Soft overhead lighting illuminated wood-plank tables. Low conversation stopped when the waiters came by and started after their departure. The smell of seafood drifted all the way over to Jemina, Kelly, and Anthony's table in the corner.
"What's good here?" Jemina asked over her menu.
"The crabcakes are amazing, dear. Any of the starters, too."
"Well, I'll probably take those then."
Kelly and Anthony had decided to give Jemina a taste of authentic southern Maine cuisine. Being close to the coast, it mostly consisted of fried seafood and clams. Living inland Jemina's whole life, it was a nice change of pace.
Light conversation filled the time between getting their drinks and getting their food. Once Anthony had gotten his lobster rolls in, however, he didn't pull any punches.
"You're doing awful."
"Anthony!" Kelly slapped his arm. "You're doing great, dear."
Jemina gave a thankful smile to Kelly but continued to glare at Anthony. "Like you've done any better."
"You're right. Kelly and I won't get anywhere anymore. It's up to you, and I want to leave in six months. Step it up."
Jemina didn't even know how to feel about his backhanded statements, but she did know he was right about one thing—she needed to step it up.
-
Beautiful butterfly milkweeds lined Jemina's steps to the Milanesi's. Anthony had let her borrow his car, but his car was just one of three in the parking lot.
Ornate patterns were carved into the front door. She almost wondered if she'd get an imprint from rapping on the door.
"Hello?" Mrs. Milanesi raised her eyebrows. She didn't open the door for Jemina.
'Hi, Mrs. Milanesi. I think I left my jacket here last night? I took it off in the foyer."
His lips pursed. "I didn't see any jacket. But you're welcome to check."
"Thank you." Jemina took a step forward but Mrs. Milanesi caught the door.
"I don't know what your intentions are with my son and I don't expect you to tell me, but be forewarned, anyone in the family would side with him before they ever sided with you. Think long and hard before you enter into relations with a member of the Cosa Nostra. Things can get messy quick." Her tone was hard, but Jemina actually thought the warning was endearing. If only she knew she was legally bound to enter into relations with her son.
"Thank you, Mrs. Milanesi."
After Mrs. Milanesi left, Jemina took to the hallways. A little reconnaissance, if you will.
Soon she came upon a slightly open door. Voices slipped out the crack and sizzled in the air around her. She recognized Anthony and Mr. Milanesi's voice but didn't recognize the third.
The foreign voice spoke again. "I'm at my wit's end! Stop telling me to calm down!
Mr. Milanesi spoke. "Frank, I suggest you stop yelling at your superior before you lose your head,"
She heard a door on the opposite side of the room open and a child spoke up. "Daddy? I have your bag."
"Why did you touch my stuff? You're so useless." Disgust laced his words. Jemina's anger flared at the foreign man's use of undirected anger.
A cracking sound of skin hitting skin burst from the room, immediately followed by a child's wail. A door slammed.
She didn't wait to hear the aftermath as she followed the child's cries and the pitter-patter of his feet to a bathroom.
Easing the door open, she sent a disarming smile. "Hi. I'm Eva. Are you okay?
Seeing him in person, the child was probably five or six with unruly blonde hair. His eyes widened and he scooted to the corner of the bathroom.
"I'm going to close the door, but I'm just going to stand here. I don't have much time. Does it sting?" Jemina crouched to his level.
He nodded with tears in his eyes.
"Okay, here let me wet this towel and we can put this on your cheek."
-
"He hit a child!" Jemina stood in the dining room of her fake house.
"He's an undercover agent." Anthony stood
"So?"
"So it's his job!"
"No, it's his job to gain evidence, not hurt children!"
"He's a good man keeping up a cover. Stop vilifying him."
"Anthony's right. You're distancing our only ally, dear." Shock rippled through Jemina. This was not the Kelly she knew.
"And why didn't I know he was undercover?"
"Because he came in three years ago. You're the third attempt to break pass the Capo line. He took his son with him because he was only three, but Malcolm keeps threatening Frank's identity. Frank, was having a bad day. You need to stop disrespecting Frank."
"He's right, dear."
"I can't believe you two. Disgusting." Jemina turned to the stairs, but Anthony grabbed her arm.
"You do not talk to me like that."
She shook her arm, but he didn't let go. "Let. Me. Go."
"Apologize."
All the anger boiled inside of her, her famous self-control gone. Her arm swung at his face, but her shift in stance had warned him, letting him duck. He let go of her arm, and the momentum behind her swing propelled her to stumble down the stairs.
Madness burned in her eyes as she swung a leg to his ankle.
"Stop fighting me."
"I can't believe you'd defend a child abuser!"
She threw a punch to his stomach, but he intercepted and began to twist her hand.
He forced her onto her knees and made her gasp in pain. She threw all her momentum towards his leg and pinched it between the stairs and herself. With two hands around his ankle, she twisted it and sent him tumbling down the last two stairs.
"Eva! Get down here!"
"Shut up, Kelly!"
Her bedroom door slammed. She knew she was acting childish, but all her anger had manifested in that one moment. As that red hot fury subsided, fear took over. Oh no. Anthony was going to kill her.
Well, hopefully, his leg put him out of commission long enough for her to get out of here.