22 - Story for a Doll

The gun at my back reminded me where I was, even if I pretended to be calm. One of Alejandro's men had just searched me for weapons and already called ahead. I was clean. They said I could go in.

The hallway I walked through was wide, with high ceilings and glass walls that let the sun pour in. 

There were strange sculptures—twisted metal, abstract figures, and tall wooden masks. 

The house was modern, clean, and cold. 

But there was something else. Alejandro was clearly a lover of art, just like Luca.

They led me to a large open room. Black floors. White furniture. Everything looked expensive. Then he walked in.

Alejandro.

He looked middle-aged, like Luca, though maybe younger. He had that same dangerous calm. That same quiet command. Maybe it was an Italian Mafia thing. 

His black shirt was tucked into his trousers, sleeves rolled just above his elbows. His accent, thick. His voice, deep.

"What brings you here, doll?" he asked, calmly.

I made to speak but then he interrupted.

“Doll, is it? That's what Luca used to call Alexa. I’m sure that's what he calls you too, right?”

I ignored him but then, he kept talking. "You know the last DOLL left him with the wings he gave her. But I did him a favor, you know. Punished the woman and killed her. And now he sends you? Why?"

"He didn’t send me. I came on my own." I finally got to say.

He laughed a little. "Hmm... What did you think would happen, huh? Coming here without telling him? This is brave, Ms. Santina… but also stupid."

Of course he knows my name.

"What do you want from Luca? You already killed Alexa. Isn’t that enough?"

"Oh, so you do know about Alexa?" His eyes lit up.

"Yeah. I know you killed her. And I know you sent that photo."

"And yet you came here... alone."

He said something harsh in Italian. A few of his men laughed.

"You know you'll make a good entertainment for my men. But first, I personally would like to know what you have that makes you think you can come here and make a bargain."

I tried to walk up to him, acting like I wasn't scared. But the men stopped me.

"You've broken Luca," I said. "He's run out of ideas of how to deal with you. Alex, the boy he treats like a son, almost died because of you. So I came. Out of love for Luca, to know what you want to leave him alone."

"Love for Luca?" His men laughed again.

"Yes. Something you obviously lack."

He paused. His eyes darkened.

"Love... something I lack? Did your Luca ever tell you what happened between us?"

"No. And I’m not interested."

"You should be. Give her a chair."

A chair was brought. They made me sit.

“How about I tell you a story?”

“Do I really have to listen?”

"Luca, Alexa, and I grew up in a small village near the city," Alejandro began. "We used to sneak into the city, admiring the cars and luxury and all the good things we lacked. 

“Our parents didn't notice how far off we had gone. We would go into the city and no one would notice.”

"Until one day, a certain mafia lord noticed Luca and I and started using us for his business. He trusted Luca and I but he trusted me more. 

“He didn't use Alexa, he felt that as a girl, she'll be too slow and could cause trouble. 

“This mafia lord we worked for taught us everything we knew. Guns, business, loyalty, discipline.

“Brutal discipline I must add and how to punish those we deemed deserve it.

“But then he somehow felt that Luca and I couldn't work together. So you know what our tough brutal mafia did?”

He came closer. Standing over with his hands in his pocket.

“He did one of the kindest things Luca and I never expected,” he continued. “He gave Luca and I our own businesses and asked us to work separately because he didn't want there to be conflict between us.

“Only problem was, he sent Luca to another of his territories and wanted me in his main territory."

"Are you enjoying my story, doll?”

I didn't know why he asked that but something scared me when he did. Like he's about to go into the part where things fell apart.

"Are you enjoying the story, doll?" He asked again, this time no smiles.

"Yes." I hesitated. 

"Good." Then he smiled again.

"After a while, everything seemed to be going well until our dear boss died. You know what he did again? He shared the rest of everything he had equally between Luca and I.

“Luca and I both maintained our lanes. We stayed in our territory until Alexa... She was my cousin, you know... And I loved her like a sister.

“I didn't mind that she was with Luca but she wanted to have everything I owned for herself and Luca. 

“She along with Luca orchestrated a plan to kill me. Both of them, the two people I trusted the most hurt me deeper than anyone did. 

“Luca. Especially Alexa, I gave her everything I could even when Luca already gave them to her, I added to it and yet it wasn't enough for her. 

“They didn't just take everything from me... They tried to kill me. And they said it was for the best.

“They were probably right with that one.” He laughed.

“Well... Doll... They failed and year after year, I found myself in a new territory and established myself again in a new environment and became my own formidable.”

The pride in his eyes.

“No one comes close,” he continued again. “I didn't even intend to find Luca... I just wanted to move on but Alexa... She betrayed Luca too and honestly I think I did Luca a favour.

“You ask me what I want from Luca.

“I want nothing. I want nothing from him. I'm going to let you go and I'm not going to attack Luca anymore. 

“He wants his shipment, I'll hand them all over. Let Luca know that I'm capable of mercy because I know the one person who caused all this is Alexa.

“But should Luca come trying to fight me again... I swear he won't live. I'll make sure of that. You, him and everyone he cares about and I won't even blink.”

I didn't know whether to stand and run because the seriousness in his face I could clearly see but I didn't know whether to believe it.

"Then what's the point of all this?" I managed to ask.

“I wanted to draw his attention, that's all. I wanted him to try and save Alexa because you see Alexa said she ran away from him but I didn't believe her.

“I knew how precious she was to Luca but I just needed to see and as I predicted, Luca came. Thinking he could rescue her.

“Now, I'm tired of you. Go. Deliver my message to Luca, tell him to go back to his territory and that I, Alejandro Changretta, have shown him mercy.

“But I'm pretty sure Luca would be watching his back nonetheless. And that… little doll… gives me satisfaction.”