"Come on, Enzo. You know she only fucks important people," Rocco continues, and I don't know whether to groan at his mercenary mindset or laugh at his stupidity. So he's practically been pimping her out?
"I didn't know the gardener was that important. Or her bodyguards. Or even the fucking priest at Martin's funeral. Did you know aboutthat?" I'd thought that maybe she'd had some feelings for Martin, because she'd certainly displayed theatrics worthy of an Oscar at his grave. But after the funeral, I'd left her to rest only to find her boning the priest.
Father stutters a little, caught in his own delusion.
I know exactly what happened. He'd thought he could control Chiara and even use her as his personal cum dumpster. But then he hadn't anticipated Chiara's fickle nature or the fact that she could blackmail his fat ass into submission. I mean, her behavior these past years has been nothing short of indecent, yet Rocco still finds ways to defend her when, if it had been anyone else, he would have thrown a fit about besmirching the family's honor.
"She's just lonely. You don't give her any attention." I almost laugh in his face.
"I'm sorry if I don't want your second-hand pussy, father," I roll my eyes at him. "But I'm curious," I continue, wanting to probe just a little more, the watch on my hand telling me I have more time, "what exactly did the Marchesis gain?"
His eyes widen at my question, and he takes a second to reply.
"Control over our Italian businesses," his voice is shaky as he admits this, because by and large, control over Italy is control over Europe.
"Really? You valued your freedom so much that you'd relinquish half your power?" I'd gone through all the documents, but none of them had suggested a merger or even a transfer of power, which means he's been using different sets of proxies to make sure the arrangement stays hidden. Smart, but also stupid. Suddenly it makes sense why our European side has been losing money.
Fucking Marchesi.
"It was necessary," he huffs, his face going red from the exertion.
Two more minutes.
"Thank you for enlightening me, Father. Now, why don't I tell you some interesting facts too?" My hand grabs his pudgy arm, my fingers digging into his fat. "The Gallaghers were never our allies."
Quinn scores a punch on his opponent, and the entire crowd rejoices.
"Do you know who they were working with?" I continue, watching as his eyes widen with realization. "Yes, indeed. Jimenez and… me."
"What…" he stammers, looking as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Ah, I guess you didn't see that coming," I continue, and for once, he seems truly lost. "You were wrong to mess with Allegra, Father, but even worse to think I wouldn't be able to tell."
"But… why…"
"Do you know what I promised Jimenez for his help to destroy you?" I ask sarcastically, and he can see where this is going. "Everything you own."
He suddenly tenses, turning to face me, his face full of anger.
"You won't get away with it," he grinds his teeth as he looks at me, a vein popping in his forehead.
This… this is what I wanted to see.
"What if I already did?" The hands of the clock move into alignment, and right at that moment, shots start raining down on the crowd. Or, rather, they are focused on our section.
Rocco, in his feeble attempt to escape his death, shoves his mistress in front of a bullet. But he doesn't succeed, as the next ones burrow through him, blood spilling everywhere.
Eyes forward, I feel a bullet enter my side, somewhere in my lower abdomen. I blink away the pain, but another bullet hits me in the chest, the force propelling me backward and making me fall.
It wasn't supposed to be two bullets…
I can barely move as the blood keeps flowing out of me freely, and a slow haze envelops my brain. I feel Bianca at my side, putting pressure on the wound, and Hastings barking orders in the background, calling 911—the reason I'd made sure he was here in the first place.
But no matter how much I fight to stay awake, I can't.
Just before I lose consciousness, I utter the only thing that matters.
"Tell… Allegra… love," I can't muster any more strength to finish the sentence, but I hope Bianca understands.
