“Understood.” I read her loud and clear.
“Elio.” My father drew my attention to him. “What are your feelings toward their son?”
I leaned back and nursed the water Francesco had given me. I felt better now that I knew what was going on and that my father felt good with his decision.
“I like him. We’re meeting up in the city later on in the week.”
“Did he pry?”
“Only about my initiation.” I held up my ring. “I didn’t say much, and he never once asked about the business.”
“Did he share anything with you?”
“No, we kept it light.”
“Good.” He lit his cigar and puffed the smoke away from us. “I think this is good.”
“What are you doing?” Cara hissed at me. “Hurry up!”
I felt around between the seats of the truck, desperately trying to find my necklace. Renzo had ripped it off my neck the night before in another of his attempts to touch me. The fabric stank of cheap beer and cigarettes, and I almost lost my stomach contents when my fingers touched something wet. Just as I was about to give up hope, I felt the chain with the tips of my fingers.
“I feel it!”
“Come on, come on!”
It was the end of our shift, and I knew we had about another minute before he would come out to the dockyard office and spot us. I hooked the chain and pulled it free.
“I got it!” I quickly tied it in a knot and was about to shut the door when we heard his voice.
“What the fuck!”
“Run, Cara.” I pushed her hard, so she’d go. She hesitated then ran, knowing this was my fight. If she got hurt again because of me, I would never forgive myself.
“What the hell are you doing here? Are you stealing from my truck?” He came up and grabbed me by the hair and tossed me against the truck. My shoulder hit the door hard, and my temple smacked the mirror. I slid to the ground in a heap and lifted an arm in an attempt to protect my face. His fist rose, and I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the impact, but none came. I opened an eye and found him staring down at me.
“You just make me so mad sometimes.”
What?
“Here.” He reached for my hand and hauled me roughly to my feet. “What’s that?” He fingered my necklace with his filthy hand. “Nah, you don’t need that. I like my girls without the bling.” He ripped it off and tossed it on the ground, sending the teddy bear pendant hard against the knot in the chain. “Now, I want you to go get yourself cleaned up. I’m going to take you out. Go get pretty now.”
“I would rather you hit me again.” I spat on the ground next to him.
His eyes bulged, and he whipped around, grabbed my neck, and pushed me up against the truck. My windpipe struggled for air while he stared into my eyes, begging me to challenge him again.
“I said go get ready.”
I held my ground when he let go, and he muttered and walked away. I caught sight of Andrew in the window watching us, and just like always, he glared and moved out of view. Dismissing the pain that wrapped around my head, I wiped the dirt from my face.
With a sniff, I picked up my broken necklace and hurried down the road. I had been hit more times than not, but this time something was different, and it scared the shit out of me. I knew it was only a matter of time before Renzo would force himself on me, and that would be the day I knew I would snap and check out for good.
Working at the dockyard, I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut and listen. Lunch times were particularly interesting, as the stories about the mafia encroaching on the dockyard were becoming story time. Many times, I dreamed of leaving a note asking one of them to crush Renzo’s kneecaps.
I made it to the general store and let my tears fall, and the shakes overcame me. I wanted to be scrappy. I tried to hold my own, but the reality of it was I wasn’t good at it. I wore my heart on my sleeve, and I cared too much. I had never really gained the kid left behind thick skin.
Easing onto the step with my back against the wall, I tried to find a peaceful place in my mind, anything that would give me some strength.
“Sienna?” A familiar voice found me, and I opened my eyes to see Elio’s mother with an arm full of bags. “Sweet girl, are you all right?” She put her bags on the ground.
I started to cry again. Her caring voice struck a chord inside me, the mother figure I had never really had.
“Oh, come here.” I buried myself in her arms and let a stranger give me comfort, forcing away my problems, if only for a moment. “You’re shaking.” She pulled back my face, and her thumbs brushed across my forehead. “Is that blood?”
I nodded, and she walked me to over her fancy, expensive car, and I tried to pull away, as the thought of getting some blood or dirt on those beautiful seats worried me.
“Please just tell me who did this. Was it someone at your house or someone else?” She began to look around like they might return.
“House,” I whispered to reassure her she wasn’t in any danger.
“All right,” she nodded, “no arguing. I’m taking you to my house to get cleaned up.”
I didn’t have it in me to protest further, and the idea of having a safe place to go even for a while did seem appealing. She opened the door for me and fiddled with her phone before getting back behind the wheel.
The leather seats of the car were soft, but the cool air she directed toward my face felt even better. We rode in silence for a bit. She glanced over a few times and once thumbed around with the temperature.
“I will not ask too many questions,” she said quietly after we turned onto the road, “but have you eaten today?”
“I had a little, yes,” I whispered.
“I imagine the Di Vaios don’t cook for you often?”
I lowered my gaze and twisted the ring on my finger.
“You don’t have to answer me.”
“I get by.” I shifted uncomfortably, more embarrassed than anything else.
“I see.” She kept her voice low as she parked outside the front door in the middle of the horseshoe shaped driveway. I had never seen the house from this angle before, and it was utterly stunning. It looked like a painting, everything so perfect.
Francesco appeared out of nowhere to open her door. He stood and waited for her to get out.
“Sienna, one last thing.”
I turned to look at her as she spoke.
“Can you tell me exactly who hit you?”
“Which time?” I shrugged. “I am used to it. Please don’t worry about it.”
Her frown turned up into a sad smile, and she let it go.
I felt uncomfortable once again returning to the Capri home in my less-than-clean work clothes, shorts, a tank top, and flats. I wore many hats at my job, and this week I was filing paperwork in the back, only now I wished I had worked in the front office today, as I would have at least been in a dress. I was short and loved nice clothes and high heels, but all that would have done was bring on more attention from the men. I tried only to wear clothing that didn’t draw attention. My head hurt from where I bumped it on the mirror, but the cool air and fresh smelling house helped calm my nerves.
“What can I get for you, dear?”