No matter the cost, I must avenge my family.I’ve lived that truth for the last decade.I took a blood oath that I’ll see it done before coming out here.
But that was much easier to promise when the highest cost was just my life.Now there’s Gianna’s to sacrifice too and I’m not sure I can ever do that.
Chapter11
GIANNA
The door of my room—mycell, actually—open just as twilight started giving way to night.And I’d have plenty of time to make a run for it, while Matteo lugged in several paper and plastic bags of food and drinks.Watching him labor under the weight, while trying to keep the heavy door open would’ve made me laugh in my old life, almost did.Until he managed to get it all inside and the lock clicked, the key disappearing in his pocket, and I was smack back in this terrible reality.
“Your new bosses got you working in the kitchen now?”I ask, not moving from my perch by the window.And refusing to let the sunlight of his gaze in.
“They got me working,” he grumbles and walks to the wardrobe where he starts packing.“And you should wear some lighter colored clothes.I almost didn’t see you there in the dark.If it weren’t for your golden hair, I wouldn’t.”
I scoff.“You don’t get to tell me what to wear.And I think black is fitting for my current situation, don’t you?I am in mourning and all.”
I should be nicer to him.Should be pretending I missed him.That I still love him.But I can’t.
“Then I’ll just take away all your black clothes,” he says while stuffing the bag without actually looking what he’s packing.“How about that?”
I scoff again and turn away from him, gaze out the window, at the last of the light, wishing I wasn’t as happy that he finally came.Or as sad that he’s clearly leaving for a while.But I am.And I hate myself for it.Worse than I hate him.
I know he’s standing right behind me by that heat and light he always brings.But I don’t turn to face him.Maybe if I ignore it all it’ll be like none of this is really happening.But that’s childish beyond words.And the only thing I’ve got to hope for.
“I gotta go somewhere tonight,” he says and I see his hand reach for me.But he stuffs it into his pocket before he can touch me.
“How is my sister?”I ask and hate how my voice breaks, betraying how weak, alone and at his mercy I really am.
“She’s fine,” he says.“And you’ll be fine too.I’ll be back soon.I brought you some food.And a couple of books to read.”
He points at the bags he carried in here.I can see his reflection in the window and the expression on his face clearly tells me he has no idea if any of us will be fine.I have no idea what to make of that.
I turn to him just to know if I’m not reading too much into what I see of his eyes and his face in the reflection.Because reflections can be tricky things.They’re see-through, make people look like ghosts.And ghosts can be anything you want them to be.He looks uneasy head-on too.
“And what?I’m just supposed to stay in here, alone?”I ask.“What if your new boss decides to marry me off too while you’re gone?”
He grins, but it’s a small little thing.“I’m sure your curse can handle that guy.”
I leap to my feet and glare at him.I wish I was taller, so I didn’t have to crane my neck up so much to look into his eyes, but this works too.“Why, Matteo?Why?Why did you do all this?”
He shrugs, a lot of emotions playing across his face and especially his eyes.Dark emotions like anger and aggression are winning, but there’s softer ones too.Like regret.Plain old sadness.
“I got my reasons.”
“What?What are your reasons?”
He takes a step back and glances at the door.“You don’t need to know right now, and I don’t have time to explain.”
“As if I’d ever understand.”
I want to grab him and shake him, make him understand that I would’ve given him everything before he messed it all up.But I don’t think he cares.I don’t think he ever did.
He pulls a leather cord from his jacket pocket.A crucifix is hanging off it, along with a heavy ring—gold with a black stone—as well as a slightly smaller diamond ring and a set of three house keys.He unties the leather strap and slips the key to this room onto it.“No one will come into this room while I’m gone.And if anyone does, I’ll kill them myself.No need for curses.”
He hangs the necklace around his neck and hides it under his shirt.Putting the key to my room next to pieces of his past that he clearly cares so much about he carries them near his heart always.I hate myself for feeling as safe as I do knowing that and hearing his promise.Because he’s the one who made my life unsafe.Because he’s the one who destroyed my life and my family.And because I do still love him despite all that.
He grabs his bag and walks to the door then looks at me over his shoulder.“I’ll see you soon, Goldie.”
Then he’s gone again.Shutting the door and locking it.And I hate that in my mind’s eye I see him hang the key near his heart again.And how safe and loved that makes me feel.And how much I hope to see him again very soon.
