by Serena Light
"Niccolo he was just doing his job!" Salvatore spoke over his screaming and struggling.
"No!" He exclaimed, pushing himself away from the two men. "His job was to look after your parents! Not her! Not fucking her! He took the bullet meant for her!" He pointed accusingly at Serafina.
"She is the reason my brother is dying in there! My mother won't live through the grief of losing her son! She killed them both!" Niccolo spat, shoving Salvatore aside as he stumbled, Alberto instantly going to his fallen figure, and neither one of them able to stop him when he suddenly gripped Serafina's arms hard, the girl looking up at him with wide and frightened eyes as his pale blue ones just looked at her with rage, each word feeling like a stab to her heart.
"You treated him like shit, after everything he did for you; you had the audacity to treat my brother less than the mud beneath your favorite Gucci shoes. You broke his heart, over and over and over and over and he never said anything." Niccolo seethed through gritted teeth, Serafina whimpering in his hold as her lower lip trembled. "And when he finally gets rid of your poisonous talons, you shove your way back into his life – just when he had begun to get better – and you kill him!"
"I-I didn't mean to..." Serafina whimpered, shaking her head at his words.
"The bullet was meant for you! It was meant to turn your brains into nothing but paint on the snow! And Alessio saves you! Like he's always done for the past 4-fucking-years, but this time, a simple injury didn't suffice now did it?" Niccolo's eyes were wide; his pupils turning into slits as he looked like a crazed madman with his ragged breathing and disheveled hair. "You just had to kill him, didn't you? First mentally, and then emotionally, and now physically!"
"And guess what Serafina," He shoved her roughly sending her stumbling before falling on her knees, just as three men gripped his shoulders. If my brother dies in there, my mother will never recover from the grief of losing her husband to your father and now her son to you. And if my family doesn't live, I won't either. You will have the blood of three people on your hands and I pray till my dying breath that it haunts your conscience."
"I-I-I..." Serafina stammered at a loss of words and clung onto her brother when he pulled her up.
"Now we're even." Niccolo shrugged off the three men trying to restrain him. "I killed your husband and you killed my brother in return, now there is nothing you can hold over us." He spoke with contempt in every word, walking away without a second glance.
"I-I didn't mean to..." The tears streamed down Serafina face as she looked up at her brother with a desperation that begged for him to understand. "I didn't mean for him to get hurt, I didn't want him to-"
"-Come here," Salvatore wrapped an arm around her shoulder, leading her down the hallway as she choked on her sobs, shaking so badly that he half carried her into an empty room.
Settling her on the bed, he closed the blinds and turned to watch his sister hug herself helplessly, rocking back and forth as whimpers slipped past her lips.
"I killed him," She sobbed, shaking her head and clutched onto herself. "I killed Alessio,"
"Serafina," Salvatore kneeled before her, her gaze down on the ceramic white tiles of the room. "Hey, look at me," He cupped her face, forcing her to look up at him.
"I killed him," She spoke hardly above a whisper, her vision blurring with the tears that flowed down her bloodied cheek.
"No, hey, listen to me," Her twin turned her gaze back to him when she began to look away. "You did not kill him, you didn't know that would happen, you didn't know Alessio was going to be with mom and dad, you didn't know there was a sniper waiting to shoot you, you didn't know, okay? It's not your fault."
"It is my fault," Serafina nodded numbly, looking at a spot over his head. "I should have known,"
"If anyone should have known, it should be me, okay?" Salvatore tucked a strand of matted hair behind her ear. "If anyone is to blame, then it's me for not having known. You had nothing to do with this, both Alessio and you are victims, neither one of you is at fault. Niccolo is hurting, okay? His baby brother is in there fighting for his life; and he is scared, okay? I would be like that too if I were in his place, alright? He's just scared," Her twin soothed, stroking the back of her head.
"Salvatore," Serafina looked into the blue eyes that were just like her own. "I'm scared too,"
"I know," He sighed in defeat, pulling her close and holding her head to his chest as she clung onto the back of his coat. "I know this is all very confusing and frightening, but I promise, I'll sort through it."
She had no idea how long she held onto her twin brother and silently wept into his shoulder, her heart aching like never before as her stomach churned like someone was twisting her insides. But the familiar fragrance of her brother's cologne and his presence eased her mind a little, her conscious knowing that if Salvatore is here, things would be dealt with.
After she had sufficiently calmed down and had the chance to clean up the blood, Salvatore took hold of her hand and led her out the room. Both of them finding the waiting room devoid of any stranger's face – besides the staff – as guards were posted around the room, Arsenio sitting beside a silent Niccolo who was staring off into space with Marco giving orders to a guard, her parents standing not too far away. Although there was an exception, there was a woman with pumpkin red hair and light hazel eyes seated beside Niccolo, clasping his hand in her lap as she sat silently, Serafina realizing that this was his fiancé, Carina.
"Mamma is coming here," Niccolo spoke to no one in particular, Serafina's breath hitching when her brother walked towards him, she wanted to stay as far away from his as possible, and here her brother was doing the exact opposite. "She couldn't breathe when I told her."
"I'll have my private jet pick her up and two men escort her here," Salvatore assured, Niccolo not even acknowledging his words.
She breathed a breath of relief when her eldest brother stood from his seat, taking her hand from Salvatore's and leading her towards their parents, Marco following close behind.
Neither one of her brother's said anything as Arsenio hugged her, rubbing her back before letting her go, allowing the 21-year-old to hug her as well, holding on longer and tighter since he hadn't seen her, given he was off to college and came to visit every once in a while.
"How are you?" Marco asked her gently, Serafina swallowing the lump in her throat and tried for a weak smile, but given the concern across her brother's face, it must have been more a grimace than anything. "That bad, huh?"
She didn't bother responding when her father pulled her into his side, draping an arm over her shoulder and placing a kiss on the top of her head, her mother holding her hand as a comforting gesture. And she was beyond relieved to have her family around her because that is all she needed at the moment.
They all watched as Salvatore stood from his place beside the older Romano and walked over to his family.
"What's the plan?" Arsenio asked the twin.
"Well, for a start, I would like it if you all would stay at the estate until the heat dies down," Salvatore began, both the oldest and youngest opening their mouths to protest before he cut them off. "I know it's inconvenient, but it's a safety measure. I haven't been able to assess the situation and I don't know how serious it is, but this arrangement would allow us all to sleep a bit better at night,"
He looked at all the faces one by one, seeing if anyone had an issue. "Are we agreed then?"
Nods passed around their little family as Salvatore gave a firm nod himself.
"Alright, other than that, it's best if you all head back now. You all must be exhausted given what mom, dad, and Serafina just went through, Marco you just landed this morning and Arsenio you just got off duty two hours ago. Go on back to the estate and rest up."
"What about you?" Marco asked the question on everyone's mind.
"Dad and I are going to stick around a little longer, ensure Myriam is here safely, maybe even stick around to hear about Alessio, but we're going to st
ay,"
"Let me stay with you," Serafina spoke up and moved away from her father's hold, everyone giving her incredulous looks as she ignored them all. "Please?"
"Serafina, you are the last person that should be here," Salvatore told her bluntly, the harshness of his words having her wince. "Niccolo blames you, his fiancé doesn't fancy you much either at this point, and God knows how the mother would react. They all know Alessio threw his life to save yours, and the tension is still too hot here, just go home, alright? I'll let you know what happens."
"He's right," Their father agreed. "You shouldn't stick around for long,"
She wanted to protest, say that the guard would protect her and keep her safe from any harm and that even Salvatore would be there to keep an eye on her. But then the words of her guards from the other night came back to her, and how much they hated her for what she had done to Alessio. No doubt the others' knew of it too, and for all she knew, they all might share Niccolo's views, even the mother whom she'd never met. Who's to say that she wouldn't be harmed by any one of the men standing for protection once her brother's back was turned?
The realization of having her clamp her mouth shut and cross her arms over her chest.
"He's right, Ina," Arsenio was the one who spoke up. "It's best that we go back to the estate, and besides, my girls miss their one and only aunt,"
Those words had a small smile overcome her face as she hadn't seen her nieces in a while either. Relenting with a sigh, she nodded. She watched Salvatore beckoned a few men as they escorted the Regnante family out the hospital and into two Range Rovers. Arsenio, her, and two guards in one with her mother and Marco in the other.
Heaving a heavy breath, Serafina leaned her head against her elder brother's shoulder, the pilot chuckling as he interlaced their fingers on his thigh, giving her hand a firm squeeze.
"Everything will be alright, Serafina," Arsenio assured her. "Just you wait and see."
I hope you're right brother. She thought silently in response. Otherwise, I would have the blood of the Romano family on my conscience.
Chapter XXX: Comfort Zone
Serafina loved her bedroom in the estate.
Her walls were a very subtle grey with a white platform bed against the wall opposite the entrance door, photography hung atop the bed. Two round vanity tables on either side, matching her bed with lamps on them. Her sheets, this time around were a blush pink color - last time they had been navy blue. There were floor cushions in front of the bed, facing the flat screen T.V mounted on the wall and a Persian rug was beneath her bed with a door leading to the walk-in-closet and then the ensuite bath. To the left, there was a cozy window niche with a throw blanket and cushions, the windows looking over the back courtyard which was currently washed white with snow.
Her bedroom was nothing like the massive and luxurious bedroom of her twin, but it was very comforting and soothing, and Serafina loved that; it even smelt comforting, like chamomile and lavender.
Sitting in her window niche, she looked out the window, her hair tossed into a messy braid with the throw blanket covering her legs, the T.V. playing on mute.
She started out the window, the side of her head pressed to the cold glass as her eyes followed the men patrol the ground, their footsteps leaving a trail in the snow, and she knew they would disappear in the next few hours with the constant snowfall. She watched some men play fighting, others checking their guns, some smoking at the edge of the evergreen forest surrounding the estate.
Her brother's estate was on a hill, surrounded by forest and almost an hour's drive from civilization. Sometimes she had to wonder whether this isolation was the cause of the way her brother turned out to be: sick and twisted.
Since they had gotten back from the hospital, the entire Regnante family was living at the estate, all of them having their own bedroom on the third floor. Salvatore and Arcangelo had returned late that night, looking disheveled and exhausted. They informed them that Alessio was out of surgery – which went better than expected – and had been shifted to the ICU. Myriam Romano had arrived almost an hour after his family's departure, and Salvatore had braced himself for a slap or some form of lash-out but was instead greeted by a sobbing hug from the mother.
After having learned that Alessio would live, Serafina returned to ignoring her twin like he never existed. Refused to eat when he was around and even rejected being in the same room as him, much less talking to him – despite his efforts of getting her to interact.
A knock brought her out of her thoughts, turning her gaze towards the door, she watched Arsenio step inside with a sheepish smile, waving at her as he closed the door. Giving a short wave back, Serafina resumed looking out the window.
"Gee, I had no idea how fascinating white snow was," Arsenio stated sarcastically, sitting down beside her on the niche, his sister rolling her eyes at him. "Well, it's clearly better than your elder brother coming to pay you a visit despite his wife being pissed off at him,"
"Why is Angelica mad at you?" Serafina's gaze snapped to her brother, who gave her a cocky smirk.
"She isn't mad, she's sleeping." He chuckled. "I just knew it would get you to talk to me,"
Giving him a deadpanned look, she returned her gaze to the window.
"Are you and I having a fight?" Arsenio asked with his head tilted to his side. "Are you and Marco mad at each other? Did you argue with mom and dad?"
Serafina looked at him from the corner of her eyes, not understanding what he was getting at.
"I don't think any of the above apply, then explain something to me, Ina, why the actual hell are you estranging yourself from your family?"
Oh.
"I am your brother, Marco is your brother, Angelica is your sister-in-law, Irene and Aurora are both your nieces, those are your parents across the hall, believe it or not," He told her sternly, pointing at her door. "Yet, you seem to act like we are all strangers. You don't have any meal with us. You don't come downstairs for coffee. My daughters keep asking me whether their Aunt Reena is here, and you know why? Because they haven't seen her since they've been here for the past three days. They see everyone; play with everyone - everyone but their Aunt."
"What do you expect me to tell them, huh?" He asked her, Serafina sitting with her knees pulled to her chest as she hated it whenever Arsenio scolded her. "Do you want me to tell them that their aunt is far too prideful and arrogant to see her own blood?"
"I'm not!" She denied, her gaze snapping to him as he looked at her with disbelief.
"Really? Then why the hell don't you come out of your room?" Arsenio demanded. "So Alessio got hurt, tens of men get hurt under Salvatore's jurisdiction on a daily basis, Alessio is no different. He was doing his job, whether it be protecting you, or mom, or dad, or me, he was doing his job, and he knew the consequences of signing up to work in direct line with the Regnante's."
"Alessio is a great guy, I know because I'm close friends with the Romanos'. So is Salvatore, so is Marco, mom and dad visit Myriam almost every month. If anyone is allowed to be so distraught to the point of isolation it should be his family. You do not have a right wallowing in a corner because the bodyguard who is no longer assigned to you got shot. I have never seen you like this, not even when Salvatore was kidnapped at 17, or nearly died. Or when I was in the hospital, or when mom and dad had been attacked, or when Marco got beat up." Arsenio told her in a hard voice, Serafina instantly knowing that it was his disapproving-dad-voice he often used on his daughter's mischiefs.
"What is it about Alessio that has you crying all the time? What is it about the younger Romano that has you isolating yourself like this? Estrange your family? Act like a heartbroken teenager, huh? Explain it to me and I might be able to understand because mom and dad are losing their patience with you and Salvatore refuse to deal with it, so tell me what has gotten into you?"
"I-" Serafina swallowed thickly, the tears welling in her eyes once again as she hastily wiped them away from her cheek.
"You know what Salvatore would say, seeing you like this?" Arsenio demanded, standing from his place and walking to the center of the room. "You're a Regnante and Regnante's are wolves. And wolves. Don't. Weep. Regnante's fight, they don't fear the fight, they are the fight."
Sighing, she watched Arsenio shake his head with his back to her, wiping the tears, Serafina sniffled, not sure how to make him see, make him understand.
"You were so strong Serafina," Arsenio shook his head in disappointment. "You always handled everything the world threw at you, fuck; you pulled through the death of the man you were going to marry. And a simple bullet-wound has you turn into a mess? What happened? What am I not seeing? Are you in love with him? Is he in love with you? Did something happen in Brazil? Help me put all the puzzle pieces together so I can help you." He turned to face her, his blue eyes begging her for answers.
"I could have been shot," Serafina whispered, knowing she could not allow her brother to know the truth. "The bullet was meant for me and I got Alessio killed, Arsenio, I-"
"-I'm sorry? I don't remember attending his funeral." Arsenio cut in with a raised hand. "The man is not dead, Serafina, just injured and in the hospital. All the doctors are saying he'll pull through; he's a strong man, alright? Yes, the bullet was meant for you but it never hit you. Be lucky that it didn't because now Salvatore can find out what's going on-"
"-Jesus Christ," A voice interjected from the doorway, both Arsenio and Serafina turning in the direction of the voice to see Marco staring at their elder brother with a raised eyebrow. "Remind me never to piss you off,"
Serafina watched Arsenio inhale deeply and rub a hand over his forehead as the youngest Regnante went and sat on the bed with a bounce, leaning back on his palms he looked between the two.
"He's right, you know," Marco nodded, pointing at the eldest. "Don't know half the things he said, but he's right about Salvatore figuring out what's going on, which big boss just sent me to enlighten you of,"
"What's he saying?" Arsenio was the one to ask.