DAMON
I WAKE UP out of a deep sleep from the sound of yelling coming from downstairs. My fists rub at my eyes as I try to make sense of what’s happening. It’s either really late or really early. I’m not sure which.
Climbing out of bed, I tiptoe and stand at the cracked door. Mama always leaves it open for me.
The yelling grows louder. And then there’s a moment of silence before a resounding slap followed by mama’s cries fill my ears.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Ciccone?” I hear my father roar.
Giorgio Ciccone.
I know that name well. That’s Papa’s boss. And he’s also the father of Victoria, the girl next door with the pretty, blue eyes that I’m gonna marry someday.
Victoria is nice, but her father is mean like the monsters in my sci-fi books.
I’m ten years old, and I’m still afraid of monsters. Not the ones that live in the dark, though. But the ones who come out in the daytime. Like Mr. Ciccone.
“You killed my wife,” Mr. Ciccone’s gravelly voice accuses.
“It was an accident!” Papa pleads.
“You were driving! She wasn’t even supposed to be gone that day!”
“It was an accident! It was a horrible accident!” Papa sobs.
I’m confused as I listen to the two men yell back and forth. I never knew Papa was driving the car Victoria’s mother had the accident in. I always thought she was the one who was driving. At least, that’s what Victoria told me.
Oh man, if Victoria ever found out my dad was the one who killed her mom…she’d never forgive me. She might never talk to me again.
“Out on one of your joyrides most likely,” he says with a bitter laugh. “You know, I found the love letters you wrote to my wife. She kept them in her jewelry box…right next to her wedding ring,” he scoffs. “I know you two were fucking behind my back.”
I slap my hands over my ears. He just said a very bad word.
The rest of what they say is muffled until I finally remove my hands.
“You think you can fuck with me without consequences?” Ciccone asks. “Don’t you know who I fucking am?” he roars, and then I hear a sickening thud.
“Leave my Daddy alone!” a small voice screams.
Sara?
My older sister is downstairs with Mama and Papa!
I open the door and run to the landing to look down into the foyer where I see Ciccone and his men. Mama and Sara are being held by two huge men, and Papa is on his knees on the floor. His shirt is torn, and the side of his face that I can see is swollen and bloody.
I watch the tears streaking down my mother and sister’s faces, and my own eyes fill with tears. I’m frozen in place, too scared to move or even speak.
Something bad is going to happen.
I just don’t know what.
Pointing to Mama and Sara, Ciccone says, “Get them out of here. Sell them to the highest bidder.”
To the highest bidder? What does that even mean? Where are they taking them? I want to cry or scream out, but I’m too scared. I’m a coward. I’m a freaking coward!
“No!” my father cries out as they are forced outside. He stands and tries to attack Mr. Ciccone, but the other men tackle him to the ground and start beating him.
Then, Mr. Ciccone stalks towards the front door and says over his shoulder, “Burn this house to the fucking ground.”
