Olive
"Carmine," I slowly opened my eyes to see the blank walls of his room. They had become familiar.
"Im here." I felt a warm hand on mine and smiled. It gave me a sense of comfort. That small interaction.
"What time is it?" I asked and carefully rolled over to face him. The last few weeks we'd spent more time together then we probably should. Day in, and day out. We sat in his house. Since the grenade situation, its almost as though he was too afraid to leave me.
"Its noon. You're still in recovery, so don't worry about the time." He spoke softly and I nodded.
That day, I had lost consciousness once they removed the grenade from my hands. A few days later I woke up in a hospital bed. The bullet fragment was removed and I was left with several stitches. It took a while for the internal pain to go away and I had my stitches removed yesterday.
"Can you help me to the kitchen?" I asked and sat up slowly. Carmine stood and instantly spotted me. For someone who was emotionally closed off, he sure worried a lot. Without hesitation he helped me from the bed to the couch in the living room.
"Car, I said kitchen." I rolled my eyes. I wasn't wounded anymore. I was a little dizzy but otherwise? I was at my best. I was happy and I didn't have the weight of the mafia on my shoulders.
But there was no longer any families intact. In the shootout, Carlos Gambino took a fatal shot to the chest. I can't say I'm too sad about his death. In fact, I was joyful. Manfredi lost all of his men and fled. No one has heard or seen the man since that day. A king is nothing without his army or said he's said.
Once again, another scumbag off the streets.
One of the Mangano brother's took a .35 to the forehead. It crushed the other and he committed suicide on site. Mafia leaders aren't that tough. Just putting on a show.
"Here," I felt a warm hand and I looked up to see Carmine handing me a plate of spaghetti.
"I know I'm Italian but I do eat outside of my ethnicity." I smiled and took the plate. The glass burning my fingers. At least I could rob a bank now.
"I only know how to make Italian dishes." He shrugged and threw himself on the sofa next to me. I leaned against his shoulder and not so gracefully dug into the dish he brought me.
We sat here like we did everyday and watched Criminal Minds. It wasn't something I'd watch but listening to Carmine call bullshit on half of the things happening made it worth watching.
5 years ago I never expected my life to turnout like this, but it did. I just prayed Pops would approve.
I smiled at Carmine and closed my eyes. Life is perfect.
***