Fallen Angel: A Mafia Romance - Part 2 (Roman Crime Family) by Alisa Anderson, Cameron Skye

1
     
     
    She stared wordlessly as her mother rushed around the kitchen, trying to straighten everything up before her father came home. Her tiny, frail frame moved quietly, with purpose, as she paused to wipe sweat from her brow.
    Tonight wasn’t going to be a good night.
    She knew it in her gut.
    The way you knew you were about to throw up.
    The way someone walks behind you, and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
    Tension filled the air.
    She knew from past experience, nothing good would come of it.
    Her stomach churned relentlessly. Twisting, forming into a tight knot. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the feeling of nausea permeating her senses. Pretending not to feel the blinding, suffocating mask of fear, lining the walls of her chest.
    “Why are you bothering to do any of this? You know it won’t matter.”
    “Because it doesn’t hurt to try. It wouldn’t hurt you to help, querida. ” Her mother cast her a distracted frown, her beautiful, brown face etched in worry.
    “Here. Put this napkin down. You know he doesn’t like it when the table isn’t set.”
    Jess looked at her like she had grown a second head. Her mother looked harassed, impatient, terrified. Ready to pass out…all at the same time.
    Impressive feat.
    “You could show some respect, Jacinta.”
    She snorted, giving a short bark of humorless laughter.
    “What you mean is I shut up, and take whatever he dishes out, like you do?”
    She knew she went too far that time. Her mother visibly stilled for what seemed like forever, silently continuing to work.
    Jess felt the prick of conscience. Instantly ashamed.
    “I’m sorry, mama.”
    “He is your father, Jacinta. I raised you better than this.”
    Her mother’s hands gripped the back of the chair. “Me haces tan triste, pequeño mamá.”
    You make me so sad, little mama.
    Her mother’s special nickname for her.
    “Mama, stop . Just stop, alright? Stop trying to make me ok with what he does to us. To you. Stop trying to make me bend to his will, because it won’t happen. I’ll give respect when it’s earned. For that matter, when it’s given.”
    She folded a napkin reluctantly, placing it on the table.
    “Like any of this will do any good.”
    “Jacinta, baby, I just want-”
    The sound of a car pulling up in the driveway interrupted her. She shot Jess a look of sheer panic.
    “Jacinta, mami , please help me. Please don’t make this any harder tonight, ok? Papa had a hard day today. He’s tired. Please. For me?” Her mother’s eyes begged her to understand.
    Jess sighed. She wished she didn’t care so much, it would be easier that way.
    She had so many feelings bottled inside of her, waiting to claw their way out and explode. Hurt, anger, confusion…resentment...rage.
    If parents loved children as much as they said they did, as much as they were supposed to love them, why were they always the ones who hurt them the most?
    She loved her mother so much. At the same time she hated her. Hated her for staying with him. Hated her, blamed her for all the things he did.
    She begged, pleaded for her to leave. Her mother said she wasn’t strong enough to make it on her own. She was sick, and needed her father to protect them.
    Maybe Jess could work harder at not making him angry. Especially when he came home from a hard day’s work at the police station.
    It was a privilege and an honor being the daughter of Police Commissioner William Laurent. One Jess was told over and over, she needed to take more seriously. Didn’t she know how many girls would kill to be in her shoes?
    She wished they would. It would mean an end to her grim existence.
    She heard her father’s car stop in the driveway. She knew his routine by now.
    Sit for a few minutes. Turn down the radio.
    Oldies station. They always did weather and traffic the way he liked.
    Get out of the car. Slam the door.
    Her body betrayed her miserably, the hairs of her neck standing on end. She swallowed, breaking out