34. Dante
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
dante
W hat a whirlwind the last few days have been. It’s been over a week since I met Bianca, and my life has truly changed. Her father’s service was yesterday, and she has formally invited Rocco, myself, and Gio to dinner.
“You ready? Dad’s car is out front.” Gio rushes by.
“All set,” I respond.
We traveled with Rocco to Bianca’s quarters. The main area of the manor was still closed off, and crews had been coming in and out to start clean-up before they rebuilt. With her taking over, she can move to the main area and renovate. It was a win-win.
We pull up, and our guards open the door and then walk us in. I assure Rocco they can stay outside, and he allows it.
The door opens, and Dmitri greets us; His face is finally starting to heal from Gio’s side mission. We follow him into a dining room and sit down. As soon as we are seated, the kitchen staff brings food and wine. I take a sip, and it’s the expensive stuff. She really is laying it on thick for Rocco.
“And what business brings us here today?” Rocco starts.
“My father is no longer with us. And with him, I want our fighting to be laid to rest. I have no concerns of turf. I have no reason to waste my time and energy on such trivial matters. On most days, we will stick to our side, you stick to yours, but we no longer battle over it.” She begins bargaining.
“And what makes you think I can take your word?” Rocco leans forward in his chair.
“I’m going to marry your son. I’m going to bind our families and we are going to use our combine manpower to take down the Albanians. The only thing I ask… when we get to them, your extractor brings me Emri Balisha, alive. He and I have unfinished business from a job I ran as a teen. I want to be the one that takes care of him.”
Rocco sits quietly for a few minutes, contemplating his response.
“I want the shipyard,” Rocco barters back.
“Done. Do we have a deal?”
They both stand and walk toward each other. Bianca puts out her hand to shake his. Rocco turns to Gio, “Son, you will do this for the family, yes?”
Gio nods his head, agreeing. He already knew this was the plan, and as much as I wished I could be her husband, I wasn’t blood.
“Deal.” Rocco turns back around and shakes her hand.
The next day, in the courtyard behind Rocco’s estate, with the lemon trees bearing witness, Bianca and Gio were married. All upper members, family and friends were there. I was his best man, and the three of us had to keep our composure through the night while pretending this was all normal. We had already talked about how this would work. Gio and I would move in with Bianca once her house was ready. We would be together, all of us. We would plan an attack on the men who killed Bianca’s mother, and she would finally get revenge on the man who gave her those scars. It was the closest I would ever get to a fairy tale ending.
*bang bang bang*
The dancing stopped as I turned around to see Bianca, eyes wide, staring at me. Time stood still as I rushed toward her. It felt like a century had gone by before I had her in my arms. Blood starts to spill from the corners of her mouth.
I look down, and her hands are covering a bright red blotch on her sparkling white dress. Under her hands was a gaping gunshot wound, spurting blood in tight rhythmic pulses. Someone just shot the love of my life, and I can’t even form words. I glance up and see Gio and Dmitri sprinting to the shooter as he tries to flee. It’s one of her father’s men. Her own guard.
I press into her wound to try and stop the bleeding. “Bianca, baby, look at me. You’re okay, baby.” I start to feel the tears flood my cheeks as I stare into her eyes.
She smiles, “I’m so glad…” she stops to try and breathe, “I… got kidnapped. You…”.
I try not to cut her off but all I want is to console her.
“Meeting you is the best thing I’ve ever done. Promise me, you’ll write a song for me?” She finally forces out a sentence.
“You’re going to be okay, Bianca. Please.” I beg, pulling her close to my body.
“Promise me, the song…” She whispers.
“I promise. I love you, Bianca,” I answer between light sobs.
“I love you.” She says before her eyes close. As soon as they do, a swarm of medics rips her from my arms.
I sit there on my knees, covered in her blood.
Maybe Bianca was right; people like us don’t get to have a “Happily Ever After” after all…
TO BE CONTINUED…