Gabriele

I looked at Miriam’s pictures scattered all over my open laptop and desk. I got a shit load of things to do and sort but I just could not focus.

It was rare for a woman to capture my attention and it turned out the times it happened, both were one.

“Fuck!” I cursed when her face flashed across my eyes the moment I closed them.

I didn’t see her for the first time that night at Ferraro’s mansion. The first time I saw Miriam Ferraro was at Club Luna.

I was there that night when I was tipped off about Lorenzo and Ezio’s colluding behind my back.

A document arrived with a blue nightingale seal.

I didn’t deem it worthy enough since I already knew everything but the context of the document did surprise me. The information was very sensitive and hard to get hands on.

I didn’t need it but I could always use such cherries to toy with my enemies.

It was then that I noticed a beauty in a small dress on the bar. She didn’t look like she came with someone or was waiting for someone.

She was too good for every fucker around her who wanted to get her attention.

I wanted her then and there.

So, I did what I did best. I went after her because she was only going to one place and that was my bed.

But when I reached the bar, she was nowhere to be found.

My eyes found her leaving the club. I chased after her, something I never did before.

She managed to grab my attention like no one else.

Our eyes met at last when I found her near her car. I wanted to go to her but something stopped me from doing so.

I let her go.

I, Gabriele Revello, let my prey escape that night, only to meet her again like this.

I looked at the doors disinterestedly when they opened after a brief knock and my secretary walked in with an envelope.

“This came for you,” she placed the envelope in front of me and left.

I kept looking at the seal for a few seconds before grabbing the envelope and tearing it open. I stood up and went towards the window. My eyes wandered down and landed on the person sitting on a black bike.

I couldn’t make much of his appearance because of the height of the building and the helmet further obscured his identity.

“What’s your deal?” I mused when the biker looked up as if looking at me and then drove off.

I turned around when the door to my office opened.

“Andrei,” I greeted him, mildly surprised by his unannounced visit.

He entered his late fifties but looked nothing like it.

“You have become one tough man to meet,” Andrei mused. I held his right hand and kissed it. “You, of all people, don’t need to stand on formalities. My boy!”

He grabbed my shoulders firmly, his green eyes shone while admiring me.

“My pride, my joy” I smiled a small smile in return. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” We sat on the couch across from each other. “You should have called me.”

“I know you are busy,” Andrei replied affectionately. “You are soaring high in the sky. I just have one wish I need to be fulfilled before I die.” He smiled. “To see you settle down and start your own family. I want to play with my grandchildren.”

It wasn’t the first time he said this. Andrei wanted me to start a family long ago. But I didn’t wish to.

Having a family meant to have weaknesses and I could not afford them in my world.

“Are you attending the party this year?” Andrei inquired.

“Yes,” I replied. “I’d like to see what I’ve been missing.”

“That’s a first,” Andrei laughed and stood up to leave. “I came here to convince you but I see there is no need.” Andrei held his cane with both hands.

“It will be a night to remember.”

*****

Miriam

I grabbed the black velvet box from the dressing table and took out the ring from it. It was a beautiful ring with a big blue stone carved in a unique design. This ring was the symbol of the Rossi family and belonged to our mother, Eloisa.

She got it from her mother when she ascended the throne like her ancestors.

I wore it on my right hand and stood up.

Another night to play the role of both the daughter and granddaughter of the Ferraro and Rossi family.

I was elegant and graceful and poised just like my mother. She was intelligent and smart but she turned out to be a fool at heart. This was what I heard while growing up and dealing with people from different mouths.

Not many knew that I ran the family’s legal business.

As much as Marcello wanted to take full control of Rossi’s business, he couldn’t with his illegal one. Not until Andrei put his trust in him. He needed me so he could stay away from the clutches of law.

Marcello held the perfect card to pull my strings to his tune.

Luca!

“Miss!” I looked at Gina when she entered the dressing room. “It’s time.”

It was time!

Gina couldn’t stop admiring my beauty but I felt nothing while hearing those words of admiration. There was nothing to feel happy about. It was just endless pain and agony for this curse of beauty I was born with.

Noemi was outside my door when we came out. The left side of her face was covered as always to her mid-cheek with her diagonal eye patch.

To hide her scar.

Noemi was the only person Marcello let me choose on my own. It was not an easy feat but I succeeded in getting him to agree to it.

“Your father is waiting for you in the car,” Noemi said in a low voice.

“I’m meeting Luca first,” I went to Luca’s room. Luckily, Higgs was not there to block my path or molest me.

Luca looked up from the book he was reading when I entered with Noemi and Gina. I smiled brightly and knelt by his side.

“How do I look?” I asked him.

“Beaut-iful.” He replied, his eyes woeful yet full of love for me. I grabbed his wrist and kissed his palm when he put his trembling hand on my cheek. “Ar-e yo-u goi-ng to th-e par-ty wit-h fat-her?”

“I will be fine, Luca,” I assured him. “Have your dinner and take your medicines, okay?” I caressed his face. “I’ll see you after returning.”

Luca only looked at me with concern-filled eyes.

“Bye,” I left his room and went out of the mansion with Noemi.

“You took your sweet time,” Marcello spat as soon as I sat in the car. “Drive,” he barked at the driver. “Don’t mess this up, do you hear me? Please Fabio however you can and get him to sign the fucking deal.”

“Yes,” I replied without looking his way. My face bore no emotion but my heart was thundering with fear.

The fear of running into Andrei!

There was no use in praying because I knew he was coming. He did every year and I did everything to avoid encountering him.

It resulted in lots of beating by Marcello. He hit me mercilessly but he made sure my body bore no marks of his doings.

He knew Andrei would flip on him if there was a single scar on my body.

I looked at the venue when the car stopped in the driveway swarming with armed guards, reporters, and guests.

“Mind it, Miriam,” Marcello hissed. “One wrong word and you know the consequences.”

I stepped out of the car with a perfect smile plastered on my rosy lips. I held his arm and walked inside the building.

Marcello was now the perfect father for the world to see. A father that doted on his daughter and cared deeply for his son. He smiled at me tenderly while introducing me to the people and praising me like a true and proud father would do.

His eyes and face showed utter pain whenever someone asked about Luca.

It made me sick to the core.

The lies embedded deep within this man’s existence!

Every time I thought I finally measured his greed and madness, he dropped to a new level of low.

“Go,” Marcello ushered me toward Fabio. “Don’t mess up like you did in the club.” He hissed under his breath while maintaining his fake smile.

“Ah!” Fabio’s eyes lit up sinfully when he saw me. “Amore Mio!” I kept a neutral face when he grabbed me by the waist. “And here I thought I wouldn’t get to meet you tonight.”

I closed my eyes when Fabio kissed my cheek.

“You look beautiful in this dress, Amore Mio,” he whispered in my ear. “But you will look heavenly without it.”

“My apologies for last time.” I pushed free of his hold and stepped back. “I didn’t mean to leave without notifying but the circumstances needed my attention.”

“As long as you can make up for it,” Fabio said suggestively. “I won’t hold it against you.”

“I expected a lot more.” A cold voice spoke from behind me. “Fabio!” I turned to see Gabriele amble toward us leisurely.

All this while, his hawk-like eyes stayed on me.

“Gabriele,” Fabio greeted him nervously. “What a surprise!”

“I’m sure it is,” Gabriele mused. “Care to introduce us, Fabio?” He faced me fully. “Who is this beautiful lady?”

“Miriam,” I answered before he could. “Miriam Ferraro. We saw each other when you visited my father.”

“We did!” Gabriele smirked. “I’m Gabriele Revello. Apologies if I frightened you at that time.”

He didn’t look apologetic in the least.

I was seeing him up close at last. The pictures didn’t do this man justice. Those pictures couldn’t capture what he truly was.

I could see now what Gina meant. This man was formidable and terrifying.

“Excuse me,” I walked away from them when his presence became stifling.

I could not shake off Gabriele’s predatory eyes following me everywhere.

“Why tonight?” I rubbed my temple tiredly when I received another threatening message from my father.

I froze in my spot when his heavy footsteps rang in my ears. I could feel the cold sheen of sweat on my forehead and the panic attack set in. My eyes burnt with fear and pooled with tears.

He is here.

“Fabio!” His poisonous voice rang in my ears.

“Your mother was mine, Agnellino. So every piece of her flesh will be mine too.”

“Andrei!”

I ran away from there. I ran before he could see me. Before he could have smelled my fear.

I didn’t care what would become of me after this. All I wanted was to hide from that monster.

Someone please, save me.

A few tears escaped my eyes and blinded me temporarily to the surroundings. But I kept running like always, praying for an anchor to save me from drowning in that endless pit of pain and misery.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips when I bumped into someone. I was startled out of the trance by the pair of callous and big hands that steadied me by my shoulders. His hold was firm but warm.

It didn’t hurt me. It didn’t scare me.

“Are you alright?” Gabriele inquired. “Miss Ferraro?”

“Please!” I gripped the lapels of his suit jacket. “Stay here with me, please. Stay with me.” I closed my eyes and moved closer to him.

This man, despite the dangers he wore on his sleeves, felt like the only wall I could lean on.

He made me feel safe.

*****

Gabriele

The first proper meeting alone and this was the first expression I got to see on her angelic face.

Fear!

I felt pissed off when I shouldn’t be. I wasn’t a man of emotions and I never cared how a woman felt in my presence before but I was despising the terror in her beautiful oceans.

It made me want to rip out the cause from its roots.

“Is everything alright with you?” I asked when I sensed Miriam calming a little.

Our gazes locked when she looked up at me at last. The traces of fear were still there in her eyes.

“Don’t push yourself too much, Mio Angelo.” Miriam flinched when I raised my hand to her face.

I wanted to caress her cheek. I wanted to touch her but her reaction forced me to stop and deepened the dent between my brows.

“Relax,” I lowered my hand. “The last thing you need to fear is me hurting you in any way.” I stepped back to give her space. “If you don’t like it here, then you shouldn’t be here.”

“I wish it was that easy,” Miriam answered.

She looked at her phone when it started ringing. I cocked one brow when her mouth set in a frown.

“I’ll take my leave.” Miriam looked at me with the same composed expression. “I’m sorry for taking up your time, Signore Revello.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” I smirked. “Have a good night.” I watched her scurry away.

I planned on walking back to the party but for many odd reasons, I couldn’t.

“Marcello!” I went after Miriam.

Your prized possession is going to be mine.

“Gabriele!” I looked back when Andrei called me.

The air echoed with the ear-splitting noise of glass breaking and screams in the next moment.

“Che diavolo!” Andrei whispered when Fabio’s body fell through the atrium and painted the floor with blood.

“It’s best to leave,” I looked at Andrei. “Take the back door. I’ll inform Falco.”

“You get out of here right now. This is a fucking trap.” Andrei said to me and left.

I scanned the entire hall before leaving. I couldn’t tell why I felt so relieved when I didn’t find Miriam there.

“Fuck,” I cursed at the downpour upon coming outside. I got in my car and we drove out of there right before the police raided the entire place. “What a fucking mess,” I raked my hair and looked outside. “It’s–stop the car, Falco.”

“It’s all because of you,” Marcello yelled at Miriam from inside the car. “I should have known you will bring nothing but misfortune my way.”

“I’m sorry,” Miriam whispered.

I fisted my hand upon seeing her condition. She was standing in the rain and was drenched from head to toe. It was freezing outside but not even once her face showed the suffering.

“Get out of my sight,” Marcello left her there alone.

For a few moments, Miriam just stood like a statue before walking down the empty road.

I got out of my car and strode after her angrily. Miriam looked at me in pure shock when I grabbed her wrist.

“Does your brain function, woman?” I raged at her. “Are you unaware of the trouble you will cause by walking alone at this hour?” I looked down at her body, “Like this?”

“I’d appreciate it if you go your own way and not mind my business, Mr. Revello.” Miriam pulled her hand out of my grip. “I can take care of myself.”

She stepped back when I tried to hold her arm again.

“Don’t add more to my crises by extending a helping hand, Mr. Revello. My father won’t appreciate it.”

I knew why she was willing to look like a fool instead of taking my help.

Marcello would not spare her if he came to know of our little encounters or saw her with me. His plans were already spoiled by Fabio’s death.

I didn’t want to add to her pain but I could not leave her alone here right now in this condition.

I clenched my fists when Miriam stumbled. She took off her heels and began walking barefoot.

“To hell with it.” I went after her.

“It’s better,” I heard Miriam whisper under her breath, “the fewer people know, the better.”

She looked back surprised when I grabbed her arm. My eyes fell to her rapidly rising and falling chest when I towered over her.

I could pick out her faint heartbeat, increasing rapidly in pace.

“I won’t say it twice, Miriam,” I pulled her closer. I took off my suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders.

Her eyes widened slightly when I pressed my index finger on her lips.

“Don’t test my patience,” I dragged her to my car and pushed her in the backseat gently. Miriam frowned when I sat next to her. “To Marcello’s, Falco.”

“What are you doing?” Miriam snapped. “I told you–”

“And I told you not to test my patience,” I snapped back.

Our eyes engaged in a heated contest. Miriam was the first to look away which made me smirk.

“I assure you, Mio Angelo,” I whispered in her ear. “No one will dare lay their hands on you as long as I am around you.”