Chapter 24 Imogen
Imogen
Idon’t know exactly what I was expecting when Rico told me he was taking me to Carina and Constantine’s home, but it certainly wasn’t this.
I’m coming to find the Made Men of The Donati Famiglia aren’t ostentatious nor pretentious with their wealth.
They’re also extremely loyal. And friendly-ish. But I’m starting to wonder if their kindness has anything to do with my shadow.
Pietro, the goldenest retriever of a man I have ever encountered jests around with Rico some more.
It’s blatantly obvious he lives to press the buttons of any living soul.
But it’s all in good fun. There’s no malice or ill intentions.
Just light entertainment and levity to bring light in every room he enters.
While he may be a dangerous killer he’s also a light hearted man.
And he’s a man who genuinely loves his Famiglia. Theatrics aside, even I could see Rico ignoring him for the past week upset him deeply.
As they converse with one another, more like Pietro talking Rico’s ear off, I wander the living area. All the while Rico’s eyes stay on me. They’re like a second skin. I would feel bare without them.
In the middle of the living area is a grandiose beautiful skylight. Since it’s midday the sun's rays beam through. I feel its warmth the moment I step underneath it. Maybe if I close my eyes I can imagine myself in the warm embrace of my ma.
God, I miss her hugs. Her voice even more so. I absolutely hate how the last she saw of me was a gun pointed to my head. She didn’t deserve that. Not when all she wanted was a happy life for me. One of a love I decided.
“It won’t find you.” A melodic voice tells me.
I open my eyes to none other than Donna Carina Donati. The ruler alongside her husband of The Donati Famiglia. Some even dare say she’s more vicious than him.
She’s insanely beautiful. While pictures showcase her beauty it compares to nothing by seeing her in person.
Ebony hair waves down to her mid back. A fairer complexion with rosy cheeks. Emerald eyes that shimmer and gleam.
If I were an insecure woman I would feel spiteful jealousy.
“Excuse me?”
A crimson painted finger that matches her lips points towards the skylight. “Believe me, the warmth you are seeking the skylight will not provide.”
“You speak as if you know from experience,” I say.
She smiles bitter sweetly. “I do. Many nights I sought out its warmth. Hoping it could reach me. Cleanse me even.”
I raise a brow, my interest piqued. “Why?”
A click of heel as she takes a step forward. I do not move. Another click and another until she stands beneath the skylight with me. She tips her head backwards, her hand coming to rest on the base of her throat.
After a moment of basking in its light she meets my eyes once more.
“I had thought for the longest time I possessed nothing but darkness. And I had desperately sought for the sun to not only bestow upon me its warmth, but to also light my soul. Maybe then I could be considered worth saving. I could be someone who was good.” She lowly laughs at herself. “I was foolishly naive.”
“How so?”
“It took my husband for me to see the truth.” A fondness touches her lips and softens her face.
Adoration glitters in her eyes. “What I had been desperately searching for I had within me all along. I was never evil nor a dead woman walking. Despite my actions I possess both. Darkness and light. Sin and goodness. My soul isn’t damned, Imogen.
And even if it was, my husband would love me anyway. ”
“Sounds like you harbored a great amount of guilt,” I surmise.
“Mamma was a devout Catholic. While I never believed in God it was difficult to not feel the guilt as she did. Perhaps that was the only Catholic thing about me.”
“I wouldn’t think you were.” She raises a brow at that. “Opening fire in a church on your wedding day proves you don’t think much of the Catholic religion.”
“Ah,” she muses. “Everyone involved in that church were heinous sinners.”
I think of my pa and my late brother. Both of them were in that church. They both had managed to escape until Niall was caught. It then led to his death.
“You’re including my brother and pa,” I say with a sharpness.
“Interesting,” she simply says, completely unbothered by my hastiness. “You consider them not?”
“If I were religious we’d all be sinners. No one follows God the way it’s written. Each person takes his words and twists it to their own narrative. But my pa and brother are not evil. And my brother didn’t deserve to die for being loyal to his family.”
“I see your point, Imogen and I’m certainly not disagreeing. But your brother didn’t die for being loyal, he died because he had tried to kill my husband and myself. And if anyone tries to kill my husband I will not hesitate to kill them.”
A bitterness coats my tongue. What feels like fire ignites my blood. “So, you ordered for Rico to kill him?”
“Technically my husband did. He threatened me. Constantine doesn’t take kindly to threats against me,” she says coldly with even colder eyes.
“He was my brother! My ma’s only son and you all killed him!” I seethe.
“I understand you’re upset but you would be extremely hypocritical to believe your family wouldn’t do the same. In fact, they’ve already done it. How many sons and brothers and fathers have they taken in the name of protecting the family?”
I shake my head furiously. “It’s not the same.”
“Isn’t it?” She poses the question. “What makes it different?”
“He was my brother—“
“Si, he was. But just because he shared your blood doesn’t mean it absolves him of consequences. Nor will it you.”
Tension lays heavy and thick between us. A coldness resides in my bones from her threat. “What are you ensuing?”
“You’re intelligent enough to read between the lines.”
Bravely, I stand toe to toe with her. I have her by a mere inch with her in heels. Except I would be naive to believe that means I’m intimidating to her.“Funnily enough I don’t think Rico would take too kindly of you threatening me.”
Her smile is conspiring. “Si, the man who killed four of his own to protect you. And tell me, what has your pa done to save you? Do you think if your brother was still alive he would’ve went against him to bring you home? Or would he have stayed loyal to his family and let you suffer?”
My nostrils flare. “You have no idea the man my brother was.”
“From the little time spent with him I know he was stubborn, prideful and halfwitted. And your father? Your father suffers the same attributes. Because if he was smart he would’ve waved his white flags.
If he had less pride he would’ve saved you in an instant.
But he didn’t, did he? Not even with guns pointed to your head.
No, his image to his crime family meant more than your life. ”
Fire licks my skin. It burns within me. An unbridled rage that I fear may erupt any second. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I knew this would happen.”
“You knew what would happen?” I spew.
“That kidnapping you would only restart the war that happened over a century ago. He would never concede, even if it meant your life. A Made Man never appears weak to his men. Least of all for a woman. You may be his daughter that I have no doubt he loves but—”
“But what?”
“But his love for you isn’t enough to end a war.”
Her words strike me far worse than any blow ever will. Any torture that lies ahead of me will never amount to this great pain that obliterates the poor vessel inside my chest.
My hand comes to clutch over my heart. Tears prick at the back of my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. My throat burns as I swallow back the sob.
Hands, large and gentle, lay comfortingly on my shoulders before bringing my back to press flush against his chest. His scent of amber calms me as I take in a deep breath.
“What did you say to her?” He asks in a low rumble over my head.
“I only told her what she already knows to be true,” she says wistfully.
“And that is?” He presses.
She sighs heavily. “That in our world almost all fathers choose the crime family over their own flesh and blood.”
And while yes, I do know that to be true I had never once thought it would have been possible to be my own pa. I fear the wound he inflicted will always fester.
Rico replies tightly, “I assure you she’s already painfully aware of the fact.”
“Si,” she agrees regretfully, “I see that now.”
One of his hands slips from my shoulder to rest protectively on my hip. Carina catches it. Eyeing his hand curiously before she blinks it away. “Don’t mention it again.”
Carina raises a cool brow. “Are you ordering me, Rico? Do I need to remind you where you stand?”
His fingers flex on my hip. “I know my place very well, Donna Carina. Though, I expected more of you. You were once the believed daughter of an enemy. You, of everyone, know the cruelty women face in this world. Don’t subject her to it.”
The warmth I was seeking spreads in my chest and unfurls in my stomach. Something hums beneath my skin, coming alive only for him.
“It seems as if I was wrong,” she muses while crossing her arms over her chest. “Cosa significa per te?” She asks in their native tongue. For once I wish I would have studied their language.
“Lei è mia. Questo è tutto ciò che devi sapere.”
“Very dangerous, Rico.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” he says, his tone final. “Now, can we stop wasting time and proceed with the meeting?”
Carina laughs lightly. “Always to the point. Constantine is already in our office.” She gives her attention to me. “You’re a bright girl, Imogen, I want you to remember that when this war comes to a head.”
“Are you suggesting I betray my family? Unlike you I could never kill my own.” Rico’s fingers bite into my skin as a warning. It will surely leave a mark but I don’t care.
“If you are trying to insult me you will have to try much harder than that. I carry no remorse or regret for their deaths. But you, you have much to learn.”
“I’m not a traitor,” I argue, my stance firm.
She chuckles darkly. Her eyes dart to Rico’s hands on my hip and shoulder.
How I’m flush against him. How I have not once removed him from me or even tried to.
No, I damn melted into him like butter. Finding solace in the arms of the enemy.
“I used to lie to myself, too. Trust me, you’ll loathe the taste on your tongue soon enough. The truth really will set you free.”
Her heels click against the marbled floor as she elegantly walks away.
But her words echo in my head. Because the truth that she believes will set me free will only destroy me. God, it’s why I had tried to escape when I could. I had the perfect chance and I failed miserably.
Rico spins me in his arms, his deep blue eyes penetrating mine. The noise of chaos in my head quiets. He brushes his knuckle along the apple of my cheek before tipping my chin up. “Wait here.“
His soft request liquifies me. I nod my head afraid to speak. He grants me a hint of a smile and then he’s gone.
I step out from under the skylight hating that Carina is right. It didn’t provide me the warmth I was searching for. Not even close.
It lies within a man with whom it should not.
And the taste on my tongue? It’s bittersweet.