THE ITALIAN MAFIA'S KARMA

Chapter 79: NO ESCAPE

Valentina received a package a few hours ago, and she hadn’t stopped smiling since then.Even now working with the package she had received, her smile didn’t falter.

"You’re so good to me Elio," she beamed, as she paused briefly to stare at her camera.

She turned her attention to all of the hardcopies photos littered about in front of her. The big photo album, and sticky gums she would be working with to attach the photos to the album.

Usually, all of that would have easily been done with a printer, but she loved that he had taken the initiative to help her cure her boredom.

So with the soft blues coming from the vinyl player, a bottle of chill water an arm reach away from her, and her tasks in front of her, she felt damn near fulfilled.

Valentina was engrossed in sorting out the pictures to figure out which to fix where, when Sonia walked into the room.

"Val?" She called out to her as she drew closer.

Startled, Valentina jolted a little. Then she looked up, and breathed out.

"Sonia?"

"What’s all this?" She lifted a curious brow.

Valentina smiled. "They’re pictures, Sonia. From the halls of Neravalle to the outskirts, further down to the arena, and then to the sea."

"You take all this?" Sonia’s eyes widened.

"I sure did," she replied proudly.

"Wow! You have talent Val," she said in awe.

"Thank you." She joined her hands together, and bowed her head in appreciation.

Sonia laughed, whilst her eyes scanned through the photos.

"Luce!" She pointed out.

Valentina looked at the picture she was pointing at, and her breath caught when she saw it.

There were certain pictures she took and swore they were the best pictures she had ever taken. This one was a strong contender.

From the viewpoint of any viewer, it was objectively a great picture.

His concentration to whatever he was looking at. The huge smile on his face. The way some strands of his hair fell very close to his left eye.

The detailing was perfect. It also helped that he was quite the sight to look at.

Valentina swiftly covered the picture with one of flore.

"Why you cover it? Luce look so handsome!" Sonia said dreamily.

Her tone made Valentina pause and stare at her. "Careful now, Sonia. Daniela will scratch you with her nails if she hears you."

Sonia grew pink as she shook her head negatively. "No, I no mean it that way. Luce like a Signor brother to me. But he really handsome. All the girls like him, but not me."

She chuckled. "So who do you like, Sonia?"

"Nobody," she answered swiftly.

Valentina scrunched her nose and shook her head. "You’re definitely lying."

"I no lying," she cleared her throat. "I bring you phone!" She changed the topic swiftly.

Valentina paused again, her eyes widening a little. "You did?" She whispered breathlessly.

Sonia took a deep breath, and reached into the bag she brought along with her.

"Here, take chocolate first."

Valentina’s eyes twinkled in appreciation as she accepted the chocolate bar, but it didn’t last, as her gaze went back to anticipating the phone.

"The phone." She placed the phone on Valentina’s palm.

Her eyes instantly watered. "Thank you, Sonia. You’re an Angel!"

"I need go now. But I’ll come back one hour and collect."

"I’ll be done before then I promise."

"Okay." She rose to her feet, but her gaze lingered on a particular picture.

Valentina’s eyes followed her gaze, and a small knowing smile appeared on her face.

"Take it with you. He has more here, trust me."

Sonia opened her mouth to deny at first, but then she remembered she was in the presence of Valentina, and there wasn’t any need to hide.

Shyly, she grabbed the picture, pushed it into the bag, and bolted for the door.

Valentina giggled. "She’s so cute," she muttered under her breath.

But her eyes fell on the phone in her hand, and her chest tensed up again.

Without wasting any time, she began to dial Richard’s number.

She brought the phone to her ears, listening to it ring.

The floor suddenly felt too hot and uncomfortable, and so she stood up and began to pace.

At first, she thought it was going to ring out without anyone picking up. But a few seconds before it would stop ringing, there was a click.

She inhaled sharply as she waited for the voice that would inform her it was truly Richard.

"You called. Are you going to say something?"

Her heart summersaulted on hearing his well groomed, cultured voice.

"Richard."

There was a pause, followed by a few seconds of heavy breathing.

"Valentina."

Despite the nervousness she felt, she smiled.

He had recognized her voice.

"I know it’s you. Don’t go silent on me now."

"I wasn’t planning to."

"My fucking God! Where the fuck have you been?!"

"That’s not important now. Why didn’t you tell me that Matteo Alvarez has a daughter, and not just one offspring?"

"I don’t see what that changes."

"A lot! You said you were going to kill his offspring. Your exact words."

"Baby, if you don’t want the sister dead, then she’ll live. But the man who stole from you—"

"And you’re sure he did it?"

Richard scoffed. "Where are you, Valentina?"

"I’m in Italy."

Another pause, and this time, it stretched a little longer.

"Hello? Are you still there?"

"You told me you could never go to Italy," he finally said.

"I did. But I didn’t go for myself. I went to help Natalia with something important. And now I’m stuck here."

"You’re what?! Did something happen? Where are you?!"

"I’m in a place called—"

She heard footsteps outside, and panicked. Swiftly, she ended the call.

The door began to open, and in an attempt to hide the phone, she dashed for the bathroom.

"Val?"

She snapped the blinds designed to cover the see through nature of the glass walls, close, just as she heard Elio’s voice.

The phone began to ring, and Valentina gasped.

"Val?"

Quickly, she turned on the shower to drown out the noise.

Her trembling fingers fidgeted with the phone, as she tried to turn it off.

After a couple of seconds with the phone almost slipping out of her hands twice, she finally turned it off.

Valentina took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and then shot her head through the blinds.

"Elio, I’m in the bathroom. I’ll be out in a minute!" She said.

"Oh that’s fine. I just wanted to ask if you needed anything. I’m leaving now!"

"Oh okay. Bye!"

She exhaled as his footsteps disappeared, and then turned to turn off the shower.

"Oh shit!" Her eyes widened, and she lunged forward.

The water from the shower shooting sporadically to different directions, had gotten to the hand sink area where she kept the phone.

"Please don’t be soaked. Please," she muttered, as she grabbed the phone.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She cursed when she saw the phone was indeed soaked.

"You stupid shower!" Her eyes shot forward, as she glared at the shower.

But when her gaze moved to the control, she palmed her forehead.

"You’re so foolish Val."

In a rush, she had turned up the shower to the highest, and the consequence was a wet phone.

She turned off the shower, and stepped out of the bathroom.

After wiping off the surface of the phone, she closed her eyes and prayed silently as she tried the on button.

Her heart jammed when she opened her eyes and saw the phone did not turn on.

Staggering back, she fell on the bed as an overwhelming sense of defeat arose in her.

"You’re stuck here forever Valentina," she whispered, at the verge of tears.