His Ruin, His Salvation

Graduation

Vittorio

The car hummed as it rolled smoothly over the gravel path, the music playing from the radio, filling the space inside. The window was slightly opened, allowing the warm summer breeze to slip in, a welcome contrast to the chaos that had consumed me over the past two weeks. Catania. It has been that long since I was last here.

The frenzy of events had pulled me away, demands that required my immediate attention, forcing my plans to be set aside. But now I am back. And this time, I wasn't leaving without her by my side. Those two weeks felt like a blur, each day melting into the next as the need for blood grew within me. The loss of my brother in arms, Lorenzo, had left a hole that could only be filled with violence. It had consumed me, turning me into something darker. I went on a rampage, killing anyone who looked at me the wrong way. I needed to prove I was still the man I used to be - the man who could strike terror in anyone's heart.

Even though the kills didn't fill the emptiness, they brought a twisted satisfaction, knowing I was the one making the screams echo in the distance. Every time I closed my eyes, I could hear Lorenzo's voice in my head. Vitto, come quick. I ran through the scenes over and over in my mind, trying to understand where it all went wrong. How had Lorenzo missed that detail - the one that ultimately cost him his life? He shouldn't have led them to his hiding spot. s**t. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to focus.

The buzz of my phone in my jacket pocket pulled me back to the present. I reached for it and answered. " Yes?"" Everything's been taken care of," came Dante's voice from the other end." Good," I replied, my voice cold." I'll see you soon." Dante didn't need more explanation. He knew exactly what to do.

Since Lorenzo's death, Dante has taken charge of everything, stepping in to handle the operations while I dealt with the loss of my best friend. Even though we'd killed the bastard who shot him, it hadn't brought any peace. If anything, it only made me more determined to wipe them all out, every last one of them. But I couldn't let that anger consume me. Not yet. I had to keep my eyes on the bigger picture.

Making our way into the city, the streets buzzed with activity - cars honking, pedestrians weaving through the chaos, the pulse of life moving at its usual pace. But my mind was elsewhere. As we passed the supermarket, a ghost of a memory surfaced - green eyes wide with fear, the way her breath had hitched that night. Elena. How long had it been since I last saw her? Too long. As Pavlo navigated the main road, my gaze drifted absently past the shifting scenery, only to catch on to something - someone - familiar.

Near the pedestrian crossing, two women stood, waiting for the signal. And then, like fate intervening, I saw her. My Elena. The world seemed to slow, the city noise fading into nothing. Her dark waves fell over her shoulders, her posture poised yet unknowingly fragile. But it was her eyes that held me captive. Even from a distance, I could see the sharp glint of recognition.

She was already staring back at me. " Slow down," I ordered, my voice calm, controlled. The car eased forward at an unhurried pace, and for those few seconds, it was just us. She didn't look away. Neither did I. Then just as quickly as the moment had come, the traffic shifted. The car rolled forward, pulling me away from her. But I wasn't done. Not yet.

Beep. Beep. Beep. The shrill cry of the alarm clock went off. I've been staring through the floor-to-ceiling window for the last hour. Today was Elena's graduation. I ran a hand over my face, exhaling slowly. The weight in my chest hasn't eased - not since the last time I saw her. But today, I'll see her again. Not from the shadows. Not from the shadows. Today I will be there.

By the time I arrived, the ceremony had already begun. From my seat near the back, I spotted her on stage, accepting her diploma. A fleeting smile graced her lips, but even from here, I could tell her mind was elsewhere. Was she nervous? Was she thinking of what was to come? She had no idea.

The event moved along, the crowd shifting with applause and murmurs, but my focus remained fixed on her. From time, I could see her looking in the crowd, almost as if she could feel someone watching her. The moment the ceremony ended, students and their families flooded the open courtyard, laughter and chatter filling the space. I watched her, surrounded by friends and family, her smile reserved but genuine.

Then she turned. And our eyes met. I could see how her breath hitched in her throat. Her smile faltered. For a moment, she just stood there, frozen, disbelief washing over her features. I took my time. Let her absorb the sight of me standing at her graduation, dressed in a tailored black suit, blending in with the crowd yet standing out all the same. She excused herself from the group, stepping toward me hesitantly.

" You." She muttered. Her voice was barely above a whisper, the confusion clear in her wide green eyes. I inclined my head slightly. " Congratulations." She swallowed, glancing around before returning her gaze to me. " What... what are you doing here?" I slipped a hand into my pocket, pulling out a small, familiar object. Her breath caught when she saw it. Her little toy. The little trinket that had fallen off in my car that night.

I watched as emotions flickered across her face - shock, realization, something softer that she quickly tried to hide. " You left this behind," I said, holding it out to her. She reached for it slowly, her fingers brushing mine for a fraction of a second before she pulled away. " You came all the way here...just to give me this?" I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I studied her. The way she tried to compose herself, the way she fidgeted slightly under my gaze.

" Why are you really here?" she asked, her voice quieter this time. I smirked, just a little." That's a conversation for when we're alone, sweetheart." Her lips parted slightly, her pulse visibly quickening at my words. But before she could respond, a voice called her name in the distance. Sounded like that irritating friend of hers, Gabby or something." Great, just when I wanted to spend more time with her."

She turned, momentarily distracted. I took that as my cue. Leaning in, just enough for her to hear me over the noise, I murmured," I'll see you soon, Elena.

Then, before she could say another word, I stepped away, leaving her standing there - holding the little toy I'd kept all this time.