Chapter 11
Liliana
One Month Later
If only the universe could rewind time and spare me from this torment. My soul lies shattered, a mere echo of its former self. Each morning I wake to the same haunting nightmare: my family, slain before my eyes. The scene replays incessantly; I stretch out my hand to my father, desperate to shield him from the gunfire, but he slips away. One by one, they fade into nothingness as I grasp for them. I find myself submerged in a pool of warm blood, struggling to stay afloat as I”m pulled under, unable to escape the drowning sensation. Their faces flicker in my mind as I descend into darkness, and the deeper I go, a strange sense of peace envelops me. Suddenly, I’m gasping for air, struggling to resurface, fully aware that I cannot stay here.
It has been a month since the day my family was brutally gunned down in cold blood. During this time of recovery from my wounds, I”ve often questioned why I was the one left alive. What sins have I committed to deserve this agony? I wouldn”t wish this on anyone, not even my worst enemy. Yet, Carlo must experience every ounce of this profound pain that cuts so deeply, beyond reach or solace. Frankie, the stranger turned friend, has kept watch over me, ensuring my safety as I recuperated.
As a cleaner for the Beneventi family, Frankie, for reasons he can’t explain, was compelled to help me survive that day. Carlo remains unaware that he placed me into the trunk of his car instead of one of the cargo vans carrying the bodies of my family. The image of my sister”s lifeless eyes, as Tomas placed her into that bag and carried her away, remains etched in my memory. Knowing my family will likely never receive a proper burial—their remains possibly dissolved in acid or discarded in the depths of Lake Michigan—fills me with both revulsion and a burning desire for revenge.
Luck had smiled upon me that fateful day. Though the bullet had lodged in my side, miraculously missing vital organs, the loss of blood left me uncertain of my survival without immediate medical attention. The coppery scent of my own blood overwhelmed me, and every movement sent waves of pain through my body.
“I apologize for causing you more pain, but I have to get you indoors,” Frankie spoke gently as he lifted me from the trunk. He had shared his name earlier when he checked on me as we drove to some place safe.
Struggling to stay conscious, I managed to express my gratitude through clenched teeth. “I can”t thank you enough for rescuing me. Where exactly are we?”
“We”re at my safe house,” he replied, ascending the stairs carefully to avoid causing me more pain. Knowing his name was one thing, but placing my trust in him was another matter. Yet, in my current state, I had no other choice. Frankie represented my only lifeline between survival and certain death. Most cleaners were devoid of feelings, so why had he chosen to help me?
“Without a doctor, I’m afraid you may not last the night,” Frankie admitted as he carried me through the doorway. In that moment, my will to survive began to waver for the first time that day.
A knock on my door shakes me from the haunting memories. The events of that tragic day are permanently etched into my soul, but now is the time to step out of the safety of this cabin and avenge the deaths of my family.
“Come in,” I reply, rising from the bed. A dull ache lingers in my side, but it”s nothing compared to the agony of a month ago. In our underworld circles, we”re fortunate to have well-paid doctors on standby to tend to our injuries discreetly. Going to a regular hospital for bullet wounds would not only raise suspicions, but they would have to call the police. Beneventi has the chief of police in his pocket which means he”d surely learn of my survival. For what I have planned, Beneventi will know soon enough.
“I made you some breakfast,” Frankie announces, setting the tray on the desk near the door. He”s mentioned more than once that caring for me is his way of seeking forgiveness. However, Frankie isn”t the antagonist in this tale; Carlo Beneventi is, and he will face the consequences of his greed-driven actions.
“Thank you,” I reply, my mouth watering at the delightful aroma of crispy bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, and homemade biscuits. I pull out a chair, sit down, and begin to eat eagerly while Frankie takes a seat by the dresser. The conversation I”ve been needing to have with him has been brewing since the day he brought me here. He diligently nursed me back to health, ensuring I took my prescribed antibiotics and moving my limbs to maintain circulation. We take evening walks to rebuild my strength, yet we”ve never discussed why he”s done all this for me. Before I return home and make plans to avenge my family, I need to understand his motives. He”s been employed by Beneventi for quite some time, so his willingness to help me is questionable.
“Frankie, I believe it”s time for me to return home and confront Beneventi,” I mention between bites of food. He meets my gaze, uncertainty evident on his face.
“Are you certain you”re ready to go back?” he asks, a valid concern considering the nightmares that still plague me every night. During my first week here, Frankie would burst into my room to wake me from the haunting dreams that tormented me whenever I closed my eyes. Eventually, I asked him to let me face them alone, to confront the harsh reality that this was my new life and nothing could undo the past. Now, I face these nightmares head-on, using them to fuel my need for vengeance. I”ve found purpose in my survival, and my family”s deaths will not be in vain.
“Yes, I”m sure,” I respond. “Carlo must answer for what he did to my family. But before I return, I need to ask: why did you help me escape?” At first, I don’t think he will answer, but then he takes a deep breath and what he says touches my heart.
“You know I”ve been with Carlo for many years. This life is tough, and you need thick skin to handle tasks like disposing of bodies. But for the first time, I approached a scene and felt sick to my stomach, ashamed of what I”ve become,” he admitted, bowing his head, and exhaling heavily as if he bore the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I remain silent, urging him to continue and letting him know that he can trust me.
“Seeing what they did to your family shattered me. In all my years of working with Beneventi, I never had to deal with children before. It was easy to avoid the faces of grown men and just focus on completing the job. But this situation was very different.”
I asked him how it was different, curious about what had changed for him that day. He explained, “For one, I”ve only heard positive things about your father. In our circles, rumors spread quickly. Carlo was losing control, consumed by a thirst for power. His intense hatred for Paolo was clear, and it was only a matter of time before it led to something destructive.”
I knew about Carlo”s jealousy towards my father”s success, but I never thought it would lead him to such extreme actions. What did he hope to gain by destroying my family? Did the other families in our organization support this horrifying act? Tears well up as I imagine returning to a home that was once filled with happiness, love, and laughter, now empty and desolate. Despite my father’s disapproval of my relationship with Nico, he had been a loving husband and father.
“The desperation in your eyes shook me to the core,” he continues. “In that moment, I decided I’m through with Carlo. He is a heartless man, and I cannot continue working for someone who could murder children without a second thought,” he expressed, visibly distressed by the events of that day. He then revealed, “I overheard discussions where Carlo opposed your potential leadership in the Northwest territory and how he would never accept it,” he divulged, further igniting my curiosity. Frankie went on to disclose the concerns raised by some of the families regarding Carlo”s connections to a drug cartel in Colombia, while our organization strictly dealt with untraceable shipments from Russia. This risky association could potentially spell disaster for the entire Chicago mafia.
The revelations about Beneventi don”t entirely surprise me, but they have sparked new thoughts in my mind. If Frankie possesses additional information on Carlo”s misdeeds, I could leverage it to garner support from the other families. If they resist my plans, complications may arise, leading to more adversaries than I can manage. My ultimate goal is to take down the Beneventi family, and for that to happen, I require the cooperation of the other families. My original plan will need some minor changes, but first, I need Frankie to place an important call for me.