Silent love

Chapter 19

On the previous chapter...

"What the hell were you thinking?" Federico snaps.

"He is my brother!" I yell at him. "I couldn't leave him in there".

He clenches his jaw but doesn't reply to me. It seems like we will finish this conversation another time.

For all his seriousness, he was the one who made sure I got out of there. I don't know how to feel about that.

He saved me again.

And my brother.

"Still alive". Jacques says, grinning. "Can't get rid of me that easily."

"Shame". Fiorenzo mutters.
"Careful, Fiorenzo," Jacques shoots back.

As the flames consume the building behind us, I glance at Federico. He's standing apart from the group, his face unreadable. His focus is on the burning warehouse.

"Valerio's gone," Chrysante confirms.

For a moment, I feel a strange sense of relief. But something about the whole thing feels too easy. I shake the thought away.

"Thank you". I say quietly as I am standing next to him, but I'm not looking directly at him. He doesn't reply, but I see the smallest nod before he turns away.

As the flames consume the warehouse behind us, I realize this isn't over.

I can feel it, but for now we leave.

It's only just begun.

                                                                 ʚ FEDERICO'S POV ɞ

The fire had a bigger impact on Yaqueline than I had imagined. Since we came back she is out of this world. For instance now, we are in the kitchen and she is cleaning some dishes.

I told her that my housekeepers will take care of it but she didn't listen. I already called her name 3 times and she still doesn't react.

"Yaqueline". I call out her name again, slightly raising my voice. She drops the glass in her hand.

"I'm sorry". She gets down and tries to pick up the pieces of glass.
"Drop it, my staff will clean it". I say.

She still doesn't listen and grabs a couple of pieces. I sigh and get up. I grab her by the arm and drag her away.

"What is wrong with you?" I look down at her. I don't know how Mauro is planning on to make her the leader of the Italian mafia, if she can't even grab a grip. The fire was years ago, if she can't even process that, she isn't ready for a position like a leader.

She must have recollected herself as she looks in disgust at me. "Don't touch me".

I walk away from the kitchen and her and walk towards my bathroom to wash my hands. As long as I know she can stuck those pieces of glass in her ass.

"When are they leaving?" Seraphina enters my room.
"Today". I reply and dry my hands off.

I leave my bathroom and see her sitting on my bed. She has a bandage wrapped around her arm, one of Valerio's men sliced her arm open yesterday.