The Darkest Shade Of Black - An Arranged Marriage Dark Mafia Romance

CHAPTER XII: Dying Alive

And in the silence I suddenly understood the many ways a person can die but still be alive.

-Carmen Rodrigues.

Today, I'm smart enough not to piss Eddy off, so after school, we're headed to SC in his car, and I didn't even try to ride my bike.
I would say it was very nice of me.

I try to stay still in my seat, but it proves rather difficult, so instead, I listen to violin solos, mimicking the movements with my fingers, it steadies me.

When Eddy stops in front of the house, I jump off the car and pocket my phone. As always, Santiago opens the door for us. As we climb the stairs, Eddy is so silent I can hear the muffled voices coming from Father's office, I'm suddenly thrown almost two weeks back, when I was told I was to marry Angelo.

I don't wait for Eddy this time. He's waiting for me, so I don't need to knock, I open the door. Riccardo and Father are standing face to face, Riccardo looks like he's having a hard time not throwing a punch to his jaw, and Father looks like he wants to laugh. The door closes behind Eddy.

Antonio is leaning on the desk, behind the squaring duo, and in my peripheral vision, I can see a guard standing on either side of the door.

"You wanted to see me?" I direct the question to the room in general so as not to anger him any further. And suddenly, Father is no longer inches apart from Dick's face. He's inches apart from mine.

Its a weird feeling knowing you're dead, yet still being alive, I look at Father's brown eyes that don't quite match his blond hair, they're calm and calculating as if they know everything I know,

I've seen those cold eyes so many times before. They're cruel and dangerous.
I stare into the empty depths, and I know in an hour, I will no longer be breathing.

**************
Riccardo

The air leaves my lungs as I watch him looming over her, because I know what's coming, I know what's next, he will not forgive my little show on Sunday, and as always she will pay for my sins, to keep me in place.

His back stiffens, and I can still see the way his face shifts when he's about to strike someone. "If I tell you to shut up, you shut up. If I tell you to speak, you say exactly what I told you to. If I tell you to come see me, " His voice gradually gets higher and higher until it becomes a full-blown shout. "You fucking come see me, do you get that Alexandra?!" I take a step forward as the two guards step to either side of her.

Her lips press together, and my eyes zero in on a small cut on it. It looks like she bit it, but why? I don't know if she's trying to make him hit her, but by the fire in her eyes, I'd guess she is. "Like I told Dick, I had a very important meeting that I couldn't..." It happens so fast. I don't even see it until it's done. His arm rears back, and he slams his fist into her stomach, causing her to gasp. He obviously knocked all air out of her. The guards take one of her arms each.

I rush to her, ready to rip their heads off, so does Edoardo, but Narciso's voice stops me, "Another step and she'll be dead" The guy on her right pulls a gun from under his jacket, she's still gasping for air but she doesn't even blink when the gun is pointed at her temple, I'd be proud if I weren't dying inside.

"You can't do this. War is the only outcome. Angelo will kill you. " I try to scare him. After all, Angelo has a well-earned nickname. He's the Butcher.

"Peace lasts so little in a war where there's no victor, it was going to end at some point" He turns to me "But it's not going to be so soon, this won't leave this room, we all know what happens if it does" We do, Rory dies. I'm sure my hate for him is evident in my glare. If I could kill him without endangering her, I would have done so long ago.