Heartless Ending Book 3 of the Heartless Series

Chapter 37 - Stand Off

Emilia's POV

A flashback flickered brightly across my mind of the day I first heard them words. The day Carmela, myself and father went to the park to play while waiting for mother to come back with ice-creams. I was so scared to go down the big tunnel slide on my own that I froze at the top. An older boy taunted me from behind me shouting for me to hurry up but I couldn't the darkness I would be plunged into paralysed me, froze me in place while I looked into the black obis. He eventually pushed past me and took his turn while I just watched him disappear.

Carmela found me at the top of the wooden steps, tears in my eyes. "Emilia, what's wrong?" She questioned and immediately ran to my side and hugged me to her. "I can't go down there, I'm too afraid, then a boy pushed me out the way." Carmela pulled back from me with a soft smile on her face, and stroked my hair just as mother did when I was upset. "Do you want to go down together, we can fight everything just you and me. Know why?" I shook my head wiping away tears with the back of my hand. "Because we're sisters. Daddy always says family before all else." From then on we tackled everything together, we had no fear because we had each other.

"Don't you dare try to manipulate me with those words." I seethed while tightening my hold on my gun. "Emilia." Maxwell's voice registered over my hurt and pain, it was a warning to think about what I was about to do. Would I be able to live with myself if I killed my only living relative? Would I survive killing someone again? No, I wouldn't. I lowered my gun, steeling myself back into the cold fortress I had erected when it came to thinking or even talking about Carmela. I was still bitter forwards my sister.

"Fine, I won't kill you today, but mark my words it will not hesitate again." Anger still had a firm grip on my heart but I was thinking more clearly now than I ever were before. "Thank you." Carmela thanking me sent confusion rampant around my body. "What?" I questioned in disbelief. "You showed that I still mean something, somewhere in your heart. I can see you don't want me to be a part of your life but just know I'll never not be there if you need me. You are still my sister." I rolled my eyes at her useless blabbering.

I didn't do anything because she was in my heart, I did it to protect myself and Maxwell. This was a losing battle, if I shot her Romeo would shoot Maxwell and then it would be whoever reacted quicker between us two still standing and I didn't know who would win. No, best to wait and fight another day.

"We're leaving." Romeo commanded and grabbed the leather collar of my husband's signature jacket. "I don't think so." I trained my gun back to pointing at Carmela and stared at Romeo who also had a gun to Maxwell. This god damn stand off was back again, it was pointless to repeat previous situations, I had to change tactics. "How about a trade?" I smirked. "Emilia." Another warning from Maxwell, only louder this time and through gritted teeth. Although I was his queen I was still taught my place, and that was at the side of him but to do nothing without his ultimate permission. "What type of trade?" Carmela's voice hitched, her mind had probably gone straight to Luca, like I'd hoped. I wanted to see her hurt and in pain, but I didn't have the boy.

"I have someone you want?" I mused. "Who?" Romeo's booming masculine voice echoed around the open space. "Do you not want to guess?" I saw confusion knit his eyebrows together, but replaced his mask before asking again who I have to trade. "He's a man with blonde hair and blue eyes. Can you guess who it is yet?" Suspicion took over his eyes and I could see Maxwell inching closer to his gun concealed within his jacket at Romeo's distraction. "Don't you dare move?" Carmela's eyes glared at Maxwell's fingers getting closer to the butt of his gun. Romeo snapped out of his concentration and dug the tip of his gun harder into his head. "Enough games. Tell me now or I put a bullet in him." My eyes narrowed at Romeo's threat as he cocked his gun showing how serious he were. "Enzo or your mother. Your choice?"

"He's dead." Romeo snapped. "Like she were?" I pointed in Carmela's direction not wanting to say her name, she didn't deserve me acknowledging her. His eyes flicked between Carmela then back to me. "Is this true?" He shook Maxwell violently. "Yes." His breathing picked up at the possibility Enzo could still be alive. "Why should I trust you?" Another shake. "What's the point in lying." Maxwell admitted, utterly bored at where this was going but I knew him well and could tell he were angry.

"I want them both." Romeo stated, while forcing Maxwell to his knees much like what happened earlier with Carmela. "That's not the deal." I shook my head tsking his counter. "It is now."

Carmela's POV

I watched everything without saying a word, I saw what Romeo didn't, I saw what Emilia didn't and I knew Maxwell's concern for her. I could feel it, and I knew why. Pulling my gun I pointed it straight at my younger sister. My heart raged at myself for even committing such blasphemy. While my mind overrode my feelings and extended my arm to point the gun directly at her stomach. Maxwell bristled and froze at my action, confirming everything I thought.

Emilia while watching Romeo's confusion a little earlier and playing her game, softly placed her palm to her belly, and danced her fingers over the crisp white material of her shirt. "Romeo, it appears you have the wrong bate. Isn't that right Maxwell?" Maxwell sighed and dropped his head forward over his chest in defeat, reluctant to answer. "Yes."

"What is going on?" Emilia blazed. She doesn't know. "Emilia, your pregnant." Shock covered her face as she stared into Maxwell's face as he confessed it to her. "What??" He sucked in a hard breath. "You're doing the exact actions my mother did while distracted. Your rubbing and protecting your stomach." She quickly looked down at her hand and then back up to him. "I...I don't know what to say." Maxwell tried to stand but Romeo wouldn't let him, forcing his to stay on his knees. "I used to do the same thing too with Luca." I added not that she would care but I wanted her to know I was there if she wanted me.

"Doesn't stop you from threatening the child though, does it?" I had to laugh. A small chuckle soon turn to a full laugh. "Like you and your father did to mine. Except you ripped mine away from me." All the anger I felt over the years for that came flooding back in one. I was in such a rage I gripped hold of Emilia and held her in a choke hold pressing my gun to her belly hard. "Shall I do that to you?"

She whimpered under my control and I knew every emotion that would be running wild in her mind, but I didn't care. The revenge I was seeking emanated from every pore I had, soaking into her. "That wasn't me. That was him, that motherfucking murderer. He killed my sibling in the womb and killed my mother all at the same time, and for what? Because she refused him. You tell me where the fucking justice is for that?" Maxwell's face was a disturbing mix of red and purple, his veins popping predominantly out of his neck and temples and he sent spittle flying with every word. "He got everything that was coming to him, and more. And now he's gone, burned to nothing. Just like you will be if you kill them." Every word he spoke was with conviction, nothing held back only raw emotion and truth. "Then let my mother and Enzo go and she won't be harmed." Romeo snapped. His pain wasn't as raw as mine or Maxwell's but I knew he still regretted everything that happened that day.

I couldn't do it anymore, I couldn't let anyone no matter who they were go through what I did, it's something I wouldn't let my worst enemy go through. Well I hoped I wouldn't be that person. I let go of Emilia and stepped away from her. "Let him go. This is not the way." Romeo's muscles tensed in his arms, I could see the war that erupted within him. He desperately wanted his mother safe and now he wanted Enzo, his brother just as much. "She's safe, nothing ever happened to her again once Stefano was killed. You have my word. She saved me in so many ways, I forbid anyone to touch her again." Emilia's anger from earlier had completely gone, she was to caught up in the fact that she were pregnant and scared for everything that would happen to even care about anything else.

Romeo's eyes bore soul binding acceptance to my actions that he released Maxwell from his hold. As soon as he were released he scrambled to his feet and ran to embrace Emilia. He held her cheeks tightly and rested his forehead to hers in relief for both their safety. They just stared into each other's eyes, the love that was transmitted back and forth was beautiful. I felt like I was trespassing on their intimate moment and dropped my eyes to the ground, before walking towards Romeo and pulling him away from the scene.

"Come to the compound tomorrow, you can collect them after we talk business." Maxwell shouted but never moved from Emilia.