32. Marcello

Marcello

" Y our first choice..." Adrian pauses, and the anticipation is killing me. "Nicolo."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. The technician identified a small scar on his thumb that is also present on the partial print."

"Fuck!" I mutter, rage building inside of me. "Thank you. I'll deal with it."

"Tell me if you need anything."

style="text-align: left;"After I hang up, I take a moment to calm myself. It won't work to anyone's advantage if I dive into this with my mind clouded. Nicolo has played me enough as it is.

But why?

I still can't imagine why he'd go to such lengths to get to me. Does he want my position? It seems a little extreme to do this for years just to become capo. Something doesn't add up.

Time is of the essence now. I can't dwell on the reasons when Lina is in danger. I fumble with my phone and call Francesco, instructing him to assemble all the high-ranking members of the famiglia. He soon confirms they will be here within the hour.

There are around ten of them that hold significant positions. More than half are Nicolo's men, so they should have some type of information.

After gathering some tools from the basement, I ask Amelia to lead the guests to the drawing room when they arrive.

Wait for me, Lina! I'll find you!

I arm myself with a couple of guns and knives, knowing that none of the men will have weapons as it is disrespectful to enter armed in the Capo's home. When Amelia lets me know that they are here, I steel myself. I need to make this quick.

Entering the drawing room, the men are deep in conversation. When they see me, they stop and greet me. I keep a nondescript expression, and I turn to lock the door.

"You're probably wondering about the urgency of my message." I explain, taking a seat on the couch. "My dear uncle, Nicolo, has gone rogue. I want any information you may have on him. Now."

They start clamoring, some expressing disbelief, some professing his innocence. I focus on the latter.

"Mateo, you are a close friend of my uncle's. Why don't you start?" I tilt my head to the side, a bored expression on my face.

"I know nothing, capo. I'm not his keeper." He shrugs his shoulders, and I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Then how is it you've been following him everywhere ?" I counter.

"That's not true. I don't know who told you that, but I've done nothing wrong." He immediately deflects, and I shake my head slowly.

"Who said anything about accusing you, Mateo?" I stand up and walk towards him. His head is bent low as he sees me advance. He's trying to seem meek, but I see the slight pull of his mouth, the way his body itches for a challenge.

One slim blade in hand, I tug it under his chin, lifting his head to look in his eyes.

"Mateo, Mateo... What should I do with you?" I ask hypothetically, wanting to gauge his reaction.

He laughs nervously. "You can't do anything."

I push the sharp edge of the blade just under his Adam's apple, and I watch as he gulps anxiously.

"So you have nothing to say? I'm giving you one chance." I say, my eyes on Mateo.

"No." He replies, raising his gaze to meet mine, trying to show a strength that's lacking. I can see the fear in his body slightly shying away from me, the barely there tremor of his lips, and the tiny trickle of sweat on his brow. He's scared.

"Ok. Good." I nod, taking a step back as if moving to another target. Just as he breathes out a sigh of relief, I move. So fast he barely has time to react, I open his mouth and grab his tongue. One slice and the muscle falls down, blood pouring down his face. "Since you have nothing to say, then you shouldn't say anything."

His hands cup his mouth, trying to stop the blood.

"Let's try again. Do you know where my uncle is?" The room atmosphere changes immediately, and a few men remove guns from the inside of their coats, all aiming at me.

"So that's how it's going to be." I muse, taking a step back and raising my hands up, feigning surrender. At the same time, I click on the remote control I'd been holding.

The large TV in the room springs to life, the screen split into tiny windows, all showing men holding families hostage.

"One click, and they're all dead." I shake my hand, showing them what I mean.

While I'd known some would respect the rules and come unarmed, I couldn't take any chances. Especially with Nicolo's people.

"I require just one thing from you. Nicolo's location. As long as you tell me that, truthfully that is, your families will escape unscathed."

This is more potent than any type of torture, and they promptly put down their weapons.

One man steps forward, his knees giving out.

"He's at the cemetery. Please don't harm my wife."

"What cemetery?"

"The Lastra crypt. Please." He puts his hands together in a prayer, and I just nod.

"See, not that hard."

Just then, my phone rings. Nicolo's number is displayed on the screen.

"Hello, nephew. I see you've found my little secret."

"Nicolo," I reply tensely.

"A little too late, wouldn't you say? When you surround yourself with hyenas, don't be too surprised when you're betrayed." He laughs.

"What do you mean? How is Catalina?"

"Wouldn't you want to know?" he chuckles. "Take care, boy. Sometimes the very hand that feeds you can turn against you." He says cryptically, changing the words of the original saying.

He hangs up.

Damn it!

Still no word on Lina.

I drop my phone to the ground, and grabbing both my guns, I aim. First the ones with weapons, and then one by one the others. As I lower my weapons, everyone is lying on the floor.

Dead.

With one click of the button, I ensure that their families meet the same fate.

I unlock the door to find Amelia in the hallway. Her eyes widen when she sees me, and she stumbles on her words.

style="text-align: left;""I... I heard the gunshots and..."

Interesting. Usually people run away from gunshots, not towards them. But then I replay Nicolo's words in my head. The hand that feeds you.

"Of course." I smile at her. "Can you come help me?"

She nods, following me back into the drawing room. She comes face to face with the dead bodies, but I can see she's trying very hard to control herself.

"Tell me, Amelia, why is it that you left my father's employ?"

She lowers her head, her almost silver hair falling over her forehead.

"He forced himself on me, sir," she confesses, and for a moment I feel a twinge of guilt. Yet another victim of my father's. But then I think about Lina.

"And where did you go after that?" She suddenly looks at me in panic.

"Amelia, Amelia. You know, you were my favorite growing up. You were always the kinder one to me. But now?" I make a tsk sound with my tongue, and she pales. "Why did you do it? Why Nicolo?" I ask, half-bluffing.

"I..." She stammers, and I can see the guilt on her face.

"Why, Amelia, why?"

"I love him," she bursts out, more emotion coming out of her than I've ever seen before.

"You love him," I repeat, tilting my head and studying her.

"I was pregnant and alone and he helped me. He was so kind, so thoughtful. Even when I miscarried he was there for me, supporting me. He even confronted your father on my behalf. And you know what Giovanni did? He laughed." She curls up her lip in disgust. "He laughed for raping me and ruining my life!" Her eyes are tearing up and she lifts a hand to catch the tears. "Nicolo was so good to me... so good."

"So good that you basically served my wife on a platter to him. You were the one planting those messages, weren't you?"

"He won't harm her. He promised."

"Amelia, Amelia." I shake my head, seeing that there's no reasoning with her. In her mind, Nicolo is a character larger than life — her savior.

"The moment you targeted Lina, you lost," I say, regret swamping me as I turn on the only person who made my childhood a little more bearable.

But no one messes with my Lina. No one.

Just a few months ago, I stood at Tino's grave. Now, I find myself in the same cemetery, but this time, Nicolo has chosen a different spot for our meeting. I can feel the weight of my family's history as I approach the towering crypt that serves as our resting place. It's like a double-story house, an imposing structure meant to showcase our wealth and status.

I enter through the screeching door, hoping that I'm not too late. My heart races as I think of Lina, waiting for me inside.

Please let me be on time.

The interior of the crypt is reminiscent of a grand mansion, with various rooms leading off from a central space. As I check each room on the ground floor, I can't help but feel anxious. Finally reaching the basement where the tombs are located, I hear my uncle's voice booming with excitement.

"There he is!" Uncle exclaims as I descend the narrow stairs. At the bottom, the basement opens up into a vast room supported by four thick pillars. Nicolo stands in the center, his arms wide open and a malicious grin on his face.

My eyes scan the room until they land on Lina's delicate form. She's bound to one of the pillars, her head drooping against its icy surface. The sight fills me with fury.

"Lina?" I call out, taking in her disheveled appearance and the way her entire being shrinks away from my presence.

Does she hate me that much?

I turn back to Nicolo, hurling the present I'd been holding towards him.

Amelia's head rolls on the ground, her eyes wide open and staring at my uncle.

"So you figured it out. Pity. She was a good lay." He shrugs, kicking the head further with his foot. Catalina shrieks when it rolls past her and stops at a close distance.

"I think your wife may be more disappointed in this than me." He chuckles as Lina's eyes widen with fear. Even when she turns to me, her entire being seems to be revolted by my presence.

And it breaks my heart.

"Let her go. She has nothing to do with this."

"Ah, see, there you're wrong. She has everything to do with this. She is your main trigger, isn't she?" Nicolo asks, amused.

Lina's eyes turn to me, and the pain I see reflected in them makes me want to take on the king of hell himself.

I try to convey with my gaze that I will take care of this, but I'm not sure even I believe myself at this point.

"What do you want, Nicolo? You want my position so bad you'd resort to this? Take it, it's yours," I state, my eyes moving from him to Lina.

Nicolo's eyebrows shoot up a second before he throws his head back and laughs.

"You'll give me your position?" He jeers at me, still laughing. "See, this is why you were never fit to be capo. You always put her before everything." He remarks in derision. "Don't worry, your position will be mine by default after you die." He shrugs his shoulders and casually walks towards the end of the room to pick up a rusty knife.

"Why don't we try this..." He twists the knife around, testing its strength. "I may let her go, if you submit to me."

"What?" I blurt out, a maniacal smile appearing on his face.

"Submit to me. It's the only way she'll go free."

"Fine. I'll do it. Just let her go."

"Not yet," he shakes his head and motions towards another pole. "Go and handcuff yourself."

I pause for a second, and my eyes meet Lina's. Her eyebrows are drawn together in confusion. Just seeing her there... I walk, and sitting down, I secure my hand to a metal pole. One half of the cuff is wrapped around the metal for support while the other is now circling my wrist.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Lina's voice is but a whisper as she asks.

Nicolo smiles slowly, and I suddenly see Father in him.

"Blame it all on your husband. He is, after all, the reason for all your misfortunes," he happily tells her, delighted when her face falls. She turns to me slightly, and her expression is one of fear mixed with disappointment.

I've failed her. Repeatedly.

Nicolo strides confidently towards me, the glint of a knife in his hand catching the light. He jabs it playfully towards my face before squatting down in front of me, the blade dangerously close to my skin.

"It's time to settle the score, boy." With one swift motion, he slices through the fabric holding my shirt together, and it falls away, exposing my bare chest. The cold metal of the knife trails teasingly down my skin as Nicolo tests my reflexes. Then he cuts.

I clench my jaw against the pain, a familiar sensation that I've learned to endure. Beside me, Catalina gasps at the sight of blood starting to trickle down my torso.

But I can't let myself focus on the pain. My eyes are fixed on Lina, my reason for fighting and staying strong through this torture.

Nicolo continues to make small, deliberate cuts all over my body, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch. Only determination and love for Lina keep me going.

Eventually, he gives up, realizing that I won't break under his torture. Standing up with a frown, he surveys my bleeding form with a look of confusion and uncertainty in his eyes.

"It seems this isn't working," he muses, narrowing his eyes at me.

"What did you expect? That I'd be wailing in pain?" I quip ironically.

"I should have known torture wouldn't do much for you. Not with Giovanni as your father." He chuckles, as if he's just realized something important.

Maybe Father had a hand in my increased tolerance for pain, but only when it comes to myself. He'd tried so hard to kill my emotions that the only thing he'd done had been to kill my need for self-preservation. I don't care what happens to me – not anymore. But Lina? She's the only one that matters, and not even the worst torment could make me give her up.

"Don't you worry," he taunts, "I have many tricks up my sleeve."

Nicolo steps away from me, and with a hand motion, he signals someone else to come in. His smile only increases as he watches Franco saunter in, eye-patch on.

"What?" I breathe out, confused at the connection.

"Franco here has a little quibble with you, don't you Franco?"

"And that bitch," Franco adds, his eyes roving over Lina's form with a leer.

"If pain won't break you," Nicolo starts, deep in thought. "Then maybe the sight of your beloved in pain will."

My eyes widen at his implication, swinging from Nicolo to Franco.

They both laugh, and Nicolo gives Franco the green light to proceed.

"Marcello, Marcello, let's see how it feels to be so helpless... to watch your wife get fucked by another while you can't do anything to help her."

My pulse is racing, my breathing labored.

God, no!

"Lina..." I whisper, and I see her back away, as much as her bounds allow her to. Franco is upon her in seconds, his hands grabbing at her legs and pulling them towards him.

I can't watch this! I try to tug my hand free from the cuff, but it's in vain. The pole is highly secured, the cuff tight around my wrist.

"No!" Lina yells, trying to kick at Franco. One hand clumsily works at the front of his trousers, while the other keeps on tugging at her dress.

No!

I turn back to my restraints, knowing time is of the essence. I will my mind to work and think of all the possibilities. I can't uproot the pole... I can't break the handcuffs, but... I can break my own hand.

Lina's cries intensify, and they only spur me on. I hold on to the pole with one hand, and fold the other within the cuff, my thumb directly parallel with the other digits. Then I pull. So hard my eyes tear up, I pull and hit the cuff at the same time. I do it until I hear the sound of bones cracking; until my hand becomes a limp mass of crushed bones. Until it slips free.

Swallowing the pain and using it to feed my anger, I'm up and upon Franco in a second. There's only a slight relief at seeing that he didn't get to Lina before my good hand and what's left of the other wrap themselves around his neck. Using the strength in my wrist, I curb his struggles and twist his neck at an angle, effectively snapping it. The adrenaline must have kicked in, because I have no notion of time as I kick his lifeless body to the side and kneel in front of a scared Lina.

Her eyes are wild as she sees me, but I note a hint of relief in them as well. I hesitate as I reach for her, and when she doesn't shy from me, I pull her closer, holding tight.

"I'm so sorry, Lina. So sorry," I breathe out a sob. "I'll get you out of here. You have my word, I swear."

She doesn't speak, her body shaking with fear. I reach behind her back and with uncoordinated movements; I attempt to untie her hands.

"What a touching scene," Nicolo's voice mocks from behind. I turn around, and I watch as he comes closer, a hint of annoyance on his face as he takes in my limp hand.

"You know, I never thought a monster like you would be capable of such deep emotions. I used to praise your father all the time for the training he put you through. You were really the perfect killer. Until her."

He removes a gun from the back of his trousers and points it at Lina. I react instinctively, putting myself in front of her, shielding her.

Nicolo's laughter echoes in the room right before he presses the trigger. I let out a gasp as the bullet embeds itself in my shoulder. Lina's hands reach out for me, her expression mirroring the pain I'm feeling.

"Marcello." Her mouth is wide open as she looks in disbelief at the blood that gushes out of my shoulder, mingling with the already dried blood of my other wounds.

"I'm fine," I croak, trying to give her an assuring smile.

"Just kill me," I turn to address Nicolo. "Just kill me and let her go, please."

"Why would I do that, when your pain gives me so much joy?" He smirks, rotating the gun around his fingers. "You can't die just yet."

"Why?" I croak, still using my body as a shield between Nicolo and Lina. "I don't understand why you'd go through so much trouble to impersonate Chimera for years just to torment me. Why?"

It makes no sense. If he were only after my position, he would have killed me a long time ago. So why do this? Why use psychological tricks when he could have just attacked me in the open?

"That's the thing, boy. You don't even know..." His mouth curls up in anger, baring his teeth at me. His face immediately darkens, his hand still waving the gun around.

"Tell me, does your wife know you killed your own mother?" Nicolo asks smugly. Lina gasps, and she looks at me in disbelief. I shake my head.

"She killed herself. I had nothing to do with it," I declare confidently. That's one thing he can't accuse me of.

"You didn't?" He raises an eyebrow before heading to the back of the room where the burial places are. I quickly turn to Lina, trying to get her free before he comes back.

"If you see an opening, just run, okay?" I touch her face tentatively, reveling in her presence one last time.

"What about you?" she asks, her voice hoarse. I give her a small head shake.

"It doesn't matter. I'll hold him back." I know that in my current condition I won't be able to put up too much of a good fight, but maybe I can buy Lina some time to run away.

"Go to your brother. He'll know what to do," I say, barely finishing the sentence before Nicolo comes back, carrying with him an object covered by a white cloth.

With one last tug, Lina's wrists are free. I move quickly in front of her so Nicolo doesn't notice.

He spreads the cloth reverently on the floor, slowly unraveling it to reveal a human skull.

"He killed you, didn't he, dear?" He coos to the skull, a tender expression so antithetical to my uncle's usual countenance spreading on his face.

"Since he was born, he was nothing but a pest," he continues, his face turning malevolent as he turns to me. "You killed her, you made her sick," he spews, his words full of hate. Cradling the skull to his chest, he rises to his feet and brings up his gun again, pointing it towards Lina.

"You killed the person I loved the most, so I'll do the same to you."

"Wait!" I call out, looking for any way to delay this and get Lina an opening to escape. Nicolo clearly isn't mentally well, and that makes the whole situation tricky. "I swear I didn't do it. I watched her take her own life. I was only thirteen."

"You damned her entire existence before you were born!" he yells, the most he's raised his voice so far. "I loved her, damn it! I loved her, but Giovanni got to her before me. And because she was already pregnant, she had to marry him. She had you, and her life was over! You think I didn't see the bruises? The way he treated her? Worse than a goddamn whore and she was his wife! You damned her to an existence worse than death!"

Biting back a sarcastic retort, because really, I had no agency as an embryo, I keep prodding, desperate to make him talk so he can get distracted.

"So that's why you masqueraded as Chimera? To pay me back for what? For being born?" He narrows his eyes at me, and I move closer to Lina, ready to become her shield once more.

Unexpectedly, though, Nicolo laughs. He bends down, clutching his stomach. "Boy," he rasps out, struggling to breathe. "You think that was the first time I played with you?" He emits an indistinct sound, as if he's trying not to choke on the amusement I'm unwittingly providing him with. "I was Giovanni's right hand. One word here, one word there, and he made sure I didn't have to do any dirty work. For a time..."

"What do you mean?" I frown at the new information.

"Sure, your father wanted you to be a feared made man. But he didn't have to go that hard on you. The killings, the whores... I just had to look at you to see you were losing yourself more and more, until you became a shell of a person. You embraced our family legacy and were miserable for it. That was my joy. Liliana was suffering, but so were you. Until she died." He sneers the words, going back to the skull and caressing it affectionately. "After that, all bets were off."

He raises his eyes to give me a chilling look. "Who do you think told Giovanni about the Agosti girl? I knew the moment you started circling around her that she was different. Suddenly I had the best opportunity for revenge."

Lina's breathing becomes harsher, and I place my hand on her leg, offering whatever comfort I can.

"I'd been waiting for an opportunity like that for years. At first I thought that you'd likely OD from all the shit you were doing, but no, you had to clean up your act for her. That you talked to Agosti for her hand cemented it for me. I knew that through her I could do the most damage." He laughs, clearly proud of himself.

"What did you tell father?" I probe, willing my mind to disregard the pain in my body.

"That he should test your loyalty. The girl or the famiglia. I knew which one you'd choose." He motions at Lina with his gun, and my entire body tenses. "But I miscalculated. I didn't realize just how much you were willing to do for her. And then you both disappeared without a trace." His lips curl in annoyance. "You have no idea how long I searched for you."

"Until you found me. Two years ago," I add, the first date the fake Chimera started killing.

Nicolo grins. "After that it wasn't too hard. I've always preferred long, drawn-out wars, makes the enemy squirm. Like you did when you saw that nun."

I blink twice, suddenly realizing the connections. Adrian's forensic specialists had suggested that the female was being cared for more than the males... in a religious manner. Mother... he was doing it all for my mother.

"You were so busy feeling sorry for yourself, you didn't even realize how close I planted my people. The convent was even easier to infiltrate. Guerra, Sister Elizabeth... Mother Superior. Not too hard to give them a little push."

"You... You knew that Father Guerra was a pedophile, didn't you?" Lina whispers, speaking for the first time.

His smile is full of malice as he smirks. "Of course. That was the goal all along. She is, after all, Marcello's daughter."

"Lord..." Lina gasps, and I wish I could hug her to my chest and take all of her worries away.

Once again, everything is happening because of me.

"And then the notes," she adds, realizing the degree to which Nicolo had played both of us.

"I needed you out of the house," he shrugs. "Bonus points for despising him. Amelia told me everything about it, and it was so pleasing to hear that. Especially your suicide attempt." Nicolo turns to me and smiles, satisfaction clear in his eyes.

"Suicide attempt?" Lina turns to me, horror in her eyes.

"It wasn't like that," I shake my head.

"Of course, when you didn't actually die, I realized it's time to take it a step further."

"What do you mean?"

"It's rather simple. You are probably aware that even if you tackle me right now, the chances of escape are very slim. If you do what I ask you to, then your beloved might still have a chance."

"What do you want me to do?" I ask, my voice faltering from the pain in my arm. I'm already on the brink, and I know it. Whatever he may have in mind won't change that.

"I want you to finish what you started. I want you to take this knife," he takes out the rusty knife again, "and slit your own throat. Die like my Liliana did."