Chapter 87: Chapter: 87
ANDREA
Don Marchetti's old tan face darkened with anger at what he thought was disrespect on my part. Patrizio, who was standing behind him, was even more incensed because he was suddenly moving, walking towards me, his intentions clear.
He was going to hit me, teach me a lesson. Don's voice stopped him midway, speaking in Italian.
“Let her be Patrizio. She's American, and she's yet to understand her predicament, but she will learn soon,” he ended in English.
The promise in those words gave me a full-body shiver. God knows I never want to learn whatever it is he has in store for me.
“I also want to know why you have to kidnap one of my lovers to blackmail me, because let's face it, you only kidnap Andrea because you think she's the leverage against me, right?” Alessandro said, his voice nonchalant.
His face was blank as he stood with his hands inside his pockets. Don Marchetti answered in Italian, staring Alessandro down, which made Alessandro answer back in the same language.
For a while, they spoke coldly to each other. I didn't have to know the language to recognize it was a face-off between two merciless alphas.
One is a vicious tiger, strong, young, cunning, and ruthless; the other is an old lion, though frail, he's also strong, wily, and a dirty player. Who thinks his grandson is still under his control. However, that couldn't be further from the truth.
“You will do your duty, Alessandro! As a Marchetti and as the underboss of this famiglia, that is not negotiable!” Don Marchetti yelled in English.
They both stared at each other for a long time. I was the only clueless one, as the others all knew Italian. Jesus! What the fuck is going on here?
“I will do no such thing! You just wasted your time, grandfather!” Alessandro said the word 'grandfather' with such venom that it gave me a shiver.
And I wasn't the only one who had noticed the loathing with which Alessandro had used that name.
“Do you think I'll agree to do anything because of an ex-lover? Granted, she was a good lay, but news flash: we parted ways months ago! You more than anyone should know I don't fucking date or do relationship. I only used them. So why should she be any different?”
Alessandro's words cut deeper than I thought. My face flamed with heat. It was said in a cold voice; his face gave nothing away.
My heart twisted with the realization that I was nothing more than a warm body to this man. I blink away the tears that suddenly want out. Not gonna cry, dammit!
“She's different because she has something the others didn't. She is carrying a Marchetti in her belly; she's pregnant with your baby, Alessandro!” Don Marchetti said coolly, his eyes staring right at Alessandro with a calculating, smug glint.
Alessandro looked shocked, his brows pulled together for a bit, his face softening, but then, just as fast, it went back to its original blankness.
I stared at Don Marchetti in shock, wondering how this man had found out what I had been hiding and hadn't even said out loud to myself, afraid that talking about it would make it even more real than it already was.
Yes, I am pregnant. I found that out weeks ago in Paris when I was living with Beth. But I don't know if I am ready to be a mother, which is why I never told anyone about it.
I'm in a bad place right now, with no job, no home, and no family. If I decide to keep the pregnancy, it's going to take all my strength, and truth be told, I'm not even sure I want to keep the pregnancy.
“What has my pregnancy got to do with anything?” I asked, confused.
“It's simple, really. You're carrying my great-grandchild. A Marchetti! You'll stay here until you deliver, then you are free to leave and live your life however you want. I don't have a problem with that, just that no blood of mine would grow anywhere else other than Villa Marchetti ever again!” Don Marchetti replied all business, his brown eyes deadly cold.
I swear it almost feels like I was standing in the court of a tyrant king from centuries ago. What the actual fuck! He was damn serious about separating me from my baby after they were born.
Even though I wasn't sure if I even wanted to keep the baby, the mere thought of this man getting his evil hands on my innocent baby and warping him into his image enrages me so much that I felt like throwing a rock at his head.
“Alessandro, you wanted an incentive. She and the baby in her womb are your incentive. As you can see, my health has been deteriorating. It is time you take over the famiglia business as the Don, but not before you do all your duties.”
“And if I refuse?” Alessandro gritted out. That gorgeous face is so hard that it looks like it was sculpted from marble.
“Patrizio?” Don called out. Instantly, a huge television screen lights up the room, playing a video. It took me a few seconds to understand what I was seeing. A face I'd often stare at in the mirror. My biological father!
A drug addict and a thief stared at me from the screen, an ocean away from Italy. I already had an inkling of what's about to happen.
Why I should care if this man lives or dies is beyond me, but I definitely did not want his blood on my hands. He might not have been a father to me, but he gave me life, and that's enough, I guess!
Then the images change, showing Alice, Katie, Tom, Beth, and Saul. All are going about their lives, not knowing they are being watched every single day. Day and night, some scenes were too private and should never have been taken.
It's intrusive, amoral, and just so wrong. And they didn't even know, they had no idea they could die at any time, any day if this monster so wishes. And all because of me, because I chose to work for Jules. Because if I hadn't agreed to work for Jules months ago.
I would never have endangered all these people or found myself in this situation. Tears rolled down my face, blurring their faces. My heart is beating like a drum with fear and trepidation.
“I could kill any or all of them at any given time, it will only take but a phone call and bang, bang, bang!! Their heads would roll, they would be nothing but a splatter of blood and gore!” the monster said, without an ounce of remorse. How could I ever have thought this man was kind?
I felt so cold inside; my body shook with how easily he said he would kill innocent people. What is wrong with these people?
Do other people's lives have no value to them? What's worse is that I believed him. He's cruel! Bile rose fast in my throat, but I forced it down.
“Please…” I began to beg. Because somehow an instinct was telling me, this wouldn't bode well.
“Shut your mouth! I'm speaking to Alessandro. Patrizio, if she says another word give the men order to shoot one of these people,” he says, his eyes full of malice as he stares at Alessandro. I instantly clamp my mouth shut, helplessly.
Alessandro stood so still and cold that his face completely closed up. His eyes were so cold; he looked almost unrecognizable. Suddenly, his need for control in all things made complete sense.
Living with a monster like this man must have been fucking hell! Having him control your whole life while you're a child must have been unbearable.
“Si Don, which one?” Patrizio's question made me choke on a scream.
“What does it matter, shoot her father or the older woman?”
“Why should I care about all these strangers? You seem to forget who I really am, grandfather.”
“Did I? I know you don't care about these strangers. You might lie to yourself, Alessandro, but you do care about her. And these strangers, as you called them, are her friends and family. Killing them will definitely hurt her!” he pauses, his eyes suddenly gleaming with malicious intent.
“You know what? A demonstration is in order. You seem to think I have become weak in your absence.”
“Patrizio, have the men shoot the older woman. But don't kill her. I don't want her dead yet!”
“Si Don!”
And before I could do anything, I watched as a bullet shot through the glass of Alice's restaurant and buried itself inside her body.
A scream ripped from my throat, I crumbled to the floor, sobbing and shaking. Still watching the screen, Alice was unconscious on the floor, in a pool of her own blood, while Katie cried over her, shaking and screaming her name.
Tom was also crying and making frantic calls. All the patrons who were there to eat rushed out of the restaurant within the first few seconds. Patrizio turned off the screen, and for a few minutes, the sound of my sobs was the only thing you could hear.
“That was unnecessary,” Alessandro gritted out cooly. Helping me stand on shaky feet. I swear my legs feel like jelly. Watching Alice get shot because of me was absolutely hell.
Guilt assailed me, suffocating and weighing me down. I tuck my head on his chest, wetting his shirt with my tears, not wanting to see that evil spawn.
Even though I was pissed at Alessandro for goading Don into shooting Alice. I wanted to leave that room even more.
When I looked at Alessandro, he was glaring daggers of icicles at his grandfather, who looked like he didn't give a damn. He already knows he'd got Alessandro by the balls. He'd outplayed him in this round.
And this devil was the man who wanted me to hand over my baby? Over my dead body! But I didn't say anything, I was too damn shocked to see Alice lying in her own blood. God! Please save her! Let her be alive and okay.
“Not true. I believe actions speak louder than words, Alessandro. Remember that when you are Don. The men won't respect you if you go easy on them.”
“Then Lorenzo should be Capo; I am weak in comparison to him,” Alessandro replied.
“Lorenzo is strong, no doubt about it. But he's not you. You're much more like me than you realize. We are men created for war and born to rule. I have no doubt the men would respect you. You'll accept nothing less.”
“Alright, I will do what you want, but you must let Andrea go back to her country, and you will never touch any of her friends and family ever again.”
“I give you my word. Miss McCain can leave after she delivers our newest Marchetti, and as long as you both behave accordingly, none of her people will come to harm. Now take your woman and go prepare for tonight!”