CHAPTER 21 - ARIANNA
CHAPTER
Arianna
WATER CASCADES over me, each droplet amplifying the tenderness of every bruise, finger mark and piece of skin that has suffered at the hands of my brother and Luca.
The bruising from being smashed in the face the day I was snatched has gone, and the broken nose I gained has healed straight, with no hint of crookedness.
And for that, I’m grateful.
Not because I’m vain and a wonky nose would have me running to the nearest plastic surgeon.
Christ, there are countless things more important than that in life - especially mine and especially now, but I’m glad there’s no outward sign of the abduction showing like a beacon in the center of my face, marking the first day my life was ripped further to tatters, eradicating my future.
The bruises on my arms and legs and the ones on the inside of my thighs are still there but fading. The deep gouges from the cuffs are healing too. They’ll scar, but the real scars are invisible to the naked eye.
When I accused Red of “saving” me for revenge, rather than anything else, he didn’t deny it.
Was there a part of me that expected him to? Or perhaps, wanted him to?
No, he didn’t deny it – he kept the same old infuriatingly neutral mask in place and remained silent. But his eyes said otherwise.
Behind that fierce blue-gray glare, I saw... saw what I thought might be...
No!
Berating myself for this pathetic show of sentimentality, I snatch up the shampoo and lather it into my hair.
Have a word with yourself, Arianna. Don’t fall for the bullshit. Concentrate on what you’ll do from now on, not what might have been.
Hatred floods my veins and taints every angle I turn. If I thought I’d changed after killing my first husband, it’s nothing compared to the person I am now.
The world has lost its color, and I’ll not rest until Maria is safe and I’ve gained vengeance.
Vengeance doesn’t come naturally. I wasn’t schooled the way men in families like mine are. Neither did I learn how to bulldoze through life using threats, lies and manipulation, like Red.
I was correct with my original perception of him, but my lack of training and instinct leaves me at a disadvantage when I intend and will succeed in killing my brother. It has to be me who does it because no one else will. They’re all too fucking busy working for one another.
Besides, I want to be the one to do it. I want to see Matteo’s surprise and disbelief as I extinguish his life.
Turning my face towards the ceiling-mounted showerhead, I let the water gush over my face and hair to sluice away the relentless arguments speeding through my head.
It doesn’t work. They are still there. Prodding and taunting. Hounding me...
I need a plan.
Turning off the water, I step out of the enclosure and pull a fluffy towel from the stack on a bamboo cabinet. I feel better for a shower. The basin washes I’ve had for the last four days don’t have the same effect.
I wrap my wet hair up in another towel and fashion it into a turban, then stare at my reflection in the mirror. I close my eyes, slowly and methodically letting the air out of my lungs, finally releasing the relief that my sister isn’t in Matteo and Luca’s clutches.
It was stupid making out to Red that I knew she wasn’t there.
Considering my fear that they’d got her, backed up by the conversation I remember hearing and that dream is never far from my thoughts, I should have asked Red if he knew for definite they hadn’t taken her since.
After all, he was talking to Papà and being as they are such good “friends”, I’m sure he could find out.
That’s if he doesn’t know already...
Resentment bubbles and I reopen my eyes, mentally pushing the rage of Red and Papà’s association away. For now.
Matteo was determined to get Maria in as part of his sick plan in addition to me and had arranged to meet her - I heard that much, so I have to concentrate.
Did she ever arrive? And if not, then why not?
That’s if Red’s telling the truth? Why do I assume he is? Have I learned nothing?
I glare at the violet eyes staring back fiercely from the mirror.
I rush to get dressed, reluctantly pulling on underwear, a top and skirt from the pile which has miraculously made its way here from what I had in the wardrobe at the Scorpio Lounge. Again, it’s frustrating to accept anything from Red, but it’s better than wearing the same underwear.
Eyeing the gouges on my ankles, I clumsily wrap makeshift bandages in place, then yank my damp hair into a ponytail. Opening the bedroom door a crack, I listen. I can hear Red’s voice downstairs. He’s either on the phone or there’s someone here.
My pulse accelerates. Who is it?
I strain to hear better without alerting anyone to my presence. The way Red watches me, I’m surprised there isn’t CCTV constantly monitoring everything I do.
There probably is...
Coloring at the thought of Red watching me shower, I tune into the muffled conversation downstairs. It’s one of his brothers, but which one, I don’t know.
Slipping out onto the landing, I tentatively creep down the staircase. If I can see where they are, I might be able to sneak into...
Nearing the quarter twist of the staircase, I catch sight of someone’s arm to the side of the kitchen door.
As they’re in the kitchen, I may be able to take a look in that sideboard in the sitting room.
Red was stuffing something into one of the drawers earlier.
There’s got to be something – anything – in there to give me more information.
Even the address of this house would be good. I don’t know where I am, and I’ll need to know that when I call a taxi to get away. I also need to know where my brother and Luca are so I can remove them.
That won’t be long now as the other thing I’m determined to get my hands on is a gun. Red will have one, if not several here. It’s just a case of locating one. And that, I intend to do.
That I have little clue how to use a gun is irrelevant because I’ll work it out. I’ll have to.
I continue down the stairs, dreading a floorboard creaking. My desperation to achieve something worthwhile, however small while treading water, waiting to leave is driving me crazy. I need to be ready.
I slide into the sitting room undetected.
Someone has now pushed the kitchen door closed to prevent their raised voices from traveling upstairs to where they believe me to be.
The conversation between Red and his brother is getting heated, but I need to focus on what I’m doing rather than what they’re saying.
I hurry over to the sideboard as quickly as my ankles allow and tug open a drawer.
Not much in here apart from placemats and what looks like a table runner. Glancing over my shoulder to check Red hasn’t sneaked up on me, I close the drawer and open the next one, still blocking out the voices from the next room.
My hope surges at the pile of paperwork inside the drawer. If I can find a reference to anything useful it will... Ah-ha!
Underneath a crumpled Chinese takeaway menu, I pull out an unopened letter. “Great Savings On Utility Rates For New Customers”, is emblazoned on the front of the envelope in bold print.
I scan the address:
The Occupier
23 Grange Avenue
Walworth
Is this the address of this place? It must be, so I’m having it.
Shoving the envelope in my pocket, I check for other letters or pieces of paper, praying for a scrap with a scrawled address that could be Matteo’s. I’ll need that too when I take him out of this world, but there’s nothing - just more junk mail and menus.
Damn.
Lifting up the stack of crammed paperwork in the hope that Red has been so remiss to casually stash one of his guns underneath all this crap, I’m not entirely surprised to find no sign of one. But what about in the larger cupboard the other side of the drawers? Might he stash a gun there?
Glad my memory is gradually coming back to life, I recall Red’s penchant for keeping a gun in every room at the Scorpio Lounge, so it stands to reason there’ll be one in this room somewhere. But where?
Distracted by the voices from the next room getting even more agitated, I shut the paperwork drawer and crouch down to open the sideboard’s cupboard.
Shit! There’s something on the floor that I must have dropped. I’d best put it back and hurry to check this cupboard for the gun and...
Turning over the piece of card as I snatch it from the floor, my other hand freezes midway to opening the drawer it came from. A sickly sense of dread drops over me.
An invitation to Maria’s wedding?
My hand diverts from the drawer to my mouth.
She’s marrying Luca Bristoni? And it’s the original planned wedding date!
The wedding is still going ahead?
Holy shit!
Without warning, I gag, glad I’ve eaten nothing so far today.
Maria’s still being married off to that bastard?
My shaking fingers struggle to keep hold of the gold embossed invitation as I stare at mine and Red’s handwritten names. That isn’t Papà’s handwriting.
It’s Matteo’s.
Oh no, no, no.
Controlling my urge to scream, I swing towards the door. This invitation has been received since I’ve been here otherwise it wouldn’t be in this house. Why the fuck has Red failed to mention it?
Not only is Maria’s fate sealed, but Matteo knows where I am. This means Luca Bristoni does too.
This must be Red’s plan! He’ll force me to attend my sister’s wedding and that’s where I’ll be handed over to Luca Bristoni, along with my sister.
Fury overtakes my spiraling panic as I lurch to the door, no longer interested in hiding my presence. I’ll have this out with Red right now. If he thinks this is happening to me or Maria, he’ll have to kill me before I...
Stopping, I hear words from the kitchen that make me freeze in my tracks.