She Is Very Stubborn

“She is going to kill herself after the funeral. It’s for sure."

Luca pinched the bridge of his nose, his arms over his chest, as his consigliere talked behind him, staring at the screen in front of them.

“She is waning away, and you know that. The funeral is tomorrow, and she is already looking like a corpse for the coffin."

“She is very stubborn."

His consigliere marched up to the laptop and switched it off, gaining his attention.

"That's all the more reason you have to consider Luca."

“The maids said she isn’t touching her food even after threatening her with her father’s funeral. She is tight on herself; I don’t know how to deal with women, Angelo, especially the stubborn ones."

He threw his hands up in the air.

“She will die, Luca."

"Oh, she better do that before her father’s funeral so I can get her over with. Her father had been a loyal friend and underboss, but you know what? He did what was unforgivable, and his penalty was death. People died, Angelo."

He whispered the last words.

“An eye for an eye that was what they said and wanted!”

“Maybe you should start with taking that chain off her legs so she can move around the room. For God’s sake, Luca, she’s a woman who needs to take her bath and have a say at least within the four walls of the prison you have her in. Jesus."

Luca made his way to the laptop and switched it back on, his eyes took in the woman behind the screen.

She was singing softly, rocking on her knees, her brown hair, which he had felt the day she fainted with her father on her lap.

Her soft silky hair now looked like a bird’s nest. Her dress was the only thing she changed, and she purposely chose the worn out ones.

He never wanted her to turn out this way; if only she would listen and stopped acting stubborn for once.

He had known her since she was a teenager when he recruited Peter into the family. Calm, collected, and demure. Speaks when spoken to but now…

Luca switched off the laptop and picked it up, tucked it under his arm. Then he turned to his consigliere.

“You may leave. Do what I asked you to do, and no questions about it."

“But Luca she…”

“No questions now, Angelo. Do as I said and get it done before they know."

With that said. He exited the room.

He nodded to the soldiers lining the hallways as he made his way towards the one place he knew he needed to be.

Luca continuously ran his hand through his hair. He didn’t know what to say to her if he saw her, but he knew he had to try.

Arriving at the door. He knocked once, alerting her of his presence, then pushed it.

He got himself in where he dropped his laptop on the table next to the door.

His eyes took in the scene before him.

He knew what being kept in one place could mean for someone who had been a free bird all through her life, though sheltered.

Insanity.

“Yes, Dad, I know you said you were going to take me there."

Sophia's eyes widened as she fake-gasped.

"Jesus, Dad. Don’t be ridiculous right now."

Her eyes lifted to Luca from the bed as she lay face up to the ceiling and smiled.

“Someone's here, Dad. Hmm your murderer… hmm… I don’t know if he’s coming to kill me soon, Dad…. But yeah, I think I would love to join you and Mom… Yeah, yeah, Dad, bye. See you soon."

She dropped her hand from her ear like she was finished with her call.

“You heard it. They’re waiting, so kill me already so I can join my father tomorrow."

Luca sighed. Oh, so she remembered.

He walked slowly to the bed, then dropped to his knees at the foot, his tongue coming out to lick his lips, which her eyes followed.

“I really don’t know what to say, Sophia, but you need to stop this madness of yours. You need to eat and get ready for your father’s funeral tomorrow."

“Funeral?”

Sophia guffawed, her laugh echoed through the walls.

“What funeral, mine or my dad’s? Please explain what you mean."

Luca didn’t reply, only slid his right hand into his pocket and withdrew a tiny key.

He slid it into the chain lock at the end of the bedpost, and she scrambled away, causing him to hold down her leg.

“Shh, steady. Only just want to unlock it."

The lock opened and the chains fell to the bed, clunking together, which he gathered and threw on the floor.

Sophia's eyes followed every movement until she reached his face.

“Why did you do that?”

“You need to take a good hot shower and eat, and tomorrow you get ready for your father’s funeral."

He said and stood up.

He crossed the room to the adjoining doors by the left side of the room. After a few seconds she heard the sound of water running before he emerged, his hands outstretched.

“You can get along now."

"No."

Luca scrunched his face up as his eyes blazed and he balled his fists; gosh, he knew how patient and tolerant he was really trying to be right now.

“Why?”

He ambled to her side of the bed and stood glaring down at her.

“I want you out of here so I can bathe,” she murmured.

“Is that all?” He asked.

Sophia nodded.

“Ok, consider it done. Everything you need is inside there. Your body wash and everything. The other door there," he pointed to the door at the right side of the bed, “is the closet. It’s full of whatever you want. I’m out."

He grabbed his laptop and left the room.

“Asshole”

Sophia drew her leg up to inspect the bruises on her ankle before leaving for the bathroom.

While she was in the bathroom, soaking in the bathtub with her leg propped on the edge of the tub. Her hand fiddled with her hair while the other played with the bubbles from the water.

A knock resounded lightly from her room door, which she heard but stayed silent about.

The knock continued for a minute and then stopped. She breathed out, relaxing back in the tub.

They could all go fuck themselves.