6. Only Russo

ISLA

~•~

The next afternoon, the car rolled to a stop in front of what used to be my house.

I had told myself I needed to see things for myself, but unlike the previous day, my legs felt heavy as I knew no one would stop me from going in this time.

I closed my eyes briefly and took several deep breaths, preparing myself for what was to come when I heard him speak. “If you’re going to sit in the car all day, we might as well start driving back,” he said.

I held my tongue and opened the door immediately. I stepped out slowly, my stomach twisting. The front gate was bent in half, hanging from one hinge. It had been two nights since my house was burnt but the smell still hit my nose.

Behind me, Lorenzo shut his door. He didn’t say anything and just watched me as I walked in with his hands in his coat pockets.

“Stay close,” he finally said after a while of me looking around for possible dangers. His voice wasn’t as sharp as usual but it wasn’t a suggestion either.

I didn’t respond and merely walked further in.

The living room and kitchen took the brunt of the burn, almost as though the fire had started in there. Ashes were everywhere and when I looked closely, I could even see some bone fragments. I covered my mouth immediately, not wanting to puke.

I remembered the exact spots I’d seen my family right before I ran and there were several bones there. Those monsters didn’t just kill them. They also burnt them after their death. They didn’t leave anything for me. I couldn’t give my family a proper burial. All I had were fragments of bones.

My eyes shifted to Lorenzo, watching him watch me. I was gauging his reaction, trying to see if I could tell if he was responsible for this or not. His last name had been mentioned that night, but honestly, he wasn’t the only Russo. It couldn’t be him, right? If it were, he wouldn’t have spared me after I ran straight into his arms. Was I doing the right thing by entrusting my life to him?

He stared at me blankly and I looked away, heading for the stairs. The stairs were fragile and looked like they could give up under my weight but I took the risk to go upstairs. Lorenzo waited until I was upstairs before he started climbing as well.

My room wasn’t burned, but it wasn’t mine either. Drawers had been emptied. Clothes were thrown around. My mattress was upturned. Inside my closet, everything was scattered. My dressing table was broken.

Someone had been in here. I just wasn’t sure if it was that particular night or after.

“People search for valuables after a fire,” Lorenzo stated and I noticed him at the doorway.

I crouched in front of my broken dressing table and tugged at the left bottom drawer since it was the only closed one. It stuck for a while before it finally gave way. I coughed as dust hit my nose, but my eyes immediately sought out a music box.

I reached for the rose-carved box, dusting it. “My dad made this for me when I was seven,” My hands shook as I brushed the dust off.

“A carpenter along with being a mafia boss? Impressive.” His tone was flat, sarcastic, anything but comforting.

“I didn’t expect to see this here,” I whispered to myself, ignoring the man behind me.

“Then you’re lucky you did,” he said, his gaze fixed on my hand. “Keep it close.”

I would keep it close but I hated that he was telling me to keep it close. It wasn’t his business. “It’s just a box–“

“Keep it close,” he repeated before I could finish my sentence. He was so used to giving commands that he couldn’t fathom anyone challenging his orders. I could already tell living with him was going to be hell, but it was the best way to keep myself safe for now.

I stood up and he stepped aside, glancing at his watch. My tongue poked the inside of my cheek. I wasn’t nearly done here yet. Besides, I owed him a favor for this. He couldn’t rush me. “Do you have somewhere to be? Packing my clothes will take some time.”

“These clothes?” He looked around the closet. “Who knows if they’ve been tampered with. None of them is going into my house.”

I frowned. I didn’t have any clothes. I didn’t have any properties. What I was currently wearing belonged to the teenage boy in Lorenzo’s house. “Do you expect me to walk around naked?”

“That’s not a bad idea.” He said with a straight face. “Take what you feel is important. I’ll check them properly before we go home though.” I didn’t like the idea of Lorenzo checking my stuff, but I understood why it was necessary. The man likely had a lot of enemies. “No clothes though. You can get new ones later.”

I nodded once, biting my lips.

“What?”

“Can I get a phone?” He stared at me blankly. “I’ll pay you back when I can access my money,”

He didn’t respond, but he didn’t say no either. I looked for a bag and stuffed some important things in it before Lorenzo started rushing me. As we drove away, I looked back at the house, knowing my life had changed forever,

My parents were gone and I was living under a dictator, who wanted me to take permission from him before I even went out. I wasn’t sure how the rest of my life was going to go, but one thing was for sure, I was going to find who killed my family and I would make them pay with their blood.

I had never been interested in the mafia, but I wouldn’t mind getting involved if it meant avenging their death. I was the last family they had left. I wasn’t alive for nothing.