The Brothers Desire Novel – I actually haven’t seen my parents and older brother since the day I left for college. Suddenly, my parents and brother became distant and so secretive. Family photos were all taken down along with any photo that was of me only. One of the only things about our town that I noticed remotely different, was some new businesses. Sorrentino. I don’t see how that could have anything to do with my family’s change in behavior, but it is the only thing that had changed in my hometown. It could all just be my imagination running wild while trying to figure out why my family has forsaken me, but I still can’t shake the feeling. But life is here now in San Diego and I don’t feel like I’m being shut out from the people I care about here. This is where my life will remain; my future to be built here.
Amaris’s POV Tonight was it. I finally completed my bachelors. Four long years of hard work and now it has paid off! Two years in, and I got my RN license. Two final years, and now I can add BSN behind my RN title with my signature. To say I have never felt as accomplished as I did tonight, would be an understatement; despite the fact that I have absolutely no family in the crowd to support me. But I do have the support of my friends and some coworkers. And by friends, I’m talking about the friends I’ve made over the last four years. Not the ones I miss terribly back home. I actually haven’t seen my parents, older brother, or my childhood friends since the day I left for college; which was only two months following high school graduation. My family seemed overly eager for me to leave and go live on the other side of the country.
I honestly thought they would get angry at my choice of college because of its location, but they were ecstatic. My friends weren’t happy, but they supported my choice and promised to keep in touch. But something was always interfering and all this time, it’s just been fleeting conversations via text mostly. My parents didn’t allow me to return home during breaks or holiday closings. I was never offered a valid reason for it, just told ‘now isn’t a good time’ or ‘we are sorry but we can’t explain’ and the list of excuses could go on and on. I stopped trying after a while. I no longer bother calling them anymore either. I haven’t in at least two years. Once in a while, a text message exchange occurs. But even then, I feel like I’m communicating with strangers. Sometimes I’m not sure if I consider it luck if I get a response, or just feel it is a reassurance that they are at least alive and healthy.
My parents didn’t acknowledge it when I text them last year, informing them that I was getting married, and I guarantee they didn’t tell my brother. So I didn’t bother to tell them that I separated from my husband less than a month ago… well, more like escaped… A little bit of advice for everyone- make sure you truly know your partner before you settle in with them. I know that is basically a ‘duh’ type of thing, but sometimes people are really good at hiding all of their evilness. My pending departure for college wasn’t when things at home had started getting weird. It began about a month before I graduated from high school. Right after my senior spring break. Suddenly, my parents and brother became distant and so secretive. Family photos were all taken down along with any photo that was of me only. Luca’s remained up. When I asked about it, I was dismissed. When I threw a fit, I was screamed at, told to mind my own business, then dismissed.
How was it not my business? They starting being gone a lot, even all hours of the night, and would speak a foreign language on the phone most of the time. Once again, any time I would try to ask questions, I’d get cut off; the subject promptly and firmly redirected, followed by my dismissal. I finally gave up asking questions. My friends were no longer allowed to come over to the house and my parents told me not to answer the door for anyone until further notice. Okay, weird right?! One of the only things about our town that I noticed remotely different, was some new businesses. And they were all owned by the same company based on the logos. Sorrentino. I don’t see how that could have anything to do with my family’s change in behavior, but it is the only thing that had changed in my hometown. I didn’t even know anyone that had any clue as to who owned and operated behind the Sorrentino name.
Google wasn’t helpful and neither was yelp. It could all just be my imagination running wild while trying to figure out why my family has forsaken me, but I still can’t shake the feeling that it has something to do with the Sorrentino businesses. I decided not to worry about it anymore. Which was easier said than done because my heart hurt. My feelings crushed. But life is here now in San Diego. I have great friends and a great job. Life is good and I don’t feel like I’m being shut out from the people I care about here. This is where my life will remain; my future to be built here. But just as I was about to walk out of my room, my phone dinged. I look down at the screen and blink a couple times. Shocked wouldn’t even begin to describe my feelings. Dad: Congratulations on graduating tonight, honey. We are all so very proud of you and wish we could have made it out there to support you on your big night. Remember that we all love you no matter what and we always will.
Love, Mama. Daddy. Luca. I snort. Actions speak more than words ever will. But I guess a text is better than nothing. Although the written just didn’t feel sincere and instantly pissed me off. They could’ve made it if they wanted to. They truly didn’t want to or they would be here, right now. I ignored their text and slammed my bedroom door as I walked out to get Ryan so we can leave. As we pull up close to the wide, open fields in Ryan’s truck, I can see a few other trucks already here and parked off to the side. Our friends beat us here. Imagine that. I can never arrive early, let alone on time. Ryan starts picking up speed and we soon are zipping through the fields. I’m glad these fields are relatively flat or my tailbone would be angry by the end of the night. We continue riding and enjoying the beautiful weather and before long, it turns dark all around us.
Ryan and the others turn on their headlights then we all end up in a circle. Everyone agreed on riding for a little while longer and then heading out to a bar or two. As we pull away from the others, I see bright lights heading our way. It seems like we are aligned with the highway and the vehicle is like oncoming traffic but we aren’t anywhere near the highway. Panic sets in. I pull one hand up and tap his shoulder quickly as I frantically shouted, “RYAN! There’s a truck and I don’t think they see us!” He nodded in acknowledgment and turned the four wheeler’s direction to the right, away from the path of the oncoming lights. I let out a sigh of relief all too soon. The vehicle changed course too and I see its bright lights completely surrounding Ryan and myself. I turn my head around in time to see the vehicle speed up toward us. It’s a big truck. Wait! I think I recognize that truck… it looks like the one I’ve been seeing in the parking garage at my apartment. And that is when the truck purposely ran into the back of us, sending Ryan and myself in a roll forward, throwing both of us off.
The impact left me breathless and hurting terribly, but thankfully I wasn’t trapped under his four wheeler. I tried to call out to Ryan to see where he was at and if he was okay, but I couldn’t find my voice. I couldn’t find the strength to move. My eyes won’t stay open. I knew better than to fall asleep but the pull to unconsciousness was too overwhelming, and my eyes stayed closed. Charlie’s POV (Amaris’ father) “Luca, you have to tell me what this is about. What is going on? I know San Diego means one thing and one thing only. By the way you’re acting, I have a very bad feeling this is news that is going to destroy me, but you MUST tell me. Now.” I firmly tell my son. I help Luca stand up and guide him to a chair at the table where we all were discussing business, and he composed himself quickly and began to talk. Resulting in my heart breaking for my sweet daughter.
My baby. “Amaris is in the hospital in the ICU due to a truck deliberately running into her and her friend on a four wheeler in the middle of a field late in the evening. Her friends that witnessed it gave full reports and said the truck drove off the highway and followed Amaris and her friend Ryan -owns the four wheeler- and sped up to ram into the back of the ATV. The impact launched the ATV into the air somewhat with both of them on it and caused them to flip a couple of times before landing several feet from the point of impact. Neither one was wearing a helmet.” Luca’s shaky voice delivered the terrible message about Amaris. I will kill the prick that is responsible for this. “Who exactly is Amaris?” Miranda Sorrentino asked. Ah, of course the youngest Sorrentino would be curious. “Well, Miranda, you see.. Amaris is….” I nervously trail off in fear of letting them know anything more about our daughter. I do not want her sucked up into this Italian mafia’s family lifestyle at all.
We already got our son involved just by his existence being known, I can’t have this happen to her too. But I also can’t leave her in San Diego where someone is trying to kill her for some reason… “Amaris is our daughter; Luca’s sister.” I boldly stated. Gasps were the only audible sound in the entire room while some mouths were gaping at me and all eyes widely fixed upon me…. the exact response I wanted to avoid but knew it was inevitable now. I grabbed my phone and booked two plane tickets for the morning for San Diego, excused myself from the meeting for tonight and packed a small bag to take with us. Hopefully this won’t inconvenience everyone and it doesn’t take too long. Little does Amaris know, she’s coming back home. I will not take no for an answer from her, it’s settled.
Luca’s POV Buzz…Buzz…Buzz…Hmmm, that’s odd to receive a text this early in the morning…. Amaris: Hey mom and dad aren’t answering but the hospital said they got in contact with you. I’m awake and I’m fine just in case anyone cared. Did my baby sister truly believe we didn’t care about her? Well, I imagine she does feel that way with how we deserted her and without any explanation. I sigh loudly out of anger and the Sorrentino twins are casting quizzical looks my way. Great, just great. “You look as though you’ve received more bad news.” Dominic stated softly. “Is there anyone special that could fly out to sit with her?” Damon spoke this time. Releasing a long breath and running both hands through my hair, I glance between them both, “No… we all pushed her as far away from us as soon as we all got caught up as part of your family’s mafia.”
Both twins arched their eyebrows at me with confused expressions on their faces. “Why would your family do that, Luca? Wouldn’t it be wiser to keep your family close, to protect each other, and still continue being a family?” Dominic pointed out. “We thought with all of us becoming involved with the Italian mafia by working for your family, that it would increase my sister’s risk of being in danger.” Damon was studying me hard for a minute before he spoke. “It seems you’re focusing on the qualities that your sister possesses that aren’t always favorable. Have you considered that her best qualities combined with her unfavorable ones are what make her complete? And by that completion, that is what makes her unique and I guarantee why you love her so fiercely. I understand your instinct to protect your sister. Dominic and I are very protective over Maria and Miranda, but we can’t pack them up, send them off thousands of miles, and then cease all contact as if they are nonexistent. That isn’t beneficial and also, can you imagine just how painful that has been for her?”
Embarrassed by my emotional breakdown, I begin collecting myself when I feel a hand on each shoulder. Dominic and Damon both give me a small, half smile while patting my shoulder in reassurance to let me know they were here for me. I smile up at them in appreciation. “So what was it on your phone that triggered this outcry?” Dominic softly asked, as he and Damon took a seat next to me. I have to admit to myself, I’ve never seen the twins act so concerned towards anyone outside of their family before, although the Sorrentinos did take a rather fondness to my parents and myself immediately. Thank God! My subconscious reminded me. “Well, my sister text me. Just said something along the lines of ‘I’m okay in case anyone even cared’, as if we don’t care about her which we do, we truly do.” I sighed loudly once again, frustration becoming all I know now.
“That’s the first time Amaris has even text me in a couple of years aside from a birthday or holiday greeting.” “Did you text her back?” Damon asked. “No…” I breathed out…. “I don’t even know how to speak to her anymore… I feel like I’ve already partially lost her. I don’t know her anymore… she could be completely different for all I know..” The thought of Amaris being a completely different person than who I remembered her as, absolutely frightens me. She was such a lively person that I knew better than I know myself… now, we are more or less strangers, rather than brother and sister. “Maybe you should reply to her and let her know how you feel bud.” Damon replied to me as he shared a look with his twin. “Yeah… you’re right…”