Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

VEDA

I sat outside the Mancini mansion and stared at the door through my windshield. Could a house be evil, because this one seemed evil? This was where Atlas slept. Where he woke up every day, fell asleep at night, and ate his meals. This was his home. The devil’s den.

Did he come back here that night and wash my blood off his hands? When he went to sleep did he think about me? Did he wonder if I was okay or feel bad for leaving me alone with him? Atlas and his friend had fun with me. They held me down, took what they wanted and laughed while I cried. But that was nothing compared to what he did. Did Atlas know what he would do? Did he care?

I looked down at the jagged scar on my forearm and pushed back the memory threatening to break through. No matter how many times I fought back the images from that night, one smile always came through. A sinister and maniacal grin that followed me around. And that voice…

“Sweet little Veda… you should be more careful who you talk to.”

I couldn’t shake that deep tone either.

Letting out a breath, I turned my attention back to the house.

He wasn’t here and Atlas was dead. My brother killed him. Kato tried to keep me safe, and for that he would spend the next twelve years in prison. If he could do that, then I could do this.

My fingers wrapped around the door handle, but I couldn’t bring myself to open it. I couldn’t make my hand move. I just sat there frozen while staring out the windshield.

There was a man smoking on the balcony. I could see him looking down at me. He didn’t say anything or call out, he just watched. Another two were working in the garden to my left, while a fourth leaned on the left side of the house. That was a lot of men to worry about. If there were this many out here, how many were in the house? And why did Cesare request me?

I’d never really seen the man, let alone spoken to him. He was a myth people whispered about, so why would he ask for me? I was no one special. People didn’t know my name. We were just another family that occupied this town. Whatever his reasons were, they couldn’t be good.

Of course Nova could’ve said something. She was dating his youngest son. Maybe she told him I was a maid and he thought I could use the money. I could. It was hard raising a child on my own, but we made it work. Then again, the Mancini’s had never called Sunny Side before. So, why now? As far as I knew Cesare had his own maids.

My eyes rolled over the pathway leading up to the door.

Something didn’t feel right. Girls in my line of business talked, and the word was that Cesare didn’t like strangers in his house. That’s exactly what I was. A stranger. The last time I was in a house of someone associated to the Mancini’s I saw something I shouldn’t have. The stench of that bloody room still haunted me.

I waited for weeks for the threat to keep my mouth shut. And it came, just not how I expected. Romeo Mancini paid me a visit. He claimed it was because his brother and my sister were getting close. At first I didn’t believe it. There was no way Nova would be associated with a Mancini. Then Gio showed up one day to pick her up for school.

The warning was clear after that. If I opened my mouth, then Nova would pay the price. I may not have been much of a sister to her after what happened. I was too busy hiding in my shell to see what was happening to her. It wasn’t like I wanted to shut her out, I just couldn’t be who she needed me to be.

The big sister that would look out for her, and give her advice was dead. But I could do this for her. I could pretend I didn’t see anything and carry on with my life. Considering I didn’t talk to anyone other than my friend Rita, it was easy to do.

It all worked out in the end. They fell in love and were happily on their way to college. A place that neither myself nor Maw Maw thought Nova would ever go. As much as I hated to admit it, Gio was good for my sister. He motivated her. That didn’t mean I trusted him or his family.

I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t go in that house.

Pulling out my phone, I called the office.

“Sunny Side Domestics, Gladys speaking.”

I was happy to hear her voice. Gladys was nice. This would’ve been a lot harder if Wilson would’ve answered. He was all about giving the customer what they wanted.

“Hi Gladys, its Veda. I’m at the Mancini’s and something came up. Can you get someone else to come out here?”

“Oh no dear, I hope everything is okay?”

It was refreshing to hear sincerity in someone’s voice. I almost felt bad for lying to her.

“Yeah, Knox has a bit of a fever so I have to go and pick him up.”

“I hope the little guy isn’t getting that flu that’s going around.”

He was healthy as a horse, though if she tried to reschedule this appointment for tomorrow, he might suddenly have said flu.

“You go home, I’ll send Charlie and Jen over there.”

Phew.

“Thanks Gladys.” I hung up and drove away, leaving the Mancini mansion behind.

The old me would’ve charged through the doors and done her job without a second thought. I knew better now. Bravery wasn’t what saved you. It was what plunged you headfirst into danger.