Blood War (The Don Sequel)

24

Kiara

Six fucking weeks and I am still here. We are still here. I heard whispers of conversation between Stefano and Mario a few times. From what I know, Dario has been hitting them pretty hard lately. They've lost an important ally and quite a few of their shipments have been intercepted. It actually gives me a little relief knowing that they're fighting back hard. Maybe that means we will be found soon.

I really hope Matteo is okay in all of this. I spent so much time away from my son that I vowed to never leave him like that again. Yet, here I am. I miss him so much and it pains me to think of the possibility that he would get hurt in this war or grow up without me if he survives. How do I even know that he is in good hands. I hope Dario was smart enough to remove him from that safe house after all, look how easy I was able to slip away.

Being here under the enemy's watchful eye, laying in their beds without shackles, being fed good food, having the time to share laughs with Kiana feels like a crime knowing that the family I married into is probably worried sick about us. That the reason they're in jeopardy and have been fighting to stay alive is because of the people I am currently residing with. Kiana has gotten a lot more comfortable here. She doesn't talk to anyone but me but she seems to be in better spirits. She roams through the house freely as Mario assured us we could. Me on the other hand, I've been getting pretty cozy in the library during the days. They have a vast amount of books here, a lot of it actually written in Russian so I used that as an excuse to try my best to learn the language. After all, learning the language of my enemy proved to be beneficial when I had Dario teach me Italian. I will be able to understand the guards and the maids conversations as I pass since that's all they speak and Stefano when he makes his little comments. I assume Valentina and Mario either don't understand it or aren't fluent enough in it because when the three of them are together Stefano mostly sticks to english. I've even heard him speak Italian once.

However, I wouldn't dare to ask him to tutor me. The man frightens me too much. Mario seems to be the most decent of the trio, at least for now. I know the possibility that he is the most dangerous but the facade he puts up works for me just fine. It makes him approachable to some extent at least. I've expressed my desire to learn the language. He never questioned my reasoning behind it. Instead he handed me a book of translations for my curiosity. When I'm not reading a novel in here, I'm trying to learn a few sentences from the book.

This library has been my safe haven. No one comes here not even Kiana because unlike me she hates reading. Mario is always in his office when he's around but when he isn't no one else bothers us. Stefano for one stays clear from us, seems deliberate if you asked me. Valentina though, makes it her duty to spare me a glare any chance she gets but hardly ever speaks to me with that foul mouth of hers.

"You have found a comfort zone, I see." Looking up, I locked eyes with Mario.

"I suppose my secret is out."

"It was never a secret. I always knew you whereabouts."

"Really? Then how is it that you or anyone else has ever come in here before?" I questioned.

"I assumed you did not wish to be disturbed." He spoke casually as he placed his hands in his pants pocket. I've noticed so much of his little habits like that, or how his mouth twitches when he is upset, or the tick in his left eyebrow when he is growing irritated, how he hardly ever smiles. The funny thing is, I'm not even trying to pay attention to the man. He is just not hard to notice I suppose.

I told myself I would become more open with him as I did with Dario to gain his trust once. Maybe that is my ticket out of here. I have to be careful about how I do it though. I'm not the conniving type so it would be easy to see through me. Maybe I shouldn't pretend and actually try to get aquatinted with this man.