Forgive Me Father, Scarlet Sins

Synopsis:   Father Bruno Esposito runs errands for Charlie ‘Chazz’ Russo, which include killing.  When Chazz’s young daughter, Caroline gets raped by a rival gang member, Bruno takes it upon himself to find her rapist and kill him.   She becomes a young teen mom but is amazing with her son, whom she names Dante after her grandpa.   

Chapter 1—Never Batting an Eyelash 

Father Bruno Esposito had long since been an emissary of the Russo Syndicate since they had gained such a stronghold in Rome and surrounding territories.    Not rivaled by any other underground movement, the Russo Family ruled with equity, amity, compassion, hospitality, and an ounce of intimidation to keep everyone under their vigil.    

It was no secret that the Holy Catholic Church always had its bond with the mafia.   Each kept the secrets of the other, conclave and under heavy guard and observation.   Since he became so lofty in the church, the humble Esposito always was at the ready to run ‘errands’ for Chazz.   This included killing anyone that Russo considered a threat or that he simply didn’t like.   Nobody questioned it and Espositio was never found out.    Everyone else considered this man to be a saint, especially in how he treated his beloved family members.    

One day, Caroline was coming home from an ordinary day at school.   She felt her hair prickling on the back of her neck.   She had gone to an extracurricular function with her classmates and had decided to do a bit of stargazing with her closest friends and gossip about the boys in her University that she had a fancy for.    One such gentleman was hailed to be Italy’s next pop star.   He was already a heartthrob at the university, but Geo had eyes for Caroline only.    She could never find the time or the courage to talk to him and Geo was always swarmed with talent agents just chomping at the bit to sign him to their label.   He would only do so if they were fighting for a good cause and ‘championing the underdog’ as he liked to say.  

‘Marcia, I don’t feel comfortable going down this alley.  It’s Gracia territory.’, she said, holding herself in a tight embrace although the night air had no chill.    

‘It’s not like we go down this way that often anyhow…’, Marcia said.    Marcia had no idea that Caroline had been right in listening to her gut instinct.    Just then, the Gracia Gang emerged from their hiding places behind trash bins and tall fortresses of boxes, wielding switchblades, bats, L-pipes and bicycle chains.   

Chapter 2—Caroline Fights 

Caroline had been trained for such a dark situation as this one.   She showed no fear to her enemies.   The main nemesis was ironically named Angelo.    Angelo was Don Rico Gracia’s eldest son and next in line for the Gracia Syndicate.    

‘Damn, girl.  You are so fine.   Who knew a living angel would grace my streets this glorious night…’, Angelo said, licking his lips.   He reared back, pointed brass knuckles at the ill-fated students who had meandered down ‘his’ alleyway and gave chase, trying to beat them all to a pulp.   Many of them had fled for their lives.   Marcia had already escaped and the History instructor was already calling the police to get them on the scene.    Fighting back as hard as she could, Caroline did her best to hold Angelo off, but he got his gang members to detain and trap her.    Roughly and brutally, he raped her, leaving her bruised and battered.     

‘If you ever come into Gracia turf again, you’d best prepared to get pussy pounded.   I like my prey feisty.’, Angelo said, wiping his lips clear of blood.     Angelo was marred with fingernail scratches down his perfect face and he still sported a bit of an erection after he was done with Caroline.    Caroline was too numb to understand what had happened, but she did what any sane woman would’ve done; gotten help.  

Chapter 3—Before all Hell Breaks Loose 

It wasn’t long until Father Espositio heard the terrible news.   

‘What kind of prick does that !   He knows fucking well that this is an act of war !’, Chazz said in confession both, balling a fist and hitting the side of the window separating him from Bruno.    Bruno looked at a man who was utterly devastated.    He felt such a burning hatred for Angelo that he didn’t need to ask what Chazz desired.  

‘Chazz.  You and I both know that there doesn’t need to be a war between the DeGracias and the Russos.    I will send a message, but no one will ever suspect me.   I’m not even going to leave a trace.’, Bruno said with a twisted grin.    

‘And this is why I fucking love you. Godspeed.’, Chazz blessed him.   

Bruno knew that if matters went sideways, his youngest son, BJ, would be taking over in the church and becoming the man of the family, but he had no intention on dying this young or letting the Russo Syndicate down.   

Angelo was describing, in horrifying detail to his underlings, just how gratifying and satisfying the whole ‘conquest’ of Caroline had been.   

‘I’m just getting hard thinking of it.   Hell, I might find out where she lives and get some more Caroline in my life…’, he said.    Bruno had already slinked in, unnoticed, unhindered, and waited until the Gracia family had gone to sleep for the night.    Following in the darkness, clad in his typical black habit, the Father snuck in after the spineless rogue.   

Hiding a gun under his trench coat, he made certain the pistol had a silencer.   He even wrote a handwritten ‘suicide’ note that would be found by the Gracia Syndicate once the hit had been completed.   Quietly he mouthed Angelo’s last rights in Latin and crept over to the side of his bed.   Without batting an eyelid, he shot him twice in the head and left the suicide note under his left hand, folded across his chest.   Bruno had worn gloves, a hairnet, everything to make certain his DNA wouldn’t be left at the scene.   Just as rapidly as the hit had been completed, Bruno rushed home to a comfortable bed where his wife hadn’t even realized that he had ‘run an errand’ for the night.   

Chapter 4—I’m Keeping the Child 

Caroline had been raised to honor the right of creation, in whatever form it had come in.  At first, her dad was very adamantly, and lividly resentful that she wanted to keep the child that had been fathered by his enemy. 

‘It doesn’t matter, papa.  Angelo is dead.  The Gracia family has no clue that it was your boy who whacked him.  Father Esposito saved us all a whirlwind of headache.’, Caroline explained.   For a teen, she often could be much wiser than her adolescence allotted.  

‘If it is truly what you want, I’ll learn to love the child.   I suppose I should ask some sort of deliverance on Angelo’s damned soul.’, Chazz said, spitting in disgust.   It would take him years to overcome the resentment and hatred he had for his nemesis, but regardless, he was going to love his grandchild no matter what obstacles the future had for them.   

In time, hatred passed, Angelo was forgotten and Bruno had to christen the young Dante.   

‘That’s a fitting name for this little one.  He looks so much like you.’, Chazz said, tears forming in his eyes.   Dante was a very agreeable little scamp who was easy to love.  He didn’t cry much, but there was a certain twinkle of mischief in his eyes.   Heaven knew he was going to be a handful, but he had plenty of love from everyone, especially his extended crime family.   

Chapter 5—Secrets

Bruno wondered how long he would be able to continue the charade of hiding his sins.   He was growing older, as were his children, and he even heard Dante confessing his sins to him.  Compared to Bruno, Dante was a saint.    Dante was a conscientious young man, helping the community.   Unlike Carolina, who was going to inherit the Syndicate, Dante had no desire to continue the family.   He would break off from the family and visit, but there were plenty of other ‘heads to the Hydra’ as it were.   The Russos weren’t likely to die out for a long while.   

Bruno watched as his babies became young adults and parents themselves.   He was wondering how much longer he would have to be the mafia’s ‘gopher’.    He was beginning to have nightmares each night that plagued him.   It was true that his conscious was guilty and he had nowhere else to go, so who else to turn to than his employer ?  

Epilogue 

‘I feel like a cup of spoiled wine !  No one likes spoiled wine !’, Bruno complained to Charles, who was surprised the good father had come to him.   The padre was practically shaking.   Although Esposito was in perfect health it was clear his mental health was fractured. 

‘You know I can’t simply go to therapy for this !’, he said, his voice cracking.   The poor father had suffered a break with each nightmare that awoke him in the middle of the night.   Chazz reassured him. 

‘We can see the horror this has inflicted upon you.   We’re going to have a family meeting, and your invited to weigh your opinions on choices for our next ‘errand boy’.   It’s time you retired.   Sure, I can have a priest absolve you too.   He will be sworn to keep his lip zipped.  I know there are times you cannot trust the clergy, but this guy, he’s a-ok in my book.’, Charles said.    Bruno began to control his breathing and began to calm down.    Not only was Bruno going to be set for life, but he would finally be able to tell someone trustworthy all the burdens he had been carrying since he was a young adult.   It was time to release that pent up guilt and frustration at long last.   He needed to feel free of fear and paranoia.   He would feel liberated after the blood on his hands had been washed away.    He didn’t know whether he would be heading to paradise when he died (because his sins were many) but at least he was raising his family right and leading young souls along the good and righteous path.    Perhaps all those marvelous deeds and trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps would be plenty to earn him entry as well as his fervent faith that Jesus’s blood cleansed him ultimately.  

To Be Concluded…