THE DARE | BWWM 18+ (editing)

xlv - facing diabolo: part 3

L E O N A R D O

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Xavier has a plan. Right?

Because I'm finding it a little hard to believe that he would just turn on me like this. We have been in each other's lives since before we could speak, so it doesn't make any sense why X wouldn't choose me.

I am hoping that he has a plan, but part of me understands how strong loyalty can be, especially to one's father. I know how strong my loyalty is to my father, so I can't blame him if he really chose his father.

"Did that just happen?" I ask my father who looks stunned.

"I think so. Everything is going to be okay figlio," he tries to reassure me but it's not working.

I'm thinking about everything that's gone wrong, and I can't help but feel like I'm fighting a losing battle. My uncle is my worst enemy. My girlfriend and my daughter have been kidnapped by said uncle. I have less than 36 hours to find both of them or they're gonna die, and my best friend, someone who promised me and swore that he would never walk out on me, just walked out on me.

I can't forget that my house is now a pile of wood and ashes, and I don't have the smallest clue on how to find Martello. Basically, my life is falling apart. My life is crumbling down right in front of my eyes, and I ran out of ideas on how to put it all back together.

Damn.

Is this what hopelessness feels like?

"I don't know what else to do papa. He's been planning this for a long time, and he's so many steps ahead that I don't think I'll ever be able to catch up to him."

"I know but we do have one advantage. We have one of his men, and we can keep torturing him until he tells us where Martello is."

"No. He's almost dead, and we might just push him overboard and then we're back to square one. Torturing him won't work papa, but I think I have an idea that might. Can you just leave me alone with him for five minutes?" I ask my father and he nods.

"We're going to find them both, and you will be with your girls again. I promise," my papa says these last words before he walks out of the room and leaves me alone with Martello's man.

I grab a water bottle, pull up a chair, and sit facing him. "What's your name?"

"Marco," he answers, his voice hoarse as can be. I open the water bottle and give him some.

I grab his wallet from his pocket and pull out a picture of him, a woman, and three kids. "You have a beautiful family Marco. You must love them very much."

"I do," he chuckles a little. "If you're thinking of threatening their lives, don't. Martello already beat you to that," he confesses.

What?

"Threatening their lives? Wait a minute, is that why you're so loyal to him?" I ask in disbelief.

I wouldn't expect this from Martello at all considering he talked about untainted loyalty and not abusing your power when he was training me, but maybe I can use this discovery to my advantage.

"What do you care?" He retorts. "You're just like him."

"Maybe, but I wouldn't treat you this way, Marco. Martello walked into this room, saw you all bloody and beaten, and he didn't even try to fight for you. He ignored you and went about his business. Now tell me, does that sound like a man you should be loyal to?" I ask and he blinks away tears. "Because if you were one of my own, I would've already sent a rescue team for you."