“Probably killed them all,” Dante said in a low voice.
Frank and Sergio brought up the end of the group.
And, just like that, everything snapped into place.
These weren’t normal guys.
They were mafia.
But with the way everyone was staring, they weren’t just any kind of mafia, they weren’t familiar at all.
“So it begins,” Sal said to my left. “And so it begins.”
“Sal…” I tried to keep my voice down. “Who are they?”
He seemed to pale on the spot as he looked down at his lap then back up at me. “Judge, jury, and executioner.”
That wasn’t very helpful.
The only pew that was empty was behind us.
Meaning, the men shuffled loudly into the seats behind us and sat with a loud thump.
One of the guys spoke. I wasn’t sure which one because I promised myself I wouldn’t turn around and openly gape anymore.
“Sorry we’re late, father.” The guy’s voice was deep, commanding. I shivered. “Please, do continue.”
All eyes went to the priest as he lifted his shaking hands into the air and whispered, “Let us pray.”
Hah, let us pray indeed.
I FIDGETED IN my seat as the priest droned on and on.
“So,” a voice whispered in my ear. “You’re her.”
Sal glared at me then at the guy behind me.
I turned, just slightly and came face to face with crisp blue eyes and soft lips. He smelled really good. Of course he did because he couldn’t just walk around with a face like that and smell horrible right?
“Chase…” The giant shook his head slowly. “Control yourself.”
The guy with the tattoos rolled his eyes and then pulled Chase back by his jacket. “We don’t let him out much.”
“Shh!” Frank hissed from farther down the pew.
The giant held up his hands in innocence while Chase winked at me.
Sal elbowed me hard in the side. I quickly turned back around and tried to pay attention, which was basically impossible. What did he mean I’m her?
“…Holy Communion.” The priests words blurred into obscurity as my mind searched for possible reasons why the men behind me were suddenly in New York.
And why Sergio didn’t tell me.
I had no right to be hurt.
But I was just the same.
And I had no idea why!
We weren’t married yet.
And I knew nothing about his world. This just proved, yet again, how different our lives were.
The elements were blessed, more prayers were said, I yawned, and then it was finally time to get out of my seat. My butt was falling asleep so I welcomed the change, at least mass was almost over.
Usually the rows were dismissed from front to back.
Going out of order made absolutely no sense.
Instead, nobody stood with me. Frowning, I looked around, and finally behind me.
All of the men stood and made their way out into the main aisle.
“Come.” Sal stood with me. “It is time.”
Time for what?
Communion?
Because it felt like something else was going on, something important.
The giant moved to the very front and knelt in front of the priest.
“It’s okay.” The man who had the terrifying look in his eyes squeezed my hand. “It will make sense one day. All of this.”
He was the last person I assumed would comfort me.
Where was Sergio when I needed him?
He was a few men back, I peered around the scary guy to look at him, but when I did, he ignored me and looked away.
As if we hadn’t shared any sort of moment this morning.
I was back to square one.
The ignorant child that he couldn’t care less about.
“I’m Phoenix.” The guy placed a hand on my shoulder. “Now, it’s time to watch.”
“Watch?” I whispered back.
“Look.” He pointed to the priest and the giant.
The priest held his hands above his head and started chanting in Italian. I didn’t know my own language, but it was beautiful. I understood certain words, like “blessings” and “our leader.”
“Capo di tutti capi, amen.” The priest kissed the giants forehead and then his right hand.
He repeated the gesture for the tattooed guy, only he didn’t say as many words, simply kissed his forehead and his right hand.
Every man that had come in late received some sort of weird ritualistic blessing.
And then, they were presented with communion, leaving me, Dante, Sal, Papi, and Gio standing by ourselves in the aisle while everyone watched.
When the priest was done with Sergio and Frank, he looked to Gio and held out his hands.
“It is time.” Sal’s voice sounded heavy, sad.
Time for what?
Gio went first.
Then Sal.
Papi was last.
Leaving me and Dante.
Nobody was speaking.
The church was deathly quiet.
Phoenix, the one who’d been nice, walked forward and stretched out his arms in front of us. “Sangue del mio sangue. Sangue dentro fuori. Questo sangue simboleggia la famiglia.” He turned over his right hand, palm open, then whispered, “Your right hand please.”