Chapter Five: Poison and Promises.
961 Words
In the mafia, loyalty is the blade that cuts the deepest when you think you're safe.
Lena was restless, she didn’t sleep a wink. She tossed around the bed all night.
The image of her mother with a Moretti never left her mind. Her mind kept working overtime. She was never told anything about her mother. The little she knew, she gleamed from gossips and hushed speculation. She always thought it strange that father always silenced her questions about her mother.
Over the years, she had learned to bury those questions. The photo just unearthed those questions and they came back with a noose- like force.
She decided not to ask Dante.
She wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. She couldn’t bear to see that smug expression on his face.
But he knew. He always knew.
During breakfast, Dante watched her. He sized up her like she was a house on fire. Waiting to see how long she would burn before she collapsed.
They were at a table set for two. On the table, was a small feast. The silence around the table was heavy.
Lena tossed her eggs around her plate.
Dante coolly sipped his coffee as he glanced at her. “Eat.”
“I’m not hungry.” She said without looking up.
“Then your enemies have won.”
Her eyes glared at him. “What enemies are you talking about?”
He chuckled as he watched her . “Oh, Lena.”
He shook his head. “You think the wedding made you safe?”
Safe? She didn’t even know what that was anymore.
“I think you made me a target.” She replied icily.
Dante didn’t react. “Good. A target has value unlike a pawn.”
What the hell is wrong with him? She wondered.
She kept glancing while the housekeeper, a frail thin woman came in with a fresh brew of coffee.
She dropped it on the table. As she poured Lena a cup, her sleeve rode up to reveal a faint tattoo.
A faded red rose.
Lena froze. Dante noticed the tattoo but kept his composure.
The woman poured the coffee and stared at Lena. “ Would you be needing anything else?”
Lena faked a smile. “Thank you. That’s all.” The housekeeper nodded and left the table.
This has to be some kind of set up. Is his security that porous? Nobody saw that tattoo?
She took the cup and slowly brought it to her nose.
Yup. Something was definitely off. It smelt bitter than usual. Her grip tightened around the cup.
Calm down girl. Think! You have to be sure.
She stood, went over to the window and emptied the contents of the cup into a potted plant. Almost immediately, the leaves began to wither.
I was right. Something was definitely off.
“Poison,” she said flatly. She turned to Dante. He was already issuing commands into his phone, with his trademark calm.
Just once, she wished his calm exterior would show a c***k.
The response of his security team was swift and immediate.
Two guards dragged her into the room as she screamed and thrashed around. They threw her on the floor and she landed on her knees. Tears flowed freely as her eyes darted in fear.
“It wasn’t me! They have my son!” she sobbed. “They said they will kill my son. Please….”
Dante walked up to her. His eyes burning cold like blue flames.
“Who?” he asked softly.
“I don’t know their names...” she stammered. “ they just told me they had my son.”
He nodded once. Then turned to his guard. “Take her away. If she talks, she lives.”
The woman still begged as she was dragged away.
He knew but said nothing. What kind of games was he playing? He’s crazier than I thought.
Lena glared at him. “You were going to let me drink that.”
“No,” he said simply. “I wanted you to catch it.”
She pointed at him. “You used me.”
“I tested you.” Came back that annoyingly cool voice.
“And what did I pass?”
She wanted to tear his eyes out.
He came close to and whispered, “Survival.”
Lena's hands curled into fists. “You're unhinged.”
There was no argument from Dante. He gave her a manila folder as a response.
She slowly opened it. It contained a list of names. Some were enclose in circles. Some were struck out.
At the top, scribbled in Dante’s ruthless handwriting:
One of these men ordered your mother’s death.
Lena’s throat constricted .
What? It can’t be.
“I thought she was killed in an accident.”
“You thought wrong.” He stated flatly.
Her vision blurred. “Why? Why are you giving me this”
He stared at her. His voice low and dangerous.
“I want you to help hasten their departure to the afterlife.”
She opened her mouth to respond but the blaring of the estate alarm cut her off.
A guard rushed into the room. Gun in hand. He had bloodstains on his shirt. “They breached the south perimeter.”
Dante immediately reached under the table. He pulled a gun and slid a second one to Lena.
“Do you still think this marriage is a prison?” he said, loading the clip.
“Welcome to the war, cara mia.”
The estate was under attack. The Vitellis were making their first move. and Lena had her first gun.
Was she going to use it to protect the man who caged her… or aim it at him?
- Writer
