Living in the Real World | Mike & Elena
Home was not a place, or an address to memorize. It was more than the seven wings of the Moretti mansion, more than the eight floor-to ceiling windows that lined one wall of her too-large bedroom. It was where you were supposed to never feel lonely, even when alone.
Elena Moretti didn't really know where home was any more.
The young girl let out a shaky sigh as she flopped back on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. Mother's anniversary party for Father was coming up in a few days, and Elena had been 'recruited' to help with the planning. She knew it was Mom's way of trying to pull her out of the sullen moods coming home always put her in.
But how was she ever going to say that even stepping through these doors and seeing the faces of the bosses everywhere made her seize up inside? That her heart pounded as she couldn't help but watch all of their hands, jumping at every twitch towards the guns Elena knew were hidden behind expertly tailored suits?
She curled up into a tight ball atop the covers, pulling her knees tight against her chest. It was hard being back home. Though with all of her brothers returning as well, it was at least better than being by herself. Of course, they were all coming back because of the real possibility of a blood feud with the Connoghans. The anniversary party was just a cover for the real event: The Irish were invading New York for what could only be called a Peace Treaty.
That was one thing Elena was glad she didn't have to participate in. It had been triggering enough to hear about Sonny accidentally killing the Connoghan woman. She had to leave the room, her breath shortening and panic rising in every fiber of her being. That woman suffered the fate she should have three years ago. She was alive and the Connoghan woman was dead. Why had Elena been saved when she wasn't?
Elena dug her nails into the soft flesh of her upper arms, trying to quell the anxiety settling in. Her breathing had finally regulated to something close to normal when she heard quiet murmuring outside her door. It was probably Meechum, her bodyguard, chatting with someone. He wasn't as good as Alek, of course. No one was. But they got along well enough, and Meechum had learned to ignore her screams in the night.
"Miss?" Meechum knocked gently on Elena's door before peeking his head inside the room. "Are you all right for me to let Mike come in?"
The girl smiled a little and nodded. "You know you can always let family in my room, Meechum. My brothers don't have to ask." She sat up and pulled the cap sleeves of her dress down, trying to hide the bright red scratches at least a little bit. "I'm fine, I promise."
Meechum nodded and opened the door further before stepping away to give the siblings a bit of privacy.
"Hey! Come to visit your hermit sister?" Elena teased as she stood up to go give Mike a hug. "I'm sorry I haven't hung out with you since we've both gotten home. I'm the worst, I know. But whenever I get a break from helping Mom with the party planning, I just feel like holing up in here and sleeping for a million years."
