A Bond by Marriage

Chapter 20

Dino's POV-

“Where is Gia? You said you wouldn't leave her alone,” Marco asked frowning, shifting from one foot to another. If we weren’t among so many people, he would’ve stomped his foot and gone searching for her, himself.

Umberto was on his second cigar waiting for his younger son to come around and Marco was waiting for Gia. Though Marco’s recent words unsettled me. I did say I wouldn’t leave Gia alone.

“Just a few days ago someone was complaining about having a new stranger in the house. Really, Marco, you could’ve waited a little longer before crying for her,” Vito snorted. Their banter continued but I gave them just enough attention to avoid any unnecessary quarrel.

The maid I had stopped earlier had said that Gia was with Riccardo. I didn’t mind it but as the minutes passed, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was confiding in him. Probably Riccardo knew the truth but then he would’ve definitely done something about it.

“Where is the man of the hour?” Just then Riccardo came to his father standing beside me. “He must be getting frustrated handling all those men alone,” he said, eyeing his brother talking to a group at a little distance.

“Where is Gia, Riccardo?”

“Oh, she’ll be here soon. She's just checking on her dress and face. I told her to be quick though,” he said uninterestingly. “I’ll go join Aldo,” he grinned and went away.

“I’ll come shortly.” I had seen how nervous she was about facing all these people earlier and it might not be a big thing for anyone else, but I knew she’d be nervous to walk down those stairs alone. And God’s above, it was unsettling not being able to see her for this long.

“Can I—”

“No,” I said before Marco could finish and went ahead before Umberto could stop me. Climbing the stairs two at a time, I picked my pace and walked long strides along the hallway with several big windows which I didn’t like. A few more steps and I knocked on the door to her room.

“Gia?” I knocked again when she didn’t answer. And again, and again. “GIA?” I called out louder and again pressed my ears to the door. The latch on the other side croaked and the next second the door opened. She stood there, all calm and beautiful. Except her usually brown eyes were brighter and the corners were red and had tiny wrinkles.

“What happened?” I closed the door behind me.

“What? What—”

“You’ve been crying.” It was impressive she managed to hide her puffed eyes for everyone else.

“No, I’ve not been, and we need to go." I pulled her back before she could walk past me. I wanted her to look at me but she pressed her face to my chest and broke into a sob.

“Gia,” her knees gave in and I put her down comfortably, pressing my palm against her cheek. I knew she didn’t want to tell me why she cried but she was too hurt to continue her pretence and I would unquestionably know what or who hurt her.

“I can’t…” she clutched my shirt, choking on her words, quivering in my hold. “I don’t want to,” she said, breaking into another heart-wrenching cry. Suddenly all her weight fell on me as she gave in, not even trying to keep herself upright. I needed her to listen to me, and confide in me but she wouldn’t look at me. Picking her up, I sat her on the bed and yet she wouldn’t show me her face.

“Gia, you need to tell me what happened.” My words made her freeze. She knew she couldn’t make any more excuses, couldn't even try. So instead, she put distance between us and took several steps away from me looking so scared, I held back the urge to pull her back.

“I… I… I don’t know what to do,” she fell to her knees and I kneeled before her, at just enough distance to give her space.

“Just tell me what happened. I know something did, Gia—”

“I was eighteen," she suddenly said, pulling her knees to herself and I resisted the urge to be beside her. “I had just lost my mother," her voice cracked. "My father had died years before that, so my uncle brought me here. I didn’t want to be here, I never liked Riccardo," her face scrunched up in disgust. "He was always too close, too touchy…”

“He r***d you.” She flinched at the word. I didn't need any more validation. She f*****g flinched because it was the truth. And he was with her all this when I thought she was safe.

“I tried to get away, every time, I tried to get away, every time, I swear, I tried to get away, I…”

“I’ll handle this.”

“No,” she said horrified. “No, you don’t— don’t do it. He has photos of mine, I… don’t, don’t, don’t do anything,” she broke down again chanting the same thing, rocking her small body back and forth.

“What happened before I came, Gia?” I slowly approached her. “Did he do anything?”

She shook her head, not minding my touch on her shoulders, too lost in herself, “Not today,” she said. Not today. “He wanted to make sure whether I had told you anything. He— he had the photos laid out on his bed,” she whispered and I pulled her to my chest. I needed to calm her down and I needed to do it quickly.

“I’m going to handle everything, Gia and no, he won’t hurt you again. Never again, not when I’m here,” I said just when my phone rang. It was Vito.

“Where the f**k—”

“I need you upstairs, and tell Elio to not let anyone get out of the property, especially Riccardo,” I said and hung up. I would make him pay and he’d serve an example before everyone.

“I don’t want anyone to know. He has my—”

“I’ll handle it, Gia. I’ll handle it all,” I had so many questions, but they all could wait. The answers weren’t more important than dishing out Riccardo’s sentence. It took less than a minute before Vito knocked on the door. I let go of Gia and found Marco right behind Vito, trying to bolt past me but I held him by his shoulder.

“No questions,” I said. He lost the frown and I knew I was clear to him. I didn’t have the patience to handle him right now. Marco quietly nodded and I let go of him. I figured Gia would want to be alone but didn’t think it would be wise. She never told anyone about her abuse, and sudden revelation could overwhelm her and provoke her to harm herself.

Vito’s expressions were already stern. “It’s Riccardo—”

“f**k!”

“— and for six years. I want you to have the men get hold of anyone who dares to come in between because I’m going to kill him.”

“I was already planning to kill him after the ceremony for what he said about Marco earlier. But this s**t can’t wait. f**k, she is his sister!” I didn’t know what he said about Marco but I was sure I’d learn soon. Vito fell behind me and the sight of Riccardo beside Aldo obscured everything else for me. I didn’t waste time. I grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him down on the floor while Vito took care of whosoever intervened. Every foot turned and head turned but I knew Vito would handle everything and everyone.

“What the f**k?!” He yelled before Vito quit him down with one of his kicks.

“What is this about?” Aldo snapped as he tried to walk past Elio who already had his gun pointed at him.

“Oh, I don’t know, probably his f*****g face infuriates me,” Vito snarled.

“Elio.” Another man replaced Elio’s position and he came beside me. “Evacuate everyone from the top floors and let no one upstairs.” He was quick to follow the orders. As he went, Riccardo staggered back on his feet.

It was time to kill this motherfucker.