Black and Grey | Book 1

C h a p t e r 4 7

Marcello's POV:

I turned around once I had heard that voice.
That voice that I hadn't heard in so long, yet it seemed so familiar and recognisable. There was only one person that voice belonged to.

Nicolàs Luciano.

"Marcello Russo. It's good to see you again my dear friend."
He didn't look that different. He had aged quite a bit, but he still quite recognisable. His eyes reminded me of Iris' eyes. They were truly one of a kind. He looked healthy, considering the fact that the last time I had seen him, he was on the verge of dying.
"Ah Nicolàs. It has been a long time, sí?"

He smiled and looked down at the floor before looking back up. He looked to side of the library and sighed.
"You've always hated this place." He commented and I cocked my head at him.
"Sí. I still hate it. Tell me, do you still come visit this place?" I asked him and he narrowed his eyes and nodded.
"Yes." He said and I shook my head.
"I never understood why you still lived here, even after what happened." I said and for a moment, I saw the slight bit of anger flash through his eyes.
"Marcello. This house. We've lived there since we were kids. You would spend more time over here than in your own house." He said and I sighed.
"That's true, but why did you try to bring Iris up in this house? Why did you still continue to live here even after what happened." I snapped and he looked down at the floor.
"You think that I wanted to live here too? I didn't. When we watched our family die in right in front of our eyes in this house, my mother was the last person alive. She made me promise that I would continue to live here. I don't know why she did. At first I thought she wanted to me to suffer Marcello. The constant trauma of me and you tied up in chairs while our family got slaughtered in front of us haunted me for years. I still think about it. I now know why my mother wanted me to continue to live here. This house, it's been passed down for many centuries throughout my family. There were happy moments and there were sad moments. My father was buried here. Sounds abnormal, but I guess that's just the Luciano family. I decided to bring up Iris here at first because I wanted her to know the happy memories our family has had, but I never got the chance to and I never will." He said, looking at the library now.

"You know you've always been a part of my family too Marcello." He said and I nodded.
"I don't regret making that promise to you. You saved my brother and sister during that war. I regretted the fact that I was not able to save any of your family. I owe you my life Nicolàs." I said and he nodded thoughtfully.

We were in silence for a while, both lost in our own thoughts, before he spoke up again.

"Iris. How is she?" He asked after a moment and I looked at him, not knowing what to say. I sighed in defeat again.
"I-"
"It's okay Marcello. I know what's happening. Your brother. He works for me. He lets me in on everything going on. I know about Iris. I've been keeping an eye on her all these years and on you too. I trust you and I don't blame you. However, I do have a plan. Take me to your villa." He said and I nodded in respect. We both started walking towards the car.

"And Marcello?"
"Yes?"
"You don't owe me your life. You're my brother, Marcello, blood or not."

                                ****

Iris POV:

"I have to go. Rico will be coming soon." Zara quickly stood up and I nodded. Everyday, when Rico has stepped outside to take care of other matters, Zara came in and talked with me. We reconciled our friendship again. I could see the sadness and the pain behind her eyes. She didn't want this life.
None of us did.
My heart ached for her. She didn't want to bring her baby up into this lifestyle. I wish that I could do something to help her, but I was pretty useless as I was tied to a chair.
After Zara had left, a few minutes later, Rico walked in with one of his men.
"Ah Iris. How are you?" He asked. I gritted my teeth in anger at him and didn't bother to respond. He smirked and let out a laugh.
"Trying to be tougher thank you actually are won't get you anywhere." He said and came forward and grabbed my hair in his fist. I let out a yelp in pain.
The door kicked open and in came in a man I didn't quite recognise.
"You would know all about that wouldn't you Rico." He laughed and Rico turned around in shock. I could hear gunshots in the background.
"Nicolàs Luciano?" He said and I froze. I stared at the man, a mix of emotions running through me.
M-my d-dad?
Before I could say anything his fell down to me. An emotion of some sort passed through him.
"I suggest you let go of my daughter Rico, before your head will be rolling to the corner of the room." He said and Rico released my hair, but stayed right where he was. He moved in front of me and crossed his arms.
"Nicolàs you must be mad if you think I'll be giving your daughter back to you. Imagine all the money I could get. Iris Luciano. The wanted girl." He said and Nicolàs raised an eyebrow.
"You must be mad then Rico, if you think that you're getting out of here alive." Nicolàs said.
Nicolàs raised his hand and shot Rico in the arm. Rico cursed and cradled his arm.
I didn't have time to think before everything turned to chaos. Nicolàs shot Rico again, but in the other arm this time. Sebastian burst in and straight away shot the other man who was about to attack Nicolàs.
Sebastian's eyes flew over to me and he quickly untied me. He helped me stand up as I had started to stumble, from not being able to walk around for a few days.

"Take her out of here!" Shouted Nicolàs in fury as him and Rico were in a serious fight. As Sebastian started to escort me out, Rico grabbed onto my leg and I fell down to the floor. More men appeared in the doorway, some of Rico's men and some of Nicolàs'. Sebastian got attacked and Rico yanked me back, sliding me across the concrete floor. I screamed in pain as my head got scratched against the hard concrete.

Rico wrapped an arm around me and held a gun to my head. I whimpered, not being able to do anything.
"Try get her now." Rico taunted Nicolàs. I made eye contact with my father, while tears streamed down my face. Rico pressed the gun harder to my head. Emotions ran through his eyes and my heart lurched in fear. A new side came over him and anger and rage possessed him. A gunshot went off all of a sudden and I was released. I gulped in fear and heard something drop behind me.
Rico had a gunshot in his head and had fallen to the floor. I jumped back from him and walked backwards, crying and a total mess.
I stumbled back into a body and turned around, frightened. It was Grayson.
"Iris." He said and hugged me close to him. I clutched his shirt and cried.
I suddenly heard a loud roar behind me. I turned around and saw Nicolàs go towards Rico's dead body. He took a knife out of his pocket and to my horror, started slashing Rico's dead body. I screamed in horror as he kept on continuing to stab him.
"You! You killed my family! You did this!" Nicolàs roared, his face showing no remorse, only vengeance.
"Iris, we need to go." Grayson demanded and tugged me up, but I was in shock and resisted him. I cried more and more and yelled at Nicolàs to stop, but he didn't.
He slashed Rico's face, dragging the sharp knife down the middle of his face. I threw up as I watched blood splatter everywhere. It splattered on the walls, on Nicolàs' face and on mine.
T-this was my f-father?
"Stop! Please stop!" I yelled as Grayson tried to drag me out.
"That's enough Nicolàs!" Marcello demanded, his voice loud and stern. Nicolàs paused and looked down at what was left of Rico's body. He glared at Marcello.
"He killed our family! His family killed ours! This is what he had done to our family while we had to watch!" Nicolàs screamed and went to slash Rico's body again.
"Dad! Please stop! Please." I cried out, my voice getting weaker and hoarser by the second. He froze and averted his eyes to me. He looked at the state of me and looked back down at Rico's body. Anger coursed through him again, but he dropped his knife and stood up. He didn't say anything and walked out the room.

I slumped down in pain, defeat and fatigue. Grayson's arms were still under mine and he sighed and held me closer. Marcello's eyes fell down to Rico's body and he grimaced. A few of his men appeared and he nodded at them.
"Clean it up. Make sure no one knows we were here." He said and turned to Grayson.
"Take her home. Sebastian come with me." He said and left with Sebastian in tow.

"Come on, let's go home." Grayson said and I let out a loud sob.

I felt so defeated. And tired. I just wanted to forget everything.

A/N:
Longer chapter today! I just wanted to quickly say that I AM SO GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR YOU GUYS. I love you all. Thank you for constantly showing me support even when I haven't updated in ages.
Also at the end of this book, I will be doing a Q&A, so please comment down any questions you guys have about the book or even about me. It can be about anything so please comment down questions!!!!!
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