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"Fine," I spit out, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.
“Stefano, listen,” she says, turning her head toward me. “Please let me explain. The Capo truly isn’t who you think he was. You must know the truth.”
Just then, from the corner of my eye, I see Fernando, my friend, getting shot and falling to the ground. Even the slightest sympathy I felt at seeing Isabella’s blood-soaked shirt now dwindles away.
She caused this, by getting together with Felix Carlisi. She and Carlisi’s men came in here, and now they’re killing my family.
No. I’m done with patience.
“You bastard,” I say, walking up to Felix Carlisi. “You’ve all caused enough damage. Stop this madness. The Capo is dead, and your men are still murdering in broad daylight. Have you no shame?”
Felix hangs his head, as though in embarrassment, but I see right through it. He’s not embarrassed. He’s just playing me, like he’s done in the past. Right now, I want nothing more than to rip his heart out of his chest, to kill him here and now.
But I can’t, for I have no one to take orders from and I want this chaos to end, not carry on.
“Get out,” I tell Felix. “Take your men and leave. You got what you wanted, whatever it was. Leave now.”
Felix nods and takes a step back, Isabella still in his arms. She’s gasping for air, in pain, but I don't’t look at her. I can’t look at her because if I do, I’ll spit in her face.
“Stefano, wait,” she says, as I turn my back to draw my men together. “Please listen,” she chokes on air. “I need to tell you the truth.”
The truth? This woman is nothing but lies.
"Get out," I spit, without turning back to face them, my voice shaking with fury. "Leave this place and don't ever come back. If I see you again, Isabella... I swear to god, it will be your last day on this earth."
"Stefano," she rasps. "I...I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" I spit out, my voice shaking with fury. "You think 'sorry' is enough?"
"Please," she whispers, reaching out to touch my shoulder. "I need you."
The old desire, to hold her and protect her like always, whispers to my heart, but no - she doesn't deserve it. Not after what she's done.
"Run, Isabella," I turn to face her and hiss, clenching my fists so tightly that my nails dig into my palms. "Run and never come back. If I ever see you again, I swear I'll kill you myself."
A choked sob escapes her lips, and for a moment, I see the girl I fell in love with. The vulnerable, passionate woman who once held my world together.
She shakes her head and I pull out my gun to warn her. Her eyes flick to it and then, her gaze hardens, and I know that part of her is gone forever.
"Fine," she says, her voice barely audible. "If that's what you want, Stefano."
Felix shifts his hold on her, cradling her more securely, and I can't help but notice how carefully he treats her. Did he ever love her too? Or is this just another one of their twisted games?
I watch as Felix carries her out of the room, her body limp in his arms.
As they disappear from view, I'm left with the bitter taste of betrayal and the chaos of my thoughts reflected in the chaos and destruction around me.
How could she do this? And why? The questions swirl around me like ravens, but one thing is clear - I can't trust Isabella anymore. She holds a deadly secret, which she never trusted to share with me. There's no coming back from that.
Isabella, Felix and his men leave the compound. The compound, just this morning a bustling hub of activity, now lies silent and empty. The Capo's death signals the end of this bloody war, but the reprieve is shortsighted, we've lost the person who held us together.
Blood stains my hands. The stench of gunpowder fills the air. Capo's lifeless eyes stare up at me, a final plea for understanding.
"Stefano," someone calls out. I snap back to reality. The room buzzes with urgent whispers and tense energy. “Whoever did this must be punished.”
The men look around themselves, nodding furiously. “We saw her. That Isabella Torres. She killed the Capo. We must seek our revenge,” Leo pumps his fists into the air.
Seek our revenge? What would that gain? Another round of bullets with our names on it. I need to shut this madness out.
