Chapter 51 Enzo
ENZO
"You're sure you're okay, cara?" I brush the hair from my sister's face. She's huddled under the blankets in one of the guest rooms because she didn't want to disturb her daughter, who's sleeping in her old room.
"Yeah. I'm just a little disappointed he won't let me in," Lina says as she comes closer to me, allowing me to hug her.
"It will take time. There's fucked up and then there's Marcello. I don't even know how he's remained sane until now."
In a weird turn of events, Marcello's brother Valentino had shot Jimenez before killing himself. And after a ten-year absence from the famiglia, Marcello had decided to return as capo and sought me out for an alliance.
Now, knowing what the Lastras are like, particularly Marcello's reputation, I'd been reluctant to give him Lina's hand in marriage. But some complications at Sacre Coeur forced my hand, and I had to make a quick decision.
"I promised I'd wait for him," she whispers, taking a deep breath to avoid crying again.
According to Catalina, Marcello's not so bad. But then again, she's head over heels in love with him, so I can't exactly trust her judgment.
"Everything will be fine. If not, you always have a house here with me and Luca."
If it wasn't enough that Marcello's past is drenched in sin, his enemies had to target Lina too. I'd been mad with worry when I realized she'd been kidnapped by a madman, and I'm happy we got there in time before anything happened to her.
But imagine my surprise when Lina had told me who had orchestrated her kidnapping.
Fucking Chiara.
Apparently, the crazy bitch had gotten it into her head that the reason I'd always rejected her was because of Lina. Since I visit Allegra weekly at Sacre Coeur, I can see why in her twisted mind she'd think I'm in love with my own sister.
Frankly, after hearing her father's confession, a lot of things are starting to make sense—like her obsession with old men. And this time, she'd gone and fucked Marcello's uncle.
While my father had been alive, he'd had one rule for her—fuck whoever, but never a conflict of interest, like a competing famiglia.
It seems now she's truly gone rogue. And I, for one, can't wait to get rid of her once and for all.
"Don't worry about me, Enzo. I'm fine, really. I just wish I were by his side... He's all alone... suffering," she sniffles, and I tug her closer.
"He can take care of himself. Why don't you focus on you? You're free to do whatever you want, Lina. Don't let Marcello or anyone else limit your potential."
"You're right... I should," she inhales deeply, her eyes closing. "Thank you," she murmurs sleepily.
Kissing her forehead, I close the door behind me, checking in on the kids before going to my own room.
Chiara must have realized she fucked up because she's been missing ever since.
But I'm waiting. And soon, she'll follow her parents to the grave.
It's late one night when I see her sneaking inside the house.
She thinks she's being sly, but I've been waiting for her all along.
I step out of my room and into the hallway, listening to her steps as she ransacks the house for any valuables.
She must have run out of money if she's so desperate to come here.
I watch her closely as she pillages what she can, filling a bag.
"Found what you're looking for?" I finally speak, and she jerks back, dropping her bag with a thud. Her eyes widen in fear, and she steps back.
I walk leisurely toward her, kicking the bag aside.
But as I see her better in the light, her face so similar to Allegra's but so different, I can't help but snap.
She's afraid, and a red mist covers my eyes as I look at her pitiful form.
She must have noticed the change in me because she's now cowering in the corner, trying to keep a distance between us.
In two steps, I have her by the throat, squeezing the life out of her. It would be so easy. A little more pressure and I'd break her.
"What have you done?" I ask her through gritted teeth. I already know the shit she's pulled, but I want to hear it from her own lips.
"Can't… breathe…" she squeaks, and I get the urge to tighten my grip. Finally snuff the life out of her.
"Tell me. What. Have. You. Done?" I enunciate each word, loosening my hold long enough for her to answer me.
"She fucking deserved it," she wheezes out, and I smack her against the wall. She whimpers in pain, but her expression doesn't change. It's a mix of defiance and malice that makes me sick to my stomach.
How could I have lived with her for so long?
"You're dead. You know that, don't you?" The corner of my lip curls up in derision. She's been dead for a long time. I've just been biding my time.
"You… can't," she stammers.
"Oh, really?" I ask ironically, and my fingers dig into her skin, stopping her airflow.
"Papa?" A tiny voice stops me dead in my tracks.
I turn around and watch with horror as my son steps into the room, his face full of worry.
"What are you doing to mamma?"
I immediately release her, and she staggers to her feet.
"Your mamma and I were just having a grown-up conversation," I explain to him, side-eyeing her to keep her mouth shut.
She was saved just now.
But not for long.
"Why don't you go to bed, Luca? I'll come read you a story in a few minutes." I urge him out of the room, and luckily he listens.
When he's out of sight, I turn back to face her—the bane of my existence.
She struggles to stand up and snickers at me.
"Can't kill me, can you? What will you tell your son?" She has a smug look on her face, convinced that Luca would save her.
Oh, how wrong she is.
"The truth." I take a few steps toward her. "That his mother was a fucking whore and a traitor to boot," I lie. Ah, I guess she's never figured out that I know who she actually is.
Her confidence disappears, and she instinctively falls down, her ass hitting the floor with a resounding thud. She drags herself backward, her eyes wildly seeking an exit.
"I think he'd rather judge me for not killing you sooner." A cruel smile stretches across my face.
One more step. Just one more step. And she's dead.
"Really?" she drawls, her face morphing from fear to confidence. "You shouldn't have sent him to his room. Now you're going to be responsible for his death."
Her words stop me dead in my tracks.
"What do you mean?" I don't bother to hide the sudden terror in my voice. After all, Luca is where I draw the line.
"Let's just say that I didn't come only for the family silver," she comments, smugly lifting her hand to show me a small remote control.
I narrow my eyes at it, and it slowly dawns on me what she means.
No… no…
I take a step back, and another, and then I'm running toward Luca's room at full speed.
I burst through the door and grab him, holding him tightly to my chest just before a loud noise erupts from the side of his bed.
The explosion is powerful enough to propel me forward but weak enough to be contained to his room.
"It's okay, Luca. Papa's here." I brush my hand across his face, kissing his cheeks and whispering calming words.
Fucking hell!
I underestimated Chiara, and that's on me. But the next time we cross paths, I'll show her just how much she can push me until I become her very own personified nightmare.