Now she’s lying in my arms on the big four poster bed that dominates this room.The sheets are yellowed and scratch my bare legs, the room smells of dust and rot, and I’m very cold.The kind of cold that comes from the core, like I’m frozen inside.I don’t think it’ll ever be better.
We haven’t spoken yet.Anything we could say to each other is too horrible to speak out loud.And we don’t have the answers anyway.
Is our family alive?
What’s going to happen to us now?
She’s my little sister.I should speak words of comfort, I should tell her everything will be all right.But that would be a lie.I don’t think anything will ever be all right again.Not for us.
The sun is rising outside, and I can hear cars arriving downstairs.Chiara shakes harder and I’m sure we’ll get some of those answers now.
The lock on the door crackles and two of those silent men who brought us here come in followed by Matteo.
I hate my heart for doing a happy cartwheel in my chest like it always would when I saw him.I hate my brain for thinking that everything will be fine and good now that he’s here.I hate how relieved I am to see him.
His hair is wet and he’s wearing a new suit—silver grey with a white shirt—the air around him smelling fresh and clean enough to dispel even the muskiness in this unclean room.At least he was thoughtful enough not to come in here with the blood of my family still on him.
The two men try to pry Chiara from my arms, but I hold her tighter, refusing to let her go.
“She’ll be fine,” Matteo assures me.And I hate that I believe him.“She’s wanted by the boss.”
“That stupid looking tall guy?”Chiara asks hoarsely.
Matteo nods.
“Why?”I ask my voice shaking.I hate that too.
“He’s gonna marry her,” one of the previously silent men says.“Solidify his power.”
“No!”I shout and hold her tighter.But she lets me go.
“It’s fine, Gia,” she says.“Let him marry me.He’ll regret it until the day he dies.”
I still won’t let her go.She’s just a child.She’s not as strong and fierce as she wants everyone to think she is.Or is she?The hard, fiery look in her eyes belongs to a woman twice her age.
“I’m ready to do my duty to my family,” she tells me.“Let me go.”
It’s an order like a queen or a matriarch might give, and I do as she says, finding strength in her strength as she walks out of the room, head held high.
Matteo and I are alone now.
I hate that my traitorous brain is happy because of that.
I should kill him for what he’s done to my family.To me.I should fight as hard as Chiara fights.
And I will.
“We haven’t caught the boat your parents and your sister were on,” he tells me quietly.
“But you won’t stop until you do,” I finish the sentence for him.
He nods.
“And I suppose you want me to do as you say, so you’ll take mercy on them when you do find them?”I ask.
He stays silent and it’s impossible to tell what he’s thinking.But I’m sure I’m right.
“You have me now,” I tell him.“But I’ll never be yours.”
“We’ll see about that,” he says and chuckles in that infuriatingly attractive way that makes butterflies flutter in my stomach and my skin flush.I ignore it all.
I may not be as fierce a fighter as Chiara.I may still love this man who destroyed my life and betrayed all that love.But he will regret the day he met me all the same.
This I vow on my life.
* * *
TO BE CONTINUED
