Mafia Puppet
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Jessica M
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The Codes of Ours
THE RULES
āMafia is family.ā ā Antonio Giordano, Mafia Puppet
OUR LIFE
one | if youāre deaf, blind, and mute, youāll live a hundred years in peace. Stick to omertĆ , the code of silence, if you want to see tomorrow.
two | donāt meddle in another brotherās business. Mind your own.
three | donāt start a fight you canāt win. Stand with the Family or face hell.
four | be a man of honorādonāt touch, see, or feel another brotherās woman. Respect your elders.
five | keep your ears and eyes open, but your mouth shut. Donāt betray your brothers or enemies. Take your punishment like a man of honor.
six | have class and independence; donāt beg.
seven | youāll see hell before you betray our secrets.
eight | never get involved with drugs.
THE PENALTY
death.
THE RITUALS
You become one of us with a prick of a needle at the base of your thumb, joining your blood on a burning card passed around to all.
You are a man of honor and you are our brother.
Amen.
***
FRANCESCA
āYou belong to him, and you better remember that. Donāt lose your virtue unless you want to lose your life.ā Those are the exact words my father told me years ago. It felt unnecessary when he and his bodyguards were always on my tail.
āHeās a good man, daughter, and heās the Don now. Heāll be gentler if you do as he says,ā my mother said when my father broke the news to her. She didnāt waste a second advising me, and I didnāt expect anything different.
I finished my education even though I knew Iād never need it. Usually, a woman is valued more with a higher degree.
In the Family, thatās far from the truth. Itās seen as demeaning in front of potential suitors, lowering her worth because she wants to do more than just coddle her husband. Iām one of those demeaning women. My father didnāt care. Not because he loved me, but because I didnāt need a suitor anymore. I already had one, and I wore his ring like a collar around my neck.
āI canāt believe weāve already graduated from university.ā My best friend, Sophia Magritte, is buzzing with excitement, pulling me out of my gloomy thoughts.
Iām grateful for it. Anxiety wonāt help me avoid something thatās written in my fate. I accepted it years ago. Still, a somber expression clouds my face. I know whatās coming nextāsomething thatās been delayed for so long is finally about to happen. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach. Heās close.
āWe should party! Iāll introduce you to a bunch of handsome men who would die for you,ā she says dramatically, grinning widely.
Quite literally, I think to myself.
āNo, I canāt. You know that,ā I say, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
She rolls her eyes. āYouāre a beautiful twenty-four-year-old woman who hasnāt even been to a club yet, let alone had a girl's night out. I always have to go alone or with other people, many of whom I donāt even like. But not this time, Missy. Iāll drag you there myself if I have to.ā
Sophia is one stubborn woman. Sheās fiery, just like her red hair, and has the most beautiful eyesāone blue and one green. Sheās loyal, someone who wouldnāt hesitate to burn the world down for the people she loves.
Sometimes it overwhelms me; her stubborn nature always pushes me into doing things that get me into trouble.
She doesnāt know that, of course, and I would never tell her, so I just try to avoid such situations.
Usually, it works.
But, this could be my last day with her, and I want nothing more than to step out of my role as an honorable mafiosa.
However, I also know that Iām easily replaceable, and while part of me would be glad for it, I know my life is only easier because of the ring hidden under my shirt. If I lose him, I lose the safety I feel whenever I step outside. Heās my only future, and itās simply my good luck that my betrothed himself wanted to tie the knot lateāprobably to enjoy his bachelorhood until he eventually has to conceive an heir. Either way, Iāve had time to mature and understand the severity of my position. Iām no longer prone to making stupid mistakes. Itās not worth it. Iāve given up trying.
āWhy are you zoning out again? I swear to God, youāre always so sketchy. You never stay after school. You have weirdass bodyguards following you. Itās like someoneās going to jump you out of nowhere, and then not to mention youāre always so stiff. I admit, youāre filthy rich, but donāt you think this is a little extra? A businessman shouldnāt be this protective, or should I say possessive, about his daughter. Your dad needs to chill the fuck out.ā
Well, thatās an understatement. I sigh. āItās not like that, Sofie. My father is just strict. Itās normal,ā I try to explain, but itās in vain. Sophia has long caught onto my lies.
āWhich is exactly why you should move out. You can afford to live on your own, right? I donāt even mind if you come to live with my family and me,ā she offers before her nose scrunches up in disgust. āIām just sick of your parents. They didnāt even come to your graduation.ā
I ignore the small stab in my heart and look around to see if anyone heard. My father already told me to cut her off once my studies were over. He doesnāt need outsiders investigating us. He only allowed me a friend because he thought it would be even weirder if I was friendless.
If my bodyguards heard her comments, they would report it back to my father, whoās only looking for another reason to go on a rampage. With the FBI on the rise again, heās being extra cautious, leaving us more under his watch.
I lift my chin, a hint of defiance in my posture. āI just canāt, okay? Donāt be so hardheaded.ā
Sophiaās eyes soften with a sadness I wish I could erase. āFranci, youāre letting your life slip away by bowing to unfair demands and control. I donāt understand why you wonāt stand up to your toxic family, but I wish youād tell me. Iād understand, and Iād do everything in my power to help you. You know I can.ā
She holds my hand, as if her touch could somehow break through my walls. I wish it could. I really do. She doesnāt know how much I want to let someone in, but I also know she wouldnāt understand. Sheād run, just like everyone else. She wouldnāt get it. Iām not just obeying my father. Iām obeying the one Iām promised to, as always.
āThereās nothing to tell. Iāve got to go. Iāll call you later.ā I donāt wait for her to respond. I walk out of the grand university building, my high heels barely supporting my shaking body as I try to avoid another confrontation.
My ride is easy to spot. Itās a white speck in a sea of black. The sleek white limousine draws the attention of everyone nearby.
People are always puzzled by my lifestyle. After all, who in their right mind gets chauffeured around in a car that costs a small fortune? No one, except me, the rich girl. They must think Iām a snob.
My bodyguard, Silvio, leans against the car, his face expressionless, a cigarette hanging from his lips. He straightens as I approach. His gray eyes lock onto mine, as if Iām the most precious thing in the world that he must protect at all costs. A scratch on me would indeed cost him his life. Silvio opens the door for me and waits until Iām settled. He can be kind sometimes, especially since he always makes sure the limo smells like mangoes and peaches. A sigh of relief escapes my lips as I finally escape the prying eyes of strangers. I donāt even mind the two guards sitting across from me today. Iām used to them. Theyāre almost invisible. Almost.
āWhere to?ā Silvio asks in his rough voice, looking down at me from the open door.
āHome,ā I reply, crossing my legs.
Silvio nods as if Iāve told him something he didnāt already know. We both know itās a rhetorical question. Home is the only place Iām allowed to go, but Silvio has always been kind enough to let me feel like I have a choice. Even if itās a false choice, itās a choice nonetheless. It makes me feel respected, which is strange because my mother never receives any respect. My fatherās men always touch her inappropriately, and no one cares. With me, however, theyāre much more restrained.
I feel the car start to move as I turn my head to the side. I catch sight of my best friend watching the tinted car, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. I have to keep her safe and away from my world. She canāt know. Pretending to be the conservative rich daughter of a millionaire helps, but I know she has her suspicions. Sheās not stupid, and Iām not very good at being discreet. Itās only a matter of time before she finds out.
Not if you stop seeing her.
Itās the right thing to do, I decide. Sophia needs to be kept out of this for her own safety and mine.
***
Home is anything but sweet, and my father never lets us forget it.
āFrancesca, your father has some guests. Stay in your room,ā my motherās timid voice greets me.
Sheās scared; I canāt blame her. Itās not the first time my father has had his allies over, and my motherās small body is too weak to fight anymore.
Without a word, I head for my room upstairs. I donāt want to hear the noises. I donāt want to hear the screams. Even though I should be used to it by now, Iām not. Itās just as hard as the first time.
I grab my phone and AirPods, then start playing some slow, calming music. It drowns out my motherās cries of shame. It drowns out my fatherās satisfied laughter and the menās disgusting grunts. It drowns out the reality Iām desperate to escape.
As night falls, I know my mother will be lying in the guest room, her body covered in bruises and her spirit nearly broken. I donāt go to comfort her. I donāt want to be seen by those vile men, let alone be touched by them.
My mother wouldnāt want me to come down, and thatās what I tell myself every time.
