Chapter Nine

Even in Death

Gianna awoke that morning to Desiree ushering her up and out of bed. Desiree was muttering about the press conference, Amber and the hype about today. Setting aside Gia's dress for the day, she got her a breakfast of pancakes and orange juice. When she was done, Gia was sent off to shower, washing the knots out of her hair, undoing the last braid Lucia had done in her hair. Afterwords, Desiree then came over and dried her hair, brushing through the black waves and then quickly curling it into shimmering, thick curls. After that, Gia quickly slipped into her dress and then stockings. Desiree came over and set a sparkling dark gray headband on her head, completing her hair.

"You look so pretty, Gia,"

Desiree smiled at her, but it was of little comfort. She wished she didn't have to go through with this. Her heart was racing and her hands were shaking. She wasn't quite sure why this was so nerve racking. Perhaps because the secret her mother so longed to keep, a secret which she held onto until death claimed her, would be revealed. Maybe it was the fact that this situation was still so surreal to her. This all felt like a charade, this wasn't the life Gia had lived for the past ten years. Still, Gia was pulling herself together. Reasoning that she wouldn't have to speak, only be there. I can do this. Just stay calm, she thought to herself, while putting on her black mary janes.

"Are you ready, Gia?" Desiree asked.

"Yes, I'm ready," she answered. It was eleven forty-five now, and the conference would be in fifteen minutes, held in the building's press room.

"Let's go then," Desiree said. Desiree herself was also all dolled up. Wearing a tight, low cut, short leather dress, revealing her long legs and strutting black heels. She took Gia's hand, noticing the shaking, she dropped down to her level and said, "You have nothing to worry about, honey. Nothing bad will happen and I'll be right behind you," she comforted. Gia nodded, ready to get this over with. She looked down at Duke who stared back up at her, and licked her hand. She pet him and left with Desiree.

Walking through the dark hallways of the building, they entered the elevator and rode in silence. Gia wasn't in the mood for chatting and Desiree could understand why. As they approached the conference room, they could hear mutterings about the conference. Why were they here? They all asked themselves. Desiree led her through a door further down than the main entrance into a room with the elder Largos waiting. Amber, once again altered, now showing off lavender eyes, brunette hair, and wearing another pinstripe mini skirt with a black blazer that once again revealed much cleavage. Her brothers in suits of their own usual styles.

"She looks so cute!" Amber gushed, then a perplexed look fell upon her face, "Did you not put any makeup on her?"

Desiree had a confused look on, "Why would I put makeup on a ten year old?"

"Why wouldn't you? To make her cuter! I wore makeup when I was her age!"

"You turned out so fucking brilliantly too," Luigi scoffed.

"Anyways, are you ready Gia? Ready to make your big debut?"

"Must-a we do this?" Pavi asked, seeing the nervous look on Gia's face.

"Well, if she's like her mother than crowds won't be a problem! It's not my fault parents around here lock their kids away!" Amber scoffed.

"Let's go! Desiree, you and Gia stay here. When we announce her name, bring her out," Amber instructed. Desiree nodded.

The siblings headed out onto the stage, "My brothers and I would like to thank you for coming! We have a very big announcement!"

Amber took in the crowd, whose attention were all on her and her brothers.

"We'd like to announce a new member of our family, Gianna Angioletta Largo!" Amber beamed. The press seemed confused at this, There is another Largo?

Taking the cue to take Gia out, she guided Gia by the shoulders out onto the stage. Everyone stared at her, whispering going through the sea of people.

"What's her relation to you?" a reporter asked.

"I will let my brother, Paviche answer that one," she said stepping away from the podium to let her brother respond to the question.

"Gianna is-a my daughter," he said simply. Gasps were erupting through the audience, people whispering, the press's cameras flashing, all focused on the little girl on the stage, who looked terrified.

"Who's her mother?"

"How old is she?"

"Have you known about her all along?"

"Why have you just chosen now to acknowledge her?"

Amber looked towards her older brother, who really didn't want to answer any of their questions. She hinted towards her oldest brother to quiet the crowd.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Luigi roared. When the eldest Largo screamed at you, and it was a request, you usually did it. Hence, the crowd, did just that and silenced.

"Now, we all know that our dearly beloved soprano, Blind Mag, died in an unfortunate accident at the last Genetic Opera. What you may not have known about Mag, was this sweet little girl is her daughter! Mag and my brother had a little... eh fling. It resulted in Gia, and yes we've known about her all her life. She is ten years old and we decided to acknowledge her now because, the poor child has no mother now, when her mother was alive, there was no reason to interfere" Amber said, putting on a facade of sorrow. She then walked over to Gia, her heels clicking and pulled her into a hug and whispered, "Smile please, Gianna,". Gia managed a small smile, directed at no one. The cameras flashed and people still whispering, staring at Gia, who felt herself becoming more and more uncomfortable with the situation. Pavi noticed this, his siblings didn't seem to, but he did. "That's-a enough," he announced. He offered his hand to Gia who shakily placed her small hand in his and was led off the stage, Desiree following. Once again, his siblings had to exploit every last thing they could. Gianna was only a child, a child who had just lost her mother and was thrown into a totally new atmosphere. Something in him was steering him to try and protect her from the antics of his siblings, which even he got caught in from time to time.

"I'm-a sorry for-a that Gianna," he apologized. Gia looked up at him and smiled.

"It could've been worse," she said simply, already relaxing now that it was over.

"Yes, Amber's face could've fallen off again," Desiree giggled, "Speak of the devil,"

Amber and Luigi had finished the conference, not that they had much of a choice, since Pavi had taken Gia away.

"What the fuck was that, Pavi?" Luigi demanded.

"She was-a uncomfortable, so I decided that-a was a good time to-a end it," he explained curtly. "Bella, would-a you do me a favor?" he asked. Desiree at his side nodded, "Take Gianna back to her-a room. I have some-a things I need to-a take care of,"

"Of course, Pavi." Desiree said, exiting with Gia.

"Sorella, may-a I ask-a something of-a you?"

Amber, though annoyed, encouraged him to continue.

"Well, I was-a wondering, if-a I may deal with-a Magdalene's body?"

"What do you want her face?" Luigi asked

"No, not-a this-a time," he said. Though Mag did have a beautiful face and he had pondered it, he couldn't imagine the psychological damage he'd inflict on Gia if she were able to recognize her mother's face upon his own. He decided against it.

"Then what the fuck do you want her for?"

"It is-a my business! It does not-a concern you!" Amber screeched, loosing her patience.

"Oh look, he's going fucking soft because of the kid! How fucking adorable!"

"You're doing this for Gia?"

"Si,"

"You're actually trying to be a good father?"

"Si, I suppose."

"Better than Daddy?" Amber asked. He looked over at his sister and actually saw vulnerability. She was clearly hurt by her father's last words to her, as were all of them. Perhaps had he been a better father himself he wouldn't be so disappointed in how his children turned out. But Amber, was a daddy's girl, his words had cut her deeply, and this little girl, who was her blood and like her and her brothers were deprived of their mothers because of Rotti, Gia was as well.

"Do what you want..." Amber said. Luigi was silent, a hardened look on his face.

"Grazie, Sorella," and then left his siblings to go off to his task.

Pavi found his destination soon after leaving. The Morgue. He entered and asked the examiner to see Mag's body. If he had watched the conference, then he would know very well why. The man led him into a cold room, in the middle of it was a stainless steel table with Mag's corpse on it, covered by a white sheet. The examiner left the room and Pavi was left alone with Mag's corpse. This time last week, Pavi would've probably sliced Mag's face off to become his, but things had changed drastically. He walked over slowly and removed the sheet down revealing Mag's face. He looked down on her, taking in her sunken in eyelids, still decorated with makeup and long, fake eyelashes. The blood covering her body and the ghost of a smile that was still on her face. This was the mother of his child. He sighed to himself. Even in death, Mag would never really be gone.

Author's Note

Finally got this done. This took a little longer than I would've hoped to get up, but better late than never. I'm happy with how this came out and am really encouraged by the reviews I've been getting! Please keep them up!