The Runaway
Chapter VII
Uomo spaventoso
The atmosphere hovering around the desolate woman sitting at her kitchen table causes the entering Santino to rush to her side.
“Mom.” The word is spoken in a soft tone. “What’s the matter?” His green eyes look up at the second floor. “Is it Melanie?”
“Yes!” The shout straightens the leaning boy upward. “She’s left.” Tears run down her worn and dismal expression. “Read this.” She said in a commanding voice.
My dear Daria. Sonny’s words mute any sound from outside the house. Forgive me for not calling you the name you want to hear, but I don’t deserve it. I love you more than you could ever know. Your kindness and welcoming love has meant more to me than any love before. But again, I cannot stay as you want. Not that I do not want to be treated as a member of your family, but I am Transgender. My heart breaks thinking about hurting you. But, Santino could never love me, the way I want. My love for him is eternal.
With all my love for you, please forgive me.
Melanie
As Sonny stands unknowing of what to do, Nicolai calls his phone.
“What!” The young man is suddenly breathless. “Not Dimitri, no.” The last word is weak.
After a brief conversation with Daria, the woman stands and grabs Sonny’s suit Jacket. “Santino!” She shouts. “It’s that fuckin’ bastard.” A jumble of angry words shoots to the boy. The Russian words do not have to be translated. “Kill that bastard.”
“Mom, Nicolai is coming over. He knows you must be upset.”
“Baby, Santino,” she needs to takes a deep breath before continuing. “Santino, save her. He’s going after her. I know it.” Her weary facial muscles tighten. Daria inhales through her nose. “Save her,” The woman must swallow to ease an arid throat. “I will call Nicolai. Tell him everything. Men will meet you.” She looks at Sonny. “Where?
“Tell him don’t send anyone. I’ll do this myself.” Sonny reaches inside the kitchen drawer. He pulls out two 9mm magazines. “I’ll call him when it ‘s over. I’ll take the body to the usual place.”
Sonny rushes from the house. Nicolai calls his mother but she does the talking.
“Nickie,” as the woman speaks Russian the only words in English have a familiar ring, Penn Station
New York Penn Station
The rash decision to murder, Dimitri has haunted John since it happened. The thought of now having a Russian crime syndicate looking for him has scurrying for home. Thoughts of Melanie have ebbed. Amid the constant vigil to locate any train leaving as soon as possible, regardless of the destination, a familiar face changes everything.
Melanie’s visit to the restroom gave her the opportunity to finally realize the consequences of running away, again. Sitting on the bowl, she places both hands on each side of her head and lets out a shrieking roar of sorrow. Luckily, Melanie had waited for the usually busy rest room to be vacant. Tears explode down her face as sobs intermingle with attempts to catch her breath. The girl bites a lower lip as two women enter.
Upon seeing Melanie, thoughts of Mob retribution disappear. John stands outside the bathroom practically hugging the tile wall.
“Hello, sweetheart.” The sound of his voice sends chills up Melanie’s spine. “I don’t like it when one of my favorite possession gets lost.” Coupled with the ominous tone of the voice, the girl’s stance shivers as the short barrel of the snub nose .38 pressed into her back. “Make a sound you little whore, and I’ll blow you away.” John’s breath brings tears streaming down her face. “And, I’ll do it too. I just killed a Russian gangster, some prick named Dimitri. So, you know I got nothing to lose.”
A soft whisper leaves her quivering lips. “Dimitri?”
As the couple walk away from the ticket counter, Melanie gains the strength to speak.
“John, please you don’t want me.”
“Sweetheart, you know what I wanted to do to you.” His lips touch Melanie’s ear. Saliva washes her lobe. “Beat you till you raw. But,” he takes a breath. “Seeing you again,” the snub nose pushes her toward the exit. “I want to start over. Believe me,” the grinning man grabs her arm. “Look at me. What kind of life can anybody give you. Especially that young punk. He doesn’t know you’re a fuckin’ trannie.” The grin has morphed into a sympathetic expression. “Does he know?” John asks the bowed head of the young girl.
“No,” she whispers.
John’s eyes no longer strain, as he slips the revolver into his pocket. “I swear, the beatings will stop. Just take care of me now and then.” He heaves a breath. “Look, I can take care of you. And when the time is right,” large cheeks rise into a smile. “That operation. Consider your time with me like a job to earn money. I told you when I met you.” He shakes his hand in front of her face. “No, no forget the past. That shit is gone. I care for you too much to hurt you ever again.”
As they now walk beside each other, Melanie’s body still remains tense. Her knees are straining to stand erect.
“I got a little room not far from here. We’ll go there,” he dips his head down to look if the girl is listening. “No sex shit. Just hiding out till nightfall. There is a train leaving at eleven ten.”
Melanie’s eyes continue to glance at the pocket holding the .38 caliber.
A well dressed young man searches the train station.
“Hey you see this girl around?” Sonny has questioned every possible employee of Penn Station, as he flashes the selfie they took a few days ago. He decides to walk outside and stops at a small bakery. Hearing a customer speaking Italian, he decides to ask the question once again.
“Signore, ha visto questa ragazza? Tutti mi dicono di no.”
The elderly couple begin to argue in Italian. Sonny can make out that though he is wearing a designer suit, the man does not trust him. His wife believes they must be lovers that had a fight.
“Guarda come ‘e vestito.” Look how he is dressed, she yells. The man nods.
Evidently she had passed the window walking toward downtown. As Sonny’s head is spinning as the excited woman’s words speed up. He then hears a troubling phrase by the woman.
“Uomo spaventoso.” She was with a scary man.
Sonny moves down the street and guesses Johns’ next move.
He’s taking her somewhere to hide. The prick, she must be scared to death. “I’ll kill that uomo spoaventoso.” Sonny’s words are heard by two young men passing by. They decide to quicken their steps.
****************************************************************************
Hi:
Unable to end this tale in one chapter. Fear not. The end is near. You have time for a new box of kleenex.
Allaboutlove
Love you all.
