But I don’t know whether Moretti wants me to live or if he’d be fine with me dying.
If Matteo is dead, I want to go too.
But that’s another stupid thought.
I’m carrying our child.I have to live!
I hear footsteps coming back to the kitchen, and the reappearance of Moretti is preceded by his harsh, very nasal laugh as he jokes about something with his men.
“Quite the pad Rovina has here,” he says.“Too bad I couldn’t take it for myself before.But I will now.Along with his woman, I think.That should make him roll in his grave, don’t you think?”
His men laugh harshly as they nod and tell him, “Yes, Boss.”He gives me a lustful look that makes my skin crawl like a thousand maggots are writhing across it.
“You’re not getting this house,” I tell him.“And you’re certainly not getting me.”
That makes him laugh that annoying nasal laugh of his.“I wasn’t actually asking you.And I’m sure you’re used to doing what you’re told, Gianna Codelli.”
He knows my name.How does he know my name?
But that’s the least of my worries right now.
“I’ll never do anything you tell me to do,” I snap.“And I won’t have to.Matteo will be back to kill you any minute now.”
He laughs again, but this time a shadow of fear crosses his face.Maybe Matteo is still alive!
“He doesn’t know I’m here,” he says and my heart leaps for joy.“And where he thinks I am, only machine guns are waiting for him.He won’t survive trying to find me there.Just like no one who tried to enter my house before did.”
He finds that incredibly funny and having to listen to his laugh kills the last spark of joy in my heart.
He sits down at the head of the kitchen table, lays his machine gun on it, and unbuttons his jacket.
“I think we have some time to kill before Matteo realizes what a fatal mistake he made trying to come after me,” he says.“And I like the smell of that sauce.Why don’t you and the cook fix us a couple of plates.”
Maria is still just praying, lost in her own trance, everything that is happening probably too much for her to process.She loved everyone from the Rovina family and she had already lost them all once.Matteo was her only hope.And now he’s as good as gone too.
“Why don’t you just get your own food,” I say and cross my arms over my chest.“I’m not serving you.”
A very mean look crosses his face as he leans forward and grabs hold of his machine gun again.“You know, I like my women a lot more obedient.Maybe instead of taking you myself, I’ll just give you to my men to have some fun with while we wait.Wouldn’t you like that, Enzo?”
He looks at the man standing beside his chair.Enzo gives me a lewd look and licks his lips, before saying, “That would be very nice of you indeed, Boss.Very nice indeed.”
Their combined gazes feel like dirty, cold hands touching me.I should shut up now, do as I’m told and maybe I can avoid getting raped.But I’ve spent my whole life backing down, doing what I was supposed to and staying quiet.Not anymore.
“And what would your wives think of that?”
They look surprised for a second and Maria grabs my arm, her eyes wide with fear as she shakes her head at me to stop talking.
“No wives, no children,” Moretti says.“That’s always been the rule.No weaknesses.Just ask the Rovinas how hard it was to watch everyone they loved die.Oh, wait, you can’t because you’re all dead.”
That has him and his men laughing meanly again.
Maria stands up and slips the crucifix into the pocket of her wide skirt.“I’ll serve you the food.We both will.”
I open my mouth to protest, but she gives me a sharp look, shaking her head once.So I stand up and walk with her to the counter.
“That’s a lot better,” Moretti says.“You’re learning.Maybe I’ll let you see your father in a little bit.”
I look at him sharply, but Maria grabs my arm and squeezes me tight as she pulls me to the stove.
