“Yes,” he says.“I have to make sure you won’t try to run away.
One of the men grabs my arm, another grabs Chiara’s and then we’re forced to follow Ferro across the meadow towards the grey building.Why isn’t Matteo the one leading me?Why is Ferro letting his wife be dragged across the grass by one of his hired muscle?
I guess because he’d have to drop that tire iron of his to do it.I hate the man more each time I so much as glance at him, and on top of how much I already hated him before… it’s becoming almost unbearable.Good thing for him that he tied up my hands because right now, I want to jump on his back and scratch his eyes out.The way Chiara is glaring at his back, I’m pretty sure she wants to do the same thing.
We walk almost right up to a tall grey wall, which is the reason only the roof of the house was visible.Several men armed with rifles appear on the wall almost immediately, giving this scene a weird medieval vibe.Like we’ve walked up a castle and are about to launch into battle.
“I have Codelli’s daughters here with me,” Ferro bellows.“I’m sure he wants to see them.”
Dad?Dad’s here?And Mom?
I can’t believe how quickly the hate that was burning and bubbling in my chest gives way to a soft happiness knowing I’m about to be reunited with my family.
The men atop the wall exchange looks and nervous sounding words.Some are arguing, others are shrugging and then my dad’s face appears atop the wall.
He’s always been a tough, hard man.But right now, his face looks exactly like it did on the day he successfully taught me how to swim… in the sea by the beach house.I was five and so proud of myself.
“Gianna!Chiara!”he yells.“Are you hurt?”
Mom appears beside him, her face such a mixture of happiness and hurt it’s hard to look at.
“My babies,” she yells.“Are you all right?”
“Sort of,” Chiara says just as I say, “Yes, we are.”
We’re not entirely, but I want my mom not to worry anymore.I want her to have peace.
“What happens to them is entirely up to you, Codelli,” Ferro bellows.“Surrender to me, give up the fight and fall in line.I’ve already won.Stop dragging it out.Otherwise, I will kill your daughters right here in front of you.It’ll be a slow and painful death.”
“No!”My mom’s scream echoes like a clap of thunder across the meadow, but the surge of heat that heats my back is all Matteo.And it’s hotter than lightning ever could me.
“I’ll give you a few minutes to decide,” Ferro says.“But not long.”
He hoists his stupid tire iron in the air to make sure everyone sees it.
Matteo is standing beside me now and I’m sure he means to step between the tire iron and me if it comes to it.But Ferro doesn’t notice that.He’s too excited by the scene he’s causing, probably loving the look of utter shock on my dad’s face and the anguish on Mom’s.
She has a right to be worried.In our world, family comes first.But the entire existence and standing of ours is on the line here, not just the lives of my sister and me.
“I’ll do what you want if you release them,” Dad says.He doesn’t sound tough now.He sounds almost broken.
“Come down and let’s shake on it,” Ferro says and Dad turns on his heel.
“No, Dad,” Chiara yells.“Don’t believe him.Don’t come down.He can’t be trusted.He’ll kill you.”
But it’s too late.Both Mom and Dad have already disappeared from the top of the wall.
Ferro turns to his men.“Get ready to go.Just like we talked about.”
A tension ripples over the men gathered around us.Killers getting ready to kill.Nothing good will happen here.And there’s no way to stop it.
I look at Matteo, begging him with my eyes to stop this.But he’s not looking at me.He’s like a mound of darkness standing beside me, staring at the wall, waiting for the gate to open.
“You promised me,” I say to him.“You promised they’d be safe.”
“I’m sorry,” he says in the same tone that he used this morning when he said this same thing, before the sun blinding me now was even a whisper on the horizon.So that’s why he made love to me so sweetly.So dreamily.Because he knew this was coming.That I was about to witness this terrible thing that I feel in my bones is coming.
I hate him even worse than I hate Ferro.
