Amelia
After we stop at the gas station, I close my eyes but can’t sleep. All I can think about is what has happened between Frankie and me the last two nights. He was so emotional, passionate, and determined that it’s making me question everything. I mean, does he really love me? Did he mean what he said about me being his again?
A part of me ignited on fire when he said those words, and I wanted to walk to him and kiss
him like my life depended on it. It’s all I wanted since we broke up: a chance to be together again. To be something, because we belong to each other, I can feel it. But there’s still that little voice inside me that reminds me about the heartbreak he put me through. He left me. He left me, and I barely survived. I drank myself into oblivion and tried to party away my feelings, but every night, no matter how drunk I was, I would cry for him. I don’t understand how he could leave me so coldly then and want me so passionately now.
I don’t think I’d survive if he walked away from me again, and what’s going to stop him from
doing that? He’s made it very clear that the family business comes first, and I’ll never be his top priority. I’m expendable.
I thought I’d moved on, but I now know I haven’t. I didn’t get any proper closure. I didn’t move on. I’m still as broken as the day he told me it was over and walked away.
I was stupid to talk to the cashier about where we were going, and I know Frankie is livid, but
it’s not like I can speak to him after everything that’s happened. I was trying to be amicable, and I was trying to get along and make the best of a terrible situation, just like Papa said, but it’s backfired so badly now, and I don’t know what else to do.
I doze off eventually, and when I wake, the sun is rising, and we’re driving up a winding dirt road.
“Where are we?” I ask curiously, stretching as much as I can in the cramped space.
“This is where we’re staying,” Frankie says, but he offers no more information than that. We turn around some trees, and a cabin comes into view. “How far are we from the town?” “Not far. It’s just down the road,” he says, his tone cold.
“Frankie, I’m sorry I spoke out of turn, but we can’t act cold to each other while we’re on the
run,” I say irritably. “I made a damn mistake.”
“A mistake that can cost us our lives,” Frankie snaps. “Don’t do it again.” I fall silent and sit back. There’s nothing more to say.
He pulls up to the cabin, and I get out, getting my own luggage and lugging it toward the door. He doesn’t say anything, and I’m grateful he isn’t pushing the issue of us being together, either. It seems he’s going to ignore me for the time being, which suits me better. It gives me time to think about what I want.
We get settled in separate rooms, and when I return to the living area, Frankie is there, talking
on the phone. I frown and wait until he’s off it. “I thought we weren’t allowed our phones.”
“This is a burner phone,” he says. “I’ll toss it in a few days.”
I sigh and look around. “Do we have food?”
“Everything is fully stocked. There’s another car for us to use around the side of the house. We’ll take that one when we leave. I have to go into town to do business. Stay put.” “So, I can’t go anywhere?” I ask incredulously.
Frankie looks at me. No, his eyes bore into mine. I don’t see the passion from the other night. It’s a cold, piercing gaze. “We’re on the run for our lives.”
“Yeah, but you’re going into town. Can I at least eat at a restaurant or something? Just to get
out.”
He sighs and takes out some money, handing it to me. “Don’t stay out all day, and Amelia,” he steps closer to me, and my breath catches, “don’t tell anyone your real name or where we’re staying. If you see anything suspicious, come downtown West Chester to The Congo, it’s a big club, but I’ll be upstairs in the main office. Report straight to me, don’t come back here alone.” I nod. “I understand,” I say quietly before he turns and leaves.
I’m surprised he’s not getting some sleep first.
I spend some time going to restaurants each day, and sometimes I go to the clubs in the evening
to hang out because at least there’s music there. Everything is so dull, though, and I feel like I can’t talk to anyone in case I let something slip. I also feel paranoid, like I have to constantly check that no one is following me.
Frankie lets me know we’ll be leaving on Saturday for the next venue, but he refuses to tell me
where we’re going, so I decide to grab lunch at the restaurant that’s quickly become my favorite.
On Monday, I order a steak with fries and vegetables and sip a glass of wine while I wait. The atmosphere is so friendly here. It’s somewhere I like to come because I can forget about who I am and who owns me just for a while.
I tuck into my food when it arrives, and I’m satisfied. I think about how I’m trapped in this world, this mobster world. The one that I had wanted to distance myself from for so many years. I thought I could escape it, but now my fate is tied to it, and I will never get out. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks, and I silently mourn the life I could have had, the freedom and the normality. I
envy my friends back home who don’t have their moves and lives dictated to them because it might be bad for the family.
I finish my food but decide to order some pumpkin pie for dessert-I’ll have a different one
every day until I’ve tasted them all. After this, I will go to the club and maybe blow off some steam dancing. Also, I know it irritates the shit out of Frankie because so many guys buy me drinks.
The chair opposite mine slides out, and I look up into a familiar face that makes my heart stop.
I set my fork down and stare into the eyes of Andres, Dave’s older brother.
“Amelia,” he says quietly, tilting his head. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to hurt you. I haven’t been sent here by anyone. I’m here on my own.”
I eye him suspiciously. Frankie warned me not to trust anyone. “Your family is trying to kill
Frankie and me. How am I supposed to believe anything you say, Andres.”
He nods, his hazel eyes meeting mine, and he smiles. When the waitress comes over, he
orders a milkshake and a plate of fries. The waitress glances at me to check if I’m okay, and I nod. I don’t want to make a scene and draw attention to myself.
We sit for a moment in silence, and Andres finally laces his fingers together and rests his hand
on the table. “I know my uncle is looking for you both and that he means to kill Frankie to gain power over New York and other territories.”
I sip my wine. “Tell me something I don’t know, Andres. What do you want?”
“I want to offer you a proposal. An alliance to topple my uncle from power.”
Frankie
I feel like I’m back where I belong: behind a desk attending to the family business. I see many
areas that the club can improve in, and I know the people we need to get on board and on our payroll. It shouldn’t be too hard, and I make the necessary meetings and calls.
Amelia doesn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that I’m not home much. She acts as though it
doesn’t matter. I know she goes into town every day for lunch even though I’ve told her to keep a low profile, and she comes to the club in the evenings.
While I’m happy to have her where I can see her, I also see the many men who flock to her
each night to buy her drinks in the hopes of getting lucky. It’s this kind of situation that’s going to get us killed.
There’s one in particular that she seems to hang around every night and have intense conversations with. It makes me nervous. He’s too familiar with her, and I don’t know what she’s telling him. If she’s giving away information about us, that can be used to target us.
I send one of the bouncers out to call her in, and when she comes in, I stand. “Amelia, who’s
the guy you’re talking to?”
“Oh, I actually know him from way back when,” she admits, and I growl, “He recognizes you,
Amelia. That’s dangerous for us.”
Before she can say anything, I continue, “We’re supposed to be lying low, not having men follow you around like puppy dogs. Now someone actually recognizes you. We need to move on from here.”
“Frankie, it’s nothing serious. We’re not in danger. You need to stop trying to micro-manage
every damn situation in my life.”
“You’ve never been to Pennsylvania before, so how does he know you?”
“Through some mutual friends, if you really need to know. I think it’s best you back off from
telling me who I can and can’t talk to. I’m tired of being lorded over like a little servant.”
I growl, “Because you act like a petulant child with no regard for your own life or others. Stay away from other men or stay home, Amelia, I mean it.”
She places her hands on her hips. “I don’t need to be bossed around, Frankie. I spent years trying to get out from under my father’s thumb because he controlled my every move. All I’ve ever wanted is to make my own choices, good or bad, and have freedom. I was sold like a slave to you, and now you’re worse than he is.”
There’s so much I want to say, including telling her not to compare me to her father, but she’s
already turning for the door, so I keep quiet.
I watch her on the cameras as she goes back to the bar and orders another drink. Her friend
comes to join her again, and they get stuck in animated conversation again. I know I should trust her not to put us in danger, but she’s so naive. She doesn’t understand this world as I do. She’s always been sheltered from the risks, first by her father and then by me.
They look like they’re having a serious conversation. I use the controls to zoom in on his face
and take a still photo of him.
I take out a burner cell, and I call Alessandro.
“What is it?”
“I think we have a potential problem,” I say, walking to my desk and sitting down. “I’m going
to send you a photo of a guy. I need to check out his background and if he’s tied to Jose in any way.”
“You sure you’re not just being paranoid? I know you’re on edge,” Alessandro says. “What’s
he doing that’s so suspicious?”
“He’s been talking to Amelia,” I say.
“So, it’s jealously then,” my brother chuckles, but I remain stoic.
“She says it’s a friend she knows, and she’s never been in this area, so he’s probably from New York,” I explain.
My brother falls silent. “Destroy this phone after you send the picture.”
“I’ll call back in three days. I need the information by then so I can plot my next move. I might
skip the next destination and go straight on; in case he’s trying to figure out our plan.”
“Noted. Keep an eye on Amelia and have one of the guys keep an eye on the friend, who he
talks to, and where he stays. We need to find out as much as possible,” Alessandro says. “I have to go. I have a meeting now. Send the photo. I’ll expect your call in three days.”
He hangs up, and I take the phone apart. I cut up the sim card and drop the phone parts in a
pitcher of water.
I press a buzzer on my intercom. “Romeo, come here.”
A large, intimidating bouncer walks in and stands in front of my desk. “What do you need help with boss?”
“See that guy talking to my wife?” I point at the camera, and he nods.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on them all night,” he says.
“When he leaves, I want you to tail him, find out as much information as you can about where
he’s staying, if he has anyone with him, and what his plans are. Everything you can find out,” I instruct him. “I need to know if we’re in danger.”
“You got it,” Romeo says, walking out again.
I get up and go back to the cameras. I watch Amelia laughing with the guy until, eventually, he stands up and leaves. When he doesn’t come back, I simply watch Amelia.
She’s been oblivious to the fact that I haven’t paid any attention to her. It’s clear she doesn’t
return my feelings. I turn away and go back to my desk, opening the ledgers on the table.
I don’t know if staying another three days is a good idea, but if this guy is connected to Jose, I
don’t want him to know we’re onto him. If he is, we’ll slip away quietly, and Amelia will be under house arrest for the remainder of this road trip.
My fists clench as the thought crosses my mind about whether this is more than a friend, maybe an ex-lover.
I tell myself it doesn’t matter because she doesn’t feel that way about you. You can’t control
her. You can’t keep her caged up forever.
But I do need to protect her, not only because her father asked me to but because I know it will
kill me if something happens to her.
I finish up balancing the books, making everything ready for the accountant to sort out. Then I
pack up for the night, grabbing my car keys, and walking out of the office. I make my way to the bar where Amelia is talking to two guys, flirting to high heaven.
I tap her on the shoulder and nod my head toward the door. “Come on. It’s time to go home.” “Hey buddy, move off. We were here first,” the blond twenty-something-year-old tells me.
My eyes flash dangerous, and I incline my head. “My wife is going home with me. Right
now,” I say dangerously. “And if you ever step into this club again, it’s the last steps you’ll ever take”
I signal for the bouncers who come over and grab the two wide-eyed guys. Amelia is staring
at me in horror. Once the bouncers have left with her two friends, she grabs her car keys, glares at me, and storms through the partying crowd.
I follow with a sigh. Sometimes I feel more like her parent than her husband.