The Spark

When In Rome

I was startled awake by the blaring TV downstairs. Angelo and I's TV never passes 15 on the volume, so I knew it wasn't him. It had to be one of my other siblings because they for some reason were deaf when it came to television. I looked at my clock and saw it was 8 in the morning. I had no reason to be up right now and Angelo woke up at 9. I stormed downstairs and I finally heard the TV. "Roman Marchetti, hotel and casino giant Nicholas and Angelina Marchetti's youngest son, is up to no good. The dark prince of hearts may be off the guillotine. A recent lover has spoken out on social media today and said some nasty things about the tattooed panty dropper, more tonight at 7." The reporter said and the TV went silent. I sat there stunned at the screen confused. Before I could finish stepping into the living room a command rang through the rafters. "Sit down Roman." I jumped at the sound of my brother's voice.

"I-"

"Sit the fuck down Roman!" Bobby yelled at me.

"It's best you listen to him Roman," Angelo said pouring him and Gianni coffee.

"Where did you get back?" I sat down in my chair. I've hung out with my brothers before and they've been mad at me before, but this felt different. Bobby was fuming and I have never seen him like this. I have never heard him yell at anyone like this, let alone of us. Angelo was avoiding eye contact and I could see he was pissed too. Gianni on the other hand was just sitting there as still as a statue. He was a hard ass, but never outwardly expressed anger towards anyone from what I've seen, so I sat here more uneasy about Bobby than the rest. "Who is Mia and why is she posting," Gianni asked in a flat tone.

"I can answer that. Mia is a young woman whom Roman met on a night out. Roman and Mia had entered into a verbal agreement to maintain a strictly sexual relationship. That was a couple of months ago. Since then they have had sex countless times and Roman always returns promptly after only to ignore any attempts of contact that do not pertain to him getting the sexual gratification he needs." Angelo finished making his coffee how he liked and took a sip.

"Would you like to read the countless articles, news reports, think pieces, and posts that have gone out about you in the last hour alone?" Gianni asked.

"I don't know what I did." I looked between them.

"Let me show you what I was greeted to this morning seconds before boarding my flight. I'll read it to you." Bobby came and sat across from me. I automatically scooted back to avoid being in arms reach as much as possible. "On March 13 met the infamous Roman Marchetti at a party. I thought he was charming and even more attractive in person. If I had known what I know now, I would have never gone to bed that night. Since then we have engaged in a sexual relationship regularly. I have heard the rumors about Roman, but I couldn't believe them when I was with him. He was so sweet and tender with me and promised me the world. He told me he loved me and that I was the woman he saw himself with. In April I told him I was pregnant and he strongly suggested that I get an abortion because we hadn't known each other that long and I did. He tended to me, but after that he became different. He became aggressive, nasty, and verbally abusive towards me. Once again I fell pregnant and he destroyed my home and forced me to get a second one. He called me a whore, easy, delusional, slut, and cut all contact. He told me I was nothing to him but someone to have sex with and it hurt. I wanted to come out with my story so he can't get away with this kind of treatment anymore. Please respect my privacy at this time and if you'd like to help I have a link to my go fundme below." Bobby finished and was vibrating with rage. "Now you are reckless and so self-absorbed you do not fully understand women are fucking people, so now what is true. For your sake, I hope there are more lives than facts in this." He spoke slowly striking fear in me.

"Roman, tell us everything. We can only help if we know everything."

"Does mom know?" I asked.

"Oh, Mom and Dad know. They both think you are sleeping and waiting for us to bring you home, so this is the part where you let us know if we can protect you from Dad or take care of you after he's torn you a new one. Which is the truth and which is the lies." I nodded and it felt like my chest was starting to tighten up. I couldn't breathe. I stood up and started pacing around the room counting as my mom had taught me as a kid. "Roman, come here," Gianni called me. I walked over to him. "Head between your knees." He spoke calmly. He rubbed my back trying to calm me down. "Did you promise to love her?"