The Emotionless Bride

Chapter 11

Ruslan Valetin

At the ball Elisabetta let me take her hand, it felt like heaven, getting her on the stage was just even better. Sophia really kicked up a stink letting her mask slip and showing her true self in front of everyone. When she shot the guard for me, I just fell in love with her, I thought it was at her house, but this time it made me fall in love with her fully.

When that Sophia came back into the room with rage and murder in her eyes and Caterina all smug obviously knowing the plan, which soon shattered as we were still stood there, was entertaining. Elisabetta held herself well.

When Elisabetta told me the story of the Don who got accused, it prompted me to a memory of my cousin who got accused, I never got the name of the one accusing as I was on a business trip and couldn’t be there for him. Thankfully his wife was good and stuck with him not believing the woman. I am glad she never did, and now I suspect it was Sophia who did it. I will have to call my cousin Maxim soon.

When I took Elisabetta round the back of the stage to the door, she had a look of suspicion on her face. When Stepan walked next to us with her bag and told her it was all there she relaxed. Getting back to her place she was confused by me walking her to her door. I went in first making sure her place was safe and just an excuse to stay a little longer. Making her a coffee just how she likes it.

When I was here, I planted a camera where she would never expect it in the kitchen just under the cupboard to watch how she likes a coffee. I put it there when I put her dress in here. I also put on her little hatch in the bedroom. Yes, I am being creepy, but I want to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t run off again. We have a wedding in a week.

Making her a coffee and getting her to sit down, I took one last look around and then kissed her on the head and left. I felt her stiffen underneath me and could see the look of shock and confusion on her face. I really can’t wait to get to know her. I feel she has never been shown anything, never been shown affection or love. Thinking about her dad he seems to hate her.

I got in the front with Stepan who raised an eyebrow waiting for Elisabetta to get in, I let him know she is staying here for the night. He started the car and started driving. Messaging my detective, I asked him to dive deeper into her records and if there are any notes of her growing up, or a progress report. I then messaged my cousin Maxim asking if it was Sophia who accused him a few years ago.

Maxim rang just as we were pulling up at home, taking the call upstairs to my room Stepan went straight to the kitchen. Maxim wanted to know how I know the girl’s name, he would never tell me before and asked me to drop it, I respected his wishes but now I am sticking my nose in. I explained what happened tonight and how Sophia wanted to do the same to me. My cousin was speechless, he couldn’t believe she would do that to me of all people as I would not hesitate to kill her.

I told him my wife to be kept me in a good mood, sending a picture over of her, I managed to get it as she was standing near the stage. He then got my attention of saying a name one of the wives said. He said she looks identical to her mum Saoirse, just her eyes are different. This got more of my attention and made him tell me everything he knew.

What I had found out stunned me into silence.

My Elisabetta had been through a lot when she had grown up, learn to hack, hunt and kill, that was it. My cousin worked with McCarthy and knew his techniques; this girl would have been taught to be a machine and nothing else. McCarthy would have taught her how to get through torture and wouldn’t allow slack.

The other news of a rumour shocked me into silence again. I will have to sit on this rumour and get to the Gatti family to talk to Lucio. Or maybe bring him here by himself.

After a catch up, I got in the shower and laid in bed, switching to the camera app. I see my little ghost was laying in bed thinking. The frown took most of her face and she had a look of confusion. When she prayed for help it confirmed what I had been told. Lucio has a lot to answer for.

Watching her sleep, I ended up falling asleep with my phone in my hand. I wished she was here next to me, but something told me to give her this night, turns out I was right to do so as it was a lot of new things for her, and she will need to process it.

In the morning when I woke, I see Elisabetta in the kitchen camera making herself a coffee. She then went to the bedroom and sat on her bed. She took small sips of her drink looking to be in thought. I got myself ready just watching her.

I decided to give her this day alone as I had to get stuff done. I checked in with the wedding co-ordinator to see how everything is going, then I rang Lucio inviting him to my home just him no one else. Though I feel the two harlots will make sure they sprint here.

Having the morning to myself I went to my study and set up the computer, going onto my emails, I see my detective has just emailed over some files.

I got lost in the reports of Elisabetta for most of the morning, keeping the cameras on her on my phone, I made sure to read every detail of what she had been through in her training on that day. When suddenly there was noise in my hallway. Of course he couldn’t keep the harlots away. Looking at the time I see Lucio was an hour early.

Stepan flew through the door looking pissed. Before he could say anything, I updated him on the call I had with Maxim last night, and what I had found out. I got him to look at some of the reports on my computer. My maid of the house will keep them entertained. They were early and Lucio went against my word so they can sit and wait for when I am ready.

It didn’t take long for my maid Matilda to come in angry. I let her know only the man is to come in here and to keep an eye on the two women, do not let them boss her around. If she wants, get some guards to help her keep an eye on them so she can do what has got to do.

Me and Stepan swapped seats ready for Lucio to come in. When he came through the door, he looked smug, that will be wiped off soon. Stepan told him to sit in the spare chair. Just looking at him was making me annoyed.

‘’Good after Godfather, I take it I am here as you decided to marry Sophia instead, I will apologise for whatever Elisabetta has done or said.’’ Lucio said sitting down in his chair looking like a fat cat that got the cream.

Before I could lose my temper and just kill him, I looked to the camera where my Elisabetta was. This helped calm me down. I kept my face blank and stayed quiet for a bit just to watch him squirm, still looking at my emails but not reading it, just making him believe I am. Stepan got the hint and pulled out his phone keeping quiet with me.

It didn’t take long for Lucio to start squirming and pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead. Before he could have a heart attack I looked up from my screen and composed myself, Stepan putting his phone away.

‘’I am very displeased Lucio, you were very early, and you brought your family when I only invited you to my home. Yet I can hear them out there, upsetting my staff.’’