Gangbanger Study-Buddy

Devils and Angels

The rain taps softly against my bedroom window as I look out onto the bleary street. It's been a day since Dante allowed me to step into his world officially and even though I know I should be terrified, the only thing I feel is relief. After all the secrets, all the lies, I will finally know what's going on around me.

I let out a small sigh as I look back down at my medical textbook. Recently, my mother has been even more high-strung, if that's even possible, about me keeping up with my personal studies. Due to her hysterics I have no choice but to spend this rainy Saturday in my room studying. Not that I have anything better to do anyway.

I'm reading how to insert an IV perfectly into the vein when my phone begins to softly buzz. Leaning over, I look at the sleek screen and see that it's an unknown caller. Usually, I would let it go to voicemail and continue to study but I'm more than grateful to have a distraction from the boring script.

"Hello?" I answer, while shutting my textbook.

"You don't know what you've gotten yourself into girl," rasps a deep voice.

My heart stops.

"Um." I hesitate, trying to calm myself. "I'm sorry but I think you may have the wrong number, sir."

"You should've stayed away." He pauses to give a dark chuckle that makes my skin crawl. "But you've made your choice."

A few seconds pass before I realize the phone call has ended. A few minutes pass before my brain regains cognitive function. Was I just threatened?

I feel the warmth leave my body as an icy panic begins to claw up my throat. Not knowing what else to do, I quickly go through the contacts on my phone while trying to keep myself from shaking, but no matter how hard I look Dante's number will not appear. After everything that has happened I still haven't gotten his damn number?!

I throw my phone on the bed and force myself to take deep long breaths. Maybe it was a wrong number and he meant to call his wife who cheated on him or something. I think of a thousand other possibilities until I finally decide to face the truth: Someone knows I'm associated with Diavoli d'Italia and they're ready to make sure I regret it.

The only option right now is to find Dante and if he's predictable, which I'm hoping he is, I know just where to find him. I swiftly pull on my old rain boots and walk to my bedroom door to peak into the hall. Opening the door carefully, so as not to let it squeak, I listen for any sounds indicating that my mother is around.

I wait for what seems like forever, but the only sound to fill the house is the soft patter of rain outside. Taking a deep breath, I quietly step outside of my door. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle at the possibility of her finding me sneaking out. Just the thought of her pinched look of anger is enough to make me want to scuttle back into the safety of my room. I immediately shake the thought from my head and continue my cautious walk towards the staircase.

I practically float down the stairs and before I know it I've crossed the foyer.  I reach to grab my brown raincoat when I hear a small pattering sound behind me.  Holding my breath, I slowly turn around and see....nothing.  Weird.  It takes me a second to glance left towards the staircase  to see Lily holding on to the railing with a puzzled expression.  I release the smallest breath of relief that it wasn't the person on the phone or worse, my mother.

"Hey Lily," I whisper while gently tiptoeing closer to the stairs. "What're you doing? I thought you were taking a nap?"

If only it were that easy.