4

And if I give him a child, does he expect me to give up my rights as a mother? I can’t do that. No way will I leave my baby in the hands of a monster.

My phone chimes, and I’m reminded I could call the cops if I wanted, but then I remember my dad. He’s counting on me even if he doesn’t know it yet.

When I dig out my phone from my purse, I see it’s from my best friend, Christy. She’s been with me since freshmen year in college. We were roommates, and we immediately hit it off. We were inseparable. She must know something is wrong.

“Hello?” I need to get this conversation over, but I sound defeated. I head to the bed and sit down, sinking into the comfort of feathers and foam.

Why do I hate this while this is the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever been on? I lie down, put my head on the pillow, which is just as comfortable, and stare up at swirl of colors on the ceiling.

“Where are you?” she screeches. “Your house is on the news, Delilah. The. News. There are thousands of gunshots in it, yet no bodies were found. Apparently, you’re alive. Thanks for telling me. Here I am, in our advanced Anatomy and Physiology class, thinking your body is decomposing somewhere because that’s the only reason I can think of for you to miss class. Where are you? What happened?”

“Christy, you can’t take phone calls in class,” I hear the Professor say in the background.

Books slam and I hear her backpack zip. “I’m going. Sorry, Professor Wakins. It’s an emergency.”

“You shouldn’t have called me during class.”

“You shouldn’t have left me wondering if you were dead,” she snaps. I hear the lecture hall door close behind her.

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “You’re right. I know. I’m sorry. I can’t tell you everything, but I’m okay. I’m safe.” Sort of.

“You can’t tell me? You better tell me. You know I’ll find out. I’ll hire a hacker to trace your every move and find out what’s going on.”

“Christy, I need you to leave your curiosity at the door this time because this situation might get you killed if you aren’t careful.”

“Well, now I’m more interested. You can’t say things like that and expect me to lay this to rest. I’m your best friend, Delilah. You can trust me. I won’t tell anyone; you know I won’t.”

I exhale, debating if I want to burden her with this. I can’t remember a time when she gave me a reason not to trust her.

“My dad got involved with Carmine Milazzo,” I admit, the words bitter on my tongue.

“What!” she screams, then lowers her voice. “What? You did not just say that. He kills people, Delilah. Kills. Gets rid of the bodies. He never gets caught because he has police and FBI in his pocket. He has so much power. Oh, this is bad. This is so bad. Where’s your dad?”

“Hiding. He’s okay for now, and he will be. I’ve taken care of things.”

Silence hangs between us for a few seconds before static rustles the phoneline from her breath. “What did you do?” Dread fills her question, and she doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “You can’t always be the solution for your father’s mistakes, Delilah. You did something bad, didn’t you? I’m going to want to strangle you, aren’t I?”

I pick at a loose thread on the hem of my skirt. “Maybe,” I mumble. “I can’t tell you. Not yet. Just know everything is going to be okay.”

“Remember, I’m going to find you. I’ll get the truth.”

“You’re going to be the death of yourself.”

“Just tell me where you are,” her voice softens. “Please.”

My gaze shifts to the locked doors, and I remember the agreement I’ve made. Being locked in this room reminds me that none of this is a dream. This is real life, and now I have to pay.

“I’m at Carmine Milazzo’s house. I’m locked in his room.” I prepare myself for her scream, for curse words flying, for something other than the silence, but instead, I hear a sob. “Christy?” I sit up, wondering if I’m hearing her correctly.

“What did you do, Delilah? Oh my God. What did you do?” she cries. “You never think things through. You react. You fly into action.”

“It was the only option, Christy. Death is the only way out of debt with Carmine if you don’t pay up. That’s his rule. I can’t let my dad die. He’s all I have.”

“What deal did you make?”

“I don’t want to tell you yet. I need to talk to him and work out the details. Once I know everything, I’ll fill you in, okay?”

“If I see on the news you’ve gone missing, I will kill him myself.”

“I believe you.” I smile, thinking of her four-foot-nine frame trying to attack a man well over six feet tall.

“Keep me updated. Please. I’m going to be worried sick. We have finals soon. What does this mean for you?”

“I’m not quitting school because of him. He can go fuck himself if that’s what he thinks.”

“If Carmine fucking Milazzo wants you to quit school, I have no doubt that will happen.”

“My goals and dreams do not end because of him. I’m still my own person. I want things for myself that are not just him.”

“You want him?”

I scoff. “I did not say that.”

“You did. You so did. Oh my God, you want the big bad mafia boss, don’t you? Is he hot? I’ve heard rumors.”

“He’s…” gorgeous. “He’s okay. In a serial killer kind of way, if you’re into that.”

She chuckles. “You like him. In some twisted way, you like him.”

“I do not. There is nothing to like. He’s demanding, controlling, selfish, domineering, stubborn, and I do not like those qualities.”

“You forgot hot.”

“It’ll take more than good looks to win me over, you know.”

“Listen, I need to go to my next class, but be careful, Delilah. This isn’t some guy from college. This is a man who makes a living making people bleed. He runs drugs and weapons. He gambles. He wins. All the stories we have heard are true. If you find yourself attracted, just remember that.”

“Believe me; I won’t forget.”

“Okay.” She doesn’t sound convinced. “Love you. Keep me updated. I promise I won’t tell a soul.”

“Love you too.”

I drop my phone and cover my eyes with my hands, wondering how deep a grave I’ve dug myself.

I’m not sure how long I lie there, but I fall asleep, and when I dream, much to my dismay, it’s Carmine who takes over my subconscious.

I want to call myself crazy, but if I’m honest, I’ve always been lured by darkness.