CHAPTER 3: APOLOGIES

Marianna

"Papa," I jumped from the bed still holding the blanket that covered my nudity. "It's not what you think, I can explain."

"Alright then, I'll give you a benefit of doubt. What exactly is going on?"

"Papa, this is the man I'm in love with. I don't want to marry whoever you choose for me, I want to live my own life. Mama would have wanted that," I purposely brought my mother into the issue, knowing fully well how much he loved and cherished her.

I saw my father's face taken aback with pain, I could bet that memories upon memories were busy swimming in his head.

"You don't know what your mother would have wanted," he said between gritted teeth and I knew that I had crossed the lines. He faced the guards. "Take him, I need to teach him a lesson of not messing with Del Vecchio's daughter."

I gripped my father's clothes tightly, my tears were flowing freely by then.

"He didn't do anything to me papa, it was all me. I lured him to bed," I couldn't live with knowing how much pain my Alceo would go through. My chest tightened.

My father was a ruthless man, I had seen him torturing people who betrayed him or snitched on him. He made me watch, on the basis of 'I was going to take over his seat one day'.

"I said, take him away," he shouted at the guards who stood watching our father-daughter moment, his angry voice shook the entire room. As the guards took Alceo away, I saw a smile on his lips, he winked at me and mouthed I love you to me. I was glad that he was able to cover his shame already.

"Papa, please," I reclined to his feet, holding them tightly, refraining him from moving.

"Get dressed princess, we are going home," he yanked himself away from my grip and walked out.

I sat in the same position for as long as I could remember, I had finally doomed the man I was in love with. My eyes sting from crying so much, some of the guards stayed behind, waiting for me to finish up.

"Are you deaf? Get out of the room, do you want to see me dress up?"

They scurried out of the room and I reluctantly wore my clothes, not without sniffing Alceo's smell.

I stepped out of the building and walked towards the car, my sight caught a black Nissan car parked not far away from our car. I dismissed it and entered the car.

As soon as we got home, I realized that I hadn't seen Diego either. There was only one place he could be, the cell.

I rushed towards there upon getting down from the car and the guard stopped me.

"Sorry Miss Del Vecchio, Master Santo has asked me not to let you anywhere here."

My anger was building up so fast and I was getting impatient. I raised my hand to his face, twice, driving 2 quick punches to his stomach before he could recover from the shock.

"Let me in or else you would hate what would become of you," I meant it, it was no harmless threat.

He stepped aside and I rushed to the bar, Diego laid on the bare floor in pain, holding his ribs with his hand.

"Diego, I'm so sorry," I reached out to him and held him tightly.

"It's okay princess, I'm fine," his lips curved into a beautiful sad smile. His eyes and face were badly beaten and I could only imagine what Alceo would go through.

"Do you know where Alceo would be?"

"If I'm correct, the basement," he said, shattering every hope I once had.

A gunshot echoed throughout the walls, the guard I beat up was shot dead at the entrance. My father walked in and seized me by my hand, I had no strength to fight back or do anything. I just let him take me away.

He pushed me into my room. "Your wedding is slated for this night, try anything stupid and your lover boy dies." He shut the door and I could hear the lock turning from outside.

"I hate you father," I mumbled, before letting sleep take me away.

*****

It was close to dusk, the garden was decorated and a few important people were there. Javier stood at the left side, wearing a smile which annoyed my soul. I refused to get dressed in any way, my puffy eyes just wanted to rest and be done with all the nonsense. Alceo was brought out in chains and fastened to a pole where everyone watched what would happen.

My father placed his gun on his head, threatening to shoot him if I decided to pull any stunt. I had no choice but to say the vows and exchange rings with Javier, killing Alceo would mean nothing to him.

After the whole celebration, Javier walked towards him and started beating him up, trying to show him that he was a man. With every punch that landed on Alceo's body, the crowd cheered louder and it continued fueling Javier.

I rushed to the scene, not caring about everyone watching and pushed him away. I cupped Alceo's battered face in my hand.

"I'm so sorry baby, I had no idea this would happen," my tears started to fall again.

"Don't cry pretty, there's no way I can wipe those tears away," he spurted out blood and gave me a weak smile.

"We will figure something out, I promise. I won't let you die here in my father's house."

"I'm sorry too, for how things will go from now on. I really wanted to tell you today but fate had a way of spinning things."

"It's okay, it's okay. Don't stress yourself too much."

I had no idea what he was apologizing for but as I turned to go inside, my eyes caught something just outside the see through gate.

The same black Nissan car I had seen that morning was parked outside the gate.

Who could it be? Who could be tailing us?