Aurora (Book #1)

Chapter 25

"Go on" Alejandro says, " And don't do anything stupid.
One of the Spanish men presses my microphone.
"Elena" I say, with a trembling voice.
"We heard it, miele" she says, "Group 4 stay on the 4th floor and attack only when you hear a gunshot, until that be quiet"
I hear our soldiers "si singora" in unison.
Elena,Eric, Marc come out with their groups. Unarmed. With their hands up. They are angry. Angry at me.
"Don Elena Maria Rinaldi and her loyal minions" Alejandro greets,"The only woman Don in Cosa Nostra"
Elena narrows her eyes.
"Kneel" Alejandro orders.
"Go fuck yourself" Elena says.
"Why woman need to make everything hard?" Alejandro rubs his forehead, "You are not in really good position to disobey"
His soldiers raise their guns at them and at me.
Elena looks at me and sighs.
Unbelievable happens.
Elena kneels.
Elena Rinaldi kneels.
Surrenders to a men.
And everyone kneels with her. One by one.
Alejandro laughs, "Your father made a mistake when he made you his heir"
"It was her fathers greatest decision" I hiss at him.
"Was it?" he gestures to them.
That's it,old fucker.
Some mysterious power fills my body and I get out of the mens grip that are holding me. Some soldiers try to stop me, but I manage to block them and even injure them. And when I'm close to reach him I'm stopped. I didn't see this one Spanish guy from the back.
"But I have to tell you, Elena, that she's the most talented assassin I've ever met" I could hear shock in Alejandros voice,"I want you with us"
He says looking at me. My eyes widen.
Is he fucking kidding?
"I will pay good money, you'll be able to be with your boy" He says gesturing to Christian, who was held by some men too, trying to get out of their grip.
What the fuck happened there though?
"A tempting offer" I start "But I have only one suitable answer"
I spit right to his face.
Everyone gasps. Alejandro wipes his face and furiously looking at me, but I couldn't just hold my devilish smile. His eyes went dark of pure anger.
"I'm sorry, Chico" he turns to Christian, "I guess our agreement, lost its power" he raises his gun at me.
But I am not scared. Not even a little bit.
"Any lasts words?"Alejandro asks sardonically.
"You want to hear it again?" I tilt my head.
He clicks the gun, with a furious expression.
I was prepared for this moment my entire life. I was taught to embrace death with pride. Death is a gift for us.
"I have an idea" Christian exclaims finally getting out of Spanish hands.
"What's it, Chico?" he looks at him.
"As you said she's very talented. She's better than any of your people, any of my people. We'll need her" he says.
What the fuck are you saying?
"I believe that's true, chico, but you saw her response" Alejandro says.
"I can convince her" Christian looks at me.
"Like hell" I say. Alejandro looks at Christian with a questioning expression.
"I have my ways" Christian looks at me.
What the fuck he's doing?
"And what is your idea than?" Alejandro gets intrigued. Christian looks over to Elena and she nods.
What's going on?
"Every mafias strength is their leader" Christian explains in a cold tone, "Without their Don, mafia is hopeless"
Alejandro puts his gun down and looks at Elena.
No. No. No.
"Please, there's no way he can convince me, please, shoot me" I beg.
Alejandro looks back at Christian.
Christian gives him a reassuring nod.
"No!" I scream at them. I once more try to get out of the Spanish fuckers grip, but now some other joins him and they manage to immobilize me completely.
Fuck!
"You are a cruel one, my Chico" Alejandro says, "And I like it"
He directs himself to Elena, but Christian stops him.
"Let me" he says and lifts his palm.
I stop breathing.
He wouldn't.
Alejandro responses with a short "hm" and puts the gun in his hand.
"Don't you fucking dare, Christian" I shout at him, but he deliberately ignores me "Christian!"
He stands in front of Elena. Elena looks at him with, somehow, approving expression?
Why?
Christian raises the gun and aims at her head. His hand starts to shake a little. He inhales.
Elena looks at me.
"No" i whisper.
"It's okay" she mouths to me " I love you "
Bang.
Christian pulls the trigger and everything turns into slow motion in my eyes. Elenas body falls.
I hear loud ringing in my ears. Everything goes round and turns black for a second. My brain refuse to believe it.
Refuse to believe that Elena Rinaldi is dead.
My mother is dead.
As I watch her empty expression, I inhale huge amount of oxygen.
"NO" I scream from the top of my lungs.
My feet can't hold me anymore and I fall into the mens arms. Tears start to pour.
Suddenly, the 4th group comes out and starts to shoot. Everyone that were knelt stand up and do the same. Two men start to take me out from there. Salvadors fled. We get out of building.
"Put her with me" Christian says gesturing his car.
"No fucking way!" I shout at him, "I would rather die"
"We don't have time for this, let her sit where she wants" a Spanish men says.
"She sits in my car" I hear Christian say and that's the last thing that I hear, before I feel a tingling pain on my shoulder.I look at it and saw a needle. I am tranquilized. Everything goes black once more.
I see Elenas face.
Suddenly, I am 16 again.
"Raise the gun" she says to me, "No, with two hands, miele, you are not trained enough to hold it with one"
"Like this?" I ask.
She nods.
"Now, look through the sight and load the gun, you know how" she says and holds my arms so they would be steadier "Close the left eye. Seeing better ,si?"
"Hm" I hum in agreement.
"Inhale" she orders, holding me from behind.
I fill my lungs.
"Hold"
I stop breathing.
"Aim and shoot when you exhale"
When I feel I'm ready, I do as I'm told. It returns, but since Elena was standing behind my back, i am still on my feet.
"Santa Maria" she whispers, "10"
I narrow my eyes trying to see bette. I really hit 10.
"Very good, miele" she taps my shoulder, "One more time?"
I smile and raise the gun again.
I shoot.
But the target is gone.
Where did it go?
I go in direction the bullet left and suddenly horror feels me.
Elena is on the floor. Bullet went through her skull.
"No!" I scream and shake her trying to wake her up, fully understanding how impossible is that.
I'm not 16 anymore.
I hear footsteps. I look up and see Christian.
"You" I say, my voice cracking.
"Me?" he asks with sarcasm, "No, sole, it's you"
My eyes widen.
He walks towards me and leans down a bit.
"It's your fault" he whispers.
I look at Elenas eyes and see nothing but emptiness.
I killed her.
I shift and wake up.
It was a nightmare, Aurora, calm down.
My head is spinning and my eyes can't focus on anything. My eyes aren't blurry, I just can't see anything.
What that fucker gave me?
I assume I'm in a dark room and I'm sitting on a ridiculously uncomfortable chair, and since I can't move my body properly, I'm tied up. Well, at least that much I know. Suddenly, a light turns on in the corner. It hurts my eyes so much I close them for second. When I open them again I see a familiar silhouette.
"Where the fuck am I ?" I ask.
Silence.
"Spain" he finally utters and starts walking towards me.
"Don't fucking dare to come near me!" I say.
"It's me, Aurora" he says.
"I know it's you, Christian" I bark ," Don't come near me"
He ignores my demand and continues.
Now I'm able to see him clearly.
"Coglione" I whisper and make a disgusted face.
He puts his hand in his pockets and looks at me.
"Well, I deserve it"
"You deserve to be thrown into a river" I hiss and suddenly I can feel tears forming in my eyes "Why did you do it?"
My voice cracks on each words.
He chuckles, but I can't figure out if it's a nervous or amused chuckle.
"Are you laughing?" I ask angrily.
"Maybe"
"Untie me and we'll see who'll laugh next" his expression changes. I look away, not being able to look at him anymore.
"I see there's no way, I can persuade you to join Salvadors" he says bringing another chair and sitting in front of me.
I scoff, still not looking at him.
"Aurora" he says gently, " Look at me"
"I might throw up if I do" I say and fake a smile.
"I want to help you" he says ,"But you have to cooperate"
Cooperate my ass.
"What?" I look at him.
He opens his mouth, but a door behind him cracks.
"So how it's going?" Alejandro asks cheerfully.
"We're in process" Christian replies ," I think I need an hour or two"
"Do I need to send everyone away, if you know what I mean?" Alejandro laughs.
Disgusting.
Christians eyes sparkle. But not in the way it usually does when he's angry or turned on, it's like something passed his mind.
"I think you actually might" he raises his brow.
"Oh, she's that type?" He whispers but I still hear him.
"Exactly that type"
I open my mouth to curse both of them, but Christian looks at me with trust-me expression and I shut it.
"Alright" Alejandro says amused, "I'll see what I can do, Chico"
He directs his steps to the door.
"Have fun!" he exclaims and leaves.
Christian looks at the door for a second.
"If you touch me, I swear to God, I will cut your balls off" I hiss at him, but he ignores me and walks to the door. He opens it and looks around.
"What are you doing?" I ask and he shushes me.
Figlio di puttana! (Son of a bitch)
He closes the door and returns to me. He takes his knife out and I silently gasp. I calm down when he starts to cut the ropes.
"Christian, say something" I growl.
"I need your help" he says and frees my feet and hands from the rope. Now I'm able to stand up. And when i am finally stood and hit his jaw.
"Help you?" I ask sardonically.
He rubs his jaw and spits blood.
Shit.
My face remains unfazed and cold as ever.
"I deserve this too" he says.
"I'm not going to help you!"
"Aurora, just hear me out" he starts, "If we want to turn Salvadors down we have to trust each other"
Christian Daloi is officially the most confusing human being on the earth.
"Trust each other?" I repeat his words with sarcasm, "Why would I ever trust you again?"
He closes his eyes as if his in pain.
"You just have to" he sighs ,"For one last time"
I shake my head negatively.
"Please, Aurora" he begs. I hope he knows that "please" won't help him this time.
"Don't do it for me" he continues, "Do it for El-"
"DONT YOU DARE TO SAY HER NAME" I shouted and pointed my finger at him. "You don't deserve to say her name"
"You're right" he says, " I only can say that she would want you to turn Salvadors down"
I take a second to think. I look In his eyes. He seems to be sincere, but I need to know what's going on.
"You make everyone believe that you are trustworthy, then betray us and your family, put my family in danger" i take a deep breath to stop myself from crying "Killed my Don, kidnapped me and now you want my help to turn down people you are working for, did I miss anything?"
"No" he whispers and looks down.
I take few steps forward to be able to see his eyes.
"I don't understand" I say, "Why are you doing this?"
"Not now" he says.
"I want to know-"
"Would you believe a word I say without any proof?"
I don't say anything, because we both know I won't.
"That's what I thought"he says, "One day I'll tell you and maybe you'll understand me, but right now, I need your help"
"Alright" I agree after few minutes of debating with myself,"I will help you"
He nods.
"But I'm not doing this for you" I clarify, "I'm doing this for my family and Elena"
"Bene" he says, "Now come with me"