Hated (13 page)

“I sure hope you are right about being set up,” Stephanie sighed and shut the door. I was furious. I can’t believe that they would set me like that. Heck I didn’t even know that Hayley knew where they lived. I ground my teeth together and hopped on to my bike. I put my helmet on and floored it. I was going to find some answers one way or another.

Chapter 17

Stephanie Wilson

Boston
7:03 pm Friday February 16
th
2029

I closed the door on Antonio. I felt betrayed and angry. I leaned against the door and tried to relax. He was part of the Mafia. I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming. I knew he was too good to be true, and yet I kind of hoped he was that good of a guy.

I got up from the door and limped into the living room. There was blood everywhere and I’m happy to say not all of it was ours.
I was going to have to clean it up relatively soon or it would stain the wood, the curtains, the couch and the walls. I sighed and went to the kitchen to get a wet rag to start cleaning off the blood that was on the walls. At least I wouldn’t have to go to school tomorrow so I could keep cleaning all through the night and then sleep for some of tomorrow.

I was sore and stiff so it was difficult to go down on my knees or just to bend down period.
But I got pretty much all of the blood off of the walls and the floor. The couch was going to be a problem. We had moved Alexander to Kevin’s bedroom before we were attack. They hadn’t bothered to look through the rest of the house. As soon as they spotted me they didn’t bother to leave the living room.

I rubbed my neck where I had seen a little bit of bruising earlier. It was defiantly going to be much worse tomorrow.
One of their goons had tried to strangle some answers out of me. I guess he didn’t know I was armed with a gun. I shot him in the arm at close range and he dropped me like a sack of hot potatoes.

I smiled to myself as I remembered what had happened.
I got a couple of those guys good, so did my brothers. Everyone was resting and after some arguing I finally got my mothers to bed too. I went to the hall closet and searched around for the bleach. I don’t even know why we have white couches but we do. I try not to have people bleed all over them but it gets difficult when you bring home wounded people every other week.

I found the bleach at the back of the closet behind some
linen’s. I grabbed it but it felt kind of light in my grasp. I shook it lightly there was still some in it but I would have to go shopping soon for some more. I closed the closet and went back out to the living room. I cleaned off the couch to the best of my ability but it was still kind of an off shade of white. As I cleaned the couches I thought about what Antonio had said to me and what I had said to him.

My heart had left like it had dropped into my stomach when Darcy had sai
d that Antonio was part of the Mafia. My heart still felt heavy but it had jumped in my chest when I saw Antonio again. Man, why did my life have to be so complicated? I think that I might’ve fallen for him just a little bit. But I couldn’t have, I had sworn to myself that I wouldn’t fall in love again.

I sighed. I guess life likes to throw you
curve balls every now and again to keep things interesting. Well I was getting kind of bored of just Hayley trying to kill me. Now I have the Mafia heating up my ass as well, just another day at the house of the poor and socially inept. I sighed again and finished cleaning up the couches. I was exhausted and sore from the fighting and the beatings.

I walked unsteadily
to me and my brother’s bedroom at the end of the hall. I opened the door and tried to be quiet as I made my way to my brother’s bed. Alexander was sleeping in my bed as he has been for a while. I laid down beside my brother, Kevin, and tried to catch some sleep. Kevin probably sensing my restlessness rolled over and put his arm around me before going back to sleep. I felt a bit more relaxed like that and soon exhaustion took over and I was out like a light.

In the morning I could barely move. Opening my eyes was the only thing that didn’t seem to hurt.
I moved my arm to try to hoist myself up into a sitting position but my arms were too sore to hold my weight, and I collapsed back on to the bed. I groaned and tried again, this time using my legs too. The best that I could do was to get into a sitting position. However I was leaning against the wall with my back so that was kind of cheating.

Kevin wasn’t beside me and, when I looked over, Alexander wasn’t in my bed either. Now where could they have gone
off to? I grunted and swung my legs off the side of the bed. I tried to stand but that was a mistake. I fell on to my face as my legs gave out from underneath me. I cursed and tried to get back up again. This time I actually stayed on my feet but pain was shooting through every fibre of my being.

I slowly and carefully made my way out of the room and out to the kitchen. My mothers were sitting at the dining table drinking coffee but I still couldn’t find my brothers or Alexander. Jean had heard me and turned her eyes to me. Her eyes seemed to be sympathetic but her expression was concern and understanding.

“They went out to get groceries dear,” Jean replied to my unasked question. “They didn’t want to wake you because they knew that you would be sore.”

I nodded and contin
ued to walk toward the kitchen. I scrabbled around and made myself a tonic to help with the pain. It took me a little longer than it normally would but I got it made. Thankfully neither of my mothers offered their assistance. That would’ve just made me think that they thought that I was unable to take care of myself. I hated pity it was the one thing that drove me nuts. I would literally hit anybody who would show me pity when I was like this. I hated feeling pathetic too.

I sigh
ed and quickly drank the tonic. Its not that it tastes bad but there is a wicked after taste. I shuddered as I tasted the horrible after taste of the tonic. I put the cup in the sink and tried to walk to the living room. I laid down on the couch and tried to relax. I must’ve fallen asleep because the next thing I know is the bang of a door slamming shut. I lifted up my head and blinked the sleepiness out of my eyes. I looked toward where the sound had come from.

“Sorry we didn’t mean to wake you up,” Kevin apologized and walked into the kitchen with a couple of grocery bags in
hand. Anthony and Andrew smiled and then followed Kevin into the kitchen both carrying one grocery bag each. Alexander was standing just inside the door but he kept looking at his feet. He wouldn’t look up at me.

“Alexander
are you okay?” I asked and tried to sit up. I got to a position that was more comfortable before I looked up to Alexander.

“Why are you asking me if I’m okay?”
Alexander asked through what sounded like clenched teeth. “Why don’t you think about yourself for a change?”

Why did Alexander sound angry? I was just asking if he was okay.
I narrowed my eyes and sat up a little further.

“What are you talking about
, I am thinking about myself!” I replied angrily. No one ever talks to me like that and comes out without a scratch. The only thing that I could hear in his voice besides the anger was pity, and I hated pity.

“If you don’t like what I’m doing then get lost,” I told Alexander.

“Jeez you are way too up tight,” Alexander commented in a tone that would’ve had me on my feet in a second if I didn’t hurt so much. “You need to relax.”

Alexander walked over to me but he wouldn’t look me in the eyes. I couldn’t tell what was in his eyes or what his expression was either.
I was so confused by his voice and his body because they both said two different things. I didn’t like either of the things that they told me. I tried to move but Alexander was on me before I could get anywhere. He had me pinned in a couple seconds. I was about to yell at him to get off of me but he covered my mouth with his hand.

“Hey isn’t this better then being with that Mafia bastard,” Alexander commented. “Besides you don’t even like him do you? He was just out of luck on that one.”

I gave him my best confused look that I could in the position that I was in. I didn’t know what he was talking about but I wanted to keep him distracted so that I could figure out a way to get him off of me.

“You didn’t know that he liked you?” Alexander
said and then he started chuckling darkly. “Oh you are a cruel, cruel woman. But I kind of like that about you.”

Then he started to lean closer to me.
I got my opportunity. I used all of my weight and kicked straight up. Alexander groaned and rolled off of me and off of the couch. He landed on the floor holding his crotch.

“Stay the hell away from me!” I yelled at Alexander as I tried to get to my feet.
“Get the hell out of this house and don’t you dare come back here!”

Everybody had rushed out of the kitchen and was jus
t standing there in the doorway, gawking at the scene before them. I sat up quickly even though every muscle in my body was protesting against it. I was shaking not just because of the pain but also because of the anger coursing through me.

Alexander slowly got to his feet
and backed up toward the door. My brothers came out of their confused state and watch Alexander as he went out the front door. My mothers came over to make sure that I was ok. I tried to tell them that I was fine but they kept fussing over me. So I let them have at it, besides I kind of needed this after all I’ve been through the last couple of days.

I relaxed and surrendered to my mothers. I let them lead me away but I didn’t go into their room like they wanted me to. I kept walking all the way to the room that I shared with my brother. I walked in and slammed the door shut behind me.
I leaned against the door and let my head fall back and hit the door with a thud. I closed my eyes and slide down the door to the floor. I curled up with my knees against my chest and put my face down on my knees.

I hadn’t expected to actually start crying
. But when I opened my eyes and looked down at my pants I found that there was water blotches where my face had been. I smiled for half a second. I was really happy with him, really happy. I’ve never been like that before. Then I felt the smile fade and the tears well up in my eyes. I haven’t cried like this in a while either.

I don’t know how long I sat there for but after a little while there was a knock at the door. I wiped my face and got up. I tried to put on my best face but it jus
t felt false, so I let it drop as I opened the door. Kevin was on the other side of the door. He looked concerned but I could also see that he understood a bit of what I was going through. Just seeing that I almost started crying again but I was able to blink them back this time.

“Hey are you okay?” Kevin asked. “Do you need someone to talk to?”

“I’m not sure anymore,” I told Kevin and I hated it how my voice cracked with the threatening tears. I turned around and walked the two steps to the edge of my bed. I heard the door close and I could hear him come up behind me. But I don’t understand why I jumped when he put his arms around me.

“
Its okay, it’s okay to be confused and to be scared,” Kevin murmured, his voice vibrating against my neck. “You taught us that it was okay for us to be scared and confused. To not know which way is up and which way is down as long as we don’t lose sight of what is important to us.”

“I taught you that?” I q
uestioned doubtfully.

Kevin spun me around so that he was hugging me aga
inst his chest before he replied, “Yes, you taught us a lot more than you give yourself credit for.”

I laughed bu
t I could feel the tears start to overflow from my eyes. I hugged Kevin back as I started to cry again. Kevin held me tighter and I could feel something plop down on my head from time to time. Looks like I wasn’t the only one who needed a good cry.

I pulled away and smiled up at Kevin. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

Chapter 18

Antonio
Caine

Boston 9:37 am Saturday February 17
th
2029

I sat up slowly, my body aching from yesterday’s fight. I almost couldn’t remember what happened last night, but then it came back it a painful wave of memory. I rubbed my temples to try to ward off the headache that I could feel was coming. I still couldn’t believe what had happened. Darcy and Hayley had gone to Stephanie’s house, beat her and told her things probably some weren’t true. But the only one that was true was that I was part of the Mafia.

I threw off the covers and swung my legs around so that they were off the bed.
I got up and felt everything stiffen up and start to hurt. I walked stiffly to the bathroom, turned on the water for a bath and put a plug in the drain. I put the lid down on the toilet and sat there watching the tub fill up with water. I hadn’t even bothered to check the temperature, I just let it run. When I thought that there was enough water I shut off the tap and stripped.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror but there were mostly just bruises on my body. I couldn’t look at myself for very long because I felt guilty and self-conscious of my faults.
I stepped into the tub and felt the burn singe of the hot water. It felt kind of good and after a minute or two I completely submerged myself in the slicing-hot water. Everything except for my head was burning and stinging. I wasn’t that stupid or depressed that I’d stick my head in that hot water.

After a couple of minutes it didn’t feel as bad as when I first got in.
I relaxed and leaned my head on the edge of the tub. When I had gotten home last night my father was yelling at me like a crazy man. Apparently Darcy had told him everything and when I tried to defend both her and myself I was sentenced to house arrest. At least until I was married to Hayley. I wonder what the punishment would be if I killed her?

I
lay in the bathtub for a couple more minutes before I washed up and got out. I didn’t feel as stiff when I got out but my legs were a bit wobbly. I grabbed the side of the tub for support. Once I had regained the feeling in my legs I grabbed a towel and dried myself off. I wrapped the towel around my waist and went to my room to get some clothes on.

After I had gotten my pants on I heard a knock at the door.
I walked over and pulled the door open. I was in a bad mood and I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Once I saw who was at the door I changed my mind. Sandy, one of Darcy’s younger cousins, was standing outside my door. She was wearing a pair of skinny jeans, a pink long sleeve shirt and grey converse. Her hair was the same dirty blonde that it was when I saw her at the wedding four years ago, but it wasn’t the same length. It was a lot shorter than the last I had seen her. The last time her hair was past her shoulders but now it was up to her ears. I didn’t know what to say I was completely dumbfounded.

“Hi,” Sandy said
shyly and looked up at me. “Can I come in?”

I nodded and stepped aside to let her pass.
Sandy came in and sat down on my bed. She looked slightly panicked and scared but at the same time she looked calm and collected.

“I’m guessing you didn’t come here to just say ‘hi’,” I commented coming to sit down beside her.
Sandy smiled a little and chuckled nervously.

“You got me,” Sandy said. “I didn’t come here to say hi, I came here to warn you.”

“Warn me?” I questioned not sure I heard her right. “Warn me about what?”

“About Darcy,” Sandy replied, she looked around nervously. “I know when she’s going to make her move.”

At first I didn’t know what she was talking about but then I remembered what she had told me the night of the wedding. Darcy had planned something but we just didn’t know when she was going to make her move and put the plan into action. Now that we know what she will do I might be able to stop it and get rid of Darcy at the same time.

“What is it and when is it?” I asked Sandy.

“She is going to try to take over your father’s part of the Mafia,” Sandy replied hesitantly, “and it’s supposed to happen sometime in June.”

My mouth dropped open. I was stunned with realization. Darcy was going to kill my father and try to kill
me. But my wedding was in June. Oh shit, that would be the perfect time to kill me and frame it on Stephanie. Sandy nodded like she understood what I was going through.

“I had promised you that I would warn you when I got more details,” Sandy said getting up and heading for the door. “I have kept my promise. Goodbye Tony.”

Sandy opened the door and shut it behind her. She didn’t even give me a chance to thank her or to say goodbye.

I sat on the bed and thought about what she had told me. I have four months until Darcy was going to do something to get rid of my father and me. I had four months until my wedding. I had four months to prove to Stephanie that I was different than the rest of the Mafia.
Looks like I have my work cut out for me.

I got up and finished getting dressed. Then I went out to join everybody else for breakfast at the dining table.
I wasn’t going to participate in the conversation but I mind as well keep up in what was going on. I don’t want to be flying blind when the time comes for me to make my move.

As expected no one even bothered to notice my presence. They kept talking and the only one who seemed to take notice of me was the chef. He nodded to me
and brought around something for me to eat. I thanked him and carefully ate my breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast.

My father and my mother were talking about the wedding and Hayley was staring at me between bites of her breakfast.
I tried to focus on the conversation and ignore Hayley. But it was very difficult to do so. I managed to give her a death stare without my dad or Darcy noticing. Hayley immediately looked down at her food and stopped trying to catch my eye.

After breakfast I went to the library to read but I got bored very quickly. So I went back to my room and got out my
sketch book. I didn’t really know what I was drawing but it was better than being bored. When I was done the figure looked exactly like Stephanie. Right down the way she puts her hair up and how she stands. She was wearing her working clothes for when she goes to work at that fancy restaurant.

She looked beautiful. Then I saw a drop of water appear on the page. I was completely stunned. I reached up and touched my face. There was a water streak coming
down from my eye. Was I crying? I closed the book as I felt the tears start to well up in my eyes. I threw the book across the room and pulled my knees up to my chest. I couldn’t stop the wave of emotions that followed the tears and before I knew it I was sobbing.

There was a knock at the
door which made me jump a little. I was in no mood to have anyone talk to me or see me.

“Go away!” I yelled and I hated how my voice cracked. I put my head back on my knees and tried to clam myself down.
I heard the door open and close. I looked up to snap at the person to yell at them to leave me alone, but the words got caught in my throat when I saw who came through the door.

“Thought you could use a friend,” Devin said as he walked up to me, smiling. His smile was sympathetic and warming.

“What are you doing here?” I asked wiping my eyes hastily. I didn’t like anyone to see me cry. It was embarrassing.

“Your father called me to keep an eye on you,” Devin replied glaring at a spot on the wall, and then he smiled and looked down at me. “But he never said I had to tell him anything.”

I smiled a little but then I lost the moment and went back to being sad. I could feel my smile fade and the tears start to come back into my eyes. I put my face in my hands and tried to calm down, but I couldn’t.

“I don’t know what to do anymore,” I muttered through my tears. “I had always known a little bit but now I feel like I’m completely in the dark.”

“I know that it seems confusing now but I’m sure that things will work out eventually,” Devin replied coming to sit down beside me, “and by then you will know exactly what you need to do. Now dry up I’m taking you out for a walk around the town.”

Devin patted me on the shoulder than got up and headed for the door.

“Thanks Devin,” I murmured. “Thank you for everything.”

Devin stopped at the door and turned around. He smiled a little and said, “Your welcome.” Then he walked out the door.

I wiped my face on my sleeve and got up. I went to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I found it a little more bearable to see myself but it was still painful to see all of my faults and mistakes reflected in the mirror.

I brushed my teeth and put a comb through my hair before walking out of the bathroom and out of my room.