I woke early the next morning – not because of the sunlight shining into my room, but out of habit.
I worked in my father’s café six mornings of the week, and only got a reprieve on Sunday mornings because of mass – so I woke at the same time no matter how late I had gone to bed or how little sleep I had gotten.
But I had to admit, the bed was a dream… like floating on a cloud.
I rolled over on my side and considered sleeping in for the first time in years –
And that’s when I saw it.
A dress that wasn’t mine was hanging over a chair near the door.
A dress that someone else must have put there while I was sleeping.
I sat up in bed, as wide awake as if someone had doused me with ice-cold water.
I could imagine Dario standing above me, watching me sleep, and I shivered with fear…
Although something about the fantasy made me blush, too.
I was only wearing a negligee, and one of the straps had fallen off my shoulder.
What had he seen?
…and what might he have done if he hadn’t made that promise to my father last night?
I heard his voice again in my mind:
I give you my word, I will not take your daughter’s virginity… until she begs me to do so.
Then I remembered the second thing he had said, whispering it into my ear so that only I could hear it:
You WILL be my whore. But only for me… and no one else.
I shivered – and not entirely from fear.
There was a sliver of sinful desire within me, I will admit – but I would never beg him to do that.
If he kept true to his word, then I was safe.
…if he kept true to his word.
I got up out of bed and walked over to the dress.
It was quite beautiful – and modest, as well. Though made out of blue silk and thus far too expensive for me to ever buy, it was something I might have picked out for myself.
But I would not wear it.
I would not stand for him breaking into my room into the middle of the night to watch me as I slept…
And I would not give him the satisfaction of doing what he wanted.
I put on one of the other dresses I had brought, then brushed my teeth with the toothbrush Filomena had set out for me.
There was a hairbrush as well, and I did my best to tame my unruly locks.
I thought about taking a shower, but my stomach was rumbling. I hadn’t eaten since the previous afternoon. The shock from the murder and everything that had happened after it had blunted my hunger, but now my appetite was back with a vengeance.
I sighed and went over to the door. Perhaps if I banged on the door, someone would come to let me out.
Just to see, I tried the doorknob –
And the door swung open.
I stood there, surprised… and then peeked my head out.
There was no one in the corridor, so I quickly slipped on my sandals and hurried to the stairs.
Though I could hear noises deep within the recesses of the house, there was no one in the foyer, either.
I thought about slipping out the front door and making a run for it – but then I remembered how big the estate was. I didn’t stand a chance of escaping, so I just followed the sounds of voices – and the delicious smell of baking bread – until I found myself in the kitchen.
There was a woman there just a few years older than me. She was cute, with a short haircut, and she sang to herself as she whisked a large bowl of eggs.
I cleared my throat to make my presence known. “Ahem…”
The woman looked over and cried out. Then she clasped a hand to her chest and started laughing. “Oh, signorina, you startled me!”
“I’m sorry – ”
“Don’t be, don’t be! You go back to bed and relax – I’ll bring some food up to you right away!”
But the idea of Dario standing over me in my bedroom was something I no longer wanted to think about.
And the kitchen – with its ancient stone walls but modern appliances – was comforting. It felt more like home than anywhere else in the house.
Not to mention the smell of freshly baked bread was making my mouth water.
“Would you… mind if I stayed?”
The woman laughed again. “If you want – I could certainly use the company! My name’s Cat – short for Caterina.”
“Alessandra,” I said shyly.
“A pleasure to meet you! What would you like to eat?”
“Is that fresh bread I smell?”
“Of course – right out of the oven!”
She went to a nearby cutting board and brought me a small loaf of mugello, one of the traditional breads of Tuscany. She also gave me with a knife, a plate, and a small dish with creamy butter. “That’s from a dairy farm just down the road – you’ll love it. Would you like some olives? Some fruit? Something to drink? If you tell me what you’d like, I’ll fix it for you!”
Cat set me up with a smorgasbord of fruit, olives, and juices, then went back to her work.
“Are you the only cook?” I asked as I ate.
“Hardly! But Mariana was sick today, so I’m handling duties for breakfast. Usually it’s the two of us through lunch, and then a separate staff handles dinner. We used to have many more people… until Don Rosolini died, God rest his soul.”
She crossed herself.
I frowned. “When did that happen?”
“About three months ago.”
“Dario was still in prison when he died?”
The very idea was so sad…
Even though I was afraid of the man and considered him a thug, no one should lose the chance to say goodbye to their parents at the end.
Cat turned around, her eyes wide. “How did you know about that? Did he tell you?”
“No, Filomena did.”
Cat clucked. “That woman should know when to keep her tongue in her mouth.”
I found that slightly funny since Cat was telling me about how the former mafia don had died – but I didn’t bring up the irony.
“So… Dario was in prison when his father died?”
“Yes.” Cat sighed heavily. “It was a sad day, a terrible day.”
“But… why would that impact how many people work in the kitchen?”
Cat winced, like she was considering whether to say more.
Then the chatterbox side of her won out.
“Well, after the don died, a lot of people left.”
“Why?”
“They were afraid.”
I frowned. “Afraid of what?”
Suddenly a man’s voice spoke behind me. “Gossiping again?”
I whirled around to see Valentino striding into the kitchen.
He smiled at me but passed right on by.
As he walked past Caterina, he grabbed her derriere and squeezed.
I don’t know if he didn’t think I saw –
Or if he just didn’t care.
Caterina certainly did. She blushed bright red and looked at him like What are you DOING?!
But she had a gigantic smile on her face when she did it.
Valentino grabbed an apple out of a fruit bowl as he walked out of the room. “Don’t give away all the family secrets, capiche?”
He gave Cat a wink, me a smile, and then he was gone.
She sighed heavily as he left – a lovelorn sound.
I looked between her and the doorway. “Are you and he…?”
She giggled, then grew very serious. “You can’t tell anyone, alright?”
Suddenly I remembered what Niccolo had said last night:
Hands off, Valentino! Stick to banging the help!
I didn’t want to tell her it wasn’t exactly a secret, so I just nodded. “To my grave.”
She giggled again and looked off into the distance dreamily. “It’s been going on for two months now…”
“So… you’re dating secretly?”
She smirked. “I wouldn’t exactly call it ‘dating.’”
“Are you going to marry?” I asked innocently.
If they were sleeping together, that was the only honorable end result, after all.
Caterina burst out laughing.
“ME? Marry a Rosolini? If only. I’d never have to work another day in my LIFE.”
She sighed again, this time wistfully.
“But he’s practically royalty, and I’m just a servant.”
Then a shadow passed over Cat’s face, along with a twinge of anger.
“Plus he’ll never settle down. Not to mention that ALL Rosolini men are dogs.”
Then she grinned and rolled her eyes back in her head.
“But they can FUCK. Madonn, can they fuck.” She fanned herself with her hand. “Best sex of my life by FAR.”
I blushed to hear her say it.
No one I knew talked like Cat –
But her words made me think of Dario again, standing over my bed as I lay there in my negligee… and the heat from my face seemed to travel to between my thighs…
Suddenly a voice harrumphed behind me.
I turned to see Filomena standing in the doorway.
Cat went red as a beet as the old woman walked over to the kitchen island where I was sitting.
Filomena gave Cat the evil eye, then turned to me.
Behind Filomena’s back, Cat made a face like Oh my GOD! and stifled a laugh with her hand.
I had to focus on Filomena so I wouldn’t burst out laughing, too.
The old woman scowled at me. “You are to accompany me to the patio at once.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Filomena abruptly turned and started walking towards the doorway Valentino had exited.
Cat made another face like she couldn’t believe how much trouble she was in – but found it hilarious all the same.
I frowned and choked back a laugh at the same time as I hurried to follow Filomena.
Cat waved and silently mouthed, Come back later!
I nodded and mouthed, I will!
No matter how much trouble she might be, I liked Caterina immensely and decided I would come visit her again as soon as possible.
Once I caught up with Filomena, the old woman said in her thick Sicilian accent, “You shouldn’t associate with her. She’s a common, vulgar girl – and a tramp.”
“Mm,” I said noncommittally.
The old woman stopped and turned on me. “Is your mother alive?”
I turned pale at the question.
I didn’t want to answer… but I didn’t feel like I could stay silent.
“…no,” I finally said.
“When did she die?”
“When I was 12.”
Filomena’s entire demeanor changed, and her features turned from cross to sad.
She put her hand softly on my cheek.
The gesture was so loving… so motherly… that I felt tears well up unexpectedly in my eyes.
“Caterina is friendly, yes, but she is a bad influence,” the old woman said in a kindly voice. “Her behavior is not suitable for a young lady. And you are a good girl – I know it. Just as I know your mother would want to keep you safe from bad influences.”
I didn’t respond. I still liked Cat – nothing would change that – but the old woman’s tender concern was so touching, I didn’t want to argue with her.
The old woman took away her hand and sighed. “Bad enough you must stay in this house of murderers…”
The words were jarring.
Just a second ago we had been talking about my new friend –
And now we were talking about being surrounded by killers.
“Why do you stay here, then?” I asked, trying to be delicate.
She smiled sadly. “Some of us have no good options, my dear.”
Of everything she had said so far, those words sounded the most truthful by far…
…because they described my life perfectly.
