Chapter XVII: Drizzling Mornings

Darkened grey smudges of wool threateningly surrounded the sky; like a predator would encircle its prey. A startling low rumble rang loud in the cool fall air, the sky roaring with satisfaction. Trickles of liquid hit the ground with as much force as a small child. Hungrily, drizzles turn into canon fires, barricading everything in its way. A sense of cleanliness caresses the atmosphere, washing away all impurities.
A dense earthly sweet smell rises from the ground, enveloping everything within its soft embrace. The skies suddenly calm, as if it were comforted, coaxed even. The fluffy smudges don't part completely - although the sun peeks out timidly- and rather look like it's preparing for an even more vicious round.
Rosalie, however, only heard the sound of rain patter across her window as the wind hissed from between the small spaces. She generally loved the rainy days because after the shower there would generally be a bedazzling rainbow; but now, she couldn't care less about the earthly affairs.
All she could focus on at the moment was the man lying beside her. His knuckles caressing her cheek as his blue eyes, the ones that had been so detached and emotionless just last night, held unimaginable gentleness along with a sense of home reflecting on them. A content sigh escaped her as she nuzzled into his touch, her fingers drawing small patterns across his bare chest with her gaze locked to his.
This was the beginning of a lazy morning, they knew.
Neither one of them was willing to get out of bed or disturb the peace enveloping them. They didn't even have it in them to get dressed and make breakfast. They were just so unwilling to spoil their time together.
Moments like these were just so rare between them, that the cold and their hunger made it all worth it.
Arcangelo inhaled deeply as his fingers danced across the soft skin of her cheek, watching her eyes flutter to a close as her lips tilted into a soft smile. Slowly he moved to her jaw before running his thumb over her lower lip that was red and swollen from all their kisses. His fingers trailed lower to her neck, caressing the skin as she inhaled sharply at the liquid warmth that oozed through her.
A smirk made its way across his lips as he rubbed his thumb over the red mark he had left.
Rosalie took hold of his hand, interlacing their fingers together as he placed a kiss on her knuckles. Shuffling closer to him, he was quick to envelop her naked body against his, wrapping her tightly in his embrace as she nuzzled against his chest.
"What time is it?" Rosalie murmured quietly as her eyes drooped.
"Don't know," Arcangelo responded plainly as he combed his fingers through her hair.
"Stop that...you're making me fall asleep."
"Then sleep."
"But then you'll be gone when I wake up," Rosalie muttered as she moved closer to him, soaking up the warmth he radiated.
A sudden pang shot through him at her words. This wasn't the first time that they slept in the same bed, but this was the first time they 'slept together'. And Rosalie was right, whenever they would fall asleep together, Arcangelo would be gone before she awoke, something that had her feel a sense of loss.
"I'm not going anywhere," Arcangelo assured as he placed a kiss on the top of her hair.
"Promise?" Rosalie inquired curiously, looking up with her wide doe eyes, looking at him expectantly. His heart melting at the innocent look she was giving him.
"I promise." He reassured as he placed a kiss on her hand that was interlaced with his, both of them close to drifting off.
They would have fallen asleep if it weren't for the sound of her doorbell resonating through the apartment.
"Goddammit." Arcangelo groaned as Rosalie shifted, seemingly about to get out of bed to check.
"No, don't go." He halted her movement by wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. "They'll leave soon enough."
She didn't protest as she relaxed against his chest, both of them waiting for the commotion to die down. Just when it all stopped, Rosalie's phone lit up with a text. Reaching for it, she read the message with Arcangelo looking over her shoulder, another groan escaping him as they realized it was her friend Maria at the door.
"I don't like your friends very much at this moment." He confessed as he watched her roll out of bed and pull on his black t-shirt form the night before.
"Yeah, but who knows, maybe it's something important." She shrugged as she started to make her way towards her bedroom door.
"Bullshit."
"Language,"
"I could have said the same thing to you last night, Ms' Dirty-talker."
"Shut up."
"Language,"
Arcangelo chuckled as he watched Rosalie walk out of the bedroom, leaving him alone as she went to cater to her friend.
A slight shiver went through her as the cold air blew at her bare legs. Rubbing away the sleepiness in her eyes, she unlocked her doors before swinging it open to greet her best friend with a smile. However, her smile faltered as she shrieked at the sight of the boy beside her.
"Dante!" Rosalie exclaimed as her cheeks flushed and she tried to cover up more with the large shirt she was wearing.
She noticed how his eyes took her in, starting from her head going down to how the shirt exposed one shoulder and dipped low. She felt exposed, to say the least.
"Rosalie, princess," She heard Arcangelo call from behind her as she noticed Dante tense up. "You forgot your robe." With that said, he helped her pull it on as she fastened it in place, noticing how her friend shuffled uncomfortably, looking around aimlessly as Maria grinned at the two in the doorway.
"To what do we owe this pleasure?" Arcangelo inquired flatly as Maria and Dante walked through the door.
"Ah, we were in the neighborhood and thought we'd drop by." Maria shrugged as Arcangelo wrapped an arm Rosalie's waist, pulling her towards him. "Why? Is this a bad time?"
"Yes." He stated firmly as Rosalie gaped at him, clearly taking offense in his bluntness. "Yes, this is a bad time."
"Oh." Maria's smile faltered as she shuffled her feet. "Well, do you want us to leave?"
"No!" Rosalie exclaimed just as Arcangelo said 'yes'. "Arcangelo!"
"Well, I want to take you somewhere and I can't stay for long." He spoke as he looked down at her. "Besides, this is the last you'll be seeing me for a couple of weeks."
"What?" Rosalie instantly choked at his words, pulling away. "Why?"
"Because I won't be around." He said cryptically. "I'm going to America."
"Oh."
"You know what? I just remembered we have to be somewhere." Maria spoke in haste, grabbing hold of Dante's wrist as she dragged him towards the door. "We'll call you."
Rosalie hardly registered what they had said until the door closed behind them.
Blinking away the daze, Rosalie stepped away from Arcangelo's hold while he let her. Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to gather her thoughts. 
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I found out just now." He stated. "Before leaving I wanted to show you something, and I don't think it can wait any longer."
"Okay." She swallowed, rubbing a hand over her face. "Okay. Let me just get dressed, and we can leave."
Going to freshen up, Rosalie walked in on Arcangelo standing in a three-piece black suit with a white undershirt and his hair styled and gelled to the side. She gaped at him silently as he smirked at her and took in her attire. She wore a floral pink dress with a white cardigan over her attire.
"Let's go?" He asked as he opened the door for them.
Grabbing her bag and placing her essentials into it, she followed him out and into his car.
The rain had stopped and there was only very light drizzle with puddles on the sidewalks and water droplets painting the windows and building around them.
Rosalie asked where they were going and all she got in response was silence. It made her uneasy, not because of the lack of conversation between them, but because of the way his eyes had gone dead again. She didn't like it when they became like that in her presence, it always meant something bad.
She shuffled in her seat as Arcangelo parked the car, looking around them, she noticed them be standing before a cemetery. Swallowing thickly, she watched him get out of the car and gestured for her to do the same. Inhaling deeply, she stepped out and followed after him as he entered the cemetery through the rickety old gate.
Rosalie felt awfully out of place in her floral dress amongst the numerous tombstones.
Glancing up, she realized they were approaching a man in a charcoal suit, seemingly waiting for them.
"Vincent." Arcangelo acknowledged with a nod as they stood before each other, the man, Vincent nodding in response.
"So you brought her along?" He stated as he seemed actually surprised.
"Why are we here?" Rosalie asked in discomfort. Graveyards always made her feel uneasy, she didn't like the eerie feeling they brought with them.
"XI-IV-MMVI," Arcangelo stated as Rosalie looked at him in confusion. "That's the tattoo on my shoulder, and you asked me what it meant."
"It's a date. 11th April 2006. I was 24. And it was the first time I killed someone." Rosalie stared at him in silence, knowing that he had killed people before, but hearing it from his own mouth just made it all seem a real. "And I killed them." He continued as he gestured to the tombstones.
Shifting her gaze down, she read the names displayed. 'Helen Afanti Regnante. 'Onofrio Dante Regnante. Ellie Hope Avery. Antonio Mateo Regnante.
"My family," He stated quietly as Rosalie stared at him in disbelief, not understanding why. Her mind reeling as she felt nauseated. "If whatever it is between us, is meant to progress, I want you to decide and I want you to know everything before you decide."
Tears welled up in Rosalie's eyes as she stared at him. He couldn't even meet her gaze, he was just staring at the graves before him, the graves that were there because of him. His own family.
"For fuck's sake!" Vincent choked through gritted teeth, pulling Arcangelo back as he stood before Rosalie, his eyes bloodshot and moist with the unshed tears. "No matter what we tell him, he won't believe us! We have all tried telling him repeatedly that he couldn't have known!"
"Vincent-"
"No! Rosalie, every year all Mafia Boss's come together for a charitable auction, and they are allowed to bring two guests with them. Helen and Antonio were Arcangelo's parents. Other than that, his elder brother and his wife--Onofrio and Ellie--Arsenio's parents were invited. On the night of the auction, they all suggested that they stay home, but Arcangelo insisted that they go. He just wanted to spend time with his nephew! And he couldn't have known! He didn't know! But there was an attack on the building and everyone was shot down! It's not his fault! Tell him it's not his fault!"
"I told them to leave! I insisted that they go! If I hadn't been selfish they would all be alive today!" Arcangelo retaliated, his voice sounding hoarse and strained as his eyes shone with the emotions he felt, his impassive mask cracking.
"God!" Vincent groaned as he stared at the sky, his hands on his hips as he inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself before he rubbed his eyes. "You know, this is why our friendship became strained. I'm done, I can't do this anymore." He spoke with a defeated sigh as he started to walk away, making his way out the cemetery.
Arcangelo groaned in irritation, running a hand through his hair as he tried to get himself together, his breathing ragged and harsh in the silence of their surroundings.
"Arcangelo..." Rosalie whispered as she wanted to comfort him, hug him and just hold onto him.
Because after hearing everything, she, just as well as everyone else, knew it wasn't his fault.
Reaching out, she placed a hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away from her touch. Turning his back towards her, he sniffled before scrubbing at his face.
"The guards will take you home." He stated softly, also making his way towards the exit.
"Wait!" Rosalie called out as he halted in his step. "What about us?" She asked quietly as Arcangelo turned away.
"It's all up to you."