Regina del Mafiosa (Queen of the Mafia)

Home Sweet Home

It was a hot summer. The kind where the grass in the prairie looks scortched leaving it looking yellow brittle, and withered. Just how I felt inside at times. Up until a couple of weeks ago drought had hung over the summer threatening to make everything dead and useless.

I had woke up early this morning  and had started mowing. The recent rains were a welcome relief from the agonizing drought brought on by the summer but now they had subsided humidity hung heavy in the air, wrapping itself around me like a blanket.  I had told myself I would take no breaks until I was over halfway through with my task of mowing the property surrounding my nonno's shop.

My nonno, Lorenzo was a tough, blue-blooded, iron willed, take no nonsense, I'll kick your ass cause you looked at me wrong way Italian man. Older age had not slowed down his testosterone, or rage.

Lorenzo was your typical northern Italian he had light colored hair, and big grey eyes that had dark flecks that laced around his Iris when he was angry. Almost nature's way of warning you think wraith that was to follow. My uncle and brother's all have these same features.

I smile to myself thinking of the handsome men in my family. I on the other hand look just like my great grandmother, Stella. I have small slightly slanted dark eyes that look like pools of dark ink, my cheek bones high, with a long slender face and long straight dark hair.

A beautiful reminder of my great grandmother everytime I look in the mirror. I lost her when I was fourteen she was my best friend and the one person who taught me how to be a lady.

My nonno had started his own string of businesses in the seventies, working his way into farming, owning a mechanic shop, and several oil fields. We also sell oilfield equipment at the shop. Why they chose this rural God forsaken state called Kansas is completely unseen to me, and a topic that is totally off limits for discussion. My great grandmother told me it was just too painful for him to talk about. So I am assuming it has to do with my nonna, his wife, former wife, I'm unsure though. As any subject that might evoke feelings in my nonno is strictly off limits.

I work for him along with the entire rest of my family. Each  of us having our own important role. I take care of the actual business end, paperwork, payroll licensing, building upkeep, things of that nature. Of course with him guiding everything I do. My Uncle Marco and brother Enzo are in charge of the oil fields. My other brother, Luca is responsible for all of the farming end of our family business, dealing with crops and livestock. It suits him well though. My youngest brother Niccoló is still in highschool, but after football practice he comes to the shop to do all the mechanic work alongside my nonno.

His shop sits directly in the middle of a flat forty acres. On the three corners of the property three homes are located.

One corner contains my Uncle Marco, and the other two corners are occupied by my two  older brothers, Enzo and Luca's homes. Enzo lives on his own although I tease that he lives with a different woman every night. Needless to say, he's a complete man whore. My other brother, Luca, lives on the opposite corner of the property, caddy corner from Uncle Marco and Enzo with his wife Sadie. She's a horrible bitch if you ask me, but no one does. So I keep my opinion to myself.

Sweat ran down my legs, and despite my gratfuldead hat sweat ran into my eyes. As soon as the thought crossed my mind I pushed it away. I told myself no. "No water until you get at least halway through!" I told myself. I turned another corner.

I had decided (that's what I tell myself anyway) to stay with my family after school, help take care of them, and the family business. That's the way I was raised. Besides, being the only woman in the family I knew it was my responsibility to look after them. Well that, and to be honest I knew my nonno would never stand for anything different.

Niccoló was leaving next fall. He was going to go play college ball. He was moving to Oklahoma. I was happy for him I was, but at the same time envy burned through my body. This is why I chose to push mow today. Clear my head of these thoughts. I loved Niccoló. It wasn't right to feel resentful towards him.

I only had two large patches left. I had started off at a fast and furious pace but now that the day had worn on I pushed the mower with all I had. Punishing myself. But I loved it. I couldn't help myself from enjoying it even if the humidity was trying to smother me. I loved the feeling of endorphins flooding in rewarding my body for it's hard work.

I was just finishing up the large patch in front of Uncle Marco's bachelor pad and decided I was close enough to being through that a break was warranted.

I looked over to see Marco taking a seat on the cement step of his covered stoop. He smiled and waved, motioning for me to take a seat beside him. I returned the smile and took a seat at the bottom of his steps.

I looked at him in surprise. "Look at who is finally getting around to the day! Do you plan on doing any work today?"

Marco waved me off lazily. "I don't know what the rush is. I have all day. It's not like my work go anywhere, or someone will do it for me... Unless your offering?"

I smiled up at him. "Oh yes I would love that. Me out there with the 'rough necks', pulling wells, having them show me how." The thought made me roll with laughter.

Marco realized what I was saying. "Yeah Gia that's not going to happen."

"Well it was your suggestion." I pouted.

We sat in silence listening to car sounds on the highway. I closed my eyes and wished that I could be in one of those cars, speeding away from here, but no I knew I was needed.

"Do you think that it will ever happen?" I finally asked breaking the silence between us.

"What is that?" he asked snapping back into the moment.

"Oh, you know." I said still afraid to talk about the subject so tender to my heart.

"No actually, I don't know." Apparently he had gotten lost in our silence forgetting our previous conversation.

"You know. Will he ever let me have my own life?" There it was out there and out of my mouth exposed so he could know what's really been on my mind.

"This is your life." He stated as if I was talking some sort of crazy talk.

"No. No it's not!" I started to carry on frantically. "This is the life he is sticking me into! I am twenty years old! Niccoló has more of a life than I do and he's younger. I'm supposed to be an adult."

"Gianna just stop." He snapped angrily at me. But I just couldn't.

"I'm going to be an old spinstress with 20+ cats on my porch, chasing children with a broom, yelling for them to stay off the grass, and a vagina that has welded itself shut." I couldn't help myself. I'd never say this to anyone else, but I knew Marco wouldn't judge. He is the family whore after all he has to understand my plight.

His harden look softened a touch. "Look you belong with us. Who else is going to take care of us? Besides we are doing you a favor. Believe me when I tell you men only want one thing, and you are far too special to be used like that."

"But what if I only want that same one thing too?"

He stood up quickly. I could tell he was ready to bolt. He had spent too long wading in uncomfortable waters with me.

" on that note. I better be off to work." He looked at me and with a very serious warning he said, "and I would not ask your nonno any questions along these lines unless you want to be locked up at home for the rest of your life. If he even knew you were thinking these thoughts you could just kiss those little trips into town by yourself to the library goodbye." And with that he pulled out of the driveway in his truck.

I started the mower back up and finished making my rounds. I had just a few rounds left in my last patch by the entry way to the foyer of my nonno's business. When I looked back up I saw three black SUVs with a black Mercedes wedged in between them with smoke rolling from the hood making their way down our drive towards the massive shop.

I decided I should finish up my mowing before I started nosing into business matters. Nonno hates it when I do that. So I tried to crank the mowing up a notch trying to get it done fast so I could race to the shop to see what was going on.

Little did I know destiny had her own plans, and she's a bitch!