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La mia vita di certo cambierà! - My Life Will Change
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Naples, Italy
BELINDA RODE IN THE back seat of the car in silence. Something was wrong. Since they left the airport Leo had said few words to her. She couldn’t figure out why, but she had noticed his friendly banter with her had all but ceased after the Donna pulled him to the side and spoke with him. Now he was skipping out on the lessons they were doing to get him ready for his English test.
“Hey? Leo?”
His gaze flipped up to the rearview mirror and locked in on her. He then returned his attention to the road. The dismissal angered her. How dare he? She hadn’t done anything wrong. Belinda looked to the door of the car and the thought occurred to her how much of a hero Leo had always been.
Traffic slowed ahead. His speed was steadily decreasing. A plan formed. The best one she’d concocted in a long time. The therapist once told her mother and father she lacked impulse control. That would be the only explanation she’d offer for what happened next. Leo braked almost to a stop. Belinda grabbed the door and threw it open. Leo swerved immediately to the side of the road before she leapt from the moving car. She landed hard on her side and rolled down to the embankment. Surprisingly the drop was in a grassy part. She wasn’t too badly hurt. But it startled the wind out of her and caused her to pee herself a little.
Leo panted like a charging bull once he reached her. Belinda looked up into his scarred face and saw him dazed and confused. He was most certainly the hero type. Leo shouted at her in his foreign language. She didn’t know if it was Italian or that Romanian gypsy speak he lapsed into at times. She didn’t care. He did exactly as she hoped. He swept her up into his arms and carried her like a princess to the car. Did she smell like pee? She would be mortified if she did.
“Are you hurt? Say so... per favore!” he asked as he brushed the dirt off her to check the scratches and scrapes on her arms and legs.
“I peed myself,” she confessed.
“Wha-at?” Leo stammered.
“Pissed. I pissed my pants.”
He glared at her. Realizing her joke wasn’t funny she winced and feigned pain. “My side hurts.”
Leo looked more panicked than turned on. “How it happen? Door? Did door fly open?” he asked in his broken English.
He thinks it was an accident?
Belinda nodded. She pushed the lie even further. “I thought something was funny about the door. I tried to speak to you, but you kept turning up the radio. I leaned on the door and it flew open. I could have been killed! You could have killed me Leo!”
“I am sorry. I have to get... you... help.”
“I’ll be alrigh—”
Leo was out of the back seat slamming and reopening the door. He then gave up on trying to figure the accident out. He got behind the wheel and sped away. He beat his fist against the steering wheel and swerved in and out of traffic like a madman. Belinda’s heart raced with excitement. Leo drove faster than any speed she’d ever experienced on the highway. The adrenaline rush she felt from being a car jumper was instantly replaced by the adrenaline rush of fear.
“Leo? Hey, man slow down!”
He swerved to the left lane and forced a car off the road as he took the exit. Terrified she grabbed the door handle. He didn’t speak. And now she was afraid too. She didn’t know what was happening but the warning from her mother to be careful with the Battaglias surfaced in her mind.
Girl one of these days you gonna go too far. Ya hear me? You gonna go too far and I’m not going to be there to catch ya when you fall. Please think before you act, Belinda. Please stop with all this crazy behavior before it gets you in trouble or killed. The Battaglias are dangerous people. You promise me you will be careful.
“Leo, I said sorry.”
Leo turned the next corner and drove right up to someone’s door. It was then Belinda realized they were in some kind of entrenched neighborhood of connected houses. The house he brought her to was three stories tall and the worst one on the street. She knew instantly it wasn’t a safe place.
“Why are we here?”
The door opened, and eight men, women, and children poured out. All of the people stared at Leo. He came around the car in his hurried determined way. She locked her door, but it didn’t work. He opened it from the outside. She scooted away but he reached in and dragged her across the seat. She started to fight him, but he was too strong. He drew her out and carried her from the car to the house. The people watching all let him pass. He yelled out a name and several other men appeared. They all wore deep frowns of concern. The only word she understood in the foreign language he spoke was Donna Nera. And she’d learned a long time ago that the term Black Mafia Lady-boss was what they called Mirabella.
The tallest of the three men before them nodded respectfully and Leo carried Belinda to the stairs and up.
“Leo? What are you doing? Who are these people?” she whispered. She heard a woman scream upstairs and froze. Leo did not. He nearly ran up the stairs with her in his arms. He walked into a hall with many closed doors. One of the closed doors had a woman screaming and crying behind it. Belinda wasn’t sure for what. Leo took her to the room to the left and went inside. An older woman folded laundry that she stacked on the bed. She glanced up.
“Battaglia,” Leo said to the woman and then began to explain something Belinda could not understand. She was so scared she held tight to Leo. The old woman didn’t look friendly at all. Her face was covered in moles. She wore too many clothes, shirts and sweaters and skirts, it was an odd form of dressing. She had a scarf on her head. It reminded Belinda of the old witch who gave Snow White the poison apple in the Disney movie.
“English?” the woman said to her.
Leo put her down. Belinda nodded.
“Me too. I... Kane. I’m Kane,” the old woman corrected herself.
“American?” the old woman asked.
Belinda nodded.
Kane looked to Leo again as if surprised.
“Donna Nera is her family. She lives with the Battaglia’s.”
“Let me see trouble,” the woman sighed. She checked Belinda’s arms where the blood and puffiness was. She lifted her shirt and Belinda knocked her hand away. The woman pointed to the evidence that Belinda had soiled her shorts and chuckled
“Who is this woman?” Belinda said with her arms crossed.
“I tell you my name. Kane. Hurt? Are you?” Kane asked.
“Just my side.”
“Then let me see it,” Kane demanded.
Belinda glanced to Leo who nodded. The whole scene was strange enough for her to obey.
Kane touched her tender spots and Belinda winced. Leo refused to speak in English. He spoke harsh and fast to the old woman, and Belinda could hear the anger in his voice.
“You scare him, he takes you back to his boss and that Black Donna with these bruises and it will cost him his life. How it happen?”
“I... ah, an accident. The door flew open.”
Leo stared at her.
“Accident eh? You fine. You smell like piss, but you live. Clean up in there. Take fresh shirt and joggers from the laundry pile that look close to the clothes you wear. Make sure they do. Make sure.”
Belinda looked to the clothes. She then realized the woman wasn’t folding laundry. The clothes were strange because there were too many of them in varying sizes. And around the room were emptied suitcases and purses, wallets left behind. She glanced to Leo and he nodded that she should follow the old woman’s orders. She plucked a shirt and pair of jean shorts that looked similar to the ones she had on. She went into the bathroom. Behind the door she listened as the woman fussed at Leo for bringing her there. And then the language went from English to another and she no longer understood the tongue lashing he received. She did her very best to groom herself. There was nothing she could do about the scratches to her legs and arms, but she didn’t look as tattered as before.
When she came out of the bathroom Leo was alone. And he paced.
“I check door,” he said.
“So?”
“Nothing wrong with door.”
“I told you—.”
“You lie to me? Why?”
“Take me home.”
“Why you do this?” he asked.
She stood there barely recalling her actions. It happened so fast she couldn’t remember the moment before.
“Why! If boss sees you I am buried. Do you understand?”
“You mean dead?”
“Yes! Buried. Dead! Me.”
“Because I have a scrape on my arm Giovanni will kill you?”
Leo paced with his hands to his head. “I want no trouble. I deserve no trouble. I work hard. I do the best. I want no trouble.”
“I didn’t do anything to you Leo. I did it to myself. I’ll tell Giovanni that. I’m not scared of him.”
“And that is too me!”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I’m responsible. I pay. Not you.”
“I said I’m sorry.”
He shook his head and looked at his watch. “We must go.”
“Wait. Wait!” she pleaded. “Why aren’t we friends anymore? You don’t talk to me, and you stopped letting me tutor you.”
“No school. Not for me. Boss don’t like it.”
“Giovanni can’t tell you that you can’t go to school. And why doesn’t he like it?”
Leo sighed. “Not friends. Okay? I work... that’s all. Not friends!”
“Why?”
Leo refused to answer.
“Oh, screw you. Fine! You’re boring any way.” She pushed past him and went out the door. Leo was on her heels all the way down the stairs. The moment she came to the lower floor she paused. Now there were over thirty people gathered. All of them silently watching and waiting—none of them looked friendly.
She glanced back to Leo. He gave her a gentle shove to continue for the door. She went out the door and left the strangeness behind. Once they were inside the car Belinda didn’t bother to try to talk to Leo. She was too embarrassed to make the effort.
***
Sorrento, Italy
“BELINDA? WHAT HAPPENED?”
She glanced up from reading one of her favorite romance books. Kyra stood in the room with a look of horror on her face. Belinda lowered her feet from the chair and set the book down. At first she didn’t know what the question was in reference too. She had sewing lessons with Kyra later that day, but it wasn’t even lunch time.
“Huh?”
“Your leg? That bruise. It’s awful?”
“Oh?” She hadn’t noticed how it had swollen and changed to a purplish yellowish color. “Ugh? I bruise so easily.” It looked as if someone hit her with a baseball bat. “This? I fell down the stairs, going to the cellars to get a bottle of wine for one of the cooks.” The lie rolled off her tongue so smoothly that she almost believed it to be the truth. The encounter with Leo had come and gone without a single question from anyone. She hadn’t seen him since. He just disappeared. He didn’t even resume his duties as night watchmen outside of Mirabella’s door.
“Let me get a look at it.”
“Seriously, it’s fine.”
Kyra forced her to stand. She inspected the bruise and discovered a few others. She sure as hell didn’t want her to see the one on her side.
“You fell?”
“It’s dark down those stairs. I missed a step and splat!”
Kyra looked up at her. She then looked to the bruise again and then stood straight. “Does Mirabella know?”
“Oh God. Please don’t tell her. It’s not that serious.”
“Alright. I came to tell you that I must take my son to a party. I won’t be able to do our lesson today. Jamie should be returning from Milan next week. I’m thinking we can go back with her. Visit Mirabella’s factories and do some work there.”
“Will we need bodyguards?” she asked.
Kyra chuckled. “It’s safe, we should be fine.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“You met Renaldo and he was... a guard for Giovanni, right? Wait what is his job again?”
“He’s security for Giovanni.”
“Oh, yeah, security. Like Leo is for the Donna?”
“Uh, I guess.”
“Can I ask you another question?”
Krya smiled. “You haven’t really asked the first question.”
“Why do the men... act funny. Like they can’t eat, speak, think without permission?”
Kyra narrowed her eyes on her. “It’s not an act.”
“Then what is it? A job requirement.”
“I’d say so.”
“That’s stupid. Why?”
“Is this about you and Leo?”
“Oh, no, not really, no,” she stammered.
“I see the way he looks at you. And how you find reasons to talk to him.”
“We were just friendly and now we’re not,” Belinda pouted.
“Does the Donna know about your friendship?” Kyra asked.
“No. She doesn’t pay me much attention.”
“That’s not true, she’s been busy with Rocco’s death and the things going on in this family. But don’t ever think she’s not paying attention. I think you should talk to her about Leo.”
“No. He’s acting like he’ll get in trouble and we haven’t even done anything.”
“Talk to her. Mirabella is really understanding. Give her a chance.” Kyra stepped away. “I’m taking the baby with me, so I might be staying with my mother in-law tonight, after the party. Renaldo will be working. I’ll see you tomorrow probably.”
“Okay,” Belinda said. She paced the floor thinking of her next move. If she was to be sent away to Milan, then she sure as hell wanted to go with someone who she would have fun with. She left the reading room and went down the hall to where the children were playing. Cecilia gave her a smile as she read a book to Gino and Gianni. Both boys sat on a mat completely enthralled by the story she read. Eve was over at a work table coloring with her crayons. Belinda waited for Eve to look up. When she did she put her finger to her lips so that Eve would remain quiet. Eve nodded. Belinda gestured with the same finger for her to come to her.
Eve got up with her coloring book and walked over to Belinda. Cecilia observed but she didn’t object. The moment Eve was within reach Belinda took her by the hand and led her away. She found an empty bedroom to take Eve into.
“Belinda!” Eve grinned. “Wanna see the picture I drew for Papa?”
“Yes, let me see.”
Belinda sat down, and Eve climbed up on her lap. She studied the picture. The little girl had a way of coloring in the lines. She found that quite impressive.
“This is really good.”
“Grazie!” Eve grinned.
“I have a question for you Eve.”
“Okay?”
“Do you know Leo?”
“Si, Leo, Nico, Umberto, Renaldo, Carlo, Eduardo, Pierro, Daleo and—”
“Okay, okay, don’t name them all. It’s Leo I want to talk about.”
Eve frowned. “Did he do something bad?”
“No, he’s my friend. And I want to surprise him. The thing is I never see him around much Eve. I can’t figure out where he goes at night. He doesn’t sit outside of your mommy’s door anymore.”
Eve blinked her blue eyes at her. Belinda had to find a more relatable way to get information from the kid. She tried a different approach. “You ever play spy games?”
Eve shook her head no.
“Do you know what a spy is?
Eve shook her head no. “Well, these games are really fun because we do it in secret. No one knows. Okay. You can’t tell anyone.”
“I want to play.”
“The first game is called find out the secret the person doesn’t want you to know. You and I are going to find out where Leo goes at night.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Listen Eve. Pay attention. I want you to spy. Follow him around. Listen to what people say. Find out what you can about him.”
“Why don’t we ask him?” Eve asked.
Belinda rolled her eyes. “For a smart girl you can be so stupid at times.”
Eve frowned. “I’m not stupid.”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. You’re really smart. Maybe that’s the way you play the game. Ask Leo where he goes at night but make up a story about why you want to know. Don’t tell him that we’re playing the game. Get it?”
Eve grinned. “Tell a lie.”
“Well—”
“Okay! I can lie. I can do it! What’s my prize?”
Belinda bit down on her bottom lip. “I’ll let you hang out in my room. Play with my things. Remember my things in my jewelry case I told you not to touch? If you do this, you can touch it all you want.”
“I want another prize. I want you to make Papa stay home with me.”
Belinda eyes stretched.
“You want that? I can't make him stay.”
“Tell a lie, like me. Tell a lie to Papa and make him stay home. Adults lie all the time.”
“But...I can’t do that.”
“It’s what I want.” Eve hopped down from her lap. She picked up her coloring book. Belinda observed the little girl curiously. Was she trying to hustle her?
“I’m gonna get Leo’s secret tonight. You get my Papa for me. Tonight.”
And then she was gone.
Belinda shook her head and laughed in the empty room. “I guess I was wrong Eve. You’re not stupid at all.”