The Mafia's Promise

I sat in the living room, constantly glancing at the large clock on the wall like it would change something. It was almost one AM and he still wasn't back yet.

I reached for my phone, contemplating placing another call through, who knows? Maybe he would actually answer that time, maybe he just didn't see the last five calls, but I knew.... It was nothing more than wishful thinking.

That was his usual behavior, I should be used to it, but yet... I wasn't.

Everytime he stayed out late, my mind would immediately begin to imagine the worst. Did he run into some kind of trouble at work? Was he hurt on his way home? Should I be expecting a call from a kidnapper demanding ransom??

Click!

The door opened and a towering figure staggered in, his eyes scanning the dimly lit living room until they land on a pair of teary grey eyes.... mine.

He took a couple of swaying steps towards me, his light blue eyes never leaving mine, a gesture that only signified one thing.... he was angry.

Without meaning to, I backed away, an action that only intensified his annoyance. Yanking me by the shoulders, he pulled me towards him in an aggressive manner,

"What the hell is your problem?" He was leaning over me, his face, just inches away but his voice was loud enough to be heard by the whole neighborhood. "Why do you keep calling me like I'm a lost child or something?! Do you have any idea how irritating that is?!" He spat.

"I'm sorry but....you were supposed to be home a long time ago and-"

"And what?! You thought I got lost on the way back? I am your husband goddammit! Not your child." He shoved me aside and started to go inside. "Next time you embarrass me with calls like this again, you won't get off this easily." He shot me a final warning before disappearing up the stairs.

I sat there frozen, the tiled floor was cold beneath me and the ticking of the clock seemed to fill the room. I didn't know how much time passed and honestly, I didn't care.

"Mommy,"

When I heard the gentle voice, I quickly wiped my tears and got on all fours, searching for nothing in particular.

"Mommy?" This time his voice was much closer. "Did you lose something?" He asked, crouching on his knees as well.

"Um yes. I lost my earrings." My voice was quieter than intended. When he started to look around, I added. "I don't think it's here. Let's look for it in the morning, hmm?"

"Okay." He nodded and got up.

I followed suit and led him by the hand back to his room. I had no intention of going back to my matrimonial bedroom so when Caleb asked me to stay with him, I immediately agreed. The bed was big enough to accommodate at least three full grown adults, but I still snuggled close Caleb, enjoying his pure warmth.

He clearly didn't mind either, because he hugged me and rested his head against my chest. "Goodnight mommy." He said, already half asleep.

"Goodnight my love."

★★★

The dining was silent except for the clicking of forks against the ceramic plates. I wanted to break the heavy silence that consumed the entire room, but nothing came to mind.

What could I say?

And even if I did say anything, would he respond?

I was still thinking when I heard Caleb's quiet voice. "Mommy, did you find your earrings?" he looked genuinely concerned as he stared at me, his deep brown eyes burning into me... almost like he could tell that I was lying.

I threw a quick glance at Leo before replying. "Yes dear, I did."

Thankfully, before he could ask any more questions, the housekeeper came up to the table with a soft smile. "Caleb, the bus is here."

Caleb gave me a quick kiss, said his goodbye to his father and rushed off. Sometimes I felt like he was always eager to leave the house. Not that I blamed him, if I had the chance I would bolt for the door without looking back also.

Without Caleb around, my appetite instantly vanished, but I didn't dare get up when Leo was still eating.

"I'm sorry."

I flinched but remained quiet. Only after a few seconds did I realize what he said. "W-what?"

"I was too harsh last night, I was stressed and your calls only made it worse."

I blinked in surprise. Was Leo.... apologizing?

He took my hand and my first instinct was to recoil and hide away from the touch but fear held me in place.

"Next time I stay out late, you should know it's because of work. Okay?"

Slowly I nodded and he smiled. "Good." He released my hand and wiped his with a napkin before rising to his feet. "I'll be home before six PM, and I want to have lasagna for dinner."

He was still smiling but his voice was stern. I nodded again. "Um Leo?" I called out as he started to leave.

"What is it?"

"I wanted to remind you," I chose my words carefully, trying not to annoy him. "about my outing. Maria will be here later to-" He turned to face me and my voice caught in my throat, ending my sentence mid way.

"Tell her you won't be available."

It obviously was an order and I wasn't supposed to argue with him but I had already promised Maria. "It won't take long, I'll be back home in time to make your dinner. It's just that-"

He inhaled sharply and stepped towards me but abruptly stopped. "Why do you do this?"

I didn't understand the question but I shook my head.

"We just made up, and you're already causing trouble again. Is this fun for you?"

I shook my head again, desperately regretting my decision to bring up the issue. "I'm sorry." He stepped towards me and my body backed away. A mistake.

With a firm grip of my hair, he closed the distance between us. His blue eyes held no emotion but his jaw was tight as he looked into my eyes. I wondered when his handsome features started to look scary to me.

"Why were you running? Am I some kind of monster?"

"No." I answered immediately. My chest tightened and I could hear my heart beating in my ears.

"Is it so wrong for me to demand respect? I am your husband, Sophia."

Husband.

He only ever used that term when he was angry, like it was the only time that mattered.

"You're right." I forced my voice to remain steady. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone against your wishes."

Almost like he was considering the sincerity of my apology, he shut his eyes and inhaled deeply. When he reopened them, his gaze remained emotionless but he smiled.

"I'm sorry too. It seems the stress of work is really getting to me."

I did my best to return the gesture, unsure of what would happen next.

"I really should go now." He placed both hands on my shoulder and pulled me in for a hug. As our bodies touched, I felt mine go stiff but Leo didn't seem to notice, or maybe he just chose not to react to it.

After I was alone in the living, I hugged my sides, painfully missing Leo's scent and also fighting the fear the contact had instilled in me.

The sound of the front door closing stirred me out of my nap. I looked up and found my son's deep eyes watching me with concern.

"How was school today, love?" I sat up and pulled him close to me.

He eagerly sat on my lap and hugged me. Panicked, I patted him, worried that something might have happened to him at school. "It's okay sweetie, you can talk to mommy."

Still holding on to me, he looked into my eyes and asked slowly, "Daddy didn't let you go out today again?"

The words came out quietly, like Caleb always spoke but they hit me harder than I could have ever expected. "What? No, of course not." The lie came out shaky and more emotionally charged than I intended. "Mommy just wasn't feeling well, that's all."

His expression didn't change, almost like he didn't believe me but he nodded. "Will you have to go to the hospital?" he asked, still studying my face.

"No dear, it's nothing serious. I just needed to rest." This time my lie had more composure behind it. "Why don't you go upstairs and change so you can help me make dinner?"

"Okay."

As I watched him go up the stairs, casting worried glances at me, I felt my throat burn as I bit down on the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to stay still. I couldn't let my son see me cry. Caleb was only eight and I had hoped he would be blissfully ignorant of the struggles Leo and I were facing, but I was wrong.

I needed to do better, as a mother, as a wife. It was my responsibility to shield my son from any negative emotion, and I was failing.

The thought dwelled in my mind for the rest of the day. I tried to act normally, for Caleb's sake, but I couldn't get rid of it, and the awful feeling of shame that had taken rest in my heart.

Later that night, after Caleb was long asleep, I sat next to Leo, unsure of how to bring up the issue. Finally, I decided to start in the way that felt right. "Leo," he stopped typing on his laptop but didn't turn to face me. And I didn't need him to, his attention was what I wanted. "Today, after Caleb got home from school, he noticed I hadn't gone out like I said I would.... And he asked if it was because you didn't let me." I noticed his fist tighten and I quickly added. "Of course, I let him understand that it was my choice to stay back. But it has me thinking.... I don't think I'm doing my job as a mother right."

He placed his laptop on the drawer by his side of the bed and turned to face me fully. "You see what I mean? You always spend too much time thinking about irrelevant things that you failed to notice that your son -your only child - was suffering."

When he said that, my heart shattered. I immediately wanted to undo everything I had done wrong during all our years of marriage. "I'm sorry Leo," I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "You must be so disappointed in me."

In the most gentle but firm way, he pulled me close to him. His embrace answered my question before his words did.

'Yes I am, but you can fix it.'

"You still have a chance to make things right." He finally said, still holding me.

I nodded, holding back tears. "I was thinking.... This Saturday, maybe we could go the park-"

It felt like the whole world stopped, even Leo's heart had slowed, or maybe I just imagined it. Slowly, he moved away from me. "What is wrong with you? Even after what we just talked about, you're still bringing this up?"

"N-no, I just-"

"This house is more than enough for anything you'd want to do. What are you always looking for outside?"

"I just felt that he might want to visit a park or maybe a movie theater -"

"Then let the housekeeper take him."

"Leo-"

His response was a slight click of his tongue, and it was more than enough to pass his message across. I swallowed hard, trying to fight off the feeling of disappointment that rose in my throat.

Smiling, I said, "I'll give him the news tomorrow. Goodnight."

He nodded and carried his laptop, returning his full focus on the device.

★★★

Almost immediately Leo left the house the next morning, I was greeted by the smiling face of my mother in law. "Hello dear," she hugged me as she let herself into the living room.

"Good morning mum, did Leo ask you to come?"

"He worries about you dear, thinks you might be lonely. And I hear you need some assistance with little Caleb?"

Her words held no hostility but it still poked at my heart with a painful jab. So Leo was disappointed after all. "I'm really not sure what I'm doing wrong mum, I don't want to fail my son."

She wiped my tears, smiling ever so kindly. "It's alright dear. Motherhood is tough, and this is your first child so it's very natural to make some mistakes from time to time. That's why I'm here."

I nodded and allowed myself to be led further into the living room. We sat next to each other on the sofa, my mother in law's hands never leaving mine. It was a kind gesture, but at the same time, it left me feeling like a child who had done something wrong and was supposed to be scolded.

Sharon was Leo's mother, and the only one in his family who was fond of me. She was always looking out for me and worrying for my comfort. She was also the only one who knew my secret.

Ever since I lost my mother, she never let me feel the gap and even before then, she had been my angel.

"Talk to me dear, what happened?"

In the most steady voice I could find, I started to explain. "Recently, Leo has been coming home very late...."

I told her how his withdrawal had been affecting me, how my emotions had been all over the place, even though Leo hadn't really done anything wrong. Finally, when I talked about Caleb and his comment, I noticed her expression change.

Though it only lasted a second, I caught it, the slight furrow in her brows and the tiniest frown that twitched the corner of her lips.

After I finished, she smiled again. "Well, it seems like you already know what to do, don't you?"

Slowly, I nodded. "I should respect Leo's actions more."

"Good." The way her smile widened indicated that my response pleased her. In her warm, motherly tone, she added, "And don't talk back. A perfect wife should never question her husband."

The same thing she had been saying to me throughout my nine years of marriage.

It felt like those words had been etched into my brain and it made voicing out my opinion feel like I was at war with my body.

A part of me wanted to go against them, but another- much bigger part of me- had been clinging so desperately to them for the past nine years that my whole personality had been built around them.

"Thank you mum." I smiled softly, regaining most of my composure.

"Do you feel better?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now go and get dressed, we have a family meeting this weekend and you need a new dress."

Excited, I rushed upstairs to change. Opportunities like this were rare, and I didn't dare waste any time delaying.

The meeting was to be held in Leo's family home. It was a tradition held once every six months to catch up on family members, discuss business progress and to show respect to the head of the family, Antonio Moretti, Leo's father.

My role in all of it was simple; sit still and look pretty, and I had always learned to excel at it. That morning too, Leo had called in a professional make up artist to doll me up. The dress my mother-in-law chose for me was perfect, a deep blue silk with the prettiest white flowers. Leo, being the jealous man he was, had always been against me wearing revealing outfits, so it went all the way to my heels and it had a long sleeve made of a lighter material.

Leo loved my long hair so it was always left flowing down my back. He also loved gold accessories, and I had grown to accept it. My neck, wrists and fingers were adorned with bright heavy jewelry to stand out as the wife of the first son- which I always did.

I sat next to Leo, my back straight and a practiced smile on my face. Not too wide that it looked stupid, and not too small that it looked fake. Just right. Just the way I always did.

"Leo, how have things been at the company?" Antonio asked, his deep voice filling the whole room.

"Very good sir."

Leo smiled so brightly that I couldn't test my eyes off his face. He explained how he had been getting new contracts and deals, his pride-filled smile never leaving his face.

It was moments like this I loved most, the times when he wasn't wearing the strains of our marriage on his face. When he could just smile as freely and as happily as he did when I fell in love with him. But even as he smiled, the light never reached me anymore.

"And Elysium Autos?"

For some reason, I became very attentive when I heard that name. My heart skipped a beat and I could feel my cheeks flush, either out of anger or embarrassment. I looked at Leo, as if his reply would provide me with the answers to my curiosity.

"Good news as well sir. The CEO will be flying into the country by month end and we should finalize the deal by then."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear, but there was nothing I could do. Asking him was clearly out of the option, and there was no way I could use my phone at such a moment.

At exactly two minutes past twelve, the formal meeting finally ended. I knew because I'd been watching the slow, deliberate ticking of the clock the entire time, counting down each second like it might somehow set me free.

Antonio retreated to the inner part of the living room, leaving the siblings and spouses to mingle.

"Leo, I haven't seen you in a while." Isabella, Leo's older sister walked up to him smiling brightly.

He matched her energy as he hugged her, lifted her and spun around. "I see you're doing well."

"Oh well, what can I say?"

They made small talk, laughing and playing around, and eventually left me seated there like a doll that had been turned off, waiting for its master's orders.

"Is that Leo's wife?"

I heard a woman say somewhere behind me, but I didn't recognize the voice. The masculine voice that replied however, was one I could never forget.

"She's hot, isn't she? Too bad that's the only thing she's good for." The hurtful comment was made by none other than Louis, Leo's younger brother. "She doesn't do anything other than to sit around all day and spend my brother's money." He added, intentionally trying to get under my skin.

"Why not just get a job?" The woman asked. Whether it was out of curiosity or mockery, I didn't know.

"Isn't it obvious? She's a gold digger!" The other part was said louder than was necessary for a conversation between two people.

Leo stopped his chat with Isabella and glanced at me. "Go and stay with mother." He said simply.

Grateful for having a reason to leave the room, I smiled and immediately went in, ignoring the continued mockery going on behind me.

"What are you doing mom?" I found her in the kitchen, humming to herself.

"Making tea for Antonio, help me."

We stayed quiet for the first few minutes, but then she suddenly spoke up. "Why do you let Caleb's babysitter attend all his school events? People will start to wonder if she's his mother."

I looked her in the eyes, confusion and something else filling mine. Anger?

"Doesn't Leo attend his school events?"

"No." Almost as if she realized something, she quickly added. "Don't worry about it too much. Leo cares about you a lot and just doesn't want any stress for you."

Even though I wanted to argue, to tell her she was wrong, and that I would want more than anything to be able to be there for my son when he needs me, the only response I could give was an uncertain nod.

She placed the ready tea in my hands and asked me to serve my father-in-law.

My mind had gone blank from what I had just heard but I still walked forward. I dropped to my knees and placed the tray on the table. I poured the right amount of tea into the tiny ceramic cup and handed it to him.

He took a tiny sip and exclaimed loudly. "Are you trying to kill me?!"

His reaction momentarily snapped me out of my thoughts. "What's wrong father -" before I could finish my sentence, the hot liquid in the cup had been splashed all over me, burning my face.

"How do you expect me to drink something so hot?" He complained. "What kind of wife doesn't know how to make tea? Is this how nonchalantly you're treating my son?!"

'But I didn't make the tea.'

That was what I should have said, instead I bowed my head. "I'm deeply sorry, father."

"Get this nonsense out of my sight." In one swift movement, the entire tray-tea and all- had been thrown to the ground.

The noise must have gotten the attention of the others, because Leo walked in, scanning the room for an explanation. When he found me on the floor, he sighed and walked back out.

As I stared at the perfectly broken porcelain, it felt like it mirrored something in me.

I didn't know why but holding back my tears proved to be impossible at that moment. To keep Antonio from seeing, I kept my head bowed as I cleaned up the mess.

I could hear him mutter angrily as he walked away. Only after he had left the room did Sharon allow herself to move towards me.

"Are you okay dear?" She held my shoulders, as if she could see the tremors in them. "Things like this happen, don't let it get to you."

I couldn't find any words to express myself so I just stared at her.

I couldn't tell if she understood my feelings or not, but she hugged me, patting my back.