Aces & Spades

Daniele

Isabella:

"H-how did this happen?" He drops the box carelessly onto the floor, allowing the contents to spill out. "We were careful- I was careful!" He runs his fingers through his hair, tugging harshly at the roots.

I kneel down to collect my prized items from the floor, clutching them closely to my chest as I stand back up.

"Massimo I'm sorry but-"

"No Isabella. No. No. No. I don't want to talk about this. I can't do this." He huffs as he starts to trek through the sand, up to where his car was.

"Massimo please don't be like this. Please talk to me!" I grab onto his arm but he shrugs me off, continuing to walk up in silence.

"I'm begging you, speak to me." I cry, a stream of agonizing tears. "I didn't think you would be this upset about it! I-I thought that you would want to have a family with me." I whisper.

We stop abruptly by his black Mercedes. "Massimo-"

"I told you that I don't want to talk about this!" He shouts, his eyes red with rage. "This is all your fault." He spits.

I silently step back, watching as he climbs into the car and quickly speeds off.

Massimo:

How the fuck did this happen? How the actual fuck did we let it get to this?

I wasn't planning on having kids any time soon, especially now. The thought of having to raise a child- my child scares the shit out of me. I can't deal with that kind of responsibility. Neither can Isabella. She's still young and I have a mafia to run.

This isn't how it's supposed to go.

And yet here we are.

I've driven a few hours away, until I reach a secluded cliff.

I get out of the car, leaving it on as I walk close to the edge. The ocean is thrashing violently against the rocks, shaking the ground beneath my feet. I grab a few stray rocks, throwing them down with an inaudible splash.

What was I meant to do now?

I love Isabella but she still doesn't understand me. She doesn't understand the way that I think. She doesn't understand the way that I feel. She doesn't understand how hard it was for me to be gentle with her, to love her after everything.

She doesn't get it.

And now there is an innocent baby growing. But, it's growing from the love of two people, who came from a family of hate.

If Mariana or any rival mafia finds out about this, they would wreak havoc. I can't let them touch Isabella or my child.

This is what I was afraid of. If I'm not able to protect the person I love and now there are two people I need to protect.

I let out a strained cry as I continue to pace up and down slowly.

'This is all your fault.' My hurtful words ring in my ears.

Why did you have to say that Massimo?

The sound of Isabella's hoarse voice as I was leaving her resurfaces in my mind. I upset the person I love again.

What kind of a man am I?

I need to set things right. I need to tell Isabella that I'm going to be here for her and our baby. I need to make sure she knows that I will never leave her.

I hear the cock of a gun from behind me. Slowly, I turn around, being faced with a man who's onyx looking eyes were only on display.

He holds the gun firm in his hand, aimed towards my head. Apprehensively, he steps closer. The light from my car headlights creates a familiar shadow as he continues to walk.