La Rosa Del Sur (The Rose of the south)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12
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We'd been driving for almost an hour now. The rain had persisted throughout but was now a light drizzle. I'd patched up a still unconscious Rafael to the best of my ability. I'd managed to stop the bleeding, but he still looked pale. His breathing was normal, but I kept an eye on his chest to be sure.

"Luca, how long until we're there?" I asked, my eyes still on Rafael.

"It won't be long now," Luca said, as his wipers swiped across the windshield. "Any moment."

I took Rafael's hand and squeezed it. I had never been so scared of losing someone. It had been different when Abuelo had died. He'd been far away and I hadn't watched him die. But Rafael, if he'd died today, I don't think I would've been able to go on.

"Here we are," Luca said, snapping me out of my thoughts. The car stopped and Luca came around to open the door.

I got out and pulled on Rafael's legs in an attempt to get him out. Once his legs were hanging out of the door, I hauled his arm up and over my shoulders. Luca grabbed his other arm, and together, we hoisted him up. Luca closed the door behind him and locked the car. Together, we hauled Rafael up the stairs of another mansion. It wasn't as big as Lorenzo's, but just as grand. When we reached the top, Luca leaned forward and banged on the door. We stayed there for a few moments. The rain picked up slightly, pouring down on our bodies. Luca banged on the door again.

"Mia!" He yelled at the door. "If you're home, please don't leave your brother out here in the rain!" There was another long pause. Then the giant door swung open.

There stood a woman, who looked not much older than me. She was short, with cropped silvery hair, grey eyes, and burgundy-colored lips. Under the strap of a black tank top she wore, I could see a small bunch of flowers tattooed on her chest. She looked fierce, despite her height, but her face broke into a grin.

"Who's this, you've killed this time brother?" She said, gesturing to Rafael in between us.

"What? No," Luca shook his head. "Look, Mia, this is Rafael. He's been injured and we need help."

Mia, I deduced was her name, looked at Rafael. Then her eyes traveled to me. "Who's she?" Mia asked.

"That's Roseina," Luca said, shifting his weight under Rafael's body. "Mia, please, there will be plenty of time to meet them once we're inside. Right now, I don't really want to stand here getting soaked."

Mia laughed. "I know, I just like tormenting you." She opened the door wider. "Come on in."

We stumbled through the door. There was a soft white light illuminating the entrance room. Like Lorenzo's home, there was a small staircase winding up to a balcony that overlooked the entrance. There was no statue in the middle, however, but a mound of marble with an iron plaque embedded in it.

"Is Ezekiel home?" Luca asked Mia, as she slammed the large door shut.

"Yes, one moment," Mia disappeared down a hall to the left. She reappeared a moment later with a very tall man sporting a mop of long, dirty blonde curls. She murmured something to him and he rushed forward.

"I can take him now, Signorina," The man said, lifting Rafael's arm off of my shoulders. Once the man had him secure, he, Rafael, and Luca disappeared behind a door.

I shivered slightly, now alone with Mia in the softly lit room. She looked me up and down. She then turned around and began walking down the hallway she had previously come from. When I didn't move, she stuck her head out to look at me.

"Well, don't just stand there shivering," Mia said, gesturing with her hand. "Come on, let's get you something to drink." She disappeared once more. I hesitated for a moment, then shuffled my way down the hall behind her.

We arrived in a kitchen. It wasn't too big, with a big woodfire stove in the corner, and many wooden cabinets lining the walls. Large utensils and wine glasses hung from the ceiling, along with mismatched pots and pans. There was an island in the center, which Mia crouched behind. When she popped back up, she held a glass bottle full of an amber liquid.

"Don't worry, it's just plain America brandy," Mia said, smiling. "Come on, it'll warm you right up." She unhooked two wine glasses from above and began pouring the liquid.

"Thank you," I took one of the glasses and sipped a little.

Mia took a large gulp of brandy and began to study me again. "So, what's your deal?" She asked. "You don't have a local accent. How are you involved with my brother?"

I took another sip before speaking. "I'm Roseina Maria Santiago. I live in the Bronx, New York, in the United States. My family, friends and I came here on vacation for my birthday." I sipped a bit more. "I met Luca in a club and he's been helping me find some answers concerning the death of my abuelo and my aunt."

"You're hispanic?" Mia raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, my brother and I were born in Mexico," I said, relaxing a bit.

"Your brother the unconscious one out there?"

I laughed a little. "Yes. We were retrieving something from my grandfather's bank account, and we were ambushed by a group of thugs. One of them shot Rafael. I patched him up the best I could on the drive here, but I'm no expert."

Mia waved a hand. "Don't worry about him. My husband, Ezekiel, is great with injuries. Your brother will be up and about in no time." She screwed the cap back onto the brandy bottle. "In the meantime, make yourself at home."

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Don't mention it," Mia smiled back. She crouched down to put the bottle away. When she came back up, Mia rested her elbows on the island and leaned closer to me. "So, my real question for you, Roseina, is: Are you on a business trip?"

I knew what she meant immediately. "In a way, yes. My original plans for Sicily were to hang out with my friends and family, and let my brother, our Don, deal with the business. But sometimes, other business can get in the way." I tucked a stray curl behind my ear. "It was really lucky I met your brother. My grandfather and aunt were killed last year, and I've been trying to find out what happened to them. Since meeting Luca, your uncle Lorenzo, and your father, my plans for vacationing have been pushed to the side."

"It is really lucky you met my brother," Mia nodded. "He has many connections."

"You know, he told me that, and I still haven't figured out how," I said, absently.

"Well, I mean since he's the Don of the Italian mafia, he has access to things like--"

"Hold on," I interrupted. "What did you say about Luca?" I wasn't sure I'd heard her correctly.

Mia looked confused. "That he's the Don of the Italian mafia?"

"Yeah, that," I nodded vigorously. "He never told me that."

"Well how long have you known him?" Mia asked.

Before I could answer there was a patter of footsteps in the hall. Luca stuck his head out from behind the door. He smiled and walked in.

"I thought I'd find you here," Luca said, putting his hands in his pockets and leaning against the door frame. "Hope you're not getting her too drunk, Mia."

I looked him straight in the face. "Why didn't you tell me you were the Don?" I asked. Luca's face fell. He looked a bit lost for words. I didn't wait for an answer and brushed past him towards the door. "Thank you for the brandy, Mia." I said, setting the glass down next to the sink. I opened the door and walked down the hall, picking up my pace with every step.

"Roseina!" I heard Luca call after me. I didn't look back and kept walking