Chapter 112 Chapter: 112

Chapter 112 Chapter: 112
ANDREA

As I followed Alessandro closely behind, his body protectively shielding mine, I couldn't help but stare. There's something strange about him that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Either he's hiding something, or I'm missing something here.

My brain kept repeating what he told me a few minutes earlier. That he'd never intended to marry Valentina, I still couldn't believe it.

I kept wondering, if he'd never wanted to marry her, then why did he let me believe it? Did my pain and jealousy amuse him? Or was he afraid that both Don and Valentina might suspect him if I didn't react well as a woman whose lover is getting married to another woman?

“Alessandro, what is going on? I heard gunshots. What happened? Did Vincenzo's Famiglia attack you? Giulia told me that you are at war with them. Did they attack the villa for revenge or something?” I bombarded him with questions I've wanted answers for since I first heard the gunshots earlier.

“No, it wasn't the Vincenzo's. I attacked grandfather and Moretti's,” he replied nonchalantly and grabbed my hand in his. My jaw was on the ground in shock. What the heck is going on? Is this in-fighting over power, or was this Alessandro's original plan?

Did Alessandro want to be Capo? Did something happen to change his mind? Or was this his plan all along?

Something tells me this was Alessandro's plan. The more I learned about him, the more frightening he became.

“Casio, let's take the back door. I need to get Andrea out of this house,” Alessandro said, bringing me back to the present.

“Yes, boss.”

We walked out of the same door I had planned to escape through, just as Giulia had assured there was no one outside, just a few cars parked here and there. Though there was no one, Alessandro and Casio didn't let their guards down; their eyes were alert, their movements fast.

They kept me in the middle, with Alessandro's hands returning to me every few seconds, either leading me or just holding me. I didn't know if he was assuring himself that I was still here or just guarding me to safety.

“Casio duck!” Alessandro yelled and pushed me behind an SUV. I'd barely gotten on my knees when the car glass shattered, some of the broken glass raining down on me. Footsteps and gunshots were suddenly everywhere as Alessandro and Casio exchanged fire with the soldiers of the Marchetti and Moretti famiglias.

This goes on for a few minutes that felt like years to me, gunshot, screams, yells, and grunts, accompanied by the thudding of bodies on the gravel parking lots, running, and curse words in Italian. Alessandro had pulled two more guns when the first ran out of bullets. Casio also held a second gun now in his other hand.

Everything feels like an out-of-body experience. I was there, but I feel like I was pulled into a wild dream, or should I say a nightmare, where everyone is out for blood.

As suddenly as the gunshots started, they also suddenly ceased completely. There was utter silence. Alessandro started looking me over, trying to see if I was hurt.

“I'm okay, Alessandro, and you? Are you hurt?”

“No, I'm good.” He ran his hand over my face lightly. When he was sure that I was okay, he looked relieved. He exchanged a look with Casio, then they both stood up. I felt like knocking him back down so he didn't get shot. What if another soldier is lurking somewhere?

Just as fast as that thought came, it quickly vanished. This is Ombra I'm talking about. Alessandro could take care of himself; to think otherwise is to underestimate his capabilities.

Alessandro lowered himself and walked around the car, probably to check out the situation, while Casio stayed with me, his gun at the ready. A few seconds later, he was back.

“Clear, let's move fast.”

“Got it, Boss.”

Alessandro helped me up, and then we were moving. Both of them were still protecting me, and we stopped near an SUV that wasn't damaged like the rest. My brows scrunched when Alessandro said.

“Come, Andrea, Casio would take you away; it’s not safe for you here. I will come to you as soon as I’m done.”

“What! No, Alessandro, I need to…”

“Get in! Someone is here,” Alessandro said, his whole body tensing up, getting ready to shoot whoever it was. He whirled around, pushing me behind him, caging me between his huge body and the SUV with Casio on his side. He and Casio are pointing their guns at the approaching men.

Well shit! It was Don Marchetti, with dozens of his enforcers, half of whom were protecting him while the other half aimed their guns at us. I wonder if these are all the soldiers he has left, because I know there should have been more, or did Alessandro and his men kill them all? I doubt it, but where are they?

Fear made my stomach churn. We're well and truly screwed. Though Alessandro has a reputation for being one of the Shadow, he's only one man. I don't see how we are getting out of here alive with all these armed-to-the-teeth men surrounding us, ready to blow our brains out.

“Alessandro,che cosa hai fatto?”(What have you done?) Don Marco asked disappointedly. His eyes narrowed when our eyes collided. I was still hiding behind Alessandro, and I'm happy to let him protect me from his monster of a grandfather.

“Just what needed to be done,” Alessandro replied calmly, not lowering his gun trained on his grandfather.

“I offered you money and power, and you're throwing it all away for this whore?” His voice was condescending and furious at the same time, like he couldn't imagine why anyone would not want to be the boss of the mafia.

“Don't you ever call her that again. Andrea is not a whore, she's a decent woman and the mother of my unborn child,” he said, his voice hard. I didn't have to see his face to know they were cold.

“And I've got my money, I also don't need your kind of power. You want to cage me here to carry on with your legacy of tyranny and oppression. And I don't want that. We both want different things in life. I won't bow down to you or to anyone. I'm not eight anymore, Nonno,” Alessandro replied, staring him dead in the eyes.

“So you betray me? You, my own grandson, chose to betray me and your famiglia?! After I'd chosen to leave you my legacy?” Oh fuck! He's very angry.

“Screw your legacy! You and I were never family to begin with. Blood doesn't make us family, it's actually sad that you believe we are, you deluded old fuck!” Alessandro said with dark, cold eyes.

“You don't have any family; you are a monster who killed his own son and attacked his grandson. Whose own wife died of sadness, and who married off his daughter to a monster like himself and drove her to her death. And now, you'll die alone, regretting every decision and action of your entire existence.

While the castle you built crashes down all around you, as we speak, your warehouses where you keep innocent women and children are burning to the ground, the girls have all been returned to their families,” Alessandro replied leisurely, like we have all the time in the world, like dozens of gunmen didn't surround us.

There was no regret in Don Marchetti's face,he didn't even try to refute Alessandro's accusations. Because it was all true he'd done all those things and he obviously didn't feel guilty about any of it.

He looked calm, that was until he heard Alessandro's last words. His eyes suddenly became red, his old face mottled to a dark shade of red due to anger over the news.

“You shouldn't have done that, you'd cost me a lot of money. You'll pay for that. I'm to blame for this, I had hoped I'd whipped that rebelliousness out of you years ago, I was wrong. I'd wanted you to be the Capo because I thought you were like me, strong who would decimate anyone in his way to get what he wants, but I guessed the apple doesn't fall far from the tree,” he sneered.

“You might be strong just like father, but you both have the same weak hearts, letting insignificant women weaken you! I'm greatly disappointed, Alessandro. I expected so much from you,” he said with utter contempt and disgust, his dark eyes calculating.

“Patrizio, call our men and have them kill those bitch friends,” he ordered sharply.

“There's no reason to keep my end of the bargain when you've broken yours,” he adds. My eyes widened when I realized he'd just given the order to have Alice, Beth and the rest killed. My heart sank, dread making me nauseous. Please God don't let him kill them.

“Alessandro, you've got to do something,” I begged, panicking.

“Trust me, Andrea. Your friends and father are safe.” before I could ask how sure he is.

“Don,Patrizio non c'è. È da un po' che non lo vediamo”(Do, Patrizio is not here. We haven't seen him for a while now) one of the soldiers closest to the Don replied in Italian. I could guess the gist alright. Though I doubt they know Patrizio is already dead. I swallow hard, reminded of what I did and how I'd narrowly escape death.

“That fucker is long dead. Unfortunately for you, grandfather, you can no longer threaten me with those people's lives. All your soldiers guarding them are also dead.”

“How long have you been planning this?”

“Long enough. You started this game, you thought you had me where you wanted me. You see I'm not one to bow down to anyone much less you, not anymore. It's game over for you Nonno,”

“Not yet, it's not. I need to teach you a little lesson you've seemed to have forgotten, never show your weakness to anyone,” he said, his dark eyes gleaming with so much rage and evil.

“Bring me that bitch this instant” he ordered his soldiers

“I will show you Alessandro what cruelty I'm fully capable of. Him I want alive, I need to show you all what happens to people who betray me even if they are my own blood,” he yelled, spittle flying out of his mouth.

Three of the soldiers stride towards us, three seconds later all three were dead. I clutched Alessandro's shirt trembling,who hadn't moved a muscle while Casio shot those men,his gun trained on his grandfather.

Sweat trickles down my body, as I wonder if we'll ever get out of here alive. I kept thinking why Don didn't order his soldiers to rain down hell on us, probably because he wants Alessandro alive so he could make an example of him.

“Is that what you told yourself? That my father was a traitor, so you told your men to kill him?” Alessandro asked, his voice so deadly cold I shiver.

“He was a traitor who chose a woman over his famiglia. He broke his omerta, just like you did and you'll die just like he did. There's no place for weakness in the Marchetti famiglia,” Don yelled, his accent thickening with his words.

More Italian rants followed which were too fast and complicated for me to understand.

“You are a sick fucker Marco. I've always known that, I just regret not putting an end to your wretched life. You're worse than an animal,you keep yapping on and on about loyalty all the time but you are loyal to no one you selfish prick.”

“You disrespect me? Kill…”

“Don Marco! What the fuck is going on here?! And who the hell is this fucker?” fortunately a loud voice thundered, cutting off Don Marchetti before he could order his soldiers to kill us all.

Matteo Moretti came into view, being held hostage by…what the fuck! Alex? Who has his gun on Matteo's temple.

I was shocked. What is Alex Montgomery doing here? Tall, dark and gorgeous than ever dressed in a jeans and button up shirt with a Kevlar, I glance at Alessandro who doesn't look all that surprised.

Okaay! So he brought him here.

“Who the fuck did this to her?” Alex enraged at seeing my battered face.

“A dead man,” Alessandro replied.

“Happy to hear that.”

“Hello gorgeous, I'm glad to see you're alive and…well, pregnant,” Alex said with raised brows, then he winked at me. Before he glanced at Alessandro.

“You didn't tell me you've scored a goal brother,congrats are in order,” he said grinning. Alessandro shakes his head muttering something under his breath. I rolled my eyes, not believing what is happening right now. This is madness!

“Chi è questo pazzo bastardo?” (Who is this crazy bastard?) Don Marco asked, looking perplexed. Then glared at Alessandro,who shrugged.

“I'm Alex, and you're one sick old fucker aren't you? Who probably escaped the museum of historic artifacts.”

“You know what, I don't care. Killed this crazy fucker first.” soldiers went to pull their guns triggers.

“You shoot him I will fucking blow her brains out,” Logan suddenly appear. Now this is just ridiculous. Logan is also here? Suddenly everything makes sense. Alessandro was telling the truth,he'd been planning this.

Logan pushed Valentina forward who almost stumbled over when she saw Alessandro. Her wedding dress was smudged with dirt and blood but somehow she still managed to look gorgeous.

“Alessandro? What's going on? You left me alone, so you can escape with this woman? How could you do this to me? We just took our vows a few minutes ago, you're my husband you should be by my side not hers,” she said venomously. Glaring at me from where I'm standing beside him.

“Shut up Valentina! Can't you see what's going on?” her brother Matteo said cutting her off when she went to say more.

My mind was reeling from her words. Alessandro told me he didn't marry her but Valentina is saying that he did. Jealousy and anger bubble inside me had he lied to me? No, I believed him. Alessandro wouldn't lie to me about that. But…

In between the time I left them about to take their vows under the arch in front of the officiant, and the time he came to me, there was plenty of time for them to have already exchanged vows.

Which they already did, I didn't know what to believe anymore so I glared at Alessandro who didn't look fazed.

“I'm sorry to disappoint you Valentina, but that wasn't me,”

“What are you saying? Everybody was there, we got…” she started.

“That was me sweetheart, and you seem to have forgotten we weren't actually married. I don't recall saying I do,” I froze in shock, that voice was Alessandro's but…but Alessandro is right in front of me not behind me.

I whirled around to the direction of the voice and froze. Just as I'm sure everyone has.

Nicklaus? It's the real Nicklaus Montgomery.