Chapter Fifteen

Macy jolted awake and tried to figure out where she was. For a moment, she was blissfully forgetful, but then in the next breath, Matteo's betrayal came rushing back. Tears leaked from her eyes as depression threatened to drag her under. As she wiped the moisture from her face, the distinct smell of antiseptic let her know she was in some sort of clinic or hospital.

"Macy."

Startled, Macy turned her head and saw Orianna sitting in a rocking chair, peacefully moving back and forth, watching her.

"H-Hello," Macy said, her throat scratchy and raw.

"You were screaming in your dreams," Orianna told her softly.

"Oh. Sorry."

"No, child, no reason to be sorry. It's I who am sorry that this happened to you. The Romanelli's are nothing but villainous scum."

Macy had nothing to say to that because she completely agreed.

"Dr. Monroe bound your broken ribs. So, if it's a struggle to breathe, it's because the binding is preventing those ribs from moving too much. If it gets to be too much, let him know."

Macy nodded her understanding.

"The most damage has been to your face," she continued. "Broken nose, fractured cheekbone, lacerations to the face, neck, and chest. Painful, but nothing you can't heal from."

Macy wasn't too sure of that. She felt raw. Felt like giving up, as if Matteo had punched a hole in her chest and ripped out her heart. Why fight getting better? She didn't know if she would be able to heal. To forget Matteo Romanelli and just go on living. The man had tried to get her killed, all because he had grown tired of her, and he hadn't even had the decency to do it himself. What if he found out she lived? Would he hunt her down? Finish the job he'd set forth?

"I'd like to tell you a story," Orianna said. For a moment Macy had forgotten the older woman was with her. "A long time ago, my husband did dealings with the Romanelli's, and because he was savvy with money, his good investments made us the richest family in Italy."

Macy stared at the tiled ceiling, listening.

"We tried for years to have a baby, and then one day, I found out I was pregnant. Nine months later we had our little girl, whom we named Violetta. She was a happy baby. Bringing joy and sunshine to our world."

This wasn't going to have a happy ending, Macy thought.

"When she turned twenty-one, Pietro Romanelli came to my husband to negotiate a marriage contract. My husband declined, and not just because there was a significant age difference. We believed Violetta could choose her own path. Fall in love with the man she wanted, not the man who could be an asset to our bank account. We didn't need it."

Orianna took a deep breath.

"Violetta went to England for university, and during one winter break, she brought home a man for us to meet. He was a good man. He made our Violetta happy. We gave our blessing, and they married in a small ceremony in England. Unbeknownst to us, Pietro had been angerly stewing for years from our rejection. And then…" She cleared her throat. "Then he arranged to have an accident to befall our son-in-law, but he miscalculated and our precious Violetta died along with her husband."

She fell silent, locked into a grief Macy couldn't see, but only imagine. Losing a child had to be the worst hell on Earth, even more so than being in Pietro's basement.

"My husband never got over losing our daughter, and a heart attack took him from me. It was then I vowed to bring down the House of Romanelli. He destroyed mine, so I vowed to destroy his. It wasn't hard to find others, like Gunner and Caelian who were victims of Pietro's greed. Together we formed this alleanza. As I said earlier, Gunner is my eyes and ears to Pietro's movements, but I have others in place. All who want to bring down that heartless monster."

The pain in Orianna's voice brought tears to Macy's eyes.

"So, that brings me to now," she said. "To you. It would be in your best interest to become a ghost, and if a ghost you must be, I might have a solution."

Macy cocked her head, waiting.

"I've been thinking about the soul of my dead daughter," Orianna continued. "I've been on a path to avenge her, and I'm wondering if she sent you to me. I can't help but think it's serendipitous, in order to finally end the man who has brought so much suffering to the world. The Cosa Nostra will always be there, but Pietro Romanelli is a poison that must be eradicated."

"How can I help you do that?"

Orianna sighed. "Rumor has it that Pietro has been casting about for a wife for Matteo."

That made Macy flinch. Was that why Matteo wanted her gone?

"I thought up a plan for the long game. It will require a lot from you, so if that is—"

"I'm in," Macy said firmly.

A brief smile touched Orianna's lips. "You should hear my proposal first."

"It doesn't matter." Macy licked her dry lips. "My life as Macy Moore is over. That woman died in that basement."

Orianna tilted her head. "What would you say about becoming someone new?"

Now, she was confused. "Who would I become?"

"My granddaughter."

"Violetta had a baby?"

"No," Orianna said, smiling. "I know I'm talking in riddles. Remember when I said Pietro is looking for a wife for his son?"

It hit Macy what Orianna was getting at. "You want me to…"

"Become my granddaughter, Gianna Violetta Aldighieri Novelly, in order to marry Matteo Romanelli. To get close to that family, discover their secrets, and finally destroy them."

Fear made her stomach clench. "Interesting name."

"Violetta always said she would name her daughter after her father, Giovanni. Mauro was right, you do remind me of Violetta," Orianna said sadly. "In the morning you are going into surgery to fix some of the damage Pietro inflicted. Everything about you has to change. Your hair, your eyes, and your features."

"You mean, plastic surgery."

She inclined her head. "It wouldn't take much to turn you into my granddaughter."

"I … I … how do you feel about that?"

"I'm the one who thought of the plan."

Macy thought for a long moment. "I don't know if I can do that. The thought of Matteo touching me fills me with revulsion."

Orianna sighed and settled her tapping fingers. "I thought as much. Then don't worry, child. I'll make sure you have a new life, wherever it is you want to go. Now, I'll let you get some sleep."

She rose and left her. Macy stared up at the ceiling once more. What Orianna proposed was ridiculous. How dare she suggest marrying the very man who wanted to kill her. There was no way she could be Matteo's wife. No way she could stomach his touch. Her mind flinched each time she thought about kissing him. Having sex with him.

She just couldn't.

Could she?

Could she stomach it long enough to wipe out the Romanelli name? Maybe. The longer she thought about it, the more the idea grew on her. It was all about revenge. Orianna had been fighting to bring them down for years, and with her help vengeance could set Violetta's soul free. Gunner and others might be Orianna's eyes and ears, but becoming Matteo's wife would give her a deeper access. Macy saw the whole thing play out in her mind. How sweet it would be to reveal she was the one who had destroyed him. The woman he so casually tossed aside.

Macy was dead anyway. Might as well become Gianna.

She struggled to sit up, struggled even more to extract herself from the bedding. An IV dripped into her arm, so when she managed to get to her feet, she leaned on the pole to steady her shaking legs. Slowly, she made her way to the door, and it felt like it took a million years. By the time she reached it, sweat had popped out on her forehead and her muscles spasmed. She opened the door and saw Orianna and the doctor talking, but they immediately turned to her.

Macy only had eyes for Orianna. "I'll do it. Make me into the person I need to be to bring them down."

Orianna studied her face before smiling. "It'll be hard work."

"I'm not afraid of hard work," she replied.

"Good." Orianna looked at the doctor. "We'll fly to Italy tomorrow for her surgery. Can you stabilize her with pain medicine?"

"Of course," the physician said.

Orianna walked over to her and cupped her face. "My brave girl. I know I asked a lot of you."

"No," Macy whispered. "You saved me. Now, I have to save the next girl. The Romanelli's took too much from both of us, and we can't let them take another innocent life."

"From this moment forward, you are Gianna."

Macy eyes burned with even more tears. It felt like she'd already cried an ocean full. Now, it was time to lock it all away. No more self-pity. No more tears. No more love. The only thing in her heart was vengeance.