Silence And Submission (Editing)

Accused 2

"Yes. They are mine," I said, reaching out to take them. "But I couldn't find them today."

"You must have dropped them?" Uncle Paulo said. It was a statement but he made it sound questioning and I began to worry. What was he implying?

"No. They were on my bedside table when I went to bed last night."

"Are you sure?" Mama asked.

Of course I was sure. Why would I lie?

"Yes. But I couldn't find them this morning."

Mama's shoulders slumped and she rubbed her forehead.

"Irene," she sighed.

What? What did I do?

Uncle Vincentè stood from the couch and run his hand through his short brown hair.

"Irene might be a bit dumb and naive, but she isn't a murderer. That I know," he said.
I was shocked. Uncle Vincentè just stood up for me.

"Fuck this, Vincentè. She's the only suspect we have and I know she's been seeing Antonio behind our backs," uncle Paulo said.

Mama walked to me and stopped right infront of me. Her face was blank.

"Is what he is saying true?" She asked.

"I met him once. Then he snuck into my room..."

She hit me with the back of her hand. I felt the sting of her diamond ring on my cheek. Slowly, I raised my hand to my left cheek and gingerly touched it. She slapped me. She had never hit me before.

"How dare you? How dare you consort with the enemy?"

"I am sorry," I said.

"I still stand by what I said. Irene is incapable of murder. She's just a stupid little girl," uncle Vincentè said. He turned to uncle Paulo with a frown on his face.

"You have something to say?"

Uncle Paulo stood and sighed.

"It pains me to say this but," he turned to me, "where were you before breakfast this morning?"

I bit my lip and clenched my hands. I was done for.

"I was outside grand papa's room."

Uncle Vincentè sighed and run his hand down his face.

"An eye for an eye. Blood for blood. I invoke the code of the De Laurentis," uncle Paulo said.

"Paulo," uncle Vincentè started, "we can't kill her. It's too harsh a punishment."

"She killed our father," uncle Paulo yelled. "Doesn't that count for something?"

"We don't know that for sure. Besides, we don't spill the blood of family."

Uncle Paulo eyed his brother dangerously.
"That is why grand papa chose me to be his successor. You are too weak," he spat.
He drew out his gun and pointed it at me.
"What does it matter if one traitor dies?"

I stood trembling. Was this the end?

"Uncle Paulo, please...," I started.

"Don't fucking beg. You are the daughter of Alberto De Laurentis and Antoinette De La Fontaine. You will not beg. I did not raise a coward."
She pushed me out of the way and into Lucas' arms.

When did he get here? He had a gun pointed at uncle Vincentè.

"You will place your gun aside and stand down, Paulo," she said.

"This is mutiny," he growled.

"It's worse than that. I'm ready to kill. Stand down or die. Either way my daughter and I are walking out of here alive."

"She's a traitor."

"She's my daughter. No body threatens her with death but me. I brought her into this world, and only I will take her out of it."

"Vincentè..,"

"Vincentè won't do a fucking thing. Stand down, Paulo."

"Get out of here! You and that bitch of yours."

Mama waved her gun around.
"I intend to. But you are going to lead us out. Walk."

Uncle Paulo led the way with his hands raised as we walked out of the room and out of the house.

I could see the other guards slide their hands to their guns. But a look from uncle Paulo stilled their movements. 

I was pushed into a waiting black car and mother slid in next to me while Lucas sat in the front seat.

"The only reason, I allow this car to drive out of my territory is because of the memory of my dead brother and the sanity of Vincentè. That idiot is still obssessed with you," uncle Paulo said. "But next time we meet, and we will meet again, I will kill you. Mark it on the wall."

The car drove away and I stared at the quickly fading mansion where I spent my childhood.

"Where are we going," I asked mama.

"I don't know," she said.

"I didn't..."

"I know," she interrupted me.

"Thank you for believing me," I said.

"You are my daughter. It's my responsibility to trust you."

"What next?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "I don't know."

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