AlceoI desperately kept my anger in check, I needed to let it out at the right time. I calmed myself down in the sitting room, steadying my breath and taking my time.I signaled for one of the guards stationed in the sitting room. “Go upstairs, knock on each door and call me everyone including Aleksi.”“Yes Master,” he bowed and walked away.I awaited the whining and mouth running of Uri but if I ever found out that he had something to do with Marianna's disappearance, my father would worry if he did the right thing by dying now.Aleksi walked in first with a tired, sleepy face. It wasn't nice of me to ask him to be woken up but whatever was going to happen, he needed to see it and be present. Seeing my current state, he chose not to say any word, he knew me too well.The rest filled in one by one, with Uri being the last person. His eyes were red and swollen, and he dragged his feet from the top of the stairs right to the sitting room.“Why would you ask him to wake me up? Can't you
AlceoIt's been close to a week, finding Marianna had proven more difficult than I expected. I was neither sleeping well nor eating well. Dark eye bags, almost competing with the black color itself, sought refuge under my eyes. Day after day, the food brought in was replaced without me touching them.The curtains in my room refused to go up, I had no idea where she was or what she was going through. All I could do was punish myself in my own little way.I sat on the bed, drowned in my own misery. A recurring knock forced me back to the surface. Not giving a response, I laid back and ignored whoever it was.The door opened. “God of heavens, open the fucking curtains Alceo.”“Don't Aleksi, let it be the way it is,” my voice was gruff and scary. It sounded like a scratched cassette.The bed deepened due to his weight. “What about we turn the lights on?”He took my silence for a no and went ahead. I braced myself for the impact, shutting my eyes for that moment.“You haven't been eating,
Marianna With a scarf around my shoulders, I waited patiently outside for Diego. It was going to be early in the morning and I couldn't help but worry about his whereabouts. He always came home early, the latest by 10pm but today was different. It held an unsettling feeling. The air was stoic and I could feel my heart in my mouth. Something didn't feel right, but then I tried to calm myself, believing that it was because of my recent loss.Diego made sure I laughed and played around the house. For days, he refused to leave me all by myself and gradually I was recovering. Today was the first time in a long while since he stepped out, that was even after so much cajoling that I was fine.“Maybe I shouldn't have forced him out,” I said, as my worry raised a bar.I was beginning to doze off from where I sat when I heard a loud bang. I froze at my spot thinking about what was happening. Was someone trying to break in?The gate kept giving out a loud creak, groans and whimpers followed sui
MariannaThe light streaming in from the open window shone directly on my face, waking me up in the process. I wanted to believe that whatever happened last night was a dream but the pain on my butt disregarded everything. I looked to my side and saw Diego's stiff body. My fingers were still interlocked with his white hands.My mind was void of what I should do, no strength, no anger—at least not so early. All that coursed through my vein was pain. I was in so much pain.The entire situation from last night made me forget to properly lock up the house.The door pushed open at once. There was no strength to stand or try to run and hide. I believed whoever it was, was here to finish the last line of the Santo's bloodline.“So it's true?” The voice made me turn, it was Rosco. He looked like he ran from wherever he was, sweat drenched his body and he looked disorganized. He was still in his pajamas, the news must have forced him away.He came closer, reducing his height to my level.“Mar
MariannaDays after Diego's death, I spent the rest of the days working out, building my confidence and aim. Sharpening the blunt skills taught to me by my father. I would wake up very early in the morning and take a long walk or even a jog around. I could feel the heaviness of my breast wearing away.Every exercise I needed to do was done in the house. With every pain I was going through, the hatred for the Russians and Javier kept fueling. If I dared try to stop, the last image of Cael and Diego would force me back to work. My baby was denied the pleasure of living his actual life.I cleared the room, arranged my clothes and wore a facecap over my head. The phone given to me by Rosco was sitting on the center table. I grabbed it at once and dialed the special code that would request for an emergency meeting with the elders. It was going to be shown as an unregistered device over their end but the curiosity of who it could be would force everyone down to the house; including Javier.
JavierThe show playing on the TV didn't make me recognize that someone else was inside with me.“So this is all you use your time and power to do?” I turned back to the familiar voice and muted the TV.“Hello father, what do you want?” I said so casually.He motioned forward, wearing a stupid smile on his face. “Can I at least sit?”“Please help yourself,” I signaled him.I called for one of the guards, asking him to bring a glass of water for my father.“Didn't you get the emergency message that came in earlier today?”“I did,” I shrugged my shoulders and relaxed in my chair. “I just chose to not attend. Who dares summon the lord of the Italian mafia like a dog?”“It was your wife, Marianna,” he said with a lingering smile on the corner of his lips and instantly, I met his gaze properly.By now, I sat properly. “Which Marianna? Marianna came to the house? Are you sure about what you are saying?”Unfazed, my father gulped down the glass of water brought to him. “Do I look like I'm jo
MariannaI couldn't help but wonder if I did the right thing by showing my face to the house. Inasmuch as I knew he wasn't around, word would have definitely gotten to him about me coming. My window was slightly open and I couldn't find sleep. I kept tossing and turning, hoping to find a comfortable spot to drift off. The night breeze was magical, it should have been enough to get me to sleep but I'm pretty sure it's wondering why I'm immune to its spell.A rattle from the living room had me sit up at once on the bed properly. I reached for the gun given to me by Rosco and carefully got out of bed. I gently opened the door, allowing me to see what was going on in the main room.“Check all the rooms, make sure you find her,” I heard the one who seemed to be the leader say.“Javier,” I muttered under my breath and grated my teeths together. From where I stood, I could see each man taking a room and some standing where I couldn't make them out completely. As one walked towards my direc
AlceoHer breathing was frantic, she was desperately holding herself back from losing it. I could see it, I could see her. Irrespective of how many stupid mistakes I had made, I still knew her. The few days away from the house gave me enough time to have a rethink about us. That made me realize how much I still loved her.I sat outside her doorstep, promising myself not to go anywhere until she gives me a chance to explain myself.My mind raced back to her last question. Did I lead them there? Hell why would I do that?I was just lucky to be where I was at that time. I noticed some unusual gathering beside the table I sat to eat. My beards were full and I was back to looking unkempt and dirty, I guess that was why I couldn't be recognized so easily.My ears happened to catch a few words like Javier, the Italian, Santo's daughter. Right there, I knew that was my ticket to finding Marianna. I had spent so many days on the streets with no lead. It's like she went off the radar. All I did