UNDECIDED (Wisemen Series #1)

11 | Because it's Blood

RICCARDO
___________

As I stood outside the dimly lit alley, the weight of my father's death hung heavy on my shoulders. The bitter taste of cigarette smoke lingered on my tongue, a feeble attempt to dull the ache in my chest.

Despite my efforts to bury my emotions beneath layers of indifference, the truth remained: Matteo DeLuca was dead, and I couldn't shake the unsettling mix of relief and sorrow that flooded my senses.

I took another drag from my cigarette, the ember glowing bright against the darkness of the night.

The sound of footsteps approached from behind, and without turning around, I knew it was Isabelle. She always had a way of finding me when I needed her most.

"Ric," her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, yet it cut through the silence like a knife. "I heard about your dad. I'm so sorry."

I remained silent, unable to find the words to express the jumble of emotions churning within me. My relationship with my father had always been strained, filled with resentment and bitterness.

He was a man consumed by his own greed and ambition, a shadowy figure lurking in the periphery of my life.

But despite my disdain for him, the news of his death stirred something deep within me. Guilt, perhaps, or the lingering remnants of a bond I had long tried to sever.

I couldn't explain it, couldn't understand why I felt this way. All I knew was that his passing had left a void, a gnawing emptiness that I couldn't shake.

Isabelle's hand found mine, her touch gentle yet reassuring. I turned to look at her, my eyes searching hers for answers I knew she couldn't provide. She offered me a small, understanding smile, her presence a balm to my wounded soul.

"I don't know why I'm even upset," I muttered, the words bitter on my tongue. "I barely tolerated the man."

Isabelle's expression softened, a look of sympathy in her eyes as she squeezed my hand gently. "It's because he's blood, Ric," she said softly. "He's still family, no matter what. And it's okay that you feel this way."

Her words pierced through the numbness surrounding me, stirring something deep within my chest. Despite my best efforts to push her away, Isabelle remained steadfast by my side, offering me solace in my darkest hour.

I leaned into her touch, the warmth of her hand a welcome anchor in the storm of my emotions. In that moment, I allowed myself to forget the betrayals and the pain, if only for a fleeting instant.

And as we stood there, together in the quiet solitude of the night, I found a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume me.

As Isabelle's comforting words washed over me, I felt a sense of gratitude swell within my chest. Despite the tumultuous history between our families, she had always been there for me, offering me support and understanding when I needed it most.

"I don't deserve you, Isabelle," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper as I met her gaze.

She smiled softly, her eyes filled with warmth and compassion. "You don't have to deserve it, Ric," she replied. "I'm here because I want to be."

Her words echoed in the silence, wrapping around me like a protective shield against the harsh realities of the world.

In that moment, I felt a flicker of something unfamiliar yet undeniable-a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume me.

Together, we stood in the quiet solitude of the alley, our hands intertwined as we faced the uncertainty of the future.

And as the night stretched on, I found solace in Isabelle's presence, knowing that no matter what trials lay ahead, we would face them together.