with ease. She stumbled but Mr. Ricci was there to regain her balance. He looped an arm underneath her and helped to walk her.

"Where could we bring you, Talia?" Mr. Ricci asked.

"Anywhere but the apartment. It's not safe with him there." She was beginning to despise her own son. How could he do this to this family? They were wonderful people who deserved a happy life together. All of this stress was not needed for them to shoulder.

The Ricci's brought her to a hotel and check her in. They even paid for her to stay there for a full week with enough money for food and drinks. This was only until they could find Pietro and their son.

They helped her to room and get settled. True, she didn't have anything with her, but they still helped her to get comfortable in her new space.

Mr. Ricci went to get some clothing for her and she watched the interaction between the two lovers. Mr. Ricci had his arms wrapped around Mrs. Ricci's waist as Mrs. Ricci's hands were resting on his chest. He whispered something into her ear and she smiled. He also smiled and whispered something else. She watched as a faint blushed already across Mrs. Ricci's cheeks, down her neck, onto her chest.

Talia could see the love they had for each other as he looked down at his wife in his arms. He didn't even blink by the time she finally looked up. Her cheeks flushed even more and she tilted her head down once again. He didn't hesitate to tilt her chin up. His nose brushed hers and their lips brushed before they kissed.

Talia had to look away; it was an initamte moment for the both of them. She looked back at the two and watched as he pulled away and pecked her lips and whispered something again before leaving the two women in the room.

She noticed how Mrs. Ricci put a hand on her stomach and watch the door longingly.