Contains Graphic Sex. Read at own risk!
Sara had just been sent out on an errand one late fall afternoon. She was supposed to go pay Miss Minchin’s bills for the month. Sara was starving and could barely see straight. Miss Minchin had not fed her for nearly half a month. She stopped to rest against a tree near the market. People looked at her with a mix of pity and horror. Sara suddenly saw an apple cart sticking out through her haze. The apples were bright red and Sara knew that this was the answer to her hunger. She began to plan how she would get an apple without getting caught. She needed to distract the apple seller away from the cart long enough to grab an apple and escape. Sara had never stolen anything in her entire life, but suddenly the possibility was very tempting. She nearly shuddered at the thought of stooping that low, but she also knew that stealing might be her only way of survival. Miss Minchin was not going to feed her enough to live on, especially with such hard work. Sara needed to take care of herself in order to live. She only had two options due to her being a child: beg or steal. She absolutely refused to put aside what pride she had left and beg, so she had to steal. Sara frowned, deeply troubled at what she was about to do. She then became alert as a boy a few years older than her walked nonchalantly by the apple cart. As he passed it, he quickly grabbed an apple and put it in his coat pocket. Sara wondered whether or not the apple seller had seen this. Was stealing really so easy? She doubted it and was proved right when the boy was grabbed by the angry apple seller. The boy easily escaped the man’s grip and ran away from the market, the apple seller following him. This got the attention of the whole market, and soon many people joined in pursuit of the thief. Sara quickly realized that nobody was paying the least attention to her. She could steal whatever she pleased. She would be able to eat for several days if all went well. But she had to be smart about what she stole. She knew she had no way of cooking anything so she could only take fruit or vegetables. She quickly took an apple and slid it into her pocket then she ran around stealing things until her pockets were full of food. Satisfaction filled her as she returned to her errand before anybody knew she had even been there. For the first time in her life, she felt slightly arrogant and prideful at her own intelligence. She also felt very adult and independent at providing for herself. She adjusted her rags so that they better showed her well rounded bosom as she walked confidently on her way, determined that she and Becky would never go hungry again.
That night, Sara didn’t get upstairs until late at night. She ran up the stairs with newfound energy and saw that Becky was already fast asleep. Not wanting to wake her friend, she crept along and arranged the fruit on the old table so it would look like it was set for a nice breakfast. Then she took off her dress and used some old scissors that nobody had wanted anymore to lower the neckline. Then she used the sewing materials from the storage room to pleat the discarded fabric and sew it onto the bottom of her skirt to make it look prettier. She smiled at the result as she hung it up the best she could and went to bed.
The next morning, Sara woke up just as Becky was coming in to help her dress. Becky stopped in shock when she saw the fruit. “Miss, where’d you get all this?” she asked after a speechless few seconds. Sara replied proudly, “I took them from the market when nobody was looking, Becky! I did it so we wouldn’t starve.” Becky gasped in horror. “Miss, you STOLE?!? Ain’t stealing wicked?” Sara sighed, “I suppose it is wicked, but we have no choice. We will die if we only eat when Miss Minchin feeds us. I think if it’s for survival, it isn’t so bad. I do wish there was a way to cook some meat or fish. It is not healthy to only eat fruit and vegetables all the time. I could easily steal some, but without a way to cook it, it would be wasted.” Becky nodded, beginning to warm up to the idea of Sara stealing. Then she and Sara ate breakfast together for the first time since Sara had lost her papa.
That morning, after she helped the cook with breakfast, Sara went into the schoolroom wearing her remade dress and feeling very pretty and adult. She almost sauntered over to the alphabet class, exuding feminine charm. The class oohed and aahed at her appearance. Lottie said, “Mama Sara, you look like a fairy!” Sara grinned at the praise as she began to teach the day’s lesson. She barely noticed as Miss Minchin walked over to supervise. “Stand up, Sara,” said Miss Minchin, growing suspicious at the children’s sudden attentiveness. Sara stood up, making Miss Minchin gasp in horror at her dress. “Sara Crewe, how dare you do something so insolent as to come in here looking like a harlot?” Sara was tempted to say something sarcastic but she kept her composure and replied in a calm tone, “I simply altered my dress to make it more age-appropriate, Miss Minchin. I am thirteen now and will not dress like a child anymore.” Miss Minchin scowled at not getting a reaction from Sara. “As punishment for not taking proper care of your things, you shall have nothing to eat all day today and tomorrow. Go assist the cook. I will not allow you to stay here with that skivvy outfit on.” Sara was angry not only at being punished for no reason, but for being banished from her favorite room in the school. Resentment burned inside her at what she would most likely never get to do again. She did not regret altering her dress but thought that Miss Minchin should start treating her like the adult she was. She had lost her childhood years ago.
Sara was glad to get sent out to buy groceries. It gave her time to think. She walked briskly as her stomach growled in hunger. She knew she needed more food if she wanted to think clearly so she looked around for something to steal. Suddenly a man walked past her, bumping into her rather rudely. She was automatically indignant. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed his wallet sticking out slightly from his pocket. She quickly took it and put it into the grocery basket before he realized he had bumped into someone. “Excuse me!” said Sara, pretending to fall back. “Watch where you’re goin’!” said a man from the crowd. He ran up to Sara. “Are you okay?” he asked her in an accent she had never heard before. She nodded, acting like she was dazed. He helped her to her feet. The man who had bumped into her ran over too, unaware that his wallet was missing. Sara wondered how long it would take him to realize the truth and connect the theft to her. She rubbed her arm where the man had bumped into her, pretending to be hurt. She turned to the man who had saved her and imitated his accent, “Uncle, my arm hurts!” The man who had bumped into her paled and took a step back. Sara could read fear in his eyes. “Hey, I ain’t lookin’ for trouble! It was an accident! She ain’t even hurt!” The other man raised a dark eyebrow. “You callin’ my niece a liar, fuck?” The other man’s eyebrow raised. “No, sir! I was just saying she might be exaggeratin’ a little. Girls do that. I didn’t bump into her hard enough to cause a injury!” Sara pulled up her sleeve to show a new bruise that the cook had given her for coming back to the kitchen that morning. The man became immediately irate and turned Sara so that the bruise was evident to the other man. “Here’s your ‘exaggeration’!” The other man seemed to be panicking and said quickly, “I didn’t mean no harm, Mr. Clemenza! I wasn’t payin’ attention! I’m sorry I hurt your niece! I had no clue that’s who she was.” Sara wanted to burst out laughing at the man’s contradictions as Clemenza said, “I ain’t the one you should apologize to. She’s the one you hurt.” The man approached Sara, who shuddered and clung to Clemenza, pretending to be frightened. “Uncle, I’m scared!” she said, still imitating his accent. Clemenza held her close. The man said, “Miss Corleone, I am deeply sorry for harming you. I hope you can forgive me and not tell your daddy about this little accident.” He looked up at Clemenza. “Sonny don’t need to find out about this, right? This was all an accident!” Clemenza replied, “Whether or not she tells her dad depends on her.” The man said, “Miss Corleone, you ain’t gonna tell him, right? He’ll kill me. I got a wife and kids at home!” Sara was about to speak when the man put his hand out and touched her back. Sara could tell he was attempting to soothe her, but she decided he shouldn’t get off so easily. She screamed and clung closer to Clemenza. Fake tears streamed down her face. Clemenza ran his hand down her spine. She couldn’t tell whether it was the heat of being held or something else, but she felt hot all over. She could tell her face was flushed. She was so distracted that she did not notice as a police officer walked over, having heard her scream. “Is everything OK?” he asked in a concerned tone. Sara could hear a very light Irish accent in his voice. She had never heard someone with such an accent before. She had heard plenty of Irish accents, but they had all been thick. Where was she? She realized she was not in London anymore, nor even in Europe at all. The way people dressed here was completely foreign to her despite her being all over Europe with her papa and she had never heard Clemenza’s accent before. The man who had bumped into her had a similar accent to Clemenza’s but his wasn’t quite as thick. She wanted to turn around to look at the officer, but wanted to act like a hurt little girl, like Lottie. Clemenza turned her to face the officer and said, “Sweetie, tell the officer what happened.” Sara nodded and spoke, “Officer, I was walking over to my uncle Clemenza’s house when this man pushed me! At first I thought it was an accident. But then,” she began to act like she was about to cry at this point. “Then he put his hand down there!” The officer frowned as Sara pretended to break down and cry. “Did he do anything else, sweetie?” asked the officer. Sara nodded and fake sobbed, “He ripped my dress then he put a finger inside me! It hurt so much!” The man finally found his voice. “Those are all lies! All I did was accidentally bump into her! She’s making things up to get me into more trouble! She’s got no evidence of any of it!” Sara began to cry harder. The officer said, “I trust her more than you, Johnny. I’ve had a lot of complaints come in about you inappropriately touching women. You picked the wrong girl to assault this time, though. I have no choice but to arrest you.” The man frowned in resignation. “Better in jail than out where her dad can get me,” he mumbled as he was escorted to the police station. Clemenza led her away. “Here, sweetie, let’s go to my place.”
Sara nodded as she walked with him to his rather large house. A woman came out to greet them. She smiled at Sara and took her hand. Sara acted along, smiling at the woman and saying, “Hello, Auntie! Father is busy today so he sent me here!” Clemenza said, “Yeah, Sonny decided he was too busy to care for her today so he made her walk here. She got attacked on the way.” The woman said, “I’m so sorry, honey! Come inside and have some cookies!” Sara nodded as she walked inside the house. Once inside, she sat down on a couch. Clemenza said, “So what’s your name, kid?” Sara replied, “My name is Sara Crewe. I already know your name is Clemenza.” Clemenza nodded and said, “You are quite the actress, Serita. I was almost fooled myself. Now let’s see that wallet.” Sara flushed scarlet. “You saw?” Clemenza replied, “Why do you think I went over there? I saw you steal that man’s wallet and put it in your basket. I knew he would figure it out unless he was distracted.” Sara reluctantly took out the wallet. Clemenza said, “Now why the fuck are you stealin’ people’s wallets like that? You’re gonna get caught and arrested.” Sara admitted, “I wasn’t thinking when I stole it. I just knew I needed food and didn’t have any money.” Clemenza asked, “You’re hungry? Don’t your parents feed you?” Sara replied, “My parents are dead. I am a servant at the boarding school I once attended and the headmistress almost never feeds me.” Clemenza said, “And the money you make isn’t enough to live on?” Sara shook her head. “What money? I am not paid. I am working off the debt my papa owed her when he died.” Clemenza sighed and asked, “How much money do you owe?” Sara replied, “I’m not sure anymore. When Papa died two years ago, I owed over £200, but there’s interest and I’ve had to eat since then and have new clothes once so that added to my debt. I’m not quite sure where I am anymore in terms of my debt.” As she said this, two little boys ran into the room. Sara’s face lit up as she greeted them. She wanted to hug them close like she did with Lottie. Somehow it always made her feel better to be around children. “I’m your cousin Serita!” she said cheerfully. The children accepted this as their mother came and led them out of the room. Sara grinned and waved goodbye as they exited the room. “You’re good with kids, Serita.” Sara nodded. “I have one several years older than yours.” Clemenza said dubiously, “You have a kid?!?” Sara laughed and said, “Don’t worry, she’s adopted. She will be ten next week.” Clemenza smiled and then took money out of his wallet. “Here, this should cover your debt. I’m not sure how £200 translates into American money or why your debt is in British money in the first place, but this should cover it. After you pay off your debt, you can come live here until I find someone to adopt you. You shouldn’t have to steal to eat.” Sara was reminded of the time that boy had given her sixpence a year ago. She knew it would be rude to refuse the money, but she could not take it. She still had some pride left despite what she had gone through. Besides, she could not leave the school so easily. “I can’t. I’m sorry, but I can’t take your money,” said Sara in a thin voice. Clemenza asked, “Why the fuck not? Are you really gonna refuse me out of pride? If you don’t take the money and get out of wherever you’re staying, you’ll either end up dead or in prison. Take the fucking money, Serita!” He forced the cash into Sara’s small hand. Sara became irate and jumped up, throwing the money into Clemenza’s face. “No, I will not take the fucking money! The debt is not the only reason I cannot leave the school, dumbfuck! I cannot leave the scullery maid Becky to do the work by herself and I cannot abandon my child Lottie or my friend Emerngarde. So don’t try to strip my of what little pride I have left because It’s all I’ve got anymore!” Sara’s face was red from her emotional outburst and she felt ready to cry. Clemenza sighed and said, “Serita, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but you can’t go around stealing people’s wallets. You will get caught, probably sooner than later. You’re a smart girl, but you don’t know the first thing about stealing. You can’t do it randomly like you did with Johnny. I don’t think you understand what would’ve happened if I wasn’t there. Prison ain’t a pretty place for a young girl like you.” Sara was boiling with fury at being called a little girl despite having her breasts plainly showing. She sat on Clemenza’s lap before he could stop her, his knee in between her legs. Then she grabbed his hands and put them firmly on her breasts, pushing down her rags so that there was nothing between them. “I am an ADULT, dumbfuck, not a young girl! I am thirteen years old so don’t treat me like a child!” she said, her lips an inch away from his. Clemenza’s face was scarlet as he sat there speechless from shock. He then smiled and squeezed both breasts before pulling her rags back up over them. Sara was surprised that she was disappointed as he gently pushed her off of his lap. She felt rejected. Clemenza said, “If you weren’t underage, you would already be in my bed, Serita. Come back when you are older and I’ll show what being an adult really means.” Sara sighed and walked towards the door. Clemenza got up and pushed the money into her pocket. “Take the money. That wallet won’t feed you and Becky for more than a week.” Sara left the house, the last embers of her pride dying out in the pouring rain.
Sara roamed the city for hours in the downpour, trying to figure out where she was. She was so used to being drenched that it didn’t faze her anymore. She also was becoming more convinced with every street sign that she was not in England anymore. She was hopelessly lost and alone. She finally decided after five hours to stop and get something to eat. She went into a nice looking bakery. The owner, a plump man with jet black hair and olive colored eyes smiled kindly at her with genuine concern in his eyes as he took in her bedraggled appearance. “Come in, sweetie! You’ll catch your death out there! What are you doing out there in the pouring rain? Where are your parents?” Sara replied, “My mama died in childbirth and my papa Sonny is too busy to care for me, so here I am.” She did not want to tell the truth about being lost in another country for fear of being prosecuted for not legally being there, so she decided to be Serita Corleone for a while. The man frowned. “I’m sorry Sonny isn’t taking care of you. I wish I had some dry clothes for you, but I don’t. Do you want me to call someone for you?” Sara cocked her head to one side in curiosity. “Call? What does that mean?” She wondered if he was going to stand outside and call out. The man pointed to a black box Sara had never seen before. “I mean call them on the telephone, Tesoro.” Sara was bewildered and then began to go into shock at the realization that she was not only in a different country, but in a different time. Her face lost all color as she admitted, “I don’t know what a telephone is.” The man looked confused. Sara explained, “I spent most of my life in a boarding school because of the war. The school didn’t have modern technology so I never learned anything about it.” Sara could tell there had been a war recently from eavesdropping on conversations. The man accepted her explanation with a nod. “You look pale. Why don’t you lie down in back while I get you something to eat and contact your father?” Sara nodded, feeling very lightheaded. The man gently picked her up and laid her down on a cot in the back. “Just rest here,” said the man. Sara nodded, drifting off to sleep.
That night, Sara woke up to the sound of glass breaking. She jumped out of the cot and ran to the front of the store where several men in tan colored coats were breaking into the locked bakery. Thinking quickly, Sara ran into the back and grabbed a large knife. Then she walked calmly back out to the front, the knife hidden behind her back. When she got there, the men were just beginning to break things around the shop. Sara noticed with a sinking heart that the baker was nowhere to be seen. She approached one of the men and said, “That display you’re breaking isn’t yours, you know. You ought to leave it alone.” The man stopped and looked Sara over before shrugging. “It ain’t yours neither, bambino.” Another man said, “Give her something to eat, Giovanni. She looks starving.” Giovanni nodded and smiled at Sara as he took a piece of cake out of the display and gave it to Sara. “Here, bambina, eat.” Sara frowned. She was hungry, but she knew the cake did not belong to her and she shouldn’t take it. She was becoming used to stealing, but the baker had been so nice to her that she couldn’t bring herself to take anything from him. But seeing as the plate was already in her hands, it would be a waste to not eat it. She sighed heavily and ate the cake in several ravenous bites. The men smiled at her. Sara realized that they were all distracted from breaking the store apart by her. She smiled and said seductively, “Hey boys, you want to show me what being an adult really means?” Giovanni took her in his arms and kissed down her throat, his hand between her legs. She moaned loudly in fake pleasure, hoping the baker heard her. Then her pleasure became real as Giovanni covered her breast with his mouth, suckling greedily. She wondered if she ought to let him go all the way with her. As she contemplated this possibility, she heard a man scream in agony. She knew it must be the baker. “Shut up, old man!” said another voice. Sara realized all at once why the men were breaking things: they were trying to force the baker to pay them money! She had heard about such things happening when she was in Italy with her papa. She realized that must also be where she was. “Hey, Giovanni?” she asked. “Yeah, Bambina?” “What country am I in?” Giovanni stopped licking her breast and looked up at her with a confused look on his face. “You’re in America, bambina.” Sara went pale again. How in the world had she ended up in America, much less in the future? “Bambina, you OK?” Sara shook her head. “I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be in 1863 London. I think I’m going to be ill.” The men automatically surrounded her, just as she had planned. As soon as they were all close enough, she took the knife out with lightning fast reflexes and stabbed Giovanni in the heart. Blood spurted all over her as she murdered more of the men. The few than managed to escape her attack ran towards the door, fear in their dark eyes. Sara screamed in fury and grabbed a gun from one of the bodies and pointed it at the men, making them freeze. “Let the baker go, you fucking cowards!” said Sara placing her finger on the trigger. She heard another scream from outside as the baker died. Sara lost the last of her self-control and shot the escapees in the head, having naturally good aim. She stood on top of the broken display, her rags drenched in blood, looking like a warrior. Tears streamed down her face at the death of the baker. She then put the gun in her pocket and gathered up what other weapons she could before leaving the shop and walking over to the baker. She knelt down beside his body and said, “I’m so sorry, Tesoro. I should have saved you.” She hugged him for several minutes until she felt a hand on her shoulder. “Sweetheart, can you stand?” Sara looked up and saw a man in a black coat smiling at her. “Who are you?” she asked cautiously. The man replied, “My name is Vinny. I’m with the Corleones. The baker was loyal to us for years. It’s a tragedy that this happened. The Tattaglias have some nerve attacking like this.” Sara stood up and immediately fell into Vinny’s arms. “I feel tired,” said Sara. She wanted desperately to go home, but hadn’t the least idea how to do so. She then stood up. “Where you goin’ Cara?” Sara replied, “I’m going home. If I keep walking, I eventually ought to arrive there.” She then walked off into the night.
Sara kept walking until she heard gunshots. She ran over to where the sound was coming from. She saw a young man fighting Tattaglias. Her mind filled with rage at the baker’s murder. She felt that all Tattaglias deserved the same agonizing death that the baker had suffered. She hid behind a corner and took out a gun. She aimed it at one of their heads and fired. He collapsed, causing the man to jump back in shock. He jumped again as Sara killed another Tattaglia. He looked ready to run. “Don’t run, shoot the fucks!” said Sara, irritated. The man nodded and he and Sara quickly finished off the Tattaglias. After they were all dead, Sara put the gun away and walked up to the man. The man raised an eyebrow at her. “Who the fuck are you, little girl?” Sara said, “I am Serita Corleone and I am not a little girl!” The man laughed, increasing Sara’s anger. “What the fuck is so funny?!?” she asked. The man said, “I’m Sonny, your dad.” Sara grinned. “I’m sorry,” she said apologetically, hoping Sonny would not get angry. Sonny instead said, “No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t take care of you like I should have. I abandoned you and you got lost.” Sara caught on to the game and replied, “It was raining and all I wanted to do was go home!” Sonny nodded. “I know, Serita. I forgot all about you, didn’t I, little girl?” Sara said, “Pick me up, Papa. I am tired.” Sonny smiled and obeyed. “You need to gain weight, sweetie,” he said. “If you fed me more often, maybe I would, Papa,” replied Sara tartly. Then she put her hands on Sonny’s face and pulled him into a kiss. He kissed back passionately, surprising her. “Papa,” she murmured. Sonny grinned as he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth. He pushed her against a nearby wall. Sara ripped his shirt, revealing a finely muscled chest which she ran her hands all over. “Serita,” he moaned in response.
The kiss lasted for several minutes which seemed like half an hour to Sara. When Sonny finally ended the kiss, Sara was panting. Sonny gently set her on her feet. “You want me to take you home, Serita?” he asked. Sara shook her head. “I’m not sure I know how to get home.” Sonny frowned. “Where do you live, Serita?” Sara replied, “I’m from 1863 London, Papa. I’m not sure how I got here, much less how to get back.” Sonny sighed, “Have you tried going back to where you first arrived here?” Sara shook her head. “I know it was somewhere near Clemenza’s house. That’s when I first noticed I wasn’t in England.” Sonny nodded and led her to where she had bumped into the man. “Is this where you were?” Sara nodded and said, “Yes. This is where I was. I was going towards the market to buy groceries for the school.” She then saw a door which she had never before noticed. She knew somehow that this was the door home. “This is it, Papa,” she said to Sonny. Sonny smiled at her. “Do you need me to come?” Sara replied, “It would help. You see, I was supposed to be getting groceries for the school when I accidentally came here. When I come back empty handed, the headmistress will punish me severely, especially if I have nobody to corroborate my side of the story. I shudder to think what she’ll do to me now that I’m already in trouble. I don’t want to know what else she’ll think up as punishment now that she’s used up the punishment she normally uses.” Sonny frowned. “I don’t want you to get into trouble, Serita. I’ll go with you to back up your story, all right?” Sara smiled warmly at him, grateful that he was helping her. She began to wonder if all Corleones were this nice, or if it was just criminals in general. The Tattaglias had been nice to her too before she shot them. She kept thinking about this until they both reached the school. Sara led Sonny through the servant’s entrance into the kitchen. Becky, who was washing dishes, looked up when the door opened. She gasped to see a man there. “Becky, this is Sonny. He is my friend who came here to help explain the situation to Miss Minchin.” Sonny smiled at Becky who blushed and seemed speechless. Sonny gently laughed at her reaction before he and Sara walked out of the kitchen. As they headed up the stairs, Becky ran out and stopped them. “Don’t go up there, Miss! The missus is up there with her sister and the cook! They’re waiting for you!” Sara replied, “Thank you for the warning, Becky, but Sonny and I can handle them. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.” Becky nodded and went back into the kitchen. Sara and Sonny then went up to the attic where the door to Sara’s room was open. Sara put her finger to her lips and she and Sonny hid to hear what was being said.
Miss Minchin was furious and Amelia was trying as always to placate her sister. “Where did she get all this food?!? She must have stolen it!” The cook replied, “I heard there was a Fruit Thief yesterday at the market!” Sara went pale at the realization that they knew she had stolen the food. She hadn’t planned on them coming up here anytime soon. She had the urge to run, but she suppressed it. “Don’t worry, kid. I got this,” said Sonny. Sara knew she had no choice but to trust him even though they had just met. She sighed and stood up. Then she and Sonny walked into her room. All three women turned to her with menacing looks on their faces. “Sara Crewe! How dare you come in here at this hour? You might as well have stayed outside, slattern!” said Miss Minchin angrily. Sonny replied, “It’s pouring outside! What the fuck is wrong with you, suggesting a young woman sleep in such conditions!” Miss Minchin ignored him and said, “Know that I’m calling the police in the morning, Sara. Your thievery will not go unpunished this time.” Sonny stepped in front of Sara. “What thievery? I gave her that food myself yesterday.” All three women were in shock. Miss Minchin said, “You gave her food? Why?” Sonny replied, “Because she was hungry, obviously.” Miss Minchin turned on Sara again. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Sara replied, “Because you had forbidden me to eat that day! I didn’t want further punishment. Besides, I knew you’d take the food away and accuse me of stealing.” Miss Minchin stepped forward, ready to box Sara’s ears. Sonny grabbed her hand as she raised it. “Don’t hurt my friend, lady. I don’t know what your problem is, but if you lay a hand on her ever again, there will be dire consequences, capiche?” Miss Minchin nodded, frightened of Sonny. Sonny let her hand go and said, “Now all of you, go to bed. I’m going to stay a while to say goodnight to Serita.” The women reluctantly obeyed him.
As soon as the women were out of earshot, Sonny attacked Sara, pushing onto the bed. “You need a new mattress if we’re gonna keep doing this, Cara,” he said against her lips. Sara raised an eyebrow but stayed silent as he kissed down her throat. “Sonny, those guys you were fighting, they killed the baker. Who are they?” Sonny cursed. “They’re a rival mob. I’m really sorry you got caught up in all this, kid.” Sara frowned. “I’m not a kid, Sonny. I can handle myself. I killed like five of them at the bakery. They broke in and were ransacking the place.” Sonny stopped. “You killed mobsters? How?” Sara replied honestly, “I took a knife from the back of the shop and hid it behind me until an opportune time arose, then I murdered about three of them and killed the other two with a gun I took off of a body.” Sonny fell back in shocked awe. “I’ve never heard of a girl killin’ mobsters before! You ever consider a career change?” Sara said, “I suppose I could become an assassin, although I’m not sure how I would apply. It’d be better than this hell for sure.” Sonny grinned at her and then kissed her lips. After he ended the kiss he said, “I gotta go, kid. I’ll see you tomorrow, OK?” Sara nodded, not understanding this sudden change as he ran off.
Sara woke up the next morning to the sun pouring in through the skylight. She sat up, not remembering the horrors of the previous night. Then she stood up and got dressed in her rags, wondering why they were blood soaked. Had she gotten hurt and didn’t remember? She didn’t feel any injuries. She jumped in shock when she felt a gun fall out of her pocket. She carefully picked it up and examined it. Then she put it back in her pocket and walked to the door. But when she tried to open it, she learned it was locked. She didn’t understand. Miss Minchin had never done this before. She was almost treating Sara like a pupil. Sara shook her head, realizing that it was more likely she was being treated like a prisoner. She must have done something very bad for Miss Minchin to do this. She sighed and looked for the fruit she vaguely remembered stealing. She didn’t find much, and what she did find was already rotting away in the summer heat. She frowned in desperation, knowing if she didn’t eat she would starve. She was already feeling sleepy from hunger. She took the gun and shot the lock off with perfect aim. Then she pocketed the gun and went downstairs to the kitchen to get food whatever way she could.
The cook was shocked to see Sara walking in with a smile on her face. “Good morning, cook!” said she cheerfully despite her hunger. Sara skipped over and began to help Becky with the dishes, causing the maids to look askance at her. They already knew about the events of the previous evening and that Sara was supposed to be locked in her room for the whole day as punishment. Sara quickly finished the dishes and went on to tidy up the girls’ rooms, humming as she went.
A few hours later, Sara was scrubbing the stairs when there was a knock at the door. She ran to the door and flung it open. “Hello!” she said cheerfully. “Hi, kid. What are you so happy about today? That headmistress finally treatin’ you better?” Sara looked and recognized the man as Sonny. All at once memories started flooding back to her. She knew why Miss Minchin had locked her up now. “Serita?” asked Sonny. Sara sighed and replied, “She locked me in my room this morning. I had to shoot the lock off.” Sonny said, “Serita, I’m sorry. Listen, I’m sorry you got caught up in all this, but since you are I thought you might want to go out with me and do some target practice. You should get comfortable with using that gun as much as possible.” Sara stopped. “Target practice?” she echoed, knowing what that meant. This man wanted her to go out and shoot people. It had been bad enough to shoot the Tattaglias last night, but she hadn’t had much choice at that point. Was she really going to choose to kill people of her own free will? How low was she going to go before this was all said and done? All remnants of the young lady she had been seemed to be disappearing before her eyes. Who was she anymore that killing did not faze her? The only reason she hesitated was because of the sweet charming little girl she had thought she was. She realized with a sick feeling that she did not value human life as much as she once had. Killing others did not cause her to fret or lose sleep. What had happened to the strict rules she had once adhered to in an attempt to be a princess? Had all that really disappeared in one day? Tears streamed down her face. She sighed and answered in a hollow voice that she did not recognize, “I suppose I have no choice, do I?” Sara walked back inside, Sonny following her. “Close the door behind you,” said Sara as she went back to scrubbing the stairs. “I thought we were going out to do some target practice,” said Sonny. Sara replied, “I must finish these stairs first. Then I can go with you. Remember I am still a slave here.” Sonny sighed and said, “Then let me help you so we can get finished faster.” Sara raised an eyebrow. “You want to help?!? Sonny Corleone the mobster wants to help me clean the stairs?!?” she began to laugh. Sonny nodded.
Sara smiled as Becky came into the room. “The missus told me to help you clean the stairs,” she said then stopped short when she saw Sonny. “Sonny?!?” she asked in shock. Sonny said, “Yes, Becky?” Sara said, “Becky, you look tired. Why don’t you give Sonny your things and go upstairs to rest a little? He’s agreed to help me clean the stairs.” Sara hated lying to her friend, but Becky did not need to know that Sara was going to kill people. The less she knew the better for both their sakes. Becky nodded and smiled at Sara before shyly giving her things to Sonny and then running off. As soon as she was out of earshot, Sonny said, “That was nice of you to lie to her. She’s an innocent.” Sara replied tartly, “Every girl here is an innocent except for me. They’ve never had to steal food or kill people. Even Becky, the poor scullery maid, is innocent. She is fourteen, yet she is like a child. I am like a mother to her.” Sonny said, “Trust me, Serita, the way she was looking at me just then was not innocent.” Sara was appalled and said, “Sonny, are you going to help me clean the stairs or are you going to make sexual comments about my friend?” Sonny blushed and tried to apologize, but Sara would have none of it. “Sonny, just shut the fuck up!” she yelled at him as she ran up the stairs. “Where you goin’?” asked Sonny. “I’m going upstairs to cool down, dumbfuck!” yelled Sara.
A few minutes later, Sara was relaxing in her attic room when the door opened and Sonny came in. “Listen, Serita, I’m sorry about what I said about Becky. I shouldn’t have said that. You were right to get pissed off at me. I deserved it.” Sara nodded and said, “Yes, you did. But I should not have gotten so upset. It’s just that everything I’ve worked so hard to become, everything I tried to maintain despite my poverty, has simply vanished over the course of a few hours. I was trying to be a princess, Sonny! And now I’m some creature who can kill without regret and even enjoys killing! A princess would never be like that. A princess is sweet and kind and gentle. A princess puts others above herself. A princess is always well-mannered. I was that for years and years, and now I’m the complete opposite!” Sonny sat on the three legged footstool. “Jesus Christ Serita, no wonder you exploded at me. But why do you have to be one of those defenseless princesses? That might have been fine when you were rich and all, but after your dad died that kind of princess wouldn’t really survive for long. You should try to be like a warrior princess, like Boadicea.” Sara looked at him, realizing he was right. “Boadicea was a queen, not a princess, Sonny. But I suppose you’re right. Marie Antoinette was pretty and proper, but she wouldn’t survive this kind of life for very long.” Sonny replied cleverly, “She didn’t survive very long did she? She couldn’t handle being poor.” Sara raised an eyebrow. She was tempted to let that one slide, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. “Marie Antoinette was murdered, Sonny. She had her head chopped off at the guillotine. She didn’t die because she was poor.” Sonny rolled his eyes. “Well, sorry I didn’t pay attention in history class, principessa!” Sara grinned at the teasing and kissed Sonny who automatically kissed back. “Sonny?” she murmured against his lips. He pulled back. “Yes, principessa?” Sara said, “Did you finish the stairs so we can go do some target practice?” Sonny replied, “Yes, I finished the stairs. Do you still want to do target practice?” Sara nodded. “I’m Boadicea now! I want to go out and shoot some fucks!” she said. Sonny grinned as he and Sara ran downstairs and outside.
Sara followed Sonny back through the door into 1946 New York. He led her to a nice looking park. “Be on your guard, Serita. There’s a bunch of Tattaglia fucks milling around that butcher shop over there.” Sara grinned and said, “So we’re going to shoot them?” Sonny replied, “Calm down, Serita. We can’t just go running over there like that. They’ll kill us. We need cover.” Sara nodded and walked nonchalantly over to a parked car. “Like this, Sonny?” Sonny nodded and followed her . “Good choice, Serita.” Sara snuck a glance over at the butcher’s shop. The Tattaglias were looking over at them but didn’t seem particularly upset. “Why are they so calm? Aren’t they suspicious of us being here after last night?” she whispered to Sonny. Sonny replied, “They’re very suspicious, Serita. They’re just hiding it well. They’re waiting to see what we do.” Sara stepped out from behind the car and waved at the Tattaglias with a big smile on her pretty face. “What are you doing?” asked Sonny in an amused voice. “Fucking with the Tattaglias,” replied Sara as the men began to look confused and exchange looks. Some of them waved back automatically, smiling nervously. Sonny burst into silent laughter at this. Sara then crouched behind the green car and pulled out a gun. Sonny stopped her and handed her another gun. “Here, Serita. Don’t use that crappy gun. I found you a better one.” Sara took the gun and noticed that it fit her hand perfectly. She looked at Sonny incredulously. Sonny shrugged and said, “It belonged to my sister Connie. She heard I was helping you and wanted you to have this.” Sara grinned in delight as she aimed at one of the Tattaglias’ heads and fired. His head blew right off in a spatter of blood and brains. The others were for a moment stunned that a little girl had done such a thing. Sara took advantage of this and killed several more. The three that were left quickly regained their senses and began shooting at Sara. Sara dodged easily and killed them too. “Good job, Serita! Those fucks didn’t stand a chance!” said Sonny approvingly, a grin on his face. Sara suddenly felt lightheaded. “Serita, what’s up? You look really pale all of a sudden!” Sara said faintly, “Well, I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning.” Sonny became alarmed at this. “Here, can you walk?” he asked. Sara shook her head. “I’m going to faint, Sonny.” Sonny ran over as she lost consciousness.
Sara woke up in a nice room that she did not recognize. She tried to sit up but was stopped by a thin tube sticking out of her arm. “Where am I?” she asked, knowing she would not get an answer. She slowly stood up and saw that she was in a pretty pink nightie. She smiled as she walked to the door as footsteps approached it. The door was then opened by Sonny. “Get back in bed, Serita! You’re sick,” he said as he came in followed by a blonde man. Sara wondered who the other man was. Sonny sighed and picked her up when she did not immediately move. She kissed him. He kissed back as he placed her In bed. “Now stay there until the doc clears you to get out of bed,” said Sonny. Sara rolled her eyes. “I’m not an invalid, Sonny!” she protested. Sonny ignored her comment and said, “Serita, this is my brother Tom. He wanted to meet you.” Tom smiled as he walked over to Sara. “Hey, Serita. How are you feeling? You’ve been out cold for a few days now.” Sara said, “I remember I hadn’t eaten for a while. That must be why I fainted.” Tom glared at Sonny. “Sonny, why the heck didn’t you feed her? You said you met her that afternoon about an hour before she passed out. You should have brought her food!” Sonny frowned and replied. “I thought she had food! The headmistress said that she had stolen fruit the day before.” Sara said, “It rotted by the time I woke up the next morning.” Sonny cursed. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me you were hungry, Serita?” Sara replied, “I suppose because I am so used to hunger that I barely notice it anymore. I was so absorbed in other things that I forgot.” Tom said, “Sonny, if you plan to keep contact with this girl, you’ll have to provide her food every day. You can’t blow this off. I don’t know what you’re planning to do with her, but she cannot be allowed to starve. I’ll talk to Dad about how to support her on a more permanent basis.” Sonny replied, “Tom, don’t go to Dad just yet. I’ve got this covered. I have a plan that I will tell Dad about soon.” Tom sighed. “Sonny, don’t do this. We can take care of her here.” Tom then looked at Sara. “Serita, you hungry?” Sara nodded, knowing it was a ruse to get Sonny out of the room. Sonny evidently knew this too and said, “Why don’t I see what Mom’s made you to eat?” He smiled at her as he left the room.
As soon as he was gone, Tom turned to her. “Listen to me, Serita, I don’t know what Sonny’s offered you, but do not listen to him. He’s trying to trick you into becoming one of us. Don’t do it. We can help you without you giving up your life.” Sara shook her head. “Clemenza already offered, Tom. I’m not interested in charity. I still have some pride left. I can’t accept your generosity. Sonny is offering me a way out that doesn’t require me going any lower than I already am. In truth, I was just thinking about becoming an assassin. I am Boadicea now, not some defenseless little maiden. I will kill whoever it takes to survive!” Tom sighed in exasperation. “Sara, you have your whole life ahead of you! Do you really want to spend it killing people? You have a choice here Sara. We’re not offering charity, we’re offering help. My dad would probably be willing to adopt you. You could live here and everything would be provided for you. You wouldn’t have to lift a finger ever again. If you go with Sonny, if you become one of us that way, you’ll never get to be a child again. You’ll have to work hard to live. You have no idea what being a mobster means.” Sara replied, “I will learn, won’t I? What you’re offering sounds nice, but I am too old to be adopted any longer. I am not a child anymore. I lost my childhood years ago. If you wanna adopt somebody so badly, adopt Becky. She needs this more than I do.”
Then the door opened and Sonny came in with a tray of food. “I’m sorry if this is too much. Mom said something about fattening you up.” Sara smiled at Sonny. “I need to be fattened up. I am skin and bones now!” The men smiled at her as Sonny set the tray on her lap. “Miss Minchin won’t recognize me when I go back, I’ll be so fat!” she said cheerfully. Sonny raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about, Serita? Surely you’re not going back to that hole.” Sara replied, “I don’t have a choice, Sonny. If I don’t go back, Miss Minchin will find a way to drag me back. Besides, I cannot abandon my friends, especially Becky.” Tom said, “We can take care of Miss Minchin. If you stay here, she will never lay a hand on you again. I’m sure Becky would want you to stay here even if it meant leaving her behind.” Sara said, “That is not good enough! It will be worse for her because Miss Minchin will be angry that I escaped. I cannot leave her in that woman’s hands if I myself am here. When I get better, I will go back there until if and when I get another job. It may be hell living at the school, but it is better than being alone.” Sonny said, “If you think we’re going to let you go so easily, Serita, you’ve got another think coming. I am not going to allow you to go back to working your ass off for no money. I will pay the debt off this afternoon and tell that bitch headmistress you’re not going back.” Sara became incensed. “You can’t keep me here forever, Sonny!” she yelled at him. He turned on her. “Wanna bet, Serita? Now eat before the food gets cold.” Sara began to eat, trying to take her mind off of Sonny. She was soon finished and put the tray aside as she stood. Sonny raised an eyebrow again. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going, Serita?” he asked. “To the window, dumbfuck. I need some air,’ she lied. She nearly sighed at the fact that she was becoming accustomed to lying, which she still thought was vulgar. Sonny believed her and sat on the bed. Tom watched her silently, seemingly calculating every move she made. She could tell he was very intelligent. He was also very good looking. If he didn’t have a wedding ring on his hand, she would want to kiss him. She was becoming quite the adult lady recently. She had had adult thoughts since she had been in India six years ago but she had never come as close to acting on those thoughts as she was now. She certainly had never kissed a man until she kissed Sonny although she had considered it with Ram Dass, who was also very handsome. The closest she had come to anything like sex was when she was in India, she had made some of the manservants touch her in between her legs. She had wanted that in England, but since Miss Minchin did not allow men in the school, she had to suffice by reading erotic novels. As she was thinking all of this, Sara walked over to the window and began to open it. Tom and Sonny both ran over to her. “Serita, don’t.” Sara said, “I told you I wanted air, Sonny.” Tom said. “Yes, but there are a lot of men down there that I’m sure you don’t want to see you in your nightie.” Sara looked out and saw a bunch of men in black outfits. “They’re mobsters right?” she asked, causing Sonny and Tom to nod. “They are guarding this place.” Suddenly Sara felt lightheaded and collapsed, unconscious.
Sara woke up in a different room. She tried to get up only to find she was handcuffed to the bed. She sighed in exasperation, knowing Sonny had done it. She wondered if she could free herself by wriggling her wrists out of the handcuffs that were slightly too big for her small hands. She supposed one benefit to having been starved was that everything was bone thin, including her hands. As she began to attempt to twist out of the cuffs and then wiggled them when that did not work, the door opened. Sara stopped at once, thinking it was either Sonny or Tom, either of whom would see that the cuffs were too loose and tighten them. But to her surprise, an old man came in with a smile on his face. She figured this must be the leader of the mafia as he came over to her. “Hello, Serita. How are you feeling?” Sara smiled, glad he hadn’t mentioned the handcuffs. “I’m doing better. Who are you if you don’t mind me asking?” The man replied, “I am Vito Corleone, the don of this family. I trust you’ve figured out our little business?” Sara nodded as she said, “When I was in Italy with my papa, I saw similar things. In fact, one time when I was in a bakery in Sicily, the owner had to give money to a mysterious man. I know now he was a mobster because papa knew what was happening.” Vito nodded and said, “Speaking of bakeries, I admire what you did at ours. The Tattaglias have not come back there. Emilio said you saved his life.” Sara said, “Wait, the baker is alive? But I thought he died that night!” Vito smiled at her and said, “No, he nearly died. He would be dead if you hadn’t killed those Tattaglias.” Sara liked this man, so she ventured a question, “So, Vito, am I going to live here? Tom said something about me being adopted, but I’d rather return to the school. I have responsibilities there that I cannot abandon. Sonny doesn’t seem to understand that. I do not want to be kept here, certainly. I am beginning to feel like some sort of prisoner. Am I?” She moved so that the handcuffs made a loud noise against the bedframe. Vito sighed. “I didn’t realize Sonny had gone that far. I’m sorry, Serita. You are not a prisoner here. As for adoption, I’m not going to force you into it. It all depends on what you want, Serita.” Sara said, “Frankly, I want a job. Tom said that Sonny would try to recruit me. I am completely willing for that to happen. I need money and I don’t accept charity. I want to be able to be independent and provide for myself and Becky and one day move out of the school. I know I am just thirteen, but I feel ready to be an adult. I feel almost as if I’ve already gone through adolescence when I was very young. Even if my papa had not died, I would feel adult. Albeit I most likely would not be seeking a job at all, let alone in the mafia.” Vito sighed. “Serita, do you really want to kill people for a living? I know you’ve already killed several Tattaglias, but most of those kills were made in a situation where you didn’t have much of a choice. If you become an associate, you’ll have to choose to kill people without a second thought. And not all of them will be rival mobsters. You will at one time or another have to kill civilians who have done nothing wrong. You’ll also have to do the same thing the Tattaglias were trying to do when they broke into that bakery. You’re going to have to do all that and be able to sleep at night. You cannot have a conscience in this line of work.” Sara replied, “My conscience is already slipping away. I think something in me snapped that night I killed those Tattaglias. Or perhaps I never really had a conscience to begin with. Either way, I am fine with killing people and even extorting them. I have often thought I might become an assassin anyway. This is not much different.” Vito said, “Normally, Serita, one does not apply for a position within our family. Normally someone from inside suggests a name and we watch the person for several years to see if they will be a good part of our mafia. But I’m not sure how long Sonny can wait patiently for my decision. So as soon as the doctor says it’s okay, you can go home. I will be in contact soon.” Sara nodded, trying not to be too excited. She was giddy at the prospect of her first real job, and at the prospect of making money that she didn’t have to give to Miss Minchin. “Thank you, Vito! Grazie!” she said in glee. She was so happy that she could barely keep from bouncing up and down. She had never been this happy since she had lost everything. In fact, she hadn’t been so happy since she had been with her papa. She did not know how to deal with such happiness. She knew that she would impress Vito and become a mobster. She did not believe being one was as hard as Tom had led her to believe. If it was that hard, Sonny wouldn’t be one. She hated to admit it, but she knew Sonny was a bit flighty and irresponsible. Perhaps she could keep him grounded. If he wanted to stay with her, he’d have to be. Vito watched her as she thought. She wanted to hug him, but knew that he was going to be her employer soon and that that wasn’t proper conduct of an employee or of a mobster to her don. She knew that kind of relationship was all about respect. Besides, if she gave in to temptation and hugged him, all chance of her being a mobster might disappear. She did not want to seem childish. Still, it seemed tempting. She felt lonely after being a pariah in her own home for so long. She wished Emily was here, but at times not even she was enough. She was only a doll and many times Sara could not imagine otherwise no matter how hard she pretended. “What is the matter, Serita? You seem upset.” Sara nodded, suddenly feeling more alone and abandoned than she had ever felt. She instinctively sat up and brought her knees to her chest, then hugged them and put her head down as tears came down her face. She almost wanted to die right then and there. How long was she going to suffer? This miasma of pain seemed endless. She knew it would be wrong to abandon Becky and her other friends, but was she really going to live for them? Who was she, their mother? She was only thirteen years old; it was ridiculous for her to take on so much responsibility for others. No normal girl would do such a thing. She was not a princess and shouldn’t keep acting like one. She needed to take care of herself before she took care of others. Maybe when she was older, she would have such responsibility, but for now she needed to focus on getting out of the school. Going back now would be suicide, although suicide began to be tempting. Who would blame her? It would be so easy to do, just a bullet to the brain and that would be it. She didn’t have to do this anymore. She had an escape, perhaps her only escape at this point. She knew they’d never let a girl into the mafia. She had tried to join in Sicily only to be laughed at. Nobody cared at all about her anymore. She was nobody’s business. If she died, nobody would mourn. They might even be glad. She knew Miss Minchin would only be unhappy because of the debt. Otherwise she’d be happy to have Sara out of her hair. Lavinia would be beside herself with joy. “What’s the point anymore?” she said aloud. Her whole body shook with the effort it took not to cry. She knew her gun was somewhere in the room. All she needed to do was find it. Suddenly, as she was beginning to plan her suicide, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head to see Vito looking at her concernedly. She asked, “Why do you care? I’m none of your concern,” she said, sure he didn’t really care. Vito replied, “I can tell you’re suffering, Serita. You’ve been through more than anybody should ever have to go through, especially a young woman like you. You don’t have to go through it alone anymore. Even if you don’t become a mobster, we will not abandon you. I know Sonny and Tom both care for you deeply even though they’ve only just met you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re already a part of this family. As such, anything you ever need will be provided. You no longer need to starve and Becky doesn’t either. We will care for her same as you. If you chose to leave the school, you would not have to abandon her.” Sara wanted to believe in him, but all this sudden good fortune seemed too good to be true. She put her knees back down and then she jumped into his arms. He hugged her tightly. She instinctively hugged back, enjoying his male heat. She began to feel similar to how she felt when she had been in Clemenza’s arms. Was this lust? She thought as she began to be wet between her legs. She had never wet herself, but she knew that this was not urine. She had never felt like this since she had forced her manservants in India to touch her down there. She realized this had to be arousal. Curiosity filled her at this new feeling. This was far more intense than in India. She wanted to see how far this would go. With that in mind, she moved so she was sitting with his lap in between her legs, just like she had been sitting with Clemenza. Then she lifted herself up so her head was level with his. Finally, as one of his eyebrows raised, she kissed him, slipping her tongue into his mouth. Vito kissed back, but Sara could tell he was shocked. She could sense a hint of arousal, but that was it. She tried to increase this by putting both her hands under his shirt and rubbing up and down, going gradually lower down his chest. When she reached his pants, she slipped her hands lower. She felt him immediately break the kiss and push her away, but a flush was all over his face. She could tell he wanted her because the second he pushed her away, she had felt him harden in between her legs for a split second. She smiled at him with half-lidded eyes. “You want me,” she stated as she was about to kneel down and continue her exploration of his body, this time with her tongue. She had seen sex in India and knew how it went. She also knew the Korma Sutra very well. But Vito prevented her from doing so. “Serita, don’t do this! I know you’re upset and depressed, but this is not the way to soothe yourself.” Sara frowned, snapping out of her daze a little. “But you want me!” she pointed out. Vito sighed. “Serita, your mind is not clear. You aren’t capable of consent because you are not capable of refusal. One day if you come to me when you are clear-headed and want this, then I will not refuse you. But for now, I am not going to take advantage of you.” Sara was upset that he was refusing her, but she understood why. She knew she ought to be grateful that he was unwilling to take advantage of her like most men would. She yawned, exhausted from all the emotional crap she had just gone through. Vito smiled and laid her back into bed. “Go to sleep, Serita. When you wake, you’ll be able to go home.” Sara smiled and fell asleep.
Sara woke up the next morning with Sonny by her bedside. She smiled at him. He kissed her and said, “You can go home now, Serita. I still think it is bad for you to go back, but I was wrong to force you to stay. The doc says you’re all better and as long as you keep eating like you have been here you’ll make a full recovery.” Sara replied, “You’ll have to help me get food, Sonny. I have no clue how to feed myself. After all, before my papa died, all my meals were given to me on silver platters. And afterwards I was hardly fed at all so I never learned how to get food for myself.” Sonny nodded and said, “Don’t worry, Serita. You’ll learn.” Sara smiled as she stood up. “So where is my dress?” Sonny replied, “I burned the one you were wearing. It was too torn up to be worn anymore. But there are plenty of clothes in that closet over there that you can wear.” Sara walked over to the closet and opened it to reveal that it was full of nice clothes. Sara knew she could not wear any of them, so she sighed and looked for a black one. She easily found what she was looking for and laid it on the bed. Sonny raised an eyebrow. “Seriously, Serita? You’re going to keep wearing black?” Sara replied, “I cannot wear any other color, Sonny. I’ll get into serious trouble if I try.” With that, she stripped off her nightie. Sonny’s mouth fell open in shock. “What? We’re lovers; it isn’t that shocking that I’m willing to be naked in front of you.” Sonny said, “Yes, it is. I like you, Serita, but I’ve never met a woman so comfortable stripping in front of a man.” Sara began to put the dress on when Sonny stopped her. “Wait, Serita. Don’t you need to wear a bra? And panties?” Sara shrugged. “I haven’t worn such things since I grew out of the ones I was wearing on my eleventh birthday.” Sonny was again shocked into silence for a few moments. Then he said, “Well, you can’t go without them. Listen, my sister is here so I’ll see if she has any you can wear. Stay here.” He then walked out the door and closed it.
A few minutes later, the door opened and a man Sara had never seen before came in with a hot pink bra and similar colored panties. Sara backed up, wishing she had locked the door. The man said, “Hi, Serita. My name is Paulie. I heard you needed these.” Sara didn’t know quite what to do. So she smiled and said, “Well, Sonny has already gone to get them for me, so I am not in need right now. I would appreciate it if you left. When Sonny gets back, he might misconstrue the situation and you could get into a lot of trouble.” Paulie smiled and walked closer to her, causing her to step back. He continued walking forward until her back was against the wall. “Stay still, miele.” He said in a tone that made Sara gag as he grabbed her shoulder. Then he slipped his hand down between her legs. “Stop it! Get away from me!” said Sara angrily. “Don’t be like that, sweetheart. We’re just going to have a little fun, like you and Sonny.” As he said this, he slipped one of his fingers inside her, making her cry out in pain. “Ouch! You’re hurting me, dumbfuck! Get off of me right now!” said Sara. She winced as she was slapped across the face. “Shut up!” said Paulie as he slipped another finger inside her while his other hand was caressing her breasts. Then he began to kiss her throat. She screamed as loudly as she could. As she had expected, she was slapped again. She wished she had a gun, but didn’t think there was one in this room. Suddenly, as he was unzipping his pants, he was torn away from her by Tom. “Get the fuck away from her!” said Tom. Sara began to cry in relief, fully aware of what would have happened if Tom had not rescued her. “Are you OK?” he asked in concern. Sara shook her head. “He hurt me down there,” she sobbed, running into Tom’s arms as Sonny came into the room. Sonny saw what had happened and punched Paulie in the nose. “You asshole, how dare you hurt her? You’re in deep shit now. Didn’t you know that she is the don’s protégé?” Paulie gasped in shocked horror. “I never knew! She didn’t say anything!” Sonny said, “I don’t blame her. Look at you; your fingers are soaked in her blood! She was gonna go home today, but that might not happen because of the blood loss you caused. I can’t believe you had a finger inside her like that when she is clearly a virgin and clearly didn’t want you. I honestly don’t know what the Don will do to your sorry ass when he finds this out.” Tom sat Sara on the bed as Sonny kicked Paulie out of the room. “I’m sorry this happened, Serita. I mean we always knew Paulie was a bad egg, but we never expected something like this. He will be punished severely. But for now, we need to have the doctor up here to have a look at you.” Sara sighed in resignation. “Damn it, Tom, I thought I was actually going to get to go home soon.” Tom said, “I know, Serita. I’m sorry.” Sara said, “No, it’s my fault. I ought to have kicked his ass as soon as he laid a finger on me, but I just stood there letting it happen!” Tears stung her eyes. Why hadn’t she beaten the shit out of him when she had the chance? She felt disappointed in herself. Suicide once again seemed like a good answer. If she couldn’t even defend herself, what the fuck was she doing trying to join the mafia? She was sure if Connie had been in a similar situation, Paulie would at least have a broken nose. She chided herself for being so weak. “This is not your fault, Serita! None of this is your fault. This is Paulie’s fault. He’s the one who harmed you. And you didn’t let it happen, you screamed for help. Serita, you were very brave, especially when you were unarmed. It must have been scary as fuck having his hands all over you,” said Sonny. Tom, who was holding her, said, “Sonny’s right, honey. Listen to me, Serita. You did the best you could in that situation. Paulie would’ve kicked your ass if you tried to beat him up. You did the right thing in screaming for help. You’re a smart girl, smart enough to know how to pick your battles. What you lack in brute strength, you more than make up for in intelligence.” Sara felt much better after hearing this and hugged Tom tightly. “You guys always know what to say. For a minute there, I was considering suicide!” Tom sighed as he held her while Sonny seemed more shocked. Tom asked, “Have you ever thought of suicide before, Serita?” Sara liked that he seemed so calm. She replied honestly, “Yes, when I was with Vito. I had started to feel really lonely, like nobody cared. Vito made it go away, but I was planning to commit suicide for a few moments.” Tom said, “You need help if you keep thinking of suicide, Serita. I understand that you’ve had no positive human contact since you were eleven, but suicide is not the answer. I don’t know how to make you understand that, especially when such bad things keep happening to you.” Sara wanted to kiss him. She wondered if he would kiss back like Vito did. “Has anyone told Vito yet?” she asked, trying to get Sonny out of the room. Sonny said, “Connie was with me when you screamed. I think she went to tell Dad.” Sara was disappointed that her plan failed, but decided to try again. “And who locked up Paulie so he can’t flee?” Sonny replied, “What does it matter? He’s going to be punished no matter where he goes.” Tom said, “Damn it, Sonny! Go get Paulie and drag his ass back here! We don’t want him going into hiding to avoid punishment.” Sonny rolled his eyes as he walked out of the room and closed the door again.
As soon as Sonny was out of earshot, Sara gently extricated herself from Tom’s arms. Then she sat on his lap, her legs straddling his. “Serita, what are you doing?” asked Tom, partially amused. Sara answered his question by kissing his lips. He kissed back gently. She could tell he didn’t understand why she was kissing him when she had just been sexually assaulted. It did hurt a little as she moved her hips against his, but it also felt very good as their tongues played. This time she kept her hands on his chest, trying to prolong the kiss for as much as possible. But after a few minutes of it, she got bored and pushed him down so that he was lying on the bed. “Put your hands on me, Tom,” she whispered. He hesitated before running his hand down her back, the other hand in her hair. He then moved his hand along her breast, making her moan in pleasure. This felt very different then when Paulie had done the same. It actually felt good. Sara wanted more as she became wet again. Tom noticed this and smiled. “Serita, what’s going on? You’ve just been nearly raped and yet you want me to touch you in the same way,” he asked, caressing her back again. Sara couldn’t think of a response so she kissed him again, this time putting her hands under his shirt. She felt him harden as she moved her hands lower. Suddenly, as she was about to put her hands down his pants, the door opened and Sonny walked in with a woman Sara figured must be his sister Connie. They both stopped in shock at seeing Sara and Tom kissing. Connie cleared her throat loudly when the kiss didn’t immediately stop. Sara sat up at once, trying to appear as if she hadn’t just been kissing a married man after her sexual assault. “Hello, you must be Connie!” she said cheerfully, smiling. Connie raised an eyebrow. “Hey, Serita. The doctor is on his way down here. Dad and Paulie are ‘talking’ right now in his office. I’m really sorry this happened.” Sonny said, “Do we need to give you and Tom some alone time? Maybe an hour?” Tom blushed scarlet at this and glared at Sonny. Sara giggled, not knowing how else to respond. Then she said, “I feel fine. I’m not sure I need to be seen.” She then got up shakily and got dressed in the underwear Sonny had brought in, then she put her dress on. “Where the hell do you think you’re going, Serita?” asked Sonny. Sara replied, “I’m going home. It’s been nice here, but I need to go home now so Becky and my friends won’t worry any longer.” As she said this she put on stockings and nice new brown boots she also found in the closet. “Serita, you’re bleeding. At least let the doc look at you. Paulie may have caused a tear or something.” Sara shook her head. “No, he didn’t do that. I’m just on my menses. I had had it before Papa died but it stopped short when I stopped eating properly. It must have returned since I’m healthier now.”
Sonny rolled his eyes. “Don’t fight this, Serita! Now sit back down.” Sara did not like to be ordered around, especially not by her lover. She was about to walk out the door when the doctor came in. He made Sara sit down. “Does it hurt anywhere?” he asked. Sara was very angry now and said, “No, I’m fine! Would everyone stop treating me like a fucking invalid? I don’t need to be seen! I want to go home!” The doctor sighed and said, “Fine. I can’t force you to stay here. I just hope that if you find that you are hurt, you come back for treatment.” Sara did not answer him as she ran out the door and slammed it.
Sara arrived home several hours later. She once again entered through the servants’ entrance into the kitchen. She stopped when she saw the cook scolding Becky. “Don’t tell falsehoods, young lady! Get back to doing the dishes, lazy wretch!” Sara froze, suddenly not sure coming back had been such a good idea after all. Then she gathered her courage and walked forward. “Cook, I’m home!” she said. The cook turned with a shocked expression on her round face. “Sara Crewe, I half thought you’d died out there! What were you doin’, lookin’ for diamonds?” Sara ignored the jab and said sweetly, “Well I’m back now. What needs to be done?” The cook frowned at not getting a reaction and said, “Go clean the girls’ rooms. This lazy wretch is still doing the dishes from dinner.” Sarah nodded and curtsied before grabbing the coal scuttle and going upstairs.
None of the girls seemed to notice Sara as she performed various tasks for the cook with remarkable celerity. She was so fast that everything was ready for the night three hours before bedtime, leaving the cook and the maids speechless from shock. “I’m done with what you asked, Cook!” said Sara with a real grin on her face. She was glad to be out of bed. She felt exhilarated by all the running she was doing. The cook regained her senses and said, “Well, ain’t you fast? I can’t believe I am saying this, but good girl! That vacation really paid off. I guess there ain’t nothing to be done now but wait for bedtime.” Sara grinned wider at the unexpected praise. “Thank you, cook! I never knew running around was so fun!” The cook said, “Well, you better get to bed now so you can be like this tomorrow too.” Sara agreed and ran upstairs where Becky was waiting for her. “Hello, Becky!” she said cheerfully. Becky looked at her in shock. “Sara, is that you? I haven’t seen you look so well in years!” Sara said, “I’ve never felt so well in years. I feel like I could run for miles and miles!” She sat on the rock-hard bed beside Becky. “Listen, Becky. I have a new friend who is very wealthy. He is going to ensure neither of us starve ever again! I am his son’s protégé.” Becky grinned for the first time since Sara had lost her papa. “Really, miss? Is that where you got that pretty new dress?” Sara nodded and replied, “Yes, Becky. I have a whole closetful of clothes at the man’s house. And his son and I are also lovers. But today, I kissed his brother Tom and Tom kissed back! I wonder how far we would have gone had Sonny not come into the room.” Becky giggled. “Are you going to see him again, miss?” she asked. Sara nodded. “He should come here tomorrow morning with our breakfast. Then I’ll be out all day learning my new job, so I’ll have to get up extra early to get my work done by then.” Sara sighed in content. Her life had become quite different from the hell it had been a few months ago. “Let’s go to sleep, Becky. Tomorrow I shall ask Vito for better beds for us.” Sara lay down and fell into a happy sleep.
The next morning, Sara was woken up rather rudely with a slap by Miss Minchin. “Get up!” she yelled. Sara got up. Miss Minchin gasped at seeing Sara’s new dress. “Where in the world did you get that? You stole it, didn’t you?” Sara nearly rolled her eyes at the old routine. “No, Vito gave it to me. He’s Sonny’s father. I was at his house after fainting a few months ago from hunger.” Sara was slapped again. “Don’t tell falsehoods, young lady! I found a wallet up here after you left. It was full of money. Where did you get that? Did you pick somebody’s pocket?” Sara said confidently, “What are you going to do, Ma’am, call the police?” Miss Minchin replied, “I already did, but they were paid off by your new friends. But why did you come back?” Sara replied honestly, “I couldn’t abandon Becky.” Miss Minchin said, “Well, get dressed. You might as well get up now. Last time your friend came here you were gone for a month. You’d better not do that again! The next time you’re gone for more than a day, I’ll send Becky to the workhouse and you’ll never see her again! Do you understand?” Sara said, “Yes, Ma’am. I understand.” Miss Minchin said, “Good. See that you remember it! You are not a princess, Sara. Things don’t happen because you want them to.” Sara accepted this, determined to get Becky out of the school as soon as possible. She would not allow her friend to suffer any more than she had to. Then she went downstairs to begin work.
Sara sped through the morning chores although she was beginning to be hungry again. She wondered if Sonny was coming back at all as she looked at the clock. It was already noon. Had he forgotten about her? Suddenly, as she was walking to the schoolroom to teach the alphabet class, there was a loud knock at the door. She ran to the door and opened it, hoping it was Sonny. She was disappointed when instead of Sonny, a man in a black outfit was standing there, a plate of food in his hands. “Good morning, Serita!” he said with a smile. She knew he must be a Corleone. “Good morning. I thought Sonny was going to bring me food today.” The man said, “Sorry, but Sonny is busy on an important errand so he sent me. My name is Giovanni, by the way. Here’s some food. Sorry it’s kinda late for breakfast.” Sara took the food and noted there was not enough for two people. “What about Becky? Where’s her lunch? Vito said that we both would be provided for.” Sara frowned, beginning to be upset. Giovanni said, “It must have slipped Sonny’s mind. Listen, you eat this and I’ll come back with food for Becky.” Sara did not trust this man yet and said, “No. I’ll give this to Becky and you take me to get food.” The man shrugged as Sara called over to Lottie, who had been sent to see what was keeping Sara. “Here, Lottie, give this to Becky. Do you know where she is?” Lottie nodded. “But Mama Sara, we’re not supposed to give servants food!” Sara replied, “Well you’ve given me food and I’m a servant, so this is okay.” Lottie accepted this and took the food away. Giovanni smiled at her and motioned for her to follow him. “Here, let’s go eat,” he said cheerfully.
After she ate, Sara walked to the park to see Clemenza was there waiting for her. He smiled at her as she walked over. “Hey, Serita. How are you doin? I ain’t seen you in a while.” Sara replied, “I’m doing well. Who knew picking that guy’s pocket would lead to all of this?” Clemenza said, “That’s why I’m here, Serita. I’m going to teach you the ropes of being one of us. But from now on, no more stealing. And never tell anybody about our little operation, capiche? We got enough attention from the police as it is. As long as you don’t do those two things and as long as you keep making us money, you’ll be made in no time.” Sara nodded. “How do I make money?” she asked. Clemenza answered, “By extorting merchants. The more people you extort, the more money we make. Here, let me show you how it’s done.” Sara followed Clemenza to the butcher’s shop nearby. He then led her inside. The owner rolled his eyes at seeing them. “Listen, I’m not interested. I don’t pay nobody!” Clemenza said, “Now, Serita, show him who he’s dealin’ with.” Sara nodded, walked up to the man, and punched him in the jaw. Clemenza said, “Nice one, kid.” The man seemed shocked beyond his ability to cope that a little girl was hitting him in an attempt to extort him for the mafia. Sara took advantage of this and punched him again, this time in the nose. “You want me to have to escalate this?” she asked in a menacing tone, pulling her fist back as if she was going to hit him again. He cowered in fear. “You win! I’ll pay. Just stop hurting me.” Sara lowered her fist. “That’s more like it!” Sara stepped back as the man got some money and gave it to her. She gave it to Clemenza. “Here, uncle.” Clemenza smiled at her and said, “Good job, kid! But not everybody is gonna be so easy to extort as this guy. He was already kind of on our side, so it was easy to ‘convince’ him.” Sara said, “So what’s next?” Clemenza replied, “Now we’re going to another business.” Sara nodded as she and Clemenza left the butchery.
Clemenza led Sara to a nearby deli. “Now you try doing it by yourself. I’ll be waiting out here. If something goes wrong in there, don’t be afraid to come get me.” Sara said, “I’ll be fine, Uncle Clemenza.” She smiled at him then she walked calmly into the deli. She noticed several Tattaglias standing around, guns in their hands. She ignored them as she walked up to the counter. The owner smiled at her, unaware that she was a Corleone associate. He said, “Hello, sweetie. What can I get you today?” Sara decided to play along and said, “How about some salami on rye?” The man smiled at her and said, “Good choice, princess.” Sara blushed. Everyone called her that, especially shop owners. She had thought that it would stop when she lost all her money, but it never did. As the man went to get what she requested, she looked over at the Tattaglias and winked. They immediately frowned, knowing who she was. “So the bitch decided to screw with us again, eh?” said one of them with a raised eyebrow. Sara could tell that he was trying to act nonchalant, but she could see the fear in his eyes. She acted like she hadn’t heard him. She took out some money as the owner came back with the sandwich. He shook his head. “No, princess. It’s on the house this time.” Sara smiled, wondering if he knew she planned to harm him. She put the money back into her pocket and sat down with her sandwich at a table. The Tattaglias were obviously confused. Then, as they looked at each other, Sara pulled out her gun and shot one of them in the leg. He screamed in pain as he fell to the floor. The Tattaglias jumped into action, but Sara jumped under the table and shot several. Then while they were on the ground she ran over and shot each one of them in the head, sending blood spattering onto her. Then she turned to the owner. “Pay up, fuck!” she said, pointing the gun at him. The man put his hands in the air. “Stop this! Just leave me alone!” he said. Sara walked behind the counter. “Than pay me what I want. That’s all you have to do.” The man nodded and got some money and handed it to Sara. Sara nodded. “Good man,” she said with a smile as she reached in and grabbed some salami before walking out.
Clemenza was standing there with a raised eyebrow. He said, “Serita, I liked how you handled those Tattaglias in there. But I think you might’ve gone a little too far. You should try not to make blood baths in our businesses cuz then we have to clean it up and it makes customers not want to come in there. So next time, just shoot them in the heads and be done with it.” Sara nodded. Clemenza added, “Serita, where did you get that meat?” Sara replied sheepishly, “I stole it.” Clemenza said, “Did I not tell you to stop stealing?” Sara nodded. “You did. I thought it was all right since I was extorting him anyway.” Clemenza sighed. “Listen, it’s not ok to steal, even if it’s one of our businesses, because then you’re basically stealing from us. The only way you’re going to rise through this family is through earning respect, and nobody respects a thief. Just keep that in mind as you extort businesses, Serita.” Sara nodded as she suddenly felt very tired. She leaned against Clemenza with a yawn. Clemenza said, “You tired already, Serita? Are you feeling all right?” Sara said, “I am very sleepy all of a sudden. I also feel light headed.” Clemenza immediately sat her down on a bench. “Here, Serita. I don’t want you to collapse again.” Sara suddenly wanted him to touch her. She wished Sonny was around. “Uncle Clemenza, could you do something for me? It might help me feel less sleepy.” Clemenza replied, “Anything you need, Serita. That’s what I’m here for, to make sure you have what you need.” Sara nodded and was glad that there was nobody in sight as she motioned for Clemenza to come closer. When he did, she asked, “Is there a place where the two of us can be alone? I want you to do something nobody else needs to see.” Clemenza clearly understood what she wanted and said, “Here, Serita. I know of a place nearby.”
Clemenza led her a few blocks away to what looked like an apartment. “There’s a nice room in here,” he said as he led her inside. Then she followed him up the stairs and into a bedroom with a nice green bed. Sara waited for Clemenza to close and lock the door then she ran into his arms and kissed him. He kissed back as he sat her on the bed. Then he sat down too and pulled her into his lap. Sara immediately smiled as she put her hands under his shirt as much as she could with his trench coat on. He chuckled at her as he unbuttoned it and took it off. She grinned at him as she grabbed his shirt and pulled him into another kiss. “Put your hands on me, Clemenza!” she said breathlessly in between kisses. He ran his hands along her small body, making Sara moan a little in pleasure. Then he trailed kisses down her throat. Sara wondered whether they would go all the way here. She ran her small hands through his dark hair as he licked her collarbone. “You’re still too thin,” he said. Sara replied, “I’ve only had lunch today and that salami.” Clemenza stopped and looked up at her. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry I snapped at you about stealing. You didn’t have a choice. But from now on, tell me if you’re hungry, OK? It isn’t fair for you to starve. Besides, you can’t get any work done without enough food. That may be why you overdid it at the deli. You weren’t thinking straight.” Sara put her hands into his pants. “Am I thinking clearly now, sir?” she asked against his face, licking his cheek with every syllable. “Now you’re just asking for trouble, Serita. Do you really want this? I don’t want you to feel pressured into sleeping around to get food.” Tears stung Sara’s green-grey eyes as she pulled back. She ought to have known no man in his right mind would want her. She must really look like a child for every man she had ever tried to sleep with to reject her outright. First Vito and then Clemenza. It was too much for her sore pride to handle. “I’m sorry. I know I must look like an odd child trying to be an adult. I know I am ugly. I-“ Clemenza stopped her midsentence with a kiss. “Serita, this has nothing to do with your looks! If you want me to fuck you, I have no objections. But I need to know how far you want this to go, Serita.” Sara sighed a little and answered honestly, “I want this lust to be relieved. I’m not familiar enough with sex to know how to do that. But I want to maintain my virginity, if such a thing is possible. That may be the last thing I have left of my innocence and I want to cling to it for as long as possible. I know that probably sounds silly and naïve, but it’s the one thing that keeps me from losing everything and becoming some mindless killing machine. I have nothing else left to pin my sanity on.” Clemenza nodded and smiled at her again then he started where he had left off sucking her collarbone. Then he put his hand down her panties and played with his finger in her clit. Sara moaned in pleasure after a split second of fear. She sighed in relief when he didn’t hurt her. Clemenza heard this and said, “Listen. I’m sorry about Paulie. I knew he was bad with women, but I never imagined he’d try to rape one.” Sara said. “I’m all right now. Let’s try to forget about Paulie for a few minutes, all right? I want my first sexual experience untainted by memories of him.” Clemenza smiled at her. Sara could tell he was amazed by how resilient she was after being sexually assaulted. Most girls would need serious help after such an event, but Sara had learned a long time ago to be self-reliant. She was beginning to trust the Corleones, but she knew she needed to still rely on herself first. If other people helped her, that was great, but she couldn’t depend on that. She was distracted from her reverie when Clemenza’s mouth reached her breast. He pulled down her dress to reveal the light pink bra Connie had given her. It was a little too big for her breasts. Clemenza skillfully unfastened it as if he’d done this a thousand times before. Sara wondered if he cheated regularly on his wife or if he and his wife just had an active sex life. Clemenza licked her nipple and made circles in it with his tongue. Sara moaned loudly as he continued this then began to suckle on her nipple. Her hand gripped the back of his head. “Clemenza,” she moaned as he kissed down her breasts. He smiled up at her and winked before continuing his assault, licking her belly button like it had honey in it. She screamed in pleasure, unable to keep quiet. “Your wife must be one happy woman,” said Sara, making Clemenza laugh aloud. “I try to keep her happy, Sara,” he managed to say through his laughter. Then he licked her clit, sticking his tongue deep inside her. Sara moaned in pleasure. She could feel she was close to climaxing. “I’m going to cum, Clemenza!” she said. Clemenza replied, “Cum for me then, Serita!” Sara screamed as her back arched in orgasm. Then she fell back into the pillow, exhausted. She wanted to fall asleep, but just as her eyelids closed, she remembered Miss Minchin’s warning and her eyes flew open. Clemenza was watching her. “You should sleep. You look exhausted, Tesoro. It isn’t healthy for you to run around when you’re that tired. From now on, no more overworking, OK? You’re not a slave.” Sara replied, “But I have to get back home! Miss Minchin will be furious that I am so late back!” Clemenza raised an eyebrow. “So what, sweetheart? If she throws you out, she’ll have hell to pay and she knows it. Just rest here.” Sara was now fighting sleep. “You don’t understand,” she said groggily, “It is not me I am worried for, it is Becky! If I am gone for more than a day, she’ll put Becky in the workhouse and I’ll never see her again!” Clemenza replied, “No, she won’t. The Don has arranged it so that Becky is seen as your sister, and thus one of us. Also, Miss Minchin has been informed of Becky’s status change. She will not dare do anything to Becky for fear of us, Serita, so go to sleep now.” Sara nodded and fell asleep as Clemenza stroked her face like a lover would.
Sara woke up in a nice warm bed. At first she did not know where she was. Then she looked around and realized she was in the attic. She sat up and saw that nothing was changed. In fact, she could still feel the rock hard mattress underneath her, as if all they’d done was put some sheets and blankets on top of it. She figured they were still trying to convince her to move out. She sighed, wishing they’d understand that she couldn’t leave until she had a more solid foothold in the mafia. After her training was through and she became a permanent part of the Corleones, then she could think about leaving. But for now, she needed to stay here while she was trained. She got up out of bed to find she was wearing a black nightie that was very short and very low cut, making her blush. She then saw several pretty black dresses hanging on hangers. She also saw some shelves by the wall with various undergarments on them. Sara blushed again at seeing her underwear in such plain view. She knew than anyone who came up here would be able to see them, including Sonny whom she planned on bringing up here to sleep with. She had to remedy that immediately. She still had some remnants of a proper young lady, after all. She was not a harlot. She wondered who had done all this as she opened an old trunk to see several books. She lifted the books and gasped to see Emily lying there, a huge crack in her head. Sara lifted Emily out and gently ran her finger along the crack. Suddenly she cut herself and blood trickled down the doll’s porcelain face. Sara ignored the bleeding and picked Emily up in her arms, wishing she had glue to fix her. The crack was very unsightly, like a huge scar. It was too long to cover up with any sort of bandage and Emily’s hair did not conceal it either. Sara sat Emily on the bed as she contemplated what to do. She then put the underclothes in the trunk and put the books on the shelves. As she was about to get dressed, there was a knock on the door. Sara stopped. Nobody knocked on this door except for Becky and she was asleep in the room next door. Sara supposed that Lottie or Emerngarde might knock, but they never came up when Sara was in the attic. Sara looked outside and noted it was dark outside. She wondered how long she had been asleep. As she was wondering this, the knock sounded again. “Who is it?” she asked, hoping that it was Sonny. She missed him very much. A feminine voice dashed her hopes, saying, “It’s Emerngarde, Sara.” Sara put a smile on her face although she was extremely disappointed that it was not Sonny. She then walked over and opened the door. “Hello, Ermie!” she said cheerfully. Ermie looked around in awe of the changed room even though not many things had been added. “Sara, where did you get these nice things?” Sara replied, “I suppose the family gave them to me. They know I’ve been going around without proper clothing and don’t like it.” Sara shrugged. She did not want to tell Ermie what she had done to earn the family’s attention. Ermie was so innocent that Sara vowed she would never know anything of Sara’s real life. She certainly would never know of the joy Sara was beginning to find in murder, or the way she liked getting spattered in blood. It was almost too much for Sara’s psyche to handle; it would shatter Ermie’s sanity if such things were ever revealed. Sara decided instead to make up a fantasy life and pretend it was real. Ermie asked, “What family?” Sara replied, “The family I met when I fainted from hunger some months ago. The son of the family found me and took me in. When his family learned how I was made to live here, they were so aghast that they decided to adopt me. But Miss Minchin won’t let them. She’s going to court to keep me because they won’t back down. So I suppose until they get custody of me, they are providing for me as best they can without attracting Miss Minchin’s attention.” Ermengarde gasped in awe of the story, just like Sara knew she would. Sara continued, “The man who rescued me is very handsome. His name is Sonny and he and I are in love.” Ermie was by this time sitting on the bed, listening raptly to Sara talk.
Sara spoke for hours, making up the details of her life as she went along. She barely even noticed the passage of time as she wove her web of lies. For a little while, she felt as if she were a princess again, telling marvelous stories of love and adventure. She had not told such stories since her papa died. She didn’t even notice as Becky came in and sat by Ermie, although this ought to have been a warning that it was getting late for Ermengarde to be out of bed. Suddenly there was another knock at the door, snapping Sara out of her fantasy world and quite rudely back into reality. She started in shock when she saw the sun beginning to stream through the skylight. Sara realized that it was morning. Then she looked at Ermie who had fallen asleep listening to Sara. Miss Minchin would be out of her mind with anger when Ermie was found to be here. Sara ignored the knocking and ran over to her friend and gently shook her awake. “Ermie, wake up!” she whispered as loudly as she dared. Ermie woke up. Her blue eyes widened as she slowly realized the situation. “Ermie, you need to go to bed NOW!” Forget about everything else; just get down there as fast as you can!” Ermie nodded and got up as the door opened and a man walked in. Sara jumped back and put her arms over her exposed breasts. The man turned beet red at seeing her so scantily clad. “I’m sorry, miss! I thought you were dressed! “ He then was about to exit the room when Sara stopped him. “Wait a minute! Would you help Ermie get back downstairs without being caught? When you get back, I will be dressed.” The man agreed although Sara could tell he was still startled at having his arm grabbed by a woman in lingerie. He then set his parcels down on a table and escorted Emerngarde out of the room.
As soon as the door was closed, Sara took her nightie off and quickly got dressed in a taffeta dress. Then she put on nice black boots that reached her knees. Then she sat down to wait for the man to return. She then got up and climbed up to the skylight. She wondered if Ram Dass was up in his attic. She opened the skylight and was delighted to see that Ram Dass’ skylight was open too. Hopeful, Sara whistled the low coaxing whistle she used for the sparrows and for Mel. She did this for several minutes until she heard a knock on the door. She knew it was the man so she sighed in resignation, hating to give up. She was about to get down when a sound caught her ear. She turned back around to see Ram Dass standing there. He smiled when he saw her. She grinned back at him. She wanted to run and hug him. She liked him a lot, and she thought he liked her too. She felt her heart pound in her chest as he salaamed her. She felt like he was greeting her as a lover. She salaamed him and said, “Namaste!” She wanted to leap into his arms and press her mouth to his, but she settled for winking at him. He was at first surprised and then he winked back. Encouraged, Sara ran her hands over her breasts and over her feminine hips with an expression that said, “You want this?” Ram Dass nodded and blew Sara a kiss that made her wet. She was about to jump across to him, but then she looked down and saw Paulie standing there, looking up at her with lust in his eyes. She screamed in terror and jumped back down into her attic as the door burst open and the man came in and caught her as she lost her footing and fell. “What happened, Serita?” he asked as she clung to him in fear. “I saw Paulie down there, watching me! He had such a frightening look on his face, just like in the Corleone’s house!” The man patted her back. “He was supposed to stay away from you, Principessa. In fact, his finger’s been cut off by the Don because of what he did to you. If he ever goes within five feet of you, I don’t even know the punishment he’ll get. I’m surprised the Don let him live, to be honest. Rats like him don’t deserve life.” Sara nodded, still shaken. But she took a deep breath and composed herself, not letting her fear and discomfort show. She had to be tough if she was going to be in the mafia, and that started now. This was not pretending to be a princess, but it was damn near it. She could not whine or cry in the face of adversity like any other girl would. She was a woman now, not a little girl. She was the unconquerable Sara once again as the man unpacked the parcel to reveal food. “Here, this is your breakfast and Becky’s. I was sent up here to make sure you ate before your day began. My name is Vinny, by the way.” Sara waited patiently as he set the food out. “Sorry if it’s kind of cold now. It was hot when I first came up here,” said Vinny. When he was done, he stepped back and motioned for Sara to eat. “Dig in, Principessa,” he said. Sara nodded and knelt down at the table. Vinny said, “Sorry for not having any chairs, Principessa.” Sara replied, “That’s all right. In India my papa and I sat on cushions around the table. If someone were to cut the legs off of this table and off of the footstool, it might work though there would need to be an additional cushion for Becky and others to sit on. Ideally I would like to be able to entertain guests up here with Indian food. Is there a way for that to happen?” Vinny replied, “I’ll look into that. For now though, there is an Indian restaurant that just got set up over on Mott street. I bet you could convince Clemenza to take you there for lunch.” Sara became beside herself with joy at the prospect of eating Indian food again, “It’ll almost be like I’m back home!” she told Vinny as she began to eat the cold eggs, not noticing the temperature. She was so used to eating scraps of food that it was a pure delight to eat mouthfuls of rich eggs, even if they were cold. She scarfed down the whole meal in under a minute, forgetting to be polite. When she was finished Vinny was smiling at her in delight. She smiled back at him. “Thank you for the food,” she said warmly. “No problem, Principessa. Just seeing you eat like that is thanks enough. It makes me feel good to help you.” Sara understood completely and stood up after cleaning her face with a napkin. “One of these days I’m going to have to bathe properly. It is not all right for me to go around like this. I will get an infection before too long if I don’t get to wash myself.” Vinny frowned in concern. “Hey, don’t worry about that, Principessa. I’ll make sure you get a bath as soon as possible.” Sara nodded as she followed him out of the attic and down the stairs. When they were outside, Paulie was gone and Clemenza was waiting for her.
“Hey, Serita. How was your breakfast?” Sara replied, “It was delicious, Clemenza! So where are we going first today?” Clemenza replied, “We’re going over to Fifth Avenue. I thought I’d let you try something a little more challenging today. You see, some business are fronts for rackets.” He then handed her a wallet. Sara opened it to see it had some cash in it. “That’s the money from the wallet you stole. You’ll need it to bribe the racket owner. If he likes you, that is. If you can get him to respect you, you can buy him out. But sometimes they won’t respect you and you’ll have to get rough with them. But always try to buy them out first. If you hurt the owner, you won’t get as big of a payout each week.” Sara nodded. She walked closely to Clemenza. He was like an uncle to her. “Hey Uncle, for dinner tonight let’s go to that Indian restaurant on Mott.” Clemenza replied, “Okay. That sounds interesting.” Sara could tell he did not like the idea very much, but that he was humoring her. “Don’t worry, Indian food is delicious! Trust me, I was raised in Delhi!” Clemenza’s mouth nearly fell open at this revelation. “You were born in India?” he asked. Sara answered, “Yes, Uncle Clemenza. I was born to my mama who died in childbirth and my papa who was a captain in Her Majesty’s army. I was seven when I came to live in London at Miss Minchin’s school. When I was ten, my papa died of jungle fever and I became a pauper. He had lost all his money investing in false diamond mines. His friend tricked him and then ran away, leaving my papa penniless and me with a huge debt to pay off.” Clemenza was speechless for a few moments, then he said, “I’m sorry you had to go through all that shit, kid. I’m surprised you’re doing as well as you are. Most people would just give up in that sort of situation. But you’re doing the best you can to survive and even take care of your friend. You’ve got moxie, kid. The boss was right in letting you join the family.” Sara smiled as Clemenza then hugged her. When he let her go a few moments later, Sara said, “So when is Sonny going to come along? I miss him very much. Besides, I want to teach him the new sex moves you taught me.” Clemenza blushed hotly as he said, “Sonny is out of town for the rest of the summer. The Don has decided that Sonny would be a bad influence during your training. He’ll come back after your training is finished. If you’re good, I’ll teach you even more sex moves, ones that will make Sonny go out of his mind for you.” He winked at her as she froze in horror. She wanted to cry as the words sunk in and her heart shattered. She missed Sonny so much that she could not imagine even another day without him, let alone two months. Her lip quivered and she shook with the effort it took not to break down and burst into tears.
She sighed deeply, pushing all negative feelings into the back of her mind. Then she pasted a smile on her face. Then she winked at Clemenza and said in a silky voice, “That sounds fun.” Clemenza said, “Serita, I’m sorry about Sonny, but the last thing you need during your training is his influence. You can’t go around randomly shooting Tattaglias like you were with him. If it makes you feel any better, he was just as upset when the don told him to go to New Jersey for the summer as you are now. Besides, you’ll get over it in a few days or so.” Sara was tempted to lie, but she instead decided to be honest. “Frankly, I feel like I’ll never recover from this. I know that’s odd to be so upset over a boy I just met a few months ago, but I like him a lot. Besides, he is really hot! But I do understand why he had to leave. He is impulsive to the point of being dangerous and I do not want to become that. I would prefer it if he were a little more grounded, but I suppose I’ll take what I can.” Clemenza hugged her again and said, “You’re a smart girl, Serita. You’ve got a good mix of both smarts and moxie and at such a young age too. Thirteen year old girls are not usually so brave or so intelligent. Most girls your age are in school, not thinking beyond their friends and that dreamy boy in their class. You’re amazing to be such an adult.” Sara said, “I’ve been adult for years now. I first started growing up when I was six years old. That’s when I made the manservants in my house touch me in between my legs.” Clemenza’s brown eyes widened in shock at this statement. Sara smiled. “Sorry I keep shocking you, Clemenza,” she said in a saucy tone, causing Clemenza to burst out laughing. He said, “Here we are, Sweetie. Go on in there and kick some ass!” Sara made sure nobody was looking and then reached up and kissed Clemenza on the mouth as her hands rested on his ass. Then she walked into the hotel, leaving him blushing hotly.
Sara walked into the lobby, her hand on her gun. She was surprised to not see Tattaglias swarming the place. In fact, there was not another mobster in sight. The whole place was dead and that alone made Sara uneasy. She knew this was highly abnormal for there to be nobody here. She slowly put her gun back in her pocket as she crept behind the counter and opened the office door. A man was sitting at the desk, obviously occupied with his thoughts. “You look like you have something on your mind, sir. Is it something I can help with?” asked Sara. The man looked up and said, “You’re with the Corleones, right?” Sara nodded and answered honestly, “That’s right. I joined a few days ago.” The man sighed. “Well, there’s these guys upstairs that won’t pay rent and won’t leave. If you could get them out of here, I would be willing to give you some of my income each week.” Sara was delighted at this, but hid her feelings behind a slight smile. “I’ll do it, sir,” she said calmly. The man smiled at her as she left the room and went towards the doors that led to the stairs. She wondered what the two other doors led to, but she decided there wasn’t time right now to explore. She would do that later. For now, she climbed the stairs until she reached the second floor. She could hear laughter from one of the rooms. She flung the door open, her gun out and ready. She saw there were several people there, all very poorly dressed and filthy. She could tell they lived on the street, just like she almost had. If Miss Minchin had not allowed her to stay at the school, she would be in the exact same situation as these people. And who was to say she would not try to stay in a nice hotel too? She suddenly had a moral dilemma on her hands. On the one hand these people were standing between her and the owner’s loyalty to the Corleones. But on the other hand, they were human beings who were in a similar situation to hers. Hers had just turned out differently. She had no right to judge these people. She certainly had no right to harm them because they were trying their best to survive. She sighed and wondered whether it would be best to just go down and beat the crap out of the owner. She pushed that thought out of her head, knowing that she couldn’t. She had to kick these people out, no matter how hard it was or how much it hurt her. She sighed and pointed her gun and fired, shooting the wall. “Get the fuck out of here!” she yelled at the people, almost not hearing herself. They looked at her and one of them went over and punched her, making her lip stream blood. She punched back again and again until the man stopped moving. “Who’s next?!?” she asked in a shrill voice. The people swarmed her and it was all she could do to stay alive for the few moments it took for her to get her gun out and start shooting. Soon all the people in the room were dead. Tears streamed down her bruised face as she fell to her knees and pointed the gun at her own head. She shook as her finger reached the trigger. “Papa, I’ll see you soon,” she said although she barely believed it. If there was such a thing as heaven, she would never be allowed in. She had committed more sins in one week than most people committed in their entire lives. But she didn’t believe in sins. She didn’t even believe in God anymore. She supposed that made it easier for her to murder people. She sat there for several minutes with the gun raised to her temple and her finger on the trigger before realizing she couldn’t do it. She could not kill herself. She put the gun away, knowing it was useless to try any longer. She felt like a coward for not having the balls to do it. What was she so afraid of? She didn’t believe in Hell. Death was nothing she was unfamiliar with either. She sighed and stood up. Then she walked out the door to look for the racket Clemenza had told her about.
After she reached the third floor, Sara stopped short at seeing a Tattaglia guarding the door. “What are you lookin’ at, bitch?” he asked in a menacing voice. Sara sighed and said, “At a man who pissed himself the minute he saw me. What are you all so afraid of? The Corleones kill people all the time yet you don’t cower whenever Clemenza or Sonny walk into the room. Why am I so different? Is it just because I am a young woman? Are you scared I’m gonna bleed all over you during my menses or something?” she said the last part with a sassy smile. The man growled at her and lunged. Sara dodged and shot him in the forehead. Then she walked through the doors into a gambling joint. She put her gun away and acted like she hadn’t just killed somebody as she passed other Tattaglias. They watched her with suspicion but did not hurt her as she walked over to the owner. “Hey, mister,” she said with a smile. The owner smiled back at her and asked, “Hey princess, that’s quite the shiner. You been out fighting?” Sara replied, “Just those guys downstairs.” The owner said, “Finally someone got rid of those freeloading hobos! They were really driving away business as you can see. But they got you pretty bad. You should see a doctor.” Sara said, “Before I do that, how much would it take to buy you out?” Sara took out her money. The man nodded and said, “Princess, it’s your lucky day. I accept.” He took the money. Sara said, “That was easy. All I had to do was beat up some hobos!” she laughed, trying to pretend she hadn’t just murdered innocent people. The racket owner looked at her with pity and put a hand on her shoulder. “Princess, it’s okay. Those guys were scumbags. I mean look at what they did to a little girl!” Sara stopped when he called her a little girl. “I am not a little girl, mister,” she said icily as she resisted the urge to make him touch her like she had done to Clemenza. The man tried to apologize but Sara would hear none of it as she walked out of the room and down the stairs to the lobby. She walked into the owner’s office. “I’ve done what you asked,” she said hollowly. The man jumped when he saw her face. “I’m so sorry, sweetie!” he said as he gave her some money. Sara glared at him and then walked outside to where Clemenza was waiting for her. Clemenza asked, “Serita, what the fuck happened in there?” Sara replied, “I got beat up by a bunch of hobos, Clemenza. I was trying to kick them out for the owner. I ended up killing them to survive.” Sara was shivering despite the spring heat. Clemenza said, “Jesus Christ, you need to be seen by the doctor right now! Sit over here, Serita.” Clemenza guided her to a nearby bench. She collapsed onto it and began to go unconscious. “Stay with me, miele,” he said. “It’s dark,” she told him as everything around her dimmed. Clemenza was alarmed at this and motioned for a man to come over. When he did, Clemenza said, “Vittorio, go get the fucking doctor! Serita’s hurt bad.” Vittorio nodded as he ran off, got into a sort of carriage without horses, and sped off.
The doctor arrived several minutes later. Sara was by that time struggling to keep awake. The doctor ran over to her. “Serita, what the fuck happened?” Sara told the doctor what had happened to her. The doctor cursed and said, “I worry that you have a brain injury, sweetie. You need to stay lying down until it heals. I’m sorry this had to happen during your training. You were doing really well. In fact, I was going to see you later this week for a routine physical.” Sara was barely able to focus enough to hear the doctor, but she nodded anyway. She was then lifted into Vittorio’s arms. Her head lolled against his shoulder as he walked over to the car and opened the door. He lay her down on the seats and kissed her forehead before closing the door and getting into the front seat. Clemenza was already in the other front seat. Sara gasped as he started the car. Her green eyes widened when the car began to move. Vittorio looked back at her and said, “It’s okay, Serita. You’ll get used to cars very soon.” Sara nodded as the movement of the car lulled her to sleep.
When she woke up, Sara was in the attic again. She sighed and tried to get up only to be stopped by a man she only vaguely remembered. “Stay in bed, Serita. You are still hurt,” he said softly. Sara lay back down and looked around to see it was nighttime. The attic was very dark even in the summer. “What happened? The last thing I remember is getting the crap beaten out of me,” she said, Vittorio said, “You bought out the gambling racket and then came outside. Clemenza then called for the doctor who said you needed to be in bed for a while. Then you passed out and we brought you here.” Sara nodded. “Go back to sleep, Principessa. The more you sleep, the sooner you’ll be able to get back to your training. Clemenza should be up here tomorrow.” Sara wanted to go to sleep but something tugged at her mind. “What about my chores? Becky cannot be left to do them alone any longer,” she said. Vittorio replied, “That’s all covered. We’ve got some guys over here doing your chores for you. We’ve even got a guy who can speak French helping with the lessons.” Sara sighed. She supposed she had no choice in the matter. She would miss the little children, but she had to focus on getting better. She also knew that the mafia was doing its best to help her. “Grazie, Vittorio,” she said with a smile. “Di niente, Principessa,” he replied. She closed her eyes and surrendered to sleep.
Sara woke up to someone calling her name. She sat up and realized she was not in bed or even in the attic. She was outside in a field of grass. The sun was shining on her face and it was delightfully warm. In fact she had never been quite so warm since she was in India. “Where am I?” she asked, sure she could not be in her homeland. A man’s voice said, “You are home, Sara.” Sara looked and saw a blue man smiling at her. “Prince Rama?!” she asked in shock. The man nodded and offered his hand. She took it and stood up to find she was in a lovely green sari that she was sure matched her eyes. Her wrists had gold bangles on them and her belly button was pierced and had an emerald in it. She also realized her breasts were larger and she was taller. She twirled in delight at the fact that she now had a body that matched her adult mind. She then looked at Rama who said, “You’ve been suffering a long time, Sara. You deserve happiness. You’ve always been kind and generous, even in the darkest times. You are a true princess, and the only one fit to live at my side.” Sara ran over to him and kissed him. He kissed back as his hands roamed over her body. “My Sara, I have waited such a long time for this,” he murmured. He then kissed down her throat. Sara ran her jeweled hands through his long black hair. He licked her collarbone which was no longer sticking out so much. He ran his hands over her breasts, making her wet. “Rama!” she moaned as his mouth reached her breasts and suckled them. She was surprised when she felt milk come out of them. “Do you like it, Sara? Every dream is a reality in Nirvana, no? You have long wished for a child, so this is the closest thing until we make one.” He winked at her. She blushed hotly. “It does feel sexy,” she admitted as he drank greedily. The sucking sounds made her moan in desire. Then he kissed down her belly just like Clemenza had. “Soon, my love, our baby will be inside here,” he said lovingly. She grinned in delight, wanting with all her mind to have a child with this man. “Will conception really be so easy?” she asked. Rama nodded and replied, “My lovely Sara, anything you wish for will come true now. If you want a child, then you will conceive. It’s as simple as that.” Sara believed him completely. Anything was possible here in her homeland. She could not believe she had made it into Nirvana without a single reincarnation, though. “Not many do, Sara. But when you were seven, it was decided that when you died you would be brought into this world,” Rama said in answer to her thoughts as he licked her navel. Sara did not want to doubt, but she had to ask, “Is this the same as Heaven?” Rama shook his head. “No, Sara. Heaven is not real. There is no such thing as God, and there is no such thing as Hell. Those who deserve it simply pass into oblivion, or if they are worthy of it, are reincarnated. Some people do such awful things that they cannot be reincarnated. They do not deserve to be rewarded with another life.” Sara nodded and then nearly screamed in pleasure as he reached her clit. “Then what is this?” she asked. Rama answered, “This, Sara, is another world entirely. This world was originally very similar to your own Terra. With extensive terraforming, it was made to be paradisiacal. But my people wanted to help you humans, so we watched your species for people like you, who were kind and benevolent. Then when they died, we transported them to this world, each in their own little sphere that would give them anything they wished. And your people, the people in India, called this Nirvana.” Sara screamed as she orgasmed. Then she lay back, sated. Learning to her was almost as much of an aphrodisiac as anything else.
Rama climbed on top of her. Sara opened her legs wide to allow him better access. She did not have to give him permission; he already knew what she wanted. Still, she tensed as he was about to break her hymen. She was nervous and frightened at the same time. “Be not afraid, Sara. I will not harm you,” he said sweetly. She relaxed and smiled at him. He smiled back and then thrust into her. Surprisingly, she felt no pain, but a sweet sensation that made her aroused again. “There is no pain here, Sara,” said Rama as he increased his pace. Sara moaned as she was now highly aroused. “Sara, do you want a boy or a girl?” he asked into her ear. Sara said, “I want a girl!” Rama replied, “She will be beautiful, Sara.” Sara grinned, sure she would get her wish. A few minutes later, he came inside her. She cummed a moment later. Then everything disappeared as she began to wake up.
Sara opened her eyes and saw she was back in the attic, with the sun shining brightly through the skylight. “What a dream,” she thought to herself as the door opened and Vito walked in. She smiled at him. “Hello, Vito!” she said brightly. He smiled back at her and said, “Hey, Serita. Did you sleep well?” Sara nodded and had to fight the urge to sit up. “I slept very well, Vito,” she said, sitting up on her elbows. Vito immediately walked over and helped her to sit up propped against pillows. “Grazie,” said Sara as she looked him up and down with lustful eyes. Her dream had made her very hungry for sex. Without knowing she was going to do it, she grabbed Vito’s shirt and pulled him into a kiss. He pulled back. “Serita, I told you, I will not sleep with you until you are well enough to consent. You’re injured; sex is the last thing you should be thinking of.” Sara would not let go of his shirt. “Then can’t we just kiss? I need this, Vito!” Vito sighed and said, “All right, Serita. You want to make out? But no touching below the belt, for either of us. Do you understand?” Sara replied, “Yes, Vito. I understand.” She let go of his shirt and put her hands on his chest. He smiled and kissed her. She kissed back as he pulled her onto his lap. She spread her legs so that they wrapped around his hips. Her hands went under his shirt as she deepened the kiss.
A while later, Sara was kissing Vito when suddenly her stomach growled loudly. As Vito broke the kiss, there was a knock at the door. “Principessa, it’s Vinny. I’ve brought your lunch. Can I come in?” Vito gently set her back in bed as she replied, “Come in, Vinny.” The door opened and Vinny came in with little boxes. “Here, I talked to the owners of that Indian place I told you about and told them that you are from India. They made this stuff for you.” Sara was beside herself in joy as the food was set out. She was even more delighted when she realized that all her favorite foods were there. “How did they know my favorites?” she asked. Vinny shrugged. “I have no clue, Principessa. This is what they gave me for you. I have no idea what any of this stuff is.” Sara was determined to go to the restaurant and learn how they knew her favorite foods, but for now she began to eat the food in ravenous bites, trying her best to still be polite and sweet for Vito’s sake. She liked him a lot. She wondered if she would ever go all the way with him. She wanted to, but at the same time she knew it would be unfair to Sonny to do that. It was bad even to be kissing another man, especially Sonny’s father. She knew it was wrong, but until Sonny got back she simply didn’t care. She had needs that needed to be sated and Sonny was not here to do that. She knew it wasn’t his fault, but still she could not go without until he got back. As she thought and ate, she looked around at the changed room. The table had its legs cut off and was sitting on a big pillow. There were soft cushions around it and a soft blue rug underneath. The fireplace was polished and would be useable in the winter. Emily was the mantelpiece. Sara saw that she had been repaired and looked better than she had in years. The whole room looked like it had been made over to be used by a parlor boarder. She smiled at Vito and asked, “Who did all this? My dingy old attic is now similar to the suite of rooms I had when my Papa was alive.” Vito smiled and replied, “You couldn’t be allowed to live in such conditions anymore, so we improved them.” Sara said. “Thank you for that, Vito. I don’t know how long I would have been able to make it with my attic as it was. I mean it was so bad that when I reached it after a long hard day, it would bring me down even lower just seeing it.” Vito said, “I’m glad I was able to help. Serita. You’re a good girl and shouldn’t have to live like you were.” Sara shrugged and said, “Becky lived like that for much longer than I did. She got here about the same time as me and has been living like this ever since.” Vinny said, “Don’t you worry about her. When you get better, we’ll show you what we did to her room. It’s almost as nice as this one. In fact, she should be up here for lunch any minute.” Sara looked at him quizzically. Becky had never eaten lunch or any meal upstairs. What food she got was always given to her in the kitchen. Eating up here was almost like a special pupil would do, like Sara used to do every now and then when she was still rich. Surely Miss Minchin would not allow Becky such privileges. Sara supposed Miss Minchin had no choice when it came to the attic’s new look or Sara’s convalescence as she would see it. Sara was sure Miss Minchin thought she was pretending to be sick to get attention. But Sara realized she no longer gave a fuck what Miss Minchin thought of her. Miss Minchin was, in short, a bitch. Sara knew that she had to have gone through some awful shit to be so cruel and hard hearted but that did not excuse any of her behavior. It was not okay to starve a couple of vulnerable girls while forcing them to work like slaves for little to no money. If the authorities found out, Miss Minchin would be thrown in prison. The only thing that stopped Sara from prosecuting Miss Minchin with the full power of the mafia was that it was unfair to the other girls. They had not done anything wrong and did not deserve to be forced out of the only school they knew. Even Lavinia was innocent to a point. And besides, if she got Miss Minchin arrested and put in jail, she would never see Emerngarde or Lottie again. So even though it was selfish, she decided to allow Miss Minchin to remain headmistress. But that didn’t mean that she would allow herself or any of her friends to be mistreated any longer. Suddenly the door opened, interrupting Sara’s thoughts. Becky walked in and ran over to Sara. “Miss Sara, you’re awake! How are you feeling?” Sara replied, “I am feeling better, Becky. Is that a new dress?” Becky stepped back to show off a new black velvet dress with a clean white pinafore. She was beginning to look like a maid from a wealthy household. Becky was even starting to grow breasts. Sara wanted to say something about them but knew it was improper to do so in front of men. Becky didn’t seem to mind as she asked, “Godfather, who is the blonde man Sara told me about?” Sara blushed hotly as Vito replied, “That’s Tom. Why do you ask, Becky?” Becky replied honestly, “Well, Miss Sara said that she and he were kissing and I wondered why he never comes up here.” Sara knew she oughtn’t to have read those romance novels to Becky. She wanted to hide under the covers but knew that would be too obvious, so she just sat there trying not to look embarrassed. Vito looked at Sara in a moment of shock and then he looked back at Becky and replied, “Tom is very busy right now, Becky. He is in New Jersey on important business along with Sonny.” Sara was surprised that Vito had disclosed Sonny’s location so easily, but she supposed he knew she would not be allowed to go to New Jersey anyway so it was safe to tell her. She yawned, tired suddenly. Vito smiled at her and said, “Go to sleep, Serita.” Sara did not want to go to sleep. “I want to stay with you three,” she whined in protest. She tried her hardest to stay awake, but she knew she was losing as the room began to spin. “The room is spinning,” she murmured as she fainted.
Sara woke up in the attic a few days later. Vito was sitting by her. She smiled at him and said cheerfully, “Hey, Vito!” Vito smiled and kissed her. “Hello, Serita. Are you feeling better? You worried us when you fainted.” Sara replied, “I’m not dizzy anymore. I think there was something in the food. Last time I did that, it was also just after I ate.” Vito sighed and said, “You think someone is drugging your food?” Sara nodded. “Maybe Paulie? He seems to have a grudge against me. In fact, the morning before I got beaten up, I saw him out the skylight, watching me. He frightens me, Vito.” Vito nodded. “I’ve had many reports of him skulking around the school. I’ve sent him to a different city for the summer. After that, we’ll see how he is. But I promise you, Serita, we will protect you. What he did to you is intolerable.” Sara nodded, trusting him completely. She did not know what made her trust him so much. She wondered if she would still trust him of they hadn’t kissed. She was sure that had something to do with it. She wanted more, but she knew it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. She had accepted that fact a while ago. But that he was kissing her as if it were a normal thing gave her hope. She knew he still wanted her. “So has the doctor said when he thinks I’ll be able to go back to my training?” Vito replied, “He said you’re recovering well and should be able to go back in a week or so.” Sara was giddy at the prospect of getting out of bed. “I will be glad to get out of bed,” she said. Vito ran his hand along her face. “There is a surprise for you once you are recovered,” he said with a grin. Sara said, “Hey Vito, I had a really weird dream the other night.” Vito said, “What was it about?” Sara replied, “I dreamt I was with Prince Rama from the Ramayana. He told me that I was in Nirvana and that I was chosen to live by his side forever and that anything I wanted would happen. Then he and I had sex. I’ve never done that in a dream before.” Vito chuckled and said, “You had a wet dream? I’ve never heard of someone so young having one, but then again I’ve never had anyone so young in the mafia before. Eighteen is usually the minimum age to be an associate, and that’s only if you’re born into a mafia family. Otherwise it takes years to decide to bring an outsider in, especially someone who isn’t Italian. Not many know this, but Tom isn’t Italian either. I suppose that made my decision to bring you in easier. But many don’t like it. They are complaining about a British girl in the mafia. But every time you extort a business or kill Tattaglias there are less and less people opposed to your joining us.” Sara said, “I’ve never even heard of a wet dream, not even in the romance novels I read. Though I suppose reading those is how I know about what sex is. I want to have another wet dream. That one was fun!” Vito laughed. “I suppose sex is fun when you’re young enough to enjoy it. Sonny’s going to have his hands full when he gets back, isn’t he?” Sara could sense Vito was unhappy about that. “Vito, I will always be with you. Until the day I marry Sonny or someone else, I will never stop kissing you,” she said honestly. Vito smiled at her and then leaned over and kissed her. She kissed back as she pulled herself into his lap. She put his hands on her breasts. He ran the pad of his thumb along her nipple over and over again, his touch burning her through the thin fabric of her nightie. She groaned in pleasure as her nipple hardened at his touch. She moved so that one of his knees was in between her legs. She ground against it, making herself even more aroused. She suddenly had the urge to see his chest in the light. With that intention, she began to unbutton his shirt. “What are you doing, Serita?” he asked in an amused voice. “I want to see your chest. I’ve never seen a man’s chest naked before and I want to know what it looks like.” Vito smiled and sat back, letting her undo his shirt buttons. Sara made sure to rub her hand against his chest as she went, making him moan softly. A few minutes later, she finished and flung his shirt open to see a well-muscled chest. She was surprised that a man of his age had such a chest. Just looking at it made her wet. She ran her hands along his chest and then suddenly felt quite tired. She yawned reluctantly. Vito said, “You’re exhausted, Serita. I’m sorry, I allowed you to overexert yourself.” Sara lay her head on Vito’s bare chest, enjoying the feeling of being against a male body. She drifted off to sleep as he ran his hands along her side.
A few weeks later, Sara was sitting in the attic reading when the door opened and Clemenza came in. “Get up, kid,” he said. Sara put her book down and said, “But Clemenza, the doctor hasn’t said I can go back yet. What’s going on?” Clemenza tossed her a dress. “What’s going on is that you need to learn to fight. If you’re gonna be in the mafia, you have to know how to defend yourself.” Sara nodded and stripped her nightie off as she got out of bed. Clemenza handed her a bra and panties. She put them on, wondering why he was in such a hurry. “What’s the rush?” she asked. Clemenza replied, “We have to hurry so we can get you back in time for the doctor to come here and clear you for duty. I don’t want him or the don to know that I went behind their backs like this. Besides, when you’re cleared, you’re not going back with me. You’re going to study under the Don for the next month. He’s taken a special liking to you and thinks you’re smart enough to learn the inner workings of this family.” Sara was taken aback. “Wait, I’m going to spend the next month in Vito’s office?” Clemenza nodded. Sara was speechless. She would get to sleep with Vito sooner than she had thought. She wanted to jump up and down in excitement but held herself back as she put the dress on and then donned some nice boots. Clemenza led her down the stairs and through the school to the front door. Sara stopped. “Clemenza, I’m not supposed to use this door. I’m supposed to use the servant’s entrance in the kitchen. Miss Minchin will be furious if she finds out I used the front door like a pupil.” Clemenza rolled his eyes. “Serita, you are not a servant anymore. You do not have to use the servant’s entrance. And besides, how will Miss Minchin even find out about this? It’s not like they have cameras in this century. Also, we need to go out this entrance because the other entrance is more heavily guarded. If we go this way, we’re less likely to be seen.” Sara sighed heavily before opening the front door and walking through, feeling as though she had just committed a crime. Clemenza followed her. “See, that wasn’t that bad, was it? You’ve gotta push for yourself here.” Sara admitted, “I feel like I just broke a taboo, one worse than having sexual attraction to multiple men or kissing a married one. Those I can deal with. But this is like I did something really wrong.” Clemenza said, “It’s just a door, Serita. Forgive me for not being raised in the 19th century, but I really don’t understand why you’re so upset over using the wrong door. It’s not like the door’s gonna come after you or nothing. And since nobody saw you, neither will Miss Minchin.” Sara sighed and said, “I suppose you’re right, Clemenza. I oughtn’t to get so upset over this. I mean it is just a door. And who cares what the fuck Miss Minchin thinks? She’s a bitch anyway! And Lavinia, she’s a bitch too!” Clemenza smiled at her as they walked. “That’s the spirit, Serita! Now be careful when we get to the door, which has a bunch of guards around it. They wanted to make sure only certain people were allowed through. It’s sure fucked up traffic though. I mean before you came along that was a busy road. But now, we’ve blocked off traffic and forced the city’s government to make a new road that doesn’t run near the door. It’s a good thing the Don has those political connections, because they made things a hell of a lot easier. What normally would have taken months only took a few weeks. It was amazing how quick that was. We didn’t even have to kill anybody.” Sara listened closely to Clemenza as they walked. When they reached the door, Sara walked forward. “Hey, guys!” she said cheerfully. They smiled at her and waved. “Hey, Serita,” they all replied. Sara walked up to the door. But as she grabbed the doorknob, someone stopped her. “Where do you think you’re going, Principessa?” Sara turned to see Vinny standing there. “Vinny! They put you on guard duty?” Vinny replied, “Actually, Principessa, that’s my regular job anyway. So I decided that it might be more fun to guard a time door. I asked for this position.” Sara pretended to be absorbed in what he was saying, so she turned to face him. “So how long have you been in the family, Vinny? You seem like a veteran.” Vinny said, “Oh, I’ve been with the Corleones for about twenty years now.” Sara for a moment was truly impressed. Then she gasped in fake awe as she grabbed the doorknob behind her back. She turned it only to find it was locked. “Why is this door locked?” she asked in a charming tone. The men shrugged. “it’s never locked before, Principessa. Then again, nobody has tried to sneak through it before. Maybe it’s like the sword in the stone or something; it detects dishonesty.” Sara burst into laughter at Vinny’s failed attempt to sound smart by using King Arthur myths in conversation. She supposed he was doing it because he knew she was English, but it was still embarrassing. “Vinny, tesoro, King Arthur was not completely honest either. Remember Gwenivere? King Arthur never told her he had been married to another woman, or that he had a son by her.” Vinny blushed beet red as the other men laughed. “Well, but he pulled the sword out before all of that right?” Sara shook her head. “The sword in the stone detected worthiness, not honesty. Those things didn’t necessarily go together back in the Dark Ages. Do more research before you embarrass yourself again, OK? Or stick to Italian myths which you surely know.” Then Sara turned back to the door. “Where the fuck are you going, Serita?” asked another man. “I’m going to that Indian place on Mott,” she lied. The men pulled her away from the door. “No you ain’t. The doctor has not cleared you to go anywhere. Get back in bed.” Sara said, “Hey, I will go through that door! Whether or not I have to go through you guys is up to you.” The men raised eyebrows, seemingly sure she was harmless. “What could you do to us, Principessa? You’re just a little girl!” Sara was immediately offended. “Don’t call me a little girl if you want to live. You have no idea what I am capable of. I have killed many Tattaglias already.” The men laughed. Vinny said, “Miele, that is impressive but the Tattaglias are easy kills. They are the weakest of the five families. We are not nearly so easy to beat.” Sara lunged at Vinny and threw a punch at his nose, breaking it badly. “You messed with the wrong little girl, you fuck!” she screamed in fury. Clemenza said, “Good job, Serita! Now punch him again before he gets up.” Vinny dodged and lunged at her. Sara instinctively put her hands up to ward off the blow. “Nice blocking!” said Clemenza. Sara realized that these were the people Clemenza had wanted her to fight. He probably hadn’t planned on taking her through the door at all. She sighed and then proceeded to fight Vinny. When she had knocked him out, the others backed away. Sara looked to Clemenza who said, “Nice job. Don’t worry about the others. They know now not to mess with you” Sara nodded and opened the door. “Shall we?” Clemenza smiled at her and followed her through the door into 1946 New York.
Sara said, “So are we going to that Indian place now that I beat up Vinny?” Clemenza sighed and answered, “Serita, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I thought it would be more realistic if you didn’t know ahead of time who you were fighting. Besides, I knew you wouldn’t go with me if I told you that I wanted you to fight Vinny.” Sara felt hurt that Clemenza would lie to her like that, but she understood the reasoning behind it. “Next time, I would prefer it if you just told me the truth. This subterfuge is silly and childish especially since we are working for the same family. I know from experience that I cannot trust most people, even if they are with the same family. But I ought to be able to trust at least a few. I need to have some people I can trust not to lie to me, even if lying might be easier. I get that you were trying to teach me I can’t trust anybody when you made me beat Vinny up, but damn it, I want to be able to trust somebody!” Sara felt ready to cry, but refused to let herself be weak. Clemenza said, “Serita, you’ve got it all wrong! You’ve gotta trust people. Most people aren’t monsters like Miss Minchin or Paulie. You can’t go around thinking that you can’t trust nobody cuz then you’ll end up pushing everybody away because you don’t trust them. Here, let me take you somewhere that’ll help you trust people.” Sara was dubious but followed him a few blocks away to a club. “Am I old enough to go in here, Clemenza?” asked Sara. Clemenza replied, “Not legally. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they know you’re one of us.” Sara nodded as she followed him into the bar. Immediately they were stopped by a bouncer. “How old is she?” he asked, motioning to Sara. “She’s a Corleone, Donny,” said Clemenza. Donny seemed uneasy, but he opened the door anyway. Sara walked through the door, and as she did so, she discreetly reached over and patted Donny’s ass. “Thank you,” she whispered, turning so that her breasts were clearly visible to him. Donny turned scarlet. Sara smiled, trying not to giggle as she proceeded into the club.
As soon as Sara was in the club, she looked around in awe. This almost reminded her of a festival back in India with people dancing all around the room. Sara smiled, knowing just how to act. She smiled even wider when she saw a man whom she was sure was Indian. His back was turned to her, but she could tell what he was by his long silky black hair and caramel-colored skin. She wondered if he tasted like caramel. She sauntered over to him, not noticing Clemenza watching her as she grabbed his hips in a possessive motion. She leaned in close, inhaling his male scent which made her dizzy. “Hey, sweetie! Want to dance with me?” she asked in Hindi, her mouth grazing his ear even though she had to stand on her tiptoes to reach. The man’s dark eyes widened in shock as he stood there speechlessly. Sara decided to give him a little more of a push so she pulled his hips so that her breasts pressed into his back. “You know you want this, honey,” she said, still speaking in Hindi. The man finally found his voice and said, “English?” Sara was pulled out of her lustful thoughts by this and she also realized he had an odd accent. “You are not from India?” she asked. The man turned to face her and smiled, making Sara’s heart palpitate. “No. I am Native American. My name is Squanto.” Sara was deeply enchanted by this man, even more so when she learned what he was. “What tribe?” she asked, wanting to hear him talk more with the accent that was making her wet. “I am from the Iroquois tribe. And you are from India?” Sara nodded. “Yes. I was born and raised in Delhi.” Sara felt oddly nervous and shy around this man. She noticed Clemenza watching her and Squanto with an amused expression on his face. Sara then gathered her courage and asked, “Do you want to dance? I think we could teach each other a few moves.” Squanto nodded. “I’d like that.” Sara took her hands off of his hips. “I sure wish they’d have different music here. This music isn’t really the kind you can dance to; at least the dances I know are much faster and livelier than this music. I also wish I had a different dress on. This one isn’t made for dancing.” She sighed as Squanto nodded. “This music is far too slow for my tastes. And I do prefer to go around bare chested.” Sara turned him to face her and ripped his shirt apart so that his chest showed. “There you go. Much better! Now let’s ignore the music and dance! We can pretend we have appropriate clothes on. For example, I am wearing a lovely emerald green sari. My navel is pierced and has a lovely emerald ring in it.” As Squanto described what he was wearing, Sara saw it. She also saw the room shift and change into her bedroom back in India, which she quickly described for Squanto. Squanto’s eyes widened. Sara could tell he knew how to pretend. He threw off his ripped shirt, making Sara gasp in awe at his perfect chest. Just as she was about to lick it to see if it tasted like caramel, a man walked over with an angry look on his face. He backhanded Squanto and then grabbed his ear. “What the fuck did I tell you scum about coming in here without a shirt? Get out of my club before I throw you out! If you ever set foot in here again, I’ll call the police, or even better I’ll call the Corleones!” The man then saw Sara standing there with a horrified expression on her face and said, “Oh, you’re already here. You’re that Corleone whore, right? When you’re done kicking this asshole out, you can wait for me in my office.” Sara tried to explain, “I’m not what you think I am! I-“ the man sighed and said, “Fine, I suppose you want me to pay you first?” He took out some money from his wallet and threw it at Sara. “Pick that up, slowly. I wanna see what I’m getting,” he said. Sara’s fist was immediately in his nose. “The only asshole here is you with your chauvinistic attitude! You think every woman is here for you, don’t you? And when a woman joins the mafia, the only logical explanation is that she’s a whore! Well, you picked the wrong woman to mess with! I’m going to teach you some manners, even if it kills you! This is a favor to all women.” The man let Squanto go and slapped Sara across the face. “You’d better watch your mouth, little bitch! I don’t know what ‘arrangement’ you and the Don have, but you are mine tonight so keep your pretty little mouth shut unless you’re using it to pleasure me, got it?” Sara could not believe this man had just insinuated that she was sleeping with Vito for money! Even though it stung because it was close to the truth, Sara refused to let this man disrespect the don like that. Sara said, “I am nobody’s! I do not belong to any man.” As she said this, she punched him again, this time hitting one of his eyes. She blocked as the man tried to slap her again. She grabbed his wrist and twisted it until it broke with a loud crack. Then she kicked him in between his legs, causing him to fall to the floor in agony. “Don’t go to sleep yet, I’m not through with you!” said Sara in a mocking singsong voice. The man glared at her. She reached down and tried to lift him back up with no success; he was much too heavy for her to lift. Squanto immediately jumped in and helped her. When the man was on his feet again, Sara got an idea that would end the fight in her favor. She walked up to the man who tried not to cringe and reached her hand down between his legs. “What are you doing?” he asked, fear lacing his voice. “Does it still hurt?” she asked in a high pitched voice, pretending to be concerned. The man said, “You kicked my fucking dick, of course it still hurts, idiot!” Sara nearly laughed at the unintentional pun, but restrained herself and began to gently stroke his dick. “How about now?” she asked. The man seemed surprised. “That feels good,” he said, his breath already becoming ragged from arousal. Sara slipped her hand down his pants to get a better grip. “We can’t do this here,” said the man. Sara ignored him as she found his balls with her hand. She squeezed them gently at first, then gradually tightened her grip. “That’s too tight, sweetie. It hurts,” the man complained. “Unfortunately it’s only going to get tighter,” replied Sara brightly. Then she squeezed as hard as she could, causing the man to scream in pain and nearly fall to the floor again. “Hold him up, Squanto! I’m not strong enough to do it myself,” said Sara as she continued to squeeze. Squanto obeyed her. A few long moments later, Sara was rewarded with a loud popping sound from underneath her hand. The man screamed again, but seemed to be fading away. “You’re leaving already?” said Sara, acting disappointed. Squanto laid the man down and gave him a soft kick. “He isn’t going to last much longer,” he said. Sara smiled. Suddenly Clemenza came over to her. “Serita, we gotta get back now! I’m sorry but I lost track of time. The godfather and the doc are probably already up in the attic. Good fight by the way. I should have just brought you here in the first place.” Sara smiled and then went over to Squanto and licked his chest. “I was right. You DO taste like caramel!” said Sara as she and Clemenza left.
When Sara arrived back at the school, she cringed to see Becky standing outside the school, bruises all over her pale face. “Jesus Christ!” said Clemenza as he ran over to her. Becky said, “Miss Sara, the missus knows you used the front door and is waiting for you inside. Also, the Godfather is up in the attic with the doctor.” Sara was surprised that Becky was so calm after being so brutally beaten. Clemenza said, “Serita, you go around back and sneak back up into the attic. I’ll deal with Minchin.” Sara nodded and took Becky’s hand. “Come with me,” she said. Then she led Becky to the servant’s entrance and snuck past the sleeping cook and up to the attic. When she opened the door, the Godfather was sitting on her bed, chatting with the doctor. “Buon giorno, Vito!” said Sara, showing off. Vito looked up and smiled at Sara as she walked into the room. She ran over to Vito and sat by him. She wanted to sit on his lap, but knew that was out of the question when other people were in the room. She was surprised when Vito kissed her forehead. “Buon giorno, Serita,” he said sweetly, his hands around her waist as if they were lovers. Perhaps they were now, Sara thought. She knew what would happen in his office; surely he knew too. Things would be different between them from now on. Sara did not know how this would affect her training or her relationship with Sonny. In fact, she did not know how she would get any training done at all with the man she was having sex with in the same room. She wondered how adults worked that sort of thing out. “What are you thinking, Serita?” asked Vito, his hand reaching up to stroke her face. Sara wanted to tell him the truth, but she looked at the doctor and then back at Vito. “Don’t worry, Serita. He knows,” stated Vito. Sara sighed in relief and said, “I was thinking about the fact that we’re kind of lovers now since we both know what will happen once I am in your office. And I was wondering how the hell I would get any training done when you’re around.” Vito laughed and said, “How did you know you’ll be training in my office?” Sara wanted to lie for Clemenza’s sake, but knew she oughtn’t to lie to her lover. Besides, Vito would find out anyway. Sara answered honestly, “Clemenza told me when he took me to the door to learn to fight. He made me fight Vinny.” Vito frowned and sighed. “I’m sorry Clemenza did that, miele. He will be punished. I can’t believe he went behind my back like that!” Sara tried to placate Vito by reaching up and kissing him. He kissed back with a smile. “Are you trying to placate me, tesora mia?” Sara nodded and said, “I don’t want you to be too mad at Clemenza; he was doing what he thought was right. He knew I needed to learn to defend myself and now I’m less likely to be killed if I get attacked. Besides, it saddens me to see you unhappy, my love.” Vito smiled wider. “It’s hard to believe you are capable of murder when you say such sweet things, Serita. Are you sure this is what you want? You could stay in my office, be a second consigliore. You could work together with Tom and me.” Sara said, “Vito, stop it! I want to do this. I just murdered a man in that nightclub on 5th street! I don’t even know his fucking name but I killed him in cold blood!” Vito said, “Serita, cara, what happened? What did he do to you?” Sara laughed a little and replied, “He called me a cumare. So I popped his balls.” Vito shuddered and nearly recoiled away from Sara. An expression of horror was on his face. “Serita, tell me you are joking! This is a prank, no? You’re fucking with me!” Sara simply moved back and moved her dress so that the blood on it was clearly visible. She noticed it was somewhat pink. Vito put his hand over his mouth and closed his eyes as if trying to clear the image in front of him from his mind. Sara could see tears in his eyes. “Serita, what the fuck made you think that slaughtering an innocent man was acceptable? Please tell me you didn’t know any better, Serita.” Sara was hurt that he wasn’t using endearments anymore. She knew she had done something very wrong and had disappointed him deeply. She tried not to cry, but it was no use as tears streamed down her face. “Vito, innamorato mia, I am so sorry that I made you unhappy. But I don’t understand what I did wrong. All I did was bust some guy’s balls! He was a racist scumbag!” Vito slowly opened his eyes to reveal deep pain. “Serita, how could you not understand? You are covered in another man’s cum! How could that not hurt me? Besides the fact that I despise brutality. If you are to continue as a Corleone, then you cannot go around popping men’s balls like that. If you want to kill someone, do it quickly unless you are told otherwise. Am I clear?” Sara realized that he was trying to forgive her and so she said, “You are crystal clear, my love. I am very sorry. I just want you to love me again!” She then burst into tears. Vito sighed and pulled her into his arms. “Tesora, I never stopped loving you, which is why I was so hurt by this. I see now you never meant any harm. But if you ever do this again, or commit any brutality against an innocent, you will be severely punished. I cannot condone someone so close to me doing such things.” Sara felt horrible. She ought to have known not to do that. “I’m so sorry, Vito. I feel like I shouldn’t even be alive anymore,” she murmured against Vito’s chest. She wanted to die. She didn’t deserve to live after doing such things. She decided that she would end her life that night. For now, she would enjoy what time she had left with Vito. Vito ran his hand along her cheek. “Don’t say such things, Tesoro. You made a mistake; it’s nothing to cry over. Albeit it was a nasty mistake, it was a mistake all the same. I know I’ve made my share of them. How could you have done differently than you did when you didn’t know any better? You had no idea what you were doing was wrong or you wouldn’t have done it. You’re a good and sweet girl despite the fact that you willingly kill people. I love you, Serita. When you talk about dying, it hurts me deeply.” Serita asked, “Then you would be sad if I died tonight?” Vito frowned. Sara could swear she saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes. “Serita, dolce cuore, if you were to die tonight, my heart would shatter and never heal. I would never recover from the loss of you. If would be as if someone had ripped my heart out of my chest. I would go insane with grief and honestly I’m not sure how long it would be before I joined you in death. Please don’t go from me, Serita!” Vito hugged Sara closer than she had ever been hugged since she had last seen her papa. Sara looked up and saw a tear streaming down Vito’s face. “I don’t understand, Vito my love. We’ve only known each other for a month or two and yet you love me so much that my death would cripple you? Why?” Vito sighed and swallowed before replying in a shaky voice, “I don’t know why, Tesoro. I liked you before I met you, but when I saw you something clicked and I fell in love. When you asked me what the point was, it broke my heart. I knew you were thinking of suicide. Tom told me you also thought of suicide after Paulie attacked you. It hurts me that you seem to want to die so badly, although I can’t say I blame you after what you’ve been through.” Sara smiled and hugged Vito back as tight as she could. “I’ve never had anyone care so much whether I lived or died since my papa was alive, Vito. I had gotten used to the concept that nobody would mourn if I died up here which I came close to doing many times. Miss Minchin certainly wouldn’t give a fuck other than she would have to deal with my body. Lavinia would be happy that I was dead. Somehow she has always seen me as her arch rival, even after I was no longer a pupil. Lottie and Emerngarde would forget me in time. They would be sad and cry, but it would be nothing as deep and agonizing as you described, which is sad because they’re the only ones here who care about me at all. I have felt like a pariah for a long time. Thank you for giving a fuck about me, Vito. Thank you for loving me, because truthfully I don’t know how much longer I would have lived without you. If you hadn’t loved me, I would’ve committed suicide tonight.” Vito winced when she said the last part. Sara saw deep pain in his eyes, deeper than earlier when she had told him about popping a man’s balls. “Touch me, Vito. Put your hands on me,” she said, wanting physical comfort. Vito smiled at her and reached one of his hands down to rub up and down her thigh, making her aroused. “That feels good, Vito,” she murmured as his hand went gradually higher up her thigh. Soon his hand brushed against her clit, making her moan in pleasure. “Do you like this, Serita amore mia?” he asked, his lips moving against the shell of her ear. Sara said, “Si, this feels good, Vito. I love you!” Vito grinned as he kissed along the shell of her ear and then licked her earlobe. Suddenly, as he ran his fingers along her clit, an idea occurred to her. “Vito?” she asked. Vito replied sweetly, “Si, Tesoro mia?” Sara asked, “Do you want me to break up with Sonny? I don’t want to hurt you anymore and it might be painful for both of us if I am still with Sonny.” Vito sighed. “No, Serita. I don’t want you to break up with Sonny. It’d be too painful for him to come back to find that you’ve broken off the relationship for no reason. Besides, we both need an alibi. It would raise too much suspicion if you came to me when you were single. But if you have a lover, nobody will think anything of it. I also don’t want Sonny hurt. I love him deeply. When he comes back we won’t get to be together like this much if ever because you’re going straight into the front lines. This summer is the only time we have to be lovers. So we should enjoy the time we have left.” Sara frowned and then smiled and snuggled into Vito’s arms. She reached her hand down and stroked his cock through his pants, making him gasp in arousal. “Serita, don’t,” he protested, but this time Sara ignored him. “Don’t tell me you dislike this,” said Sara. Vito said, “I love this, Serita, but I’m not sure how much longer I can keep in control.” “Then let go,” said Sara, increasing her pace. Vito winced and said, “I can’t, Serita. If I allow myself to lose control, I may hurt you. For that reason alone, I cannot let that happen. I would never forgive myself if I harmed you.” Sara stopped immediately. Vito sighed in relief and then he lay down and pulled Sara on top of him. “Jesus, Serita, how the fuck do you sleep on such a bed? It is like stone!” Sara laughed. “I got used to it. It helped that my papa had just died because by the time I recovered from the shock and grief of his death, I was already inured to the some of the harshness of my new life as a scullery maid.” As she said this she moved her hips so that his dick rubbed against her clit, making her moan in pleasure. Vito gave her a small smile, trying to seem happy for her sake, but she could tell that he was saddened over what she had just told him. She didn’t really understand why everyone else was so upset and sad about what she had gone through. She was not upset or sad. She wasn’t happy about it, but she had never been one to cry over things that were out of her control. “It’s funny that I ought to be the most upset yet I am not even sad. I miss Papa, but I’d been away from him for years before he died. It wasn’t like I was going to see him soon anyway. After the first year or so, I wasn’t so sad anymore. Perhaps Miss Minchin is right. Perhaps I am hardened.” Vito reached up and kissed her. “Serita, you are not hardened but resilient. Miss Minchin is the hardened one. Just look at the way she treated you and Becky, like you were trash that nobody wanted. Miss Minchin must’ve gone through some hard shit to do that, but unlike you, she broke under such strain. She is jealous that you are so resilient and unbreakable. She tries to see your courage and durability as a fault, even though deep down she knows that it’s a virtue. She is angry that you have been put through so much yet are still sweet and kind.” Sara kissed back as she moved her hips more. She felt his dick harden between her legs. Suddenly she got another idea and gently broke the kiss to sit up straight. She put both hands on Vito’s chest to balance herself. “What are you doing, dolce mia?” Vito asked in an amused voice. “You’ll see, my love,” replied Sara with a wink. Then she began to bounce up and down on his hips, pretending they were making love. She spread her legs so that his dick was nearly inside her. Vito’s hands were on her back, making sure she didn’t fall. She smiled at him. “Vito, do you like this?” she asked, returning his question. Vito nodded, speechless for a moment. “Serita, where did you learn to do this dulce cuore?” he asked. Sara replied, “In India. I once saw a couple having sex with the woman on top like this riding the man. I’ve wanted to do this ever since then.” Vito was shocked into more silence. “Serita, amore mia, you watched people have sex when you were a small child?!? Why?” Sara laughed again and replied, “At first it was because I was curious then it was because I liked watching.” After she said this, Sara reached down and slowly took her panties off. Then she sat down on him so that his dick was ever so slightly inside her. Sara then started bouncing up and down again. She nearly winced as she felt slight pressure down there but it was not unpleasant. It actually felt very good. Once she had accustomed herself to having his dick inside her, she bent down and kissed him. He kissed back, but she could tell he was still fighting to keep control. She sighed and began to bounce harder as she slipped her tongue into his mouth. Finally, as she was about to unbutton his pants, he cursed as he lost control. His hands went to her hips and pulled her harder onto his engorged cock. As he did this, his hips arched up to meet hers. He then broke the kiss and licked her breasts as they moved. Sara reached down and unbuttoned his pants. “What the fuck are you doing?” asked Vito in a voice she had never heard before. Sara said, “I am making this better for both of us.” She pulled his pants down and then rubbed her hand along his shaft a few times before pulling down his underwear too. “Serita, don’t!” he said, grabbing her hands. Sara asked, “Why the fuck not, Vito? I want you inside me!” Vito said, “You want to lose your virginity here in this filthy attic?” Sara frowned as Vito continued, “Ascoltami, Serita. If you go any further, you won’t be able to go back. This is the last of my self-control. If you keep going, I won’t be able to hold back anymore. I do not want to take your virginity here. When you do lose it, you should be in a comfortable clean bed. But I do hope you choose to keep it for a while at least. Your virginity is sacred, Serita. It isn’t something to be given away like candy.” Sara said “Or like my stories. You want Sonny to do it, don’t you?” Vito nodded. “He needs you, Serita.” Sara sighed and said, “I want you! I want someone who knows what the fuck he’s doing to take my virginity. Sonny has no clue what he’s doing and that scares me.” As she said this Sara grabbed his dick and gently put it inside her. Vito winced as she carefully sat so that it went further inside her clit. Then she went back up the moment it touched her hymen. She did this again and again until she got a rhythm going. She then went faster and harder. “Fuck me, Vito! We are lovers for the rest of the summer, so let us make love!” Vito sighed and then smiled up at her as he pulled her down harder onto his cock. Soon it felt so good that she moaned in pleasure. “Vito, yes! Fuck yes! This feels so good, my love!” Vito replied “You like my dick inside you, Serita? You like it when I fuck you, don’t you miele?” as he said this, he grabbed her ass and squeezed. Sara liked the way he was talking to her. “Yes, Vito, your big dick feels fucking marvelous inside me right now,” she said, trying to imitate his tone. Vito grabbed her breast now and ran his fingernail along the nipple. “You like that don’t you, Serita? Proper little Brit ain’t so proper after all, is she? Everyone thinks you’re a fucking blue blood, when really your blood’s as fucking red as ours as we’ll see in a minute, huh? I just wanna make this little Brit scream like a fucking Italian girl!” Sara smiled widely. “You’re a naughty girl ain’t you, smiling like that at being fucked. So fucking weird that a little girl like you would be the one to turn my head after fifty fucking years of fidelity to my wife. I’ve never cheated, not once. Never even fucking thought of cheating until you came waltzing into my fucking life and stole my fucking heart. You think that was fucking nice, stealing my heart away from my wife? Every bit of love I had for her has gone towards you.” Sara’s mouth nearly dropped open in shock as she realized he must be near seventy. Her papa would cry if he could see her now, willingly riding a seventy something year old man. Vito watched her reaction with amusement. “What, Serita, you thought I fucking cheated before?” Sara shook her head and decided to be honest. “It’s just that you look so fucking virile that you could not possibly be more than forty. I never imagined you were over fifty. You’re old enough to be my fucking grandpa yet you look no older than my papa!” Vito smiled at the compliments. “Serita, you really think I look young enough to be your fucking father? I am eighty years old. I could be your great grandfather easily, yet you are still fucking turned on by me. Any normal girl would have recoiled and ran as far as she could away from me when she figured out how old I was. What the fuck is wrong with you, Serita?” Sara replied, “What’s wrong with me? I don’t know the answer, Vito amore mia. I love you so much that I don’t care how old you are. And you are so fucking hot that I get wet every time I see you. You could be a hundred years old and I’d still want you to fuck me, Vito.” Vito grinned again. “I love you too, Serita! You make me feel like I’m a young man again.” Sara was by that time close to orgasm. “I’m going to cum, Vito!” she said. Vito replied, “Cum for me, Serita! Cum for your fucking grandfather!” Serita screamed as she orgasmed. She looked down and as soon as their eyes met, Vito pulled out and cummed all over her. Vito immediately stripped her now ruined dress off. To their surprise, Becky came in and grabbed a nightie. “Here, put this on her,” she said. Vito smiled and obeyed, wondering how much Becky had heard. “Grazie, Becky.” Becky smiled and said, “She needs to put clean panties on too.” Vito nodded and laid Sara on top of him. “She will never have to sleep on this hard mattress again,” he vowed. Becky smiled and nodded then gasped when she saw blood trickling out of Sara’s clit. “Godfather, she’s bleeding!” Vito looked and cursed and said, “Becky, go get a washcloth and some clean water. I need to stop this bleeding.” Sara fell asleep in Vito’s arms as Becky went to get the requested items.
Sara woke up in Vito’s arms to her surprise. She looked around and saw she was in the attic still. Blankets were on top of her and Vito, carefully arranged so they both were covered comfortably. Vito’s arms were around her and her head was resting on his chest. She looked up at his face and saw he was sleeping peacefully. Sara reached up and stroked his cheek. “Te amo, Vito,” she whispered into his ear, causing him to smile in his sleep. Then she laid her head against his chest and snuggled into his male heat. Just as she was on the verge of falling back asleep as Vito’s hand caressed her spine, there was a knock at the door. Then, before Sara had a chance to wonder who it might be, the door opened and Emerngarde came in. She gasped at seeing Sara and Vito in the same bed. Sara was too groggy to do much other than gape at Emerngarde in shocked horror. “Sara, why is he in your bed?” she asked innocently. Sara knew that Ermie knew nothing of what happened between a man and a woman in bed. She was a year older than Sara, yet she was painfully naïve and innocent still. Sara wondered if her friend was mentally ill that she was so childlike in this aspect. Sara figured she didn’t even know anything could happen if a man and a woman were in bed together. Did she even understand what kissing was? Vito seemed to sense Sara’s unease even in his sleep. He put a hand on her head in a protective motion. Then he reached his other hand down between her legs and gently stroked her clit. “Vito, don’t,” she protested even though it felt good. Even though there was a blanket over them, it was crystal clear what he was doing. Even Lottie would be curious as to what was happening down there. Emerngarde’s dull blue eyes widened as she watched in fascination. Sara tried to hide her growing excitement, but she couldn’t do it for long especially as she began to become wet from his touch. Ermengarde asked, “What’s going on, Sara?” Sara opened her mouth to answer when Vito suddenly began to make circles with his fingers, causing Sara to moan loudly in pleasure, startling Emerngarde. “Vito, my love, please!” said Sara breathlessly. Vito smiled at this, taking it as a sign that he was pleasing Sara. Sara felt him harden a little between her legs. Emerngarde’s eyes were now wide with alarm and she began to back out of the room. “Ermie, don’t go!” said Sara, frightened that Ermie would tell Miss Minchin or one of the mobsters. She honestly did not know which was worse in the current situation. “I’m going to go get Miss Minchin!” Sara said, “No, Ermie! She’ll throw me into the streets for sure if she sees this! Listen to me, don’t tell anyone what is happening between Vito and I, got it? There’s nothing to worry about anyway! Vito and I are lovers and this is completely normal for us to sleep together in the same bed.” Ermie stopped but still looked unsure. Suddenly Sara’s stomach growled loudly. “I’m hungry!” she complained, desperately trying to distract her friend. Ermie smiled and said, “There’s food on the table over there!” Sara looked and saw some cake sitting there. “That’s great, Ermie! Would you please bring some over so I can eat it?” Sara smiled, trying to be the Princess Sara that Ermengarde knew even though Sara was aware that that person no longer existed. Princess Sara was long dead. Her reign had ended years ago and she had slowly withered from the inside out, still pretty looking, but hollow inside. In reality, the Princes Sara that the whole school seemed to adore had died when her papa did. Sara was lost in thought as Ermie came over and said, “Let me help you up!” Sara was partially woken by this, but she was not fast enough as Ermengarde came over, grabbed her arm, and pulled her up so that the blanket fell off and it was more than clear where Vito’s hand was. Ermengarde did not seem to notice it, but she stopped as Vito woke up with a start. He immediately took his hand out from between her legs but Sara knew it was obvious what had been happening, even to Ermie. She knew this because Ermie had suddenly stopped short and was looking down there with an awestruck look on her round face. “Ermie, please don’t tell Miss Minchin!” said Sara, not able to think of anything else to say. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to be a slow innocent child like Ermengarde suddenly figuring out what sex was. Ermie did not seem to hear her. “it’s all right, Ermie. Vito and I are in love, so this is normal.” Vito said gently, “Ermie my dear, why don’t you wait outside for a few minutes while we dress?” Ermie smiled and nodded, seemingly glad to have some sort of direction. Then to Sara’s relief, she went and stood outside the door. As soon as the door closed, Sara said, “Grazie, Vito! I had no idea what to do.” Vito nodded. “I admit I was speechless for a few seconds myself. She is the absolute last person I would expect to see when you and I were together like this. Poor little innocent, she must be awfully confused right now. After all, she just walked in on the Princess Sara sleeping in the arms of a man over thrice her age, a man old enough to be her grandfather. Her whole world must be upside down now.” Sara laughed aloud at the absurdness of that statement. “Nonno, Ermie doesn’t understand things like that. She is a complete innocent, or at least she was until you put your hand in my clit. Now I’m not even sure. If her world is upside down it is because she has just been exposed to sexual things and doesn’t know what to make of it.” Vito sighed. “I’m sorry she had to be exposed this way.” As he said this, he got up and pulled Sara close to him. As he kissed down her face, Sara said, “Vito my love, we’ve got to get dressed before anything else.” Vito simply pointed outside. “Why? It is nighttime. Nobody would think anything if we went back to bed for a few hours. It isn’t as if we’re going to sleep anyway.” Sara tried to resist, but it was difficult. “But Vito, Ermie is right outside the door and the walls are paper thin when it comes to sound. If we do anything, she will hear and that is the last thing she needs to hear after seeing what she just saw. It isn’t fair to her.” Vito sighed and stepped away from her. “You’re right, Tesoro mia. It is admirable that you are so protective of this girl despite the fact that she is older than you. It is almost as if you are acting as her mother.” Sara laughed. “I often feel like her mother. And Becky’s too. I am only thirteen years old yet I have three daughters. Is that not odd, Nonno?” Vito smiled at her as he dressed and said, “That is no odder than you sleeping with a man you call grandfather or your joining the mafia. You are an odd girl, Serita, but your oddity is fascinating and alluring. I can’t get enough of it or you.” Sara grinned at Vito and winked before getting dressed herself. When they were both dressed, Sara said, “It would be nice to have a bath up here for the two of us. We both need it and it would be very sweet for us to cuddle like that.” Vito nodded and replied, “Yeah, Serita. A bath would be nice. I don’t want you getting any infections. If we’re going to keep making love, you have to be able to bathe. It isn’t fair anyway to have a girl trapped up here without any way to bathe herself, especially during menses.” Sara said, “Well, what should we do with ourselves now?” Vito said, “I have an idea, Serita, amore mia.” Sara gasped in arousal as he pulled her onto the bed and kissed her lips while his hand caressed her breasts. Sara kissed back, her legs straddling his as their tongues played. Just as he ran the pad of his thumb along her nipple, the door opened and Lottie came in. She gasped at seeing the two kissing passionately, but she seemed to understand what was happening. In fact, she smiled widely after the first few seconds of surprise and said, “Mamma Sara, is this my Papa now?” Sara jumped in surprise at seeing her adopted daughter. “Lottie, my sweet, this is your grandfather. Your papa is Sonny.” Confusion filled the child’s face. “I don’t understand, Mamma Sara. If this man’s your papa, then why are you kissing him like that? I thought only mamas and papas kissed like that.” Sara replied honestly, “It’s difficult to explain, Lottie my pet, and I truthfully do not quite understand it myself, but I am in love with this man as well as Sonny. But you mustn’t tell anyone! If you tell, we will both be in serious trouble. That is secret just like you coming up here, all right?” Lottie nodded with a smile. “Good girl, Lottie. Now would you like to hear the rest of that story?” Lottie became excited and asked, “Oooh, you mean the one about the mermaid and the Indian chief? “ Sara smiled and said, “That’s the one, Lottie my sweet.” Just as Sara began to tell the rest of the story, she heard footsteps on the first flight of stairs. Not wanting to worry Lottie, Sara continued the story, “So Serena the mermaid and Kocoum the chief met many times after that. They met so much, in fact, that Kocoum often spent every minute of free time either with Serena or on the shore waiting for her. They were deeply in love and in time they began to want to marry. But Serena knew her father would never give permission, so she planned to leave her family without telling them. It hurt her, but she had to follow her heart. One night, a month before the wedding, Serena sneaked out of the palace. Suddenly-“ Sara was stopped short as she heard the footsteps approaching the door. She knew it was Miss Minchin. Before she had a chance to do anything but hold Lottie close in a protective motion, the door was flung open and Miss Minchin barged into the attic. Vito had by this time gathered her into his arms, shielding her and Lottie from harm. Miss Minchin scowled in rage at seeing Sara and Vito together like that. She had not seemed to notice Lottie yet. “You insolent little whore, how dare you let me think you are sick and injured while in reality you are up here selling yourself? Don’t think I didn’t hear you the other night carousing, either, Sara. You are a wicked little slut, and I will not tolerate your behavior any longer! Get downstairs right now! As of now, you sleep in the stables!” Vito said, “Are you seriously going against orders, Maria? You were told many times not to harm her or attempt to change her living situation. She is doing fine up here and you are not allowed to fuck with that.” Miss Minchin said, “After what she has done, I don’t really care what you people want. She must be punished severely for this behavior. I will not let her engage in such sinful acts up here while the young ladies can hear her. For God’s sake, Emerngarde heard it and went up here out of curiosity. I found her asleep outside the door. I don’t even want to know what she saw. If anything of the sort ever happens again, Sara, you’ll be thrown into the street!” Sara snuggled close to Vito out of fear. Miss Minchin’s scowl deepened as he gently ran a hand along her spine. Miss Minchin lost her temper as Sara buried her face in Vito’s chest. She grabbed Sara and forced her head around to face her, then she backhanded Sara with all of her strength, breaking Sara’s nose and busting her lip. Sara screamed in pain as Miss Minchin grabbed her wrist and twisted it until it broke. Suddenly, as Miss Minchin was about to hit Sara again, Lottie wriggled free and jumped in front of Miss Minchin’s hand, shielding Sara. Miss Minchin seemed to see this as an act of defiance and did not stop her hand as it backhanded Lottie. Lottie immediately began to cry loudly. Miss Minchin was woken from her anger by this. She said, “Sara, how dare you strike a young lady?” Sara was shocked to her core that Miss Minchin was blaming her for hitting Lottie. She had known Miss Minchin was a bad woman and sometimes seemed a little insane, but Sara had never thought her capable of such wicked deceit. She knew now that Miss Minchin was not bad, but deeply disturbed and evil. If Sara still believed in such things, she would say that Miss Minchin was the devil incarnate. She tried to take comfort in Vito’s arms around her, but she didn’t get much. Miss Minchin got angrier as tears formed in Sara’s green eyes. “Don’t try to get out of this with tears, you slut! You are incorrigible and always have been. You’ve gone too far this time. Striking one of the girls is beyond the pale. If you are capable of that, who knows what you will do? For all I know, you will burn the school to the ground after I am asleep. For that reason, I cannot allow you to remain here any longer. If you are not out of here by morning, I will call the police.” Sara did not know how to respond to the hurtful things Miss Minchin had just said, but she was glad to get out of the school. Vito seemed to share that sentiment as he lifted her up and said, “I’ll send men up here to get our things in the morning.” Miss Minchin nodded although Sara had a sinking feeling that she would attempt to sell as much as she could before morning. She put her head against Vito’s chest and fell asleep, lulled by his step.
Sara woke up in a room she did not recognize. Her arm was in a cast and there was an IV sticking out of her other arm. She looked around to see that the room was pink and nicely decorated. It seemed as if someone had taken the effort to design it just for her. She smiled at the fact that she knew several people who would willingly do such a thing for her. She was loved and that felt good. She wondered how her life had changed so drastically in just a few months. Before joining the mafia, such good fortune would have been so far out of her reach that she would not have dared to imagine it. The best she had ever imagined was being a fairy or a princess. But she had never even hoped to find anyone who loved her like these people did. She did not have to pretend anymore at all because she knew she would never go hungry or be cold when she was with these people. She lay back with a smile on her face, content for the first time in years. Suddenly the door opened and Clemenza walked in. He smiled at seeing Sara awake. “You feeling better, kid?” he asked her. Sara grinned at him and replied cheerfully, “I feel much better now that I’m out of that school. I feel as if I’m finally home.” Clemenza said, “Good, because apparently you’re going to be staying here during the rest of the summer. The don said he wanted to show you what it would be like if he adopted you. Then at the end of the summer he’ll give you a choice whether or not you want to live here for good.” Sara could not hide her excitement. “It’ll be nice to live in a real home for a change. I haven’t lived in a house since I was in India. After that it was mainly hotels and then the school. But the school was never really a home, even when I was rich and lived as a parlor boarder. I don’t think I even remember what being in a home with parents is like.” Then Sara reached her arms out for a hug. Clemenza seemed surprised at this but hugged her anyway. Sara hugged back, enjoying the feeling of being embraced. She was so happy that tears of joy filled her green eyes. She felt as if Clemenza were really her uncle now. “Ti amo, zio,” she thought, not daring to say it aloud. Too soon Clemenza broke the hug and cleared his throat, trying to be professional. “So what happens now, uncle?” Clemenza replied, “Now I take you down to the don’s office.” Sara nodded and walked over to the closet and picked out a green dress. Clemenza raised an eyebrow. “What, not wearing black anymore? I thought that was your color.” Sara smiled. “No, I only wore black because Miss Minchin would have been furious if I had worn any other color. But in reality, my favorite color is green.” Sara stripped off her nightie which was surprisingly modest and put it on the bed, neatly folded. Clemenza flushed red at seeing her naked. “What? It isn’t like you haven’t seen it all before. Besides, you are my uncle now so it’s all right for you to see me like this.” Clemenza raised an eyebrow again. “I’m not so sure that’s right, Serita. I’m pretty sure it isn’t okay for an uncle to see his niece naked like this, especially when she’s so, well, mature. It’s not a good idea to strip in front of anybody who’s not Sonny, OK? You gotta stop having sexual anything with anybody besides Sonny. It’s not OK to be sleeping around when you’re supposed to be the don’s daughter. That includes doing what you did in the attic right before you got kicked out. I know what happened between you and the don and a bunch of the guys know too. Now they know to keep their mouths shut, but you need to realize that not everyone is good at keeping secrets. It isn’t safe for you two to be fooling around with his wife in the same house. I don’t want you or the don getting into shit you can’t get out of, so be careful, for both your sakes.” Sara said, “I understand the need for caution, but the rest of this summer is all the time Vito and I have left to be lovers before Sonny gets back. After my training is done, I’m going straight into the front lines. Living here as Vito’s and Carmela’s daughter is nice, but I’m not cut out for that sort of life anymore. I’m too scarred, too damaged. Besides, I prefer to be independent.” Clemenza frowned and said, “Just try not to be too independent, at least while you’re here.” Sara said, “Why would I? This is a vacation for me. Just because I prefer to be independent doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate not having to be.” Clemenza smiled as Sara dressed. Then he led her out of the room and down to the don’s office. When she got there, Vito was waiting for her. He smiled widely when she walked into the room. “Good morning, Serita!” he said cheerfully. Sara replied, “Good morning, Vito. Thank you for allowing me to stay in your home after I was kicked out of mine.” Vito said, “It was the least I could do since your eviction was my fault. I am sorry I caused that to happen, my sweet Serita. But you are home now, and I do hope you choose to stay here as our daughter although I will not argue if you choose not to. This is your decision, Serita, not mine. I apologize that so few people seem to understand that concept. Come here, dolce cuore.” Vito held out his arms. Sara ran into them without a second thought. “It was as much my fault as yours that Miss Minchin kicked me out, Vito. You have nothing to apologize for. You at least tried to protest. I just didn’t listen. What could you have done but gone along with me, Vito?” Vito sighed and said, “Serita, for the rest of the summer I want you to call me Papà, all right? And you should call my wife Mamma.” Sara frowned. “But my mama and papa are dead. If I called others by their names, it would be disrespectful. I love my papa still, and it would be painful for me to act as if you were replacing him. I’m sorry, but I cannot call you papa, nor can I call Carmella Mama. Would babbo and mammella be acceptable?” Vito replied, “I didn’t mean to disrespect your parents, Serita. Yes, those names would be acceptable, bambina.” Sara hugged Vito. He hugged back, his dick hardening between her legs as her breasts pressed into his chest. Sara managed to ignore her arousal and end the hug as there was a knock on the door. “It’s me, Fredo. Mom says lunch is ready.” Vito smiled and said, “Come, Serita, you must be starving. Sara smiled, secretly glad to be going somewhere with other people, someplace that Vito wouldn’t dare do anything untoward with her. She loved him, but she also knew Clemenza was right. It would be stupid to fool around in this house even if nobody else was in the room. Besides, she wanted to at least try to be innocent while she was here. It would be nice to have parents for a change. She wished she and Vito could take some sort of vacation together so they could make love without getting into trouble, but she doubted that would ever happen. She pasted a smile on her face for Vito’s sake as they walked to the dining room, but inside she was torn whether to be an innocent child for the next month or to make love with Vito like she wanted to. On the one hand, this was her last chance to be a child if she so chose. The last remnants of her childhood were slipping away like water through her fingers. But on the other hand, this was also her last chance to sleep with Vito. They only had this month left to be lovers, and then she would go straight into the front lines. She knew full well that after she was initiated she couldn’t go to Vito’s office to fuck. In fact, she probably wouldn’t go to his office at all. What legitimate reason could a newly initiated soldier have to go to the Godfather’s office? She could think of none. He would be far too busy for her to go to him for no reason and it would look unseemly for them both. She sighed as she and Vito walked into the dining room where a woman was standing there with Connie and a blonde man Sara immediately recognized as Tom. “Tom!” She said, running into his arms. He hugged her close. “Hi, Serita. I missed you! How have you been?” Serita pulled back and showed Tom her arm. “How does it look like I’ve been?” she asked sardonically with one eyebrow raised. Tom gave her a horrified expression. “Serita, I’m so sorry! I should’ve noticed the cast. How insensitive of me to ask such a question.” Sara sighed. “No, Tom, I oughtn’t have been rude like that when you were only being nice. I’m sorry, Tom.” She smiled up at him, deciding she would be a child for now. But she knew what was coming when she was alone with Tom and Vito and she was all right with that. She figured she’d even be all right with Sonny taking her virginity if Tom was there too. Tom smiled back at her, his blue eyes sparkling. Sara noticed that his hair was a little longer than it had been when she had last seen him. She wished he’d grow it out. She liked men with long hair. As she was thinking this, she sat next to Fredo. She wondered if he’d ever be her lover. He was handsome enough. Tom sat next to Sara. Sara could feel his hip against hers. She grinned as Fredo put his arm around her and gave her a side hug. She felt like she was home among the brothers she never had. Then they all ate. Sara soon felt quite out of place as she looked and saw Fredo and Tom barely using table manners at all while she was eating like a prim and proper little princess. She had always eaten like that and even though it had angered the other servants at the school, she had never been so self-conscious about it, believing it to be virtuous to act like a princess amidst abject poverty. But now, she felt like she stuck out from the others. She considered changing her manners, but couldn’t bring herself to do so. She said, “Fredo mia, would you please pass the salt?” she asked in her high-class British accent, causing Fredo to stifle laughter as he passed the salt and said, “Sure thing, principessa.” Sara smiled at the name, knowing Fredo had no clue that being a princess had been her goal for the last few years. “So Tom, how’s Sonny?” she asked, trying to fit in. Tom smiled at her and replied, “Sonny is doing well, Sorella. But he nearly threw a fit when I was called back here and he had to stay. He was so angry!” Sara decided to play coy and asked, “Does he miss me?” Tom’s smile widened. “Serita, he misses you so much that he can barely focus on his job over there. He can’t get you out of his head.” Sara smiled at this, her love for Sonny coming back into her mind. She subtly moved so that her hip was pressing into Tom’s. Then she decided to do something against all etiquette, so she took her fork and grabbed a meatball off of Tom’s plate with a mischievous wink. Tom grinned at her as she popped it into her mouth. She had the urge to kiss him with it in her mouth, but knew better than to do it in front of their parents. As it was, she reached her small foot out and gently rubbed it up and down Vito’s leg as she continued to eat. This was fun! She liked being naughty. The knowledge that her papa would be horrified if he knew what she was doing only made her want to do more of it. She wanted to break every rule and more. She wondered what the hell she had been thinking trying to be a princess when being a mobster was so much more fun. As she ate, she suddenly remembered something. “So where’s Becky?” she asked, dreading the answer. She had a bad feeling that Becky was still living at the school. Vito replied, “She’s living with a friend of mine named Luca Brasi. Clemenza got her out of the school a few hours before you got thrown out.” Sara sighed in relief. “Do I get to meet Luca? I’d like to know the man who is caring for my friend.” Vito nodded and replied, “He should be visiting this afternoon anyway.”
A few minutes later, Sara followed Tom and Vito back to the office. She closed the door after herself. “What the hell was that?” asked Vito, surprising Sara. “What do you mean, Vito amore mia?” Vito said, “Don’t try to placate me with that name, Serita. You know exactly what I mean. Your behavior in there was completely out of line! What were you thinking?!?” Sara frowned and replied, “I’m sorry, Vito, but I had no idea I was displeasing you. I was trying not to be a prim little princess anymore. I apologize that it got out of hand.” Vito said, “You’re on thin ice, Serita. How dare you do such a thing with Carmella in the same room? For God’s sake, Serita, didn’t it cross your mind that she might notice something was odd? I thought you were smart, Serita. Was I wrong?” Sara was for once speechless. She could not believe her lover had insulted her. It felt as if he had slapped her. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, Godfather,” she managed to say in a thin voice. Tears were already in her green eyes. She felt like a complete idiot. She must be very stupid not to realize that doing such a thing was risky. She ought to have listened to Clemenza in the first place. Tom saw that she was on the verge of crying and took her into his arms. “Don’t cry, Serita. This is all a huge misunderstanding, okay? You made a mistake; it’s not something to beat yourself up over.” Sara replied, “Vito’s right, Tom. I am an idiot for doing such a thing in front of Carmella. I apologize for that. Perhaps I am not cut out for such work after all. I am apparently not as smart as I thought I was.” Tom frowned. “Serita, you are not an idiot. Yes, it was a stupid thing to do while Mom was in the same room, but I’ve done my share of stupid things without thinking before. We all make stupid mistakes, Serita; that doesn’t make us idiots, it makes us human. And this might have also been partially my fault. I sat too close to you and you stopped being able to think clearly.” Sara knew he was right. “I suppose you’re right. I am simply not used to being wrong. At the school, I was the smartest person there. I was always right because I already knew everything that was being taught. I suppose that made me assume that I would never be wrong, that I couldn’t ever be wrong.”
Sara had just been sent out on an errand one late fall afternoon. She was supposed to go pay Miss Minchin’s bills for the month. Sara was starving and could barely see straight. Miss Minchin had not fed her for nearly half a month. She stopped to rest against a tree near the market. People looked at her with a mix of pity and horror. Sara suddenly saw an apple cart sticking out through her haze. The apples were bright red and Sara knew that this was the answer to her hunger. She began to plan how she would get an apple without getting caught. She needed to distract the apple seller away from the cart long enough to grab an apple and escape. Sara had never stolen anything in her entire life, but suddenly the possibility was very tempting. She nearly shuddered at the thought of stooping that low, but she also knew that stealing might be her only way of survival. Miss Minchin was not going to feed her enough to live on, especially with such hard work. Sara needed to take care of herself in order to live. She only had two options due to her being a child: beg or steal. She absolutely refused to put aside what pride she had left and beg, so she had to steal. Sara frowned, deeply troubled at what she was about to do. She then became alert as a boy a few years older than her walked nonchalantly by the apple cart. As he passed it, he quickly grabbed an apple and put it in his coat pocket. Sara wondered whether or not the apple seller had seen this. Was stealing really so easy? She doubted it and was proved right when the boy was grabbed by the angry apple seller. The boy easily escaped the man’s grip and ran away from the market, the apple seller following him. This got the attention of the whole market, and soon many people joined in pursuit of the thief. Sara quickly realized that nobody was paying the least attention to her. She could steal whatever she pleased. She would be able to eat for several days if all went well. But she had to be smart about what she stole. She knew she had no way of cooking anything so she could only take fruit or vegetables. She quickly took an apple and slid it into her pocket then she ran around stealing things until her pockets were full of food. Satisfaction filled her as she returned to her errand before anybody knew she had even been there. For the first time in her life, she felt slightly arrogant and prideful at her own intelligence. She also felt very adult and independent at providing for herself. She adjusted her rags so that they better showed her well rounded bosom as she walked confidently on her way, determined that she and Becky would never go hungry again.
That night, Sara didn’t get upstairs until late at night. She ran up the stairs with newfound energy and saw that Becky was already fast asleep. Not wanting to wake her friend, she crept along and arranged the fruit on the old table so it would look like it was set for a nice breakfast. Then she took off her dress and used some old scissors that nobody had wanted anymore to lower the neckline. Then she used the sewing materials from the storage room to pleat the discarded fabric and sew it onto the bottom of her skirt to make it look prettier. She smiled at the result as she hung it up the best she could and went to bed.
The next morning, Sara woke up just as Becky was coming in to help her dress. Becky stopped in shock when she saw the fruit. “Miss, where’d you get all this?” she asked after a speechless few seconds. Sara replied proudly, “I took them from the market when nobody was looking, Becky! I did it so we wouldn’t starve.” Becky gasped in horror. “Miss, you STOLE?!? Ain’t stealing wicked?” Sara sighed, “I suppose it is wicked, but we have no choice. We will die if we only eat when Miss Minchin feeds us. I think if it’s for survival, it isn’t so bad. I do wish there was a way to cook some meat or fish. It is not healthy to only eat fruit and vegetables all the time. I could easily steal some, but without a way to cook it, it would be wasted.” Becky nodded, beginning to warm up to the idea of Sara stealing. Then she and Sara ate breakfast together for the first time since Sara had lost her papa.
That morning, after she helped the cook with breakfast, Sara went into the schoolroom wearing her remade dress and feeling very pretty and adult. She almost sauntered over to the alphabet class, exuding feminine charm. The class oohed and aahed at her appearance. Lottie said, “Mama Sara, you look like a fairy!” Sara grinned at the praise as she began to teach the day’s lesson. She barely noticed as Miss Minchin walked over to supervise. “Stand up, Sara,” said Miss Minchin, growing suspicious at the children’s sudden attentiveness. Sara stood up, making Miss Minchin gasp in horror at her dress. “Sara Crewe, how dare you do something so insolent as to come in here looking like a harlot?” Sara was tempted to say something sarcastic but she kept her composure and replied in a calm tone, “I simply altered my dress to make it more age-appropriate, Miss Minchin. I am thirteen now and will not dress like a child anymore.” Miss Minchin scowled at not getting a reaction from Sara. “As punishment for not taking proper care of your things, you shall have nothing to eat all day today and tomorrow. Go assist the cook. I will not allow you to stay here with that skivvy outfit on.” Sara was angry not only at being punished for no reason, but for being banished from her favorite room in the school. Resentment burned inside her at what she would most likely never get to do again. She did not regret altering her dress but thought that Miss Minchin should start treating her like the adult she was. She had lost her childhood years ago.
Sara was glad to get sent out to buy groceries. It gave her time to think. She walked briskly as her stomach growled in hunger. She knew she needed more food if she wanted to think clearly so she looked around for something to steal. Suddenly a man walked past her, bumping into her rather rudely. She was automatically indignant. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed his wallet sticking out slightly from his pocket. She quickly took it and put it into the grocery basket before he realized he had bumped into someone. “Excuse me!” said Sara, pretending to fall back. “Watch where you’re goin’!” said a man from the crowd. He ran up to Sara. “Are you okay?” he asked her in an accent she had never heard before. She nodded, acting like she was dazed. He helped her to her feet. The man who had bumped into her ran over too, unaware that his wallet was missing. Sara wondered how long it would take him to realize the truth and connect the theft to her. She rubbed her arm where the man had bumped into her, pretending to be hurt. She turned to the man who had saved her and imitated his accent, “Uncle, my arm hurts!” The man who had bumped into her paled and took a step back. Sara could read fear in his eyes. “Hey, I ain’t lookin’ for trouble! It was an accident! She ain’t even hurt!” The other man raised a dark eyebrow. “You callin’ my niece a liar, fuck?” The other man’s eyebrow raised. “No, sir! I was just saying she might be exaggeratin’ a little. Girls do that. I didn’t bump into her hard enough to cause a injury!” Sara pulled up her sleeve to show a new bruise that the cook had given her for coming back to the kitchen that morning. The man became immediately irate and turned Sara so that the bruise was evident to the other man. “Here’s your ‘exaggeration’!” The other man seemed to be panicking and said quickly, “I didn’t mean no harm, Mr. Clemenza! I wasn’t payin’ attention! I’m sorry I hurt your niece! I had no clue that’s who she was.” Sara wanted to burst out laughing at the man’s contradictions as Clemenza said, “I ain’t the one you should apologize to. She’s the one you hurt.” The man approached Sara, who shuddered and clung to Clemenza, pretending to be frightened. “Uncle, I’m scared!” she said, still imitating his accent. Clemenza held her close. The man said, “Miss Corleone, I am deeply sorry for harming you. I hope you can forgive me and not tell your daddy about this little accident.” He looked up at Clemenza. “Sonny don’t need to find out about this, right? This was all an accident!” Clemenza replied, “Whether or not she tells her dad depends on her.” The man said, “Miss Corleone, you ain’t gonna tell him, right? He’ll kill me. I got a wife and kids at home!” Sara was about to speak when the man put his hand out and touched her back. Sara could tell he was attempting to soothe her, but she decided he shouldn’t get off so easily. She screamed and clung closer to Clemenza. Fake tears streamed down her face. Clemenza ran his hand down her spine. She couldn’t tell whether it was the heat of being held or something else, but she felt hot all over. She could tell her face was flushed. She was so distracted that she did not notice as a police officer walked over, having heard her scream. “Is everything OK?” he asked in a concerned tone. Sara could hear a very light Irish accent in his voice. She had never heard someone with such an accent before. She had heard plenty of Irish accents, but they had all been thick. Where was she? She realized she was not in London anymore, nor even in Europe at all. The way people dressed here was completely foreign to her despite her being all over Europe with her papa and she had never heard Clemenza’s accent before. The man who had bumped into her had a similar accent to Clemenza’s but his wasn’t quite as thick. She wanted to turn around to look at the officer, but wanted to act like a hurt little girl, like Lottie. Clemenza turned her to face the officer and said, “Sweetie, tell the officer what happened.” Sara nodded and spoke, “Officer, I was walking over to my uncle Clemenza’s house when this man pushed me! At first I thought it was an accident. But then,” she began to act like she was about to cry at this point. “Then he put his hand down there!” The officer frowned as Sara pretended to break down and cry. “Did he do anything else, sweetie?” asked the officer. Sara nodded and fake sobbed, “He ripped my dress then he put a finger inside me! It hurt so much!” The man finally found his voice. “Those are all lies! All I did was accidentally bump into her! She’s making things up to get me into more trouble! She’s got no evidence of any of it!” Sara began to cry harder. The officer said, “I trust her more than you, Johnny. I’ve had a lot of complaints come in about you inappropriately touching women. You picked the wrong girl to assault this time, though. I have no choice but to arrest you.” The man frowned in resignation. “Better in jail than out where her dad can get me,” he mumbled as he was escorted to the police station. Clemenza led her away. “Here, sweetie, let’s go to my place.”
Sara nodded as she walked with him to his rather large house. A woman came out to greet them. She smiled at Sara and took her hand. Sara acted along, smiling at the woman and saying, “Hello, Auntie! Father is busy today so he sent me here!” Clemenza said, “Yeah, Sonny decided he was too busy to care for her today so he made her walk here. She got attacked on the way.” The woman said, “I’m so sorry, honey! Come inside and have some cookies!” Sara nodded as she walked inside the house. Once inside, she sat down on a couch. Clemenza said, “So what’s your name, kid?” Sara replied, “My name is Sara Crewe. I already know your name is Clemenza.” Clemenza nodded and said, “You are quite the actress, Serita. I was almost fooled myself. Now let’s see that wallet.” Sara flushed scarlet. “You saw?” Clemenza replied, “Why do you think I went over there? I saw you steal that man’s wallet and put it in your basket. I knew he would figure it out unless he was distracted.” Sara reluctantly took out the wallet. Clemenza said, “Now why the fuck are you stealin’ people’s wallets like that? You’re gonna get caught and arrested.” Sara admitted, “I wasn’t thinking when I stole it. I just knew I needed food and didn’t have any money.” Clemenza asked, “You’re hungry? Don’t your parents feed you?” Sara replied, “My parents are dead. I am a servant at the boarding school I once attended and the headmistress almost never feeds me.” Clemenza said, “And the money you make isn’t enough to live on?” Sara shook her head. “What money? I am not paid. I am working off the debt my papa owed her when he died.” Clemenza sighed and asked, “How much money do you owe?” Sara replied, “I’m not sure anymore. When Papa died two years ago, I owed over £200, but there’s interest and I’ve had to eat since then and have new clothes once so that added to my debt. I’m not quite sure where I am anymore in terms of my debt.” As she said this, two little boys ran into the room. Sara’s face lit up as she greeted them. She wanted to hug them close like she did with Lottie. Somehow it always made her feel better to be around children. “I’m your cousin Serita!” she said cheerfully. The children accepted this as their mother came and led them out of the room. Sara grinned and waved goodbye as they exited the room. “You’re good with kids, Serita.” Sara nodded. “I have one several years older than yours.” Clemenza said dubiously, “You have a kid?!?” Sara laughed and said, “Don’t worry, she’s adopted. She will be ten next week.” Clemenza smiled and then took money out of his wallet. “Here, this should cover your debt. I’m not sure how £200 translates into American money or why your debt is in British money in the first place, but this should cover it. After you pay off your debt, you can come live here until I find someone to adopt you. You shouldn’t have to steal to eat.” Sara was reminded of the time that boy had given her sixpence a year ago. She knew it would be rude to refuse the money, but she could not take it. She still had some pride left despite what she had gone through. Besides, she could not leave the school so easily. “I can’t. I’m sorry, but I can’t take your money,” said Sara in a thin voice. Clemenza asked, “Why the fuck not? Are you really gonna refuse me out of pride? If you don’t take the money and get out of wherever you’re staying, you’ll either end up dead or in prison. Take the fucking money, Serita!” He forced the cash into Sara’s small hand. Sara became irate and jumped up, throwing the money into Clemenza’s face. “No, I will not take the fucking money! The debt is not the only reason I cannot leave the school, dumbfuck! I cannot leave the scullery maid Becky to do the work by herself and I cannot abandon my child Lottie or my friend Emerngarde. So don’t try to strip my of what little pride I have left because It’s all I’ve got anymore!” Sara’s face was red from her emotional outburst and she felt ready to cry. Clemenza sighed and said, “Serita, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but you can’t go around stealing people’s wallets. You will get caught, probably sooner than later. You’re a smart girl, but you don’t know the first thing about stealing. You can’t do it randomly like you did with Johnny. I don’t think you understand what would’ve happened if I wasn’t there. Prison ain’t a pretty place for a young girl like you.” Sara was boiling with fury at being called a little girl despite having her breasts plainly showing. She sat on Clemenza’s lap before he could stop her, his knee in between her legs. Then she grabbed his hands and put them firmly on her breasts, pushing down her rags so that there was nothing between them. “I am an ADULT, dumbfuck, not a young girl! I am thirteen years old so don’t treat me like a child!” she said, her lips an inch away from his. Clemenza’s face was scarlet as he sat there speechless from shock. He then smiled and squeezed both breasts before pulling her rags back up over them. Sara was surprised that she was disappointed as he gently pushed her off of his lap. She felt rejected. Clemenza said, “If you weren’t underage, you would already be in my bed, Serita. Come back when you are older and I’ll show what being an adult really means.” Sara sighed and walked towards the door. Clemenza got up and pushed the money into her pocket. “Take the money. That wallet won’t feed you and Becky for more than a week.” Sara left the house, the last embers of her pride dying out in the pouring rain.
Sara roamed the city for hours in the downpour, trying to figure out where she was. She was so used to being drenched that it didn’t faze her anymore. She also was becoming more convinced with every street sign that she was not in England anymore. She was hopelessly lost and alone. She finally decided after five hours to stop and get something to eat. She went into a nice looking bakery. The owner, a plump man with jet black hair and olive colored eyes smiled kindly at her with genuine concern in his eyes as he took in her bedraggled appearance. “Come in, sweetie! You’ll catch your death out there! What are you doing out there in the pouring rain? Where are your parents?” Sara replied, “My mama died in childbirth and my papa Sonny is too busy to care for me, so here I am.” She did not want to tell the truth about being lost in another country for fear of being prosecuted for not legally being there, so she decided to be Serita Corleone for a while. The man frowned. “I’m sorry Sonny isn’t taking care of you. I wish I had some dry clothes for you, but I don’t. Do you want me to call someone for you?” Sara cocked her head to one side in curiosity. “Call? What does that mean?” She wondered if he was going to stand outside and call out. The man pointed to a black box Sara had never seen before. “I mean call them on the telephone, Tesoro.” Sara was bewildered and then began to go into shock at the realization that she was not only in a different country, but in a different time. Her face lost all color as she admitted, “I don’t know what a telephone is.” The man looked confused. Sara explained, “I spent most of my life in a boarding school because of the war. The school didn’t have modern technology so I never learned anything about it.” Sara could tell there had been a war recently from eavesdropping on conversations. The man accepted her explanation with a nod. “You look pale. Why don’t you lie down in back while I get you something to eat and contact your father?” Sara nodded, feeling very lightheaded. The man gently picked her up and laid her down on a cot in the back. “Just rest here,” said the man. Sara nodded, drifting off to sleep.
That night, Sara woke up to the sound of glass breaking. She jumped out of the cot and ran to the front of the store where several men in tan colored coats were breaking into the locked bakery. Thinking quickly, Sara ran into the back and grabbed a large knife. Then she walked calmly back out to the front, the knife hidden behind her back. When she got there, the men were just beginning to break things around the shop. Sara noticed with a sinking heart that the baker was nowhere to be seen. She approached one of the men and said, “That display you’re breaking isn’t yours, you know. You ought to leave it alone.” The man stopped and looked Sara over before shrugging. “It ain’t yours neither, bambino.” Another man said, “Give her something to eat, Giovanni. She looks starving.” Giovanni nodded and smiled at Sara as he took a piece of cake out of the display and gave it to Sara. “Here, bambina, eat.” Sara frowned. She was hungry, but she knew the cake did not belong to her and she shouldn’t take it. She was becoming used to stealing, but the baker had been so nice to her that she couldn’t bring herself to take anything from him. But seeing as the plate was already in her hands, it would be a waste to not eat it. She sighed heavily and ate the cake in several ravenous bites. The men smiled at her. Sara realized that they were all distracted from breaking the store apart by her. She smiled and said seductively, “Hey boys, you want to show me what being an adult really means?” Giovanni took her in his arms and kissed down her throat, his hand between her legs. She moaned loudly in fake pleasure, hoping the baker heard her. Then her pleasure became real as Giovanni covered her breast with his mouth, suckling greedily. She wondered if she ought to let him go all the way with her. As she contemplated this possibility, she heard a man scream in agony. She knew it must be the baker. “Shut up, old man!” said another voice. Sara realized all at once why the men were breaking things: they were trying to force the baker to pay them money! She had heard about such things happening when she was in Italy with her papa. She realized that must also be where she was. “Hey, Giovanni?” she asked. “Yeah, Bambina?” “What country am I in?” Giovanni stopped licking her breast and looked up at her with a confused look on his face. “You’re in America, bambina.” Sara went pale again. How in the world had she ended up in America, much less in the future? “Bambina, you OK?” Sara shook her head. “I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be in 1863 London. I think I’m going to be ill.” The men automatically surrounded her, just as she had planned. As soon as they were all close enough, she took the knife out with lightning fast reflexes and stabbed Giovanni in the heart. Blood spurted all over her as she murdered more of the men. The few than managed to escape her attack ran towards the door, fear in their dark eyes. Sara screamed in fury and grabbed a gun from one of the bodies and pointed it at the men, making them freeze. “Let the baker go, you fucking cowards!” said Sara placing her finger on the trigger. She heard another scream from outside as the baker died. Sara lost the last of her self-control and shot the escapees in the head, having naturally good aim. She stood on top of the broken display, her rags drenched in blood, looking like a warrior. Tears streamed down her face at the death of the baker. She then put the gun in her pocket and gathered up what other weapons she could before leaving the shop and walking over to the baker. She knelt down beside his body and said, “I’m so sorry, Tesoro. I should have saved you.” She hugged him for several minutes until she felt a hand on her shoulder. “Sweetheart, can you stand?” Sara looked up and saw a man in a black coat smiling at her. “Who are you?” she asked cautiously. The man replied, “My name is Vinny. I’m with the Corleones. The baker was loyal to us for years. It’s a tragedy that this happened. The Tattaglias have some nerve attacking like this.” Sara stood up and immediately fell into Vinny’s arms. “I feel tired,” said Sara. She wanted desperately to go home, but hadn’t the least idea how to do so. She then stood up. “Where you goin’ Cara?” Sara replied, “I’m going home. If I keep walking, I eventually ought to arrive there.” She then walked off into the night.
Sara kept walking until she heard gunshots. She ran over to where the sound was coming from. She saw a young man fighting Tattaglias. Her mind filled with rage at the baker’s murder. She felt that all Tattaglias deserved the same agonizing death that the baker had suffered. She hid behind a corner and took out a gun. She aimed it at one of their heads and fired. He collapsed, causing the man to jump back in shock. He jumped again as Sara killed another Tattaglia. He looked ready to run. “Don’t run, shoot the fucks!” said Sara, irritated. The man nodded and he and Sara quickly finished off the Tattaglias. After they were all dead, Sara put the gun away and walked up to the man. The man raised an eyebrow at her. “Who the fuck are you, little girl?” Sara said, “I am Serita Corleone and I am not a little girl!” The man laughed, increasing Sara’s anger. “What the fuck is so funny?!?” she asked. The man said, “I’m Sonny, your dad.” Sara grinned. “I’m sorry,” she said apologetically, hoping Sonny would not get angry. Sonny instead said, “No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t take care of you like I should have. I abandoned you and you got lost.” Sara caught on to the game and replied, “It was raining and all I wanted to do was go home!” Sonny nodded. “I know, Serita. I forgot all about you, didn’t I, little girl?” Sara said, “Pick me up, Papa. I am tired.” Sonny smiled and obeyed. “You need to gain weight, sweetie,” he said. “If you fed me more often, maybe I would, Papa,” replied Sara tartly. Then she put her hands on Sonny’s face and pulled him into a kiss. He kissed back passionately, surprising her. “Papa,” she murmured. Sonny grinned as he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth. He pushed her against a nearby wall. Sara ripped his shirt, revealing a finely muscled chest which she ran her hands all over. “Serita,” he moaned in response.
The kiss lasted for several minutes which seemed like half an hour to Sara. When Sonny finally ended the kiss, Sara was panting. Sonny gently set her on her feet. “You want me to take you home, Serita?” he asked. Sara shook her head. “I’m not sure I know how to get home.” Sonny frowned. “Where do you live, Serita?” Sara replied, “I’m from 1863 London, Papa. I’m not sure how I got here, much less how to get back.” Sonny sighed, “Have you tried going back to where you first arrived here?” Sara shook her head. “I know it was somewhere near Clemenza’s house. That’s when I first noticed I wasn’t in England.” Sonny nodded and led her to where she had bumped into the man. “Is this where you were?” Sara nodded and said, “Yes. This is where I was. I was going towards the market to buy groceries for the school.” She then saw a door which she had never before noticed. She knew somehow that this was the door home. “This is it, Papa,” she said to Sonny. Sonny smiled at her. “Do you need me to come?” Sara replied, “It would help. You see, I was supposed to be getting groceries for the school when I accidentally came here. When I come back empty handed, the headmistress will punish me severely, especially if I have nobody to corroborate my side of the story. I shudder to think what she’ll do to me now that I’m already in trouble. I don’t want to know what else she’ll think up as punishment now that she’s used up the punishment she normally uses.” Sonny frowned. “I don’t want you to get into trouble, Serita. I’ll go with you to back up your story, all right?” Sara smiled warmly at him, grateful that he was helping her. She began to wonder if all Corleones were this nice, or if it was just criminals in general. The Tattaglias had been nice to her too before she shot them. She kept thinking about this until they both reached the school. Sara led Sonny through the servant’s entrance into the kitchen. Becky, who was washing dishes, looked up when the door opened. She gasped to see a man there. “Becky, this is Sonny. He is my friend who came here to help explain the situation to Miss Minchin.” Sonny smiled at Becky who blushed and seemed speechless. Sonny gently laughed at her reaction before he and Sara walked out of the kitchen. As they headed up the stairs, Becky ran out and stopped them. “Don’t go up there, Miss! The missus is up there with her sister and the cook! They’re waiting for you!” Sara replied, “Thank you for the warning, Becky, but Sonny and I can handle them. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.” Becky nodded and went back into the kitchen. Sara and Sonny then went up to the attic where the door to Sara’s room was open. Sara put her finger to her lips and she and Sonny hid to hear what was being said.
Miss Minchin was furious and Amelia was trying as always to placate her sister. “Where did she get all this food?!? She must have stolen it!” The cook replied, “I heard there was a Fruit Thief yesterday at the market!” Sara went pale at the realization that they knew she had stolen the food. She hadn’t planned on them coming up here anytime soon. She had the urge to run, but she suppressed it. “Don’t worry, kid. I got this,” said Sonny. Sara knew she had no choice but to trust him even though they had just met. She sighed and stood up. Then she and Sonny walked into her room. All three women turned to her with menacing looks on their faces. “Sara Crewe! How dare you come in here at this hour? You might as well have stayed outside, slattern!” said Miss Minchin angrily. Sonny replied, “It’s pouring outside! What the fuck is wrong with you, suggesting a young woman sleep in such conditions!” Miss Minchin ignored him and said, “Know that I’m calling the police in the morning, Sara. Your thievery will not go unpunished this time.” Sonny stepped in front of Sara. “What thievery? I gave her that food myself yesterday.” All three women were in shock. Miss Minchin said, “You gave her food? Why?” Sonny replied, “Because she was hungry, obviously.” Miss Minchin turned on Sara again. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Sara replied, “Because you had forbidden me to eat that day! I didn’t want further punishment. Besides, I knew you’d take the food away and accuse me of stealing.” Miss Minchin stepped forward, ready to box Sara’s ears. Sonny grabbed her hand as she raised it. “Don’t hurt my friend, lady. I don’t know what your problem is, but if you lay a hand on her ever again, there will be dire consequences, capiche?” Miss Minchin nodded, frightened of Sonny. Sonny let her hand go and said, “Now all of you, go to bed. I’m going to stay a while to say goodnight to Serita.” The women reluctantly obeyed him.
As soon as the women were out of earshot, Sonny attacked Sara, pushing onto the bed. “You need a new mattress if we’re gonna keep doing this, Cara,” he said against her lips. Sara raised an eyebrow but stayed silent as he kissed down her throat. “Sonny, those guys you were fighting, they killed the baker. Who are they?” Sonny cursed. “They’re a rival mob. I’m really sorry you got caught up in all this, kid.” Sara frowned. “I’m not a kid, Sonny. I can handle myself. I killed like five of them at the bakery. They broke in and were ransacking the place.” Sonny stopped. “You killed mobsters? How?” Sara replied honestly, “I took a knife from the back of the shop and hid it behind me until an opportune time arose, then I murdered about three of them and killed the other two with a gun I took off of a body.” Sonny fell back in shocked awe. “I’ve never heard of a girl killin’ mobsters before! You ever consider a career change?” Sara said, “I suppose I could become an assassin, although I’m not sure how I would apply. It’d be better than this hell for sure.” Sonny grinned at her and then kissed her lips. After he ended the kiss he said, “I gotta go, kid. I’ll see you tomorrow, OK?” Sara nodded, not understanding this sudden change as he ran off.
Sara woke up the next morning to the sun pouring in through the skylight. She sat up, not remembering the horrors of the previous night. Then she stood up and got dressed in her rags, wondering why they were blood soaked. Had she gotten hurt and didn’t remember? She didn’t feel any injuries. She jumped in shock when she felt a gun fall out of her pocket. She carefully picked it up and examined it. Then she put it back in her pocket and walked to the door. But when she tried to open it, she learned it was locked. She didn’t understand. Miss Minchin had never done this before. She was almost treating Sara like a pupil. Sara shook her head, realizing that it was more likely she was being treated like a prisoner. She must have done something very bad for Miss Minchin to do this. She sighed and looked for the fruit she vaguely remembered stealing. She didn’t find much, and what she did find was already rotting away in the summer heat. She frowned in desperation, knowing if she didn’t eat she would starve. She was already feeling sleepy from hunger. She took the gun and shot the lock off with perfect aim. Then she pocketed the gun and went downstairs to the kitchen to get food whatever way she could.
The cook was shocked to see Sara walking in with a smile on her face. “Good morning, cook!” said she cheerfully despite her hunger. Sara skipped over and began to help Becky with the dishes, causing the maids to look askance at her. They already knew about the events of the previous evening and that Sara was supposed to be locked in her room for the whole day as punishment. Sara quickly finished the dishes and went on to tidy up the girls’ rooms, humming as she went.
A few hours later, Sara was scrubbing the stairs when there was a knock at the door. She ran to the door and flung it open. “Hello!” she said cheerfully. “Hi, kid. What are you so happy about today? That headmistress finally treatin’ you better?” Sara looked and recognized the man as Sonny. All at once memories started flooding back to her. She knew why Miss Minchin had locked her up now. “Serita?” asked Sonny. Sara sighed and replied, “She locked me in my room this morning. I had to shoot the lock off.” Sonny said, “Serita, I’m sorry. Listen, I’m sorry you got caught up in all this, but since you are I thought you might want to go out with me and do some target practice. You should get comfortable with using that gun as much as possible.” Sara stopped. “Target practice?” she echoed, knowing what that meant. This man wanted her to go out and shoot people. It had been bad enough to shoot the Tattaglias last night, but she hadn’t had much choice at that point. Was she really going to choose to kill people of her own free will? How low was she going to go before this was all said and done? All remnants of the young lady she had been seemed to be disappearing before her eyes. Who was she anymore that killing did not faze her? The only reason she hesitated was because of the sweet charming little girl she had thought she was. She realized with a sick feeling that she did not value human life as much as she once had. Killing others did not cause her to fret or lose sleep. What had happened to the strict rules she had once adhered to in an attempt to be a princess? Had all that really disappeared in one day? Tears streamed down her face. She sighed and answered in a hollow voice that she did not recognize, “I suppose I have no choice, do I?” Sara walked back inside, Sonny following her. “Close the door behind you,” said Sara as she went back to scrubbing the stairs. “I thought we were going out to do some target practice,” said Sonny. Sara replied, “I must finish these stairs first. Then I can go with you. Remember I am still a slave here.” Sonny sighed and said, “Then let me help you so we can get finished faster.” Sara raised an eyebrow. “You want to help?!? Sonny Corleone the mobster wants to help me clean the stairs?!?” she began to laugh. Sonny nodded.
Sara smiled as Becky came into the room. “The missus told me to help you clean the stairs,” she said then stopped short when she saw Sonny. “Sonny?!?” she asked in shock. Sonny said, “Yes, Becky?” Sara said, “Becky, you look tired. Why don’t you give Sonny your things and go upstairs to rest a little? He’s agreed to help me clean the stairs.” Sara hated lying to her friend, but Becky did not need to know that Sara was going to kill people. The less she knew the better for both their sakes. Becky nodded and smiled at Sara before shyly giving her things to Sonny and then running off. As soon as she was out of earshot, Sonny said, “That was nice of you to lie to her. She’s an innocent.” Sara replied tartly, “Every girl here is an innocent except for me. They’ve never had to steal food or kill people. Even Becky, the poor scullery maid, is innocent. She is fourteen, yet she is like a child. I am like a mother to her.” Sonny said, “Trust me, Serita, the way she was looking at me just then was not innocent.” Sara was appalled and said, “Sonny, are you going to help me clean the stairs or are you going to make sexual comments about my friend?” Sonny blushed and tried to apologize, but Sara would have none of it. “Sonny, just shut the fuck up!” she yelled at him as she ran up the stairs. “Where you goin’?” asked Sonny. “I’m going upstairs to cool down, dumbfuck!” yelled Sara.
A few minutes later, Sara was relaxing in her attic room when the door opened and Sonny came in. “Listen, Serita, I’m sorry about what I said about Becky. I shouldn’t have said that. You were right to get pissed off at me. I deserved it.” Sara nodded and said, “Yes, you did. But I should not have gotten so upset. It’s just that everything I’ve worked so hard to become, everything I tried to maintain despite my poverty, has simply vanished over the course of a few hours. I was trying to be a princess, Sonny! And now I’m some creature who can kill without regret and even enjoys killing! A princess would never be like that. A princess is sweet and kind and gentle. A princess puts others above herself. A princess is always well-mannered. I was that for years and years, and now I’m the complete opposite!” Sonny sat on the three legged footstool. “Jesus Christ Serita, no wonder you exploded at me. But why do you have to be one of those defenseless princesses? That might have been fine when you were rich and all, but after your dad died that kind of princess wouldn’t really survive for long. You should try to be like a warrior princess, like Boadicea.” Sara looked at him, realizing he was right. “Boadicea was a queen, not a princess, Sonny. But I suppose you’re right. Marie Antoinette was pretty and proper, but she wouldn’t survive this kind of life for very long.” Sonny replied cleverly, “She didn’t survive very long did she? She couldn’t handle being poor.” Sara raised an eyebrow. She was tempted to let that one slide, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. “Marie Antoinette was murdered, Sonny. She had her head chopped off at the guillotine. She didn’t die because she was poor.” Sonny rolled his eyes. “Well, sorry I didn’t pay attention in history class, principessa!” Sara grinned at the teasing and kissed Sonny who automatically kissed back. “Sonny?” she murmured against his lips. He pulled back. “Yes, principessa?” Sara said, “Did you finish the stairs so we can go do some target practice?” Sonny replied, “Yes, I finished the stairs. Do you still want to do target practice?” Sara nodded. “I’m Boadicea now! I want to go out and shoot some fucks!” she said. Sonny grinned as he and Sara ran downstairs and outside.
Sara followed Sonny back through the door into 1946 New York. He led her to a nice looking park. “Be on your guard, Serita. There’s a bunch of Tattaglia fucks milling around that butcher shop over there.” Sara grinned and said, “So we’re going to shoot them?” Sonny replied, “Calm down, Serita. We can’t just go running over there like that. They’ll kill us. We need cover.” Sara nodded and walked nonchalantly over to a parked car. “Like this, Sonny?” Sonny nodded and followed her . “Good choice, Serita.” Sara snuck a glance over at the butcher’s shop. The Tattaglias were looking over at them but didn’t seem particularly upset. “Why are they so calm? Aren’t they suspicious of us being here after last night?” she whispered to Sonny. Sonny replied, “They’re very suspicious, Serita. They’re just hiding it well. They’re waiting to see what we do.” Sara stepped out from behind the car and waved at the Tattaglias with a big smile on her pretty face. “What are you doing?” asked Sonny in an amused voice. “Fucking with the Tattaglias,” replied Sara as the men began to look confused and exchange looks. Some of them waved back automatically, smiling nervously. Sonny burst into silent laughter at this. Sara then crouched behind the green car and pulled out a gun. Sonny stopped her and handed her another gun. “Here, Serita. Don’t use that crappy gun. I found you a better one.” Sara took the gun and noticed that it fit her hand perfectly. She looked at Sonny incredulously. Sonny shrugged and said, “It belonged to my sister Connie. She heard I was helping you and wanted you to have this.” Sara grinned in delight as she aimed at one of the Tattaglias’ heads and fired. His head blew right off in a spatter of blood and brains. The others were for a moment stunned that a little girl had done such a thing. Sara took advantage of this and killed several more. The three that were left quickly regained their senses and began shooting at Sara. Sara dodged easily and killed them too. “Good job, Serita! Those fucks didn’t stand a chance!” said Sonny approvingly, a grin on his face. Sara suddenly felt lightheaded. “Serita, what’s up? You look really pale all of a sudden!” Sara said faintly, “Well, I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning.” Sonny became alarmed at this. “Here, can you walk?” he asked. Sara shook her head. “I’m going to faint, Sonny.” Sonny ran over as she lost consciousness.
Sara woke up in a nice room that she did not recognize. She tried to sit up but was stopped by a thin tube sticking out of her arm. “Where am I?” she asked, knowing she would not get an answer. She slowly stood up and saw that she was in a pretty pink nightie. She smiled as she walked to the door as footsteps approached it. The door was then opened by Sonny. “Get back in bed, Serita! You’re sick,” he said as he came in followed by a blonde man. Sara wondered who the other man was. Sonny sighed and picked her up when she did not immediately move. She kissed him. He kissed back as he placed her In bed. “Now stay there until the doc clears you to get out of bed,” said Sonny. Sara rolled her eyes. “I’m not an invalid, Sonny!” she protested. Sonny ignored her comment and said, “Serita, this is my brother Tom. He wanted to meet you.” Tom smiled as he walked over to Sara. “Hey, Serita. How are you feeling? You’ve been out cold for a few days now.” Sara said, “I remember I hadn’t eaten for a while. That must be why I fainted.” Tom glared at Sonny. “Sonny, why the heck didn’t you feed her? You said you met her that afternoon about an hour before she passed out. You should have brought her food!” Sonny frowned and replied. “I thought she had food! The headmistress said that she had stolen fruit the day before.” Sara said, “It rotted by the time I woke up the next morning.” Sonny cursed. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me you were hungry, Serita?” Sara replied, “I suppose because I am so used to hunger that I barely notice it anymore. I was so absorbed in other things that I forgot.” Tom said, “Sonny, if you plan to keep contact with this girl, you’ll have to provide her food every day. You can’t blow this off. I don’t know what you’re planning to do with her, but she cannot be allowed to starve. I’ll talk to Dad about how to support her on a more permanent basis.” Sonny replied, “Tom, don’t go to Dad just yet. I’ve got this covered. I have a plan that I will tell Dad about soon.” Tom sighed. “Sonny, don’t do this. We can take care of her here.” Tom then looked at Sara. “Serita, you hungry?” Sara nodded, knowing it was a ruse to get Sonny out of the room. Sonny evidently knew this too and said, “Why don’t I see what Mom’s made you to eat?” He smiled at her as he left the room.
As soon as he was gone, Tom turned to her. “Listen to me, Serita, I don’t know what Sonny’s offered you, but do not listen to him. He’s trying to trick you into becoming one of us. Don’t do it. We can help you without you giving up your life.” Sara shook her head. “Clemenza already offered, Tom. I’m not interested in charity. I still have some pride left. I can’t accept your generosity. Sonny is offering me a way out that doesn’t require me going any lower than I already am. In truth, I was just thinking about becoming an assassin. I am Boadicea now, not some defenseless little maiden. I will kill whoever it takes to survive!” Tom sighed in exasperation. “Sara, you have your whole life ahead of you! Do you really want to spend it killing people? You have a choice here Sara. We’re not offering charity, we’re offering help. My dad would probably be willing to adopt you. You could live here and everything would be provided for you. You wouldn’t have to lift a finger ever again. If you go with Sonny, if you become one of us that way, you’ll never get to be a child again. You’ll have to work hard to live. You have no idea what being a mobster means.” Sara replied, “I will learn, won’t I? What you’re offering sounds nice, but I am too old to be adopted any longer. I am not a child anymore. I lost my childhood years ago. If you wanna adopt somebody so badly, adopt Becky. She needs this more than I do.”
Then the door opened and Sonny came in with a tray of food. “I’m sorry if this is too much. Mom said something about fattening you up.” Sara smiled at Sonny. “I need to be fattened up. I am skin and bones now!” The men smiled at her as Sonny set the tray on her lap. “Miss Minchin won’t recognize me when I go back, I’ll be so fat!” she said cheerfully. Sonny raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about, Serita? Surely you’re not going back to that hole.” Sara replied, “I don’t have a choice, Sonny. If I don’t go back, Miss Minchin will find a way to drag me back. Besides, I cannot abandon my friends, especially Becky.” Tom said, “We can take care of Miss Minchin. If you stay here, she will never lay a hand on you again. I’m sure Becky would want you to stay here even if it meant leaving her behind.” Sara said, “That is not good enough! It will be worse for her because Miss Minchin will be angry that I escaped. I cannot leave her in that woman’s hands if I myself am here. When I get better, I will go back there until if and when I get another job. It may be hell living at the school, but it is better than being alone.” Sonny said, “If you think we’re going to let you go so easily, Serita, you’ve got another think coming. I am not going to allow you to go back to working your ass off for no money. I will pay the debt off this afternoon and tell that bitch headmistress you’re not going back.” Sara became incensed. “You can’t keep me here forever, Sonny!” she yelled at him. He turned on her. “Wanna bet, Serita? Now eat before the food gets cold.” Sara began to eat, trying to take her mind off of Sonny. She was soon finished and put the tray aside as she stood. Sonny raised an eyebrow again. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going, Serita?” he asked. “To the window, dumbfuck. I need some air,’ she lied. She nearly sighed at the fact that she was becoming accustomed to lying, which she still thought was vulgar. Sonny believed her and sat on the bed. Tom watched her silently, seemingly calculating every move she made. She could tell he was very intelligent. He was also very good looking. If he didn’t have a wedding ring on his hand, she would want to kiss him. She was becoming quite the adult lady recently. She had had adult thoughts since she had been in India six years ago but she had never come as close to acting on those thoughts as she was now. She certainly had never kissed a man until she kissed Sonny although she had considered it with Ram Dass, who was also very handsome. The closest she had come to anything like sex was when she was in India, she had made some of the manservants touch her in between her legs. She had wanted that in England, but since Miss Minchin did not allow men in the school, she had to suffice by reading erotic novels. As she was thinking all of this, Sara walked over to the window and began to open it. Tom and Sonny both ran over to her. “Serita, don’t.” Sara said, “I told you I wanted air, Sonny.” Tom said. “Yes, but there are a lot of men down there that I’m sure you don’t want to see you in your nightie.” Sara looked out and saw a bunch of men in black outfits. “They’re mobsters right?” she asked, causing Sonny and Tom to nod. “They are guarding this place.” Suddenly Sara felt lightheaded and collapsed, unconscious.
Sara woke up in a different room. She tried to get up only to find she was handcuffed to the bed. She sighed in exasperation, knowing Sonny had done it. She wondered if she could free herself by wriggling her wrists out of the handcuffs that were slightly too big for her small hands. She supposed one benefit to having been starved was that everything was bone thin, including her hands. As she began to attempt to twist out of the cuffs and then wiggled them when that did not work, the door opened. Sara stopped at once, thinking it was either Sonny or Tom, either of whom would see that the cuffs were too loose and tighten them. But to her surprise, an old man came in with a smile on his face. She figured this must be the leader of the mafia as he came over to her. “Hello, Serita. How are you feeling?” Sara smiled, glad he hadn’t mentioned the handcuffs. “I’m doing better. Who are you if you don’t mind me asking?” The man replied, “I am Vito Corleone, the don of this family. I trust you’ve figured out our little business?” Sara nodded as she said, “When I was in Italy with my papa, I saw similar things. In fact, one time when I was in a bakery in Sicily, the owner had to give money to a mysterious man. I know now he was a mobster because papa knew what was happening.” Vito nodded and said, “Speaking of bakeries, I admire what you did at ours. The Tattaglias have not come back there. Emilio said you saved his life.” Sara said, “Wait, the baker is alive? But I thought he died that night!” Vito smiled at her and said, “No, he nearly died. He would be dead if you hadn’t killed those Tattaglias.” Sara liked this man, so she ventured a question, “So, Vito, am I going to live here? Tom said something about me being adopted, but I’d rather return to the school. I have responsibilities there that I cannot abandon. Sonny doesn’t seem to understand that. I do not want to be kept here, certainly. I am beginning to feel like some sort of prisoner. Am I?” She moved so that the handcuffs made a loud noise against the bedframe. Vito sighed. “I didn’t realize Sonny had gone that far. I’m sorry, Serita. You are not a prisoner here. As for adoption, I’m not going to force you into it. It all depends on what you want, Serita.” Sara said, “Frankly, I want a job. Tom said that Sonny would try to recruit me. I am completely willing for that to happen. I need money and I don’t accept charity. I want to be able to be independent and provide for myself and Becky and one day move out of the school. I know I am just thirteen, but I feel ready to be an adult. I feel almost as if I’ve already gone through adolescence when I was very young. Even if my papa had not died, I would feel adult. Albeit I most likely would not be seeking a job at all, let alone in the mafia.” Vito sighed. “Serita, do you really want to kill people for a living? I know you’ve already killed several Tattaglias, but most of those kills were made in a situation where you didn’t have much of a choice. If you become an associate, you’ll have to choose to kill people without a second thought. And not all of them will be rival mobsters. You will at one time or another have to kill civilians who have done nothing wrong. You’ll also have to do the same thing the Tattaglias were trying to do when they broke into that bakery. You’re going to have to do all that and be able to sleep at night. You cannot have a conscience in this line of work.” Sara replied, “My conscience is already slipping away. I think something in me snapped that night I killed those Tattaglias. Or perhaps I never really had a conscience to begin with. Either way, I am fine with killing people and even extorting them. I have often thought I might become an assassin anyway. This is not much different.” Vito said, “Normally, Serita, one does not apply for a position within our family. Normally someone from inside suggests a name and we watch the person for several years to see if they will be a good part of our mafia. But I’m not sure how long Sonny can wait patiently for my decision. So as soon as the doctor says it’s okay, you can go home. I will be in contact soon.” Sara nodded, trying not to be too excited. She was giddy at the prospect of her first real job, and at the prospect of making money that she didn’t have to give to Miss Minchin. “Thank you, Vito! Grazie!” she said in glee. She was so happy that she could barely keep from bouncing up and down. She had never been this happy since she had lost everything. In fact, she hadn’t been so happy since she had been with her papa. She did not know how to deal with such happiness. She knew that she would impress Vito and become a mobster. She did not believe being one was as hard as Tom had led her to believe. If it was that hard, Sonny wouldn’t be one. She hated to admit it, but she knew Sonny was a bit flighty and irresponsible. Perhaps she could keep him grounded. If he wanted to stay with her, he’d have to be. Vito watched her as she thought. She wanted to hug him, but knew that he was going to be her employer soon and that that wasn’t proper conduct of an employee or of a mobster to her don. She knew that kind of relationship was all about respect. Besides, if she gave in to temptation and hugged him, all chance of her being a mobster might disappear. She did not want to seem childish. Still, it seemed tempting. She felt lonely after being a pariah in her own home for so long. She wished Emily was here, but at times not even she was enough. She was only a doll and many times Sara could not imagine otherwise no matter how hard she pretended. “What is the matter, Serita? You seem upset.” Sara nodded, suddenly feeling more alone and abandoned than she had ever felt. She instinctively sat up and brought her knees to her chest, then hugged them and put her head down as tears came down her face. She almost wanted to die right then and there. How long was she going to suffer? This miasma of pain seemed endless. She knew it would be wrong to abandon Becky and her other friends, but was she really going to live for them? Who was she, their mother? She was only thirteen years old; it was ridiculous for her to take on so much responsibility for others. No normal girl would do such a thing. She was not a princess and shouldn’t keep acting like one. She needed to take care of herself before she took care of others. Maybe when she was older, she would have such responsibility, but for now she needed to focus on getting out of the school. Going back now would be suicide, although suicide began to be tempting. Who would blame her? It would be so easy to do, just a bullet to the brain and that would be it. She didn’t have to do this anymore. She had an escape, perhaps her only escape at this point. She knew they’d never let a girl into the mafia. She had tried to join in Sicily only to be laughed at. Nobody cared at all about her anymore. She was nobody’s business. If she died, nobody would mourn. They might even be glad. She knew Miss Minchin would only be unhappy because of the debt. Otherwise she’d be happy to have Sara out of her hair. Lavinia would be beside herself with joy. “What’s the point anymore?” she said aloud. Her whole body shook with the effort it took not to cry. She knew her gun was somewhere in the room. All she needed to do was find it. Suddenly, as she was beginning to plan her suicide, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head to see Vito looking at her concernedly. She asked, “Why do you care? I’m none of your concern,” she said, sure he didn’t really care. Vito replied, “I can tell you’re suffering, Serita. You’ve been through more than anybody should ever have to go through, especially a young woman like you. You don’t have to go through it alone anymore. Even if you don’t become a mobster, we will not abandon you. I know Sonny and Tom both care for you deeply even though they’ve only just met you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re already a part of this family. As such, anything you ever need will be provided. You no longer need to starve and Becky doesn’t either. We will care for her same as you. If you chose to leave the school, you would not have to abandon her.” Sara wanted to believe in him, but all this sudden good fortune seemed too good to be true. She put her knees back down and then she jumped into his arms. He hugged her tightly. She instinctively hugged back, enjoying his male heat. She began to feel similar to how she felt when she had been in Clemenza’s arms. Was this lust? She thought as she began to be wet between her legs. She had never wet herself, but she knew that this was not urine. She had never felt like this since she had forced her manservants in India to touch her down there. She realized this had to be arousal. Curiosity filled her at this new feeling. This was far more intense than in India. She wanted to see how far this would go. With that in mind, she moved so she was sitting with his lap in between her legs, just like she had been sitting with Clemenza. Then she lifted herself up so her head was level with his. Finally, as one of his eyebrows raised, she kissed him, slipping her tongue into his mouth. Vito kissed back, but Sara could tell he was shocked. She could sense a hint of arousal, but that was it. She tried to increase this by putting both her hands under his shirt and rubbing up and down, going gradually lower down his chest. When she reached his pants, she slipped her hands lower. She felt him immediately break the kiss and push her away, but a flush was all over his face. She could tell he wanted her because the second he pushed her away, she had felt him harden in between her legs for a split second. She smiled at him with half-lidded eyes. “You want me,” she stated as she was about to kneel down and continue her exploration of his body, this time with her tongue. She had seen sex in India and knew how it went. She also knew the Korma Sutra very well. But Vito prevented her from doing so. “Serita, don’t do this! I know you’re upset and depressed, but this is not the way to soothe yourself.” Sara frowned, snapping out of her daze a little. “But you want me!” she pointed out. Vito sighed. “Serita, your mind is not clear. You aren’t capable of consent because you are not capable of refusal. One day if you come to me when you are clear-headed and want this, then I will not refuse you. But for now, I am not going to take advantage of you.” Sara was upset that he was refusing her, but she understood why. She knew she ought to be grateful that he was unwilling to take advantage of her like most men would. She yawned, exhausted from all the emotional crap she had just gone through. Vito smiled and laid her back into bed. “Go to sleep, Serita. When you wake, you’ll be able to go home.” Sara smiled and fell asleep.
Sara woke up the next morning with Sonny by her bedside. She smiled at him. He kissed her and said, “You can go home now, Serita. I still think it is bad for you to go back, but I was wrong to force you to stay. The doc says you’re all better and as long as you keep eating like you have been here you’ll make a full recovery.” Sara replied, “You’ll have to help me get food, Sonny. I have no clue how to feed myself. After all, before my papa died, all my meals were given to me on silver platters. And afterwards I was hardly fed at all so I never learned how to get food for myself.” Sonny nodded and said, “Don’t worry, Serita. You’ll learn.” Sara smiled as she stood up. “So where is my dress?” Sonny replied, “I burned the one you were wearing. It was too torn up to be worn anymore. But there are plenty of clothes in that closet over there that you can wear.” Sara walked over to the closet and opened it to reveal that it was full of nice clothes. Sara knew she could not wear any of them, so she sighed and looked for a black one. She easily found what she was looking for and laid it on the bed. Sonny raised an eyebrow. “Seriously, Serita? You’re going to keep wearing black?” Sara replied, “I cannot wear any other color, Sonny. I’ll get into serious trouble if I try.” With that, she stripped off her nightie. Sonny’s mouth fell open in shock. “What? We’re lovers; it isn’t that shocking that I’m willing to be naked in front of you.” Sonny said, “Yes, it is. I like you, Serita, but I’ve never met a woman so comfortable stripping in front of a man.” Sara began to put the dress on when Sonny stopped her. “Wait, Serita. Don’t you need to wear a bra? And panties?” Sara shrugged. “I haven’t worn such things since I grew out of the ones I was wearing on my eleventh birthday.” Sonny was again shocked into silence for a few moments. Then he said, “Well, you can’t go without them. Listen, my sister is here so I’ll see if she has any you can wear. Stay here.” He then walked out the door and closed it.
A few minutes later, the door opened and a man Sara had never seen before came in with a hot pink bra and similar colored panties. Sara backed up, wishing she had locked the door. The man said, “Hi, Serita. My name is Paulie. I heard you needed these.” Sara didn’t know quite what to do. So she smiled and said, “Well, Sonny has already gone to get them for me, so I am not in need right now. I would appreciate it if you left. When Sonny gets back, he might misconstrue the situation and you could get into a lot of trouble.” Paulie smiled and walked closer to her, causing her to step back. He continued walking forward until her back was against the wall. “Stay still, miele.” He said in a tone that made Sara gag as he grabbed her shoulder. Then he slipped his hand down between her legs. “Stop it! Get away from me!” said Sara angrily. “Don’t be like that, sweetheart. We’re just going to have a little fun, like you and Sonny.” As he said this, he slipped one of his fingers inside her, making her cry out in pain. “Ouch! You’re hurting me, dumbfuck! Get off of me right now!” said Sara. She winced as she was slapped across the face. “Shut up!” said Paulie as he slipped another finger inside her while his other hand was caressing her breasts. Then he began to kiss her throat. She screamed as loudly as she could. As she had expected, she was slapped again. She wished she had a gun, but didn’t think there was one in this room. Suddenly, as he was unzipping his pants, he was torn away from her by Tom. “Get the fuck away from her!” said Tom. Sara began to cry in relief, fully aware of what would have happened if Tom had not rescued her. “Are you OK?” he asked in concern. Sara shook her head. “He hurt me down there,” she sobbed, running into Tom’s arms as Sonny came into the room. Sonny saw what had happened and punched Paulie in the nose. “You asshole, how dare you hurt her? You’re in deep shit now. Didn’t you know that she is the don’s protégé?” Paulie gasped in shocked horror. “I never knew! She didn’t say anything!” Sonny said, “I don’t blame her. Look at you; your fingers are soaked in her blood! She was gonna go home today, but that might not happen because of the blood loss you caused. I can’t believe you had a finger inside her like that when she is clearly a virgin and clearly didn’t want you. I honestly don’t know what the Don will do to your sorry ass when he finds this out.” Tom sat Sara on the bed as Sonny kicked Paulie out of the room. “I’m sorry this happened, Serita. I mean we always knew Paulie was a bad egg, but we never expected something like this. He will be punished severely. But for now, we need to have the doctor up here to have a look at you.” Sara sighed in resignation. “Damn it, Tom, I thought I was actually going to get to go home soon.” Tom said, “I know, Serita. I’m sorry.” Sara said, “No, it’s my fault. I ought to have kicked his ass as soon as he laid a finger on me, but I just stood there letting it happen!” Tears stung her eyes. Why hadn’t she beaten the shit out of him when she had the chance? She felt disappointed in herself. Suicide once again seemed like a good answer. If she couldn’t even defend herself, what the fuck was she doing trying to join the mafia? She was sure if Connie had been in a similar situation, Paulie would at least have a broken nose. She chided herself for being so weak. “This is not your fault, Serita! None of this is your fault. This is Paulie’s fault. He’s the one who harmed you. And you didn’t let it happen, you screamed for help. Serita, you were very brave, especially when you were unarmed. It must have been scary as fuck having his hands all over you,” said Sonny. Tom, who was holding her, said, “Sonny’s right, honey. Listen to me, Serita. You did the best you could in that situation. Paulie would’ve kicked your ass if you tried to beat him up. You did the right thing in screaming for help. You’re a smart girl, smart enough to know how to pick your battles. What you lack in brute strength, you more than make up for in intelligence.” Sara felt much better after hearing this and hugged Tom tightly. “You guys always know what to say. For a minute there, I was considering suicide!” Tom sighed as he held her while Sonny seemed more shocked. Tom asked, “Have you ever thought of suicide before, Serita?” Sara liked that he seemed so calm. She replied honestly, “Yes, when I was with Vito. I had started to feel really lonely, like nobody cared. Vito made it go away, but I was planning to commit suicide for a few moments.” Tom said, “You need help if you keep thinking of suicide, Serita. I understand that you’ve had no positive human contact since you were eleven, but suicide is not the answer. I don’t know how to make you understand that, especially when such bad things keep happening to you.” Sara wanted to kiss him. She wondered if he would kiss back like Vito did. “Has anyone told Vito yet?” she asked, trying to get Sonny out of the room. Sonny said, “Connie was with me when you screamed. I think she went to tell Dad.” Sara was disappointed that her plan failed, but decided to try again. “And who locked up Paulie so he can’t flee?” Sonny replied, “What does it matter? He’s going to be punished no matter where he goes.” Tom said, “Damn it, Sonny! Go get Paulie and drag his ass back here! We don’t want him going into hiding to avoid punishment.” Sonny rolled his eyes as he walked out of the room and closed the door again.
As soon as Sonny was out of earshot, Sara gently extricated herself from Tom’s arms. Then she sat on his lap, her legs straddling his. “Serita, what are you doing?” asked Tom, partially amused. Sara answered his question by kissing his lips. He kissed back gently. She could tell he didn’t understand why she was kissing him when she had just been sexually assaulted. It did hurt a little as she moved her hips against his, but it also felt very good as their tongues played. This time she kept her hands on his chest, trying to prolong the kiss for as much as possible. But after a few minutes of it, she got bored and pushed him down so that he was lying on the bed. “Put your hands on me, Tom,” she whispered. He hesitated before running his hand down her back, the other hand in her hair. He then moved his hand along her breast, making her moan in pleasure. This felt very different then when Paulie had done the same. It actually felt good. Sara wanted more as she became wet again. Tom noticed this and smiled. “Serita, what’s going on? You’ve just been nearly raped and yet you want me to touch you in the same way,” he asked, caressing her back again. Sara couldn’t think of a response so she kissed him again, this time putting her hands under his shirt. She felt him harden as she moved her hands lower. Suddenly, as she was about to put her hands down his pants, the door opened and Sonny walked in with a woman Sara figured must be his sister Connie. They both stopped in shock at seeing Sara and Tom kissing. Connie cleared her throat loudly when the kiss didn’t immediately stop. Sara sat up at once, trying to appear as if she hadn’t just been kissing a married man after her sexual assault. “Hello, you must be Connie!” she said cheerfully, smiling. Connie raised an eyebrow. “Hey, Serita. The doctor is on his way down here. Dad and Paulie are ‘talking’ right now in his office. I’m really sorry this happened.” Sonny said, “Do we need to give you and Tom some alone time? Maybe an hour?” Tom blushed scarlet at this and glared at Sonny. Sara giggled, not knowing how else to respond. Then she said, “I feel fine. I’m not sure I need to be seen.” She then got up shakily and got dressed in the underwear Sonny had brought in, then she put her dress on. “Where the hell do you think you’re going, Serita?” asked Sonny. Sara replied, “I’m going home. It’s been nice here, but I need to go home now so Becky and my friends won’t worry any longer.” As she said this she put on stockings and nice new brown boots she also found in the closet. “Serita, you’re bleeding. At least let the doc look at you. Paulie may have caused a tear or something.” Sara shook her head. “No, he didn’t do that. I’m just on my menses. I had had it before Papa died but it stopped short when I stopped eating properly. It must have returned since I’m healthier now.”
Sonny rolled his eyes. “Don’t fight this, Serita! Now sit back down.” Sara did not like to be ordered around, especially not by her lover. She was about to walk out the door when the doctor came in. He made Sara sit down. “Does it hurt anywhere?” he asked. Sara was very angry now and said, “No, I’m fine! Would everyone stop treating me like a fucking invalid? I don’t need to be seen! I want to go home!” The doctor sighed and said, “Fine. I can’t force you to stay here. I just hope that if you find that you are hurt, you come back for treatment.” Sara did not answer him as she ran out the door and slammed it.
Sara arrived home several hours later. She once again entered through the servants’ entrance into the kitchen. She stopped when she saw the cook scolding Becky. “Don’t tell falsehoods, young lady! Get back to doing the dishes, lazy wretch!” Sara froze, suddenly not sure coming back had been such a good idea after all. Then she gathered her courage and walked forward. “Cook, I’m home!” she said. The cook turned with a shocked expression on her round face. “Sara Crewe, I half thought you’d died out there! What were you doin’, lookin’ for diamonds?” Sara ignored the jab and said sweetly, “Well I’m back now. What needs to be done?” The cook frowned at not getting a reaction and said, “Go clean the girls’ rooms. This lazy wretch is still doing the dishes from dinner.” Sarah nodded and curtsied before grabbing the coal scuttle and going upstairs.
None of the girls seemed to notice Sara as she performed various tasks for the cook with remarkable celerity. She was so fast that everything was ready for the night three hours before bedtime, leaving the cook and the maids speechless from shock. “I’m done with what you asked, Cook!” said Sara with a real grin on her face. She was glad to be out of bed. She felt exhilarated by all the running she was doing. The cook regained her senses and said, “Well, ain’t you fast? I can’t believe I am saying this, but good girl! That vacation really paid off. I guess there ain’t nothing to be done now but wait for bedtime.” Sara grinned wider at the unexpected praise. “Thank you, cook! I never knew running around was so fun!” The cook said, “Well, you better get to bed now so you can be like this tomorrow too.” Sara agreed and ran upstairs where Becky was waiting for her. “Hello, Becky!” she said cheerfully. Becky looked at her in shock. “Sara, is that you? I haven’t seen you look so well in years!” Sara said, “I’ve never felt so well in years. I feel like I could run for miles and miles!” She sat on the rock-hard bed beside Becky. “Listen, Becky. I have a new friend who is very wealthy. He is going to ensure neither of us starve ever again! I am his son’s protégé.” Becky grinned for the first time since Sara had lost her papa. “Really, miss? Is that where you got that pretty new dress?” Sara nodded and replied, “Yes, Becky. I have a whole closetful of clothes at the man’s house. And his son and I are also lovers. But today, I kissed his brother Tom and Tom kissed back! I wonder how far we would have gone had Sonny not come into the room.” Becky giggled. “Are you going to see him again, miss?” she asked. Sara nodded. “He should come here tomorrow morning with our breakfast. Then I’ll be out all day learning my new job, so I’ll have to get up extra early to get my work done by then.” Sara sighed in content. Her life had become quite different from the hell it had been a few months ago. “Let’s go to sleep, Becky. Tomorrow I shall ask Vito for better beds for us.” Sara lay down and fell into a happy sleep.
The next morning, Sara was woken up rather rudely with a slap by Miss Minchin. “Get up!” she yelled. Sara got up. Miss Minchin gasped at seeing Sara’s new dress. “Where in the world did you get that? You stole it, didn’t you?” Sara nearly rolled her eyes at the old routine. “No, Vito gave it to me. He’s Sonny’s father. I was at his house after fainting a few months ago from hunger.” Sara was slapped again. “Don’t tell falsehoods, young lady! I found a wallet up here after you left. It was full of money. Where did you get that? Did you pick somebody’s pocket?” Sara said confidently, “What are you going to do, Ma’am, call the police?” Miss Minchin replied, “I already did, but they were paid off by your new friends. But why did you come back?” Sara replied honestly, “I couldn’t abandon Becky.” Miss Minchin said, “Well, get dressed. You might as well get up now. Last time your friend came here you were gone for a month. You’d better not do that again! The next time you’re gone for more than a day, I’ll send Becky to the workhouse and you’ll never see her again! Do you understand?” Sara said, “Yes, Ma’am. I understand.” Miss Minchin said, “Good. See that you remember it! You are not a princess, Sara. Things don’t happen because you want them to.” Sara accepted this, determined to get Becky out of the school as soon as possible. She would not allow her friend to suffer any more than she had to. Then she went downstairs to begin work.
Sara sped through the morning chores although she was beginning to be hungry again. She wondered if Sonny was coming back at all as she looked at the clock. It was already noon. Had he forgotten about her? Suddenly, as she was walking to the schoolroom to teach the alphabet class, there was a loud knock at the door. She ran to the door and opened it, hoping it was Sonny. She was disappointed when instead of Sonny, a man in a black outfit was standing there, a plate of food in his hands. “Good morning, Serita!” he said with a smile. She knew he must be a Corleone. “Good morning. I thought Sonny was going to bring me food today.” The man said, “Sorry, but Sonny is busy on an important errand so he sent me. My name is Giovanni, by the way. Here’s some food. Sorry it’s kinda late for breakfast.” Sara took the food and noted there was not enough for two people. “What about Becky? Where’s her lunch? Vito said that we both would be provided for.” Sara frowned, beginning to be upset. Giovanni said, “It must have slipped Sonny’s mind. Listen, you eat this and I’ll come back with food for Becky.” Sara did not trust this man yet and said, “No. I’ll give this to Becky and you take me to get food.” The man shrugged as Sara called over to Lottie, who had been sent to see what was keeping Sara. “Here, Lottie, give this to Becky. Do you know where she is?” Lottie nodded. “But Mama Sara, we’re not supposed to give servants food!” Sara replied, “Well you’ve given me food and I’m a servant, so this is okay.” Lottie accepted this and took the food away. Giovanni smiled at her and motioned for her to follow him. “Here, let’s go eat,” he said cheerfully.
After she ate, Sara walked to the park to see Clemenza was there waiting for her. He smiled at her as she walked over. “Hey, Serita. How are you doin? I ain’t seen you in a while.” Sara replied, “I’m doing well. Who knew picking that guy’s pocket would lead to all of this?” Clemenza said, “That’s why I’m here, Serita. I’m going to teach you the ropes of being one of us. But from now on, no more stealing. And never tell anybody about our little operation, capiche? We got enough attention from the police as it is. As long as you don’t do those two things and as long as you keep making us money, you’ll be made in no time.” Sara nodded. “How do I make money?” she asked. Clemenza answered, “By extorting merchants. The more people you extort, the more money we make. Here, let me show you how it’s done.” Sara followed Clemenza to the butcher’s shop nearby. He then led her inside. The owner rolled his eyes at seeing them. “Listen, I’m not interested. I don’t pay nobody!” Clemenza said, “Now, Serita, show him who he’s dealin’ with.” Sara nodded, walked up to the man, and punched him in the jaw. Clemenza said, “Nice one, kid.” The man seemed shocked beyond his ability to cope that a little girl was hitting him in an attempt to extort him for the mafia. Sara took advantage of this and punched him again, this time in the nose. “You want me to have to escalate this?” she asked in a menacing tone, pulling her fist back as if she was going to hit him again. He cowered in fear. “You win! I’ll pay. Just stop hurting me.” Sara lowered her fist. “That’s more like it!” Sara stepped back as the man got some money and gave it to her. She gave it to Clemenza. “Here, uncle.” Clemenza smiled at her and said, “Good job, kid! But not everybody is gonna be so easy to extort as this guy. He was already kind of on our side, so it was easy to ‘convince’ him.” Sara said, “So what’s next?” Clemenza replied, “Now we’re going to another business.” Sara nodded as she and Clemenza left the butchery.
Clemenza led Sara to a nearby deli. “Now you try doing it by yourself. I’ll be waiting out here. If something goes wrong in there, don’t be afraid to come get me.” Sara said, “I’ll be fine, Uncle Clemenza.” She smiled at him then she walked calmly into the deli. She noticed several Tattaglias standing around, guns in their hands. She ignored them as she walked up to the counter. The owner smiled at her, unaware that she was a Corleone associate. He said, “Hello, sweetie. What can I get you today?” Sara decided to play along and said, “How about some salami on rye?” The man smiled at her and said, “Good choice, princess.” Sara blushed. Everyone called her that, especially shop owners. She had thought that it would stop when she lost all her money, but it never did. As the man went to get what she requested, she looked over at the Tattaglias and winked. They immediately frowned, knowing who she was. “So the bitch decided to screw with us again, eh?” said one of them with a raised eyebrow. Sara could tell that he was trying to act nonchalant, but she could see the fear in his eyes. She acted like she hadn’t heard him. She took out some money as the owner came back with the sandwich. He shook his head. “No, princess. It’s on the house this time.” Sara smiled, wondering if he knew she planned to harm him. She put the money back into her pocket and sat down with her sandwich at a table. The Tattaglias were obviously confused. Then, as they looked at each other, Sara pulled out her gun and shot one of them in the leg. He screamed in pain as he fell to the floor. The Tattaglias jumped into action, but Sara jumped under the table and shot several. Then while they were on the ground she ran over and shot each one of them in the head, sending blood spattering onto her. Then she turned to the owner. “Pay up, fuck!” she said, pointing the gun at him. The man put his hands in the air. “Stop this! Just leave me alone!” he said. Sara walked behind the counter. “Than pay me what I want. That’s all you have to do.” The man nodded and got some money and handed it to Sara. Sara nodded. “Good man,” she said with a smile as she reached in and grabbed some salami before walking out.
Clemenza was standing there with a raised eyebrow. He said, “Serita, I liked how you handled those Tattaglias in there. But I think you might’ve gone a little too far. You should try not to make blood baths in our businesses cuz then we have to clean it up and it makes customers not want to come in there. So next time, just shoot them in the heads and be done with it.” Sara nodded. Clemenza added, “Serita, where did you get that meat?” Sara replied sheepishly, “I stole it.” Clemenza said, “Did I not tell you to stop stealing?” Sara nodded. “You did. I thought it was all right since I was extorting him anyway.” Clemenza sighed. “Listen, it’s not ok to steal, even if it’s one of our businesses, because then you’re basically stealing from us. The only way you’re going to rise through this family is through earning respect, and nobody respects a thief. Just keep that in mind as you extort businesses, Serita.” Sara nodded as she suddenly felt very tired. She leaned against Clemenza with a yawn. Clemenza said, “You tired already, Serita? Are you feeling all right?” Sara said, “I am very sleepy all of a sudden. I also feel light headed.” Clemenza immediately sat her down on a bench. “Here, Serita. I don’t want you to collapse again.” Sara suddenly wanted him to touch her. She wished Sonny was around. “Uncle Clemenza, could you do something for me? It might help me feel less sleepy.” Clemenza replied, “Anything you need, Serita. That’s what I’m here for, to make sure you have what you need.” Sara nodded and was glad that there was nobody in sight as she motioned for Clemenza to come closer. When he did, she asked, “Is there a place where the two of us can be alone? I want you to do something nobody else needs to see.” Clemenza clearly understood what she wanted and said, “Here, Serita. I know of a place nearby.”
Clemenza led her a few blocks away to what looked like an apartment. “There’s a nice room in here,” he said as he led her inside. Then she followed him up the stairs and into a bedroom with a nice green bed. Sara waited for Clemenza to close and lock the door then she ran into his arms and kissed him. He kissed back as he sat her on the bed. Then he sat down too and pulled her into his lap. Sara immediately smiled as she put her hands under his shirt as much as she could with his trench coat on. He chuckled at her as he unbuttoned it and took it off. She grinned at him as she grabbed his shirt and pulled him into another kiss. “Put your hands on me, Clemenza!” she said breathlessly in between kisses. He ran his hands along her small body, making Sara moan a little in pleasure. Then he trailed kisses down her throat. Sara wondered whether they would go all the way here. She ran her small hands through his dark hair as he licked her collarbone. “You’re still too thin,” he said. Sara replied, “I’ve only had lunch today and that salami.” Clemenza stopped and looked up at her. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry I snapped at you about stealing. You didn’t have a choice. But from now on, tell me if you’re hungry, OK? It isn’t fair for you to starve. Besides, you can’t get any work done without enough food. That may be why you overdid it at the deli. You weren’t thinking straight.” Sara put her hands into his pants. “Am I thinking clearly now, sir?” she asked against his face, licking his cheek with every syllable. “Now you’re just asking for trouble, Serita. Do you really want this? I don’t want you to feel pressured into sleeping around to get food.” Tears stung Sara’s green-grey eyes as she pulled back. She ought to have known no man in his right mind would want her. She must really look like a child for every man she had ever tried to sleep with to reject her outright. First Vito and then Clemenza. It was too much for her sore pride to handle. “I’m sorry. I know I must look like an odd child trying to be an adult. I know I am ugly. I-“ Clemenza stopped her midsentence with a kiss. “Serita, this has nothing to do with your looks! If you want me to fuck you, I have no objections. But I need to know how far you want this to go, Serita.” Sara sighed a little and answered honestly, “I want this lust to be relieved. I’m not familiar enough with sex to know how to do that. But I want to maintain my virginity, if such a thing is possible. That may be the last thing I have left of my innocence and I want to cling to it for as long as possible. I know that probably sounds silly and naïve, but it’s the one thing that keeps me from losing everything and becoming some mindless killing machine. I have nothing else left to pin my sanity on.” Clemenza nodded and smiled at her again then he started where he had left off sucking her collarbone. Then he put his hand down her panties and played with his finger in her clit. Sara moaned in pleasure after a split second of fear. She sighed in relief when he didn’t hurt her. Clemenza heard this and said, “Listen. I’m sorry about Paulie. I knew he was bad with women, but I never imagined he’d try to rape one.” Sara said. “I’m all right now. Let’s try to forget about Paulie for a few minutes, all right? I want my first sexual experience untainted by memories of him.” Clemenza smiled at her. Sara could tell he was amazed by how resilient she was after being sexually assaulted. Most girls would need serious help after such an event, but Sara had learned a long time ago to be self-reliant. She was beginning to trust the Corleones, but she knew she needed to still rely on herself first. If other people helped her, that was great, but she couldn’t depend on that. She was distracted from her reverie when Clemenza’s mouth reached her breast. He pulled down her dress to reveal the light pink bra Connie had given her. It was a little too big for her breasts. Clemenza skillfully unfastened it as if he’d done this a thousand times before. Sara wondered if he cheated regularly on his wife or if he and his wife just had an active sex life. Clemenza licked her nipple and made circles in it with his tongue. Sara moaned loudly as he continued this then began to suckle on her nipple. Her hand gripped the back of his head. “Clemenza,” she moaned as he kissed down her breasts. He smiled up at her and winked before continuing his assault, licking her belly button like it had honey in it. She screamed in pleasure, unable to keep quiet. “Your wife must be one happy woman,” said Sara, making Clemenza laugh aloud. “I try to keep her happy, Sara,” he managed to say through his laughter. Then he licked her clit, sticking his tongue deep inside her. Sara moaned in pleasure. She could feel she was close to climaxing. “I’m going to cum, Clemenza!” she said. Clemenza replied, “Cum for me then, Serita!” Sara screamed as her back arched in orgasm. Then she fell back into the pillow, exhausted. She wanted to fall asleep, but just as her eyelids closed, she remembered Miss Minchin’s warning and her eyes flew open. Clemenza was watching her. “You should sleep. You look exhausted, Tesoro. It isn’t healthy for you to run around when you’re that tired. From now on, no more overworking, OK? You’re not a slave.” Sara replied, “But I have to get back home! Miss Minchin will be furious that I am so late back!” Clemenza raised an eyebrow. “So what, sweetheart? If she throws you out, she’ll have hell to pay and she knows it. Just rest here.” Sara was now fighting sleep. “You don’t understand,” she said groggily, “It is not me I am worried for, it is Becky! If I am gone for more than a day, she’ll put Becky in the workhouse and I’ll never see her again!” Clemenza replied, “No, she won’t. The Don has arranged it so that Becky is seen as your sister, and thus one of us. Also, Miss Minchin has been informed of Becky’s status change. She will not dare do anything to Becky for fear of us, Serita, so go to sleep now.” Sara nodded and fell asleep as Clemenza stroked her face like a lover would.
Sara woke up in a nice warm bed. At first she did not know where she was. Then she looked around and realized she was in the attic. She sat up and saw that nothing was changed. In fact, she could still feel the rock hard mattress underneath her, as if all they’d done was put some sheets and blankets on top of it. She figured they were still trying to convince her to move out. She sighed, wishing they’d understand that she couldn’t leave until she had a more solid foothold in the mafia. After her training was through and she became a permanent part of the Corleones, then she could think about leaving. But for now, she needed to stay here while she was trained. She got up out of bed to find she was wearing a black nightie that was very short and very low cut, making her blush. She then saw several pretty black dresses hanging on hangers. She also saw some shelves by the wall with various undergarments on them. Sara blushed again at seeing her underwear in such plain view. She knew than anyone who came up here would be able to see them, including Sonny whom she planned on bringing up here to sleep with. She had to remedy that immediately. She still had some remnants of a proper young lady, after all. She was not a harlot. She wondered who had done all this as she opened an old trunk to see several books. She lifted the books and gasped to see Emily lying there, a huge crack in her head. Sara lifted Emily out and gently ran her finger along the crack. Suddenly she cut herself and blood trickled down the doll’s porcelain face. Sara ignored the bleeding and picked Emily up in her arms, wishing she had glue to fix her. The crack was very unsightly, like a huge scar. It was too long to cover up with any sort of bandage and Emily’s hair did not conceal it either. Sara sat Emily on the bed as she contemplated what to do. She then put the underclothes in the trunk and put the books on the shelves. As she was about to get dressed, there was a knock on the door. Sara stopped. Nobody knocked on this door except for Becky and she was asleep in the room next door. Sara supposed that Lottie or Emerngarde might knock, but they never came up when Sara was in the attic. Sara looked outside and noted it was dark outside. She wondered how long she had been asleep. As she was wondering this, the knock sounded again. “Who is it?” she asked, hoping that it was Sonny. She missed him very much. A feminine voice dashed her hopes, saying, “It’s Emerngarde, Sara.” Sara put a smile on her face although she was extremely disappointed that it was not Sonny. She then walked over and opened the door. “Hello, Ermie!” she said cheerfully. Ermie looked around in awe of the changed room even though not many things had been added. “Sara, where did you get these nice things?” Sara replied, “I suppose the family gave them to me. They know I’ve been going around without proper clothing and don’t like it.” Sara shrugged. She did not want to tell Ermie what she had done to earn the family’s attention. Ermie was so innocent that Sara vowed she would never know anything of Sara’s real life. She certainly would never know of the joy Sara was beginning to find in murder, or the way she liked getting spattered in blood. It was almost too much for Sara’s psyche to handle; it would shatter Ermie’s sanity if such things were ever revealed. Sara decided instead to make up a fantasy life and pretend it was real. Ermie asked, “What family?” Sara replied, “The family I met when I fainted from hunger some months ago. The son of the family found me and took me in. When his family learned how I was made to live here, they were so aghast that they decided to adopt me. But Miss Minchin won’t let them. She’s going to court to keep me because they won’t back down. So I suppose until they get custody of me, they are providing for me as best they can without attracting Miss Minchin’s attention.” Ermengarde gasped in awe of the story, just like Sara knew she would. Sara continued, “The man who rescued me is very handsome. His name is Sonny and he and I are in love.” Ermie was by this time sitting on the bed, listening raptly to Sara talk.
Sara spoke for hours, making up the details of her life as she went along. She barely even noticed the passage of time as she wove her web of lies. For a little while, she felt as if she were a princess again, telling marvelous stories of love and adventure. She had not told such stories since her papa died. She didn’t even notice as Becky came in and sat by Ermie, although this ought to have been a warning that it was getting late for Ermengarde to be out of bed. Suddenly there was another knock at the door, snapping Sara out of her fantasy world and quite rudely back into reality. She started in shock when she saw the sun beginning to stream through the skylight. Sara realized that it was morning. Then she looked at Ermie who had fallen asleep listening to Sara. Miss Minchin would be out of her mind with anger when Ermie was found to be here. Sara ignored the knocking and ran over to her friend and gently shook her awake. “Ermie, wake up!” she whispered as loudly as she dared. Ermie woke up. Her blue eyes widened as she slowly realized the situation. “Ermie, you need to go to bed NOW!” Forget about everything else; just get down there as fast as you can!” Ermie nodded and got up as the door opened and a man walked in. Sara jumped back and put her arms over her exposed breasts. The man turned beet red at seeing her so scantily clad. “I’m sorry, miss! I thought you were dressed! “ He then was about to exit the room when Sara stopped him. “Wait a minute! Would you help Ermie get back downstairs without being caught? When you get back, I will be dressed.” The man agreed although Sara could tell he was still startled at having his arm grabbed by a woman in lingerie. He then set his parcels down on a table and escorted Emerngarde out of the room.
As soon as the door was closed, Sara took her nightie off and quickly got dressed in a taffeta dress. Then she put on nice black boots that reached her knees. Then she sat down to wait for the man to return. She then got up and climbed up to the skylight. She wondered if Ram Dass was up in his attic. She opened the skylight and was delighted to see that Ram Dass’ skylight was open too. Hopeful, Sara whistled the low coaxing whistle she used for the sparrows and for Mel. She did this for several minutes until she heard a knock on the door. She knew it was the man so she sighed in resignation, hating to give up. She was about to get down when a sound caught her ear. She turned back around to see Ram Dass standing there. He smiled when he saw her. She grinned back at him. She wanted to run and hug him. She liked him a lot, and she thought he liked her too. She felt her heart pound in her chest as he salaamed her. She felt like he was greeting her as a lover. She salaamed him and said, “Namaste!” She wanted to leap into his arms and press her mouth to his, but she settled for winking at him. He was at first surprised and then he winked back. Encouraged, Sara ran her hands over her breasts and over her feminine hips with an expression that said, “You want this?” Ram Dass nodded and blew Sara a kiss that made her wet. She was about to jump across to him, but then she looked down and saw Paulie standing there, looking up at her with lust in his eyes. She screamed in terror and jumped back down into her attic as the door burst open and the man came in and caught her as she lost her footing and fell. “What happened, Serita?” he asked as she clung to him in fear. “I saw Paulie down there, watching me! He had such a frightening look on his face, just like in the Corleone’s house!” The man patted her back. “He was supposed to stay away from you, Principessa. In fact, his finger’s been cut off by the Don because of what he did to you. If he ever goes within five feet of you, I don’t even know the punishment he’ll get. I’m surprised the Don let him live, to be honest. Rats like him don’t deserve life.” Sara nodded, still shaken. But she took a deep breath and composed herself, not letting her fear and discomfort show. She had to be tough if she was going to be in the mafia, and that started now. This was not pretending to be a princess, but it was damn near it. She could not whine or cry in the face of adversity like any other girl would. She was a woman now, not a little girl. She was the unconquerable Sara once again as the man unpacked the parcel to reveal food. “Here, this is your breakfast and Becky’s. I was sent up here to make sure you ate before your day began. My name is Vinny, by the way.” Sara waited patiently as he set the food out. “Sorry if it’s kind of cold now. It was hot when I first came up here,” said Vinny. When he was done, he stepped back and motioned for Sara to eat. “Dig in, Principessa,” he said. Sara nodded and knelt down at the table. Vinny said, “Sorry for not having any chairs, Principessa.” Sara replied, “That’s all right. In India my papa and I sat on cushions around the table. If someone were to cut the legs off of this table and off of the footstool, it might work though there would need to be an additional cushion for Becky and others to sit on. Ideally I would like to be able to entertain guests up here with Indian food. Is there a way for that to happen?” Vinny replied, “I’ll look into that. For now though, there is an Indian restaurant that just got set up over on Mott street. I bet you could convince Clemenza to take you there for lunch.” Sara became beside herself with joy at the prospect of eating Indian food again, “It’ll almost be like I’m back home!” she told Vinny as she began to eat the cold eggs, not noticing the temperature. She was so used to eating scraps of food that it was a pure delight to eat mouthfuls of rich eggs, even if they were cold. She scarfed down the whole meal in under a minute, forgetting to be polite. When she was finished Vinny was smiling at her in delight. She smiled back at him. “Thank you for the food,” she said warmly. “No problem, Principessa. Just seeing you eat like that is thanks enough. It makes me feel good to help you.” Sara understood completely and stood up after cleaning her face with a napkin. “One of these days I’m going to have to bathe properly. It is not all right for me to go around like this. I will get an infection before too long if I don’t get to wash myself.” Vinny frowned in concern. “Hey, don’t worry about that, Principessa. I’ll make sure you get a bath as soon as possible.” Sara nodded as she followed him out of the attic and down the stairs. When they were outside, Paulie was gone and Clemenza was waiting for her.
“Hey, Serita. How was your breakfast?” Sara replied, “It was delicious, Clemenza! So where are we going first today?” Clemenza replied, “We’re going over to Fifth Avenue. I thought I’d let you try something a little more challenging today. You see, some business are fronts for rackets.” He then handed her a wallet. Sara opened it to see it had some cash in it. “That’s the money from the wallet you stole. You’ll need it to bribe the racket owner. If he likes you, that is. If you can get him to respect you, you can buy him out. But sometimes they won’t respect you and you’ll have to get rough with them. But always try to buy them out first. If you hurt the owner, you won’t get as big of a payout each week.” Sara nodded. She walked closely to Clemenza. He was like an uncle to her. “Hey Uncle, for dinner tonight let’s go to that Indian restaurant on Mott.” Clemenza replied, “Okay. That sounds interesting.” Sara could tell he did not like the idea very much, but that he was humoring her. “Don’t worry, Indian food is delicious! Trust me, I was raised in Delhi!” Clemenza’s mouth nearly fell open at this revelation. “You were born in India?” he asked. Sara answered, “Yes, Uncle Clemenza. I was born to my mama who died in childbirth and my papa who was a captain in Her Majesty’s army. I was seven when I came to live in London at Miss Minchin’s school. When I was ten, my papa died of jungle fever and I became a pauper. He had lost all his money investing in false diamond mines. His friend tricked him and then ran away, leaving my papa penniless and me with a huge debt to pay off.” Clemenza was speechless for a few moments, then he said, “I’m sorry you had to go through all that shit, kid. I’m surprised you’re doing as well as you are. Most people would just give up in that sort of situation. But you’re doing the best you can to survive and even take care of your friend. You’ve got moxie, kid. The boss was right in letting you join the family.” Sara smiled as Clemenza then hugged her. When he let her go a few moments later, Sara said, “So when is Sonny going to come along? I miss him very much. Besides, I want to teach him the new sex moves you taught me.” Clemenza blushed hotly as he said, “Sonny is out of town for the rest of the summer. The Don has decided that Sonny would be a bad influence during your training. He’ll come back after your training is finished. If you’re good, I’ll teach you even more sex moves, ones that will make Sonny go out of his mind for you.” He winked at her as she froze in horror. She wanted to cry as the words sunk in and her heart shattered. She missed Sonny so much that she could not imagine even another day without him, let alone two months. Her lip quivered and she shook with the effort it took not to break down and burst into tears.
She sighed deeply, pushing all negative feelings into the back of her mind. Then she pasted a smile on her face. Then she winked at Clemenza and said in a silky voice, “That sounds fun.” Clemenza said, “Serita, I’m sorry about Sonny, but the last thing you need during your training is his influence. You can’t go around randomly shooting Tattaglias like you were with him. If it makes you feel any better, he was just as upset when the don told him to go to New Jersey for the summer as you are now. Besides, you’ll get over it in a few days or so.” Sara was tempted to lie, but she instead decided to be honest. “Frankly, I feel like I’ll never recover from this. I know that’s odd to be so upset over a boy I just met a few months ago, but I like him a lot. Besides, he is really hot! But I do understand why he had to leave. He is impulsive to the point of being dangerous and I do not want to become that. I would prefer it if he were a little more grounded, but I suppose I’ll take what I can.” Clemenza hugged her again and said, “You’re a smart girl, Serita. You’ve got a good mix of both smarts and moxie and at such a young age too. Thirteen year old girls are not usually so brave or so intelligent. Most girls your age are in school, not thinking beyond their friends and that dreamy boy in their class. You’re amazing to be such an adult.” Sara said, “I’ve been adult for years now. I first started growing up when I was six years old. That’s when I made the manservants in my house touch me in between my legs.” Clemenza’s brown eyes widened in shock at this statement. Sara smiled. “Sorry I keep shocking you, Clemenza,” she said in a saucy tone, causing Clemenza to burst out laughing. He said, “Here we are, Sweetie. Go on in there and kick some ass!” Sara made sure nobody was looking and then reached up and kissed Clemenza on the mouth as her hands rested on his ass. Then she walked into the hotel, leaving him blushing hotly.
Sara walked into the lobby, her hand on her gun. She was surprised to not see Tattaglias swarming the place. In fact, there was not another mobster in sight. The whole place was dead and that alone made Sara uneasy. She knew this was highly abnormal for there to be nobody here. She slowly put her gun back in her pocket as she crept behind the counter and opened the office door. A man was sitting at the desk, obviously occupied with his thoughts. “You look like you have something on your mind, sir. Is it something I can help with?” asked Sara. The man looked up and said, “You’re with the Corleones, right?” Sara nodded and answered honestly, “That’s right. I joined a few days ago.” The man sighed. “Well, there’s these guys upstairs that won’t pay rent and won’t leave. If you could get them out of here, I would be willing to give you some of my income each week.” Sara was delighted at this, but hid her feelings behind a slight smile. “I’ll do it, sir,” she said calmly. The man smiled at her as she left the room and went towards the doors that led to the stairs. She wondered what the two other doors led to, but she decided there wasn’t time right now to explore. She would do that later. For now, she climbed the stairs until she reached the second floor. She could hear laughter from one of the rooms. She flung the door open, her gun out and ready. She saw there were several people there, all very poorly dressed and filthy. She could tell they lived on the street, just like she almost had. If Miss Minchin had not allowed her to stay at the school, she would be in the exact same situation as these people. And who was to say she would not try to stay in a nice hotel too? She suddenly had a moral dilemma on her hands. On the one hand these people were standing between her and the owner’s loyalty to the Corleones. But on the other hand, they were human beings who were in a similar situation to hers. Hers had just turned out differently. She had no right to judge these people. She certainly had no right to harm them because they were trying their best to survive. She sighed and wondered whether it would be best to just go down and beat the crap out of the owner. She pushed that thought out of her head, knowing that she couldn’t. She had to kick these people out, no matter how hard it was or how much it hurt her. She sighed and pointed her gun and fired, shooting the wall. “Get the fuck out of here!” she yelled at the people, almost not hearing herself. They looked at her and one of them went over and punched her, making her lip stream blood. She punched back again and again until the man stopped moving. “Who’s next?!?” she asked in a shrill voice. The people swarmed her and it was all she could do to stay alive for the few moments it took for her to get her gun out and start shooting. Soon all the people in the room were dead. Tears streamed down her bruised face as she fell to her knees and pointed the gun at her own head. She shook as her finger reached the trigger. “Papa, I’ll see you soon,” she said although she barely believed it. If there was such a thing as heaven, she would never be allowed in. She had committed more sins in one week than most people committed in their entire lives. But she didn’t believe in sins. She didn’t even believe in God anymore. She supposed that made it easier for her to murder people. She sat there for several minutes with the gun raised to her temple and her finger on the trigger before realizing she couldn’t do it. She could not kill herself. She put the gun away, knowing it was useless to try any longer. She felt like a coward for not having the balls to do it. What was she so afraid of? She didn’t believe in Hell. Death was nothing she was unfamiliar with either. She sighed and stood up. Then she walked out the door to look for the racket Clemenza had told her about.
After she reached the third floor, Sara stopped short at seeing a Tattaglia guarding the door. “What are you lookin’ at, bitch?” he asked in a menacing voice. Sara sighed and said, “At a man who pissed himself the minute he saw me. What are you all so afraid of? The Corleones kill people all the time yet you don’t cower whenever Clemenza or Sonny walk into the room. Why am I so different? Is it just because I am a young woman? Are you scared I’m gonna bleed all over you during my menses or something?” she said the last part with a sassy smile. The man growled at her and lunged. Sara dodged and shot him in the forehead. Then she walked through the doors into a gambling joint. She put her gun away and acted like she hadn’t just killed somebody as she passed other Tattaglias. They watched her with suspicion but did not hurt her as she walked over to the owner. “Hey, mister,” she said with a smile. The owner smiled back at her and asked, “Hey princess, that’s quite the shiner. You been out fighting?” Sara replied, “Just those guys downstairs.” The owner said, “Finally someone got rid of those freeloading hobos! They were really driving away business as you can see. But they got you pretty bad. You should see a doctor.” Sara said, “Before I do that, how much would it take to buy you out?” Sara took out her money. The man nodded and said, “Princess, it’s your lucky day. I accept.” He took the money. Sara said, “That was easy. All I had to do was beat up some hobos!” she laughed, trying to pretend she hadn’t just murdered innocent people. The racket owner looked at her with pity and put a hand on her shoulder. “Princess, it’s okay. Those guys were scumbags. I mean look at what they did to a little girl!” Sara stopped when he called her a little girl. “I am not a little girl, mister,” she said icily as she resisted the urge to make him touch her like she had done to Clemenza. The man tried to apologize but Sara would hear none of it as she walked out of the room and down the stairs to the lobby. She walked into the owner’s office. “I’ve done what you asked,” she said hollowly. The man jumped when he saw her face. “I’m so sorry, sweetie!” he said as he gave her some money. Sara glared at him and then walked outside to where Clemenza was waiting for her. Clemenza asked, “Serita, what the fuck happened in there?” Sara replied, “I got beat up by a bunch of hobos, Clemenza. I was trying to kick them out for the owner. I ended up killing them to survive.” Sara was shivering despite the spring heat. Clemenza said, “Jesus Christ, you need to be seen by the doctor right now! Sit over here, Serita.” Clemenza guided her to a nearby bench. She collapsed onto it and began to go unconscious. “Stay with me, miele,” he said. “It’s dark,” she told him as everything around her dimmed. Clemenza was alarmed at this and motioned for a man to come over. When he did, Clemenza said, “Vittorio, go get the fucking doctor! Serita’s hurt bad.” Vittorio nodded as he ran off, got into a sort of carriage without horses, and sped off.
The doctor arrived several minutes later. Sara was by that time struggling to keep awake. The doctor ran over to her. “Serita, what the fuck happened?” Sara told the doctor what had happened to her. The doctor cursed and said, “I worry that you have a brain injury, sweetie. You need to stay lying down until it heals. I’m sorry this had to happen during your training. You were doing really well. In fact, I was going to see you later this week for a routine physical.” Sara was barely able to focus enough to hear the doctor, but she nodded anyway. She was then lifted into Vittorio’s arms. Her head lolled against his shoulder as he walked over to the car and opened the door. He lay her down on the seats and kissed her forehead before closing the door and getting into the front seat. Clemenza was already in the other front seat. Sara gasped as he started the car. Her green eyes widened when the car began to move. Vittorio looked back at her and said, “It’s okay, Serita. You’ll get used to cars very soon.” Sara nodded as the movement of the car lulled her to sleep.
When she woke up, Sara was in the attic again. She sighed and tried to get up only to be stopped by a man she only vaguely remembered. “Stay in bed, Serita. You are still hurt,” he said softly. Sara lay back down and looked around to see it was nighttime. The attic was very dark even in the summer. “What happened? The last thing I remember is getting the crap beaten out of me,” she said, Vittorio said, “You bought out the gambling racket and then came outside. Clemenza then called for the doctor who said you needed to be in bed for a while. Then you passed out and we brought you here.” Sara nodded. “Go back to sleep, Principessa. The more you sleep, the sooner you’ll be able to get back to your training. Clemenza should be up here tomorrow.” Sara wanted to go to sleep but something tugged at her mind. “What about my chores? Becky cannot be left to do them alone any longer,” she said. Vittorio replied, “That’s all covered. We’ve got some guys over here doing your chores for you. We’ve even got a guy who can speak French helping with the lessons.” Sara sighed. She supposed she had no choice in the matter. She would miss the little children, but she had to focus on getting better. She also knew that the mafia was doing its best to help her. “Grazie, Vittorio,” she said with a smile. “Di niente, Principessa,” he replied. She closed her eyes and surrendered to sleep.
Sara woke up to someone calling her name. She sat up and realized she was not in bed or even in the attic. She was outside in a field of grass. The sun was shining on her face and it was delightfully warm. In fact she had never been quite so warm since she was in India. “Where am I?” she asked, sure she could not be in her homeland. A man’s voice said, “You are home, Sara.” Sara looked and saw a blue man smiling at her. “Prince Rama?!” she asked in shock. The man nodded and offered his hand. She took it and stood up to find she was in a lovely green sari that she was sure matched her eyes. Her wrists had gold bangles on them and her belly button was pierced and had an emerald in it. She also realized her breasts were larger and she was taller. She twirled in delight at the fact that she now had a body that matched her adult mind. She then looked at Rama who said, “You’ve been suffering a long time, Sara. You deserve happiness. You’ve always been kind and generous, even in the darkest times. You are a true princess, and the only one fit to live at my side.” Sara ran over to him and kissed him. He kissed back as his hands roamed over her body. “My Sara, I have waited such a long time for this,” he murmured. He then kissed down her throat. Sara ran her jeweled hands through his long black hair. He licked her collarbone which was no longer sticking out so much. He ran his hands over her breasts, making her wet. “Rama!” she moaned as his mouth reached her breasts and suckled them. She was surprised when she felt milk come out of them. “Do you like it, Sara? Every dream is a reality in Nirvana, no? You have long wished for a child, so this is the closest thing until we make one.” He winked at her. She blushed hotly. “It does feel sexy,” she admitted as he drank greedily. The sucking sounds made her moan in desire. Then he kissed down her belly just like Clemenza had. “Soon, my love, our baby will be inside here,” he said lovingly. She grinned in delight, wanting with all her mind to have a child with this man. “Will conception really be so easy?” she asked. Rama nodded and replied, “My lovely Sara, anything you wish for will come true now. If you want a child, then you will conceive. It’s as simple as that.” Sara believed him completely. Anything was possible here in her homeland. She could not believe she had made it into Nirvana without a single reincarnation, though. “Not many do, Sara. But when you were seven, it was decided that when you died you would be brought into this world,” Rama said in answer to her thoughts as he licked her navel. Sara did not want to doubt, but she had to ask, “Is this the same as Heaven?” Rama shook his head. “No, Sara. Heaven is not real. There is no such thing as God, and there is no such thing as Hell. Those who deserve it simply pass into oblivion, or if they are worthy of it, are reincarnated. Some people do such awful things that they cannot be reincarnated. They do not deserve to be rewarded with another life.” Sara nodded and then nearly screamed in pleasure as he reached her clit. “Then what is this?” she asked. Rama answered, “This, Sara, is another world entirely. This world was originally very similar to your own Terra. With extensive terraforming, it was made to be paradisiacal. But my people wanted to help you humans, so we watched your species for people like you, who were kind and benevolent. Then when they died, we transported them to this world, each in their own little sphere that would give them anything they wished. And your people, the people in India, called this Nirvana.” Sara screamed as she orgasmed. Then she lay back, sated. Learning to her was almost as much of an aphrodisiac as anything else.
Rama climbed on top of her. Sara opened her legs wide to allow him better access. She did not have to give him permission; he already knew what she wanted. Still, she tensed as he was about to break her hymen. She was nervous and frightened at the same time. “Be not afraid, Sara. I will not harm you,” he said sweetly. She relaxed and smiled at him. He smiled back and then thrust into her. Surprisingly, she felt no pain, but a sweet sensation that made her aroused again. “There is no pain here, Sara,” said Rama as he increased his pace. Sara moaned as she was now highly aroused. “Sara, do you want a boy or a girl?” he asked into her ear. Sara said, “I want a girl!” Rama replied, “She will be beautiful, Sara.” Sara grinned, sure she would get her wish. A few minutes later, he came inside her. She cummed a moment later. Then everything disappeared as she began to wake up.
Sara opened her eyes and saw she was back in the attic, with the sun shining brightly through the skylight. “What a dream,” she thought to herself as the door opened and Vito walked in. She smiled at him. “Hello, Vito!” she said brightly. He smiled back at her and said, “Hey, Serita. Did you sleep well?” Sara nodded and had to fight the urge to sit up. “I slept very well, Vito,” she said, sitting up on her elbows. Vito immediately walked over and helped her to sit up propped against pillows. “Grazie,” said Sara as she looked him up and down with lustful eyes. Her dream had made her very hungry for sex. Without knowing she was going to do it, she grabbed Vito’s shirt and pulled him into a kiss. He pulled back. “Serita, I told you, I will not sleep with you until you are well enough to consent. You’re injured; sex is the last thing you should be thinking of.” Sara would not let go of his shirt. “Then can’t we just kiss? I need this, Vito!” Vito sighed and said, “All right, Serita. You want to make out? But no touching below the belt, for either of us. Do you understand?” Sara replied, “Yes, Vito. I understand.” She let go of his shirt and put her hands on his chest. He smiled and kissed her. She kissed back as he pulled her onto his lap. She spread her legs so that they wrapped around his hips. Her hands went under his shirt as she deepened the kiss.
A while later, Sara was kissing Vito when suddenly her stomach growled loudly. As Vito broke the kiss, there was a knock at the door. “Principessa, it’s Vinny. I’ve brought your lunch. Can I come in?” Vito gently set her back in bed as she replied, “Come in, Vinny.” The door opened and Vinny came in with little boxes. “Here, I talked to the owners of that Indian place I told you about and told them that you are from India. They made this stuff for you.” Sara was beside herself in joy as the food was set out. She was even more delighted when she realized that all her favorite foods were there. “How did they know my favorites?” she asked. Vinny shrugged. “I have no clue, Principessa. This is what they gave me for you. I have no idea what any of this stuff is.” Sara was determined to go to the restaurant and learn how they knew her favorite foods, but for now she began to eat the food in ravenous bites, trying her best to still be polite and sweet for Vito’s sake. She liked him a lot. She wondered if she would ever go all the way with him. She wanted to, but at the same time she knew it would be unfair to Sonny to do that. It was bad even to be kissing another man, especially Sonny’s father. She knew it was wrong, but until Sonny got back she simply didn’t care. She had needs that needed to be sated and Sonny was not here to do that. She knew it wasn’t his fault, but still she could not go without until he got back. As she thought and ate, she looked around at the changed room. The table had its legs cut off and was sitting on a big pillow. There were soft cushions around it and a soft blue rug underneath. The fireplace was polished and would be useable in the winter. Emily was the mantelpiece. Sara saw that she had been repaired and looked better than she had in years. The whole room looked like it had been made over to be used by a parlor boarder. She smiled at Vito and asked, “Who did all this? My dingy old attic is now similar to the suite of rooms I had when my Papa was alive.” Vito smiled and replied, “You couldn’t be allowed to live in such conditions anymore, so we improved them.” Sara said. “Thank you for that, Vito. I don’t know how long I would have been able to make it with my attic as it was. I mean it was so bad that when I reached it after a long hard day, it would bring me down even lower just seeing it.” Vito said, “I’m glad I was able to help. Serita. You’re a good girl and shouldn’t have to live like you were.” Sara shrugged and said, “Becky lived like that for much longer than I did. She got here about the same time as me and has been living like this ever since.” Vinny said, “Don’t you worry about her. When you get better, we’ll show you what we did to her room. It’s almost as nice as this one. In fact, she should be up here for lunch any minute.” Sara looked at him quizzically. Becky had never eaten lunch or any meal upstairs. What food she got was always given to her in the kitchen. Eating up here was almost like a special pupil would do, like Sara used to do every now and then when she was still rich. Surely Miss Minchin would not allow Becky such privileges. Sara supposed Miss Minchin had no choice when it came to the attic’s new look or Sara’s convalescence as she would see it. Sara was sure Miss Minchin thought she was pretending to be sick to get attention. But Sara realized she no longer gave a fuck what Miss Minchin thought of her. Miss Minchin was, in short, a bitch. Sara knew that she had to have gone through some awful shit to be so cruel and hard hearted but that did not excuse any of her behavior. It was not okay to starve a couple of vulnerable girls while forcing them to work like slaves for little to no money. If the authorities found out, Miss Minchin would be thrown in prison. The only thing that stopped Sara from prosecuting Miss Minchin with the full power of the mafia was that it was unfair to the other girls. They had not done anything wrong and did not deserve to be forced out of the only school they knew. Even Lavinia was innocent to a point. And besides, if she got Miss Minchin arrested and put in jail, she would never see Emerngarde or Lottie again. So even though it was selfish, she decided to allow Miss Minchin to remain headmistress. But that didn’t mean that she would allow herself or any of her friends to be mistreated any longer. Suddenly the door opened, interrupting Sara’s thoughts. Becky walked in and ran over to Sara. “Miss Sara, you’re awake! How are you feeling?” Sara replied, “I am feeling better, Becky. Is that a new dress?” Becky stepped back to show off a new black velvet dress with a clean white pinafore. She was beginning to look like a maid from a wealthy household. Becky was even starting to grow breasts. Sara wanted to say something about them but knew it was improper to do so in front of men. Becky didn’t seem to mind as she asked, “Godfather, who is the blonde man Sara told me about?” Sara blushed hotly as Vito replied, “That’s Tom. Why do you ask, Becky?” Becky replied honestly, “Well, Miss Sara said that she and he were kissing and I wondered why he never comes up here.” Sara knew she oughtn’t to have read those romance novels to Becky. She wanted to hide under the covers but knew that would be too obvious, so she just sat there trying not to look embarrassed. Vito looked at Sara in a moment of shock and then he looked back at Becky and replied, “Tom is very busy right now, Becky. He is in New Jersey on important business along with Sonny.” Sara was surprised that Vito had disclosed Sonny’s location so easily, but she supposed he knew she would not be allowed to go to New Jersey anyway so it was safe to tell her. She yawned, tired suddenly. Vito smiled at her and said, “Go to sleep, Serita.” Sara did not want to go to sleep. “I want to stay with you three,” she whined in protest. She tried her hardest to stay awake, but she knew she was losing as the room began to spin. “The room is spinning,” she murmured as she fainted.
Sara woke up in the attic a few days later. Vito was sitting by her. She smiled at him and said cheerfully, “Hey, Vito!” Vito smiled and kissed her. “Hello, Serita. Are you feeling better? You worried us when you fainted.” Sara replied, “I’m not dizzy anymore. I think there was something in the food. Last time I did that, it was also just after I ate.” Vito sighed and said, “You think someone is drugging your food?” Sara nodded. “Maybe Paulie? He seems to have a grudge against me. In fact, the morning before I got beaten up, I saw him out the skylight, watching me. He frightens me, Vito.” Vito nodded. “I’ve had many reports of him skulking around the school. I’ve sent him to a different city for the summer. After that, we’ll see how he is. But I promise you, Serita, we will protect you. What he did to you is intolerable.” Sara nodded, trusting him completely. She did not know what made her trust him so much. She wondered if she would still trust him of they hadn’t kissed. She was sure that had something to do with it. She wanted more, but she knew it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. She had accepted that fact a while ago. But that he was kissing her as if it were a normal thing gave her hope. She knew he still wanted her. “So has the doctor said when he thinks I’ll be able to go back to my training?” Vito replied, “He said you’re recovering well and should be able to go back in a week or so.” Sara was giddy at the prospect of getting out of bed. “I will be glad to get out of bed,” she said. Vito ran his hand along her face. “There is a surprise for you once you are recovered,” he said with a grin. Sara said, “Hey Vito, I had a really weird dream the other night.” Vito said, “What was it about?” Sara replied, “I dreamt I was with Prince Rama from the Ramayana. He told me that I was in Nirvana and that I was chosen to live by his side forever and that anything I wanted would happen. Then he and I had sex. I’ve never done that in a dream before.” Vito chuckled and said, “You had a wet dream? I’ve never heard of someone so young having one, but then again I’ve never had anyone so young in the mafia before. Eighteen is usually the minimum age to be an associate, and that’s only if you’re born into a mafia family. Otherwise it takes years to decide to bring an outsider in, especially someone who isn’t Italian. Not many know this, but Tom isn’t Italian either. I suppose that made my decision to bring you in easier. But many don’t like it. They are complaining about a British girl in the mafia. But every time you extort a business or kill Tattaglias there are less and less people opposed to your joining us.” Sara said, “I’ve never even heard of a wet dream, not even in the romance novels I read. Though I suppose reading those is how I know about what sex is. I want to have another wet dream. That one was fun!” Vito laughed. “I suppose sex is fun when you’re young enough to enjoy it. Sonny’s going to have his hands full when he gets back, isn’t he?” Sara could sense Vito was unhappy about that. “Vito, I will always be with you. Until the day I marry Sonny or someone else, I will never stop kissing you,” she said honestly. Vito smiled at her and then leaned over and kissed her. She kissed back as she pulled herself into his lap. She put his hands on her breasts. He ran the pad of his thumb along her nipple over and over again, his touch burning her through the thin fabric of her nightie. She groaned in pleasure as her nipple hardened at his touch. She moved so that one of his knees was in between her legs. She ground against it, making herself even more aroused. She suddenly had the urge to see his chest in the light. With that intention, she began to unbutton his shirt. “What are you doing, Serita?” he asked in an amused voice. “I want to see your chest. I’ve never seen a man’s chest naked before and I want to know what it looks like.” Vito smiled and sat back, letting her undo his shirt buttons. Sara made sure to rub her hand against his chest as she went, making him moan softly. A few minutes later, she finished and flung his shirt open to see a well-muscled chest. She was surprised that a man of his age had such a chest. Just looking at it made her wet. She ran her hands along his chest and then suddenly felt quite tired. She yawned reluctantly. Vito said, “You’re exhausted, Serita. I’m sorry, I allowed you to overexert yourself.” Sara lay her head on Vito’s bare chest, enjoying the feeling of being against a male body. She drifted off to sleep as he ran his hands along her side.
A few weeks later, Sara was sitting in the attic reading when the door opened and Clemenza came in. “Get up, kid,” he said. Sara put her book down and said, “But Clemenza, the doctor hasn’t said I can go back yet. What’s going on?” Clemenza tossed her a dress. “What’s going on is that you need to learn to fight. If you’re gonna be in the mafia, you have to know how to defend yourself.” Sara nodded and stripped her nightie off as she got out of bed. Clemenza handed her a bra and panties. She put them on, wondering why he was in such a hurry. “What’s the rush?” she asked. Clemenza replied, “We have to hurry so we can get you back in time for the doctor to come here and clear you for duty. I don’t want him or the don to know that I went behind their backs like this. Besides, when you’re cleared, you’re not going back with me. You’re going to study under the Don for the next month. He’s taken a special liking to you and thinks you’re smart enough to learn the inner workings of this family.” Sara was taken aback. “Wait, I’m going to spend the next month in Vito’s office?” Clemenza nodded. Sara was speechless. She would get to sleep with Vito sooner than she had thought. She wanted to jump up and down in excitement but held herself back as she put the dress on and then donned some nice boots. Clemenza led her down the stairs and through the school to the front door. Sara stopped. “Clemenza, I’m not supposed to use this door. I’m supposed to use the servant’s entrance in the kitchen. Miss Minchin will be furious if she finds out I used the front door like a pupil.” Clemenza rolled his eyes. “Serita, you are not a servant anymore. You do not have to use the servant’s entrance. And besides, how will Miss Minchin even find out about this? It’s not like they have cameras in this century. Also, we need to go out this entrance because the other entrance is more heavily guarded. If we go this way, we’re less likely to be seen.” Sara sighed heavily before opening the front door and walking through, feeling as though she had just committed a crime. Clemenza followed her. “See, that wasn’t that bad, was it? You’ve gotta push for yourself here.” Sara admitted, “I feel like I just broke a taboo, one worse than having sexual attraction to multiple men or kissing a married one. Those I can deal with. But this is like I did something really wrong.” Clemenza said, “It’s just a door, Serita. Forgive me for not being raised in the 19th century, but I really don’t understand why you’re so upset over using the wrong door. It’s not like the door’s gonna come after you or nothing. And since nobody saw you, neither will Miss Minchin.” Sara sighed and said, “I suppose you’re right, Clemenza. I oughtn’t to get so upset over this. I mean it is just a door. And who cares what the fuck Miss Minchin thinks? She’s a bitch anyway! And Lavinia, she’s a bitch too!” Clemenza smiled at her as they walked. “That’s the spirit, Serita! Now be careful when we get to the door, which has a bunch of guards around it. They wanted to make sure only certain people were allowed through. It’s sure fucked up traffic though. I mean before you came along that was a busy road. But now, we’ve blocked off traffic and forced the city’s government to make a new road that doesn’t run near the door. It’s a good thing the Don has those political connections, because they made things a hell of a lot easier. What normally would have taken months only took a few weeks. It was amazing how quick that was. We didn’t even have to kill anybody.” Sara listened closely to Clemenza as they walked. When they reached the door, Sara walked forward. “Hey, guys!” she said cheerfully. They smiled at her and waved. “Hey, Serita,” they all replied. Sara walked up to the door. But as she grabbed the doorknob, someone stopped her. “Where do you think you’re going, Principessa?” Sara turned to see Vinny standing there. “Vinny! They put you on guard duty?” Vinny replied, “Actually, Principessa, that’s my regular job anyway. So I decided that it might be more fun to guard a time door. I asked for this position.” Sara pretended to be absorbed in what he was saying, so she turned to face him. “So how long have you been in the family, Vinny? You seem like a veteran.” Vinny said, “Oh, I’ve been with the Corleones for about twenty years now.” Sara for a moment was truly impressed. Then she gasped in fake awe as she grabbed the doorknob behind her back. She turned it only to find it was locked. “Why is this door locked?” she asked in a charming tone. The men shrugged. “it’s never locked before, Principessa. Then again, nobody has tried to sneak through it before. Maybe it’s like the sword in the stone or something; it detects dishonesty.” Sara burst into laughter at Vinny’s failed attempt to sound smart by using King Arthur myths in conversation. She supposed he was doing it because he knew she was English, but it was still embarrassing. “Vinny, tesoro, King Arthur was not completely honest either. Remember Gwenivere? King Arthur never told her he had been married to another woman, or that he had a son by her.” Vinny blushed beet red as the other men laughed. “Well, but he pulled the sword out before all of that right?” Sara shook her head. “The sword in the stone detected worthiness, not honesty. Those things didn’t necessarily go together back in the Dark Ages. Do more research before you embarrass yourself again, OK? Or stick to Italian myths which you surely know.” Then Sara turned back to the door. “Where the fuck are you going, Serita?” asked another man. “I’m going to that Indian place on Mott,” she lied. The men pulled her away from the door. “No you ain’t. The doctor has not cleared you to go anywhere. Get back in bed.” Sara said, “Hey, I will go through that door! Whether or not I have to go through you guys is up to you.” The men raised eyebrows, seemingly sure she was harmless. “What could you do to us, Principessa? You’re just a little girl!” Sara was immediately offended. “Don’t call me a little girl if you want to live. You have no idea what I am capable of. I have killed many Tattaglias already.” The men laughed. Vinny said, “Miele, that is impressive but the Tattaglias are easy kills. They are the weakest of the five families. We are not nearly so easy to beat.” Sara lunged at Vinny and threw a punch at his nose, breaking it badly. “You messed with the wrong little girl, you fuck!” she screamed in fury. Clemenza said, “Good job, Serita! Now punch him again before he gets up.” Vinny dodged and lunged at her. Sara instinctively put her hands up to ward off the blow. “Nice blocking!” said Clemenza. Sara realized that these were the people Clemenza had wanted her to fight. He probably hadn’t planned on taking her through the door at all. She sighed and then proceeded to fight Vinny. When she had knocked him out, the others backed away. Sara looked to Clemenza who said, “Nice job. Don’t worry about the others. They know now not to mess with you” Sara nodded and opened the door. “Shall we?” Clemenza smiled at her and followed her through the door into 1946 New York.
Sara said, “So are we going to that Indian place now that I beat up Vinny?” Clemenza sighed and answered, “Serita, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I thought it would be more realistic if you didn’t know ahead of time who you were fighting. Besides, I knew you wouldn’t go with me if I told you that I wanted you to fight Vinny.” Sara felt hurt that Clemenza would lie to her like that, but she understood the reasoning behind it. “Next time, I would prefer it if you just told me the truth. This subterfuge is silly and childish especially since we are working for the same family. I know from experience that I cannot trust most people, even if they are with the same family. But I ought to be able to trust at least a few. I need to have some people I can trust not to lie to me, even if lying might be easier. I get that you were trying to teach me I can’t trust anybody when you made me beat Vinny up, but damn it, I want to be able to trust somebody!” Sara felt ready to cry, but refused to let herself be weak. Clemenza said, “Serita, you’ve got it all wrong! You’ve gotta trust people. Most people aren’t monsters like Miss Minchin or Paulie. You can’t go around thinking that you can’t trust nobody cuz then you’ll end up pushing everybody away because you don’t trust them. Here, let me take you somewhere that’ll help you trust people.” Sara was dubious but followed him a few blocks away to a club. “Am I old enough to go in here, Clemenza?” asked Sara. Clemenza replied, “Not legally. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they know you’re one of us.” Sara nodded as she followed him into the bar. Immediately they were stopped by a bouncer. “How old is she?” he asked, motioning to Sara. “She’s a Corleone, Donny,” said Clemenza. Donny seemed uneasy, but he opened the door anyway. Sara walked through the door, and as she did so, she discreetly reached over and patted Donny’s ass. “Thank you,” she whispered, turning so that her breasts were clearly visible to him. Donny turned scarlet. Sara smiled, trying not to giggle as she proceeded into the club.
As soon as Sara was in the club, she looked around in awe. This almost reminded her of a festival back in India with people dancing all around the room. Sara smiled, knowing just how to act. She smiled even wider when she saw a man whom she was sure was Indian. His back was turned to her, but she could tell what he was by his long silky black hair and caramel-colored skin. She wondered if he tasted like caramel. She sauntered over to him, not noticing Clemenza watching her as she grabbed his hips in a possessive motion. She leaned in close, inhaling his male scent which made her dizzy. “Hey, sweetie! Want to dance with me?” she asked in Hindi, her mouth grazing his ear even though she had to stand on her tiptoes to reach. The man’s dark eyes widened in shock as he stood there speechlessly. Sara decided to give him a little more of a push so she pulled his hips so that her breasts pressed into his back. “You know you want this, honey,” she said, still speaking in Hindi. The man finally found his voice and said, “English?” Sara was pulled out of her lustful thoughts by this and she also realized he had an odd accent. “You are not from India?” she asked. The man turned to face her and smiled, making Sara’s heart palpitate. “No. I am Native American. My name is Squanto.” Sara was deeply enchanted by this man, even more so when she learned what he was. “What tribe?” she asked, wanting to hear him talk more with the accent that was making her wet. “I am from the Iroquois tribe. And you are from India?” Sara nodded. “Yes. I was born and raised in Delhi.” Sara felt oddly nervous and shy around this man. She noticed Clemenza watching her and Squanto with an amused expression on his face. Sara then gathered her courage and asked, “Do you want to dance? I think we could teach each other a few moves.” Squanto nodded. “I’d like that.” Sara took her hands off of his hips. “I sure wish they’d have different music here. This music isn’t really the kind you can dance to; at least the dances I know are much faster and livelier than this music. I also wish I had a different dress on. This one isn’t made for dancing.” She sighed as Squanto nodded. “This music is far too slow for my tastes. And I do prefer to go around bare chested.” Sara turned him to face her and ripped his shirt apart so that his chest showed. “There you go. Much better! Now let’s ignore the music and dance! We can pretend we have appropriate clothes on. For example, I am wearing a lovely emerald green sari. My navel is pierced and has a lovely emerald ring in it.” As Squanto described what he was wearing, Sara saw it. She also saw the room shift and change into her bedroom back in India, which she quickly described for Squanto. Squanto’s eyes widened. Sara could tell he knew how to pretend. He threw off his ripped shirt, making Sara gasp in awe at his perfect chest. Just as she was about to lick it to see if it tasted like caramel, a man walked over with an angry look on his face. He backhanded Squanto and then grabbed his ear. “What the fuck did I tell you scum about coming in here without a shirt? Get out of my club before I throw you out! If you ever set foot in here again, I’ll call the police, or even better I’ll call the Corleones!” The man then saw Sara standing there with a horrified expression on her face and said, “Oh, you’re already here. You’re that Corleone whore, right? When you’re done kicking this asshole out, you can wait for me in my office.” Sara tried to explain, “I’m not what you think I am! I-“ the man sighed and said, “Fine, I suppose you want me to pay you first?” He took out some money from his wallet and threw it at Sara. “Pick that up, slowly. I wanna see what I’m getting,” he said. Sara’s fist was immediately in his nose. “The only asshole here is you with your chauvinistic attitude! You think every woman is here for you, don’t you? And when a woman joins the mafia, the only logical explanation is that she’s a whore! Well, you picked the wrong woman to mess with! I’m going to teach you some manners, even if it kills you! This is a favor to all women.” The man let Squanto go and slapped Sara across the face. “You’d better watch your mouth, little bitch! I don’t know what ‘arrangement’ you and the Don have, but you are mine tonight so keep your pretty little mouth shut unless you’re using it to pleasure me, got it?” Sara could not believe this man had just insinuated that she was sleeping with Vito for money! Even though it stung because it was close to the truth, Sara refused to let this man disrespect the don like that. Sara said, “I am nobody’s! I do not belong to any man.” As she said this, she punched him again, this time hitting one of his eyes. She blocked as the man tried to slap her again. She grabbed his wrist and twisted it until it broke with a loud crack. Then she kicked him in between his legs, causing him to fall to the floor in agony. “Don’t go to sleep yet, I’m not through with you!” said Sara in a mocking singsong voice. The man glared at her. She reached down and tried to lift him back up with no success; he was much too heavy for her to lift. Squanto immediately jumped in and helped her. When the man was on his feet again, Sara got an idea that would end the fight in her favor. She walked up to the man who tried not to cringe and reached her hand down between his legs. “What are you doing?” he asked, fear lacing his voice. “Does it still hurt?” she asked in a high pitched voice, pretending to be concerned. The man said, “You kicked my fucking dick, of course it still hurts, idiot!” Sara nearly laughed at the unintentional pun, but restrained herself and began to gently stroke his dick. “How about now?” she asked. The man seemed surprised. “That feels good,” he said, his breath already becoming ragged from arousal. Sara slipped her hand down his pants to get a better grip. “We can’t do this here,” said the man. Sara ignored him as she found his balls with her hand. She squeezed them gently at first, then gradually tightened her grip. “That’s too tight, sweetie. It hurts,” the man complained. “Unfortunately it’s only going to get tighter,” replied Sara brightly. Then she squeezed as hard as she could, causing the man to scream in pain and nearly fall to the floor again. “Hold him up, Squanto! I’m not strong enough to do it myself,” said Sara as she continued to squeeze. Squanto obeyed her. A few long moments later, Sara was rewarded with a loud popping sound from underneath her hand. The man screamed again, but seemed to be fading away. “You’re leaving already?” said Sara, acting disappointed. Squanto laid the man down and gave him a soft kick. “He isn’t going to last much longer,” he said. Sara smiled. Suddenly Clemenza came over to her. “Serita, we gotta get back now! I’m sorry but I lost track of time. The godfather and the doc are probably already up in the attic. Good fight by the way. I should have just brought you here in the first place.” Sara smiled and then went over to Squanto and licked his chest. “I was right. You DO taste like caramel!” said Sara as she and Clemenza left.
When Sara arrived back at the school, she cringed to see Becky standing outside the school, bruises all over her pale face. “Jesus Christ!” said Clemenza as he ran over to her. Becky said, “Miss Sara, the missus knows you used the front door and is waiting for you inside. Also, the Godfather is up in the attic with the doctor.” Sara was surprised that Becky was so calm after being so brutally beaten. Clemenza said, “Serita, you go around back and sneak back up into the attic. I’ll deal with Minchin.” Sara nodded and took Becky’s hand. “Come with me,” she said. Then she led Becky to the servant’s entrance and snuck past the sleeping cook and up to the attic. When she opened the door, the Godfather was sitting on her bed, chatting with the doctor. “Buon giorno, Vito!” said Sara, showing off. Vito looked up and smiled at Sara as she walked into the room. She ran over to Vito and sat by him. She wanted to sit on his lap, but knew that was out of the question when other people were in the room. She was surprised when Vito kissed her forehead. “Buon giorno, Serita,” he said sweetly, his hands around her waist as if they were lovers. Perhaps they were now, Sara thought. She knew what would happen in his office; surely he knew too. Things would be different between them from now on. Sara did not know how this would affect her training or her relationship with Sonny. In fact, she did not know how she would get any training done at all with the man she was having sex with in the same room. She wondered how adults worked that sort of thing out. “What are you thinking, Serita?” asked Vito, his hand reaching up to stroke her face. Sara wanted to tell him the truth, but she looked at the doctor and then back at Vito. “Don’t worry, Serita. He knows,” stated Vito. Sara sighed in relief and said, “I was thinking about the fact that we’re kind of lovers now since we both know what will happen once I am in your office. And I was wondering how the hell I would get any training done when you’re around.” Vito laughed and said, “How did you know you’ll be training in my office?” Sara wanted to lie for Clemenza’s sake, but knew she oughtn’t to lie to her lover. Besides, Vito would find out anyway. Sara answered honestly, “Clemenza told me when he took me to the door to learn to fight. He made me fight Vinny.” Vito frowned and sighed. “I’m sorry Clemenza did that, miele. He will be punished. I can’t believe he went behind my back like that!” Sara tried to placate Vito by reaching up and kissing him. He kissed back with a smile. “Are you trying to placate me, tesora mia?” Sara nodded and said, “I don’t want you to be too mad at Clemenza; he was doing what he thought was right. He knew I needed to learn to defend myself and now I’m less likely to be killed if I get attacked. Besides, it saddens me to see you unhappy, my love.” Vito smiled wider. “It’s hard to believe you are capable of murder when you say such sweet things, Serita. Are you sure this is what you want? You could stay in my office, be a second consigliore. You could work together with Tom and me.” Sara said, “Vito, stop it! I want to do this. I just murdered a man in that nightclub on 5th street! I don’t even know his fucking name but I killed him in cold blood!” Vito said, “Serita, cara, what happened? What did he do to you?” Sara laughed a little and replied, “He called me a cumare. So I popped his balls.” Vito shuddered and nearly recoiled away from Sara. An expression of horror was on his face. “Serita, tell me you are joking! This is a prank, no? You’re fucking with me!” Sara simply moved back and moved her dress so that the blood on it was clearly visible. She noticed it was somewhat pink. Vito put his hand over his mouth and closed his eyes as if trying to clear the image in front of him from his mind. Sara could see tears in his eyes. “Serita, what the fuck made you think that slaughtering an innocent man was acceptable? Please tell me you didn’t know any better, Serita.” Sara was hurt that he wasn’t using endearments anymore. She knew she had done something very wrong and had disappointed him deeply. She tried not to cry, but it was no use as tears streamed down her face. “Vito, innamorato mia, I am so sorry that I made you unhappy. But I don’t understand what I did wrong. All I did was bust some guy’s balls! He was a racist scumbag!” Vito slowly opened his eyes to reveal deep pain. “Serita, how could you not understand? You are covered in another man’s cum! How could that not hurt me? Besides the fact that I despise brutality. If you are to continue as a Corleone, then you cannot go around popping men’s balls like that. If you want to kill someone, do it quickly unless you are told otherwise. Am I clear?” Sara realized that he was trying to forgive her and so she said, “You are crystal clear, my love. I am very sorry. I just want you to love me again!” She then burst into tears. Vito sighed and pulled her into his arms. “Tesora, I never stopped loving you, which is why I was so hurt by this. I see now you never meant any harm. But if you ever do this again, or commit any brutality against an innocent, you will be severely punished. I cannot condone someone so close to me doing such things.” Sara felt horrible. She ought to have known not to do that. “I’m so sorry, Vito. I feel like I shouldn’t even be alive anymore,” she murmured against Vito’s chest. She wanted to die. She didn’t deserve to live after doing such things. She decided that she would end her life that night. For now, she would enjoy what time she had left with Vito. Vito ran his hand along her cheek. “Don’t say such things, Tesoro. You made a mistake; it’s nothing to cry over. Albeit it was a nasty mistake, it was a mistake all the same. I know I’ve made my share of them. How could you have done differently than you did when you didn’t know any better? You had no idea what you were doing was wrong or you wouldn’t have done it. You’re a good and sweet girl despite the fact that you willingly kill people. I love you, Serita. When you talk about dying, it hurts me deeply.” Serita asked, “Then you would be sad if I died tonight?” Vito frowned. Sara could swear she saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes. “Serita, dolce cuore, if you were to die tonight, my heart would shatter and never heal. I would never recover from the loss of you. If would be as if someone had ripped my heart out of my chest. I would go insane with grief and honestly I’m not sure how long it would be before I joined you in death. Please don’t go from me, Serita!” Vito hugged Sara closer than she had ever been hugged since she had last seen her papa. Sara looked up and saw a tear streaming down Vito’s face. “I don’t understand, Vito my love. We’ve only known each other for a month or two and yet you love me so much that my death would cripple you? Why?” Vito sighed and swallowed before replying in a shaky voice, “I don’t know why, Tesoro. I liked you before I met you, but when I saw you something clicked and I fell in love. When you asked me what the point was, it broke my heart. I knew you were thinking of suicide. Tom told me you also thought of suicide after Paulie attacked you. It hurts me that you seem to want to die so badly, although I can’t say I blame you after what you’ve been through.” Sara smiled and hugged Vito back as tight as she could. “I’ve never had anyone care so much whether I lived or died since my papa was alive, Vito. I had gotten used to the concept that nobody would mourn if I died up here which I came close to doing many times. Miss Minchin certainly wouldn’t give a fuck other than she would have to deal with my body. Lavinia would be happy that I was dead. Somehow she has always seen me as her arch rival, even after I was no longer a pupil. Lottie and Emerngarde would forget me in time. They would be sad and cry, but it would be nothing as deep and agonizing as you described, which is sad because they’re the only ones here who care about me at all. I have felt like a pariah for a long time. Thank you for giving a fuck about me, Vito. Thank you for loving me, because truthfully I don’t know how much longer I would have lived without you. If you hadn’t loved me, I would’ve committed suicide tonight.” Vito winced when she said the last part. Sara saw deep pain in his eyes, deeper than earlier when she had told him about popping a man’s balls. “Touch me, Vito. Put your hands on me,” she said, wanting physical comfort. Vito smiled at her and reached one of his hands down to rub up and down her thigh, making her aroused. “That feels good, Vito,” she murmured as his hand went gradually higher up her thigh. Soon his hand brushed against her clit, making her moan in pleasure. “Do you like this, Serita amore mia?” he asked, his lips moving against the shell of her ear. Sara said, “Si, this feels good, Vito. I love you!” Vito grinned as he kissed along the shell of her ear and then licked her earlobe. Suddenly, as he ran his fingers along her clit, an idea occurred to her. “Vito?” she asked. Vito replied sweetly, “Si, Tesoro mia?” Sara asked, “Do you want me to break up with Sonny? I don’t want to hurt you anymore and it might be painful for both of us if I am still with Sonny.” Vito sighed. “No, Serita. I don’t want you to break up with Sonny. It’d be too painful for him to come back to find that you’ve broken off the relationship for no reason. Besides, we both need an alibi. It would raise too much suspicion if you came to me when you were single. But if you have a lover, nobody will think anything of it. I also don’t want Sonny hurt. I love him deeply. When he comes back we won’t get to be together like this much if ever because you’re going straight into the front lines. This summer is the only time we have to be lovers. So we should enjoy the time we have left.” Sara frowned and then smiled and snuggled into Vito’s arms. She reached her hand down and stroked his cock through his pants, making him gasp in arousal. “Serita, don’t,” he protested, but this time Sara ignored him. “Don’t tell me you dislike this,” said Sara. Vito said, “I love this, Serita, but I’m not sure how much longer I can keep in control.” “Then let go,” said Sara, increasing her pace. Vito winced and said, “I can’t, Serita. If I allow myself to lose control, I may hurt you. For that reason alone, I cannot let that happen. I would never forgive myself if I harmed you.” Sara stopped immediately. Vito sighed in relief and then he lay down and pulled Sara on top of him. “Jesus, Serita, how the fuck do you sleep on such a bed? It is like stone!” Sara laughed. “I got used to it. It helped that my papa had just died because by the time I recovered from the shock and grief of his death, I was already inured to the some of the harshness of my new life as a scullery maid.” As she said this she moved her hips so that his dick rubbed against her clit, making her moan in pleasure. Vito gave her a small smile, trying to seem happy for her sake, but she could tell that he was saddened over what she had just told him. She didn’t really understand why everyone else was so upset and sad about what she had gone through. She was not upset or sad. She wasn’t happy about it, but she had never been one to cry over things that were out of her control. “It’s funny that I ought to be the most upset yet I am not even sad. I miss Papa, but I’d been away from him for years before he died. It wasn’t like I was going to see him soon anyway. After the first year or so, I wasn’t so sad anymore. Perhaps Miss Minchin is right. Perhaps I am hardened.” Vito reached up and kissed her. “Serita, you are not hardened but resilient. Miss Minchin is the hardened one. Just look at the way she treated you and Becky, like you were trash that nobody wanted. Miss Minchin must’ve gone through some hard shit to do that, but unlike you, she broke under such strain. She is jealous that you are so resilient and unbreakable. She tries to see your courage and durability as a fault, even though deep down she knows that it’s a virtue. She is angry that you have been put through so much yet are still sweet and kind.” Sara kissed back as she moved her hips more. She felt his dick harden between her legs. Suddenly she got another idea and gently broke the kiss to sit up straight. She put both hands on Vito’s chest to balance herself. “What are you doing, dolce mia?” Vito asked in an amused voice. “You’ll see, my love,” replied Sara with a wink. Then she began to bounce up and down on his hips, pretending they were making love. She spread her legs so that his dick was nearly inside her. Vito’s hands were on her back, making sure she didn’t fall. She smiled at him. “Vito, do you like this?” she asked, returning his question. Vito nodded, speechless for a moment. “Serita, where did you learn to do this dulce cuore?” he asked. Sara replied, “In India. I once saw a couple having sex with the woman on top like this riding the man. I’ve wanted to do this ever since then.” Vito was shocked into more silence. “Serita, amore mia, you watched people have sex when you were a small child?!? Why?” Sara laughed again and replied, “At first it was because I was curious then it was because I liked watching.” After she said this, Sara reached down and slowly took her panties off. Then she sat down on him so that his dick was ever so slightly inside her. Sara then started bouncing up and down again. She nearly winced as she felt slight pressure down there but it was not unpleasant. It actually felt very good. Once she had accustomed herself to having his dick inside her, she bent down and kissed him. He kissed back, but she could tell he was still fighting to keep control. She sighed and began to bounce harder as she slipped her tongue into his mouth. Finally, as she was about to unbutton his pants, he cursed as he lost control. His hands went to her hips and pulled her harder onto his engorged cock. As he did this, his hips arched up to meet hers. He then broke the kiss and licked her breasts as they moved. Sara reached down and unbuttoned his pants. “What the fuck are you doing?” asked Vito in a voice she had never heard before. Sara said, “I am making this better for both of us.” She pulled his pants down and then rubbed her hand along his shaft a few times before pulling down his underwear too. “Serita, don’t!” he said, grabbing her hands. Sara asked, “Why the fuck not, Vito? I want you inside me!” Vito said, “You want to lose your virginity here in this filthy attic?” Sara frowned as Vito continued, “Ascoltami, Serita. If you go any further, you won’t be able to go back. This is the last of my self-control. If you keep going, I won’t be able to hold back anymore. I do not want to take your virginity here. When you do lose it, you should be in a comfortable clean bed. But I do hope you choose to keep it for a while at least. Your virginity is sacred, Serita. It isn’t something to be given away like candy.” Sara said “Or like my stories. You want Sonny to do it, don’t you?” Vito nodded. “He needs you, Serita.” Sara sighed and said, “I want you! I want someone who knows what the fuck he’s doing to take my virginity. Sonny has no clue what he’s doing and that scares me.” As she said this Sara grabbed his dick and gently put it inside her. Vito winced as she carefully sat so that it went further inside her clit. Then she went back up the moment it touched her hymen. She did this again and again until she got a rhythm going. She then went faster and harder. “Fuck me, Vito! We are lovers for the rest of the summer, so let us make love!” Vito sighed and then smiled up at her as he pulled her down harder onto his cock. Soon it felt so good that she moaned in pleasure. “Vito, yes! Fuck yes! This feels so good, my love!” Vito replied “You like my dick inside you, Serita? You like it when I fuck you, don’t you miele?” as he said this, he grabbed her ass and squeezed. Sara liked the way he was talking to her. “Yes, Vito, your big dick feels fucking marvelous inside me right now,” she said, trying to imitate his tone. Vito grabbed her breast now and ran his fingernail along the nipple. “You like that don’t you, Serita? Proper little Brit ain’t so proper after all, is she? Everyone thinks you’re a fucking blue blood, when really your blood’s as fucking red as ours as we’ll see in a minute, huh? I just wanna make this little Brit scream like a fucking Italian girl!” Sara smiled widely. “You’re a naughty girl ain’t you, smiling like that at being fucked. So fucking weird that a little girl like you would be the one to turn my head after fifty fucking years of fidelity to my wife. I’ve never cheated, not once. Never even fucking thought of cheating until you came waltzing into my fucking life and stole my fucking heart. You think that was fucking nice, stealing my heart away from my wife? Every bit of love I had for her has gone towards you.” Sara’s mouth nearly dropped open in shock as she realized he must be near seventy. Her papa would cry if he could see her now, willingly riding a seventy something year old man. Vito watched her reaction with amusement. “What, Serita, you thought I fucking cheated before?” Sara shook her head and decided to be honest. “It’s just that you look so fucking virile that you could not possibly be more than forty. I never imagined you were over fifty. You’re old enough to be my fucking grandpa yet you look no older than my papa!” Vito smiled at the compliments. “Serita, you really think I look young enough to be your fucking father? I am eighty years old. I could be your great grandfather easily, yet you are still fucking turned on by me. Any normal girl would have recoiled and ran as far as she could away from me when she figured out how old I was. What the fuck is wrong with you, Serita?” Sara replied, “What’s wrong with me? I don’t know the answer, Vito amore mia. I love you so much that I don’t care how old you are. And you are so fucking hot that I get wet every time I see you. You could be a hundred years old and I’d still want you to fuck me, Vito.” Vito grinned again. “I love you too, Serita! You make me feel like I’m a young man again.” Sara was by that time close to orgasm. “I’m going to cum, Vito!” she said. Vito replied, “Cum for me, Serita! Cum for your fucking grandfather!” Serita screamed as she orgasmed. She looked down and as soon as their eyes met, Vito pulled out and cummed all over her. Vito immediately stripped her now ruined dress off. To their surprise, Becky came in and grabbed a nightie. “Here, put this on her,” she said. Vito smiled and obeyed, wondering how much Becky had heard. “Grazie, Becky.” Becky smiled and said, “She needs to put clean panties on too.” Vito nodded and laid Sara on top of him. “She will never have to sleep on this hard mattress again,” he vowed. Becky smiled and nodded then gasped when she saw blood trickling out of Sara’s clit. “Godfather, she’s bleeding!” Vito looked and cursed and said, “Becky, go get a washcloth and some clean water. I need to stop this bleeding.” Sara fell asleep in Vito’s arms as Becky went to get the requested items.
Sara woke up in Vito’s arms to her surprise. She looked around and saw she was in the attic still. Blankets were on top of her and Vito, carefully arranged so they both were covered comfortably. Vito’s arms were around her and her head was resting on his chest. She looked up at his face and saw he was sleeping peacefully. Sara reached up and stroked his cheek. “Te amo, Vito,” she whispered into his ear, causing him to smile in his sleep. Then she laid her head against his chest and snuggled into his male heat. Just as she was on the verge of falling back asleep as Vito’s hand caressed her spine, there was a knock at the door. Then, before Sara had a chance to wonder who it might be, the door opened and Emerngarde came in. She gasped at seeing Sara and Vito in the same bed. Sara was too groggy to do much other than gape at Emerngarde in shocked horror. “Sara, why is he in your bed?” she asked innocently. Sara knew that Ermie knew nothing of what happened between a man and a woman in bed. She was a year older than Sara, yet she was painfully naïve and innocent still. Sara wondered if her friend was mentally ill that she was so childlike in this aspect. Sara figured she didn’t even know anything could happen if a man and a woman were in bed together. Did she even understand what kissing was? Vito seemed to sense Sara’s unease even in his sleep. He put a hand on her head in a protective motion. Then he reached his other hand down between her legs and gently stroked her clit. “Vito, don’t,” she protested even though it felt good. Even though there was a blanket over them, it was crystal clear what he was doing. Even Lottie would be curious as to what was happening down there. Emerngarde’s dull blue eyes widened as she watched in fascination. Sara tried to hide her growing excitement, but she couldn’t do it for long especially as she began to become wet from his touch. Ermengarde asked, “What’s going on, Sara?” Sara opened her mouth to answer when Vito suddenly began to make circles with his fingers, causing Sara to moan loudly in pleasure, startling Emerngarde. “Vito, my love, please!” said Sara breathlessly. Vito smiled at this, taking it as a sign that he was pleasing Sara. Sara felt him harden a little between her legs. Emerngarde’s eyes were now wide with alarm and she began to back out of the room. “Ermie, don’t go!” said Sara, frightened that Ermie would tell Miss Minchin or one of the mobsters. She honestly did not know which was worse in the current situation. “I’m going to go get Miss Minchin!” Sara said, “No, Ermie! She’ll throw me into the streets for sure if she sees this! Listen to me, don’t tell anyone what is happening between Vito and I, got it? There’s nothing to worry about anyway! Vito and I are lovers and this is completely normal for us to sleep together in the same bed.” Ermie stopped but still looked unsure. Suddenly Sara’s stomach growled loudly. “I’m hungry!” she complained, desperately trying to distract her friend. Ermie smiled and said, “There’s food on the table over there!” Sara looked and saw some cake sitting there. “That’s great, Ermie! Would you please bring some over so I can eat it?” Sara smiled, trying to be the Princess Sara that Ermengarde knew even though Sara was aware that that person no longer existed. Princess Sara was long dead. Her reign had ended years ago and she had slowly withered from the inside out, still pretty looking, but hollow inside. In reality, the Princes Sara that the whole school seemed to adore had died when her papa did. Sara was lost in thought as Ermie came over and said, “Let me help you up!” Sara was partially woken by this, but she was not fast enough as Ermengarde came over, grabbed her arm, and pulled her up so that the blanket fell off and it was more than clear where Vito’s hand was. Ermengarde did not seem to notice it, but she stopped as Vito woke up with a start. He immediately took his hand out from between her legs but Sara knew it was obvious what had been happening, even to Ermie. She knew this because Ermie had suddenly stopped short and was looking down there with an awestruck look on her round face. “Ermie, please don’t tell Miss Minchin!” said Sara, not able to think of anything else to say. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to be a slow innocent child like Ermengarde suddenly figuring out what sex was. Ermie did not seem to hear her. “it’s all right, Ermie. Vito and I are in love, so this is normal.” Vito said gently, “Ermie my dear, why don’t you wait outside for a few minutes while we dress?” Ermie smiled and nodded, seemingly glad to have some sort of direction. Then to Sara’s relief, she went and stood outside the door. As soon as the door closed, Sara said, “Grazie, Vito! I had no idea what to do.” Vito nodded. “I admit I was speechless for a few seconds myself. She is the absolute last person I would expect to see when you and I were together like this. Poor little innocent, she must be awfully confused right now. After all, she just walked in on the Princess Sara sleeping in the arms of a man over thrice her age, a man old enough to be her grandfather. Her whole world must be upside down now.” Sara laughed aloud at the absurdness of that statement. “Nonno, Ermie doesn’t understand things like that. She is a complete innocent, or at least she was until you put your hand in my clit. Now I’m not even sure. If her world is upside down it is because she has just been exposed to sexual things and doesn’t know what to make of it.” Vito sighed. “I’m sorry she had to be exposed this way.” As he said this, he got up and pulled Sara close to him. As he kissed down her face, Sara said, “Vito my love, we’ve got to get dressed before anything else.” Vito simply pointed outside. “Why? It is nighttime. Nobody would think anything if we went back to bed for a few hours. It isn’t as if we’re going to sleep anyway.” Sara tried to resist, but it was difficult. “But Vito, Ermie is right outside the door and the walls are paper thin when it comes to sound. If we do anything, she will hear and that is the last thing she needs to hear after seeing what she just saw. It isn’t fair to her.” Vito sighed and stepped away from her. “You’re right, Tesoro mia. It is admirable that you are so protective of this girl despite the fact that she is older than you. It is almost as if you are acting as her mother.” Sara laughed. “I often feel like her mother. And Becky’s too. I am only thirteen years old yet I have three daughters. Is that not odd, Nonno?” Vito smiled at her as he dressed and said, “That is no odder than you sleeping with a man you call grandfather or your joining the mafia. You are an odd girl, Serita, but your oddity is fascinating and alluring. I can’t get enough of it or you.” Sara grinned at Vito and winked before getting dressed herself. When they were both dressed, Sara said, “It would be nice to have a bath up here for the two of us. We both need it and it would be very sweet for us to cuddle like that.” Vito nodded and replied, “Yeah, Serita. A bath would be nice. I don’t want you getting any infections. If we’re going to keep making love, you have to be able to bathe. It isn’t fair anyway to have a girl trapped up here without any way to bathe herself, especially during menses.” Sara said, “Well, what should we do with ourselves now?” Vito said, “I have an idea, Serita, amore mia.” Sara gasped in arousal as he pulled her onto the bed and kissed her lips while his hand caressed her breasts. Sara kissed back, her legs straddling his as their tongues played. Just as he ran the pad of his thumb along her nipple, the door opened and Lottie came in. She gasped at seeing the two kissing passionately, but she seemed to understand what was happening. In fact, she smiled widely after the first few seconds of surprise and said, “Mamma Sara, is this my Papa now?” Sara jumped in surprise at seeing her adopted daughter. “Lottie, my sweet, this is your grandfather. Your papa is Sonny.” Confusion filled the child’s face. “I don’t understand, Mamma Sara. If this man’s your papa, then why are you kissing him like that? I thought only mamas and papas kissed like that.” Sara replied honestly, “It’s difficult to explain, Lottie my pet, and I truthfully do not quite understand it myself, but I am in love with this man as well as Sonny. But you mustn’t tell anyone! If you tell, we will both be in serious trouble. That is secret just like you coming up here, all right?” Lottie nodded with a smile. “Good girl, Lottie. Now would you like to hear the rest of that story?” Lottie became excited and asked, “Oooh, you mean the one about the mermaid and the Indian chief? “ Sara smiled and said, “That’s the one, Lottie my sweet.” Just as Sara began to tell the rest of the story, she heard footsteps on the first flight of stairs. Not wanting to worry Lottie, Sara continued the story, “So Serena the mermaid and Kocoum the chief met many times after that. They met so much, in fact, that Kocoum often spent every minute of free time either with Serena or on the shore waiting for her. They were deeply in love and in time they began to want to marry. But Serena knew her father would never give permission, so she planned to leave her family without telling them. It hurt her, but she had to follow her heart. One night, a month before the wedding, Serena sneaked out of the palace. Suddenly-“ Sara was stopped short as she heard the footsteps approaching the door. She knew it was Miss Minchin. Before she had a chance to do anything but hold Lottie close in a protective motion, the door was flung open and Miss Minchin barged into the attic. Vito had by this time gathered her into his arms, shielding her and Lottie from harm. Miss Minchin scowled in rage at seeing Sara and Vito together like that. She had not seemed to notice Lottie yet. “You insolent little whore, how dare you let me think you are sick and injured while in reality you are up here selling yourself? Don’t think I didn’t hear you the other night carousing, either, Sara. You are a wicked little slut, and I will not tolerate your behavior any longer! Get downstairs right now! As of now, you sleep in the stables!” Vito said, “Are you seriously going against orders, Maria? You were told many times not to harm her or attempt to change her living situation. She is doing fine up here and you are not allowed to fuck with that.” Miss Minchin said, “After what she has done, I don’t really care what you people want. She must be punished severely for this behavior. I will not let her engage in such sinful acts up here while the young ladies can hear her. For God’s sake, Emerngarde heard it and went up here out of curiosity. I found her asleep outside the door. I don’t even want to know what she saw. If anything of the sort ever happens again, Sara, you’ll be thrown into the street!” Sara snuggled close to Vito out of fear. Miss Minchin’s scowl deepened as he gently ran a hand along her spine. Miss Minchin lost her temper as Sara buried her face in Vito’s chest. She grabbed Sara and forced her head around to face her, then she backhanded Sara with all of her strength, breaking Sara’s nose and busting her lip. Sara screamed in pain as Miss Minchin grabbed her wrist and twisted it until it broke. Suddenly, as Miss Minchin was about to hit Sara again, Lottie wriggled free and jumped in front of Miss Minchin’s hand, shielding Sara. Miss Minchin seemed to see this as an act of defiance and did not stop her hand as it backhanded Lottie. Lottie immediately began to cry loudly. Miss Minchin was woken from her anger by this. She said, “Sara, how dare you strike a young lady?” Sara was shocked to her core that Miss Minchin was blaming her for hitting Lottie. She had known Miss Minchin was a bad woman and sometimes seemed a little insane, but Sara had never thought her capable of such wicked deceit. She knew now that Miss Minchin was not bad, but deeply disturbed and evil. If Sara still believed in such things, she would say that Miss Minchin was the devil incarnate. She tried to take comfort in Vito’s arms around her, but she didn’t get much. Miss Minchin got angrier as tears formed in Sara’s green eyes. “Don’t try to get out of this with tears, you slut! You are incorrigible and always have been. You’ve gone too far this time. Striking one of the girls is beyond the pale. If you are capable of that, who knows what you will do? For all I know, you will burn the school to the ground after I am asleep. For that reason, I cannot allow you to remain here any longer. If you are not out of here by morning, I will call the police.” Sara did not know how to respond to the hurtful things Miss Minchin had just said, but she was glad to get out of the school. Vito seemed to share that sentiment as he lifted her up and said, “I’ll send men up here to get our things in the morning.” Miss Minchin nodded although Sara had a sinking feeling that she would attempt to sell as much as she could before morning. She put her head against Vito’s chest and fell asleep, lulled by his step.
Sara woke up in a room she did not recognize. Her arm was in a cast and there was an IV sticking out of her other arm. She looked around to see that the room was pink and nicely decorated. It seemed as if someone had taken the effort to design it just for her. She smiled at the fact that she knew several people who would willingly do such a thing for her. She was loved and that felt good. She wondered how her life had changed so drastically in just a few months. Before joining the mafia, such good fortune would have been so far out of her reach that she would not have dared to imagine it. The best she had ever imagined was being a fairy or a princess. But she had never even hoped to find anyone who loved her like these people did. She did not have to pretend anymore at all because she knew she would never go hungry or be cold when she was with these people. She lay back with a smile on her face, content for the first time in years. Suddenly the door opened and Clemenza walked in. He smiled at seeing Sara awake. “You feeling better, kid?” he asked her. Sara grinned at him and replied cheerfully, “I feel much better now that I’m out of that school. I feel as if I’m finally home.” Clemenza said, “Good, because apparently you’re going to be staying here during the rest of the summer. The don said he wanted to show you what it would be like if he adopted you. Then at the end of the summer he’ll give you a choice whether or not you want to live here for good.” Sara could not hide her excitement. “It’ll be nice to live in a real home for a change. I haven’t lived in a house since I was in India. After that it was mainly hotels and then the school. But the school was never really a home, even when I was rich and lived as a parlor boarder. I don’t think I even remember what being in a home with parents is like.” Then Sara reached her arms out for a hug. Clemenza seemed surprised at this but hugged her anyway. Sara hugged back, enjoying the feeling of being embraced. She was so happy that tears of joy filled her green eyes. She felt as if Clemenza were really her uncle now. “Ti amo, zio,” she thought, not daring to say it aloud. Too soon Clemenza broke the hug and cleared his throat, trying to be professional. “So what happens now, uncle?” Clemenza replied, “Now I take you down to the don’s office.” Sara nodded and walked over to the closet and picked out a green dress. Clemenza raised an eyebrow. “What, not wearing black anymore? I thought that was your color.” Sara smiled. “No, I only wore black because Miss Minchin would have been furious if I had worn any other color. But in reality, my favorite color is green.” Sara stripped off her nightie which was surprisingly modest and put it on the bed, neatly folded. Clemenza flushed red at seeing her naked. “What? It isn’t like you haven’t seen it all before. Besides, you are my uncle now so it’s all right for you to see me like this.” Clemenza raised an eyebrow again. “I’m not so sure that’s right, Serita. I’m pretty sure it isn’t okay for an uncle to see his niece naked like this, especially when she’s so, well, mature. It’s not a good idea to strip in front of anybody who’s not Sonny, OK? You gotta stop having sexual anything with anybody besides Sonny. It’s not OK to be sleeping around when you’re supposed to be the don’s daughter. That includes doing what you did in the attic right before you got kicked out. I know what happened between you and the don and a bunch of the guys know too. Now they know to keep their mouths shut, but you need to realize that not everyone is good at keeping secrets. It isn’t safe for you two to be fooling around with his wife in the same house. I don’t want you or the don getting into shit you can’t get out of, so be careful, for both your sakes.” Sara said, “I understand the need for caution, but the rest of this summer is all the time Vito and I have left to be lovers before Sonny gets back. After my training is done, I’m going straight into the front lines. Living here as Vito’s and Carmela’s daughter is nice, but I’m not cut out for that sort of life anymore. I’m too scarred, too damaged. Besides, I prefer to be independent.” Clemenza frowned and said, “Just try not to be too independent, at least while you’re here.” Sara said, “Why would I? This is a vacation for me. Just because I prefer to be independent doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate not having to be.” Clemenza smiled as Sara dressed. Then he led her out of the room and down to the don’s office. When she got there, Vito was waiting for her. He smiled widely when she walked into the room. “Good morning, Serita!” he said cheerfully. Sara replied, “Good morning, Vito. Thank you for allowing me to stay in your home after I was kicked out of mine.” Vito said, “It was the least I could do since your eviction was my fault. I am sorry I caused that to happen, my sweet Serita. But you are home now, and I do hope you choose to stay here as our daughter although I will not argue if you choose not to. This is your decision, Serita, not mine. I apologize that so few people seem to understand that concept. Come here, dolce cuore.” Vito held out his arms. Sara ran into them without a second thought. “It was as much my fault as yours that Miss Minchin kicked me out, Vito. You have nothing to apologize for. You at least tried to protest. I just didn’t listen. What could you have done but gone along with me, Vito?” Vito sighed and said, “Serita, for the rest of the summer I want you to call me Papà, all right? And you should call my wife Mamma.” Sara frowned. “But my mama and papa are dead. If I called others by their names, it would be disrespectful. I love my papa still, and it would be painful for me to act as if you were replacing him. I’m sorry, but I cannot call you papa, nor can I call Carmella Mama. Would babbo and mammella be acceptable?” Vito replied, “I didn’t mean to disrespect your parents, Serita. Yes, those names would be acceptable, bambina.” Sara hugged Vito. He hugged back, his dick hardening between her legs as her breasts pressed into his chest. Sara managed to ignore her arousal and end the hug as there was a knock on the door. “It’s me, Fredo. Mom says lunch is ready.” Vito smiled and said, “Come, Serita, you must be starving. Sara smiled, secretly glad to be going somewhere with other people, someplace that Vito wouldn’t dare do anything untoward with her. She loved him, but she also knew Clemenza was right. It would be stupid to fool around in this house even if nobody else was in the room. Besides, she wanted to at least try to be innocent while she was here. It would be nice to have parents for a change. She wished she and Vito could take some sort of vacation together so they could make love without getting into trouble, but she doubted that would ever happen. She pasted a smile on her face for Vito’s sake as they walked to the dining room, but inside she was torn whether to be an innocent child for the next month or to make love with Vito like she wanted to. On the one hand, this was her last chance to be a child if she so chose. The last remnants of her childhood were slipping away like water through her fingers. But on the other hand, this was also her last chance to sleep with Vito. They only had this month left to be lovers, and then she would go straight into the front lines. She knew full well that after she was initiated she couldn’t go to Vito’s office to fuck. In fact, she probably wouldn’t go to his office at all. What legitimate reason could a newly initiated soldier have to go to the Godfather’s office? She could think of none. He would be far too busy for her to go to him for no reason and it would look unseemly for them both. She sighed as she and Vito walked into the dining room where a woman was standing there with Connie and a blonde man Sara immediately recognized as Tom. “Tom!” She said, running into his arms. He hugged her close. “Hi, Serita. I missed you! How have you been?” Serita pulled back and showed Tom her arm. “How does it look like I’ve been?” she asked sardonically with one eyebrow raised. Tom gave her a horrified expression. “Serita, I’m so sorry! I should’ve noticed the cast. How insensitive of me to ask such a question.” Sara sighed. “No, Tom, I oughtn’t have been rude like that when you were only being nice. I’m sorry, Tom.” She smiled up at him, deciding she would be a child for now. But she knew what was coming when she was alone with Tom and Vito and she was all right with that. She figured she’d even be all right with Sonny taking her virginity if Tom was there too. Tom smiled back at her, his blue eyes sparkling. Sara noticed that his hair was a little longer than it had been when she had last seen him. She wished he’d grow it out. She liked men with long hair. As she was thinking this, she sat next to Fredo. She wondered if he’d ever be her lover. He was handsome enough. Tom sat next to Sara. Sara could feel his hip against hers. She grinned as Fredo put his arm around her and gave her a side hug. She felt like she was home among the brothers she never had. Then they all ate. Sara soon felt quite out of place as she looked and saw Fredo and Tom barely using table manners at all while she was eating like a prim and proper little princess. She had always eaten like that and even though it had angered the other servants at the school, she had never been so self-conscious about it, believing it to be virtuous to act like a princess amidst abject poverty. But now, she felt like she stuck out from the others. She considered changing her manners, but couldn’t bring herself to do so. She said, “Fredo mia, would you please pass the salt?” she asked in her high-class British accent, causing Fredo to stifle laughter as he passed the salt and said, “Sure thing, principessa.” Sara smiled at the name, knowing Fredo had no clue that being a princess had been her goal for the last few years. “So Tom, how’s Sonny?” she asked, trying to fit in. Tom smiled at her and replied, “Sonny is doing well, Sorella. But he nearly threw a fit when I was called back here and he had to stay. He was so angry!” Sara decided to play coy and asked, “Does he miss me?” Tom’s smile widened. “Serita, he misses you so much that he can barely focus on his job over there. He can’t get you out of his head.” Sara smiled at this, her love for Sonny coming back into her mind. She subtly moved so that her hip was pressing into Tom’s. Then she decided to do something against all etiquette, so she took her fork and grabbed a meatball off of Tom’s plate with a mischievous wink. Tom grinned at her as she popped it into her mouth. She had the urge to kiss him with it in her mouth, but knew better than to do it in front of their parents. As it was, she reached her small foot out and gently rubbed it up and down Vito’s leg as she continued to eat. This was fun! She liked being naughty. The knowledge that her papa would be horrified if he knew what she was doing only made her want to do more of it. She wanted to break every rule and more. She wondered what the hell she had been thinking trying to be a princess when being a mobster was so much more fun. As she ate, she suddenly remembered something. “So where’s Becky?” she asked, dreading the answer. She had a bad feeling that Becky was still living at the school. Vito replied, “She’s living with a friend of mine named Luca Brasi. Clemenza got her out of the school a few hours before you got thrown out.” Sara sighed in relief. “Do I get to meet Luca? I’d like to know the man who is caring for my friend.” Vito nodded and replied, “He should be visiting this afternoon anyway.”
A few minutes later, Sara followed Tom and Vito back to the office. She closed the door after herself. “What the hell was that?” asked Vito, surprising Sara. “What do you mean, Vito amore mia?” Vito said, “Don’t try to placate me with that name, Serita. You know exactly what I mean. Your behavior in there was completely out of line! What were you thinking?!?” Sara frowned and replied, “I’m sorry, Vito, but I had no idea I was displeasing you. I was trying not to be a prim little princess anymore. I apologize that it got out of hand.” Vito said, “You’re on thin ice, Serita. How dare you do such a thing with Carmella in the same room? For God’s sake, Serita, didn’t it cross your mind that she might notice something was odd? I thought you were smart, Serita. Was I wrong?” Sara was for once speechless. She could not believe her lover had insulted her. It felt as if he had slapped her. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, Godfather,” she managed to say in a thin voice. Tears were already in her green eyes. She felt like a complete idiot. She must be very stupid not to realize that doing such a thing was risky. She ought to have listened to Clemenza in the first place. Tom saw that she was on the verge of crying and took her into his arms. “Don’t cry, Serita. This is all a huge misunderstanding, okay? You made a mistake; it’s not something to beat yourself up over.” Sara replied, “Vito’s right, Tom. I am an idiot for doing such a thing in front of Carmella. I apologize for that. Perhaps I am not cut out for such work after all. I am apparently not as smart as I thought I was.” Tom frowned. “Serita, you are not an idiot. Yes, it was a stupid thing to do while Mom was in the same room, but I’ve done my share of stupid things without thinking before. We all make stupid mistakes, Serita; that doesn’t make us idiots, it makes us human. And this might have also been partially my fault. I sat too close to you and you stopped being able to think clearly.” Sara knew he was right. “I suppose you’re right. I am simply not used to being wrong. At the school, I was the smartest person there. I was always right because I already knew everything that was being taught. I suppose that made me assume that I would never be wrong, that I couldn’t ever be wrong.”