La Regina: Nicola |18+|

11. Silent Treatment

Nicola

It had been three days since my unfriendly reunion with my father and Elena. And three days since the last time I saw Giorgio.

He didn't sleep in his room and I never crossed path with him in the house either. He was clearly avoiding me and ignoring my existence altogether.

I didn't mind, actually. I appreciated the gesture. I also needed time and space to think. Something that was quite hard to do if he was in the same room.

I had to plan my next move which involved a gruesome killing of my evil mother.

My phone vibrated on the nightstand. I had been receiving texts and calls from three men who used to be the closest people in my life before things went south.

None of them I bothered to return.

It was clear where my father stood in this situation. So, discussing things with him was pointless.

Cesco was probably siding with my father. His loyalty laid with the family.

But I was his family.

I was his only sibling. We had been through thick and thin together. He had protected me from Elena as much as he could when we were kids.

Still, I couldn't believe he didn't tell me shit about this. His betrayal felt raw and more painful. He had witnessed my downfall throughout childhood and sometimes was punished for it.

I hated the idea of listening to his explanation occured to me.

I dialed his number without forethought.

He answered on the first ring.

"Where do you stand now, Cesco?" I questioned right away, didn't bother with formalities. My tone clipped and cold.

I was tired being lied to. This should be over years ago.

"Not with father." He replied. I waited for his next sentence because I could hear it coming. "But not with you either."

"Typical." I scoffed. Sometimes I wanted him to pick a side for once.

He sighed. "I am sorry, Nic." He sounded like he meant it. And there was an ache in my chest.

"How long have you known?"

"Three years. I swore an oath to keep it a secret." He explained. Three years. It meant he wasn't involved from the beginning. I felt relief coursing through me somehow. "I didn't mean to lie to you. Father said it was best to keep you two living separate lives."

"Did you know that I—"

"I knew." He cut me off.

I was quiet for a moment, gathering my thoughts. It was a lot to take for both of us. Growing up, we always had each other's back. But now, I couldn't really rely on him.

"Promise me you will stand aside." I said when I gained back the courage to speak.

"I promise. I give you my word." He said without missing a beat. "I never care about Elena."

I knew all along. He had showed me for years. We didn't shed tears in her funeral.

"Okay."

"I also won't lay hands on Silveri." He added. I kinda had mixed feelings about that, but I didn't mention it.

"Okay."

〰️

It was on the fifth day when I had enough of the silence. Those hazels eyes were nowhere to be found, so I tried another approach.