The Italian Mafia

Chapter 13

"Emma!" Nina nearly yelled as she entered my room. Without knocking, might I add.

"Yes, Nina?" I asked and sat up in my bed. It seemed to be four in the morning. She was still in her casino clothes. She had probably just gotten off work.

"I'm amazed. You two. You looked like a real couple. What the hell?" I shook my head. Did she have to wake me up for this?

"Well that's sort of the whole idea, you know."

"Don't get cocky with me," she said and lifted her finger. She closed the door behind her and sat down on my bed.

"Tell me everything. I mean, how does it feel like? Isn't it weird? He's so... I mean it's him. And why did you mysteriously leave all of a sudden?"

"Okay, Nina, you need to slow down now. It's four in the morning, for God's sake. We left because this man was pissing Ambrogio off, and he seemed to compromise the whole acting thing. Oh, my God, Nina. I made out with him," I rushed to say just as I remembered it. I had forgotten about that in my sleep. Nina's eyes were completely wide.

"Why? Voluntarily or because of the act?"

I went on to tell her everything.

"Ew what a pig! How could he lay his hands on you like that? I'm glad Ambrogio was there."

"Yeah, me too I guess. It's just so strange for me. When he's there, I'm scared of him, but when he isn't there, I'm scared of everyone else. He keeps me safe and I'm aware of that, but he could also... you know... Make sure I wasn't safe." Nina tilted her head slightly.

"Yes, I think I understand. Though, does he have a reason to hurt you?"

"No, I've played along and I intend to continue that, but I also want to get away from here and from him."

"You're torn?" She asked me low. I nodded.

"Well, I'm sorry to be frank, but you don't really have a choice, do you?" I looked at her.

"No, I guess not. Too much is on the line for everyone around me. Hell, even you!" She chuckled and stroked my arm.

"Everything will be okay. This whole thing will get easier eventually. And you know he wants to cut your so-called relationship short. He is risking a lot too. Things that he can't risk." I knew that. I knew that it wouldn't be long until he officially broke up with me. I believed he was waiting for the cops to let go of the case, so they wouldn't try to hunt me down afterwards. They wouldn't find me since I would be kept here. Hidden from everyone and everything. My life would consist of this house and this house alone. I was never going to get out from this house. From these men. I was doomed.

"Nina?" She looked at me and nodded. "Do you ever think about your life? How it's only going to consist of you cleaning this house? For the next many years you will only be here. We won't get married, have kids or even see the world. We will only be... Here," I said and felt myself starting to cry.

"Uhm, I don't know. I guess I think about it sometimes, but you shouldn't since you'll get too sad. If you just live day by day things will get easier."

"But it feels like I'm being kept captive."

"Well, you are. But we both need to search for the best. Emma, you really can't think all of those thoughts. You will go insane."

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life here." Nina shushed me.

"Emma, we will see the world after we are free. I promise you that. We will live the life we never got to live."