AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Make sure she gets home safely, Eddie. She's already had one too many,” he jests, shutting the door without waiting for a response from the driver’s seat.
“Well, well, well, look who we have here,” I remark, chuckling at how easily I’ve caught another unsuspecting Beneventi off guard.
“What the hell...oh no...Liliana...how did you get in here?” She frantically questions as I reach over and lock the door. “Eddie!” She cries out as I switch on the overhead light. I want to witness the fear in her eyes as she sees the calmness in mine. “I doubt he can assist you now that he's dead,” I say in a composed manner. Her eyes widen in horror as she gasps, staring at Edoardo's head resting against the seat.
“Take out your phone, contact your father, and put him on speaker,” I commanded.
“Why? What are you going to do?” She inquired, tears streaming down her face.
“I won’t ask again,” I warned, drawing my hunting knife from its sheath.
With trembling hands, she dialed her father, and he answered on the first ring. “Daddy, she's going to kill me!” Bianca wailed, succumbing to fear as she comprehended her impending fate. If only I could call my father and hear his voice again, I thought to myself.
“Sweetheart, where’s Eddie? Can you find a way to get out of there?" Her father asked, his voice filled with panic for her safety.
“Eddie is dead!” She shrieked in hysteria. I almost felt a pang of sympathy for her…almost.
“Apologies for the disruption, but I must cut this short,” I state as I drive my knife, just under her ear, severing her spinal cord. Pure bliss washes over me as I twist the blade, intensifying her agony and ensuring a swift end. Removing the phone from Bianca's grasp, I bring it near her mouth as the sound of death’s rattle reverberates in the confined space. Carlo's heartbreaking cry of grief interrupts my fleeting satisfaction, instantly fueling my anger.
“You now understand the pain of losing those you hold dear, mother fucker, and I won't stop until every one of you is gone!” I seethed, ending the call before Carlo could respond. Stepping out of the car, I close the door and put away my knife after cleaning it. The cool night breeze refreshes my skin as I make my way back to the SUV, satisfied with how tonight unfolded. Antonio and I traveled back in silence, while internally, I took pleasure in Carlo's grief. Guilt attempted to take hold, but every time it surfaced, I envisioned Luca and Alexandria's lifeless forms, bathed in blood.
“Have you had enough to eat Lili?”
Greta's voice snaps me back to reality, back to the nightmare that has become my existence.
This morning, I immediately contacted the bank to halt the sale of the house and scheduled a meeting with the manager to officially take over my father's estate. The family lawyer must have been astounded to hear from me, as the entire Rinaldi family was believed to be deceased. Amidst signing documents and wrapping up business affairs, the inevitability of assuming control of my late father's affairs weighs heavily on me. I find it difficult to accept this responsibility in the wake of his sudden passing. The grief of losing my family seems inescapable. What evil have I ever committed in my life to be deserving of this pain? It's a question that will linger unanswered because nothing will ever justify this.
“Yes, thank you,” I reply, handing her my plate.
“Have you called Nico to let him know that you survived?” Greta asks, prompting me to contemplate a notion I hadn't considered before. In my mind, he is just as condemned as the others. His absence from my party that day couldn't have been a mere coincidence. “As far as I'm concerned, he was complicit in this,” I assert.
“My dear, you can't truly believe that,” Greta interjects gently.
“What other reason could there be for his absence?” I retort, my tone sharper than intended. Greta, undeserving of my frustration, received my apology as I explained my oversight in notifying Nico. Frankie had been unable to locate him, and when he asked Carlo, he claimed ignorance of his whereabouts since his disappearance on that fateful day.
“Has he reached out to his mother?” Greta inquired further.
“Frankie never said anything about her. Why do you ask?” Greta takes a seat beside me, grasped my hands, and met my perplexed gaze with tenderness, saying,
“Mia Beneventi is the only person in that horrible family that shows Nico what family truly means. She loves him as if she gave birth to him. Considering his love and devotion to her, there is no way Nico would ever hurt you or your family,” she insinuated, casting doubt on my anger toward him. “The way he loves you reflects the love his mother embedded in him and I would bet my life that he had nothing to do with this,” she insisted, championing his innocence.
As I pondered over Greta's words, a call at the gate provided me with a moment to reflect further. Brief hope flickered within me, swiftly extinguished by the arrival of Chief Harrison in his cruiser, awaiting entry. With leaving my mark on Tomas, I’ve been anticipating this visit due to his inappropriate connection to Carlo. He should die along with the Beneventis but if he agrees to my terms, then I’ll forget how there have been no arrests in the murder of my family. Suppressing my frustration, I press the button to open the gate and observe the security screen as Chief Harrison drives in. Welcoming him on the porch, I escort him into the sitting room and ask Greta to prepare coffee for us.
Despite not expecting a long conversation, my mother's teachings on courtesy prompt me to be polite to guests in our home. However, Harrison should consider himself fortunate that I haven't already slit his throat.
“What can I assist you with, Chief Harrison?” I inquire, feigning ignorance of the reason for his visit regarding my recent activities.
“I believe we both know the purpose of my visit,” he responds in a dismissive manner, treating me as if I were a child.
“You arrive unannounced at my residence and presume that I should be aware of your intentions. Quite intriguing,” I remark aloud, hoping he will explicitly state his reason for being there. If he believes he can intimidate or control me, he is sorely mistaken. Eventually, he gets to the point.
“What do you propose I do, Miss. Rinaldi? Your actions have resulted in more bodies than my detectives can handle.”
“I expect you to remain silent just as you were when my family was massacred,” I retort, recalling the lack of investigation into their deaths. “You have the fucking nerve to come onto my property, interrogate me about taking matters into my own hands, and expect me to retreat because Carlo is pressuring you?"
“My hands are tied due to Mr. Bene..”
“I’m willing to triple his payment in exchange for your silence,” I propose, interrupting him, eager to end this pointless conversation. It won’t change my plans. In my eyes, every member of the Beneventi family is marked for death.
