Page 39 of Shattered King

Fiorella

“ Y ou sure you don’t want to come?”

Elisa shakes her head. She nudges me toward the car with both hands, grinning huge. “This should be your moment. I’ll just distract you.”

“It was supposed to be for us, you know. We were going to drive off into the sunset behind the wheel of this car. We’d go somewhere far away, sell it, and start over fresh.”

“I kind of figured that was the plan.” Her smile turns sad as she hugs herself lightly. “But it was never going to happen.”

“It still could,” I say, but even I know that’s not true.

Even if I wanted to run, there’s no way it’s possible anymore.

Luca would never let me, and I could never survive without him.

Not now that I feel like we’re tangled together.

Like we’re both trees with our root systems intertwined and fused, and now we’re just one massive organism. If I go, he goes too.

“You don’t even want that. You’re going to be a mom, remember? And you’ve got a pretty decent husband.”

“He’s fine. Not as good as a classic car though.”

“Yeah, great point. I’m sure that car will make a fantastic dad.”

I pull her into a tight hug. “You really don’t want to come?”

“I’ll be here when you get back. And maybe we’ll go for the second ride together, okay?”

I kiss her cheek and hop in behind the wheel. I sit there and feel the Spider’s engine idling as Elisa pins back the tent flaps so I can drive out the front. When she’s done, I put the car in gear, and there’s still a question in the back of my mind. Is it actually going to drive?

But I shouldn’t have worried.

The Spider rolls like a dream.

I hit the road and go. Not fast at first. I have to make sure there’s nothing wrong. It handles like heaven and accelerates like hell, which is what I love about this make and model. I notice more than a few envious looks as I maneuver through the city streets.

Eventually, I hit the highway, spinning off onto 95 heading north, and I finally open him up.

The Spider glides. It doesn’t drive, it doesn’t speed.

It’s like I’m skating over ice. Every tap of the gas, every twitch of the wheel, and the car responds like all it wants is to do my bidding.

I put it through the gears, shifting into fifth, and I stay there, cruising along in the right lane, feeling free.

And crying.

They aren’t bad tears. But it’s obvious nothing’s ever going to be the same. I’ve been working on this car for a couple of years and now it’s finally done. I feel my life changing all around me.

I’m pregnant. I’m married. Raf’s slowly waking up and Elisa is going to have to find herself. No more drifting along in Dad’s house. The Famiglia’s going through a period of transition and I’m right there with it.

This was supposed to be my escape. All my life, I dreamed of this moment.

A good car worth serious money means actual freedom.

I could still keep going, follow I-95 for hours, for days even, maybe turn out west at some point, wander around for a while.

I could get lost, truly lost. All in the car I rebuilt myself. All in my freedom.

I just don’t want it anymore.

The idea of running feels wrong now. I fed myself on dreams of disappearing into the sunset, of waking up in strange towns with only stranger places to head toward. But now that seems so shallow and worthless.

What’s the point of freedom if it doesn’t get me anywhere?

I have a purpose now.

And that’s so much better than some shallow idea of freedom.

Eventually, I turn around and head back into the city.

I sit in traffic for a while but eventually take an early exit.

Going slow and hitting a dozen stop signs is better than sitting in a line of cars.

I think of it like taking the scenic route, and by the time I get close to the house, I’m ready to park and get the hell out of here.

It’s bittersweet, pulling back into the tent.

I feel myself releasing an old dream and letting it drift away.

But I’m also embracing something new. A better future.

One I didn’t even know I wanted until Luca.

Now maybe my life doesn’t look the way I wanted, and it never will, but that’s a good thing.

I park the car and kill the engine. It’s later than I expected, sometime just after dark.

The twilight’s thick and I’m wondering what Luca’s up to.

I’m thinking about having dinner, about curling up on the couch, maybe sitting in his lap and kissing him, when there’s the sound of a crack like a firework and a blood-curdling human scream.

My heart starts racing. I sit, unmoving, paralyzed. Another explosion, like someone’s shooting off more fireworks, and I realize they’re gunshots. There’s more yelling, frenzied and terrified, and I catch movement outside the tent’s front flaps. Men running nearby, men with guns.

I get out of the car, heart hammering. What am I going to do? I’m trapped outside, totally exposed. This stupid tent isn’t exactly keeping anyone out. I peer through the crack in the front flaps and back away, stumbling, nearly falling on my ass.

Men are coming toward me. Men in black tactical gear and wearing black masks painted with vicious skulls. Each one carries a rifle like something straight from a war video.

No time to freeze. I turn and start toward the back, but this alley’s a dead end. If I try to run, those guys are going to spot me. I need a place to hide, and I need to do it fast.

I turn to the Spider. I don’t even know why. I throw open the door, thinking about cramming down under the seat, but I won’t fit. Instead, I slam the trunk release, close the door, and run around to the back.

I stare inside.

It’s dark and crammed. My heart races and I feel like I’m going to throw up. The trunk is my best bet.

I can’t go inside of there. I just can’t.

I’m terrified of tight spaces, and I’ll barely fit inside.

There are more gunshots. Suddenly, light streams in through the front of the tent, and I realize there are holes straight across it. Oh, god, they’re bullets . I stare down into the trunk and gag, thinking about how horrible it was the last time I was trapped.

But I can’t let myself get killed. I put a hand over my belly. I’m not alone anymore. I’m not fighting for myself. There’s this baby and there’s Luca, and there’s the family I want to build for him.

It’s everything that’s keeping me here. It’s the new, better dream. If I don’t get in that trunk, I might lose it all again.

With a moan of pure terror, I climb inside.

I’m shaking violently and sobbing, but I cram myself down, folding my body uncomfortably to fit the crazy tight space.

If I still had the spare tire in here, there’s no way I’d fit.

I reach to grab the trunk, lightly pulling it shut with a soft click, and suddenly, the world’s plunged into blackness.

The noise outside is muted. I feel like I’m at the bottom of a swimming pool. Tears stream down my face, but I have to be quiet. The whole point of being back here is to hide. If they hear me crying, I’m fucked, and this will have been for nothing.

I’m so fucking scared I can’t stand it.

I concentrate on Luca’s face. I picture what he’d say to me. Stay strong, Fiorella. Stay strong for me and the baby . It’s kind of fucking stupid, but it works. I curl in tighter, hands into fists, toes curled, and I close my eyes while the banging and shooting go on for what feels like forever.

There are screams. Terrible, inhuman screams of pain and agony. Once it sounds like someone runs past the Spider. I bite my lip hard enough to hurt. Then all at once, the shooting stops, and quiet takes over.

I don’t know how long I stay in the trunk.

I hate it in here. I hate it so much. I remember how horrible it was after a few days, how my head felt like it was going to crack in half and I couldn’t think clearly.

I was so sure I was going to die. And I might die here, trapped inside this stupid car.

It was supposed to be my freedom. Instead, it’s my freaking casket.

Elisa has to know I’m here. At least, she knew I was taking the car out, and she would’ve told everyone else. I wish I had waited for Luca or let one of the guards come along with me, but there’s nothing I can do.

Quiet and blackness. For what feels like forever.

Until…

Voices. Nearby. They’re talking quietly but urgently. I don’t say anything at first because a part of me is terrified it might be those men in the skull masks.

Until I recognize Luca.

“I’m in here!” I scream, suddenly needing to get out so bad it hurts my stomach.

I start kicking and rocking, making the whole car lurch on its suspension.

“In here! Help me! Help me, please!” I scream and scream so loud it hurts my throat, and I’m thinking it’s just like last time, nobody can hear me?—

Light suddenly blinds me. It’s so bright I groan in pain.

Then hands are grabbing me, and I’m pulled up and out and into the fresh air, and it’s Luca.

He’s hugging me against him and kissing me.

“I got you, I got you,” he says over and over, holding me tight.

“I got you, baby, you’re safe, you’re safe. ”

I cry hard and cling to him as relief crashes down around me.

“I thought… I was going… to die in there,” I manage to gasp. I pull back and stare into my husband’s face.

“You’re okay, baby. You’re okay now.”

“Luca, what happened, who were those men, is everyone safe, where’s Elisa?—”

I’m babbling from panic, but he manages to calm me down. We walk together back to the house, and I stare at splashes of blood on the sidewalks. There are bodies lying in a neat line in the lot near the tent. I count eight of them before Luca takes me inside and closes the door.

“Fiorella!” Elisa comes running over and slams into me like a hurricane. I gasp in shock and joy, hugging her back so hard I feel like I might break her, but damn it, I can’t help myself. I’m so relieved I could throw up. “You’re okay! We’ve been so worried.”

“I was in the trunk,” I say, crying all over again, because why not? I’m an emotional wreck at this point and can’t stop myself. “Luca found me.”

“Oh, god, I’m so sorry. That must’ve been awful.” Elisa’s hug tightens. She knows better than anyone how I feel about tight spaces. “But I’m happy you did it. It was crazy. They came out of nowhere, and Luca’s men started fighting back, and I had to hide down in the basement with Raf?—”

“Go easy,” Luca says sternly, cutting her off. “Give her some time first.”

I shake him off. “What happened? No, don’t give me that look. I want to know.”

He hesitates but reluctantly steers me into the kitchen, where he sits me down. “Your uncle,” he says, glancing at Elisa. “I think they followed you back. They might’ve been following you the whole time you were out.”

I stare at him in horror. “Are you serious?”

“It’s not your fault,” Elisa says quickly.

“They could’ve run me off the road.” I look at Luca in horror. “They could’ve ambushed me at a stop sign.”

“But they didn’t,” he says, taking my hands. He kisses my fingers lightly. “They followed you back here and attacked instead. My men were ready, and it wasn’t easy, but we fought them off. You’re safe, Fio.”

“I know. I know. I just—” I close my eyes and anger fills me. “I’m so stupid.”

“Stop it.”

“No, really, I mean it. I knew how dangerous things have been lately, and I still went out.”

“You wanted to drive your car. I didn’t tell you to stay home. If anything, the blame is on me.” He kisses me lightly, but I shake my head.

“Don’t try to make me feel better. We both know it’s on me.” I grab his arm, squeezing it tightly. Elisa watches, looking concerned. “We have to end this war, Luca. The longer it goes on, the more likely it is that this baby gets hurt. We have to end it.”

He nods slowly, face hardening. “You’re right.”

“We’ll meet with Capos tomorrow. We’ll turn this around.”

“I have other ideas too. I promise—” He leans in to kiss me again. “I promise, I’ll take care of you.”

Elisa clears her throat. “Hate to interrupt a super touching moment and all, but—” She gestures toward where Raf’s nurse is waiting near the basement steps, an enormous smile on her face.

“I have news,” she says and gestures with a thumb over her shoulder. “The patient woke up.”