The Beginning

Warning: Contains mature content, violence, and sensitive pregnancy themes. Reader discretion advised.

~~~

Carrie

I took a deep breath.

Then I assured myself that it would be easy to jump.

But one more look at the height from my window to the cemented ground below was enough to change my thoughts.

With a racing heart, I stuck with the option of walking out of my room and dodging my way past everyone in the hotel. That is a better option compared to jumping out of a window.

The exit door of my exquisite room soon came into view. But as I pressed the handle, my younger sister, Bri, spoke from the other side. “Carrie, are you done dressing? Everyone's ready for the final rehearsal.”

I ran back on tiptoes to my previous plan.

I just have to do it. I have to escape another night of rehearsals and listening to my aunties bicker about how their neighbour’s kids are turning rogue. I need to escape for a while before I am sold into eternal slavery.

Slowly, I stretched a leg over the windowsill and took another look at the death trap I was about to dare, the satchel around my neck dangling ahead.

I was about to exit my straddling position when I noticed a ladder to my right.

Hurriedly and gladly, I found my way to the iron saviour waiting to transport me to freedom.

Slowly, with intended caution, as I wouldn’t want to slip and have my guts all over the floor, I stepped down the ladder, the evening breeze blowing through my recently washed hair.

Though the lovely scent of my hair almost made me lose focus, I stayed calm. And, I resumed the descent.

In no time, my legs touched the bare ground of the very expensive hotel my father booked for ten whole days because his wild daughter is finally getting married… Getting married to a man he selected.

Trust me, I don’t know how things turned out this bad.

But one true thing is that I cannot escape the alliance my father has dragged me into. My fate has been sealed.

Hence, this little getaway, that almost had me jumping out of my window.

The evening breeze came again and snapped me out of my thoughts.

Without an exact sense of where I was going, I moved towards my left and walked down the road that was adorned by red brick walls, low-lighted street lamps and solitude.

The silence that walked with me then made me realise something. Hurriedly, I searched my bag and was gutted to confirm that I didn't take my phone. But I was with my eye drop and credit card.

I guess those are enough to have a good time.

So, I walked further and further until I entered a part of Venice that greeted me with liveliness. People, in different groups, either sitting or standing, were chatting, laughing, and going with the flow of the moment.

I was awed by the bright lights that illuminated the emotions of the night, and soon, I was drawn by a piece of distant music. The softness of its tunes put me in a certain type of mood…

As though I were a little piece of iron, the magnetic music drew me closer, and I found myself moving deeper into the area until I was facing a brick building that welcomed me with a staircase that ran all the way down.

I immediately walked down the stairs.

The place was filled with people who were paying rapt attention to the performer- a neat-looking guy with short, spiked hair. His fingers trailed over his acoustic guitar to continuously produce melodious harmony while he sang a tune in Italian.

I had no idea I was standing still and watching him from a corner until he winked at me.

Soon, I found a seat, and when I did, it occurred to me that everyone in the room had someone with them, someone they could stare at dreamily.

But I didn’t let that faze me. I quickly ordered a mug of beer. Once that drink was in front of me, I faced the stage and told myself that the night had just started and that I needed to enjoy myself to the fullest.

~~~

Alessandro

A glance at the lighted city beyond the huge window on my right told me I had already stayed longer than I wanted to.

Well, I don’t mind. I love work, amongst other things.

But sometimes, I like to take a short break. Stepping out to my favourite bar, then retiring to my hotel room, has been my recent way of resting. And sometimes, within those simple activities, I torture, kill, and re-establish my stance as one of the men that should be feared.

My eyes peeled off the city view, and I was shutting down my laptop when my door creaked open. My friend, Eduardo, walked in, a wide smile on his lips.

“Do you ever take a break?” he asked, his pocketed right hand crawling out of the confinement of his suit trousers.

“I am pretty sure I saw you leave earlier.”

“I came back for this.” He displayed the bottle of wine in his left hand before walking further in and sitting opposite me. “Alessandro, do you ever think of taking a break from all office drama?”

“Why is there an unasked question beneath your question?” I peered into his bluish eyes.

A chuckle escaped his lips. “Nothing gets past you.”

“I took a break from the gang for reasons best known to me," I replied to the silent question he couldn't ask.

A raise of his thick brows led him to adjust his posture. Then, he said, “All I know is that you are not having fun. Office work is not your calling."

My eyes narrowed instantly, and I asked, “What's my calling? Killing people?”

“Yes, it suits you better. But … Wait a minute…” Eduardo’s voice thickened, and I was able to hear his accent. “Are you planning to retire early?" Shock grew on his face, which I've always found too babyish to fit into the Calcio Della Pistola gang. "Is that it?"

A scoff escaped me, and I sat back into my comfortable chair. “What makes you think so?”

“You have not stepped into the CDP lair in a while. Your grandfather is starting to ask questions.”

“My grandfather always asks unnecessary questions. Next time he asks about me, tell him I’ll be back in two weeks.”

“But will you be back?” Eduardo was being unusually persistent; I had to raise a brow in suspicion.

“Hmm…”

With no further desire to speak about the gang, I got up and reached for my brown coat, readying myself to leave.

“When was the last time you got laid?” Eduardo swiftly changed the topic.

“Excuse you?”

He tucked his hands underneath his chin. “I strongly recommend that for a good night’s rest.”

I frowned at him. “Grazie, but I don’t need sex for a good night’s rest.”

“I'm not joking, amico." Intent and mischief clouded his eyes. "When last did you have sex?”

As I slipped on my coat, I watched him with wide eyes. “I don’t think you need that information.”

“You do need my advice.”

“You make me sound pathetic,” I replied to him while I wondered why I was still entertaining his questions.

“Because you are. I am serious, Alessandro. You need to loosen up.”

Again, I detected an unsaid statement in his voice. “I do not need to loosen up.”

“Yeah, right.” Eduardo scrunched his nose.

“Mr. Crest, don’t you have somewhere you need to be?”

“I just hate the thought of you dying alone."

“Are you going to excuse your boss, or should I show you how to?” A glare accompanied my question. That glare was the very one I give my targets before they lose their souls at my hands.

“Sure, sure. I'm leaving. I don’t even know why I bother. Have a great time having no fun.” He grabbed his wine and walked out after giving me a little sneer.

I knew he was being a concerned friend, but of all things on my mind, women or relationships weren’t part of it.

And... Talking about things on my mind, I imagined that Mike at the Fiore Di Venezia bar was already serenading the room. That's a show I always look forward to.

Without wasting time, I walked out of my office.