Marino's Heir

Chapter 42

After the gunshot sound, a scream followed. Vincent opened his eyes and turned his head around. "Amor...!" He turned his body around and reached out his arms to his wife when she called. He moved his eyes to Aurelia, and Ryder was still there staring at them in shock. Aurelia looked at the gun in her hand and shook her head to him. "Camilla?" He looked at his wife, and her eyes started closing. He felt something on the side of her stomach. He looked at his hand and saw her blood. "Camilla?! What did you do?!" He looked at Aurelia, and she shook her head in fear, then moved her eyes to Ryder. Vincent looked at him while Ryder moved his head slowly to the bed. His eyes widened when he saw her holding a gun, and he smiled. Aurelia followed his eyes and saw Cleo. Wide awake, aiming the gun at her with one hand. As soon as Aurelia saw her and before she could react, Cleo pulled the trigger at her right shoulder, making her drop the gun. "AAH!!" She screamed and held her shoulder. Vincent held his wife but stared at his daughter in complete shock. He felt his wife slowly get heavier in his arms and slide down. "No...." Her hand slid down his chest and fell to her side as her eyes closed. Cleo shot her in a bad spot. She didn't care what would happen next. She aimed to kill this woman. "Camilla! Ay!!" He fell down with her and held her face, laying her on his legs. "Camilla!!!" He shouted as his face reddened with anger and eyes started to water.
Cleo, on the other hand, moved the gun to the man standing right beside her. "Untie him." She said with her tired voice. The guy nodded his head and did as she said quickly. She moved her eyes at Aurelia, who was staring at her in disbelief. "CAMILLAAAAAAAAA!!!!" Vincent screamed and moved his head up at Cleo. They untied Ryder, and in a second, he was standing on his feet beside Cleo. He took out his gun and aimed at Aurelia. "Now the real rat is dead. Relax, father. Everything is under control now." Cleo spoke then coughed, her hand couldn't hold the gun so it fell on the bed. She laid back down on the pillow and coughed. "Cleo..." Ryder put the gun down, leaving everything else and focused on her. He checked her temperature by putting his hand on her neck. "Ah..." She put her hand on his and moved it away from her neck. "Why so cold? You're alive, relax." He laughed at what she said. "I'm just worried about you." He replied with a bright smile. "I've been better..." She said and smiled back then slowly closed her eyes, falling asleep. Ryder moved his head to them. He gulped, not knowing what to do now, and scared of what this man would do.
Vincent left his now dead wife on the ground and stood up. He walked to Cleo on the opposite side. He formed his hands into fists as he looked at her angrily. Ryder gripped her hand while with the other, he prepared the gun behind his back. "So, you have recovered...." He leaned down to her and whispered, she had already fallen deep asleep. "And the first thing you do is kill my wife, Cleo.... I'm impressed but you'll wish you didn't." He whispered the last part very close to her ear. He wasn't sure if she was really asleep or pretending. Either way, she would hear him. He gave Ryder a look, making him look down, then gestured to the rest to leave. Aurelia ran out of there, and the two men carried his wife. "This isn't over." He said, then turned to the door. "Boss." He stopped when Ryder called. "Cleo wouldn't just kill her for no reason. She only wounded Aurelia but killed your wife. There's something she knows while we don't." He said that, and despite hearing him, Vincent still left...

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One week later

It's been a day since I got fully recovered. Ryder stayed by my side and checked up on me every day till I was able to stand up. Unfortunately, that poison had side effects despite destroying every bit of it inside my body. It was hard for me to leave the bed till today. The thought of Marco rushed back as soon as I remembered the reason why I lost my consciousness, aside from everything that happened. It was hard to handle that he's no longer here. After I finished changing my clothes, I found my phone inside my small handbag. I sat on the bed as I dialled his number and put the phone to my ear. It rang for a few minutes then went to voicemail, *Hello, you've reached Marco oorrrr....clearly you haven't, haha. Just leave a message, I'll be replying sooner or later! BEEP*
I shook my head and called him again, feeling hurt and sad. It's been a week, and I missed his funeral, I wanted to go, but Ryder forced me to stay due to my health condition. I couldn't even give him a proper goodbye, I didn't want to... *Hello, you've reached Marco....
It went to voicemail again. What was I even trying to do? Calling his phone won't bring him back. Tears fell down my cheeks as I closed my eyes, remembering our happy memories and our last unhappy one... "Yes? Who is it?" I opened my eyes when someone answered. "Hello?" At first, his voice sounded like Marco, but then it deepened and completely changed. "Um..." I didn't know what to say. I stared at the ground silently, unable to form any words. "Did you dial the wrong number?" He asked. "Is...is this Marco Gallon's number?" I asked.
He sighed, and after a moment of silence, he talked, "...Uh...It was... I'm sorry, but he passed away last week...."