Run

C H A P T E R T W E N T Y - T W O

"You must hurry, Leah. We do not have much time." I am rushed into a car by the woman who claims to be my aunt.

Before I am able to even open my mouth to question her, she is running around to the drivers side and is speeding away from the small motel.

"Um, tell me again how we're related?" She glances over at me before returning her gaze back to the dirt road in front of us. She gives a long sigh before letting her shoulders sag forward and her eyes become sad.

"I told you, Leah, I am his sister."

"But how am I supposed to believe something like that? If you're really my aunt then how come I've never met you?"

She cringed slightly at my words, her lips pulling back in disgust.

"You have, Caro. You just don't remember."

I roll my eyes and scoff at her words.

"I'm pretty sure I would remember meeting my father's long lost sister."

She shakes her head and slightly closes her eyes before she speaks again.

"No, Leah. It was years ago. You were barely old enough to be in kindergarten. I had come to The States to visit you and your family. To make a long story short, your mother and father got into an argument. Your father laid his hands on your mother. I was horrified. I took you up to your room put you down for nap, hoping you wouldn't ask any questions. When I went back downstairs your mother was crying and your father was on his knees, pleading with her. He promised to never hit her again. And said he was sorry that I had to see that."

"Wait, that...was you?"

Her eyes go wide and she glances over at me.

"You remember?"

"Yeah, my class had a pizza party that day at school. I just remember getting off the bus and hearing them screaming at each other as I walked into the house. I thought you were just a babysitter."

"I wish I was. Ever since that day I paid closer attention to your father. Watching what he bought, where he went, how he acted. That's how I found out that he had gotten involved in the Mafia." Her voice cracks slightly, a she swiftly wipes her eyes dry of a few tears that were rolling down her cheeks.

"He and I were raised here in Italy and our parents always told us to never get involved with these sort of things. I guess Jordan just never listened."

"I'm sorry," I say "for everything."  I say it to myself just as much as I say it to her. I'm sorry that I'm in this situation. I'm sorry that I was born into such an abusive and manipulative family, and I'm sorry that I never had the intelligence to realize it before it was too late.

"It's alright, Caro. This is not your fault."

Her voice is calm and reassuring. I allow myself to believe her and turn away towards the window before another unanswered question starts gnawing at my mind.

"I'm sorry, but, what's your name?"

She smiles slightly before stealing a glance at me.

"My name is Shannon Russo."

*****

Vincent's POV

"Let me through, Leonardo."

"I'm sorry sir, but I can't do that."

"Damnit, I'm fine!" I scream at him, finally letting my anger from the last few days break through my calm exterior.