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Chapter 13: No going back now
Matteo
Palermo, Sicily – June 1st 2020
The initiation ritual doesn't take place on Sunday like Matteo had expected. His father came home in the evening, not at noon like he had said. He was in a good mood, despite their last phone call (he probably had more important things to worry about than his son's behavior) and didn't even talk to Matteo until the n
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Games We Play - Awakening Chapter 13.1 - Matteo
First, his grandmother formally introdues him to the rest of the men. The first people he's introduced to are Franco and Paulo, consiglieri and underboss, whom he already knows.Then his grandmother introduces Romeo, Vincenzo, Pablo, and Gianluca, the caporegimes – the captains. The ones who did all the dirty work, people who have killed other people.Romeo has always been around,
Games We Play - Awakening Chapter 13.2 - Matteo
Palermo, Sicily – June 26th 2020It's grandma Angie's birthday today, so Lorenzo made an exception and gathered the whole family at her house for dinner. The 'family' meaning the extended family that includes the Barone and Altieri families as well.Grandma Angie lives in the townhouse next to their old house in Palermo. It's a one-story old building that
Games We Play - Awakening Chapter 13.3 - Matteo
Palermo, Sicily – July 7th 2020He wakes up before noon on Saturday. It's not until he stretches, the sun warm on his face, that he realizes it's his 21st birthday today.Isabella had planned something after he asked for her help – he wanted to have fun again, and the lockdown restrictions had been loosened at the beginning of the month.
Games We Play - Awakening Chapter 14: Italian Summer
ValentinaMoscow, Russia - June 23rd 2020The weeks after I came back from Sicily went by in a haze. I spent them mostly watching movies and eating snacks, which led me wondering whether I was bordering on being depressed. Every day seemed to be exactly like the one before and sharing the same space with my family for days on end turned very toxic very quick.By the middle of June, Russia came back to pre-lockdown levels, which also meant that my social life took a dramatic increase. Not only did I have Raisa calling me almost daily to go out and do something ‘fun’, as well as Isaac asking me when I was free ‘to hang’, but I also had my parents drag Adrik and I to business meetings and formal lunches.My mother had commented that I had gained a little weight at some point during one of those lunches, which triggered my memories of being an insecure teenager with an undiagnosed eating disorder.Every time I come back to my hometown and spend some time with my parents, I come to the rea
Games We Play - Awakening Chapter 14.1 - Valentina
Moscow, Russia - June 26th 2020“I think I might be going insane.”The rustling in the background lets me know that Isabella is turning around on the other side of her bed for the hundredth time. The video call has been going on for over two hours now, and for the past half hour neither of us has said anything.I’m sitting cross-legged on my bed, doodling in a blank notebook that I bought ages ago just because it looked nice but never used.“Why?”“I’m bored out of my mind.”“How could you be bored? You’re next to a beach.”“Ugh, but it’s not like that, really. Everyone lives outside of town and the boys have their own thing going on anyway. Who am I supposed to go out with? Pia? We’re not even allowed to go out, there’s police going up and down the street.”“Why don’t you
Games We Play - Awakening Chapter 14.2 - Valentina
Palermo, Sicily - July 7th 2020I woke up at seven in the morning so we could arrive at Matteo’s house in Palermo before he woke up. Isabella arranged a private driver to take us from my house to his, but that didn’t help my mood. The fact that I didn’t even get the chance to have a coffee and smoke a cigarette before we left made me irritable.We arrive in front of his house a little past eleven, and I’m glad I know the place because I know exactly where to find the coffee machine.The Barone kids and Ariana are already in the kitchen. We greet each other and I ask whether anyone would like some coffee. Isabella and Ariana nod, and then Vinnie comes over and asks me if I want a drink.“After I have my coffee and cigarette.” I mumble, feeling bad that my mood doesn’t match his.“Do you like Aperol?”“Sure.” I say and manage to give him a smile.
Games We Play - Awakening Chapter 14.3 - Valentina
Taormina, Sicily – July 7th 2020We arrive at Matteo’s house a little before midnight. Their dock is small and dimly lit, made from a stone that looks ancient.The boat is slowly reversing as we emerge down the stairs, waiting to disembark. I’m way past tipsy now, and I’m not sure whether I’m more drunk or stoned.“Let’s continue this in my room!” Vinnie suggests and everyone cheers.On my way to the lower deck, I realize I forgot my phone charger, so I leave Isabella to go along with the group.I let Matteo and Marco slip past me on the stairs before I quickly climb the last steps.The table and the bar are no luck, but when I see the couch, I smile. It’s between some cushions, and I sigh relived.I realize how eerie the place is as I slowly walk down the stairs, trying not to trip. Even though it’s dark and I can barely see, t
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MatteoTaormina, Sicily – July 8th 2020Matteo doesn’t know what came over him when he first kissed her. All he knows is that the moment he saw her coming down the stairs, and the way her eyes sparkled when she made the cigarette comment did something to himHe’s never thought about kissing her until the moment Isabella pushed their heads together and their lips touched. The sound she made in that moment rang through his entire body and made him want to do it again.Now, as they enter the room where the rest of their friends are sitting and drinking, it’s all he can think about.“Speaking of the devil.” Isabella says and looks between the two of them.Matteo wonders if she can tell what they did.Valentina sits down next to her and takes the drink out of her hand. She seems to be in her own world somewhere inside her head, so Matteo tears his eyes away from
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