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"Wake up!"
I cough violently as something wet splashes against my face. I try to blink the liquid away and a stone room comes into view.
Something moves quickly in front of me as my vision steadies.
“Again.”
More liquid hits me in the face and I feel some of it get into my mouth. Warm and dirty tasting water.
“She’s up,” A voice mutters and I hear footsteps come near. “Should I do it again?”
"No, that's enough."
I try to focus on the figure in front of me and squint against the harsh lights to see an elderly man walking towards me. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zxQNdQ3nM
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He tips his fedora in my direction and leans closer towards me. A cigar hangs on the edge of his lips and he smells strongly of whiskey.
“Sweet, young Olivia.”
“W-who are you?” I stammer out.
He steps back and smiles. He has to be at least in his late 70’s or 80’s. He’s basically all wrinkles and his hair is nearly all silver except for a few black strands mixed in.
His smile widens to show his yellowing teeth. “I’m so happy I’m finally meeting you.”
"Who are you?"
“My boy never introduced me,” He says and clicks his tongue. “Adolfo Romano. Pleasure to meet you, darling.”
It never really hit me that I’d never met Alessio’s dad. I assumed with him being the don it wasn’t going to happen anyways. I’d heard about him a few times through the house but he was almost like a phantom to me or just a name. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeldO0goG7
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Putting a face to him felt so surreal.
He puffs oh his cigar, “A little star struck?”
He moves towards me again and blows a cloud of smoke towards my face. I cringe away from his closeness and cough. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsgyNFci3o
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A figure near him moves closer to us and I see the edge of a gun through the shadows.
“What do you want?” I cry out and try to rock against my restraints.
You’d think I’d be some kind of escape artist by this point.
“Well, you see…”He starts and looks back at someone. “It’s more what I need from you, dear. Your family is unfortunately the cause of my late wife’s death and my dear boy, Alessio, well he just can’t seem to learn what is best for him and this family.”
“I have nothing to do with that!”
He nods and his dark eyes run over me. “I’m aware of that but revenge is necessary at this point, darling. I should’ve taken care of this when we had the chance.”
“I don’t understand…”
“We’ve met before, dear.” He smiles again. “I’m sure my brother filled you in.”
I think back again to that night in New York when Tobias attacked me. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbJ3plw6qW
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There had been a second man in the shadows with a heavy Italian accent. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu5cDOcQ34
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It was him. Adolfo had really hunted me down at the same of twelve to avenge his wife. I was an easy target and I usually was always walking alone at night from the shop or school. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hTr4DyoLZ
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Who knows how long they’d been watching. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPXkA0kI5X
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Mom always stayed home but my dad had been working from our home office for almost a year at this point. I could’ve been dead at any moment. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0pScRfGaT
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I had been living for years with a target right on my family.
He continues, “Forgive me, dear. It’s just how this life works and it seems your father decided to wrap you and your mother up in this. So selfish of a man to try and hide his past from his loved ones knowing how deceitful his own father was.”
“Your guards killed my grandfather that day. Isn’t that your revenge right there? He didn’t get away with it.” I plead with him. “I’m so sorry for what they did, but my family doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
“You can’t even imagine how painful it was, “He explains and looks down at the ground. “I should’ve been there for my wife knowing how bad things had gotten with the Kuzentsov mafia. I never expected Edgar to grow some balls and initiate a full-blown attack on my estate. That was my own mistake, but he only lost his life. Your father still was there to assist in her murder and then run back to his perfect family.”
“He didn’t…”I start and shake my head. “My father didn’t just let it go...I’m sure it ate at him every day.”
“He had no consequences...until now.” He glares at me. “The Kuzentsov family knew the murder of the Sicilian mafia’s wife would give them the upperhand. It would unleash a full war for years to come...he wanted the control of the ports, weapons, money. He needed the advantage.” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF93IvJO1QB
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“An advantage?” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNiT1xnz2h
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“This is a business, Olivia,” He explains. “Edgar and I started having some differences and he figured he’d take the opportunity to push himself further and gain the control he clearly desperately wanted in Sicily over my territory.” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyFncyf6I7
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“So...this happened because you had a fight with him?” I roll my eyes. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwlhZOQI67
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He glares at me and before I realize what’s happening I feel something whip across my face. Adolfo pulls his hand away and smiles widely.
“Knock the little attitude off,” He spits out. “It had nothing to do with a fight, girl. It had everything to do with who was going to be the top in this business.” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgHPCRW117
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He leans closer and a snarl creeps across his face. “How do you feel knowing your precious father killed your boyfriend's mother? Doesn’t that eat at your core?”
I feel tears fill my eyes. “I’ll never hate him, Adolfo. I know Alessio wouldn’t hold this against him either.”
“Are you so sure?” He taunts and his cigar gets closer to my cheek. “What if Alessio hates you too? You are the daughter of a murderer.”
I close my eyes tight. “Shut up! If you’re going to kill me, just do it. Stop the mind games!”
“Oh, I will,” He muses and peaks behind him. “I’m just not ready yet.”
Tobias steps from the shadows and pulls Anna along with him. Her mouth is taped and she has blood smeared across her face and hair. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18W7fNr4pv
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From what I could tell Tobias also had a few scratches on him. Anna definitely put up a good fight.
I look back at Adolfo. “Anna has nothing to do with this!”
“I know,” He nods and grabs a chair from behind him. “Tie her.”
Tobias grabs Anna by the back of her hair and drags her to the chair next to me. I watch as she struggles with him and tries to fling her head back towards his nose. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZvXf3Qdpn
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He groans out in pain and pulls her harder by the back of the head as he shoves her into the chair. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8ALKxZcgm
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He moves to quickly tie her to the back but loses his balance when Anna kicks out her tennis shoe and nails him right in the chest.
“Bitch!” He groans out and slaps her hard across the face. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4K9wwqKoV
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Anna glares back at him through the pain as he finishes securing her feet to the legs.
Adolfo smiles warmly at her. “Your mother would be proud of you my dear.”
She continues to stare at him as he moves closer to her and leans in close.
“I’ll miss you all,” He says sadly and touches her hair. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, but it’s just business, darling.”
“What is your plan here then?” I snap and draw his attention. “Kill me and your children? For what reason?”
“Not that it’s your business, but my children have betrayed me.” He says simply and walks back towards Tobias. “They let you into our lives. A traitor.”
“They didn’t know about my family!”
“I’m an old man, Olivia,” He explains and pulls his gun out to admire it. “I need something fresh and Alessio just isn’t going to work out. My brother here was always pulling through for me over the years, he has shown true dedication and leadership.”
Tobias nods a little and smiles over at him proudly.
“Tobias has risked more for me than any of my children have. He has put himself on the line time and time again.”
“So you’ll kill your children? All because of my family and because I know who you are?”
He sighs,” They sealed their own fate, child. They should’ve killed you from the beginning. You’ve been such a risk to this family and have ruined quite a few plans I had in mind.” He chuckles darkly. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV59MZj7Av
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“Alessio should’ve been punished for his betrayal, but instead he drug his siblings and cousin into his bullshit.”
“Why not just tell them about Tobias then and send them away? I’ll cut all ties if it means saving their lives.”
He smiles and kneels down before me. “I like my plan better.”
I felt a chill creep along my spine. Hearing him talk about the murder of his children so easily really proved that he had no remorse for the death of them. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyQ4sScq7V
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He would relish in it.
"Let's get to it," Adolfo nods and motions for Tobias to step forward. "Anna first."
I look over at Anna in terror and our eyes meet. She gives me a little nod and looks back up towards Tobias as he closes in on her.
This was it. There was no way out of this. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaoWmF6gJo
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“I’m so sorry, Anna.” I whisper brokenly and look away.
"Wait!" A new voice calls out. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdArsgezL4
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We all look up to see Mateo step out from the darkness and head towards us quickly. Just as he reaches Adolfo, I realize someone else has stepped out from behind Tobias with a gun drawn. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9nFUNrLPW
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Michele glares back at his brother and both of them raise their guns at one another.
"This is fucking insane! What is happening?" Mateo snaps. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59nLfVEhRK
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Michele continues to stare back at him. "I told you! Listen brother, this really is the best thing for us." 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDATq95Brs
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"This? THIS! For 75% of the investment. You did this for money!?" He says frantically and looks over at Anna and I. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMacMlon98g
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“Shut up!” Adolfo stops them and laughs. “This is not the time to argue. We need to handle matters here, men." He turns towards his brother. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfBqxN06Ns
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“Tobias?”469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBENstIhyJi
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He looks back at Anna. “If I do it...you promise the deal is done?” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tzFDGHp1o
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“A deal is a deal,” Adolfo nods his head. “Don’t forget Daniel and Susan Moore. I want them both dead this time.” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyWhgZ9fWj
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“Understood.” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe77EHk0Slf
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He takes a step towards Anna and rips the tape from her mouth. She coughs a mixture of spit and blood on the floor. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16SPmTn33e
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“You’re all fucking insane! What is wrong with you all!?” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27CiBJQQ77
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"Business, Anna. This is all the best for the family. I wanted you to be there right alongside us, but you all failed. You let an outsider into our world and you all knew what Alessio had done." Adolfo explains. "It's best for Tobias to take over."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmXsP7LYdT
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“Alessio will fucking kill you before you get the chance!” She argues. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MfmVa6jnz
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“Shut up!” Tobias snaps and kicks her chair. She topples over and hits the ground hard. “Michele!” He turns back towards him. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgAulF9ciL
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“Get this shit done.”
He steps forward a little hesitant as if he didn’t expect Tobias to pass the task off to him. He looks over at us and something shifts in his expression. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC4htWC0TQ
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I couldn’t figure out if it was remorse for what he was about to do or not. He didn’t look like the man I had met before. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAycueTPkuJ
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His eyes were dark and he seemed so far away.
“Michele! You know this is bullshit, right?” Anna shakes her head and laughs.
"I need this, Anna!" Michele says with almost no emotion. "I'd actually be second in command and the increase is worth it. I know you don't understand but the family needs this. Plus...Tobias is his only true blood brother. It only makes sense.”
"How did we not know? How could you hide this?"
Tobias speaks up. "It took years for us to even know. Our father wanted Adolfo to take over so he took him one night from mom and left me. I spent years living a normal life and studying medicine. When Adolfo finally showed up and offered me a job, I accepted it. I wanted to know him...we wanted to have the relationship we had ripped from us as children.
"So why not Mateo or Michele? They've been here. If you didn't want Alessio, why wouldn't you pick who has been working under you for over twenty years now and is still family?" Anna argues.
"Tobias has done more for this family than you can imagine," Adolfo begins. "He's been working for me in secrecy outside the clinic for over ten years now. I make the decisions, daughter. I wanted Alessio to step up but his disloyalty to keeping our family secret and safe is broken."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAthDcAPV3
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"You're fucking sick!" Anna yells at him.
"Well, my dear, it's really been a pleasure." He says simply. "Michele please don't waste more time."469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqxTg6PFYZ
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Michele takes a step closer to her and raises the gun. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡongVpHAggw
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"I'm sorry.”
“No!” She cries out. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukyB1bSRDN
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I try to look away from the scene as the tears continue to pour down my face. There’s a loud bang that erupts through the room and I brace myself for the next one meant for me. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbv6uzwTAp0
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I can hear a mixture of yelling and gunfire again as the room grows louder with the chaos. I start to panic and barely can hear myself scream over the ringing in my ears. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjNLclJtmj
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Something grabs me and shakes me hard.
“Olivia!”
I hesitantly open my eyes and find Alessio in front of me. His dark eyes roam over my body for any wounds.
I look past him and realize Tobias, Michele, and Tobias are gone. Mateo is leaning against a pillar and looks to be injured in his left shoulder.
I look to the chair at my right and realize Anna is gone.
“Where is she?!” I panic.
“They took her,” He says as he cuts the ropes at my wrists. “I shot Michele in the hand and they fired back. Adolfo tried to use Anna as a shield he knew I wouldn’t hurt her.” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmad5UAsVrB
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“Mateo?” I ask him softly. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SjoozVfcd
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He looks over his shoulder. “He jumped in front of the bullet when Michele fired back.” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgqzrZkCVe
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Mateo looks up at him and smiles weakly. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPEIdoBK1w
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“You didn’t have to risk yourself like that,” Alessio says to him. “We need to get you to the clinic.” 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI3bJSJAPa
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“I couldn’t let them kill either of you,” Mateo says and cringes from the pain. “I’m so sorry this is happening, Alessio.”
Alessio nods in his direction and helps me to my feet. His arms wrap around my waist tightly and I melt into his familiar embrace. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLGpyladAh
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“We need to find Anna,” I say into his chest. “They are going to kill her.”
He tilts my chin up towards him. “I won’t let her die, Olivia.”
“Do you know...everything?” I ask him sadly. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlPr0OQzqa
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I feel my heart swell in my chest at the thought of Alessio hating me for what my father helped my grandpa do. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EwOX5kTyU
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I wouldn’t blame him though. I apparently had a dark family history too.
He smiles down at me and kisses my cheek. “We’ll talk later, love.”
I nod and grab onto his hand. The two of us turn to find Mateo trying to tie a poorly ripped piece of fabric around his upper arm.
“Clinic,” Alessio points at him and lets go of my hand. “Take Olivia with you.”
“No!” I beg and pull him backwards. “Let me go with you! I can help.”
“Olivia,” He cradles my face. “I can’t put you at risk, love. I'll be okay, I promise. I have to get moving, this underground level is massive and they could be anywhere by now.”
“I’ll take her with me,” Mateo promises him. “Let me know when you find Michele.”
“I’m sorry if I have to kill him.”
“He’s a traitor...they all are.” Mateo responds. His voice is full of hurt.
“I’ll do everything I can to win him back,” Alessio promises and grabs onto Mateo’s good side. “You can count on me.”
Alessio pulls away and pulls me back to him again. His mouth finds my own immediately and I feel my own tears spilling down my face as we kiss each other hard.
I didn’t like this kiss though. It felt wrong. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN9ocDVVUK
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Our embrace was full of pain and uncertainty. I didn’t know his fate. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9RGsfn4ZQ
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This could be the time Alessio didn’t return to me. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAarfUJvU49
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This felt like a goodbye.
“Please be safe.” I whisper against his lips.
He pulls away and rests his forehead against my own. 469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4nEU91ZJi
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“I love you, Olivia.”
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