Chapter 63: Morirò da Re

Chapter 63: Morirò da Re

Ah, my passerotto. I see it in your eyes. Youve seen the gates of hell, yet still walk upon this earth. Romeo swished a glass of red wine. He reclined on his fine sofaunlike my usual trips to Romeos apartment, my Uncle wasnt alone this time; there was a trio of strangers. A woman in a fine red dress whod let me in when I reached a lobby. Then there were the two men built like brick houses with scrunched faces, scars, and broken noses, which spoke volumes, even if they didnt say a word while lurking in the corners.

I paced uncomfortably in front of them. Never had this apartment held such an oppressive air, as if a creature lurked out of sight, waiting to pounce on me. Romeos bright eyes regarded me, his gold watch glittering at his wrist. I cleared my throat.

I uh, yea. Its been a rough week. But I got through it, and everyones back where they should be.

And the boy who harmed our family? You saw to him personally, if I understand correctly, yes? Romeo took a small sip of his wine, and the woman in the red dress slid next to him.

As far as I was aware, Romeo didnt have a girl, but I suppose my Uncle never really spoke about himself. Still, her eyes, she trained them on me the way a hawk might stare at a mouse, with a hunger in her face I didnt understand.

I didnt slice his head off myselfbut I was a big part of it. I shifted uncomfortably. He knew, and we both knew the reason why.

As it should be. It can be hard killing, but some must die. Those that cross our blood and would do us harm best serve the heavens by being buried in the ground.

Id avoided addressing it before, but Unclehow do I put this? Youre with the Segreto family, arent you? What is it you do for them?

He swirled the red wine, looking at his cup. My dear passerotto, the way you say as if its vinegar on your tongue. They arent like that childish gang of yours, passerotto. Theyre our famiglia, mine, yours, and your fathers. They are part of our blood, dont you understand? We owe them loyalty by virtue of our life. Before, I would have seen my brothers son admitted much soonerbut your mother, ah, she is a bit touchy with the topic, no?

I blinked at him, feeling a pit in my stomach. What are you saying?

It is past time you stop playing with the children, yes? You have much to learn. I can see now that leaving you out of your famiglia was a mistake; it is my fault that such trouble and danger came to your and your mothers home. That shall no longer be the case. Romeo straightened, unfolding his legs and leaning forward, gaunt face shadowed by the burning candles on his fine oak table.

II cant do that, my friends need me, besides, I My Soul

Romeo frowned and gestured toward me. The woman at his side. She slid to her feet like a flowing river, crossing the room in a second. She set her red fingernails on my arm, and a double of her appeared at my other side, running a hand down my back; her palms took on a green glow, and I gasped.

It felt like someone was kicking around the Spirit Seed inside my chest; Even though it was hardly long and she retreated soon after, I couldnt shake the sensation of someone peering at my insides. Extensive damage to the Soul Roots. Torn apart. Like someone shoved a knife in and went wild. She shook her head and sighed. A two-month long treatment routine, along with the correct herbal restoratives, should bring him back to a stable state. Do you understand, caporegime?

Romeo tilted his head. Easy enough cost. It shall be a simple thing.

Do you understand? This world is unforgiving and cruel. Your friends may be there for you at the moment, but they are amici. Just friends. They are not your family: they will not bleed for you or throw themselves upon a sword for your sake. Should a knife be held to their tongue, they will not refuse to speak your name. That is what it means to be family. That is the difference between our famiglia and your friends. Romeo gestured to the woman in the red dress, who refilled his glass, then she set it in his extended hand and bowed her head.

I stared at him the best I could, one of my eyes too swollen to see properly. Like the first time Romeo busted me open after my mistake at the gambling den, hed decided to make a point with this impromptu sparring session. Punishment for not doing what he wanted. Or was it punishment for hurting our goddamn famiglia?

Was this what it meant to be family? An ember of hate for Romeo burned in me for the first time. The luxury he lived in, the casual way he took things as a given, and the dismissal of the things I valued as a child's pastime? Even the mirth that twinkled in his eyes as he regarded my bruised form.

No, this aint for me, I said stiffly. Romeo shook his head.

Have it your way, This, too, is what it means to be family. It hurts me and all of us to see you make such foolish decisions, but of course, we shall be here for when you inevitably fall and hurt yourself. That is what famiglia is for. Make your mistakes, learn from them, and you may always call upon your Uncle when you have finally realized that you need us. We shall be there, waiting. He smiled at me as if hed not mercilessly smacked me around for twenty minutes.

He nodded to the two brick houses guarding the door, and they stepped aside. With aching steps, I made my way towards the exit, and I kept my eyes locked on my Uncle the entire time.

When your friends betray you and shatter your heart. When the world sinks its fangs into you, your family shall always be here for you to return to. May the Divine keep their eyes upon you, my dear passerotto. I couldnt find the words to reply to that, so I opted not to, leaving through the door and dashing down the stairs.

I got on my bike then rode out into the night of New Valentine.

Romeo offered me what Id lostfamily. But they werent Ma and Alex. Romeo might have been there, but I didnt really know things about my Uncle. He was in deep with the Segreto and claimed I belonged to them too. They werent there for me like Ma and Alex, and comparing them like thatpissed me off. Romeo mightve been. But they werent.

Blood? When had they proved I could trust them? I hardly knew what they were. No, my friends, Id chosen. Theyd bled with me and had my best interest at heart.

Still, his words sat in my head, wondering what he meant by them being tied to the Himawari Sector Schfer. Ridiculous. As I pulled back up to Seaside and Brunos fine apartment, the words came full force. I stared up at the massive apartment building, wondering for the hundredth time this day, how was Bruno affording this place?

I wouldnt let paranoia eat at me. That wasnt the right way to live; Id spent so long alone on the street without people backing me. Id believed the only people I could trust were Ma and Alex. Now that Romeo told me the same thing Id been telling myself for years, the thought was as poisonous as a snakes venom.

I didnt want to live in this world if I couldnt trust them. Even if they were going to betray me, I decided that was the price Id pay.

Bruno and Eve crashed into the apartment later that night, bursting into my room and dragging me out to another club to get drunk. Id refused to meet them, and Eve wasnt about to allow me to get away with it. They remarked on my fucked up face, and I played it off, saying that Suzakid get to it in the morning.

Even with the pain, I found theyd picked the right treatment.

We spent the night getting toasted, dropping all of our worries together in favor of a single night of sloppy drinking and merrymaking. I forgot about Romeo, my family, and the fact my Soul was fucked three ways to hell and just enjoyed the moment. Everything else could wait. Id sort it out with my friends.