The Mafia Rose

Chapter 25

Rachael's POV

We had all left the hospital apart from Sofia. She was still blaming herself for not going to check on Rita straight after I told her to, even when the doctor diagnosed it as just exhaustion everyone including Luca calmed down and went home to rest but not Sofia, she stayed at the hospital waiting for Rita to wake up.

I was the first to wake up that morning and was sitting in the kitchen before everyone else woke up. I indulged in these moments of quiet blissfulness knowing at any moment all hell would break loose but instead of being disturbed by a housefull of men Sofia was ringing my mobile.

"Hey sweetie any news?"

"Yeah she just woke up, Angelo is here I left him and nonna talking. Can you get someone to come and pick me up?"

"I'll send Ivan or one of your brothers over once their up."

We ended the conversation but all I could think of was Rita and Angelo, she's probably strangling him with one of the wires connected to her.

" Buongiorno mama, how are you this fine morning? Has Nonna woken up yet?"

Gio was the first to wake up, he planted a kiss on my cheek before sitting down to drink his morning coffee.

"Sofia rang just a minute ago to say she had woken up and your sister needs picking up from the hospital."

He looked up from his coffee shaking his head. "I can't sorry mama, I have plans this morning."

Of course he did and I think I know what them plans are. "These plans wouldn't concern and certain Anastasia would they?" He spat his coffee across the table, he started to cough uncontrollably.

"I don't know what your talking about."

"Gio you can't lie to save your life and I'm your mama I see and notice everything." His face started to turn red he was so guilty. "Okay you got me but you have to promise me not to tell anyone and I mean it mama not even papa." I was just so happy Gio had finally found someone he loved. I got up to hug him, "you don't know how happy you have made me."

Dom then came waltzing into the kitchen. "What's going on?" Gio was still startled from me knowing about his love life, I don't know why or how he thought he would ever be able to keep it from me.

"Nothing. Am I not allowed to hug my son's now?" I winked at Gio and went to sit back down.
"Not when you don't show the same affection to both of them." They had always been jealous of one another, always trying to out do each other.

"Well if you want affection off of me you can go and pick your sister up from the hospital, nonna has woken up so she wants to come and get freshened up."

"Mama it's so early, why can't he do it or Ivan, he loves spending time with her." I heard foot steps scuff on the floor behind me and a very loud grown and yawn.

"What can I do?"

Ivan thumped down on the chair beside me. "One of you is going to have to pick Sofia up from the hospital, now I don't care who it is but one is going to go and get her." Both Gio and Dom looked at Ivan, "I'll go and get dressed then." As Ivan left Luca walked in the kitchen, he gave me a very passionate kiss before grabbing his breakfast. The boys looked in disgust, I knew Luca did it on purpose just to wind them up. "Doing things like that should be considered child cruelty." I laughed at Gio's words. "Your not a child anyone."

"Maybe not age wise but you always say that I will always be your baby so that makes me a child." Luca came a sat down next to me with his breakfast, "so any news yet?"

"She was woken up and Ivan has just gone to pick up Sofia."

"So who's staying with mama then?" What I was going to say next is probably going to worry him as much as it did me. "Angelo is sitting with her." He dropped his fork and I could see his jaw clenching. "I think I had better go to the hospital."
The boys both looked at each other confused, "why? She'll be fine with Angelo." If only they knew the story.
Yes she'll be fine with him and Angelo was only a young boy himself when the war between the two families happened but it was the grudge Rita held against the family that was the issue.

"Nonna will probably be wanting to get home and it should be me who gets her discharge papers and stuff..."
I could tell Luca couldn't think of another reason why he should go but the boys seemed to buy it. Luca got up and left the table, a few minutes later Ivan reappeared. "Shouldn't you be getting Sofia?"

"No Luca said he would pick her up, he's now going to the hospital to sort Rita out."

I left the boys eating in the kitchen and went to get dressed. I would sometimes think of how my life would have turned out if I had never of met Luca.
Would I be married? Have kids? Maybe be less stressed? I don't know but what I do know is my three years of being married to Ben were lifeless and boring compared to how my life is again. I could never imagine being apart from Luca again and nothing could ever tear us apart.

Pietro's POV

It had been two days since poor precious Rita had come into the hospital, two days of keeping a low profile so nobody noticed me. I sat from a far waiting for my moment to get my revenge but my target was never alone.
My one chance was taken when the stupid old women decided to collapse, I could smell the sweet smell of Sofia's hair that night in the garden.

She was so close.

Papa was getting more and more aggravated that job hadn't been done yet. The frequent phone calls always ended in arguments.
After sitting in a hospital for two days my patience was starting to wear thin, I needed to get her on her own.

"Sir, you've been in here on and off for two days now with out visiting anyone. Now I'm not here to judge you but why are you here? "

She's not the first nurse to ask me that very question and she will get the same answer as all the others.

"I'm just the extra security for the Bianchi family."

As soon as you mention Bianchi you was left alone. I watched the nurse as she left only this time whilst she was talking to me I didn't notice Luca walk in. He only had two men on the door to Rita's room, I knew this but I didn't think a naive nurse would see this. She stood talking to Luca and a very tired looking Sofia. Then the unspeakable happens.

She points in the direction of where I was sitting. I needed to get out of here a fast, Luca would recognise me straight away. I push my way into a crowd of people and made my way to the exit, hopefully going undetected.

I had come this far now I couldn't risk any mistakes.