Beyond What Meets The Eye

Chapter Twenty-Four

Adrian stared at her with wide, disbelief filled eyes.

"You . . . killed your father?" He repeated slowly, like he was the one trying to comprehend what she'd said. Hearing him say it again sent her spiraling. She buried her face in her blood stained palms, shaking with her sobs.

"Hey, hey, it's ok, just breath, I need you to talk to me so we can figure it out." He pulled her hands from her face, forcing her to look at him. She sucked in a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut. Breath.

After a moment, she finally managed to get her breathing under control, the tears dried against her cheeks.

"It was a setup." She exclaimed shakily. "Leo, he's my dads son, I'm assuming he must've had him with his first wife. He talked about how weak my father had become, that someone new needed to take over the head of the family. And his means of doing that, was by making me kill my dad, probably so he could frame me." She fell silent, waiting for Adrian's response. He leaned back in his seat, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Leonardo Bonnano." He said finally. "He supposedly died with his mother, but I guess that's not the case. Fucking hell this is bad." He ran a hand through his dark hair. Mira held her breath, squeezing her eyes shut. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. She knew shit had hit the fan, that she was completely and utterly fucked, but seeing Adrian panic only made things ten times worse.

"Mira," He said, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"I meant Leo being alive is bad. With your father dead, that puts him next in line for the boss's position. You're going to be ok, I promise."

Mira nodded absently, leaning her head back. She just needed a minute to process everything. Her father was fucking dead, she'd watched the life literally seep out of him.

"Shit Mira," Adrian jumped up, his hand reaching towards her neck. "You're bleeding," He finished, rushing into his room and returning with a first aid kit. He dropped down next to her and began disinfecting her wound. 

She didn't even have the energy to flinch away from the stinging touch of disinfectant on her open cut. All she wanted to do was sleep so she didn't have to think about it anymore.

"I was selfish," She whispered, her head still leaned back as Adrian began bandaging her neck. "I could have let him do it, put up at least some kind of fight against him . . . but I was a coward who valued my own life over my father's." Her hands balled up into fists at her sides, nails digging into her palm. 

Suddenly, Adrian stood up, lifting her chin so that she was staring right into his eyes.

"You're not a coward Mira. You should have never been in that situation in the first place. If anyone's a coward, its that bastard Leonardo. If he wanted his father dead, he should have killed him his damn self." She could tell he meant every word he said, but it did nothing to ease the guilt that suffocated her. She merely nodded at his words, pulling her face from his grasp.

He didn't say anything, packing up the first aid kit and disappearing into his room. When he came out, Pickles was in his arms. The dog leapt down and came darting towards Mira, jumping onto her lap and excitedly licking her face.

She smiled softly, planting a kiss on his furry head. Pickles couldn't get rid of the feelings coursing through her, but he could dull them just a little bit. Adrian settled down in a chair on the opposite side of the room, not saying a word while Mira reunited with her dog. 

Her smile disappeared as she realized she was leaving dark red marks on Pickle's fur. Her father's blood. She quickly pulled her hands away, sucking in a sharp breath.