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It feels like a good day.
My sadness from my father’s death and all the confusion I still feel being around Benedetto aside, it feels like a good day today. It's how the shapeless sun behind fuzzy blue clouds makes it seem.
Driving from New York to Boston with Benedetto is the most fun I've had in a long while. Eating burgers and singing out loud while he drove, with him smiling at me every once in a while, was doing strange things to my already berserk emotions. We ended up eating the burgers I picked up for Evelyn and Orazio too, even though he had said he didn't need food when I was getting them.
“I want more food,” I fling the entrance door of the manor open. “Evelyn’s touch this time.” I walk in and a savory smell hovering in the air floods my nose.
“I guess you are in luck,” Benedetto says behind me. “I'll just go change up, I might take a while to come back down but eat.”
I begin to pout.
“I need to get what we discussed rolling and also fill Orazio in,” he strokes my cheeks, and I nod.
His presence is oddly soothing and I don’t even know why I pouted instantly when he said he won't be coming down to join me for lunch.
“Fine, when I'm done with lunch, I'll come find you, and even bring you some,” I turn in the direction of the kitchen, pushing away the sudden desire to cling to him.
I hear him take gallant stomps up the stairs and I am about to walk to the kitchen when I see Lawrence coming down the stairs.
“Rose,” he howls like I'm not just a few feet away from him.
“Hey, Lawrence,” I grumble.
“Really?” He snorts.
“What is it this time?”
“We need to talk,” he looks around, “not here.”
He turns and heads back for the stairs and I don't need him to spell it out, that means I'm to follow him.
I trail after him and stop when he stops, which is when we get to the second floor. He walks to the end, stopping in front of my father's former bedroom.
“Is he still in there?” I ask, wondering what has become of my father’s body.
“Concern yourself with things that you can muscle,” he clips, “His body is in the mortuary and I have everything for his burial under control.”
“Lawrence, he is my father too, and I think we need to stop this feud between us and be more united than ever even if we’re half-siblings, because we are family.”
“Didn’t look like it, Rose, when you tried running away, what were you thinking?” He grits. “Family will stick with each other, not run away the first chance they get.”
“You asked me to do something that felt impossible to do with a man who killed my father,” I shriek but he clamps a palm on my mouth to cover it.
“Really,” he chuckles, “Impossible?”
He lets go. “But you came back with him, didn’t you?”
“I’m still scared of him, but he protected me yesterday…”
“Bullshit,” he snorts, “I don't know why you glorify the man, does he look like he's got the balls to pull father’s death off?” He scoffs, “Here is something for free, I killed our father.”
“You what?” My brain spins.
“It was the only way to save us. Claudio offered me the position ofcapodecinain his clan and I had to do it, I won't let anyone keep treating me as the illegitimate son,” his eyes go as dark as the black t-shirt he has on, if not darker.
“Lawrence, he loved you,” I stutter, “he cared deeply for you,” my eyes sting. “How could you?”
“Though I must admit the magazine cutout was a nice touch. Claudio did say it would make Benedetto appear like the killer to his mother and clan. He's smart there,” he chuckles dryly. “So, you see, Rose, it's not Benedetto you should fear. It's us. It’sme.So, you better do as you are told.”
