Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 102566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Not until I got to this fucked up house of terrors.
I'm starting to get a better impression of why no one wants to help the two men that are keeping me captive. I've quickly realized that by coming here, I signed my own prison sentence. They don't let me out of their sight, and it's becoming increasingly obvious the reason they don't have help is because they're both fucking delusional.
I understand how painful losing our parents was for Luigi. I know how horrible he feels, having to give up the throne to the enemy. And I know he doesn't have a special connection with the Bernardis like I do.
Luigi has every right to hate Adrian and his family. But I'm still hoping I can change his mind. That's why I pull him aside today, while Vitto has gone out to get supplies. They know it's too risky if they show up in town too often ‒ people will start to wonder about them ‒ so they're pretending to be just passing through.
It's one of the rare moments we have alone without Vitto, so I'm hoping I can get through to my brother. While we've never been as close as some siblings are, we've never fought either, and I believe I can get him on my side and convince him they can't win against the Bernardis.
We sit down in the garden.
Luigi seems distracted with a bottle of our family grappa while I struggle to find the words to explain myself. "I'm regretting leaving Adrian," I finally find myself whispering. "I think Vitto is bad news."
He looks at me for a long time, weighing up my words. When he finally speaks up, I'm shocked by the words leaving his mouth.
"I've had a bad feeling about him for a while now," Luigi admits. "He has been acting crazy ever since he found out Adrian had taken you captive. I don't know why... but those two have an intense, competitive history."
I remember what happened in the docks when we were children, and I know Luigi is right. Both Adrian and Vitto have had these unhealthy obsessions for a long time, and I've only made them worse. Now, I have a feeling one of them won't survive this rivalry.
"I think we need to leave," I continue. "I'm afraid of Vitto. He's too unpredictable, and I'm afraid he's going to hurt me or you, if you stand up to him."
Luigi nods thoughtfully. "There is a man in town I've been visiting when I went to get supplies. I think he could take us to Adrian. Are you sure he wouldn't turn this against us and kill me?"
I reach for his hand, gently squeezing it. "If I tell him not to hurt you, he won't hurt you. And Bruno listens to me as well. Please don't worry. We just have to—"
"You just have to what?"
Startled, we both look to the terrace doors that lead outside where Vitto is now standing with a thunderous expression on his face.
"Nothing, we were just chatting," I rush to get out. "Weren't we, Luigi?"
"Save me the bullshit, Marzia," Vitto hisses. "I overheard you talking." He tosses the food he got on the floor and comes up to us.
Cold sweat breaks out over my skin and I realize just how afraid I am of him. He's not like Adrian. He's unpredictable and a coward… this makes him very fucking dangerous.
"I heard about the visits you've been making in town," Vitto addresses my brother. "Why would you tell someone we're up her? You've endangered us all."
"The man I was seeing is a distant relative," Luigi pleads with my fiancé. "He is going to help us."
"We don't need help!" Vitto snarls, slamming his fist on the table.
The glass cracks and I feel myself take a sharp breath of air, too afraid to exhale.
"Anyway, he won't be able to play along with your little schemes."
"What do you mean?" Luigi demands. "You didn't, Vitto! He was a relative!"
"I don't give a shit!" Vitto grabs him by the shirt and walks him over to the grass.
I get up, placing my palm over my mouth as I wordlessly watch them argue.
"You betrayed all three of us when you spoke to him behind my back. He could've been the Bernardi's spy!"
"He wasn't," Luigi says, alarmed. "He was eighty years old, for fuck's sake, Vitto—"
"Don't argue with me."
"I'm just—" Before my brother can finish his sentence, Vitto slams a fist into his nose.
I shriek when I hear the crunch of bone, shivering in fear as Luigi stumbles backward.
Vitto is fucking losing it and I have no idea how to stop him. I keep calling his name but he pays me no mind as he pulls out a gun and approaches my brother on the ground.
"That was your last shot," he hisses at Luigi. "One more mistake and you're fucking dead."