Heat: A Mafia Doll Retelling

Chapter 8: Promise

Brooklynn was tapping her pencil on her notebook.

She was supposed to be studying for finals but she couldn't focus enough to even remember which finals she needed to study for. Carissa was on the other side of her bed, typing away on her laptop.

"I need a break, you want food? My treat," Brooklynn said.

"What? No! It's always your treat, let me pay for once," Carissa protested.

"It's fine. Come on, I'm ordering so just tell me what you want," Brooklynn said eager to be able to do something other than think about what Franco had told her a few days ago.

"Okay... umm, Chinese. You know what I like," Carissa said.

Brooklynn nodded.

"Chinese it is, give a few minutes."

Brooklynn left her bedroom where she and Carissa were studying and began to order their dinner from one of her apps. The process went by too fast but she didn't want to go back and stare aimlessly at her books once more. She supposed she could call Stefan but she knew he was working late and she didn't want to disturb him. Most of her other friends were also cramming so she couldn't bring herself to distract them.

Her finger vaguely hovered over Franco's name but she couldn't do it.

Not after he confirmed her worst fears a few days ago.

Besides, he would demand to know if she had spoken to Stefan yet and the truth was that she was avoiding it at every cost.

Making Stefan pledge omertà would mean corrupting him.

She would have to explain everything to him because Stefan wasn't stupid... he would want to know what he was pledging to do and why he was doing it.

She didn't want wide-eyed, peace loving Stefan to be corrupted. She didn't want him to change his view of the world because it was what her father wanted. She wanted to keep him the way he was.

She stared blankly at her phone until suddenly it began ringing.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

It was Franco.

Brooklynn hesitated to answer it but after a few seconds she answered right as the ringing was about to stop.

"Hello?"

"Is it done?" He asked gruffly.

"What?"

"Your father wants him to pledge in front of the men at the next party," He said getting straight to the point not bothering to go through any pleasantries.

Franco was alone in the middle of his gameroom. He was trying to focus on the game he was playing but he couldn't. Not only was the Boss' job weighing on his mind but the prospect of Brooklynn getting married was weighing even heavier.

He couldn't accept it.

He would never accept it down to the moment she was at the aisle.

"Franco, please... you know that I would never bring a rat near the Family! You know I would never want to get any of you in trouble!" Brooklynn half screamed into her phone. If only she could convince Franco that it wasn't necessary... then he could help her convince her dad. But from the tone of voice of Franco's next words, she knew that it was be next to impossible to get him on her side.

"I don't make the rules, Brooklynn. I have to follow them just like everyone else."

"Franco, please... I'm begging you," Brooklynn whispered, tears coming to her eyes, "Help me."