<-I-L-A-<<< "Where are we going?" I asked, setting the shirt that was in my hands on the bed, leaving it for Marcella to finish folding.

"My father wants to speak to you, he's in my bedroom," Matteo explained as he held the door of my bedroom opened. I walked out and he followed after me. Staying a few steps behind, Matteo didn't catch up with me until we reached his room.

In order for him to reach the door before me, Matteo quickened his pace last minute. Yet again, he opened the door for me walked into his room first.

Mr. Casciani was already in his room, waiting for both of us. He was laying in Matteo's bed, dead center, watching the television.

"You guys came earlier than expected, five minutes into this show," Mr. Casciani said as he pointed to the tv. On the screen was one of the episodes of The Office. "I thought Ila was going to put up a fight and make Matteo carry you here."

I awkwardly chuckled as if that hadn't crossed my mind.

"Matteo is telling me that you want to leave the mafia," Matteo's father said. He fumbled with the remote before managing to turn off the television. Mr. Casicani, however, remained laying on his back. He had his hands underneath his head, causing his elbow to point upward at opposite sides, and his ankles crossed.

"Yeah, I do," I said. I was met with sudden nervousness. I've seen the movies. Talking with the leader of the mafia about leaving never ended with a good scene. The mafia sees leaving as an act of betrayal. Betrayal in the mafia never sits still with the members.

"You see, my son wants you to stay and I wanted to tell you that he is stupid."

I felt Matteo beside me tense up at his father's insult, however, he remained silent.

"Really?" I asked, confused about where this conversation was going.

"As I told you when we first met, you remind me of my wife," said Mr. Casciani. I noticed that Matteo sighed and shifted slightly at the mention of his mother. "She wanted to leave for her safety. I wanted her to be safe, so I let her. You want to leave for the same reason and I'm letting you because I like you. Of course, it would have been more romantic for my son said that since it is him who likes you dearly. If you asked him now, he wouldn't let you leave but my word is better than his. I am the boss and he doesn't get this position until I die and that's not happening soon."

"So, I can leave? It's not going to be like the movies? Where I have to stay because of some code?" I asked.

"In this situation, it doesn't have to be like the movies," Mr. Casciani assured.

>>>-M-A-T-T-E-O-> "Thank you," Ila said to my father.

My dad nodded, acknowledging her gratitude.

"Matteo, aren't you going to say something?" My father asked. I was quiet, silenced by my own anger and disappointment. Instead of my father taking my side and making Ila stay with us, he was willing to let her go.

I shook my head, looking down at the floor. Even though my action said I didn't have anything to say, I had so much I was holding in. I wanted to stop Ila. My father might have given her permission to leave but maybe there was a way for me to persuade her to stop. I looked at Ila and remembering that leaving was the best thing for her, considering her state of mind. Conflicted, I suddenly didn't want to be around anyone, especially Ila and my father.

I met eyes with Ila and that was my last straw. I turned around to the direction of my bedroom's exit and rushed out.

<-I-L-A-<<< Matteo suddenly stormed out of his own room, leaving me and his father alone.

Mr. Casciani cleared his throat and sat up to say, "Ila, we don't usually let people out of the mafia. I hope you don't let me regret it."

"I won't," I promised. "I can't go to the police because I have blood on my own hands now."

"So I've heard, and how do you feel about it?" He asked, his face expression gentled.

"Disgusting," I answered. I watched Matteo's father's face harden and I realized I must have offended him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to -"

"No, no. The criminal life isn't for everyone and I understand that. But you knew that, so why did you decide to take up my son's offer?"

I thought about it for a second before answering, "Actually, I think it's because, at that time, I thought playing along with his offer was the only way to not end up dead. I had just woken up after passing out from an incident where I thought Matteo shot me dead. I was planning to make a run for it if I ever got the chance to but after looking around, there was something that made me want to stay."

"The wealth? My son?" guessed Mr. Casciani

"The mansion was nice, your son was scary at the time, but I think it was the wagon that sold me," I said, remembering the warm memory of Matteo letting me drive the Mercedes Benz G Wagon.

Matteo's father chuckled. "When are you planning to leave?"

"Marcella is actually helping me pack right now," I said, explaining.

"Feel free to take whatever you need," he offered.

"Does that include the car?" I asked.

"Unfortunately, I don't own that one. You already know that it's Marcella's. Other than that, take whatever."

"I'll keep that in mind," I said, bringing the conversation to an end. "Thank you, again."

I left Matteo's bedroom and Mr. Casciani stayed, turning back on the television to watch his show. In the elevator, I decided to head over to the kitchen on the ground floor. I needed water. Instead of going inside the kitchen through the dining area, I walked directly into the kitchen through the back door. The room wasn't empty for there were a couple of people dropping off their dishes into the sink.

I walked to the fridge that held most drinks and liquids and opened it. As expected, rows and rows of sodas, waters, and juices were neatly aligned and stocked side by side. I grabbed a bottle of water, disturbing the satisfying symmetry. I gently closed the door of the fridge with my foot as my hands were busy in opening the bottled water. Drinking, I heard more people walking in. They greeted me with a smile and I decided that it was time for me to head back to my room.

I pushed the button for the elevator and stepped back. I stood still, waiting when suddenly someone brushed past me from behind. I balanced myself from falling and looked behind to see someone in crutches, crutching away.

"Giovanni?" I asked myself, wondering if I saw right. I shook my head, maybe it was Aiden and I saw wrong. Although, I knew for a fact that Aiden wasn't able to pick up that much speed.

Seconds later, the elevator doors opened and I walked in. With the elevator doors still opened, I saw Aiden. He was limping, without his crutches, clearly in pain and anger.

"Gio! You fat fuck, come back!" He yelled, "I need those!"

Debating on whether I should step in and help or not, the elevator doors decided for me and closed itself. I'll just have to pretend I didn't see that.

I reached my room and opened my door. Instead of what I expected to walk into, Marcella packing, I walked into Marcella sleeping in my bed while some of the Il Bisbiglio men were packing the rest of my stuff into boxes.

"What are you guys doing here?' I asked.

"Shhh," Lorenzo said, shushing me. Even Adriano was beside him with his finger held up to his lips.

"Marcella told us to come and help," Leo explained, setting a box to the side.

"When did Marcella fall asleep?" I questioned.

"Right when we got here," Kianzo said. "We walked in and she said she was going to take a break. Next thing you know, she's out."

Wondering how much they got done, I questioned, "How much more do we need to pack?"

"We are almost done," Lorenzo said.

Leaving Marcella to sleep longer, I helped Lorenzo, Leo, Adriano, and Kianzo finish packing.

"Why are we packing your stuff anyway?" Kianzo asked. He had come from getting the last bit of clothes from my closet.

"Uh," I said, searching for words to form a sentence to explain my current situation. "I'm going to be moving back to my apartment."

Adriano raised his eyebrows in suspicion. Being the man with few words, he chose to not say anything.

"Why?" Leo questioned. "Are you not going to be coming here anymore?"

I nodded my head and explained deeper, "It's been a little over three months. I got a notification a little while back saying that my doctor license has been re-activated. I'm no longer suspended. I plan on going back on what I used to do."

"Oh right," Kianzo said, remembering, "Matteo offered this position because he made you lose your job in the first place. I thought you were going to be here permanently. I mean, working in the hospital seems exhausting and boring. It can't possibly pay or offer more than Il Bisbiglio. Why do you want to go back? How much are they paying you? Do you really like working there? Don't you think you are going to miss working with us? I think the hours here are better than the hours there, don't you? How I see it that working here is better than there. When are you ever going to ride the types of cars we have? You haven't gone with us to Italy yet. I bet the hospital doesn't take you on abroad trips. Can't you stay a little bit longer?"

It has been a long time since I've talked with Kianzo but he hasn't changed at all. The young man in his early 20s was as talkative as ever. I couldn't remember the first question he asked me before rambling on with more questions. I struggled to answer.

"Would you guys shut up?" Marcella angerly said, stirring awake. Everyone strayed their attention to Marcella in my bed, away from me. "Everyone except Ila, get out ."

The boys frowned, feeling wrongly yelled at. Nevertheless, they listened to Marcella and headed in the direction of the exit.

"Thank you, guys," I said as they reached the door.

Adriano walked past me and patted me on the back before leaving. I just gave him a small smile as if I understood what he was trying to imply. I'm sure it was a sign of support. I turned back to Marcella. She stretched and twisted in bed, cracking some bubbled up tension between her bones.

"Now, let's get these into a car," Marcella said, getting up and out from under the covers. One look at the boxes on the floor, Marcella realized her mistake. "Wait, call the boys back in."

>>>-M-A-T-T-E-O->

I sat down in the chair behind my work desk. I was currently in my office. It was the only room that I thought guaranteed emptiness for me to figure out my own thoughts.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and opened up the chat with Marcella.

Matteo: What are you doing?

Marcella: I'm with Ila. We are planning to leave right now.

Matteo: Okay, I'll take her. Don't tell her.

Marcella: Really, Matteo?

Matteo: Get her to your car out in front. I'll bring it around.

Marcella: Don't you dare try to stop her.

I sighed at Marcella's last text. I chose not to reply since at this point I had no idea what I was going to do. I turned off my phone and headed downstairs. I reached the garage and drove the jeep out to the front of the house.

I set the car to park and waited in the driver's seat. A few minutes later, based on the time on the dashboard, Ila and Marcella came outside the house with a rolling suitcase each. Seeing that Adriano, Lorenzo, Kianzo, or Leo didn't follow behind them, I wondered if that was all she was taking.

The back of the car was already opened and Marcella and Ila lifted the suitcases, filling the trunk.

<-I-L-A-<<< "I'll make sure that the Kianzo and them will bring the rest of your stuff later," Marcella said, closed the trunk.

"They did already did a lot today," I told Marcella as I made my way to the passenger side. I noticed that Marcella was following me and not going to the other side where the driver seat was. "Where are you going?"

"Back inside," Marcella said, pointing to the mansion.

"Aren't we going to my apartment right now?" I asked, confused.

"We aren't, you are," Marcella explained, pointing inside the car, "Matteo is taking you."

I turned around to look through the slightly tinted window of the passenger side and saw Matteo in the driver's seat, looking back at me. I looked away from him once I made out his figure and turned back to Marcella.

"Please don't let me go with him," I begged.

"You guys need to talk before it gets weird, I'm doing you a favor, sis," Marcella assured me, waving goodbye as she walked away. I stood outside the car, watching her enter the house. I heard the window behind me roll down.

"Aren't you going to get in?" Matteo asked.

It was clear he was frustrated with his lack of patience. Reluctantly, I opened the car door and settled myself in the passenger seat.

<~> Please vote, comment, follow, and share :) I hope you like this chapter because I enjoyed writing it!!