Chapter 152: Diavolo Is Back, And He Wants To Kill Me

SANCIA

My wedding ring gleamed golden, the diamonds catching the light in a prism of colors from where it was placed on the picture frame of Dario and me. Which I could have sworn was on the dresser.

I glanced around, and my brows creased when I noticed one of my windows was halfway open, the light curtain billowing with the night wind.

I pick up my shirt and put it over my head, then I walk towards the window. I quickly lock the window and double-check the other, just to make sure it’s also shut.

Movements from below caught my eye. A dark figure, tall and lean, even from here, I could tell it was a man, although I couldn’t make out his features. I place my palm against the glass as I lean closer.

He was walking down the street, hoodie up, something about his gait, the way he walked, felt familiar. I snicker at the ridiculous thought. I’m going to have to book longer sessions with my therapist, Suzanne. Obviously, I’m losing my damn mind.

And yet despite this thought, I couldn’t look away. There I was, standing against my glass windows in nothing but my shirt, which barely covered my butt, staring down at a lone dark figure.

A part of me wonders if it was Sergio, if my brother had finally found me, or if this is one of his soldiers spying on me.

My heart stuttered at that dangerous thought. While I miss my family, I don’t want to see them. I’m not ready to see them.

I’m still too raw inside, knowing how they treated Dario and me. While I could forgive them for abandoning me, I couldn’t forgive them for trying to take my son away.

That, to me, is unforgivable.

The only thing worse than my family finding me is Lorenzo’s enemies finding out where we’re hiding. We’ve managed to stay hidden for two years now, living peacefully. If they find us, everything I’m trying to build will be ruined.

I quickly stepped back, my hand falling from the glass when the figure or man suddenly stopped and glanced back.

Goosebumps erupted over my skin as we stood like that, me watching from the window of my three-story bedroom and the figure looking up from down below, shielded by the shadows of the night.

Okay, this is dumb and weird as hell. Sancia, you must be out of your goddamn mind. I can’t believe I’m scaring myself.

The man is probably just taking a walk. Then why was he staring up at you?

Well, duh, I would stare at myself too. A dumb woman standing in a brightly lit room in nothing but her shirt sounds like a crazy person to me.

What if I’d just unintentionally called a perverted person’s attention to myself?

I shiver and quickly step away from the window. Then I grab the framed picture and ring.

My throat tightens with emotion as I stare at the wedding ring. I took it off two years ago. At the time, I thought I didn’t need more reminders of Diavolo in my life, so I put it in my drawer, thinking out of sight, out of mind.

I’d learned, however, that that wasn’t how memories work. I’d completely ignored its existence, and yet someone had brought it out from where I had hidden it.

Could Dario have brought it out while he was playing without me knowing? Probably. I open the drawer, dump it back inside, lock it properly this time, then put the picture frame back on the dresser.

My lips stretched with a soft smile as I stared at the picture. Isabella had taken the picture on the day Dario came into this world; it was the only picture I had of him at birth, which is why I take every opportunity to take his picture now.

I have full photo albums of him, from three months old to now. I want him to know he’s loved. Besides, pictures are memories, and as his mother, I should protect and preserve his childhood memories.

As always, I spent my entire weekend with my small family, mostly just hanging out at home with Dario, Zetta, and Guilia.

On Saturday, Dario and I spent our time either doodling and coloring or, when he’s tired — which is rare—Dario is a ball of energy; I could barely keep up with him most of the time.

He plays with his toys, then I make him take a nap while I study. On Sunday, we all went to a picnic in the park. Zetta had prepared a feast for our outdoor trip.

Dario was happy, playing with his toys. Sometimes I played with him, sometimes Guilia, and other times we just watched him play with other kids. It was fun, and we all had a great time.

By the time we went back home, we were all exhausted. He was already yawning when I got him ready, put him to bed, and started reading him his bedtime story.

I pause from reading when I realize he’s already dozed off. My heart filled with warmth at seeing him so at peace; I kissed his cheek, turned off the light, and left his room for mine.

Monday

“Alright, that’s all for today. You have forty-eight hours to submit your case study analysis.” There were a few collective groans before Prof. Isaac walked out, chuckling.

I sigh as I grab my bag and make my way out of the class. I never told anyone the reason I chose psychology as my major. But then it’s not like I have anyone to tell these kinds of things to.

The truth was, it was partly because I wanted to understand Diavolo and people like him. Maybe it was silly that I’m basing my future on someone I’d had a love-and-hate relationship with.

But then I’m also part of the conundrum; I’m as contradictory as they come. I love Lorenzo, and I hate him.

I blame him for being dark, but I was no innocent bystander. My hands were also soaked with blood; whether they deserved it or not, it was never my place to mete out justice.

And here, I’m being given the opportunity to connect theory to behavior and analyze possible psychological explanations.

I wave at some of my coursemates. Although I kept to myself most of the time, there are a few I consider friends, though not like Brianna, who hasn’t come to this lecture.

She told me she’s running late and wouldn’t be able to make it. I don’t know why I always get this uneasy feeling whenever I’m walking alone, especially late at night.

But then I have every reason to be paranoid and cautious. Unlike most people, I never had a normal life; it would be stupid of me if I walked around without a care in the world when I know more than most about the kind of evil that lurks in the shadows, waiting to grab any unfortunate soul.

I was almost to my car when I decided to bring out my keys. Balancing my books in the crook of my left hand, I rummage through my bag with my right, trying to find said keys.

Just as my fingers grazed the key, arms yanked me between a white van and another car, before slamming me hard against the wall, fingers wrapped around my throat, his body flat against mine, and his other hand slapped against my mouth.

He’d moved with brutal efficiency; everything happened so fast that I never had the chance to scream. There was no warning, not even that prickly awareness when danger is close that I sometimes get.

One minute I was in the open, the next I was trapped between a car and a towering figure cloaked in darkness and a black hoodie. Another vehicle hides us from the rest of the world.

I could do nothing but just stand there, pinned by a hard male body, my body trembling so badly, my heartbeat was deafening, the organ threatening to leave my body at any moment now.

“Fight me, and you’ll die much quicker than I would like,” he growled,his warm breath whisper against my forehead. Shocked as I was, I couldn’t even breathe, much less think.

His voice. No, no. It couldn’t be. I must have heard wrong.

“Do you understand?”

That voice again, but I ignored it. It’s not him; it couldn’t be. I nodded frantically, or I tried to.

All I know is that I could die here right here right now before I even lift a finger, and that thought alone was enough to scare me shitless, so I would do whatever it takes to survive.

I don’t want to die like this. I don’t want to leave Dario alone, an orphan without a parent in this world. Thinking of Dario growing up alone broke my heart.

Tears welled in my eyes and slipped down my cheeks, even as my brain tried to calibrate what was going on. And I know the instant he felt it, the salty drops against his hand.

“I’m going to take my hand off now,” he growled in my ear, his voice strangely husky.

Goosebumps erupted over my body without my permission, and for the life of me, I didn’t know whether it was out of fear or because of the familiarity of that voice.

His hand dropped from my mouth as he moved back just enough that the slight lighting illuminated his face. Enough to make out his features. My heart froze for a few seconds before it resumed its thundering.

An involuntary gasp ripped from my mouth, and blood instantly drained from my face at the shock of seeing a face I’d never thought I’d see again.

It doesn’t matter that there wasn’t enough light for me to see those eyes that always burn with intensity, or that he’s supposed to be dead; I know as much as I know my own name that it’s him.

Lorenzo!

For a split second, hope bloomed inside me so strongly it blinded me to everything but the knowledge that Lorenzo is alive.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my sight as a sob ripped from my throat.

“Enzo?” I whisper, voice trembling. I went to reach out, to touch him, feel him. Just make sure that he’s real and not another one of my hallucinations. He slammed me back against the wall.

“What the fuck are you trying to do?” he growled, frowning.

“N…nothing,” I gasped as he put more pressure around my neck.

“You didn’t think I was going to find you, that this day would come, did you?” he sneered, anger in every word. His hand tightens around my neck.

“What? No,” I tried again. “How are you here?”

“Why? Did you really think I was dead? Did you honestly believe you could disappear and I wouldn’t find you? That I’m that easy to kill? Was it Luca? Were you doing it for him? Did he force you into this? Just who the fuck are you, Elena?”

The more questions he asks, the more confused I am, the crazier he gets, and the harder he squeezes, until I was clawing at his hand to let me go, fighting for breath.

Tears welled and dripped down my face; his hand slackened just a bit, just as several voices headed our way, growing louder as they neared.

Distracted, his hand slackened even more, just enough for me to breathe in air easily. I sucked in air greedily, coughing as he looked away.

That was all I needed. I didn’t have time to think of the consequences if I failed. I kicked him hard, so hard that I felt my bones jarring, and pushed him back with all that I was worth; he stumbled, cursing.

Before he could grab me, I made a run for it. Bolting every which way without a clear destination in mind. I just ran and ran. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, without looking back until I was sure I was far away from him.

Diavolo is back, and he wants to kill me.