Angel's Lie (Mafia)

Prologue- 10 Years Ago

Hmm, white or pink flats for my outfit today? I guess it doesn't matter, once daddy's gone I'm changing into my tennis shoes anyways.

"Miss. Acardi, breakfast will be ready in ten minutes." Our maid Sylvia says while walking into my room.

"Sylvia! Just the person I wanted to see."

"Well good morning to you too Angelica, my my my, you look gorgeous today."

"Thank you very much, I have a very important question."

"Do you now? I think I know what this question could be, but I'll let you continue."

"Is Grayson still coming today?"

Grayson is my best friend. His daddy Aldo and my daddy play poker on Friday nights after their meetings in the study. I've known Grayson since I was five years old. He's one of the very few kids that daddy's friends bring with them, and since daddy is leaving the house today with Aldo for a "very important meeting" Grayson is going to stay with me.

"Yes of course he is, but you must calm down. You can't run downstairs all excited. Make sure you still act a perfect princess, just until your dad leaves."

With a nod, we walk downstairs to the kitchen where daddy and my older brothers Carlo and Bruno are seated waiting for breakfast to be served. I kiss daddy on the cheek and sit in my spot while Sylvia prepares our plates.

Sylvia is like the mommy I never had. Mine died in a plane crash when I was one year old. Daddy doesn't like talking about her but Sylvia knew my mother well, so for every question I need an answer to I just ask her.

"Sylvia, I will be taking Carlo with me to my meeting today and I will be dropping Bruno off at school. Make sure you keep a good eye on Angelica and Grayson while I'm gone." Daddy tells Sylvia. He then turns and looks at me. "Angel, don't forget to be a perfect princess while Grayson is here. Remember your manners."

I always grew up different from Bruno and Carlo. Sylvia says daddy is "an old fashion man." whatever that means. I am expected to be on my best behavior whenever anyone is around. Daddy tells me in a few years I will be assisting Sylvia with her everyday duties to "prepare me". I am to always wear either skirts or dresses, always walk; never run, and always walk and sit with perfect posture. Sylvia tells me as I get older there will be more for me to learn but we have to start with the basics

I get jealous of Bruno and Carlo. They always get to go with daddy when he goes to the gym, they always do self-defense classes, and they even get to go to an actual school. I'm homeschooled by Sylvia, who doesn't expect me to act like a perfect princess when it's just us.

After Breakfast, I'm told to wait in the living room until Grayson gets here. I'm so excited I can hardly sit still. I haven't seen Grayson in almost a month. His dad took him to Italy to visit family, which they do every couple of months. When I hear the front door open I nearly jump out of my chair, but I must remember that daddy is still in the house. Sylvia walks in with Grayson, daddy, Carlo, Bruno, and Grayson's dad Aldo. I quickly stand while Grayson comes over and kisses my hand, something we've always done since we first met.

"Angel, be good. Your brothers and I will be back around dinner time." Daddy says as I kiss him on the cheek. Once they are gone I quickly jump on Grayson to give him a huge hug. That's why I enjoy having Grayson over. Other times when daddy has other friends over with kids I must act like a perfect princess around them. Grayson is the only one that likes to have fun.

"I've missed you, Angel!" He and daddy are the only ones that are allowed to call me that. "I've brought you something back from Italy."

Grayson pulls out a gold necklace with two angel wings attached to it. I stare at it in awe before he clips it around my neck.

"Now you're a true angel, Angel." we both laugh at his corny joke. "well go change into your tennis shoes and let's go play!"

I had the idea of Grayson teaching e self-defense. I know he goes to the same classes that Bruno and Carlo go to because they tell me how good he is after they come home. I've begged daddy to take me with them but he always denies it and tells me that it's not my place to learn self-defense. After Grayson taught me a few moves we have our first "real fight" but I know he would never purposely try to hurt me.

Our fight starts slow. Grayson tries to grab me to knock me down but I'm quick to push him away. After he finally grabs a hold of me I try to remember the tricks he taught me when it comes to escaping a hold. As I struggle to get loose I hear someone clear their throat behind us. I look up and see daddy and Aldo standing there with their arms crossed. uh-oh.

"Angelica Vera Acardi, what the hell do you think you are doing?" I've always noticed how thick his Italian accent gets whenever someone is upsetting him. I usually notice it when he is screaming at a poor soul on the end of the telephone.

I stand up abruptly with my hands while dusting the dirt off of my outfit. which consisted of a pair of shorts and one of Bruno's old shirts.

"I asked Grayson to teach me self defen-"

"I can see that. You know you can not act like that, have you gone insane!" Daddy's starting to yell at me now. He's never raised his voice at me before. "I really cannot have you acting out right now, with everything going on. say goodbye to Grayson and Aldo."

I hug Grayson and mumble a goodbye into his ear then I say goodbye to Aldo. when they are gone Daddy grabs my arm and rushes me to my bedroom. On our way, he calls over to Sylvia who had just rushed outside when the yelling began. He sits me on my bed while Sylvia stands in the doorway, by this time I have tears running down my face.

"I guess it is clear that I can't even trust my own housemaid to watch over my daughter while I'm gone." Daddy looks over to Sylvia who stands by the doorway with her head down. "Sylvia I cannot blame you for all of this."

Sylvia goes to say something but Daddy shoots her a glare.

"I would've thought that my daughter, the perfect princess that I thought I raised could behave for once, but I was wrong. Don't think I've never seen you act like this before Angelica. Always remember one thing, I have eyes everywhere. When you refuse to sit down to do school work, cry about eating your vegetables, and play with Bruno and Carlo as if I had three sons instead of two. I see it all." He takes a deep breath and for the first time, he looks at me. I look back at him with tearful eyes hoping it'll make whatever punishment coming my way a little less harsh. "I have been thinking about doing this for a long time, and what I've witnessed today with my own two eyes, I am confident I am making the right decision." I watch daddy with curiosity in my eyes. He takes a deep breath and pinches his nose. Something he does when he's stress.

"I am sending you to your grandparent's house in California. As you know they raised my sisters with proper etiquette so I will have no worries about you." He stands in front of me and looks me in the eye. "Angel I love you with all my heart and I know this will be the best option for you."

He's sending me to live with my grandparents? I see them once a year for Christmas and they are always so mean-looking.

"Sylvia I'm going to my study to make a call to my parents, please help Angelica start packing."

Daddy leaves me with a kiss on the forehead and an "I love you" before going to his study. Once he's gone I run into Sylvia's arms and cry. She assures me she will try to change his mind but even I know that nearly impossible.

Sylvia helps me pack within the next few days. I begged Sylvia to let me see Grayson before I leave. She said she would try but on the day I left she came into my room with a sad look on her face. . She tells me that Grayson will not be joining us due to him and his father going to France for a job. I cried all morning.

Sylvia tries to explain that daddy is doing what's best for me but as I say goodbye to Carlo and Bruno I think about how that's not true at all. Shipping me halfway across the country is what's best for me? Daddy stood by the car door waiting for me to enter. When I look up at him I notice how tired he looks. I want to be mad at him. I want to get in the car right now without a single word to him but I can't help but think about how I'll be away from him. I can't help but think how his perfect princess disappointed him.