Chapter 1
1087 Words
Mara
The call came through around 10:05 pm
“Mara…”, trembling voice of Serena our house keeper. “You need to come home.
We need you at home.”
My heart sank
“ What happened?”, she is whimpering softly and begging for me to come home.
Then the line went dead
I tried calling my mom and dad but they aren’t picking my calls which’s strange.
A knot tightened in my stomach as I grabbed my car keys from the table and raced through the stormy weather toward the De Luca estate .My knuckles hurt from the gripping the steering wheel hard and every unanswered call to my family makes feel uncomfortable and the silence louder .
By the time I reached the De Luca estate , the massive gates stood open.
They were never left open. Never
Something is fishy somewhere
Police cars lined the driveway, their flashing lights reflecting off the Angel statue at the entrance. Yellow tape stretched across the front steps where uniformed officers moved between flashing cameras and hushed conversations.
I slammed my car brakes before it had fully stopped .
The officers that were conversing stopped and stepped in front of her
“Miss De Luca, I’m sorry you can’t go in.”,one of the officers said.
I stared at him ,unable to process his words.
“What do you mean I can’t go in?This is my home and my loved ones are inside, so if you will kindly excuse me sir .
I shoved past him.
Nothing could have prepared me for what waited himself.
The grand foyer, once filled with laughter and extravagant family dinners, had become a sight of devastation . Family portraits lay shattered across the tiled floor. The scent of smoke and blood lingered in the air.
“Mama, papa ?”, I called, my voice cracking.
No one answered.
Silence
My knees weakened as I took another step.
A familiar jade bangles lay near the staircases.
It belonged to my mother
I picked it up with a trembling hand, clutching it tightly so that the jewelry doesn’t get lost.
Someone behind me gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
I turned to find one of the officers watching me with a sympathetic eyes. “My name is Detective Romano”, he said.
“I’m so sorry Miss De Luca “
My breath caught. “There was an attack an hour ago, we believed several armed men forced their way into the estate but they didn’t take anything from the house ”he continued.
His words echoed through the empty hall.
“My parents…” she whispered.
The detective lowered his gaze.
“We couldn’t save them”
The world stopped.
Everything around me blurred
The bangles slipped from my hand and clattered against the tiled floor.
I felt myself falling, but someone caught me before I hit the ground .
“Where’s my brother “
“He was found alive but he is in coma.”
Hope ignited inside me.
“Where’s he ?, I said hiccuping .
He’s at Saint Alessandro Hospital.”
I didn’t wait for another word.
The intensive care unit reeked of antiseptic and despair.
Through the glass window, I saw my brother, Salvatore, lying motionless beneath white hospital sheets. Tubes and machine surrounded him, each beeps reminding and reigniting my hope that he was still alive .
Barely.
The doctor approached quietly.
“Miss De Luca?”
She nodded.
“Your brother suffered severe injuries, cyanide was found in his blood.”
“Will he wake up?”
The doctor’s silence was enough .
“We have done everything necessary to ensure that he can recover.”, the doctor’s replied.
When will he be awake”
“We don’t know”, the doctor replied.
My leg gave out
I slid into a chair outside the room, staring through the glass as tears finally escaped my eyes.
Salvatore shouldn’t leave me.
Not now.
I can’t survive without him.
Not when I needed him the most.
Salvatore and I have always been close despite our seven years age difference.
I don’t know a life without Salvatore in it.
He is the best brother and my anchor.
Hours passed before an elderly man in a clean suit appeared at the end of the corridor.
Giovanni Cassano
My Father’s friend, my family lawyer
He looked as if he had aged twenty years overnight.
“Mara”, he calls out. Uncle Gio
I stood up immediately.
“Please tell me they have found who did this horrible act “
He hesitated before saying softly, “They haven’t.”
My heart sank.
“I’m sorry for the death of your parents my darling Mara, your parents are genuinely good people that don’t deserve what happened to them”. Your father was a honourable man, he took a chance on my career as a novice lawyer and gave me a platform to become what I am today. I will always be here for you and Salvatore, don’t you ever forget that.
But that’s not the problem “, he said after some time.
“Your parent’s death has created some uproar in the community and opportunities for our enemies”.
His words landed like a blow to my gut.
My parent don’t realize that I’m very much aware of involvement with the mafia. I know they’re very protective and territorial when it’s come to my safety.Thus, making sure I was homeschooled for majority of my life.
The board is in chaos. Rival families are already sabotaging and making a move against the company. Investors are withdrawing and Banks are questioning our agreement and pulling out.”
“If nothing is done immediately, your family will go bankrupt and lose everything with in weeks.”
My tears immediately dried up because I wouldn’t let anyone spoil the legacy my parent left behind.
I won’t let that happen, I said firmly.
Uncle Gio studied me for a long time intensely.
He was hesitating to talk. Then he said, there may be only to put a stop to this.
“There’s one man powerful enough to stop this .”
His expression turned grim.
“Lorenzo Rossi.”
The name stole the air from my lungs.
The man the people called the Devil.
And if the rumours were true.Making a deal with Lorenzo will be most demanding sacrifice I will ever do for the sake of my family.
- Writer
