Chapter Thirty-Eight

“When does the meat go in? I’m not done with it yet” I ask Laura who is staring a delicious smelling pasta sauce by the cooker.

“Take all the time you need. At the rate you’re going it should be a couple hours” she says with a laugh pointing the wooden spoon in her hand at me.

It took a while but I was able to get the girls to start speaking to me like an actual human being. The ‘yes madam Salvatore , no madam Salvatore ’ was just too much. I’m eighteen for God’s sake. And they were always so careful when speaking with me, it was like they were choosing their words and trying their hardest not to offend me.

But after spending so much time in this kitchen and hanging out with them. I’d like to think we were becoming fast friends. Especially Maria Lousia. I think it's easier with her because helping out in the kitchen isn’t exactly her job. She’s here for the protection that her capo can provide. And this place is protected. It's like a fortitude I swear. She’s such