Chapter 5
MATTEO
The wedding lasted all day and well into the night. I’ve been dead on my feet since we arrived at dawn, and it’s only been getting worse. It’s all right for some, snorting their endless lines of coke and washing them down with whiskey. But it’s even more important for me to stay sober now.
At first, guys were ogling Gianna, since she’s definitely the prettiest of the bunch of women that we snatched last night.
It’s no secret that Ferro doesn’t much care what happens to the women, so I’m sure most thought they’ll be up for grabs.
But Lorenzo kept a very close eye on them.
Though I’m pretty sure that was just because he’s an honorable guy and not at Ferro’s orders.
I think Ferro decided to spare their lives more to save face and not appear a total monster than because he thinks they could be useful.
The men loyal to him are all ready to kill anyone at his command.
As long as it’s men they’re killing. But even the most hardened killers usually balk at murdering women.
Though him marrying the younger Codelli woman might mean I’m wrong about his view of the women.
As for the older Codelli daughter… she hates my guts with a fierceness I did not anticipate.
And after she laid that curse on Ferro, even I couldn’t look at her the same way anymore.
She looked like the worst kind of hag witch doing it.
Seemed to age to about a hundred years while she spoke it.
She turned into one of those old Sicilian widows, with warts on their faces and a world of knowledge and hurt in their eyes.
And after that, most of the men agreed it’d be better to steer clear and get rid of her sooner rather than later.
Devil woman. Witch. Bloody Mary. Those names were thrown around a lot behind her back today. I’m sure she wouldn’t care at all if she knew. Might even welcome one of them stabbing her in the heart to stop her from spreading more curses.
It’s a thought that’s been stuck in my mind like a splinter ever since it occurred to me several hours ago. She’d rather be dead than be with me. And it’s beginning to fester.
This is the work of my own curse—the one that always makes sure everyone in my family never gets to enjoy anything before it’s taken away and ruined—playing another dirty little trick on me.
Because I’ll definitely lay down my life to save Gianna’s if any of those guys come for her.
No questions asked. I can’t fucking live without this woman anymore.
And I don’t even know why.
I can’t possibly love her. I haven’t known her long enough.
It’s probably just guilt. I tricked her into giving me her virginity and then I took everything else from her too. I can practically hear my grandmother admonishing me for it, telling me I owe it to Gianna to keep her safe now. No matter the cost. As if I need reminding.
That task would be a whole lot more pleasant if she appreciated my good intentions.
But after I practically dragged her up to our room, she stopped talking to me altogether. She lay down on the bed, fully clothed, her eyes daring me to try and fuck her. She wasn’t wrong thinking that I wanted to. I had been thinking about her sweet, soft body all day.
But she lay there like a slab of black marble, without even golden veins, and the hate in her eyes burned so hot I had to get out of there.
I’ve been standing out here in the dark hallway in front of our room ever since. For hours, it seems like. Just like I’d stood in front of her door at her father’s house, guarding her, not so long ago.
All I want is to lose myself in her softness. Let her gentle touches and sweet moans erase all the blood I’ve spilled last night.
The sky beyond the window at the end of this long hallway is turning grey.
A new day is dawning. Should be a day of victory of celebration.
Because I’m one step closer to avenging my own family and getting back everything that was stolen from me.
But in reality, the light is just cold and sad, as all grey mornings are.
Gianna was my last link to the man I could’ve been. The man I was before everything was taken from me.
And now she’s been taken too. Even though she’s lying just beyond the thick doors I’m leaning against. Even though she’s mine for the taking now. Mine to do with as I please.