The Mafia’s Forbidden Desire

ROSALINDA.

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, and I quickly disentangled myself from Antonio’s arms.

“What is happening here?” Papà asked again, his frown deepening as he approached us.

“Uhm…” I nervously scratched the back of my neck. I was lost for words to say.

“Nothing really.” Antonio said, sighing.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“No. You can’t tell me nothing. Your hands were on her, looking at her like… that. What’s going on?” Papà persisted, darting his gaze between the both of us.

“Is that the document?” Antonio changed the subject as he reached for the file in Papà’s hand.

He skimmed through the document before returning his gaze to Papà. “Thank you. I’ll take my leave now. Bye.”

“Antonio.” Papà called, his brows furrowing.

“Really, it’s nothing.” Antonio said.

Before Papà could say anything more, he started walking towards the exit.

I promptly followed Antonio, but Papà called me back.

“Rosalinda.” He said firmly.

I turned to look at him. “Yes, Papà?”

He waited for Antonio to leave the office before he asked. “What’s going on between you and him?”

“Nothing.” I muttered.

“You think I’ll believe that?” He asked, his forehead creasing into multiple folds.

I averted my gaze, too embarrassed to look him in the eye after what he just saw. I had nothing to say, because no explanation could make Papà think otherwise. He saw it all. The way Antonio’s arm was wrapped around me, staring intently at me. It was clear as day that something was definitely happening between Antonio and me.

I didn’t know how to answer his question. I couldn’t deny it, and I also couldn’t admit the obvious.

When he didn’t receive a response from me, he sighed.

“You can go.” He suddenly said, surprising me.

I finally settled my gaze on him, confused.

“I can go?” I asked to confirm, and he nodded.

Though still surprised by his sudden will to stop questioning me, I walked out of his office. Papà had changed in a lot of ways. I didn’t know if I should be glad about it or sad about it. Because it was the illness that fueled his change.

I went back to my room, and a pang of disappointment coursed through me when I entered to find no one there. I had secretly hoped that I would find Antonio in my room, waiting for me.

Sighing, I walked to my nightstand, where my phone was, and picked it up, finally switching it on. I had a couple of voicemails. Three from Antonio and one from Ruby.

Ruby’s voicemail, which she sent an hour ago, was the one I listened to first.

“Hey, bitch. I’m bored. I don’t know why your line isn’t going through. Anyway, like I said, I’m bored. Please call me back when you listen to this. Or better yet, can you come and visit me? Pretty please. I need you. Also, come with Carlo, please, if possible. I’d like to finally meet my godson.”

I was about to listen to Antonio’s voicemails when a knock sounded on the door.

“Come in.” I said, and the door was pushed open almost immediately.

Mary walked in, holding Carlo in her arms.

Perfect timing. Carlo’s here. I had always wanted Ruby to meet him, so I decided to grant her wish and surprise her. I was going to take him to meet her.

“He said he wanted to see you.” Mary told me as she leaned forward and put Carlo on his feet.

“Good morning, mommy.” Carlo beamed as he pranced towards me excitedly.

“The absolute love of my life. Good morning, my baby.” I carried him in my arms and plastered kisses all over his face. He giggled.

I turned to look at Mary, who was still standing there. “You can go.”

Nodding, she turned around and left.

“Do you want to go out?” I asked Carlo, pulling his cheeks.

“Yes!” He beamed, his face lighting up. “Are we going with Uncle Antonio?”

“No.” I smiled, shaking my head.

He pouted. “Why?”

“I am taking you to see Aunty Ruby.” I told him.

“Who is Aunty Ruby?” He asked curiously.

“You’ll meet her soon.” I said.

I got dressed in a floral maxi gown afterwards and snuck out of the house with Carlo.

***

Ruby couldn’t contain her joy when I walked into her ward with Carlo. She jumped out of bed and limped excitedly towards us, meeting us halfway.

“Careful. Does that not hurt?” I asked, concerned about her bandaged leg.

“It hurts like hell. But I don’t care.” She snatched Carlo from my arms and hugged him tightly.

“So nice to finally meet you, Kiddo.” She beamed.

Carlo turned his face to look at me. “Is she Aunty Ruby?”

“Yes,” I replied, smiling.

“You are so handsome and-” Ruby trailed off, her words replaced by a piercing cry of pain.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I promptly took Carlo from her hands and put him to his feet before supporting her.

“My leg.” She groaned.

“Sorry, girl.”

I helped her back to her bed, and she laid on it.

“Should I call a doctor or something?” I asked, concerned.

She shook her head. “I am fine. I just stressed the leg a little too much.”

She returned her attention to Carlo, motioning for him to climb the bed. I helped him up and made him sit beside her.

“Sorry, Aunty Ruby.” Carlo said, and I could sense the concern in his voice.

“He’s so adorable.” She beamed, pulling his cheeks playfully.

We spent about two hours with Ruby, and she didn’t stop mentioning how adorable Carlo was and plastering kisses all over his face. Carlo also seemed to like her, as they bonded so beautifully.

“Don’t leave me.” Ruby pouted like a five-year-old who was deprived of a popsicle when I announced that we wanted to leave.

“Stop being a big baby.” I chuckled.

“You know we sneaked here, and we have to leave before our absence is noticed.”

“I’ll never understand why you still have to sneak out at this age. Anyway, I’ll miss you.” She opened her arms wide for me to hug, and I did just that.

“I’ll miss you too.” I said.

She hugged Carlo afterwards and designed his face with the last round of kisses. He giggled in response.

“Take care of yourself.” I told her and placed a kiss on her cheek before holding Carlo in my arms and walking out of the room.

“Mommy, is Aunty Ruby sick?” Carlo asked while we were waiting to hail a cab in front of the hospital.

“Yes.” I replied, nodding.

“What happened?” he asked curiously.

“She was involved in a-” My words were cut short when a black mustang pulled over in front of us.

Instinctively, I began to hurriedly walk away from the car, but before I could go far enough, two hefty men scrammed out of the car and attempted to snatch Carlo from my arms.

Carlo screamed, but my own screams overshadowed his as I held him so tightly, refusing to let them have him.

The fight I desperately put up against them was useless, as they were much stronger than me. I felt helpless, unable to protect my son, when the strange men succeeded in forcefully grabbing Carlo from me. Within the blink of an eye, they had already hopped inside the car and sped off, leaving with my son.

“No!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as I dropped helplessly to the ground.

The oxygen in the atmosphere became limited, and I struggled to breathe as I felt my whole world crumble.

God, please, no!