Blood War (The Don Sequel)

29

Kiara

I woke up bright and early, too early. Honestly, I'd rather I didn't wake up at all because this headache was excruciating. I've been sitting in bed with a pounding head and a broken heart for who knows how long. My bitter tears are the only thing I tasted for the day and that's okay. It's not like I have an appetite after last night's events. I still can't get the scene out of my head.

We had a plan. We were so close. Lorenzo and Damon were able to track us somehow. They made it, they spotted us so the plan easily turned to dust because suddenly there was real hope. We didn't need our half-ass plan anymore. We were going to be saved. We were going to be okay. We were going to be free of the Morrettis, leave this place, leave Russia and go back home.

Home. Where my child and husband await. Where Camilla and the rest of the Romano family was. The place that felt familiar. Unfortunately, life is hardly ever in my favor. As quick as the hope was granted it was just as equally taken away.

Damon may not have been my favorite person. Hell, I barely knew the guy but he brought me back to my family. He brought me back to Matteo and saved my life.

Lorenzo, who has been at my side from day-one when I was forcefully pulled into this life, who always respected me, always protected me, provided me with a level of comfort, always risked his life for mine and ultimately lost it because of me last night. This isn't fair. I saw a different side to the man. He wasn't just a cold man watching me because his Don instructed him to. He took his job very seriously and actually cared about me. Then, he started caring for my best friend too and on a level that I didn't understand at first. I think Lorenzo loved Kiana. My last words to him were awful. The way I spoke to him was unpleasant. I can't believe I actually believed for a moment that he would disregard Kiana's life to save me. That was naive and selfish thinking. Yet, it didn't make anything better.

It feels like my hope died with Lorenzo last night. All my chances to escape and survive another cycle of captivity went out the window when I watched his body get riddled with bullets. Valentina showed no remorse. He was already dead and she still shot him multiple times like some animal. Like he was worthless. As if he wasn't human.

The image I want to forget the most is the one that's on repeat in my head. Why can't it stop? Why is my best friend's shot up body playing on a loop in my head. Why did it have to be Kiana? Of all persons in this world, she deserved it the least.

Kiana was the sweetest person I had ever met. She had been by my side for a long time and was my only family for the longest while until Matteo. I never had to question her intentions. She always wanted the best for me. She encouraged me and cheered me on in everything that I did. She was a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. She never made excuses. She was everything I wished my mother was to me and more. She would literally drop anything to be there for me as a friend. It didn't matter the urgency, the time or even her mood. She made herself available always and we hardly ever had arguments. That's what bothered me so much about our latest disagreement where my absence was concerned. She felt like I had left her behind and I get that. I understand the hurt but like everything else we got past it.

This though, I can't get past. This is a pain I never saw coming. How could someone be in this much anguish and still have the capacity to breathe. I really just lost my bestfriend. Honestly, despite seeing her body I couldn't believe it. I've spent all day crying and waiting for her to walk into the room though, wounded up sure because I'm not delusional but alive at least. I was hoping this could be something we could joke about in the future, how we survived yet another night in this mafia lifestyle but that isn't the case. Things have really turned for the worst.