Chapter 60
Bianca Ferrucci
Days later....
“About time you answered,” I said with relief when I heard Alessandro’s voice on the other end of the line.
He laughed softly on the other end.
“I was just waiting for the right moment to hear your voice, Bianca.”
“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” I replied, irritated but even more relieved.
“And why are you so scared?” he asked, his tone playful.
I sighed, closing my eyes and leaning back against the couch, my voice faltering slightly when I spoke.
“Tiziano is strange. He comes here and says things I want to hear, but he’s always doing things I hate behind my back.”
He chuckled quietly, the sound soft and relaxed.
“I understand why you’re worried. I’m fine, sis.”
“You’re acting pretty strange,” I shot back.
“Me? Never,” Alessandro replied, laughing again. “I’m coming there tomorrow. You said you were going back to Lisbon.”
“I’ve had a lot of problems here.” My voice grew quieter, a little distant, as I remembered the past few days.
“Stay there. I’ll come to you,” Alessandro said.
“I feel alone.” The words came out softer than I expected, but they were true.
“You’re not. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I need to go.”
“Okay,” I replied, ending the call.
“Ma’am, you have a visitor at the entrance,” one of my guards said from the doorway.
“Who is it?” I asked as I walked out into the garden, where Giulia was standing in front of me. She looked around before speaking.
“Your house is beautiful,” Giulia commented with a forced smile.
“Thank you,” I replied without enthusiasm. “I’m busy right now.”
She didn’t seem to care about the coldness in my voice, and instead of backing away, she took a step forward.
“You must already know that our father died,” Giulia said, looking me directly in the eyes.
I nodded briefly.
“Yes, I heard.”
She looked at me with a strange expression, as though she were expecting something from me.
“Your husband killed him.”
“I’m sorry. He always does whatever he wants, and killing is something he genuinely enjoys.”
“Bianca, I know we’ve never gotten along, but I really wanted to go back to the house, you know? The one where we grew up.”
Why the hell would I want to go back to that house?
“It’s not far from here. You can go if you want.” I shrugged.
“It was sold. Tiziano’s uncle bought it.”
“So?” I replied emotionlessly.
“Come with me. I want to get a few keepsakes. You might find some things you want too.”
I frowned.
“I don’t want to remember anything I lived through there.”
My heart began to race as soon as I saw Giulia move a little closer.
She looked calm, but her eyes gleamed with a hatred I knew all too well.
I realized too late that she was holding a knife, and before I could react, she pressed it against my stomach, exactly where my child was growing.
The cold blade made me hold my breath, and for a moment, panic took over. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t move.
“Now smile and keep talking like everything’s normal. I don’t care if you react and they kill me, but know that I’ll kill that child of yours before I go down.”
My only option was to follow her rules.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll go with you.”
She laughed quietly, the sound filled with contempt. There was nothing normal or rational about that smile. Giulia was completely out of control, and I knew one wrong move could cost me far more than just my dignity.
Tiziano Constanzo
“I keep waiting for her to call, but she’s been pretty damn cruel to me,” I said, letting out a frustrated sigh as Alessandro returned to the room.
He didn’t answer right away, simply wearing that smug smile as though he were enjoying the situation.
“I didn’t tell her what happened. I think it’s better to keep it that way. I’ll talk to Marco and make sure he keeps quiet too. Later, I’ll explain everything to her.”
I raised an eyebrow and said provocatively:
“So that’s it? We’re brothers-in-law now?”
“For her, I can put up with you,” he replied with a crooked smile.
“Same here,” I said in the same amused tone.
“Alessandro, we need to change your dressings,” Carlo said professionally. Alessandro nodded and went over to him.
My uncle, who was standing a little farther back, watched the scene with a disapproving expression, shaking his head.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked irritably.
“Having breakfast with my brother-in-law,” I replied casually.
“You’ve completely lost your mind!” my uncle exclaimed.
“I have. You’re absolutely right, Uncle,” I replied sarcastically.
“And God help the son of a bitch who tries to argue with me about my choices and decisions. You know those moldy-smelling old men on the council? Tell them not to say a damn thing about my wife. They can announce that she’s pregnant and the heir is on the way, but if anyone dares mention her name, I’ll have their fucking tongue cut out.
I’m sick and tired of a bunch of old men who do nothing but piss me off and give their opinions about my life. ”
My uncle sighed, already out of patience, but replied with a touch of bitter humor:
“Understood, Don. This moldy-smelling old man could probably retire already.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Uncle,” I said, my voice calmer. “I love Bianca. I’m fucking furious because my wife isn’t here with me. That kid is her brother, and I’m convinced that, just like me, they were victims of Bellini too. Their blood doesn’t condemn them.”
“Since when does blood not condemn them?” my uncle asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Since I decided it doesn’t,” I replied. “I started this whole fucking mess, and I’m ending this whole fucking mess.”
My uncle fell silent for a moment.
“You started it? I seem to remember their father killing your parents.”
“I did the same thing, didn’t I? I killed every member of his family, burned thousands of homes without caring whether there were old people or babies inside. Don’t expect me to condemn my own child, the reason I’ve been smiling lately.”
My uncle let out a deep sigh, as though lost in old memories.
“I don’t expect anything from you anymore, Tiziano.”
I leaned back in my chair, unfazed by his words.
“Good. The Mafia is still under control, the money keeps pouring in, everyone is making a profit and secure in their positions and ranks... and me!” I paused, my tone softening. “I’m happy with my wife and the child who’s going to be born. That’s all that matters to me now.”