Chapter 49 (Marco)


    "Yes. Ren and I have been the ones doing your dirty work for years. While you yed soldier, I have


    protected her father''s spawn. Cleaned up her mess after the 5 of them decided to get fucking trigger


    happy. And the little temper tantrum she had a year back with that Spanish boy? Remember that


    fucking mess? All at your fuckin'' bidding. So yes, I know her well, and she might look weak, but she is


    as made as the men we pay for their loyalty."


    "I never asked you to encourage her behavior or get involved in their affairs, nor did I ask Ren to


    be her partner in crime. You taught her how to aim for the head, and the others encouraged the


    rest. So, don''t me me for that. I asked you to watch her and keep her safe. I told Ren to find out


    what her father was hiding that he put his daughter in danger on purpose. I said nothing about


    bing BFFs with her. That was all you, and I''m notining. I needed five minutes in her


    presence, and I could understand why."


    "If she ever finds out, Ren started hanging out with her because he had to, it will kill her. I happen to


    like the little she-devil."


    I turn to face Deno, and I usually would twist his balls, getting wussy on me, but I don''t.


    "She won''t, the only people who know anything is in this room."


    "You told me Aliyana will be ast option. Now you are making out with her on the rooftop, dancing to


    sappy songs, having fucking dinner? Want to tell me what''s really going on in that head of yours?"


    Yes, she was thest option. Three girls were important in our world. Two of them were Cami and


    Aliyana, both of who had a lot more than their virgin bodies to offer a man. Both protected by their


    family. The third one was protected by me.


    I study my brother. He is watching me - waiting. I show him what I would never let many see as I say


    the words, I would never be able to take back. Something, not even Aliyana knows yet, and I only


    figured out a few days ago.


    "She quietens the noise."


    "Fuck. You should have said that in the first ce. Now I feel like a puss. I''lle with you to talk to our


    hard-headed father." Yes, Fuck. We both remain still, staring at our city, drinking brandy, as the ring on


    our index fingers sits heavy on our hands.


    My confession so short, but holds so much current, can never be taken back. My brother and I have


    always stood side by side. The bastard sons of Capo Marcello Catelli.


    Even Viins fall in love.


    "I will never be like you, Marco." His words are true and hang between us. It is the difference between


    Deno and I.


    My choices are based on emotion, it is my strength. One day it will also be the reason for my early


    grave.


    Maybe even Aliyana''s too.


    "Let''s eat, I''ll make some wraps, you can cut the veg," Deno deres. I put my arm around his


    shoulder and squeeze his arm before we head to the kitchen.


    For a split second, I imagine my siblings and Mischa in this kitchen prepping lunch. One day.


    I leave soon after we eat, Deno and I agree to meetter.


    The drive to the suburbs is long and needed to clear my head.


    But my mind keeps shing back to another time, long ago.


    War, soldiers and blood, lots of blood, everywhere. The screams of kids, the howls of women, the sand


    in my eyes, the stench of death, and poverty.


    Going to the Navy is a tradition every first son has toplete.


    My father told me that killing a man wasn''t so difficult, but killing many men in war, serving your country


    was something only true brave men came out of.


    I did 4 tours.


    The 1st one was for tradition. My 2nd for my friend, Stringer, who died saving a kid only to be blown up


    with the same kid.


    Then came the 3rd for all the brothers who lost their lives too soon. And the 4th one, my final tour, was


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    for me. By then, I just wanted to kill as many of those fuckers as I could. After my time ended, I was


    epted in the special forces, I refused. I was done with that shit and ready to take my ce.


    The Special ops didn''t take no for an answer, though, and called me a few times. When the price was


    right, I agreed to do an odd job, but, mostly I said yes because I had a particr skill, not many


    possessed these days. I never failed.


    My father said the war didn''t change me like it did him. Truth is, it changed me a lot. I just became a


    master at hiding all the rage burning within me. Now, I am always on fire. Waiting to kill, snap. All I


    need is a reason.


    Aliyanaes to mind as I take the corner toward the gatedmunity. I should let her be, make


    Leonardo marry her. That is what she ultimately wants. The Bratva will still assist us.


    Family is Family. She has gone through enough, and her need to find her sister will only cause her


    more pain when she learns the truth.


    Deno is right, my wife would be a queen, but she will also be the most wanted woman in the world. An


    early death sentence is almost guaranteed.


    I didn''t get this life ying war games. The Shadow is a name too feared to be even whispered as a


    horror story.


    Knowing all of this still won''t change my mind.


    I''ll never earn Aliyana''s love, and hurting her is something I know I will do. But eptance from her is


    something I’m certain I can have; she will walk by my side, epting the blood on my hands. The rest


    we will figure out, but one thing is clear,


    I have to have her.