“I’m a bit surprised to see you, honestly,” I tell her. “I didn’t think Massimo would approve.”
Rosa shrugs. “He won’t when he finds out. But now that you’ve seen my face there’s no point in continuing to hide from you.” She pauses, struggling with her knot. “I didn’t know they were planning to kidnap you, you know. I mean, I knew they were planningsomething, but didn’t know what. If I knew, I would’ve tried to convince them not to go through with it. I mean come on, this is crazy. But when Massimo gets an idea in his head, he can be pretty stubborn.”
“I think I’m starting to see that,” I agree.
She looks me in the eye. “I only found out he’d taken you when Massimo showed up yesterday morning with you in tow. I hopped onto my Vespa when I saw that and just kept driving. I must have circled the island three times. I didn’t want to have anything to do with this. But I came back finally, figuring you’d need company. But he wouldn’t let me see you. I don’t care if he disapproves anymore.”
I rest a hand on top of hers for a moment. “Thank you.”
We work on our knots for a time.
“He wasn’t always so dark, you know,” Rosa says. “His downward spiral only really began the day your father tried to have him killed. Massimo didn’t tell any of us for the longest time. He just kept it bottled in. Because of the state he was in that night—his face pale, his eyes distant, his hands shaking—we thought he’d gotten into a street fight or something. We eventually figured you must have broken up with him, because we’d gotten used to seeing you two together, and from that day on, you never showed up again.”
I nod sadly. “After Massimo vanished, father began to become more strict. That was when my downward spiral into hermit life began. It only got worse when my mother died. It was so hard. First losing Massimo. Then Mamma.”
Rosa looks at me curiously. “What happened to her?”
I shake my head. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
“I understand.”
We concentrate on our knots. Into the silence, I say: “I never figured out why he stopped texting me. Massimo, I mean. He could have told me what happened. Instead, he ghosted me.”
Rosa shakes her head. “He couldn’t even tellusat first, remember. I don’t think he knew how to handle it. He got a new phone after what happened, along with a new SIM card. I think he was scared your father would hunt him down. So it’s not surprising he didn’t text you.”
“He could have visited me outside my room, like he did that night, and told me…” I insist.
“Maybe,” Rosa says. “But would you, if the father of the woman you wanted to see had already tried to kill you?”
“Probably not,” I admit.
“When he finally revealed what happened, my brothers wanted to kill your father, but he held them back, telling them they couldn’t just rush your estate because they’d all die. He said they’d have to bide their time and wait for the right moment to strike. So they waited, listening to him. I think a part of him didn’t want to harm your father, because doing so meant he’d harm you, indirectly.”
“He actually told me something to that effect already,” I agree. “He also said, he’s not sure he’s going to go through with any of this. Especially the part about killing my father. Not sure if he means it, though.”
“If he told you he’s not sure, then he’s not sure,” Rosa says.
I force a smile. “Thanks. So it sounds like Massimo is the leader among your brothers?”
Rosa considers that for a moment. “I suppose he is. They listen to him. Usually.”
“Is he your leader, too?” I ask.
Rosa studies me cautiously. “If he asked me to do something not related to the business, I’d do it. But he knows I won’t do anything mafia related.”
I wonder if I should tell her what’s on my mind. I waver for only a second, and decide to go for it. “So I guess that means you won’t help me escape.”
Rosa exhales for a long moment. She hesitates, holding my eye, then finally looks away. “I would, but I can’t. I just can’t betray them. They’ve done everything for me. I’m sorry. I promise they won’t hurt you, though. They just want the money.”
I flash her an ironic smile. “Yes, your brothers won’t hurt me, but that doesn’t mean whoever they sell me to won’t.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Rosa says. “You will get hurt at the end of this, no matter what happens.”
“Talk to Massimo at least,” I tell her. “Convince him to let me go.”
“I’ve tried, believe me.” Rosa finally works her knot free. “He won’t listen to me. He’s blinded by dollar signs.” She glances at me conspiratorially. “He does like you, though. He’s never gotten over you, I can see it in the way he looks at you. So you have that working in your favor.”
I grin sadly. “I like him, too, but I don’t know if our mutual feelings are enough to save us. Not in this dark world we live in. If we were normal people, living normal lives, maybe. But he’s a gangster looking to sell me to the highest bidder, and I’m his prisoner.” I gather my thoughts for a moment. “He’s like two different people. The Massimo I knew from before. And the Massimo today. It’s like the two are fighting, and I’m just afraid that the Massimo I knew is losing to the Massimo of today.”
