Prologue
Five years ago-
Gia’s POV-
Another shudder passed down my spine hearing his screams. Screams that were no help in relieving him of his pain, but would definitely become my nightmare.
“Did you hear him? He is begging, Gia. He is begging to die. Now, that’s when you know the culprit means his apology,” Riccardo whispered in my ear. I held back the urge to defend Santino even when it was the last thing I could do for him. Defend him, for he was never the culprit. But my words did not matter. No matter how many times I begged, Santino was still on the other side of the glass wall, tied to the chair as my cousin’s men tortured him in the worst way possible. The room was dark except for the light bulb hanging down from the ceiling that cast a dim glow on Santino’s blood-covered body. The unfathomable amount of cuts and wounds…
“You know what happens next? I’m going to cut his d*** off. Cut it off and feed it to him, but I’ll do that tomorrow because he needs some time to recover,” his words filled my throat with bile. “Or I might dangle it in front of my men. So, they know better than to touch my dear cousin. Wouldn’t that be a good lesson?” He came behind me and held me by the shoulders, tainting my sleeves with Santino’s blood and glueing my legs to the floor. “Watch him, Gia. Watch him well. This is a lesson for you too, dear cousin. Women of the Fabbri family do not w***e around with their bodyguards.” I knew. And I learned my lesson too. The women of the Fabbri family did not let their bodyguards see through their masks. And to prevent this mistake from repeating, I did as Riccardo instructed me. I watched Santino even when I knew the sight would never let me sleep at night, even when I knew I wouldn’t find peace ever again after today. I watched because I deserved to die from guilt for what I had done to Santino.
It had been four days since Riccardo brought him down here to the basement. Four days since, he had been tortured for no mistake of his. And I planned to release him from this place worse than hell. Even though it would be considered a sin that commanded punishment, I'd do it.
.
“Gia.” My uncle’s voice made me grip the hem of my dress tighter. “Did you kill Santino?”
“More like she showered him with mercy,” Riccardo said, but I detected the hiss under his words perfectly. I knew he was upset but I also knew I couldn’t have lived with myself if Santino suffered another day.
Mercy, Gia, mercy. You’ll be having mercy on me by killing me. Please.
I swallowed remembering the words Santino had spoken to me. “He had suffered enough.”
“And yet not enough. I’m surprised that you even killed him. Didn’t think you were capable of killing even a fly.” I kept my eyes on the floor. “Perhaps, love can make you do incomprehensible things.”
“Gia, do you realize what you have done? Santino’s blood is on your hands,” my uncle said. “And I’m not saying that because you killed him. What happened to him was because of you, because of what you started with him.” His tone became edgy. “And now, our family’s name is tainted. But more than any of us, you’d have to be the one to bear all the remarks because this isn’t something that can be hidden. Moreover, it should be a good reminder for every other girl.”
“I’ll see who talks s**t about, Gia,” Riccardo said, coming beside me.
“You can’t shut every mouth, Riccardo. Your sister must learn to handle it all now. I have already received innumerable calls, asking to tame her spirit.” End my spirit must be more like it.
“Dad, mistakes happen and I’m sure Gia won’t be repeating it, isn’t it, Gia?” I nodded stiffly, my eyes still on the floor. “See? Now, let’s just let it be. He is dead. It’s all over. I hope you won’t be harsh on her now.”
“After this affair with Santino, no one will ask her hand for marriage once she is of age. I do not care what she does anymore,” he hissed before leaving. He said he didn’t care, but only because I was not his daughter and my doings wouldn’t affect his name directly. So, I probably should've been happy that I was not his blood. But I wasn't. I knew if I were his blood, I wouldn’t have had to suffer as much as I did.
“He’ll be mad for some time, Gia. It’s alright,” Riccardo held me by my shoulder. “And I’ll see who dares speak ill about you.” I nodded stiffly again before pulling away from him and leaving the room, moving past Aldo, Riccardo’s elder brother, who hadn’t said anything the whole time. But then, he had always been like this. Minding his own business while the world could go to hell. And while I loved that about him, his love for his younger brother was the trait I hated about him.
Fortunately, his adoration for his brother was known to everyone or I would probably have committed the sin of letting him know my secrets. Just like I did with Santino.
