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The saying is true, be careful what you wish for because it may come true, and rarely do wishes come true exactly as you have imagined.
The metallic smell of blood wafts over to me, causing my stomach to turn.
I can’t throw up right now. Not here, and not in front of them. Besides, I don’t have anything on my stomach and would prefer to keep the embarrassment of dry heaving to myself.
“Why am I still here? You have my money, my father is no longer a problem, and you are about to kill Arturo. What purpose do I serve? Just let me go so I can move on with my life and raise my baby away from this lifestyle.”
He glances toward Dad’s lifeless body. “I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with you yet. I don’t like the idea of a baby Marino running around and growing up full of revenge just to cause me problems in twenty years, but I don’t see the harm in letting you raise your child away from here.”
I don’t speak as I watch his expression change several times. It would be poetic justice for my child to come back and kill him for everything he’s put me through, but I don’t want my child growing up and resorting to a life of crime.
“Hmm, decisions, decisions.” He rubs his chin. “For now, just sit still and wait for my return. I’ll have Emily bring you some food.”
He leaves the room without another word.
When I am alone, I glance at Dad’s body and choke down a sob. He lost his life because of me.
The door opens, and Emily walks in carrying a tray of food.
“Don’t feel guilty.” She starts to say before walking over to me. “Mr. Rossi was never going to allow your father to walk out the front door. He was too much of a liability.”
Is that supposed to make me feel better? I risked my lifetime and time again for Giuseppe Rossi. I paid my father’s debt when I could have moved away and started my life over again.
“If that was the plan all along, then why am I still here? The Marinos will not talk to me or come save me, so if that’s Giuseppe’s plan, he shouldn’t get his hopes up.”
Emily places the tray of food on the mattress in front of me.
I shake my head. “I can’t eat right now.”
“You need to eat. Your baby needs you to eat so he or she can grow.”
“How am I supposed to eat with my father’s dead body ten feet away?”
She glances to the other side of the room and nods. “Alright. Follow me and carry your tray, but if you try to escape, I won’t hesitate to shoot you.”
She shows me the gun at her hip for good measure.
“I understand, and I won’t try to escape.” I’d be lying if the thought didn’t cross my mind, though, but being this weak won’t get me far. Plus, they have my car.
I follow her down the hallway, past the interrogation room and into the room I was in the first time Giuseppe kidnapped me.
“This room is clean.” Emily gestures for me to head inside.
The room is different from the last time I was here. There is a newish mattress in the corner and a solid metal table and chair against the other wall.
“You can eat on the mattress or at the table. I’ll bring a cover for you. Try to get some sleep while Mr. Rossi is gone because you never know what kind of mood he’s going to be in when he returns.”
It sounds like a warning, and one that I should take seriously.
“Thank you for the food and blanket.”
I head over to the table and stare at the food. Is it poisoned? If he will poison the wine for Arturo, there’s no chance that he will spare my life.
My stomach growls at the smell of the warm food.
Am I stupid for wanting to eat the food? There’s no telling how long I will be locked up, so I can turn food away when it does come.
With my mind made up, I scarf down the chicken parmigiana, spaghetti, and garlic bread. I don’t even hear Emily return, but when my stomach is full, I head to the mattress where a nice comforter is laying on top.