Mafia Obsession

Scarlet

I expect Elio to let go of my hand when we walk into the large dining room. Though we’re girlfriend and boyfriend-terms that seem like massive understatements and downright perfection-I didn’t think he’d be so obvious about it in front of his parents and brother.

He holds my hand even tighter as we approach the table. Silverware gleams from each place. I recognize Luca from the restaurant. He stands, offering me a small smile. Alessia stands, too, keeping one hand on her husband’s. Russel remains seated, looking at me with a confusing expression on his face, a cross between gloating and panic. Like before, I could be reading too much into this.

Elio pulls out a chair and gestures for me to sit opposite Russel. When Elio sits, everybody else takes their seats, too. Elio is on one side of me, and Luca is on the other. Then it’s Alessia, Leo, and Russel.

Russel idly toys with a gleaming silver knife, looking around the table. “Thank you so much for having me, Alessia. It means a lot.”

Elio flinches when Russel uses her first name. I remember what my boyfriend and I talked about, the test we’re going to give to Russel. Surely,

this is a way to find out once and for all. I’m glad to have an objective. It makes it easier than thinking about everything else.

Alessia flinches, too. She’s staring at the table. “You’re most welcome.”

“And you, sir,” Russel says, looking at Leo. “Well?” Russel glances at Alessia. “Does he have anything to say?”

He’s got a wicked grin on his face. Whatever’s happening here, Elio’s right. He thinks he’s in charge. He believes he has total control. Alessia leans down and puts her ear next to Leo’s mouth, and there’s no noise. If he’s speaking, it must be so, so quietly.

“He said you’re welcome,” Alessia says. “Did he? What a man!”

“What’s on the menu, then?” Elio grunts, clearly trying to move the conversation along.

“I hope it’s Italian,” Russel says. “Italian food is the best, in my humble

opinion.”

“We’ll start with some caviar,” Alessia says.

“Caviar? For the likes of me?” Russel beams. “That’s a treat I didn’t expect.”

It’s the first time I’ve ever eaten caviar. I have to admit, I’m not too impressed. Give me a burger or a steak and fries any day of the week. Russel and Alessia talk about opera, and Alessia clearly knows far more. Once the waiting staff clear away the plates, Elio nudges me under the table.

That’s my cue. Showtime. I’ve never been much of an actor-I was cruddy in high school the one time I auditioned-but today isn’t like any other day. All I have to do is let the tension and the pain bubble to the surface. I let myself think about losing Dad and almost losing Mom.

Soon, the tears come. I push away from the table, shuddering.

“Dear,” Alessia says, sounding like there’s genuine concern in her voice. “Is everything okay?”Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.

As Elio and I planned, I stand, quickly rushing from the room. The tears are coming far faster and with far more intensity than I thought they would. There’s an aching desperation in me, just below the surface.

After cleaning myself up in the bathroom, I return to the dining room. “I’m so sorry, everyone.”

“Don’t be,” Elio says. “You’ve been through a lot. Your dad, your mom, the loan shark.”

I’m guessing Luca’s in on this, too. He says, “Loan shark?” But I’m sure he already knows. He and Elio seem very close.

Elio sighs, placing his elbows on the table. I’m pretending to dab at my cheek, but really, I’m watching Russel keenly. He’s staring at Elio with that look of panic again.

“Some lowlife broke into Scarlet’s apartment and threatened her because her dad owes a debt. He got physical with her.”

“Pathetic worm,” Luca says. “Absolute mongrel. No real man would do something like that.”

“Yeah,” Elio replies. “It takes a real piece of worthless scum to threaten a woman in her own home.”

“Fellas,” Russel says, the idiot. He should keep his mouth shut. He looks angry, pissed that they’re insulting him, even if they’re not explicitly calling him out. “Surely you understand that if a man takes a debt and then runs, the loan shark must try to collect.”

“We don’t target women,” Luca snaps. “It’s pretty damn simple.”

“What sort of mafia has a policy like that?” Russel says, laughing as he takes another sip of whiskey. He’s been sipping it ever since we sat down. He’s had three glasses more than everybody else. Maybe that’s why he’s making such a stupid tactical error.

“The Marinos don’t hurt women,” Luca says, leaning forward. “You sound like you’ve got a problem with that, Russel.”

“What’s with the tone, man?”

Luca suddenly slams his hand on the table. The cutlery leaps up and down. “Don’t fuck with me. You shouldn’t have come here.”

“Luca,” Elio says.

“No,” Luca growls. “You stupid fuck, Russel. Do you really think we’d go into business with somebody without vetting them? We’ve been following you for weeks. We saw you go to Scarlet’s apartment. We saw you leave. You were the only one that night. You’re the loan shark.”

I didn’t know Luca was going to say this. I guess Elio didn’t want to distract me from my role.

Russel drains the last of his whiskey, slams the glass down, and then sighs. “So you think you’ve got it all figured out?”

“It’s pretty simple,” Luca says. “You misjudged us. You thought we were scum like you. So you arranged that restaurant, thinking you’d have a chance to gloat about what you’d done.”

“I didn’t think you’d gone soft, but it’s true,” Russel says, shrugging. “So you are the shark,” Elio says, standing up.

“With the teeth to prove it,” Russel says, laughing and flashing a smile.

“You shouldn’t have admitted it,” Elio says, walking slowly around the table. He’s got purpose in his gait. His intense eyes are focused, ready for violence. “Luca, get Dad and the women out of here.”

Russel stands quickly, pushing his chair back and raising his hands. “You need to wait.”

“I don’t need to do a goddamn thing.” Elio raises his hands in a fighting stance when he’s almost at Russel. For a man his size, he looks incredibly light on his feet, bouncing back and forth subtly. “Except break your nose.

Maybe shatter your jaw, too. Then put you in the ground. You broke into my girlfriend’s home. You threatened her.”

Russel backs up against the wall.

“You don’t want to be here for this bit,” Luca says, leaning close to me. “Please, Scarlet, Mom, you need to leave.”

Russel yells when Elio darts forward, grabs his wrist, and throws him on the floor like a child. Elio falls on top of him, driving his knee into Russel’s chest. Veins bulge in Elio’s neck. He’s got a wild look in his eye, yet he keeps himself calm. It’s a cold, ready aggression.

“Mom?” Luca says.

I look over to find Alessia with her head in her hands. She suddenly stands up, waving a hand at Elio. “Stop, Elio! Stop right now! You can’t hurt him!”