𝔄𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔩𝔞 𝔇𝔢𝔩𝔩𝔞 𝔐𝔬𝔯𝔱𝔢

Chapter 68~Try Harder

Donatella POV:

The second I stepped out of Amir's guest room, the air felt different. Too still. Like the castle was holding its breath, waiting for something to blow.

I had too many goddamn thoughts and nowhere to put them. My head was full of knots, half-formed plans, flashes of Amir's face, his words echoing in the hollows of my chest. There was blood under my nails and a scream buried under my tongue. My fingers curled into fists like they were trying to crush something that wasn't there.

I walked fast. Boots loud against the marble, echoing down the hallway like gunshots. Let them echo. Let them hear. Let anyone try to stop me. I'd carve my initials into their teeth.

I was halfway to my room when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Another shadow in the hallway. Same quiet posture, same goddamn face I knew too well.

Gino.

Of course.

Just standing there like he materialized out of thin air, hoodie half-zipped, face unreadable. He didn't look surprised to see me. Didn't even flinch when I slowed to a stop.

I rolled my eyes and kept walking until we were toe to toe.

"Oh look," I muttered. "One of the three wise idiots. Lemme guess-midnight patrol? Or did you just get bored of pretending to have a conscience?"

He stared at me. That blank expression he wore like armor. Always watching, always quiet, always calculating-like he was above the mess but never far from it.

My jaw twitched. "You here to rat me out? Huh? Gonna run back to Enzo and Nicolo so the three of you can circle jerk about what a disappointment I am?"

He didn't move. Just tilted his head slightly. Cold, calm. Like I hadn't just spit venom straight in his face.

Then, with slow, deliberate signs:

I'm not going to them.

I crossed my arms, one brow lifting like it might shatter my whole damn forehead.

"Oh? What's this? A change of heart? What, did the guilt finally crawl out of whatever hole you buried it in?"

He didn't respond to that. Not immediately. Instead, he kept his hands moving.

I believe you. Whatever you've done. I believe you're a good person. You're not an insult to this family. They are. Enzo. Nicolo. They're the ones who should be ashamed.

I laughed. Sharp. Mocking.

"Cute speech. You practice that in the mirror before you followed me?"

His jaw clenched slightly.

I leaned in. "You believe in me?" I scoffed. "Where was that loyalty when I needed it? Where was that spine when your twin had a gun in my face like I was a fucking intruder in my own room?"

His expression flickered. Just enough for me to see the crack underneath the cold.

I stepped closer, not letting him escape the heat.

"No, seriously," I said, voice low and dangerous. "If you think I'm not an embarrassment, if you believe all this heartwarming Hallmark bullshit you're signing right now-then what the hell were you doing just standing there while Enzo pointed a loaded weapon at me like I was already a corpse?"

He opened his mouth, but I didn't let him answer.

"And don't even get me started on Nicolo," I growled. "When he had Amir tied up like some cartel flunky reenacting his favorite torture porn-you stood there. Silent. Cold. Like it wasn't happening in front of your damn face."

His eyes narrowed, and he finally signed something fast, hands sharp.

I didn't agree with them.

"Well whoop-de-fucking-do, Gino," I snapped. "Guess what? Neither did I. Still happened. Your silence didn't make it less real. You didn't agree? Good for you. You want a gold star or a spine?"

His nostrils flared. He stepped in, his height casting a slight shadow over me-but I didn't move. If he wanted to play the cold game, he'd lose.

"You don't get to play neutral when it's me they're ganging up on," I hissed. "You don't get to pretend you're the better one because you didn't pull the trigger. You watched. That's almost worse."

He signed, slower now.

I froze. I wasn't expecting it. I didn't know what to do.

"Oh, how original," I said. "You froze. Right. Like a deer in headlights. Except the headlights were pointed at me."

I didn't want to escalate it.

I barked a laugh. "News flash: your twins already escalated it. Enzo had a fucking gun to my head. Nicolo had punched Amir and tied him up. Escalation wasn't a risk, it was already the goddamn reality. And you stood there like a mannequin hoping someone else would blink first."

His face hardened.

"You say I'm not an embarrassment to this family," I said. "But when it mattered, you let them treat me like I was radioactive."

He said nothing. His silence suddenly less cold, more heavy.

"I bled for this family," I spat. "And when I needed someone, anyone to even raise a fucking eyebrow, you chose to disappear into the wallpaper. So spare me the pity act now. You're only here because it's convenient."

He looked away for a second. Like he didn't want me to see the flicker of shame behind his usual chill. But too late. I saw it.

Good.

"You can tell yourself whatever you want to sleep at night," I said. "But don't come to me saying you believe in me unless you're willing to fight for me when it actually counts."

I turned to go, because if I stayed another second, I'd put a hole in the nearest antique vase-and I didn't need Leonardo giving me another lecture about family property.

But before I could take two steps, Gino signed again.

I'm trying.

I stopped.

Not because it fixed anything.

But because-for once-it wasn't an excuse.

It was a confession.

I looked over my shoulder, one hand on my hip, expression like stone.

"Try harder."

Then I walked off, fury in my chest and fire in my bones, because I'd spent my whole life surviving these halls. And now, I was done surviving.

I was ready to start burning shit down.