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‘Then you need to understand what I’m trying to say. Our families are now one family because of the two of us. Whatever the history between us… it is time to put it behind us all. I’ve come to understand that we will all grow stronger because we’re joined, that is what I want for our children, and I recognise it’s also what you want for them. Strength comes from love, unity, and numbers… Today, when we confront Enzo, my papa will be proven innocent. He isn’t the man responsible for your mama’s demise, I know you know that now down deep in your heart. Don’t you?’
‘You make the mistake of thinking I have a heart, little bird.’
‘I make no mistake, Salvatore. I have always been able to feel your heart even when I hated you.’
Salvatore exhaled loudly. ‘You were never meant to feel me, Serafina. But I’m pleased you do.’
‘I believe we were meant to be together, Salvatore. Do you?’
‘You know I do,’ he sighed.
‘The only way we can move forward with our life is to face the demons together. You think that anyone who gets close to you gets taken away or hurt. You need to help me prove to you otherwise, that it’s not true. I know I’m safe when I’m with you… we can deal with Enzo together and then Dante will return Gi. We can erase the ghosts that haunt you together, and only then can we get on with our lives… and build the family I know we both desire so very much.’
When he said nothing, and our few minutes alone were cut short by the sound of voices behind him, I feared he hadn’t heard me at all. Then slowly, he began to nod, before reaching out for me and bringing me in closer to his warm body. My heart stuttered as he wrapped his arms tightly around me, and he allowed me to feel all that he fought so hard to conceal. As his face dipped down to mine, I felt him inhale the scent of my shampoo and then his body relaxed as I thought I heard him whisper, ‘I love you, little bird.’
In response, my hands gripped tightly to the expensive fabric of his shirt.
I felt his lips kiss the top of my head several times, before our immediate future caught up with us.
‘Nico has the factory surrounded,’ Bruno instructed from somewhere behind us.
‘Contact, Gianni,’ I heard Salvatore instruct Bruno. ‘Today we will stand as one.’
‘Boss,’ Bruno replied, confirming he’d heard the direct order.
‘Will you act on my every order?’ Salvatore questioned me, as still holding on to me tightly he lifted his head from mine. In response, I looked up at him wanting him to feel the weight behind my answer.
‘Yes.’ I nodded enthusiastically, making sure he understood how emphatically I understood his question.
‘Get into some comfortable clothes, Serafina. You have five minutes.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
SERAFINA
I understoodhow a man screaming and crying for mercy was supposed make you feel, me being a doctor…but I felt nothing.
I was so removed from feeling empathy towards the sick bastard, my eyes wandered yet again over the preparation area of the olive factory. Stainless steel ceiling met stainless steel walls and a completely sealed resin floor. I knew that until we had forced our way in here and taken Enzo hostage, it had resembled a hospital theatre.
A meticulously clean one.
In fact, it still resembled one, just after a particularly long and hard operation.
Blood was spattered in various places and a puddle of urine had cascaded onto the pristine floor.
A single chair sat in the middle of the room. Tied onto it was an, as always, offensive-smelling, grossly overweight and naked Enzo Ferraro, who despite his many protestations, knew his very worst nightmares would transpire in the minutes and possibly hours that followed.
‘Do you see this?’ Alessio asked.
Stood behind my husband as I had been instructed to do, I heard my elder brother question him and I peered around his large frame to see what he was showing him.
‘I asked… Do you see this?’ He held his gun in front of Enzo’s face as Bruno pulled Enzo’s badly beaten head up by his greasy looking hair.
‘No. I can’t see,’ Enzo insisted.
‘Then perhaps we should slit through your swollen eyelids so you can see?’ Salvatore stepped closer and as instructed I followed close behind him.
‘No…. no, you can’t… please,’ Enzo pleaded.
