"If you live long enough," I mutter quietly enough so he doesn't hear when another coughing fit takes over. I realize I'm being vicious, but I'm programmed to hate this man who took everything away from me. Yet, I find myself curious about his intentions. Why the hell does he care about me? He wants me dead, after all. Finally, it dawns on me. "Oh, I get it now."
"Get what?"
"You want my brother," I hiss. "And Vitto. You're not done wiping us out of Sicily, you sick monster."
He laughs out loud. "I know where they are, Marzia. And I also know about the little letters your maid delivers to them."
I pale.
"Don't worry," he goes on. "I won't tell Adrian."
"But why—"
"Because I'm the only one old enough and wise enough to see the bigger picture here." He shrugs. "You'll understand someday, Marzia. You will understand why the events that happened since your birthday had to happen the way they did."
"If you're trying to excuse the fact that you killed my parents, you're not fucking succeeding."
"Such a smart mouth…" He laughs. "No, my dear, I'm well aware you won't forgive me for that. But trust me when I say, I did it for your own good. Now, I have a couple more questions for you before I leave."
"What?" I eye him cautiously. If nothing else, his behavior has surprised me. He doesn't seem as dead set on killing me as he was just a few days ago.
"Does Adrian make you happy?"
I stare at him, contemplating my answer. I can't explain it in simple terms because I don't even know the answer myself. Or perhaps I'm just not ready to come to terms with my own feelings. "Sometimes," I answer slowly. "But he also makes me scared, angry and bitter."
"You should lean into your positive emotions," Bernardi suggests. "You two can offer great support to one another in times of need."
"Well, all your son has done so far is torture me," I hiss. "And I can say the same for you."
"Don't be so negative. Look at it from a different perspective and remember what I told you. It had to happen this way to get the outcome we all want."
"Which is?" My brows shoot up.
Bernardi merely chuckles. "Unfortunately, you'll have to wait and see. I'm sorry I can't quench the thirst for answers right now, my dear, but trust me, it will work out the way it should."
"With me dead?"
He merely laughs and rises from the chair. "I'll bid you goodbye now, Marzia."
"Goodbye," I mutter harshly, glaring at him as he makes his way out of the room.
He hesitates with his hand on the door handle, looking at me over his shoulder. "Marzia, I'm sorry your parents had to die."
His words shock me and I stare at him, trying to see a trace that he's lying.
Bruno's face is open and honest. "Please understand spilling blood is not the way I choose to get things done. But what must be done, must be done. And I believe you'll forgive me."
"If you believe that, you're a fool," I seethe.
He offers me a sad smile, followed by a short nod. "I deserve that. I'll see you soon, Marzia." He exits, locking the door from the outside again.
I only notice then my hands have formed fists and my nails are digging into my palms painfully, reminding me this man is the enemy.
For a moment there, I almost forgot what he did. That he fucking killed my parents before my eyes, murdered them in cold blood. Bruno Bernardi is a fool if he truly believes I'll ever forgive him.
I notice he left behind a handkerchief with his initials, and when I pick it up from the coffee table, I realize it's speckled with blood.
No matter what lies Bernardi has fed me, I know there's something else going on, something not even Adrian is aware of. No healthy man would cough up so much blood.
Bruno Bernardi is sick.
And there's no fucking way in hell I'm going to help him. The bastard deserves to die for what he did to my family. All sins must be paid for in blood—and Bernardi is paying for his already.
19
Adrian
I need to get away from Marzia Da Costa. Being near her is making me fucking insane.
After we slept together, I snuck out of her bedroom in the early morning, knowing I wouldn't be able to resist her if I stay behind. Still, guilt threatens to consume me as I walk down the empty hallways of the Estate. I'm not only running from Marzia, I'm running from what we could be together, and it's fucking painful as hell to leave her behind.
Still, my father's words are playing in my head, reminding me Marzia isn't the one I'll end up with. I've already fucked up by not telling her about my bride-to-be, Nicoletta. I need to get my head fucking straight. I need to go to the Carlucci Villa again.
My driver loads up some of my luggage and I stare out of the window silently as we drive away from my father's estate. It feels fucking painful leaving her behind, as if I'm being separated from my own being. I grit my teeth together, my nails digging into the palms of my hands. I don't want to leave Marzia. I don't want Nicoletta. But I need to follow my father's wishes.
The car pulls up in front of the Carlucci home hours later. They aren't expecting me, and I have no idea whether they'll even let me in.
A flabbergasted maid leads me through the tacky, opulent house to Gustavo's office.
He calls for me to enter the room. "Bernardi!" He stands up, buttoning his jacket and regarding me with curiosity. "Couldn't stay away any longer, could you?"
"I... Yes, well." I avoid answering his question. I'm sure my father-in-law-to-be wouldn't appreciate knowing I'm running away from the girl I just fucked, months before my wedding with his daughter. "I hope it's okay I came."
"Okay? More than okay." Gustavo laughs heartily, rounding his desk to clap me on the back. "I take it you missed my daughter, then."
I can't even fucking come up with an answer. Instead, I manage a smile as he invites me to sit down at his desk. "How are things with my brother?" I ask. "Has he been watching out for Nicoletta?"
"Of course, he's taking his job very seriously." Gustavo nods. "Neither of us have anything to worry about while Ryder is here, I'm certain of that."
"Good. I won't be staying long, just a few nights."
"I'll have the maids prepare a room for you," Gustavo says. "You will see Nicoletta at dinner, of course, but I will also arrange some private time for the two of you together."
"Thanks."
He winks at me. "I know how much you two lovebirds must be craving some privacy."
I don't answer, knowing if I speak up, I'll betray my true feelings. I don't care about Nicoletta. All I care about is doing what father wants and staying away from Marzia while figuring out how to save her life and end up with her at the same time...
After I leave Gustavo's office, I head to the room they've set up for me to stay in. Taking a long shower, I wash off my sins from the previous night. My mind is filled with images of Marzia and I struggle to think of anything or anyone else. She has well and truly fucked with my head to the point where I can't even bring myself to think of Nicoletta—even though I'm scheduled to meet her in the Carlucci gardens in just an hour.
I get ready for my day, wondering why I haven't run into Ryder yet. Then, I set off for the gardens.
Nicoletta is late, and when she comes strolling into the rose garden, she looks a little disheveled. Still, there's no denying the fact the girl is fucking stunning. Still, I feel nothing. My heart doesn't race, my cock doesn't harden, and my mind doesn't shift away from Marzia. I groan inwardly, greeting Nicoletta with a tense smile as I say, "Good to see you again."
"Yes." She nods daintily. "It's a wonderful surprise."
We stand there staring at one another in uncomfortable silence. Finally, I point to the gardens. "Shall we take a walk?"
"Of course."
We walk through the gardens after I offer her my arm. It's shocking Gustavo's letting me be alone with the girl, but I guess he trusts me—to his own detriment. He shouldn't fucking leave me alone with his daug
hter. Had there been no Marzia, I'd be pulling down Nicoletta's panties already.
"Have you been enjoying the wedding preparations?" I ask as we walk. “Have you had a lot to do?”
"Nothing big yet," she admits. "Papa wanted to wait for confirmation from your father."
I furrow my brows at the sound of those words. It's strange that Father wouldn't approve the engagement right away…the whole thing was his idea, after all. But I don't mention any of this to Nicoletta, preferring to sweep all our family secrets under the rug.
"Are you going to ask me officially?" Nicoletta blurts, blushing when I look at her. "Is that why you're here? To propose?"
"No," I admit, expecting her to look crushed. To my surprise, though, my bride-to-be looks almost... relieved.
"Then why are you here?"
"I needed to get away from someone."
"A woman?" She seems genuinely interested.
I know I shouldn't be confiding in her and yet, I find myself eager to tell her every last, sordid detail. "Yes." I finally nod.
"The one who gave you the ring?"
"Si."
"Are you in love with her?" Nicoletta asks, not looking too bothered by my reluctance to answer.
"Let's not go there," I mutter, dodging the question. "What about you? Have you been in love before?"
"Maybe," she says, nodding. "Yes, definitely. But let's not go there."
We share a companionable smile. Something tells me my bride is about as eager to marry, as I am—not at all.
"But if you agree, I'd like to keep this game of ours going," I go on. "Let's pretend I asked you already while we figure out what to do, okay?"
"Yes." She nods. "That's a good idea."
"Perfect. Let's head back to the house."
For the rest of the day, we share secret glances that her father must mistake for love struck antics… they're anything but. I see Nicoletta at dinner again along with my brother Ryder who's unusually short with me. I pay it no mind, paying my respects by staying for dinner before I set off back home.
"I hope your visit has been enjoyable," Gustavo tells me with a wide grin. "I know Nicoletta has enjoyed having you here."
"Of course." I nod politely. "I'll be heading back home after dinner."
"Nonsense." My future father in law shakes his hand in dismissal of my words. "You will be spending the night. It's the least I can do as a good host."
Before I can speak up, the man goes on, "I also have a surprise for you, Adrian."
"Oh?" My brows shoot up. What the fuck is it now? More complications? I barely just got Marzia out of my mind. I hope Gustavo hasn't found out about her...
"I'm sending Nicoletta back with you tomorrow." Gustavo smiles proudly. "She will spend the two months before your wedding with you."
My jaw fucking drops then I glance at Nicoletta.
She looks as crestfallen as I am. Chuckling nervously, she says, "Papa, you didn't tell me anything about this."
"I knew you'd be thrilled," Gustavo says, sounding proud of himself.
The man's utterly fucking clueless. He has no clue his happy couple wants different things. Or rather, different people.
"Papa, but I-I have things to do here. I'm not ready to say goodbye." Nicoletta's bottom lip wobbles.
Something tells me those puppy eyes she's throwing at her father have worked for her before.
"You will have to say goodbye tonight," Gustavo says with finality.
"What about my things?" Nicoletta insists, glaring at him. "My kittens, my books... I haven't packed up anything..."
"I'm sure your husband will supply a new wardrobe." Gustavo smirks. "As for the kittens... They don't belong in a house like this. We'll have to get rid of them."
"What?" Placing her hands on the table, Nicoletta shoots up. "Papa, please, let me keep one—"
"They can go to the maids." Gustavo waves his hand. "It doesn't matter. You're leaving with Adrian tomorrow."
I'm shocked by his sudden cruelty. It makes me wonder whether he's always shown such a hot and cold attitude toward his daughter. It must've fucked her up.
Nicoletta storms out of the room.
Gustavo continues to calmly drink his grappa and my brother sits there with his fists clenched.
"Ah," Gustavo mutters, setting his glass down. "Da Costa grappa. My fucking favorite. Have you heard what happened to them?"
I glance at Ryder. How much should I reveal?
My brother gives me a barely perceptible nod.
Gustavo grabs my arm and offers me a glass of grappa to toast with. "Think it's a damn shame about all those people," Gustavo says. "But especially about the girl. They said she's gone. Disappeared. She was a sexy one, that Marzia."
My mouth sets in a thin line. Is he fucking playing me, making guesses? I force myself to keep my lips pressed together. I can't reveal Marzia is my prisoner, much less tell this man I'm going to slit his fucking throat if he doesn't stop talking shit about my woman.
"If I ever got my hands off her, she'd never be as pretty." He smirks. "I like leaving little mementos. Something to remember me by."
My vision darkens.
Ryder stands up and claps a hand on my back. "Well, I think it's about time we took a walk, brother. I need to speak to you before you leave tomorrow."
"Of course," I get out through gritted teeth, forcing myself to smile at Gustavo. "If you'll excuse us."
My brother leads the way as we walk out to the quarters they've assigned him. Everything here is so damn gaudy and expensive. Ryder's room looks like something in a hotel that someone with no taste decorated.
"Is Gustavo always like this?" I demand as soon as Ryder closes the door and locks it.
"Unfortunately," he grits out. "The man's mood swings by the second and Nicoletta usually bears the brunt of it."
"She's an only child, right?"
Ryder nods. "He dotes on her as much as he punishes her. It's hard to witness most of the time."
"Have you gotten to know her well while you've been staying here?"
My brother's face darkens even more. "Not that well."
His behavior makes me wonder what he's hiding. "But is she a good person?"
He hesitates before nodding. "She is a good girl."
"Are you coming back with us tomorrow?"
"No," Ryder says. "Gustavo wants one of us to stay here. Collateral."
"In case of..."
"You fucking up with Nicoletta." Ryder shrugs.
"Fucking up how?"
"Not marrying her?" Ryder stares me down. "You are still planning on marrying her, right?"
"Don't worry about it," I mutter. "Either way, I have to take her back with me. I just don't know what the fuck I'm going to do with Marzia. The two of them under the same roof...You just know it won't end well."
"Just keep them separate." Ryder shrugs. "And don't fuck them both."
"Trust me, I have no intention of that," I mutter. "I'm sorry you have to stay behind. I'll make sure nothing bad happens."
"I can take care of myself."
I look at my brother, trying to see him without a biased point of view. He's tall now, as tall as I am, and he's grown up. He's handsome—he's had as many women as I have at least. But there's something different about him, something I can't quite explain.
Something tells me if I ask him, he won't tell me the truth about this sudden change.
20
Marzia
I've been waiting only for a day. The next morning, I see a limousine pulling up in front of the house. Adrian exits the car and buttons his blazer while I hide with my back pressed against the wall, so he won't notice me prying, hidden in the curtains at my window.
I don't want him to have the satisfaction of knowing I've been waiting for him. He would be so smug if he knew the effect he already had on me. I tried so hard to resist at first, but now all of that's gone out of the window. I need him. I crave him. I can't be without him. I tell myself as long as he doesn't
find out, I'll be fine. And I can hide it. Well... I can at least try.
I have to.
Since he left yesterday, I've completely shifted from my passion-crazed person. The fact that I begged for him to come inside me is far away from my mind now, because he chose to put this distance between us. I didn't ask him to leave. He decided to go all by himself, which makes it especially hurtful.
Waiting for Eleanora to show up, I start to sketch again. This time, my inspiration takes me to my past and I sketch out a scene from the docks where I first met Adrian. I remember that day so clearly, as if it just happened. But a lot has changed in the decade that's passed. I can never trust Adrian or myself again. Not after we slept together... And I just let it fucking happen. I didn't even try to stop him.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I peel my back away from the wall as my maid enters the room.
"Is he back?" I breathe. "Did he come? Is he alone? Did he miss me?"
Eleanora smiles tersely.
I can tell there's something off.
But she can't tell me. Instead, she shoves another letter into my hands.
The paper holds my brother's handwriting. Right now, I don't care about the letter. I'm too obsessed with Adrian to care about my brother's news. I stuff it in my pillow to read later, ignoring Eleanora's advice to chuck it in the fireplace. I go back to the window to look at Adrian again, but the driveway is empty now. I wonder when he will come see me.
I wait and wait, but he doesn't show up.
Hours later, Eleanora appears with a cream card on a silver platter.
I tear through the envelope to read it as fast as I can.
I'm back. I'll see you at dinner tonight. Eleanora will escort you downstairs. There will be guards, so don't try anything stupid. -A
My eyes widen as I read those words. He's actually going to let me have dinner with the family? I'm so desperate for human contact even the thought of seeing Bruno again, doesn't worry me. All that matters is that Adrian will be there and I won't be locked between four walls again.
I spend the rest of the day getting ready to head downstairs for dinner. Eleanora helps me with my makeup, hair and outfit, making sure I look as polished as I possibly can. I put on a scarlet red dress with a corset bodice and even spray some expensive perfume on my wrists and the back of my neck.
Adrian's Vengeance: A Dark Mafia Romance Page 12