ログインAngelicaSilence.Everything around me goes silent as I stand frozen, taking in the scattered apartment.Someone came in here and ruined it. The couches are pulled apart, curtains lying torn on the floor, the center table deserted in a corner.Thieves!My mind jumps, and as if fueled by an invisible force, I push my starved body across the living room to my bedroom. The bed is unmade, pillows stabbed, with light feathers flying everywhere, my laptop bag conveniently hanging off the edge of the bed frame as if it were stuck there. My closet door is wide open, and my stomach drops instantly.The closet is dark, but I don’t need light to know. I can tell it’s just as trashed. “Please no,” I mutter, nearing the light switch with trembling hands. If my clothes are torn, or worse my jewelry, watches and other accessories have been stolen, what would I do? How would I explain it to Nicolas? Or even get the money to pay him back?“Please,” I say it like a prayer, before turning on the ligh
AngelicaI still feel hollow.Not just in my stomach, but everywhere else.“I could’ve sworn my brother has a better personality than this,” Marina says as we settle in the backseat of her car. “But, going through this while you’ve been living on barely anything. Why didn’t you speak up?” She frowns.Earlier, back in the apartment, I’d told her that Marciano and I didn’t have any issues that I know of between us and she’d nodded slowly after what seemed like a careful thought. Then she pushed me into my room to change into something more suitable.“We’re getting you everything you need and don’t need!” She’d declared when I came out with a determined expression in her eyes.Now in the car, I’m on a silent mission: To evade her questions as much as possible, because I don’t think I’ll be able to lie to her anymore.“I just… I don’t want people talking,” I say, a little too quickly, even though it’s only half the truth. It’s the only version I want her to know. She stares at me long and
AngelicaMy phone pings the second I shut my laptop, done with my two lectures for today. A smile spread across my face as I grab it, swiping up to the text from the only other person now who would text me.‘So, I did ask around and I found two with really high ratings and good reviews.’ The text reads.‘Great! Thank you. I’ll check them out.’ I send.‘And I’m sorry for any inconvenience.’The three bubbles pop up, indicating Alex is still typing but I tap on the first link he sent, leading me to my browser, and away from his text.While my last lecture was going on, Alex and I were texting each other. It wasn’t for fun or leisure, but for my survival.Just this morning I’d eaten the last batch of cereal, with the last glass of milk, and currently, the entire apartment is empty. So, I’d asked Alex if he knew any pawn shops and he said he’d ask around for me.Back home with Nicolas, I would never have dreamed of the idea of a pawn shop because not only did he provide all I needed—at a
AngelicaThe clanking of tableware and light conversation isn’t enough to make me ignore my reality, so much that I can barely eat.However, it’s during moments like this that I’m grateful no one pays attention to me.“Why aren’t you eating?” Marciano’s voice sends a ripple of shivers down my spine. I raise my head to meet his faraway, but piercing gaze. I fold my lips into my mouth, shaking my head slightly.Nicolas chuckles lightly and clears his throat.“She’s probably already used to the food at her new home. Aren’t you?”“No. I’m barely eating anything savory at my new home,” I want to scream, but I suppress the urge, nodding instead with a smile of my own. Feeling Marciano’s eyes on me, I lift my fork and knife, trying to cut a piece of meat. So what? He’s going to sit here and watch me eat, when he wouldn’t care if I starved tomorrow?I barely slice through the steak on purpose, stalling.This dinner feels like a test—how far I can be pushed before I break—when Marciano pulls
Angelica I stare at the big rock on my ring finger, cozying up to the view of the city below me. I’ve been married for four days now, and I’ve only seen Marciano once. Not that I’m complaining. If anything, I like the solitude, because he’s the last person I want in my space. Especially after that afternoon at D’amato mansion where I caught him staring at me like someone who couldn’t wait to choke me to death. But, I have a problem; Nicolas. I had just finished tidying up my plates after lunch when his call came in. “Don’t you think it’s high time you bring your husband home for dinner?” He asked. I had wanted to tell him it’d be impossible, since Marciano had warned me to stay away from him, but he cut me off with his next words and hung up. “Tonight, Angelica. Do not mess this up.” I didn’t want to mess anything up, that’s why even though I’m running out of food here, I never called anyone for help, but now Nicolas wants me to ask Marciano to dinner? And he thinks that’s not
Marciano“I think we found the guy.” Lifting my gaze to the doorway, I find my cousin and one of my underbosses, Leo, leaning on the frame, his arms folded, with a murderous glint in his eyes.Bloodlust. It’s a D’amato thing.And lately it’s been more apparent in the eyes of every Made member of the family due to the recent happenings. We were being disrespected. Blatantly and publicly too.With a nod, I rise from the wingback chair in my study, dropping the document I was lost in on the round coffee table with a loud thud.“Where?”“At the border. He was trying to leave Boston,” Leo reports, swinging into my study as he speaks. “He had a whole truck full of essentials; food, money, weapons…weed.”I clench my teeth hard. “I don’t know if I should be impressed or annoyed that he waited it out for this long before trying to escape.” Instead of replying, I grab my suit jacket from the coat rack on the opposite side of the room a
Marciano“Boss,” Gabriele bows, “you called for me?”I nod once, bringing my glass of water to my lips. I take a sip, my eyes coasting over to my wife for a second, before returning to his face.“Che è successo?” (What happened?)I don’t need to explain. He already knows
Angelica “My arm?” I ask, turning around to face Marina with wide eyes. “Yes, you have a bruise on your arm,” she says and tries to turn me around to inspect it but I stop her, taking a step back. “It looks pretty bad. What happened?” I reach out and clutch the area where I’ve been feeling a
Angelica I shift uncomfortably in the car seat as the car begins to move, my journal tugging at the forefront of my mind. I shouldn’t go back. Every instinct I have tells me not to. But the thought of my journal in Nicolas’ hands, and the fact that this might be my only opportunity to get it b
Angelica I wake with a start, my heart pounding violently in my ears, my breath coming out in short, uneven bursts as I push myself upright. I had that dream—no, that nightmare again. The one from that night. My fingers curl into the sheets as a sharp shiver runs down my spine. I hadn’t dreamed o







