By Darkness I Burn [EN]

Chapter 2

Isabella – 18 years old

I sighed as we pulled into the Falcone mansion driveway, listening for the thousandth time Dad talking about not getting close to Nevio and his cousins.

"I think she already got it, Matteo." Mom interplead for me.

"I'm not sure." Dad replied, looking at me through the rearview mirror. "She can be just as stubborn as you are."

"As you are, you meant." She countered.

I rolled my eyes and opened the car door, leaving the two of them arguing behind. The reality is that they were more alike than they liked to admit.

Valerio jumped out after me, having come in our car so that Marcella, her baby and Maddox could go with Uncle Luca, and hugged me by the shoulders, pressing a kiss to my temple. Greta and Amo got out of a third car.

I missed Flavio, but Aunt Lily was spending Christmas with Romero's family that year.

We walked to the mansion's entrance; our parents, Amo and Greta in front of us, Marcella and Maddox in the back.

"So... Who are you going to fall in love with?" Valerio whispered next to my ear as soon as we arrived the mansion's hall. I furrowed my brows and looked at him over my shoulder. "Two Falcones kidnapped you, Isa. It's their fate... Now you have to fall in love with one. Didn't you see what happened to Serafina?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I quickened my pace, trying to outrun him, but he had longer legs than mine, and in two strides he was at my side again, grabbing me around the waist this time.

God, how Flavio was needed at a time like this.

"Technically, who really kidnapped you was Alessio, so, in my humble opinion, you should give him a chance." Valerio continued to throw shit at me. "Besides, he seems easier to get along with... Tells jokes, doesn't kill for fun and doesn't seem like a fucking psycho."

"Valerio, can you shut that shit of yours for 5 seconds?" I grunted, a little too loudly, getting rid of his arms and calling the attention of our parents, in front of us.

Mom gave me a curious look, while Uncle Luca looked reproachfully at both of us – most especially at Valerio.

We continued to enter the house, following Greta who showed us the place and where we'd stay.

"Got it!" Valerio patted me on the shoulder to get my attention, wrapping his left arm around me again to whisper, "Alessio took care of you, but Nevio ordered everything. You will definitely have to stay with the little psycho, that's why you're so nervous."

I pushed Valerio's arm off me once more and replied, in the same hushed voice:

"Maybe I'll take both." I shrugged. "At the same time." And completed, seeing my cousin's jaw drop. "After all, that's how they got me, isn't it?" I raised an eyebrow.

Valerio, however, didn't seem to like my answer, pulling me closer again and muttering angrily:

"They'll be dead before touching you again."

I rolled my eyes.

There was that protective possessiveness once again. I don't know why he started, if he never liked where the nagging took us.

***

I thanked God that I got a separate room from Mom and Dad, even though Dad didn't like it very much. We were in Nino's ward, it seemed people got tense at the thought of letting my dad and Remo and their son so close, so this was the solution they came up with. The rest of the family had stayed in Remus' wing, after all, they were family now too.