Chapter 8: False Bottoms
769 Words
“You’re really doing this tomorrow?” Dante asked, leaning against my bedroom door with his arms crossed tight. He looked like he wanted to punch something.
I shoved another dress into the open trunk, not looking at him. “Like I have a choice? The contract is signed. Ink’s dry. Papa says the De Luca fortress is my new home now.”
Nico appeared behind him, holding a stack of my sketchbooks. “At least let us send some of our guys with you. Alessandro’s place is a damn fortress, but I don’t trust him to keep you safe.”
I snatched the sketchbooks and stuffed them in. “I can handle myself. You taught me how to fight, remember? If he tries anything, I’ll put a bullet in his cold heart.”
Lorenzo walked in last, looking tired. “Sera, this isn’t forever. Once the Bratva threat is handled....”
“Save it,” I cut him off sharply. “You all sold me off. Now I have to live with the devil. Just… let me pack in peace.”
They hesitated, but finally left after a few more warnings. The door clicked shut and I let out a long breath. Alone. Finally.
I moved faster now, grabbing my best oils and brushes. I couldn’t risk leaving them behind where someone might connect the dots.
I knelt by the large travel trunks and lifted the false bottom I’d had installed years ago. Perfect for hiding secrets. I carefully packed the finest tubes of paint, my favorite canvases rolled tight, and a few small finished pieces wrapped in cloth. No one could know. Not even Alessandro.
“Moving into the lion’s den tomorrow,” I muttered to myself. “Great. Just perfect.”
My hands worked quickly, layering everything flat so it wouldn’t shift. The false bottom clicked back into place. I threw normal clothes and shoes on top to hide the weight. Done. My secret life was packed and ready.
I zipped the last trunk and stood up, wiping my hands on my jeans. That’s when my eyes landed on the nightstand.
The wooden sparrow.
I picked it up, thumb running over the uneven wings. It still felt warm somehow. Like it remembered every promise he broke.
“You piece of s**t,” I whispered. Tears burned my eyes but I blinked them back hard. “You promised you’d always protect me. Then you left. Now I’m stuck marrying the monster you turned into.”
Anger flared hot in my chest. I marched to the trash can by my desk and threw the sparrow in hard. It landed with a soft thud among crumpled papers.
“Good riddance.”
I turned away, but only made it two steps before something twisted inside me. My feet stopped. The room felt too quiet. Too empty.
“Fuck.”
I went back, reached into the trash, and pulled the sparrow out. Dust clung to it. I brushed it off gently, staring at the little bird like it could explain why my heart still ached after all this time.
I slipped it into my pocket instead of the trunk. Not ready to burn it. Not yet.
A soft knock came at the door. Mama stepped in, elegant as always. “Serafina, dinner’s ready. Your father wants us all together tonight. One last meal before…”
“Before I become a De Luca,” I finished bitterly. “Yeah. I’ll be down soon.”
She touched my cheek. “This alliance will bring peace. You’ll see. Alessandro… he’s changed, but he was always fond of you.”
“Fond?” I laughed, sharp and raw. “He didn’t even look at me at the party, Mama. He gripped my chin like he was checking livestock. He’s ice now. Cold enough to freeze hell.”
Mama sighed but didn’t argue. She left quietly.
I sat on the edge of my bed, drifting thoughts. Tomorrow I’d wake up in his fortress. Sleep in his suite. Live under his rules. The thought made my skin heat with a mix of rage and something I refused to name.
Would he touch me despite the clause? Would I let him?
No. I’d fight him every step. Paint in secret. Keep my fire alive.
I tucked the sparrow deep into my bag, right next to my hidden paints. A small piece of the boy he used to be, going with me into the lion’s den.
Whether it was a weapon or a wound, I didn’t know yet.
But one thing was clear. I wasn’t going in empty handed.
- Writer
