Crossfire Queen

54.

As Alessia's dad finished his speech, it moved on to Marco. He looked extremely polished in his suit, my handiwork only accentuating his features. "I make a damn good suit" I mumbled as Louisa chuckled besides me. "He looks good" she said as I turned to her. Her face filled with sadness still. She really loved this man, and yet she'd never have him. It was heartbreaking to see, so I did what anyone would and placed a hand in hers and squeezed gently just as Marco began speaking.
"It feels weird standing here introducing myself, normally most people know who I am. But for those that don't, my name is Marco Di Rossi. I'm Leo's big brother" he began. "And boy have I got some stories for you" he continued as a round of laughter echoed before he began talking about a paddling pool.
"You think he knows I'm watching" Louisa asked me as tears stained her cheeks. "No lou. Only I've got access" I said as she nodded. "But do you think he knows you've shown me" she asked looking at me desperately. "No, he made me promise I wouldn't. Honestly lou, he used you to get to me. Please don't fall for his games" I sighed as she shook her head and looked away from me. "He loves me" she said with a quivering jaw. "He loves himself" I corrected her as sadness flooded my heart. Is this how mum felt when she realised my dad had betrayed her, when she found out he was a spy. "He said he'd fight for me" she stammered. "He fought, but not for you Louisa. He made you hurt me, jeopardise your father. He doesn't care for you or your family. Just himself" I tried to reason with her. "Stop it" she shouted at me as Tony sprang up and stepped between us. "Calm down" he warned her as I moved away, giving her space.
I hadn't meant to get her in more trouble, hadn't meant to upset her either. I just didn't want her going insane from denial. "Louisa, calm down or you'll go back to your room" Tony warned her. "I can't" she sobbed. "She's the reason he doesn't love me" she said as she fell into him broken. "Let's get you back" he said softly as he carried her out, my heart shattering. Once again I had been the traitor. First mum, now Louisa. I was a giant pain in just about everyone's ass it seemed.

I focused back on the screen trying to distract myself, just as a chorus of laughs echoed out from the audience. "What I'm trying to say" Marco chuckled. "Is Alessia you have got one of the funniest most genuine husbands I think you could've asked for. He's so remarkably loyal and I'm so grateful I get to share him with you." He said happily as I cringed knowing what they meant by sharing. Alessia would always come second to the di Rossi name. "I take great pride in knowing I'm the reason you two are here today" he continued. "I couldn't have asked for a better woman to stumble into the block of flats I had him watching" he said with a smirk as I stilled. Had they been watching me? Was I the target? "Who'd have thought that I'd sent my little brother out on surveillance only for him to come back and bed the targets best friend. You do have a certain 'je ne sais quoi' for surveillance it seems, an unwavering commitment to the cause" Marco chuckled as Alessia looked slightly shocked before lightly smacking Leo's shoulder. "Honestly though, your relationship has been so amazing to watch. What may have started as an intel op, has really blossomed into something beautiful. Alessia I can't wait to properly welcome you to our family. And I can't wait till our family expands further, Saluti" he said as he raised his glass whilst I sat stunned as I watched.
"What did I miss" Tony asked as he re-entered the room. "Shh" Mario scolded as Tony held his hands up in surrender as Leo took the mic. "I'll continue where my brother left off" he joked. "Intel and surveillance was my most hated job. But you made me love it" he said looking at Alessia who seemed to swoon for his words. "It didn't go quite to plan as Marco was meant to be getting married at the end of it and not me" Luca chuckled nervously. "But what can I say. When a woman like Lessi strolls past your binoculars, you can't just let her swan on by." He said as everyone again laughed. "As much as I knew my brother wanted his bride, my god I couldn't let Alessia go. You were a total distraction, the best kind." He said as she beamed at him whilst I scoffed.
Was she not hearing him properly? He was sent to spy on me and conveniently gets into bed with her! "Oh my god" Tony said as he realised. "I'll go get Luca" he rushed off his chair. "No" I said firmly. "He's with his dad. We can tell him later" I said quieter yet authority laced my tone. He nodded before sitting back down. "Lessi you have been the most amazing woman, you have helped me and in some ways my brother more than you'll ever know. I love you so much" he said as he kissed her, the audience swooning as I felt rage bubbling inside of me. How dare they use her. She's fully in love with a man who was only with her to get to me.
The camera went blue again signalling the end of the speeches. My heart racing in equal part rage and upset. How did she not know? How could she marry him. How could she walk into their trap. How had it taken me so long to figure it out. I sat there numbly staring at the screen, words evading me. "If it's any consolation Sofia, your dad isn't there so unless he shows tonight, we can assume he is dead and the contract will be void." Mario said as I nodded curtly in response. "You sure you don't want me to get luca" Tony said as I sat motionless. "No" I whispered as a tear fell.

My dad is likely dead
My best friend is married to a man that only loves her to get close to me.
My life is a mess. An uncontrollable mess.

"Hey" Tony said as he sat next to me. "Please don't cry" he said as he rubbed my back soothingly. "She's married to him, to get to me" I choked out as he looked at me worriedly. "They've taken my mum, my dad and my best friend" I sobbed as I let everything out. "Sofia , I really think I should get Luca" he said worriedly. "Why? He can't fix this Tony" I said as tears streamed down my face. "No matter what happens, Marco will keep taking until he gets me. My mum, my dad, Alessia, Louisa, Lorenzo who ever the fuck Davide is" I sobbed frantically. "When does this end" I cried on him as he pulled me to his chest. "Luca won't let you out of his sight. He'll protect you. We all will" Tony tried to reassure me. "At what cost, who else has to die or get injured for me. Louisa's mid breakdown, Alessia is now married to them, Lorenzo was shot, both my parents are presumed dead? Why the hell am I worth all this bloodshed" I cried. "Because to him your the trophy" Mario said from his desk as I lifted my heavy head to look at him. "This war we have, it was escalated by your parents. The feud burned so much harder because of it. Both Capos wanted you, your mum forbid your allegiance to either. She didn't want you tied into this mess. And ever since he learned of you, he's been obsessed. If he gets you Sofia, in his eyes his family won the war." Mario explained. "And if Lorenzo gets me" I pointed out. "You're a Marchetti Sofia, you always have been. You should've been with us from the start" Tony said firmly. "What if that's the stance they also take" I countered. "What if they feel I should've always been a Di Rossi" I quipped annoyed. "Where does this end" I asked as both men looked at me defeated.
We all knew it wouldn't end, not till I died and that wasn't something I was willing to do. However selfish that made me.
"If Luca is looking for me, tell him I'll be in the rose garden" I said before walking out, needing space to digest and absorb what I had just found out. The only place I knew I could do it was my mothers rose garden. Something about it always calmed me.
As I reached the garden I sat on the bench that over looked it, letting a heavy sigh part my lips. "Back so soon" Lucia said making me jump seconds later as she popped her head out of the flowers. "You scared me" I said as I caught my breath. "Sorry dear. I was trying to give luca and Lorenzo some space so thought I'd come and check on my plants" she said easily. "They all look marvellous" I said thankful of the distraction. "I'm not sure, this one nightmare rose causes me problems each year" she grumbled. "Then get rid of it" I shrugged as she sighed. "I would but it was the last flower your mum planted before she died" she said sadly. "Maybe it knew" she added as I nodded and came to stand next to her, as we both looked at the baron branches. "Each year it starts to bloom and then dies" she said as I stood next to her. "It never fully blossoms" she contemplated. "Maybe it is like mum" I said as Lucia pursed her lips in thought. "Maybe. Although when she planted it, she told me it was for you. Sofias rose" she said deep in thought as I let my breath hitch. "So it makes no sense to me why your rose won't bloom" she sighed. "Each year I try so hard. Yet nothing" she added frustrated. "I even took to talking to it" she chuckled. "Not sure that would've made a difference" I giggled slightly. "We'll, when I googled why do plants not grow, apparently they can be lonely, so I thought if I spoke to it it would feel like it had a friend" she shrugged. "Must be a load of waffle though cause it didn't work" she huffed. "Anyway, I need to go and clean up before dinner. You ok" she asked as I stared at the my rose. "Yeah, fine. Thanks" I said as she nodded and left.
Instead of reassuming my place on the bench I instead plopped myself onto the path in-front of the rose my mother had planted for me. "Sofias rose" I mumbled as I felt the wind sweep over my shoulders gently. "How pretty you'd be if only you'd bloom" I chuckled. "Or maybe you knew I'd never reach my full potential either" I said before internally cussing myself. 'Now whose talking to the bloody rose' grabbing my phone I hit onto Google and re typed what Lucia has said.
Why don't roses bloom?
Fertiliser? Surely Lucia had thought about that. Light? It had plenty. Water? It was outside, how much more water could a bush need in England? Environmental stress? I mean what does that mean, although maybe I could relate. I had sure felt stressed by my environment of late, maybe it had been shot at like I had. Glancing at it, it all looked in tact. Maybe it wasn't stressed either.
Scrolling further I spotted a few suggestions, re planting it being the most raved about. Maybe Lucia hadn't wanted to because mum had planted it. But if it was planted for me, maybe I could move it? It is my plant after all. Scouring the garden I spotted a baron space near the back, and grabbed a shovel. I would get my plant to bloom if it was the last thing I ever did.