Chapter 156 MY SKIN.
\~~~TALIA.
I watched Raina closely as we stepped into the dusty room of the unfinished building. The air was thick with the smell of concrete and rust, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the walls, casting long shadows on the floor. Marco owned this place, a half-built warehouse on the edge of the city that no one bothered with. It was perfect for what I had in mind, quiet, isolated, and far from prying eyes. My heart raced with a mix of excitement and cold determination. After eight long months of hiding, planning, and watching from the shadows, this was it. I was taking back everything that was mine.
"Now, without wasting much time, we are swapping clothes," I said, my voice steady as I shut the door behind us. The words hung in the air like a command, and I could see the shock ripple across Raina's face.
"E... excuse me?" she stuttered, her eyes widening as she backed up a step. Her hands clutched at the hem of her blouse, like she could hold onto her identity that way.
I shook my head and let out a slow breath, trying to keep my patience. She was stalling, just like always, acting all innocent and surprised. But I knew better. "You heard me, Raina. We are switching outfits. Right here, right now."
She blinked, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "What are you planning to do?" Her voice was a mix of fear and anger, but underneath it, I could hear the tremble.
Good. She should be scared.
"Taking back my place, of course," I replied, crossing my arms over my chest.
"And the best time to do that is now. I will return to that office, that house, as you. And if we are even spitting facts, it is me. I'm just reclaiming my position. You stole it when I had to run, but now it is over."
Raina's face twisted in disbelief. She ran a hand through her hair, pacing a little in the small space. "You must be a clown if you think he wouldn't tell the difference in an instant." Her eyes flashed with defiance, mentioning Luciano like he was some unbreakable shield.
I laughed, a short, sharp sound that echoed off the bare walls. "You are giving that man too much credit, ain't you? He couldn't even tell us apart at the wedding. Remember that? We switched places, and he kissed you thinking it was me. What do you think he will do now?"
"He...!" Raina stopped abruptly, her cheeks flushing as the truth hit her. She knew I was right. Luciano had been blind to the subtle differences between us as she had hidden them well, I had to admit. For a while now, I'd watched her from afar, piecing together her routine, and her lies.
"This is insane," she said, her voice rising. "If you want back your place, come out and fight for it fair and square. What were you thinking bringing me... here?" She glanced around the room, her eyes taking in the unfinished walls, the scattered tools, and the dim light. Then her gaze landed on Marco, who sat in the corner on a rickety chair, lighting up a cigarette. Smoke curled up around his shaved head, and his tattooed arms flexed as he watched us.
I saw the disdain on her face, the way her nose wrinkled, like she was too good for this place, and for us.
It wasn't new. Raina had always acted like the fragile one, the pretender who couldn't finish a bowl of food without complaining. But deep down, she was a backstabbing bitch who'd had the guts to steal my place, my husband, and my entire life. "We could do this the hard way, or easy," I said, stepping closer. "It is your choice, sister."
"You're not going to do anything to me. You ran away, are you forgetting that?!” she shot back, shaking her head with false confidence. Her eyes darted to the door, like she was calculating an escape.
And just then, Marco stood up. His chair scraped against the floor, loud in the quiet room. He crossed over to us in three long strides, his boots thudding heavily. He stopped beside Raina and curled his arm around her neck, pulling her back against his chest. The cigarette dangled from his lips, and he puffed out a cloud of smoke right in her face.
Raina gasped and tried to pull away immediately, her hands clawing at his arm. But Marco tightened his grip, his muscles bulging under his shirt. She coughed, her face turning red as the smoke filled her lungs. "You two are going to regret this," she wheezed, her voice strained.
"Get dressed, princess," Marco growled, his voice low and rough, like gravel. "Or I'd strip you naked myself."
Her hands flew instinctively to cross over her chest, shielding herself. Panic flashed in her eyes, and for a moment, I almost felt a twinge of something… guilt?
No, that was ridiculous. This was her fault. She could have refused the union if at all our parents had forced her into it.
Hell, she could have run away too!
Marco pulled back gently then, releasing her just enough to let her breathe, but his presence loomed like a threat.
"He is not bluffing," I said, meeting her gaze. My voice was calm, but inside, my pulse thrummed with adrenaline.
Marco was my rock these past months, temperamental, sure, but steady. He had helped me survive on the run, taught me how to fight dirty. And now, he was making sure this went my way.
His way, too.
Surely, he had an unfinished business with Luciano.
"I don't care. I am not going to…" Raina started, her chin lifting in defiance. But before she could finish, Marco moved fast. His hand came down in a precise chop to the side of her neck, a pressure point he'd shown me once. Her eyes rolled back, and she slumped to the floor like a rag doll, unconscious.
"She talks too much," Marco hissed, rubbing his hand as he stepped back. He took another drag from his cigarette, watching her with cold eyes.
"Well," I shrugged, trying to play it cool even as a knot twisted in my stomach.
Seeing her like that, my twin, unconscious on the dirty floor, stirred old memories. Us as kids, sharing clothes, secrets, and dreams. But that was before everything fell apart. Before my parents’ greed, and the Morettis drag me purposely into their world.
Before I had to run to save my skin.
“Let's get this done."