boys can't be pretty

Jade

My tears had barely gotten the chance to dry on my cheeks when the first body hit the floor. A muffled scream followed shortly after, echoing down the empty hallway that led to my room.

I turned to Bella to know if she had heard it, but she was too focused on getting her glitter all over my hair. Maybe I’d imagined it, like all those nightmares.

Caruso was stationed outside her bathroom door, there was nothing to fear. Father made sure to pay him handsomely every month to ensure our safety. Except this past month he seemed to be doing the job reluctantly.

I heard from the other workers that Father was owing them salaries for the last three months. It wasn’t hard to believe because I knew the business was struggling. I’d offered to help, but Father had insisted that I wasn’t ready for the familia.

So, here I was—bawling my eyes out because my girlfriend had broken up with me. The only other person I had for a companion was my fifteen year old sister. Pathetic. Yes, I know.

“You look so pretty,” Bella said with a giggle, pouring more glitter on my already glowing blonde hair.

“Boys can’t be pretty,” I groaned, a smile making its way to my face. 

We shared the same petite features, from the blue eyes down to the cupid lips. The only difference in our appearance were the little moles under my eyes. It would’ve been easy to pass for twins if we were closer in age.

“But you’re pretty all the time,” she pinched my cheeks. “And nobody should make pretty boys cry. Now smile for me, you were too hot for her anyway.”

I tried to smile but my face ended up in a grimace. Gracie was the only one that ever made me feel loved, seen. Except at the end, she had only wanted the money I could offer her. 

“Stop with that sulking. Or do I need to bring out the big guns?” 

I watched her wiggle her brows through the mirror and immediately knew what she was talking about. My lack of response meant a yes for her.

“I’m not letting you drink,” I said immediately as she walked over to the cabinets and pulled out a bottle of liquor from where she had hidden it. “You’re too young to be drinking.”

“And you’re too old to be whining about alcohol.” She rolled her eyes and opened the bottle. “Are you going to drink this on your own or do I need to force it down your throat?”

I eyed the bottle with suspicion. “You know I don’t like alcohol.”

“And you know I hate party poopers. I’m finishing the entire bottle if you don’t drink.”

I stayed silent.

“Come on,” she grabbed my hand. “A sip won’t kill.”

Actually it would. That’s what it had done to my mother, Bella had been too young to remember anything that happened. 

She must’ve read the worry on my face because she leaned in and cupped my cheek with her free hand. “I know you’re worried you won’t be able to control yourself, that you’ll become like—”

She trailed off but I knew what she was going to say.

Our father. The one person I hated the most.

“You’re trying to use my heartbreak as an excuse to drink Bella. It’s not like it’s going to take the pain away, it’s a temporary fix.”

“How about we strike a deal?”

I groaned, this would not end well. 

“If you drink with me, then I promise never to even go near a bottle of alcohol after this.” She raised her hand to her temple in mock salute. “This will be the last time I drink, it’s getting boring anyway, I need something more exciting.”

I rolled my eyes and took the bottle. “Save the exploring for when you’re older. You’re failing in class, how about you focus on that?”

She giggled. “I don’t care about that stupid school, you know that.” She watched me struggle with the bottle before she sighed and took it from me. “Maybe it’s a good thing she broke up with you. We can now vacation together before I go back to school.”

I’d made reservations to the different resorts Gracie wanted to go to weeks prior. I might just take Bella there, she’d appreciate it.

“And after that you promise to pay attention in school?” The mischievous smirk on her face was my answer. “Bellaaaaaa.”

“Fine. But let’s focus on the present.” She pulled out glass cups from under her sink and rinsed them under the faucet. “Let’s get this party started.”

The liquor was hot as it made its way down my throat. My face was in a grimace by the time I’d completely swallowed. “How do you even like this stuff?”

Bella grinned as she finished her drink. “What are you on about? Can’t you feel that neat aftertaste at the back of your throat?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re crazy. You should really stick to just soda after this.”

Three glasses in and we’d both ended up on the floor, dying of laughter and nursing the last glass for the night. I was starting to see why people liked to drink.

The dim light in her bathroom had cast a soft glow that bounced off the mirror. Everywhere shone with glitter, the atmosphere itself growing magical. Bella was right, I could barely feel the pain or even remember what had led us to this point.

In typical Bella fashion everything in her bathroom were deep shades of forest green, and under my hazy eyes they looked comical. I’d always thought her decor was too dark especially for a girl, but I understood her now.

“Do you think I’ll be able to have a proper relationship with the way father’s men are always breathing down my neck? They don’t even let me go on movie dates with my friends.”

“It’s for your safety, Bella. Everything is tough right now, the other familias have been trying to—” I paused, she wasn’t supposed to know what was happening with the family business. “My head feels heavy.”

“Come here.” She stretched her legs out and helped me lie down. She played with my hair. “You look like Christmas lights right now.” She couldn’t stop giggling.

A hearty laughter poured out of me. “All thanks to you.”

She combed her fingers through my hair, taking some of the glitter with her. “I know you’re heartbroken because of Gracie, but I want you to know that you deserve better. You should be with someone that truly loves and cherishes you. Considering our family it might be a bit hard, but in the future I dream of, we’re both loved and we live next to each other and even drink over the weekend together.”

I didn’t realize tears were trailing down the side of my face until she wiped it off with her thumb. “No more drinking after today,” I croaked.

“Drinking soda of course, that’s what I mean,” she replied, laughing uncontrollably. “But we should finish the bottle if it’s going to be our last, you know, end with a bang.”

The same way our mother had ended with a bang.

“Let’s call it a night.” I struggled to get up. “We have our hair appointment in the morning. I don’t want to go there with a raging hangover. And if—”

A loud bang cut me off midsentence.

I looked at Bella, my eyes wide. That sounded like a gunshot. The panic on her face let me know she thought the same.

My hand was barely on the doorknob when a knock came through. I slowly opened it to see Caruso and his infamous blank expression.

“Is everything alright? I heard a gunshot.” My words were slurred and I could barely string my words together. This was the worst possible time to be drunk.

“The Don wants you in his office now.” Caruso looked at Bella. “And I’m to escort you down to the basement. You’ll be taken to a safe house if things get worse from here.”

“Worse?” I rubbed my temple like it was going to quieten down the growing buzz in my head. “What is happening?”

“There’s no time to explain. We barely have the situation under control.” He took both our hands and let us out of Bella’s room. 

“Why can’t Jade follow me to the basement? He won’t be safe going to the office.” Bella was mumbling as Caruso dragged us both down the hallway.

“It’s fine, I’m sure it’s nothing.”

We stopped at a hidden door under the stairs. It led directly to father’s office and was only ever used by him.

“Go to your father, I’ll take Bella to safety.”

I looked at Bella, had I been sober I would’ve started bawling my eyes out. Had I been sober I would’ve realized sooner that I might never see her again. Being part of the Italian mafia meant the ones closest to you could be taken away from you. Anytime.

“I’ll see you later,” she said before giving me a hug. 

My hands stayed around her shoulder for a couple seconds longer before I watched her disappear down the stairs with Caruso.

I took a deep breath and made my way to the office. I was barely at the other end of the door when I heard the shouting. I could tell Father was arguing with someone.

The door was behind one of the bookshelves. Luckily I could fit into the little space. My heart started to race when I got closer to where the voices were coming from. I was rounding the corner when a flower vase flew past my head.

“Stop being an old fool and sign the goddamn papers,” I heard someone yell. “I guess I’ve been pretty lenient with you these past months, but my patience has grown thin old man. And I’m here to collect what I’m owed.” 

The voice was familiar and foreign at the same time, but it took no math to realize the old fool in this case was my father. 

It wasn’t until I heard the cock of a gun that I processed what was happening. I rushed out of my hiding place. 

“Stop!” 

Father and a man I’ve always prayed to never meet turned to look at me, their movements paused. It was a real struggle trying to force words out of my mouth as I looked at the man I considered to be the devil. Like my day couldn’t get any worse.

“Did you hire a clown for our meeting, old man?” the familiar stranger asked.

I turned around to look for the clown then realized mid-movement that it was me. I’d forgotten all the glitter in my hair, I probably looked like a mess.

“For god sake Jade, why do you look like that?” My father asked. I could see the steam blowing out of his ears. “The one time I ask something of you and you disgrace me like this.”

I bowed my head. “I was with–”

“I’m not here for your little family drama.”

Right—the devil himself. Salvatore Domenico. His name alone made people tremble with fear, me included. 

Amusement danced in his eyes as he looked at me, but I knew better than to think there was anything but humor in his thoughts. 

His infamous petsnake was wrapped around his gun which made me stumble back in horror. The little slimy thing with its cream body and white dots littered over its skin.

To the outside world and the People’s Magazine, Salvatore was Italy’s most eligible bachelor, while I followed shortly on the list. A thorough business man that helped develop the city, taking care of the less privileged, a true humanitarian.

Here, in the underworld, we knew him for what he was. A brutal murderer, whose presence alone carried the weight of fire and blood.

Even in my drunken state I could smell the gunpowder and violence that he always wore with the elegance of a king who had killed his way to the throne. 

With his tailored black suit, long coat trailing like a shadow, eyes the color of steel caught in firelight. I didn’t need an oracle to tell me why he was here.

“I’ve been patient,” he addressed my father. “But patience, Beneditti, is a currency. And you’ve run out.”

My gaze snapped to my father. “Don’t tell me you borrowed money from him.” I shook my head slowly. “You know better than anyone how much of an evil whore he is.”

Salvatore’s eyes slid to me, his expression wounded. “You didn’t have to call me a whore dear Jadey boy.”

I almost rolled my eyes. Everyone in town knew how many women in Italy he had slept with, including the wives of top government officials. While I struggled to keep one girlfriend. The nerve of him.

“I only need a month, Salvatore. I promise, I’ll pay back every penny. Business has been bad with the new minister—”

“Excuses. Excuses. Excuses. I’ve been generous with my time, don’t you think? I even sent my boys to remind you of our agreement and you ignored them.” He waved the gun around. “I had to come down here myself, Beneditti.”

My father didn’t look like the tough man I knew him to be. “It’s not…” he was starting to stutter. “I wanted to have the entire money first, then balance the account.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Salvatore rubbed his temple with his free hand. “Because I’m a young businessman, you thought you could finesse my money. After all, you’re a top boss yourself, you could use your title to subdue me.”

Father shook his head frantically. “That’s not true, I respect you.”

Salvatore shook his head. “What you respect is the gun.”

“I’ll pay you back, give me two weeks.”

He clicked the roof of his mouth with his tongue. “Too long.” He turned back to me. “Where’s the other child?”

Beads of sweat started to gather on my forehead. I could see from the fire in his eyes that he wanted Bella. After all it was common in the Mafia for Dons to use their daughters as a tool for trade. I was never going to let that happen.

“Why do you ask?” I stepped closer to him. “She has nothing to do with this.”

“Jade,” my father’s face was twisted in a frown as he looked at me. “Keep quiet.” Then he turned to Salvatore with a sickening smile. “I truly respect you Salvatore, you started from filth and built your way from the ground up, all by yourself. Tenacity like that should be respected, celebrated. I’d like to offer a union between our families–”

All the blood drained from my face. “No! You cannot pimp your daughter to a man as ruthless as this…” I risked a glance at Salvatore. His lips were paused as he looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Bella is barely sixteen, she’s too young for marriage. And when the time is right, I’d like her to marry a more respectable man of upright bringing.”

“I made a mistake bringing you here!” Father yelled. “I know I’ve sheltered you enough, but surely you can see that the situation is out of our control. If giving your sister out in marriage will help with our debt then so be it. This is no time to be sentimental.”

“Father! This is your daughter we’re talking about.”

“Exactly, my daughter. I will use her as I deem fit.”

I grabbed onto his arm, something I wouldn’t dare to do without alcohol running in my system. “Please…” The mere thought of Bella being forced to marry someone like Salvatore brought tears to my eyes. I’d always sworn to protect her from our cruel world. “You can’t throw Bella to the wolves. She’s too young, too innocent for this world.”

“Bella will marry Salvatore, and that is final.” He pushed my hand away from his.

I turned to Salvatore. “There’s no way you plan to marry a child. You might be a monster, but I’m sure you have your reasoning with you.”

Salvatore’s eyes were piercing, that smug amusement dancing in his eyes like we were putting up a play for him. “Reasoning or not, I’m leaving here with either  my complete money, your father’s head, or a bride.”