Trust can be earned

Chapter 18

Sirena’s (Savannah) POV

It’s the day before the announcement party and I’m checking the last few details in my office, Taylors voice comes over my intercom “Serina Gabriella Marino has just pulled into the car park, what do you want to do?”

I smirk to myself. I know exactly why she’s here, “Let her in, bring her up yourself Taylor.”

“Yes Boss.” I can’t help the chuckle that leaves my mouth, this should be interesting.

I don’t have to wait long as there is soon a knock on my door, I keep my expression neutral as I say “Come in.” I look at the door as it opens and a pissed Gabriella and an amused Taylor walk in.

Gabriella meets my eye and hers widen in shock, she then storms towards me, “So it is true, you really have taken her life.”

I scoff at this comment, but otherwise ignore it, “Gabriella.” I don’t miss the flinch she does so I quickly add “Or should I call you Aunt Gabs too?” I smirk as her face turns red with anger.

I tilt my head to the side and gesture to the seat in front of me before saying “Please take a seat.” I then look at Taylor with another smirk, “That’ll be all thank you.”

Taylor bows his head and says, “Of course Boss.”

I turn my gaze back to Gabriella but she is looking at Taylor in shock. She isn’t used to men doing what they are told by a woman, shame she doesn’t know the sort of woman I truly am. If she did she never would have helped Enzo, she would have tried to protect her family in another way.

When she turns back to look at me I smile at her sarcastically “Can I get you something to drink, something to eat maybe?”

Gabriella scoffs at my offer, “No, thank you. I wouldn’t want to end up like my husband, would I.”

I mock gasp, “Whatever do you mean, Mrs Marino.”

I widen my eyes in horror. She scoffs at me again, “Let’s not waste time playing games Serina, we’re both more intelligent than that.” I scoff this time.

I regard her for a moment, “Allow me one question Gariella call it intrigue but I need it answered, then you can say whatever it is you came to say.”

Gabriella looks at me for a second before giving me a slight nod. I clear my throat to clear the lump, “Why.”

Gabriella looks confused for a second, then realisation hits her and she looks at her lap guiltily. I wait for her to say something for what feels like hours, she finally sighs, “I don’t know.” I couldn’t hold in the scoff of disgust that left my throat.

Gabriella looks up and meets my eyes, hers are raging. Before she can say anything I slam my fist on my desk, “You as a woman should know better, let alone as a mother. I get you didn’t want to believe your son was capable of what he did, but don’t insult me by telling me you didn’t know what Dante was doing.” “

Whether Lorenzo told you or not, you were his mother and you knew deep down Savannah was innocent and Dante was guilty.” I had to fight with myself not to scream at her.

“You watched her and you reported back, only she didn’t do anything did she and that’s when you knew but you never f*****g said anything.”

Gabriella is sobbing softly and I know I’ve got her, she jumps up and starts pacing, “Yes! Ok, yes I f*****g knew!” I wait as she takes a breath, “I knew she wasn’t doing anything, I figured out before the wedding Dante was setting her up. I knew it wasn’t her when Enzo had her kidnapped.” I don’t know what to say so I sit quietly.

Gabriella slumps back into her seat, she puts her head in her hands, “I swear I didn’t know what Enzo had planned at the wedding, I don’t even think Dante did. I was going tell him after the wedding, I swear but…” Gabriella trails off sobbing again.

I sit in shock with my mouth agape for ages, at least twenty minutes pass without either of us speaking. I finally growl at her, “You knew before she was kidnapped, so you could have saved her child.”

Gabriella flinches at this question but doesn’t speak, her silence is the only answer I need.

I stand slamming both fists on the table, Gabriella jumps and as she looks up at me I sneer, “Get the f**k out of here before I do something you will regret.”

Gabriella looks at me with fear in her eyes and says “But…”

“But f*****g nothing, Get. Out!” Gabriella swallows hard as she gets up and quickly stumbles towards the door, before she runs out of it, “Oh Gabriella I just want you to know, whatever happens to you next is your own doing. Now f**k off before I change my mind.” I watch as she practically runs out of the door.

I take a couple of breaths before I press the intercom button and ask Taylor “Please tell me you got all of that?”

I hear Taylor chuckle, “Every f*****g word, the b***h has just ruined herself.” I release a breath as I fall back into my seat holding back the tears trying so hard to escape. This is not how I expected this meeting to go, but it was better than anything I could have hoped for. This recording was going to do more damage than any physical harm ever could, Enzo will know how it feels to not trust anyone including himself.

When I have gotten myself together I press the intercom button again, “Get everyone here, quietly.” I know Taylor understood what I meant, I’m not so stupid to not think that Enzo would be having some of my family and the Quinn’s watched and followed.

I don’t want him to know I have called a meeting; Gabriella may have told him she was coming. He is so desperate to get me alone that if he knew he probably thought she could help, lucky me because I got that nice little confession from her.

Morgan, Rico and my father were the first to arrive, followed shortly after by Shaun, Ignacio and Andres. I think it’s time he knew the truth about me, I’m dreading how that will go but decide to get that out of the way first.

As expected he lost his s**t, punched both Morgan and Taylor. Shouted at all the other men, when he turned his attention to me I will admit I was a little nervous. What I didn’t expect was to be wrapped in the tightest hug I think I’ve ever had, he pulled away holding me by my shoulders as if to make sure I was really real. When Andres calmed down I got straight to the point.

I played them all the recording; I never expected all hell to break loose. My father and Rico jumped up and started throwing anything in their paths, Shaun and Ignacio took an end of the sofa each and started punching it repeated.

Morgan and Andres sat there not saying a word, while Taylor and I were watching the destruction take place. I thought it best to leave them all to calm down themselves so I just sat and waited, when they had all finished I looked around my office before looking at the four men, “You will all be paying for the damages.”

My father growled “Is that all you really care about.” I went to respond but Morgan beat me to it “You may be her father, But! you don’t talk to her like that. No one does, got it?”

I look at Morgan with a soft smile, he smiles back before asking me “So what is the plan, my woman always has a plan.”

I smirk at him as he is right I do have a plan. I smirk at the rest of them before explaining “The plan goes ahead and Gabriella it still to be unharmed, BUT as soon as I deliver her back I play him this tape.” I look at all the confused faces.

I roll my eyes, “Gabriella is the last person he has, what will happen when he doesn’t have mother dearest anymore. Do you honestly think he will forgive her, when she could have saved his…”

I can’t say the last word because it is stuck in my throat. Everyone looks at me with pity, Morgan walks over and embraces me. I let him hold me for a few minutes before stepping away, “We take away the most important thing he has left, then we watch him burn the rest himself.” I then get up and leave my office needing a few minutes alone.

Thankfully, no one follows me and I allow a few silent sobs out, once I am composed I head back into the office. The men are talking until they notice me and they fall silent, my father breaks that silence, “The women cannot find out about this, there will be no plan if they get wind of what Gabriella did.”

I nod in agreement along with the others. I don’t want any more secrets between us but I know he is right; my mother will make sure Gabriella is returned to Enzo only it will be in pieces.