by Anna Widzisz
"Don't do that ever again, Hunter, because there's much more where that came from," he grunted, taking a cloth in his hands and wiped the blood off. As much as possible. There were still red spots that wouldn’t come off completely unless he showered.
Taking a good look at the man sitting on the chair in the middle of the diner, he smirked. It was his own fault for how hard Elio treated him. It always depended on his mood, but today it was all on Hunter. Seeing Savannah was like the nail in his coffin. So he could be glad that death wasn't his fate for now. The old fucker was making money that Gastone fucking needed so having to deal with someone else wasn't ideal. They couldn't be certain that another person would be as good.
As he opened the door he said, "And I meant dragging Savannah into this as well."
He left, smiling all the time. Until he spotted a familiar figure, pacing back and forth right beside his car. He rolled his eyes, cursing out the stubbornness of the girl. Savannah really didn't know when to let go.
Foolish little bitch.
When she saw him coming her way, dread settled in her eyes. However, this time it wasn't fear of him, but rather of what he had done with the owner. She saw his red hands, not being able to differentiate the blood on his clothes. In the dim light and with black material it wasn't visible. But his hands were enough to make her breathe so fast and deep that Elio could picture her losing her shit right in front of him.
"I told you to go home. Which word wasn't fucking clear?" he murmured, stopping right at her side. He leaned in a little bit as the girl was barely reaching his chest. Granted he was over six feet tall and Savannah couldn't have more than five foot two. Elio liked that. She looked even more vulnerable when he towered over her.
She swallowed her fears and looked at him. Revealing her tantalizing bright-blue ocean eyes that were filled with tears. Elio wondered how the fuck he hadn't noticed such unique eye color the first time they’d met. It was hard to miss, so why had he?
His smile faded. He was half-certain that as soon as she left the diner she would call the cops. Not that it would do shit but still. Being as worried as she was, he wouldn't put it past her. "Go home, Savannah," he repeated. "Your poor excuse of a boss is still alive."
She sighed out and moved towards the diner doors at once. As Elio realized that she wanted to help the man, he grabbed her arm pulling her back. She faced him once again. Fear of him returned to her expression. Whether he simply didn't want her to see the state Hunter was in or preferred the man to handle his shit himself, he didn't know. But either way, Savannah wouldn't walk into that place until her next shit started
He regarded her. "With all that fear towards me, I'd imagine that you'd fucking listen to me. Yet here you're fighting me on whether Hunter needs help or not. Go home, Savannah," he pressed, sounding almost like a broken fucking record. He wasn't used to repeating himself. Not to men, let alone to women. So to see that someone cared more about others than themselves was fucking refreshing. Just as much as it was annoying. And with Elio’s unhinged behavior, this situation could evolve pretty quickly into something disastrous.
The girl knew she wouldn't win because Elio wouldn't leave until she did. She looked at the diner and with a sigh started making her way home.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he shouted when she’d already left the parking space.
She turned around, confused. Wasn't she supposed to go home? Was Elio bipolar or something? "I'm going home."
"Walking?" he asked.
"Yes. I don't have a car and the last bus left half an hour ago," she explained. Besides, she didn't mind walking. She needed time to clear her head after everything that happened in the last three days.
Elio shook his head and opened the passenger door to his car. "Get in. I will give you a ride."
No.
There was no way that she would get into the car with a Made Man. Especially the one who had just beat up her boss. Being alone with him was scary enough. Adding a small and closed space would give her a heart attack. Not to mention that she didn't want him to see her place. Know the address.
The man laughed bitterly. "I don't need to drive you to find out where you live. Believe me, Savannah."
Alright. Was he reading her mind or did she say it out loud again?
But even if she voiced out her concerns, being so far from him, he shouldn't be able to hear it. Maybe he simply was perceptive.
She shook her head. "I'm fine walking. Thanks," she said loudly, waving at him. That she was still able to act somewhat normal around him was really surprising. She once again started walking.
Not for long because in the next few seconds Elio appeared right in front of her. Confusion filled her expression. She didn't even hear him approach her, let alone that he made such distance in a spare of seconds. He looked annoyed, his eyes darkened and his hands clenched into fists.
"I don't know if you made it your mission to piss me off to the point of no return, or if you're just that stupid." He took her bag from her arm. “Turn the fuck around and stop fighting me on this. You're not fucking walking home. It's almost one in the night, Savannah. Las Vegas isn't the safest city on the best of days. Let alone in the middle of the fucking night."
He would know. Being one of those dangers lurking in the shadows.
Seeing that he was serious, she did what he ordered. Trying to convince herself that she was doing it for her brother, Aiden. He’d been with his babysitter longer than predicted. To get to him quicker was a plus.
Hesitantly, she got into the passenger seat. Her heart was beating so hard that she believed it would jump out. It could easily be called the most stupid thing she’d ever done. To be in a car with a mafioso should be a sin. Just like their job was bound to get them to hell one of those days. No redemption.
Elio opened up the trunk, making her even more nervous. She kept on looking in the side mirror to see if he planned on killing her; taking out a gun or something as she couldn't see any on him before. Surprisingly.
But as she saw the man taking his shirt off, she knew that her previous thinking wasn't the one she was supposed to have. Was rape an option too? Is that another worry that she had to deal with? Her hands were trembling uncontrollably. Her primary instincts were screaming at her to run.
However, she wasn’t brave enough to take her chance on getting away from him. Because the outcome would be only one. He would catch her and get even more rattled, taking his anger out on her. It was always the case with her father. The crying, the pain and begging was the worst thing she could do then as it is now.
She looked again. The man was half-way hidden so that she could only see one of his arms. And at that moment curiosity took over completely as she turned around, meeting Elio's eyes. He was putting on a white dress shirt, buttoning it. When their eyes met, he smirked, knowing that Savannah's mind was traveling a hundred miles per second as to what he was doing and why. When in fact he was simply changing clothes to more formal.
“I don't want to cover my car with blood. It's hard to wash off,” he explained.
His words were meant to calm her down, but they had the exact opposite effect. She realized that the man must have had Hunter's blood all over his clothes which she didn't see before.
Her eyes rested upon the diner, trying to hide her red cheeks and the embarrassment that filled her. Hunter still hadn't left the place. Was he even able to move? Should she call for an ambulance? Would Elio even let her do that?
She sighed, deciding that as soon as she was going to be home she would make a call. First to her boss to be certain whether he needed help or not. Calling the police wasn't an option. She knew that the second he told her straight that he was a part of the mafia. Cops wouldn't care as soon as they would hear his name. Probably. Or maybe they would for a while. Until his buddies would take care of it and sweep the whole thing under the rug. And then she would be the one in trouble.
Elio got into the car, at last, starting the engine. He was dressed
now in black slacks and a shirt, looking dashing. He was acting as if nothing has ever happened and it unsettled the girl even more.
Dear mother of dragons, she was in trouble just by being in Elio's company.
Chapter Five
This might have been the worst decision Savannah has ever made.
Scratch that.
It most certainly was the worst one. And while trying to bring up a small kid, you could be sure that she made quite a lot of them. It was always trial and error. But getting into Elio's car was something she should have refused. Made Man or not, being reckless was never her strong suit. She always tried her best to be responsible and by letting Elio know her address she was allowing him into her world. Her brother's world.
But what other choice did she have? Her initial plan to walk home was ridiculous since she had over five miles to go. It would take her an eternity unless she ran, and even though she was fit, it was her last wish after twelve hours of work. Legs were killing her after going back and forth between tables and the kitchen. Today was one of those excruciatingly long days that ended in the worst way possible. However, she couldn't leave and just ignore that Hunter was inside the diner with Elio. She had to wait and make sure that her fears were far-fetched.
Well, he didn't kill her boss so that should probably be considered a win in this situation. But even if he had, what could she do? There was close to nothing when it came to her alternatives. Going against the mafia wasn't an option. She cared about others, but Aiden was her family and she wouldn’t jeopardize his safety for anyone else. If that made her selfish, then so be it. He was hers and even though she wasn't his mother, he sometimes acted as if she were. Maybe that's because he didn't really remember their real mother, or maybe he just preferred to think otherwise. Whatever the reason family was family. Especially if you're the only two left.
After a while, they arrived at their destination - a cheap-looking set of apartments spread on two open floors. It really looked like one of the worst motels. It was one of those seedy places men with beer guts went to bang other men's wives with promises they couldn't afford to keep. Where the hookers brought their johns. Weeds grew through the cracks in the concrete path and the litter from cheap take-out meals were strewn across it. There were external metal stairs that lead to a second floor, the second row of doors, that looked like the building inspector was either bribed to pass it or drunk on the job. At least two screaming matches going on in separate rooms, and the cars in the lot wouldn't have been out of place in a wrecker's yard.
But this was all Savannah could afford right now. She paid a lot for Aiden's preschool because she wanted him to get the education that he needed. That half of her earnings were spent on it didn't matter. She never had the possibility to develop her skills and intelligence herself, and to compensate for it, she focused on giving her brother the best.
She looked at Elio who was staring at the building with disgust. A rich boy like him could never understand the concept of money. It was just a taken for granted addition to his thrilling, over the top life, while for Savannah it was what kept her life a little better than that of all those homeless people, searching for food in dumpsters and begging for everything.
She was done begging for anything. It never worked with her father to stop abusing her, and it didn't work when she tried to stop her mother from leaving.
She quickly shook off those memories.
"Thanks," she whispered and opened the door. She didn't want to hear any bad things about this place. She knew everything that was wrong with it, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. And telling him about her situation wasn't an option. Pity was the worst kind of expression and she saw it way too often on people's faces. However, she seriously doubted Elio was even capable of such feelings. He didn't show any to Hunter.
"Why do you live here? Hunter must pay you better than this," he said turning Savannah's suspicions into reality.
She shrugged and got out, closing the doors quickly. She could hear Elio getting out of the car, but she wasn't brave enough to look at him. Instead, she pulled out a paper bag full of leftover food from the diner and came up to the old man sitting on a chair by his apartment doors.
His name was Frank. He was an eighty-year-old war veteran who in a matter of months lost his leg, wife, and house. Drowning in debts, he couldn't afford to live anywhere else. Savannah took care of him the best she could. Since he could barely walk, she brought him food if there was any, did his shopping, and sometimes even kept him company if she had time. He was a sweet man; wise and respectful. And for Savannah, he was almost like a grandfather. He even waited for her to come back home each time she had a late shift; making sure that she was alright.
Savannah smiled at the man, coming closer. However, his eyes were on the person behind her. It was weird since she had never hung out with anyone, let alone let someone drive her. And one look at Elio and you could see that he was trouble.
"Hi, Frank. You shouldn't have waited for me," she said, trying to shift his attention to her. Away from the possibility of Frank asking uncomfortable questions that she couldn't answer.
"I always wait. That's not going to change no matter how late you're going to come," he explained, bestowing the warmest smile upon her. "I guess I know the answer to why you were late," he added quieter.
Savannah shook her head, knowing what he must have been thinking. "It's not like that. I had a late closing hour today and I didn't catch the last bus."
The man didn't look convinced but nodded, ending the topic. He sent a curious look Elio's way, then took the bag from the girl's hand. "Thank you for that."
"You're very welcome. It's probably already cold so you will have to put it in a microwave or something."
Then she waved at the man and moved towards the stairs to the second floor. She could feel Elio's eyes on her still. Why hadn't he left yet? She really didn't want him to know which apartment was hers. However, it seemed like the man wouldn't leave until she was inside. With a long sigh, she stopped at the right doors. Fumbling with the key, she opened them, going inside.
She greeted her nanny, Kate, thanking her for staying longer. Thankfully the girl was only eighteen and didn't mind late hours. She needed money too and liked Aiden so it wasn't torture for her anyway.
"I have an early shift tomorrow so you don't have to come," Savannah said. It was a lie. She was supposed to work in the afternoon but considering what happened today, Hunter would need all kinds of help in the morning. She was the only one who knew about all of it, so she felt responsible. And she counted on someone taking her later shift so that she could spend some time with Aiden at last.
Kate nodded. "Sure, in that case, I will see you the day after tomorrow. Aiden is in bed but couldn't fall asleep until you got here."
"That's alright. I will take care of it. Have a good day tomorrow."
They said their goodbyes and Kate walked out. As Savannah was about to close the doors, she saw that Elio was still there. In his car, but still in the parking lot. As if he were waiting for something. Or someone. She didn't even want to know the answer because whatever went through her head scared her. She shut the doors.
Soft footsteps sounded behind her. She turned around meeting a pair of big black sleepy eyes. Aiden was standing there in his Spider-Man pajamas. His dirty-blond hair was ragged and he messed even more with the longer strands at the front that were bothering him. Savannah didn't have time to cut it yet.
"You should be sleeping, buddy.”
He shrugged, playing with the hem of his t-shirt. He looked sleepy but kept on looking at his sister with an accusing gaze. He wanted her to be home earlier. Expected it. So he must have got scared when the time came and Savannah still wasn’t there.
Then the boy came a few steps closer and Savannah as always realized how awfully similar he was to their father. His hair was practically the exact color, along with eyes. Not to mention the disposition to keep to himself. It was scary to think tha
t one wrong move and he could end up like the man who had never really been much of a parent to either of them.
Aiden rarely talked. A few occasional words when he really needed to. Not even Savannah heard his voice a lot. It was hard enough to raise a kid while being barely-of-age, let alone a boy who didn't feel like words were important in his world. But she had to manage. After five years, she’d got a hang of things and mostly knew what Aiden wanted. And if not, he was pretty smart for his age and could handle himself to some extent.
Savannah picked him up which had become quite hard since he was five already. She took him to his room, throwing him into bed just as he liked. Squealing, he got under the covers, waiting for his sister to read him a story.
"I'm sorry buddy. I will try to pick up more morning shifts."
That was probably the best idea since Elio clearly preferred nights and even if he were to come in a month again, she wanted to distance herself as much as possible from the man right now. It was enough mafia experience for her to last her a lifetime.
The boy nodded, regarding his sister. He got closer, cuddling into her. Even without speaking much, he still seemed to need closeness from time to time. Especially when he had so obviously been scared not to see Savannah on time after her shift ended. She picked up a book from the nightstand. It was Harry Potter since surprisingly Aiden preferred more ambitious literature. And it might not have been the wisest choice on Savannah’s part to keep him engaged in it from such a young age, but as long as it occupied his mind and made him happy, she didn’t mind.
