Well, I'm still on the fence.
He's tried numerous times to talk to me and invite me to confession, but I'd declined each time. There's something entirely too fishy about the man. It's in the way his eyes move around the room, as if he's cataloguing everyone. His gaze is more that of a predator than a man of God.
But while my instinct tells me not to trust him, the fact that he hasn't been outwardly nasty to me like others before him has earned him the benefit of the doubt. I may not like him, but that doesn't mean I will be rude.
It all comes crashing down one late afternoon when Claudia goes missing. Lina and I both split to look for her around, but it's like she's simply vanished.
After looking everywhere, I return to our room to find Claudia huddled in her bed, her eyes red from crying.
"Claudia?" I gasp, going to her side at once. "What happened?" I take her in my arms, hugging her to my chest.
She's sobbing uncontrollably, and I do my best to calm her down.
"Did someone bully you again? You promised you'd tell me," I say gently.
She shakes her head, burying her face deeper in my chest.
I just hold her, letting her cry until her tears dry out. But when she starts talking... I feel like my entire world is being shaken.
"Father Guerra," she starts, her voice strained, "he touched..." she trails off, swallowing deeply before raising her eyes to look at me. "Mamma caught him..."
Her eyes tell me everything I need to know, and the reason why Lina is not back yet.
My hands ball into fists at the thought of that man raising a hand against Claudia. I just hope Lina's ok too...
While waiting for Lina, I do my best to calm Claudia down, once again assuring that she's done nothing wrong.
A while later, Lina slowly opens the door, sneaking her head inside.
"Lina?" I ask, my brows furrowing when I see her pale features and her eyes full of fear.
"Can you come out for a second? And bring me a dress." I frown, but comply.
I leave Claudia on the bed and I quickly rummage for a dress. Exiting the room, I'm greeted by a sight I never thought I'd see.
"What is going on?" I ask as my eyes rove over her bloodstained clothes.
Is she hurt?
"Something bad happened. Like terrible," she gives me a slight smile, her entire body trembling.
"Lina... you're scaring me."
"Did Claudia tell you anything?"
"No... she only mentioned you were with Father Guerra." I don't say that I gathered what must have happened. Instead I just wait for her to tell me.
"He was touching her..." Her voice comes out on a whisper as she breaks down, her entire body convulsing with sobs.
'What do you mean?" I ask, holding my breath.
"He was touching her under her clothes..."
"No!" My hand goes to my mouth. I'd imagined something bad must have happened, but I would have thought Father Guerra hit her or punished her... not this. "Where is he? What happened?" I continue, my mind already working on a plan. That scourge needs to pay for this.
"I... I killed him," Lina says in a small voice, and I still.
"You're kidding," I look at her for any sign that this is a joke. But it's not.
"No... I really killed him. I didn't mean it to but..."
She starts telling me all the particularities and I listen attentively. She is already in shock, so I know I must tread carefully. Still, I would have never expected this of Lina. She'd struck at Father Guerra in self-defense, and the knife she'd used had caused him to bleed out and die. In her shocked state, she'd tried to hide the body by placing it in the confessional booth. The more she's talking, the more I'm shuddering, thinking what a close call this had been — for both her and Claudia. But I'm proud of her for defending herself and her daughter.
"We need to do something about that," I start, steering the discussion towards a more logical course of action.
"You... I killed a man." She looks at me in confusion. I don't want to tell her I have some experience dealing with murder, so I just react as naturally as I can.
"Yes, and I would have killed him, too. That wastrel! Now, about the confessional booth," I say, thinking how to best get rid of Father Guerra's body. Since she's stuffed him in the confessional booth, we need to act fast before someone finds him.
"That's why I came back. I can't do it alone. I know this is too much to ask but..."
"No buts!" I immediately interject. "Come on, dress, and we'll figure it out."
I leave her to talk to Claudia while I try to think of a way to get rid of the body. In my case, it had been rather easy since the coffin had been right next to us. But this... we'd have to transport Father Guerra somehow and bury him in the cemetery. It's the only way.
When Lina comes back, I tell her my idea, as well as the fact that we could use her empty suitcase to transport the body. It might get a little messy, but at this point it's our best shot.
"Sisi, are you sure you want to do this? It's my fault... I can just tell them what happened," Lina stops to ask me when we're closer to the church.
"And who'd believe you? You already said he's from a prominent family. They probably have enough influence to make sure you get blamed for everything. Think about Claudia. What would happen to her without her mother?" While I'd been perfectly fine with going to prison, since I wouldn't be leaving anything behind, it's completely different for Lina. She has Claudia and I would do whatever it is necessary to make sure mother and daughter are not separated.
Including, should the time come, take the blame myself.
We discuss the circumstances more in depth, realizing that Father Guerra's opportunity to get Claudia alone might not have been a fluke. Usually, Lina and I take turns watching Claudia, but since Mother Superior had been adamant about increasing my workload even more, I'd had less and less time to spend with them.
I don't want to think that anyone, not even Mother Superior, would sanction such an action, but knowing what I know about the woman and her hate towards us, it's entirely too possible.
When we reach the church, Lina shows me where she'd stuffed Father Guerra. Opening the door to the confessional, I see his puny body drenched in blood, and I feel a small degree of satisfaction at knowing he can't harm anyone anymore.
He should have suffered more.
Forcing myself to focus, I assess the situation and comment. "He's too big."
"We just need to fold him a little." Lina says, and I try to visualize how it could fit.
"How about we try a fetal position?" I suggest, going around the suitcase and finding the best position to lay him in.
"Let's try," Lina agrees, and we start stuffing his body in the suitcase, folding his limbs in different positions until we manage to get all of him inside. Then, pressing on the flap of the suitcase, we try our best to close the zippers and lock the luggage.
"Damn," I breathe out, a little tired from the exertion.
The journey to the cemetery is rather easy since the wheels of the luggage make it easy to carry it. The hard part will be digging a hole so we can bury it.
Since I'm extremely familiar with the cemetery, I know the exact stop that should pass undetected. This specific parcel is unmarked and situated under the shade of the tree, which should mask the freshly turned earth.
Going in the back to procure some shovels, both Lina and I start digging.
"Honestly, this wasn't that bad," I comment when we've finished digging. "I think I'd rather dig up graves than wash dishes. Do you think I can apply for the position?" I say half-joking. Honestly, I wouldn't mind it that much. Dead people can't hurt you. The living, however,...
"Sisi..." Lina starts laughing. "You really want to trade dishes for graves?"
"It's still work." I shrug, but my lip is twitching.
Days pass and we try to put the Father Guerra incident out of our minds, convinced that the worst has passed.
We were wrong.
&n
bsp; And we get to find that out the worst possible way. By coming face to face with Father Guerra's rotting body on display in the convent's graph. All the nuns are kneeling in a prayer to be delivered from evil, some fainting at the sight, and odor of the desecrated body.
Lina, on the other hand, is horrified. Because whoever's done this must know she killed Father Guerra. In fact, a massage written in blood confirms it.
We don't linger outside more than we have to, and once we're back to the room, Lina starts talking.
"They know... and they're coming for me," she says, terrified. She proceeds to recount that both our families are in fact deeply involved with the mob. I listen in shock as she tells me about the five families and how they are all involved in illegal businesses, a fact which makes them extremely dangerous.
"I may have limited knowledge about the mob," she takes a deep breath, "but I know most live by one principle—retribution. His family will want justice for what I've done to him."
I don't speak for a long time. Mostly because I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around everything.
That means Valentino... and now Marcello are mafia bosses.
"I need to call Enzo, tell him everything," Lina says suddenly, getting up and taking out her phone.
While she's talking to her brother, I take a moment to digest everything she's just told me.
It's in my veins... this evil.
Lina ends up leaving with her brother, her safety and that of Claudia being of utmost importance.
"I'm so sorry Sisi," she whispers in my ear as she gives me one last hug.
"Don't! You need to think about Claudia," I try to reassure her, even though I have no idea how I'm going to survive this place without her.
I'd known from the beginning that she would leave at some point. But now that the moment has come I find myself terrified at the prospect of being alone.
"Take this," she hands me her phone. "It has data and you can call me any time."
"Lina..." I trail off, blinking rapidly to avoid crying.
"We'll see each other soon. I'm sure of that." She gives me one last smile before turning to go.
I say goodbye to Claudia too, and I can see the confusion in her eyes. Poor baby, she has no idea what's happening.
"We'll meet again," I whisper in her hair as I squeeze her in my arms.
Then... they're gone.
It takes me a while to get back to my previous rhythm, but their absence is like a gaping wound. During the day I go about my work, but during the night it's the worst. The deafening silence of the room is stifling, and I can barely fall asleep.
I miss hearing them breathe.
Even if we didn't talk, I knew they were there.
Now... it's just me.
The convent is trying to move past the Father Guerra incident, even though the nuns have become more and more inclined to believe in the occult. The number of ghost stories circulating around, or the fact that Father Guerra may have been the undead would be funny, if not for the fact that I have to return to an empty room at night.
I pride myself in being the type of person who doesn't have those sort of fanciful notions. But late at night, even the smallest sounds, like the floor creaking, make me alert and on my guard.
"Damn it," I mutter to myself as I trudge my way back to the room after a full day of work. My muscles are aching and my eyes are closing.
Already paranoid, I make sure to lock the door before changing my clothes and getting in bed. I'm fading in and out of sleep when the phone buzzes next to me.
Thinking it might be Lina, I quickly grab it and open it. There's one unread message. Frowning, I squint at the text confused.
Congratulations! You've won a brand new iPhone. Follow the link to redeem the prize.
Did Lina sign up for something? I keep rereading the message, trying to think what to answer. I can't in good faith redeem the prize since I could not have it shipped to Sacre Coeur anyway. Instead, I decide to craft a message advising them to choose another winner.
Thank you for your consideration. I, however, cannot accept such a gift. Another lucky person may benefit more from it. Please forward it to someone else.
Hitting send, I snuggle back under the pillow.
I barely get to close my eyes though, when my phone buzzes again.
Congratulations! You've won a brand new iPad. Follow the link to redeem the prize.
I scroll up and realize this is a different number than before. Surely, Lina hadn't participated in so many contests.
I type up the same message and hit send.
When the next text comes, however, I'm not surprised. Instead, I'm starting to become suspicious.
Congratulations! You've won a brand new car. Follow the link to redeem the prize.
Different number, but the same text. The only difference is the prize. Annoyed at whoever is messaging me out of the blue, I decide to play their game.
The link does not work.
The screen immediately blinks to life with another text. This time, an answer.
My apologies. Please try this one.
My paranoia is through the roof at this point. They can't reply to my previous messages, but they promptly replace the link? Something isn't right. No one even knows this number aside from Lina and her brother. Unless...
My eyes widen at the possibility that it may be Father Guerra's relatives. What if they think Lina is on the receiving end?
The phone immediately drops from my hands and I back away from it. But the more I think about it, the less it makes sense. Why would the mob send these ridiculous texts? Maybe it's simply a prank. To test my theory, I type up another text.
I'm sorry, but I am a nun and I have renounced all earthly possessions. I cannot claim such a prize.
I hit send and wait. Surely enough, another text. This time, from the same number.
Congratulations! You've won two gallons of holy water from Jerusalem. Follow the link to redeem the prize.
I stare at the screen with open-mouth shock before suddenly bursting out laughing. They are mocking me now. Whoever is on the other end is definitely making fun of me. Well, game on.
Only two? How is that the same price as an iPhone? I feel cheated.
I smile cheekily at my reply, especially when I see that the stranger has texted back, finally ditching the format.
How many do you want?
You, sir, are making fun of a poor nun. Don't you know it is a sin? You'll end up in hell.
You don't seem too nunly to me. I hear communion wine is quite dangerous these days...
My smile dies on my lips as I read the message. This person knows... that can only mean one thing. Whoever is texting me knows I am not Lina. Dear Lord, maybe it is the mob. And maybe they know I helped Lina bury Father Guerra.
Did they send you to kill me?
Apprehensively, I hit send.
Kill you? No, too morbid. But you could click that link. No deaths involved. Promise.
Who could it be? If it's not someone Guerra sent, then who else?
Send me the holy water with a Jerusalem certification and I may click the link.
Pushing my chin up, I feel a little proud of myself for not giving in. Instead, I power off the phone and I place it back in its hiding place.
If they don't plan on killing me, that's all the assurance I need.
Well, imagine my surprise when I open the door to leave for work the following morning.
Holy water. Two gallons of it.
Hanging from the neck of the bottle is a ribbon and a small note.
With love from Jerusalem.
Incredulously, I look back and forth between the note and the water. Is it someone from the inside? It has to be, otherwise no one would have been able to place the water here. The security at Sacre Coeur is tighter than a prison, so no outsider could have done this.
I do the only thing I can think of. I grab the phone, turning it on and sending another message.
Who are you?
Despite my initial reservations, the unknown number and I establish a routine of texting back and forth. I'm a little embarrassed to admit, even to myself, that I started craving the interactions simply because I'm lonely. It's funny how when Lina and Claudia had been around I'd considered myself such a strong person and I'd confidently declared that I didn't need anyone. Yet the moment they disappeared from my life I started leaning on a stranger...
Not my best moment.
Our interactions are not constant, and consist mostly of him trying novel ways of getting me to click that damned link, and me not clicking it. But somehow they've become the highlight of my day.
I mean, when all I do is work and sleep, a little non-spiteful human interaction can do wonders. I'd even become a little reckless in that I'd started carrying my phone with me outside my room.
Congratulations! You've won a brand new cow. Follow the link to redeem your prize!
I shake my head at the message, quickly typing my reply and attaching a picture. When he'd seen that the regular prizes did not work, he'd started coming up with the craziest ideas, like the one at hand.
No thank you. I already have a cow.
I send a picture I'd snapped of Lizzy, my favorite cow, when I was milking her. The reply, though, doesn't surprise me in the least.
Congratulations! You've won a brand new oxen to mate with your cow. Follow the link to redeem your prize!
A slight giggle escapes me, but I quickly compose when I see some nuns heading my way. Afraid of getting caught with the phone on me, I quickly dash towards the cemetery, since no one should be there today.
But just as I cross by the church, I hear a blood-curdling scream. I still, frowning. Before I know it, I'm dashing inside, opening the door and stepping towards the altar.
One of the younger sisters is on the floor, staring in front of her with shock. Her entire body is trembling as she tries to find her voice to scream again. When I turn my eyes at the source of her terror, my eyes widen.
"Lord," I whisper, almost dropping my phone.
Behind the altar, Sister Elizabeth's body is nailed to the wall, her habit wide open to reveal an empty chest cavity.
I take a step forward and I note that her organs and everything that should have been inside of her are laid on the altar table.
Morally Ambiguous: A Dark Mafia Romance (Morally Questionable Book 4) Page 11
