Aces & Spades

Trauma

Bella:

I watch him pull back away from me, looking down to the floor. He turns around and heads into his closet. I follow behind him, quickly running to stand in front of him to stop him from going any further. 

"Answer the question Massimo. Why did you kill them?" I ask, my voice becoming shakier by the minute. 

He lets out a small sigh, running his beaten hands through his hair. "Look Isabella now isn't the time to talk about it."

"Then when did you want to mention that to me? When were you going to tell me that you ruined my family?"

"Don't you dare try and make this seem worse than it is. You should be thinking about how your parents ruined my life." He grumbles out. 

"What did they do?"

He lets out a deep sarcastic chuckle. "You have a lot to find out sweetheart." 

"Then tell me." I say sternly. "Or else I'll leave." As soon as I said that part, his piercing emerald eyes look back at me. He exhales a sharp breath as he takes my hand and guides me to sit on the bed. 

After a few moments of silence, he speaks. "My father and your father used to be business partners. They would do the cartels together and organize shipments. Until one day, Diego started accusing my father for shit he never done."

"Like what." I interrupt, earning a distasteful glare.

"Like stealing some of the packages. But it was the Mexicans. He never believed us when we told him, even after we showed him the tapes of their men stealing it, he still didn't believe us. As pay back, Diego he-he." 

I watch as he balls his hands into fists, clenching tightly until his knuckles went pure white. I put my hand on top of his, feeling him relax slightly by my touch. 

"What did he do Massimo."

He turns to look up at me, a look of sorrow casting behind his eyes.

"He raped and killed my sister."

I felt my heart stop beating. I watch as Massimo continues to look at me, but I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe. I feel the same burning tears come back, but this time, they were made of hate and anger. 

That wasn't the man that raised me. That wasn't the man who would read me bedtime stories every night. That wasn't the man who taught me between right and wrong. I loved that man. But this, I hate this man.

"Isabella? This is why I didn't want to tell you. Come here." He whispers, pulling my body to his. He wraps me in his warm embrace as tears flood down my cheeks. 

"I-I'm sorry I didn't know I-"

"Shh sweetheart it's not your fault. It's not your fault." He whispers into my hair as he strokes my back softly.

After a couple minutes, I manage to calm down. I look up at him, his arms were still encircled around me.

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

"Don't be. You didn't do anything to me. It was only him. If anyone should be sorry it should be me. I didn't know how much it could've affected you-"

"N-no. Don't apologize for his behavior." I feel myself choke up again, causing him to tighten his hold around me. "I didn't know you had a sister."

"We didn't want people to know in case something happened to her. She was our only weakness. Diego was the only one who knew which now I realize, was a mistake."

"But why would he do that to her? He- he isn't like that."

"I don't know. But he had to face the consequences." He says through gritted teeth. 

"Did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Kill him."

He looks at me in silence, the muscle in his jaw ticking, before nodding his head. I feel the same tears build back up again. He must've been so young when he killed him. How could someone go through that and still be sane? 

I bury my head into his neck, inhaling his musky scent. I let my tears fall freely, imagining the younger Massimo that had to kill. 

"I'm sor-"

"Sweetheart don't keep apologizing for something that wasn't your fault."

"But you were so small, and you had to do it." I watch as he tilts my face up to look at him. 

"None of this was your fault. It was my doing. It was my choice. After- after I saw him and his men kill Melissa and my parents, I knew that I had to."

"W-what happened to my mother?"

He looks at me through his dark lashes. "I let her go."

I lift my head up completely. "Where is she? Why didn't she come back to me? Oh my God why-"

"I don't know Isabella. I don't know where she is. I don't know anything." He lets out a small sigh. "I'm sorry that I can't answer your questions but after she left, there's been no signs of her. My men told me that they thought someone killed her."

I clasp my hand over my mouth, to stop the bubbling cries. He pulls me into him again, comforting me with his foreign words and soft hands.

After a while, I felt my eyes getting heavier by the minute. The last thing I remember was feeling the same soft lips on mine, and the heaviness of the covers draping over me.

Massimo:

I look down at her, her breathing was now a steady rhythm, and her perfect hazel eyes were shut. I hated that I made her cry. I hated it. I never wanted her to feel this way, I never wanted her to sleep with a heavy heart. 

I carry on looking at her in my arms. I've waited for this moment for so long, to have her here with me. To kiss her, to give her what she deserves. But I don't deserve her.

I killed the only family she had- except for one. 

Mariana.

I remember how she told me about the child she had at home, for me to show her mercy. A woman begging a child for mercy. Makes you think, doesn't it?

But I let her go. I had to. In the end I was just a kid too. 

And now I need to get her back. I need to see Isabella smile again.

I need her to be happy.

I slowly lift her up, taking her to her side of the bed, I tuck her in with a small kiss, before I leave so that she can some rest. I quietly make my way to my office, pouring myself a glass of whiskey from the corner of the room.

I unlock one of my desk draws, pulling out the brown paper file. Mariana Martínez.

Her last known location was in Madrid last year. Since then, there hasn't been a trace of her left. 

Fuck.

I pull out my phone, dialing in the same number.

"Luca. I need you in my office in the morning. And bring the Martínez' file. We have some work to do."

Ciao my loves firstly I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Secondly, OVER 2K !! Thank you all so much. I never thought that I would be here but thanks to all of you, here we are!
I love you all stay safe!