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Marialena
I knewhe couldn’t trust them, but I had no idea they would stoop so far, solow.I should know better, though. These are the lives we lead. These are the roles we play. Betrayal and revenge are our sun and moon, orchestrating our days and lives.
Me, though? If I had my way? Loyalty and love willalwaysprevail. And I will work hard to see that through.
When I took vows to Salvatore, I didn’t do so blindly. I knew exactly what I was getting into, exactly what I committed to. I know I’m a hopeless romantic, and only wish this time my romanticism doesn’t lead me – or all of us – astray.
I’m frozen in place when Salvatore’s blue eyes pierce mine. I read pain in his eyes and want to touch him. My own heart squeezes in sympathy. Gently, I lay my finger on his shoulder.
“What is it?” I whisper, unwilling to share a private moment with my family all around us.
“I don’t want to do this publicly.”
For one moment, so brief I almost miss it, the ruthless Don is gone, and in his place I see a man, once a boy, broken by his family’s conditional love and selfish ways.
“Of course not,” I say, my voice trembling with emotion. “Let’s take this to the theater. Our guests are suitably entertained for the moment, I’m sure.” Staff has continued to ply our guests with food and drink. I give Salvatore a wink. “We’ll be fashionably late is all. Iwillget to that dessert table, Salvatore.”
His heated gaze makes my heart beat a little faster. “I’ll see to it.”
I watch him take out his cell phone and call Cristiano.
“Meet me in the theater and bring my mother. We have to deal with the Rossis, and I want both of you present.”
“On my way.”
Even from where I’m standing, I can hear the glee in Cristiano’s voice.
He thinks he’s won.
The dark recesses of the theater seem a suitable place for a confrontation. Salvatore flicks on the lights just as his mother and Cristiano enter.
“What’s happened, son?” Agnesia asks.
“Shut the door, please.” Cristiano shuts it with a bang.
The deep etches along Salvatore’s forehead look carved from stone as he scowls. “Rossi knew all along that his father killed mine.”
“So that’s why we’re here, then?” Romeo asks. “Seems to me there’s been more than one act of betrayal, Capo.”
Agnesia’s eyes actuallylight up.I want to slap her. Who could do such a thing to her own flesh and blood? My family may be crazy, but they are loyal to the core.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Salvatore growls. He cocks his gun. I’d think he was a good actor, but he isn’t acting. I know exactly why he’s so angry.
“You never planned on marrying into the Castellano family, did you?” I didn’t know Romeo was such a good actor. My heart hammers, waiting for the first gunshot, the first show of blood. Someone’s going down, and soon. “You set my sister up and made her out to be the one at fault.” Romeo faces Salvatore, his own gun drawn.
“Stop, both of you!” I say, turning to Agnesia. “Do something!”
She only shakes her head. “I can’t,” she says sorrowfully. “This is between the two of them.”
“Oh, is it?” I clench my fists by my sides as Cristiano’s recorded voice fills the small theater, amplified by state-of-the-art speakers.
“He believes Marialena interfered with his wedding with Erica Castellano…”
Cristiano reaches for his weapon before he realizes he has none. He freezes when he feels the cold metal of Mario’s gun at his temple.
Agnesia’s voice joins Cristiano’s. “Now we have the Rossis and Salvatore convinced each betrayed the other. If they kill each other, we win.”
Their conversation reverberates through the theater, surround sound making their voices sound ominous.
