Page 57 of The Mafia King's Reign
“Actually, I’d like to go for a walk today. In the gardens, maybe write a little.”
“You write?” She asks and I’m shocked there’s interest in her voice.
“Ummm, I write-ish,” it’s just something to keep my mind busy.
She exhales. “I’ll notify someone.”
“No.” The word snaps out of me. The last thing I want is another damn shadow.
“I don’t need a guard okay, I want air. I want sunlight. I want to feel like I still exist outside of his schedules.”
Her expression seems unsure like she’s thinking about it but then, she doesn’t argue. She simply nods once.
“As you wish,” she says, and starts to leave.
“Wait so that’s it? His men aren’t going to tackle me or shoot me are they?”
She laughs. “Salvatore would kill that man on sight,” she says somewhat jokingly. “You’ll be fine, you’re a smart girl. I’ll be back to check on you later. Okay?”
“Okay, thank you.”
She nods and leaves. I guess Rosa is warming up to me because that’s the most she’s said since I’ve been here.
Today should be a decent day.
I’ve decided to stay in touch with Lindsay regularly. I say it’s so she doesn’t freak out, but every time I hear her voice on the other line, it’s comforting.
Lindsay:Hey, I’m in the courtroom and expect it to take a while but wanted to check in. You alive?
Me:Yes. I’m alive and well, stop worrying.
Lindsay:Okay, yeah I mean, randomly disappearing from the face of the earth isn’t suspicious at all.
Me:I'm handling something.
Lindsay:Yes your mother told me, “Family stuff". Gotta go, love you, talk to you later.
Me:Love you, too.
I put my phone down and finish my breakfast before heading to the library. This is the third day in a row I’ve come here. I plan to explore the gardens soon, but the library has become my favorite way to escape. It’s quiet, almost eerily so, but it’s the only place in this massive estate I feel the most comfortable. The best part is that I can actually relax in here. Even Rosa hasn’t bothered me once while I was in here the last couple of days.
Books don’t ask questions.
They don’t watch you.
They don’t expect anything.
I take my coffee with me, still warm in my hands when I step inside, and wow. The Vitale library is… a lot. Despite this being my third visit, I still can’t get over how incredible it is.
Certain shelves hold rare editions I can barely wrap my head around.
Three stories of floor-to-ceiling shelves rise around me, connected by a wrought-iron spiral staircase that looks like it belongs in a movie instead of someone’s house. First editions sit locked behind glass. There are manuscripts so old I’m afraid to breathe too hard near them. And then there’s an actual Gutenberg Bible, displayed like it’s no big deal.
I knew these people were rich. I just didn’t realize they were own-a-piece-of-human-history rich.
I can’t help wondering who cared enough to collect all of this. Who chose these books, preserved them, protected them. It’s a librarian’s dream come true, but I can’t even tell Lindsay about it.
Today, something catches my eye on the second floor. Tucked into an alcove that feels deliberately forgotten, there's a row of what look like books but aren't quite right. They're shelved like regular volumes, but each one has a huge ornate "V" embossed across the spine.
