Debt to the Mafia

Chapter 21

I was quiet was the whole journey back to the house. If I didn’t think that Michele wasn’t interested in me before, I definitely do now. Alexandra is gorgeous and mature, her body was immaculate and I could never compete with someone like that. If she was his ex then he would be downgrading if he ever got with me. I was short and average whereas she was tall and outstanding. The other thing I wanted to know is how she ‘broke his heart’. He must have been madly in love with her to get to the point of heart break. Why hasn’t he ever mentioned her?

We arrived back at the house and I tried to push the negative thoughts to the back of my mind. I didn’t want the guys to see me troubled by something and pestering me about it. The last thing I needed was for them to rub it in my face. Mario and Renzo took my bags to my room while I went into the living room to relax. Nico was sitting there tapping away on his laptop and didn’t notice me until I slumped down onto the sofa. 

“Amelia! You made me jump!” He chuckled and I flashed him a quick grin. I was doing such a good job at hiding my emotions already.

“What’s bothering you?” He asked. I shook my head and gazed down at my hands that were placed in my lap. I tucked my knees up to my chest and wedged my feet onto the edge of the sofa.

“Nothing, I’m just...” I couldn’t tell Nico about Alexandra. If I did then he would probably tell me about all the wonderful memories they had together and I just didn’t want to hear it. 

“I’m just worried about Michele. He’s been dodging my calls and texts and I just want to know where he is” I avoided. Nico put his laptop down onto the table and came over to sit next to me. I must admit, the fact that he looks so much like Michele made me miss him even more. His dark stubble matched his perfectly, the shape of his face was similar and he had the same gentle look that Michele has when he’s being emotional. 

“He’s gathering information on Ezio’s whereabouts. He’s been tracking his movements for the past few days and investigating his plans through the moles he has in his gang” he confessed. My eyes widened at the truth that Nico had finally told me.

“What?! But he’s putting himself in danger! It’s over now, we are safe here” I excused but Nico shook his head and took my hand. 

“Amelia, Ezio is a stubborn man. When he has his eyes set on something he wants, he doesn’t just give up. Michele is doing this to ensure you are protected and safe from him”. I pulled my hand away with aggression. 

“If I hear the words ‘safe’ or ‘protection’ one more time then I’m gonna lose it. I don’t need everyone to try and wrap me in bubble wrap. This is my fathers and Ezio’s fault, they’re the ones who are to blame in all of this. If my dad didn’t sell me then Michele wouldn’t be in this position and if Ezio took me then you would all be able to go back to normal!” I blurted out. Nico placed his hand on my cheek and turned my head gently to make eye contact with me. 

“Don’t say things like that Amelia. In the 8 days that you’ve been here I have already seen a change in Michele and the men that follow him. Everyone started to act like soldiers without feelings but when you came here and showed that you cared about Mario the way you did, they started relax a bit more and actually have a laugh with one another. That’s because they witnessed your selflessness in helping one of our own. When it comes to Michele, he’s so much calmer with you around” he told me. 

“That’s a lie, just look at my face, look at the bruises on my neck” I reminded him and he blinked heavily.

“I know it’s hard to understand but when Michele switches like that he never stops. Even if he does, he never ever shows any remorse” Nico deepened his tone.

“He was devastated Amelia, he hated himself and didn’t know how to handle his emotions at the time. He finished Jace off and left because he thought that you would never forgive him” he revealed. I widened my eyes and said “finished him off? How?”. A cold chill went down my spine when I realised what he meant before he said it.

“He killed him. It sounds bad but when he’s mad like that he doesn’t kill anyone quickly, however with Jace he did”. I didn’t know whether to be proud or disgusted by what Nico was telling me. The thought of Michele killing Jace was something I couldn’t comprehend. But I know that this is his life and he has to kill to survive, sometimes to gain respect. I also know that he did it for my sake, so that he wasn’t walking around free and in this world you can’t just hand people over to the police without them snooping. 

“You’re important to every one of us Amelia” Nico distracted me from my thoughts. I smiled at him sweetly and blushed. His hand still lightly holding my cheek. 

“Well isn’t this cosy” a familiar voice rumbled from the doorway. We both jolted and turned our heads to see Michele standing there with his arms folded. He didn’t look impressed and I could tell he was already making assumptions.

“Fratello! (brother!)” Nico yelped in shock.

“When did you get back?”. Michele flicked his eyes between us and then smirked.

“Just now”

“Why didn’t you let me know you were on your way back?” Nico asked and Michele sniggered to himself.

“Because I’m a 27 year old man who can do as he pleases” he smugly answered. Nico lowered his brows at his sarcastic response. 

“I would like to speak to you in my office in 10 minutes” he directed at Nico, completely ignoring me all together. He turned around and walked away. I jumped up out of my seat to chase after him. 

“Is there anything else you want to say? Or is that it?” I exploded at him as I rushed up the stairs behind him.

“What was you expecting me to say Amelia?” He replied, making his way down the hall to his office.

“Oh I don’t know, hello Amelia? I’m sorry for leaving without saying goodbye without an explanation?” I suggested. We entered his office and I shut the door behind me. Michele didn’t respond to me until he perched himself on the edge of his desk. 

“I don’t need to tell you about my business” he finally said in a dull tone.

“I don’t even get a sorry from you. Can you see what you did to me?” I snapped pointing at the bruises he had made on my face and neck. He sighed deeply and bowed his head, letting his hands catch it and he rubbed his forehead. I scoffed at him and shook my head.

“That’s why you’re getting all cosied up with my brother, for sympathy” he argued. 

“Are you f*****g serious?! Nico is the first one out of everyone to be nice to me. He has been supportive, kind and treats me like a human! I don’t see him as anything more than a friend, maybe even a brother!” I yelled.

“He doesn’t treat me with disrespect” I paused.

“Am I really just an item to you? Something that you bought and that you’re now bored with?” I asked. He flicked his head up to look at me, his expression tense and defensive.

“Of course you’re not!” He exclaimed. I could feel tears threatening to build up in my eyes as all of the emotional pain and suffering I have felt over the past 8 days suddenly invaded my thoughts. 

“You know, I really started to let my guard down with you. I don’t have anywhere to call home anymore and I have no one I can trust. I thought that you were the one person I could trust. Behind all of that pain and all of that... dickhead behaviour; there was someone good and caring and... trustworthy”  I trailed off into a whisper. My voice began to quiver as the tears formed. 

“I actually started to fall for you. Isn’t that crazy? In 8 days I started to fall for the one person that treated me like s**t! The moment you showed me your sensitive side was the moment I saw someone worth being around” I confessed. His eyes were wide and he was sitting up straight, listening to every word I was saying carefully. He looked shocked.

“Amelia...”

“I shouldn’t have bothered Michele. I don’t want to be that girl that falls for someone that isn’t over someone else. Someone that keeps secrets from me and lashes out when he’s angry. You treat me like a pet when you’re in a bad mood and that’s most of the time” I started to raise my tone as the tears dripped down my cheeks. 

“What are you talking about Amelia?” He asked me in confusion.

“I’ve met her Michele. I’ve met Alexandra” I sobbed. His mouth parted and he stood up from his desk.

“Amelia, you’ve got...”

“Sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got a meeting with one of the guys soon so do you want me to come back after?” Nico peeked through the door. Michele bit his lip and exhaled. 

“No, we can talk now” he said, implying that he was dismissing me. I grunted at him with frustration and stormed out of the room.