Chapter 94 : I Don't Want To Burn You
Chapter: I Don't Want To Burn You
Sophie
Callan and I had probably devoured one-fourth of Rizzo's cellar. I painted a lot, I painted three five feet canvas which resulted in my hands permanently smelling like oil paint which wasn't a nice smell. Callan and I talked, he didn't let me fall into the deep end which would have made me unable to leave the bed, instead. He insisted on me getting my feelings out with my colors. I missed the Rizzos terribly, not talking to them felt like a curse. Their uncle had died, I wanted to make sure if they were okay, I wanted to see how Nia was doing.
I understood their need for space and I respected that but worrying for them and feeling guilty rarely let me sleep. The kittens were here, Callan loved them as much as I did and he was a good friend. I looked at myself in the mirror, it had been a week since my birthday and I looked like death with dark circles under my eyes, my hair up in the messiest bun ever and my face appearing thinner than usual. Callan had told me that Luciano was coming back in an hour or so. I hid my dark circles and brushed my hair, letting it fall over my shoulders. I wore a sweatshirt and loose blue jeans. I didn't want him to worry and I knew he would worry if I looked terrible in front of him. I cleaned the bottles which were in my room and put them out, Callan was down in the basement and there was some game room here as well.
Just when I was about to exit my room after cleaning it, I rarely let the maids do that for me. The door slammed open and Luciano walked inside. His stubble had grown a little, he was dressed in a shirt and the sleeve brunched around his elbow and trousers and on his nose were his glasses. He looked okay, I stood still, unsure of how to react.
“Luciano,” he walked closer and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tighter than he ever had. I hugged him back, closing my eyes and feeling at peace in his arms. He ran his large hand up and down my back and I shivered.
The door slammed open once again and Adriano and Angelo walked into the room as well. They came toward us and hugged me as well. I closed my eyes, we stayed in the group hug for a little longer, breathing each other's scent. In a few minutes, we were on the bed and they held onto me as if I was their air and everything. I held back tightly, feeling tears burn in my eyes in their silent grief. Soon enough, Luciano fell asleep with his head on my stomach, Adriano and Angelo were on my both sides, holding onto me so close.
“You are here,” Angelo woke in his sleep. I cupped his face, feeling my heart hurt at the lone tear which left his eye.
“Yes, I am here.” I muttered as darkness took over and I fell asleep, holding onto them.
When I woke up, Angelo was not in the bed. I twisted out of Adriano and Luciano's arms, they were sleeping soundly and I walked out of the room and just then I heard it. He was playing the piano. I followed the sound, walking into the part of the mansion I was yet to discover and he was in a large room and I frowned. The double door of the room looked burnt, the whole room which must have been light color was dark and the floor looked burnt as well. The walls looked burnt and the chandelier looked burnt and he looked burnt and hurt beyond words.
Sitting there with grace, he held the wall and his fingers were moving on the keys with swiftness which could only be bought by years of practice. Whatever he was playing, it was slow and a perfect melody to the sound of rain echoing in the room from outside. His eyes were closed, his shirt undone and his hair a mess. His glasses were on his nose as I watched, mesmerized. The ring of his finger glinted in the soft likeness of the candles which settled on the piano and the piano itself was burnt, just a little bit of it. He kept playing, I knew he was aware that I was there but he kept playing and letting me glimpse into another secret. I walked closer to him when it came to the end. I stood behind him, his shoulders were tense and I put my hands on them and the tension melted under my touch.
“Tim is dead.” He muttered and I gulped.
“I know,” I whispered.
“And Nia is injured.”
“I know,” I whispered again.
“M..my mother died in this room.” He turned and took me in his arms, his back facing the piano now as he cradled me in his arms.
His eyes were filled with sorrow, very deep sorrow.
“I felt as if the whole world was burning that day and my father had found out about her affair with a woman she loved. He killed her right here and then he hung my mother from the chandelier by a rope, her feet touching the ground. He forced us out of the room and he lit the whole room on fire and then he listened to her screams for mercy.” He ran his hand through his hair.
“She died here.” I cupped his face.
“Angelo…”
“Tim died while saving Nia.” He interrupted me, seeming to be unable to stop talking.
“A pillar fell on him, they were on the porch and he pushed Nia out of the way and it fell on him. It killed him and shattered Nia’s leg, that…” he gulped.
“We should have burned for her, Sophie. We should have died trying to free our mother.” I didn't say anything, he pressed a kiss on my mouth.
“And if we had, mother would be alive and you wouldn't be in danger. Maybe you would be with someone worthy of you and your love and Nia would have her father.” He set his forehead against mine, wiping a tear which had escaped away.
“I feel like I am cursed with failure.” He whispered.
“I burnt what I touched.”
“You do…”
“I don't want to burn you.” He cut me off.
“You won't.”
He cracked a smile and I had never seen a smile that haunted me.
“I will, princess. I will burn you and I don't want that.”
I pulled him closer and hugged him tightly. I haven't seen him broken like this and it hurt me deeply. It shattered my heart seeing all three of them in pain.