Chapter 178 Two Face Demons

Chapter 178 Two Face Demons
SANCIA

“Please tell me Dario is with you?” I blurted as soon as Lorenzo picked up on the other end. I was pacing the bathroom floor.

I’ve tried to stay composed during the day, one because I trusted Lorenzo would never allow Antonio’s men to take his son away. Secondly, because there was nothing I could do besides drive myself crazy with worry, that is.

“Yes, what happened?” Diovolo asked.

Relief punched me in the gut, and I exhaled. “Antonio told me he’d sent men to bring him over from London.”

“Oh, those fucker are long dead,” he deadpan. “Antonio will realize that soon, when he doesn’t hear from them.”

“Good.”

I should feel bad for the loss of lives, but all I feel is relief. Because if Antonio had gotten hold of Dario, it wouldn't matter if he was here with me. He would have used him to manipulate me.

“How’s my little boy?” I whispered, my eyes flicking to the water filling the tub. I hoped the sound would be enough to drown out my phone call.

“He misses you, and so do I. He was very active during our flight but was dead asleep the minute we landed,” Lorenzo replied.

“Tell him Momma misses him too and will be back as soon as I can.”

“Will do.”

“Take care of him. Don't let him play too much, and if there's anything you don't understand, ask Zetta or Giulia.”

“I will. Don't worry. I promise I'll take care of our son.”

“I know. I just wish I were there with you both.”

“Just say the word, and you will be.”

I rolled my eyes, smiling.

Then his voice dropped into that commanding tone.

“Now tell me everything. Are you okay? Are you safe, or do you want me to come pick you up?”

For the first time today, I could hear the worry in his voice. I felt myself relax as warmth spread through me.

“I'm fine. Mama is sick, but she didn't want to see me. In fact, she never even asked for me.”

“So they lied,” he gritted out.

I nodded as though he could see me.

“Yes. When I tried to leave after our fight with Mama, Antonio locked me in my room.”

“Fucking stronzo,” he growled. “I'm coming to get you out of there.”

I shake my head. “No, no. Relax. It's not time yet. I'm waiting until Sergio gets back. I'm sure he'll tell me what's going on.”

“Fine. But I'm only giving you three days; if you're not done by then, I'll come get you, whether Sergio is back or not. I don't trust that coward Antonio not to try something shady.”

“I don't trust him either, and I think you might be right.”

“About what?”

“Isabella. I think she's working with Antonio. I just don't understand why, but I'm going to find out.”

“Just be careful around her. Never let your guard down because she's your sister. Sometimes the people closest to us can do us more harm than strangers.”

“I'll be careful. Kiss Dario for me. I have to go before anyone comes in and sees me on the phone. Antonio also has guards watching me.”

“What?” Lorenzo growled.

“Apparently it's for my protection.”

“Asshole. I don't fucking like this one bit.”

“I don't either, but I need to see Sergio before I get out of here. Besides, I'm not letting Antonio and his fucking father control my famiglia.”

“They won't. At least not for long. But I need you here beside me, far away from that asshole. You never know what he's playing at. So promise me you'll let me know the second you're ready to leave that shithole.”

“I will. I promise.”

I ended the call, took a quick bath, and went back to my room. I hid the phone in my closet before changing into pajamas. It was already eleven p.m.

After staying up all night, my eyes felt dry and puffy. I was suddenly thirsty, so I decided to get a glass of water and a few slices of cucumber to help with the swelling.

Grabbing my phone, I walked out of my room, ignoring the lone guard outside. He probably figured I wasn't about to make a run for it in my pajamas because he didn't bother following me.

I frowned as I reached the bottom of the stairs and heard male voices coming from the living room. My nose scrunched in disgust at the overpowering stench of liquor and cigarette smoke.

Bottles of wine and beer littered every surface while the men played cards around the dining table, laughing and chatting animatedly.

A few whistles went up when some of them noticed me, making my skin crawl, but other than that, they kept their distance. I guessed this was why there were fewer guards upstairs.

Rage nearly made me see red at what had become of our home.

Papa must be turning in his grave seeing what our family home had been reduced to—a gambling den.

I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of cold water, sliced a few cucumbers onto a plate, and headed back upstairs.



I was passing Mama's door on my way back to my room when I heard something crash inside.

I hurried over and barged through the door.

Mama was coughing hysterically, one hand stretched toward the jug of water. The crashing sound had come from the glass she'd accidentally knocked onto the floor.

“Mama, I'll do it.”

I grabbed the other glass, filled it with water, and handed it to her. She drained it almost instantly before asking for more. This time, she sipped it slowly, then handed the empty glass back for me to place on the bedside table.

I stood there watching her. She looked utterly defeated, and a lump formed in my throat despite everything that had happened between us. I still couldn't get over how much she'd wasted away over the past few years.

“Sancia, la mia bambina,” she whispered, her voice catching as she held out her arms from where she sat on the bed.

“Come to me, Sancia. Or are you still angry with me?” she asked softly. “I tried to warn you. I guess it was useless.”

I shook my head. “I'm not angry with you, Mama. If I were, I wouldn't have come back to see you at all.”

“Come here. Let me look at you.” She patted the bed beside her.

I hesitated before closing the distance and sitting beside her. Mama reached for my hand.

Before I could react, she pulled me into a hug. She held me as tightly as she could, yet I could still feel how little strength she had left.

I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her back.

For a few seconds, we simply sat there. When we finally pulled apart, I realized Mama was crying.

“It's okay if you were angry, Sancia,” she said, her voice heavy with remorse. “You have every right to be. I let grief and others cloud my judgment and send you away from your home. Your papa must be angry with me in his grave.”

“Don't say that, Mama. I'm sure Papa wouldn't blame you.”

“I'll always blame myself, even if he doesn't.” She lowered her voice. “This time, when I told you to leave, it was meant as a warning. Get out of here while you still can. Don't become another person they can use against your brother.”

I frowned. “Mama, what do you mean?”

“Just what I said.” She squeezed my hand. “You made the right decision not to bring your son here.”

I grabbed her hand tighter. “Mama, please tell me what's going on.”

She cupped my face tenderly and smiled.

“You're always smarter than your sister. I'm sure you know what I mean. Now go back to your room before they realize you're here.”

She shoved something into my hands, “Leave then call Sergio.”

I look at my hand and there’s a piece of paper with a phone number inside.

“Go back to your room, sancia, I'm also going back to sleep.”

I got up, tucked the blanket around her and moved the water closer so she wouldn't have to reach far for it when she got thirsty. Then I quietly slipped out, clutching the piece of paper tight in my fist.

A glimpse of white dress caught my eye just as I was about to enter my room, but I recognized the figure wearing it. Isabella.

Something about the way she glanced around before moving made me suspicious. Curious about what she was up to, I followed her, careful to stay out of sight.

A couple of the men looked up from their card game before dismissing her and returning to it. I quietly slipped past them, my heart pounding with the fear that one of them would notice me.

Fortunately, they didn't. I caught sight of her white nightgown just before she disappeared into one of the guest bedrooms.

I glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching before sneaking over to the door.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I pressed my ear against it.

“What are you doing here?”

My eyes widened the instant I recognized Antonio's voice.

“You know why. I've done everything you've asked of me, so I need you to do something for me in return. Talk to the elders. I don't want to get married.”

“I've done all I can for you, Isabella. You can't avoid marriage forever. Maybe you should actually give it a second thought.”

Silence hung between them for several long moments before Isabella spoke again.

“If you don't help me, then we'll just have to tell them the truth and stick with Papa's original plan. We'll get married, and the problem of the white sheets won't matter anymore... since you're my first.”

Antonio's laugh was cruel and mocking. “I might have fuck you, but we both know I wasn’t your first.”

“But…” A muffled thud echoed through the room, followed by a fit of coughing, then wheezing.

“You don’t want to play that game with me, Isabella. I don't love you, and I never will.” Antonio's voice was cold enough to freeze my blood. “You're not going to ruin my plan to get your sister back, or there will be consequences.”

His voice sounded nothing like the Antonio I knew. It sent a chill racing down my spine, raising every hair on the back of my neck.

“Don't ever threaten me again. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Isabella replied, voice hoarse.

“Now get the fuck out of my room.”

I turned and fled back to my room before either of them could realize I'd heard them.