6. Chapter 6
6
Suicide?
A sharp ache struck her chest. Elyse was no stranger to patients who'd chosen death to escape their pain. She'd tried to save quite a few of them back in the emergency room. Sometimes, Elyse was able to revive them. Other times, she failed despite her best efforts. Every life that she'd lost was devastating. But to learn that the woman who gave her life had ended her own? Mierda . It cut even deeper. Torrents of emotion rattled through Elyse. Tears blurred her vision. Her lashes fluttered as she blinked them away.
God rest her mother's soul.
The sorrow was laced with confusion, though. She wondered what prompted her grandfather to bring it up. Cautiously, Elyse mumbled, "I hope she's in a better place now."
"Solo Dio lo sa," came Benedetto's gruff reply. Only God knows.
In somber tones, Alessandro offered, "Possa riposare in pace." May she rest in peace.
"Do you miss her?" asked Elyse.
To the side, in a quiet, unobtrusive manner, Alessandro continued to translate for them. Sadness glimmered from Benedetto's dark eyes. "Ogni giorno." Every day.
It was the only glimpse of sincerity Elyse had witnessed from her grandfather. His guard appeared to be down for a second. The tactful thing to do would’ve been to leave well enough alone and change the subject. But Gianna had been her mother. Elyse felt as though she deserved an answer. Somewhat recklessly, she dared to probe, "What drove her to do such a thing?"
"Voleva restare con tuo padre." She wanted to stay with your father.
"But you wouldn't allow it?"
"No," Benedetto admitted.
Elyse demanded, "Why not?"
Benedetto's features grew taut with displeasure. "è scappata da me. Mi ha nascosto la sua gravidanza. Mi ha mentito per la prima volta. Tutto per un uomo inutile." She ran away from me. She hid her pregnancy from me. She lied to me for the first time. All for a useless man.
Frowning, Elyse tried to defend Papá even though he was no saint, "My father may have his flaws, but he has a good heart."
It was as though she hadn't spoken. Benedetto didn’t pull any punches when he fired back, "Tuo padre era un giocatore d'azzardo. Gianna meritava un uomo migliore." Your father was a gambler. Gianna deserved a better man.
Try as might, she couldn't fault Benedetto’s criticism. His contempt for her father was, sadly, justified. Elyse could write novels detailing every single way Papá's gambling had fucked up her life.
Clearly, Benedetto hadn't wanted Gianna anywhere near Robbie Romero. Elyse couldn't help resenting him for it. By driving Gianna away from Papá , Benedetto had also deprived her of a mother.
With a downcast expression, Elyse inquired, "When did you find out about me?"
"Ho iniziato a cercarti circa un anno fa." I started looking for you about a year ago.
"Even though my mother would’ve wanted you to leave me alone?”
“ Sì .”
“Why did you go against her wishes?”
"Perché siete una famiglia," Benedetto replied with a face of indifference. Because you are family.
Her grandfather's response left Elyse feeling cold. He spoke as though she was a possession to be collected instead of a long-lost granddaughter who needed his love and support. With a slight shudder, Elyse couldn’t help wondering how differently fate might’ve played out if Benedetto had found her before Alessandro.
Perhaps, Elyse thought anxiously, she’d be the one engaged to Gaspare right now instead of Valentina.
Her grandfather then turned to Alessandro and asked him to step outside for a few minutes. For some reason, Benedetto wanted a moment alone with her. Even though Alessandro didn't translate this part of the exchange, Elyse managed to pick up the gist of it.
"No, rimarrò," Alessandro grunted, "qualunque cosa tu voglia dire a Elyse può essere detta di fronte a me." No, I will stay. Whatever you wish to say to Elyse can be said in front of me.
Benedetto kept a serene expression on his face, but his voice sounded thick with emotion, "Ho un regalo molto sentimentale che desidero fare a mia nipote. Un regalo che apparteneva a sua madre. Ci vorrà solo un momento. Per favore." I have a very sentimental gift I wish to give my granddaughter. A gift that once belonged to her mother. This will only take a moment. Please.
Green eyes flitted between the two men. Was Benedetto telling the truth? He might be hiding something up his sleeve. With a deep, reluctant scowl, Alessandro agreed to her grandfather's suspicious request.
"Hai cinque minuti," he grumbled. You have five minutes.
Her husband left the room. Elyse gulped as the door closed behind him. How was she supposed to communicate with Benedetto now?
Her grandfather's voice quickly cut through Elyse's concern, "I like that you are made of sterner stuff than Gianna. It will serve us well."
It took Elyse a minute to realize that the bastard had spoken in English. She narrowed her gaze accusingly. "You've been pretending not to understand me this whole time."
"Sì."
"What the fuck!"
"Lower your voice. Do not let your husband hear us," Benedetto warned. "This needs to remain our secret."
Elyse scoffed, "I can't promise to keep secrets from him."
"Then I will let everyone know that you understand Italian."
How the hell did he find out? She tried to deny it, "I don't know what you're talk—"
"Do not lie to me, girl. You may not be fluent, but I can see the concentration in your eyes when Italian is being spoken. I am old. Not fucking blind ."
"I'm not lying," Elyse insisted, "you're right in that I try to understand, but I'm still terrible with Italian. Learning languages has always been my weakness."
Scoffing in disbelief, he pressed on, "Do you know why I decided to tell you about your mother today?
"No," Elyse glanced at him nervously, "why?"
"Because family is everything. Blood is unbreakable. Never go against family. Marriage does not change the fact that you are a Graviano.”
"I don't know if I agree with you."
"Your mother went against family. Look at her now."
His tone seemed to suggest that Gianna hadn't committed suicide, after all. Elyse glared. "I hope you're not threatening me. "
"Never," her grandfather answered with a chilling smile, "we are family, after all."
"Of course." Elyse didn't dare challenge him as she stifled a shudder. They shared DNA, but whether or not they were truly family had yet to be determined.
"Never forget. You were born a Graviano, and you will die a Graviano. Alessandro Vitale will use us when it serves him then throw us away when we are no longer needed. But I will always have your back as long as you stand with me."
"Our alliance is very important to me," she stated diplomatically, "but so is my husband."
"Have you asked Alessandro about his relationship with Valentina Rizzo?" Benedetto asked suddenly.
Trepidation swirled through her, but she refused to let it show. “Not really. I haven't felt a need to do so.”
"Ask him about her," he advised. "You will not regret it."
Alessandro's strained relationship with Valentina often lurked in the back of her mind, but Elyse didn't want to fan the flames of her paranoia. Besides, it was clear that her grandfather was trying to stir shit up in her marriage.
"My husband has told me everything I need to know about Valentina," she retorted. "He doesn't keep secrets from me."
"Well, you must learn how to keep secrets from him."
Her gaze thinned. "What if I refuse?"
"If you tell him anything about this conversation," Benedetto continued, "I will know where your allegiance lies. Betray me, and our alliance is over. Let me remind you again. I will be fine if I cut ties with Alessandro, but I do not think he can afford to lose me."
Benedetto wasn’t fucking around, and her nerves were unraveling by the second. The stakes were high, especially with their epic battle royale waiting at Vincenzo's funeral. Her heart fluttered with dismay. She didn’t want to let Benedetto blackmail her into betraying Alessandro. But how could she change her grandfather's mind without losing his support?
Elyse looked him dead in the eye. "What do you want from me?"
"Loyalty."
"You already have it."
"That is not how loyalty works," Benedetto chided with a smirk. "True loyalty demands choices. Tell me. Are you a Vitale? Or a Graviano?"
On this incendiary note, her grandfather rose from his armchair and wandered over to his desk. He opened one of the top drawers and pulled out a delicate music box. Every detail on the box had been masterfully crafted. The rosewood box was shaped like a miniature grand piano. Intricate floral inlays, stained in lighter elm woods, decorated the entire surface of the lid. Whenever it lifted open, a tinkling rendition of a Chopin nocturne filled the air.
He handed it to her. "This used to belong to your mother. I want you to have it."
There had to be a catch. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
She accepted the gift with an awed, uncertain expression. "Thank you…”
“Do you like it?”
“How could I not?” whispered Elyse. “It’s beautiful.”
Benedetto’s eyes glittered dangerously. “Then display it in the room where you and your husband share important conversations."
Green eyes widened by a fraction. Fucking hell. Why did it sound like Gianna’s music box might be bugged? Masking her alarm, Elyse attempted to dismiss her grandfather’s request without pissing him off, “Maybe I should put it in storage instead.”
“Why hide it away?”
“This is such a precious gift,” Elyse explained, thinking of the aged, worn piano in the parlor room. “I’d hate to see my mother’s music box get damaged over time.”
Her grandfather didn't answer her directly, "Do what you want. The box is yours now. But where you decide to place it in your home will tell me everything I need to know. My men and I will be watching and listening and waiting. You can help us gain the upper hand. Or protect your husband. You cannot do both . I hope you make the right choice."
Elyse’s expression darkened with displeasure. This was going to be her first test of loyalty, and Benedetto wanted her to help him spy on Alessandro .
"That's a big ask," she muttered. "What can you offer in return?"
Benedetto laughed. "You are in no position to bargain with me."
This back-and-forth between them was beginning to feel like a real-life chess match, except, in this game, one wrong move might lead to a fucking casket. How could she outplay him? Again, Elyse thought of the piano in the parlor room. Benedetto still reserved a soft spot for Gianna. He kept her piano. He also kept her music box. She decided to appeal to the man's attachment to his dead daughter.
"You destroyed my family by refusing to let my mother be with my father," Elyse murmured. "Surely, you owe me something for it."
Her grandfather snorted. "I owe you nothing. Be grateful that Gianna deserted you. I know her heart. She was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
" Me ."
Elyse swallowed a bitter smile. Benedetto didn’t seem to be sentimental about Gianna at all. Time to change gears. She decided to feed his ego instead.
"After some careful consideration," Elyse remarked, “I realize that I’m no match for you.”
"Of course not," he gloated, "I have been playing chess for decades. It is simply not possible for you or your husband to win against me."
"In that case, I’m ready to make my choice. I'll display the music box in our bedroom," she supplied hesitantly, "if you continue to support my husband."
Her grandfather smiled coldly. "Rest assured, as long as you honor the Graviano name, your husband will find a friend in me."
The door swung open. Alessandro re-entered the room at this time. "I tuoi cinque minuti sono scaduti." Your five minutes are up.
Benedetto's face gave nothing away. "Tempismo perfetto. Abbiamo appena finito qui." Perfect timing. We have just finished up here.
Her husband glanced at the music box in Elyse's hands. Alessandro remarked, "Che bel regalo." What a beautiful gift.
Benedetto smiled pleasantly. "Era il bene più prezioso di Gianna. Voi due dovete proteggerlo bene." It was Gianna's most precious possession. You two must guard it well.
Elyse pretended not to understand them as she turned to Alessandro. "Look at what my grandfather gave me, Alessio. This music box belonged to my mother. Isn’t it stunning? I think it would look lovely in our bedroom, don't you? "
She'd chosen their bedroom for a reason. They usually made small talk right before bed while Alessandro took important business calls and meetings in his study. Elyse was trying to protect her husband's privacy while leading her grandfather to believe that the music box would have access to their most intimate conversations as a married couple.
Alessandro cast a curious look in her direction. She strained to keep her face neutral. Benedetto was watching. Her husband's expression tightened with suspicion. "Lovely, indeed."
A shadow of distrust ticked between husband and wife. Alessandro was regarding the music box as though it might be hiding a bomb. As Elyse stared back at him, images of loose blonde hair and red lingerie flitted through her mind.
Everyone kept their composure, but tensions lingered even while Alessandro and Benedetto moved on to discuss their plans for the funeral. Italian filled the air. Elyse pretended as though translations were still necessary. Elyse needed to convince Benedetto that she was willing to keep secrets from her husband.
Benedetto asked, "Il servizio si terrà al chiuso o all'aperto?" Will the service be held indoors or outdoors?
Her husband answered, "All'interno della chiesa." Inside the church.
Benedetto frowned. "Pensi di bloccare le uscite?" Do you plan to lock the exits?
Elyse spoke up, "I don't think we should lock the doors. It might alarm our guests. Our intentions must go undetected."
In response, her grandfather's frown deepened. Alessandro's brow furrowed in disagreement as well. But Elyse stood her ground. They debated some more, and the two men were scrutinizing her every action and every word. Perhaps, it was all in her head, but neither of them seemed to trust in her loyalty. The pressure was on. Through sheer force of will, Elyse managed to keep her cool. Barely, though.
Alessandro insisted again on skipping the funeral altogether. She argued that they should attend the beginning of Vincenzo's service. Alessandro was capo , after all. He was also Vincenzo's son. They needed to avoid rousing suspicion from their allies. If Alessandro didn't pay his respects, then, surely, the other attendees would sense something was amiss.
Benedetto asked, "Chi sparerà il primo colpo?" Who will fire the first shot?
"My men will be positioned around the perimeter," Alessandro answered first in English for Elyse and then once more in Italian for Benedetto. "They will unload a few stray rounds outside the church to spark the violence."
Elyse mumbled, "Once we vacate the premises, they'll know we set them up."
"I doubt anyone will suspect us," her husband asserted. "By then, bullets will be flying, and everyone inside will be too busy panicking and shooting at each other."
Elyse reasoned, "Aberto isn't stupid. Neither is Domenico. If they manage to survive the firefight, we'll need to start sleeping with one eye open."
If Aberto and Domenico failed to kill each other by the end of the funeral, Elyse didn't doubt that the Berlusconis and the De Leóns would immediately come for their throats.
She insisted, "We shouldn't fire at all. The first bullets must come from a Berlusconi or De León gun."
"Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare," her grandfather muttered. An ocean lies between what is said and what is done.
Elyse glared at Benedetto. "Then what would you suggest?"
Her grandfather laughed darkly. "Chiudi le porte. Dai fuoco alla chiesa. I miei uomini possono farlo sembrare un incidente." Lock the doors. Set the church ablaze. My men can make it look like an accident.
What was with these men and their obsession with setting shit on fire?
"No," Elyse's immediate objection spilled out. "There must be another way."
Arranging for two power-hungry criminals to take each other down was one thing. Locking people in a church to burn them alive was another level of evil.
Benedetto stared her down with disdain. "Non c'è altro modo." There is no other way.
Elyse scowled. "I disagree."
Alessandro glanced at her with interest. "What should be done instead?"
"We target Gaspare De León over the next few days. Give him a reason to strike against the Berlusconis. I've heard that he has a reputation for being," Elyse released a cough before finishing, "easy to influence."
Malina had called Gaspare an idiot. Her housekeeper also mentioned that Gaspare resented Domenico for inheriting the Berlusconi clan from his father while he was still answering to Aberto.
Alessandro protested, "I do not think Gaspare is a good choice."
Her mouth flattened. Gaspare seemed like a prime candidate for their purposes. "Why not?"
"Gaspare is in line to lead the De León clan, which means he is essentially Aberto's right-hand man. Approaching him seems risky. Aberto might find out about our plans."
“But I think the reward outweighs the risk."
If they could successfully set the De León heir against the sitting Berlusconi boss, war between Aberto and Domenico's clans would be inevitable.
Her husband lifted an eyebrow. "I would prefer if Gaspare survives my father's funeral. Valentina needs to marry him, and he must inherit Aberto's crown, so we can control the De Leóns through her.”
She arched an eyebrow back at him. "So you’re still planning to punish Valentina even though she didn't hire Tommy Wilkes?"
Alessandro's cheeks flushed. "Even if Valentina does not want me dead, she is guilty in other ways. You do not know her like I do."
"I wonder, husband," she mused bitingly, "just how well you know Valentina? Your relationship often feels too close for comfort."
The accusation left an ugly aftertaste on her tongue. Had such pettiness risen from the need to perform for Benedetto and convince him that she was turning on Alessandro? Or genuine doubt in her husband?
Brown and blue-gray eyes lit up with interest. "Are you jealous, wife?"
She glared at him, hating that he'd hit a sore spot. "Just answer my question."
"When it comes to any man in your life who is not me, I admit, my thoughts tend to get a little violent," he murmured. "Sometimes, I wish you felt the same way about me."
"Doctors aren't supposed to support violence."
Alessandro smiled. "But spilling blood shows how much we care."
Apparently, old habits died hard. The bastard was deflecting again like a seasoned fuckboy. Growing annoyed, Elyse prompted once more, "Tell me about Valentina."
The moment she mentioned his stepsister's name, Alessandro seemed to disengage from their conversation. He looked bored. "There is not much to say about her."
"Bullshit."
"I shit you not.”
"I don't know if I believe you."
" Hai tutte le ragioni per dubitare di lui ," Benedetto suddenly interjected.
Even though Elyse understood every word of her grandfather's Italian, she continued to play dumb, asking, "What did he say, Alessio? "
Alessandro studied her grandfather for a moment. There was a calculating expression on his face. Then, brown and blue-gray eyes lingered on Benedetto even while translating for her, "That you have every reason to doubt me."
Had he figured out that her grandfather was fluent in English? Elyse watched him closely. “Is my grandfather right about you?”
His jaw ticked. “For you to even ask such a question, cuore mio, is fucking heartbreaking.”
Staying in character for her grandfather's sake, Elyse willed her voice to grow heated as she snapped, "Then give me a reason to stop questioning you and your stepsister."
He growled back, "I could say the same about—"
"What?"
He leered at her grandfather again. "Never mind."
Alessandro looked like he had much more to say but held back since Benedetto was still with them. From the corner of her eye, she regarded the older man. Dark eyes shone brightly as dissent crackled between Elyse and Alessandro. A connection clicked in her mind. Benedetto wore a similar expression every time he had been about to checkmate her in their chess games.
Sly, old fox.
Elyse grimaced slightly. She needed to remain focused. Emotions couldn't be permitted to cloud her judgment. Otherwise, her grandfather might end up playing them like he played chess. She cleared her throat. "If you won't help me go after Gaspare, I'll go to Mariposa for help. I'm meeting with her tomorrow."
"Do not approach the De Leóns on your own," warned Alessandro.
"My plan may not be perfect, but it has the potential to yield the best results."
Her husband grumbled, "I did not say it was a bad plan."
"Then will you support me?"
"I suppose." He didn't sound so sure about supporting her, though.
Knowing that Benedetto's gaze was still locked on her every move, Elyse didn’t ease up on Alessandro. "I’ll need your full support. We can't half-ass this shit. In order to position Gaspare against Domenico, we must fuel his resentment. If Gaspare doesn't show signs of taking the bait within three days, we can use your plan as back up."
Alessandro sighed. "Very well, we will try things your way."
Promptly, her grandfather offered, "Se questa è la direzione che abbiamo deciso, allora potrei avere un modo per raggiungere Gaspare..." If this is the direction we have decided on, then I may have a way for us to reach Gaspare...
Elyse's gaze flitted toward Benedetto. "You’ll help us?”
Her grandfather smiled like a predator. "Finché farai la tua parte, io farò la mia. Ecco cosa penso si debba fare..." As long as you do your part, I will do mine. Here is what I think must be done...
Over the next few minutes, their new plan began to take on tangible shape and form. Shit was becoming real. People were going to get shot, hurt, and possibly killed. Elyse tried not to dwell on this brutal reality but guilt ate her, nonetheless.
Around noon, Elyse left her grandfather's home with Alessandro. Her mother's music box felt heavy in her hands as they walked to the car. Elyse's conscience weighed even heavier on her soul. Hell was waiting.
Was she ready to burn?