CARMELO
I wanted to kill Antonio. I was sure of that much.
The house was all cleaned up already. Celia had been traumatized and couldn't leave her bedroom. Mama spent her time with her there since the accident. I felt angered that my little sister wouldn't see our house the same ever again. But when I recalled Enzo's wide eyes while I slit his throat, the anger got doused a little. Bullets were a mercy for him. We had a bloodbath war with his gang for three days. Only a few of them were lucky enough to escape, leaving their boss to die in our hands.
"How is your wound?" Papa climbed downstairs, one hand in his pocket and the other holding two bottles of beer in between his fingers. "It's fine." It was nowhere near fine. While fighting, that bastard, Enzo, sliced me. "Walk with me," Papa walked ahead of me to the exit.
I followed him to the lawn. A wooden table in the middle and two chairs on either side, that's where we settled down. I adjusted myself carefully not to trigger the wound. Papa opened both bottles with his teeth and handed me one. I took a long swig, "Hey, take it easy. What's on your mind?" I placed down the bottle with a clinking sound.
"Antonio is one sick son of a bitch." I started, ignoring the choice of my language before my father. My chest tightened at the remembrance of Chiara's tear-soaked face. "He is a son of a bitch." My gaze snapped to him. He shrugged. And I couldn't help but smile, dully. Looks like the formalities were safe to be dropped today.
"So, I assume she told you everything." He said, picking the bottle to his mouth and watching me with his side eye. I let out a breath. "She had no choice. But it still hurts, Papa." "That is because she broke your trust and while at it, your heart as well. It is the people we love the most who hurt us the greatest." I lowered my head at his words.
"But if I'm being honest, you were wrong too."
"What did I do? I did everything she wanted."
"You kidnapped her."
I shook my head. "Don't even start with me about the kidnapping shit, Papa. You kidnapped Mama. And even the earthworms of Portofino know about your love story. 'The Conti heir who was bewitched by the mayor's daughter.' That was the first thing I read the moment I learned how to read." Papa threw back his head laughing.
I took a swig from my beer, smiling. "Fine. You inherited that one from me. But still," his amusement wiped off, "think about it. I actually admire her strong heart for wanting to keep fighting her stepfather even when she was subjected to so much pain." My gaze was bored at him. "Now, I'm not saying that what she did was right. She was wrong. But she asked for forgiveness already. She stayed even after you left for a month. If it were me, I'd be gone already from your life. Why am I staying where I get hurt and ignored? Son, she saved us. All of us."
I propped my elbow on the table and leaned my head over to massage my temples. Headache was a bitch. "I've already forgiven her, Papa. The moment I saw her crying, I forgot the oath I made not to. But trusting her again is where I find it hard." I huffed, tears burning my eyes. Why the fuck was I crying?
"I love her Papa, so much. But I don't think things would ever be the same again between us." Tears fell down. Papa stood up and came around to hug me. I sucked in a sharp breath. I couldn't even recall when was the last time my father hugged me while I was crying.
"Love is painful. It is not always sunshine and roses. Your mother and I aren't still together only because we love each other so much. But it's because we learned along the way that love is painful. We learned how to forgive each other and move on. We learned not to tolerate any kind of toxicity between us and communicated instead. The best of us is those who ask for forgiveness after making a mistake. Chiara regrets what she did and just by one look, you could tell. Let me ask you something." He held me by his shoulder's length.
I sniffled looking up at him. "Do you truly hate her? Do you think you can go about your day and live your life without her? Do you think you'd find anyone to replace her?" I pondered and only tears kept streaming down. I couldn't. I knew that deep in my soul. "If you can't, then don't let her go." I hugged him again. He patted my back, "Love hurts, my son. Love hurts."
I returned to the mansion. The TV was off, she wasn't on the balcony, study room or the kitchen either. Her suitcases were still here. Where was she? My chest heaved up and down and my breathing came heavily as I climbed the stairs. Wincing as I hurt myself with quick movements but continued.
I pushed the door open. It was empty. I walked over to the bed and my stomach flipped. With hesitant hands, I reached for the card on the bed. On top of it was the diamond ring and the chain I'd given her. My chest tightened and my hands trembled as I opened it.
"I'm not good at this but I wrote it while you were gone. Don't you fucking dare to smile!"
Too late. I was grinning.
"What is the point of having eyes if you are nowhere near my vision anymore?
What is the point of having ears if I can't hear your beautiful, haunting voice. The melodious sound when you laugh or call me love or when you say you love me?
Honestly, I don't even know what the point of a mouth having is if I can't speak with you or kiss you anymore.
There are a lot of things I'd love to tell you, Melo.
My heart is aching, bleeding. And honestly, what's the point of having a heart if it can't beat for you anymore but only for the pain, I caused you? I'm so sorry, immensely.
I don't deserve you. I really don't but I can never stop wishing to be with you again. The time spent with you was like a gift to me. I was the happiest near you. You complete my meaningless existence. And my heart speaks only one language, you.
You are my heaven. I'm going back to my hell, and I might die today. But I wanted to say this; I love you, desperately, deeply, insanely, truly, and I will even in death. I said forever, remember?"
I finished reading the card. No, the card finished me. My heart squeezed so tight as I wiped the corners of my eyes. "I could never hate you tesoro, even if I tried."
And then something clicked. What the hell did she mean by dying? "Bullshit!" I threw the card away and stormed to the closet. I pressed a button hidden on the wall and the wall slid to the side. I entered the armory. "Fuck!" As expected, most of my weapons were gone. Fucking no! You are not leaving me this way, Chiara. I'd rather lose myself, but I can't lose you, tesoro. Just not you.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Junior. "Gather every one of your men and meet me at the Marino residence! Everyone fucking one!" I growled.
"What the fuck is going on?"
"We're going to get my woman back! We're going to war, Junior."
"Heck we are! You got it, bro."
A few minutes later I was striding to board the helicopter with Storm and the pilot who had been trying to convince me otherwise. He talked about the weather not being good to fly at this time. "Please, sir. It's too dangerous."
"You know what else is dangerous right now? Me." I yanked the door open and sat inside. Storm silently sat with me. Even she knew it was futile to convince me. The pilot rounded the helicopter and sat in his place. "Please reconsider, sir."
My head snapped in his direction. I raised the gun in my hand and pointed it at him. "Fly this thing or I'll kick you out and do it myself." I had a flying license. Did he think I gave a fuck about the damn weather right now? To hell with it.
I'd rather die in the air on my way to her than sitting here and doing nothing, knowing that my woman was going to meet with her death. Fuck no. If it came down to death, then I'd die beside her. I'd rather let the darkness consume me and blind my vision, but she has to be the last light for me to see.