Velvet Lullabies

“I feel better.” She ran a hand along his stubble covered cheek.

“How are you?”

Lucian could only remember one time in his life that he cried. When he was ten and one of the neighbors he was playing with had just been shot during a drive-by. The bullet that hit her was meant for him. It was the only time that he had let weakness slip through, but here in front of Adelina he felt tears sliding down his face.

“I’m so sorry.” He told her.

“What happened?” She held his hands in hers. “It’s okay, Lucian, tell me what happened.”

He lifted his teary eyes to meet her warm brown ones.

“I’m sorry, I had to kill him, I did it to protect you.”

???

Adelina rushed to her mother, who stood on the porch of their family’s Providence home with open arms.

“Ma,” she cried. Wrapping her arms around Eve with such force Lucian was surprised they both didn’t go down. “I’m so sorry.” She bellowed, the tears came with such force that she could barely hold her weight as she hung on to her mother.

“Shh, bambina. It’s okay.”

Evelyn looked over to Lucian, her eyes scanning him in his black suit, black shirt, and black tie. Most fitting for the occasion.

“Bambina, go into the house. Mmkay? There’s a kettle of tea on the counter.”

Adelina cautiously followed her mother’s instructions, giving Lucian one last glance before she went inside.

“Lucian,” Evelyn said calmly. Calmer than he expected. He wanted her to yell. Scream that he murdered her son. His future wives brother.

That he was

a monster.

That there was no redemption for a man like him.

Because that was the truth.

That was what he felt in his heart. There was no coming back from this. There was no winning the girl after this.

Lucian Luchese had no right to call Adelina DeMarco his after what he did.

He was ashamed of himself, and Eve had every right to be angry and to tell him to fuck off.

Instead, she smiled politely at him.

“I’m sorry.” He told her instantly, and the flood gates came open. “I’m so so sorry. I can never make this up to you-“

Evelyn silenced him with a wave of her hand.

“I forgive you.”

He was stunned.

“Just liked that?” he asked her.

“Sit with me?” She gestured to the two wicker chairs that adorned the DeMarco front porch.

They each took a seat. Eve stayed silent for a moment, breathing in the fresh air that spring had brought them. It no longer felt moody and dark, instead May had brought them sun and warmth.