Gabriele’s POV.
They were back, the nightmares, and this time around, with a vengeance. It was clear in this dream, which only happens very rarely. I could see the blood, hear the raspy screaming and the wailing, the begging, and finally her wide open eyes as they stared at me. My lily stared at me, dead. Her once bright eyes were now dismal and distant and most importantly, dead. Her body was battered. I was trapped in that cycle, that vicious cycle. It’s like it was being played in my dream on repeat.
I wanted to leave but I also didn’t want to. That was the only way I could be near them. My body shook and I went stiff, as even more scenes were played in my head. My father’s tragic yells in the house. His secret tears and his indifference towards me. He had nothing to live for according to him and even my presence couldn’t change that.
“Fratello, Fratello wake up.”
I could hear Basilio calling me, but try as I could, I couldn’t wake up. At some point, I felt it would be better to simply close my eyes forever. I’d met them and we’d be happy. I could feel my resistance weaken and Basilio’s frantic shouts and nudging.
“No, no, no don’t do this, Gabriele. Wake up, we’ve been through this.” He screamed. I wanted to tell him so much that it was for the best, but I just couldn’t. I could hear him frantically shouting for the doctor.
“Gabriele, don’t do this. What happened to taking revenge huh, what happened to finding Gianni and making him pay for what he did? You’re selfish, you’re a fucking asshole. You just wanna die and forget everything. How can you forget what they did to Lily? What they did to Rosa madam…”
“… you promised that you’ll get revenge, but look at you. You don’t deserve the love they gave you.” I was angry at what he said. The scenes kept playing even faster in my head. It’s like they wanted to consume me whole, but I fought back. Then my eyes flew open as I lay in the bed staring into space for a while. I held my breath as I stared, eyes still wide, body stiff. Then I closed them with much difficulty and breathed out.
“Are you okay?” Basilio asked after a while and I didn’t answer as I lay on the bed, eyes still closed. “I’m calling doctor Adriano.”
“I’m fine,” I said to him quietly. “Don’t call him, godfather will be worried.” I opened my eyes and turned to stare at him. The rims of his eyes were red and I knew that this one got to him but I couldn’t say anything to calm him down. “I thought you stopped having nightmares.”
I sat up and just stared out the window. Sunrise was a constant reminder that Gianni was still out there and I hadn’t found him. It was a constant reminder that those nightmares would never go away. “I lied. They never stopped. As I grew older they turned blurry but sometimes they were clear.” He didn’t say another word and sat on the couch in my room.
“Did you plan to tell me about it? Ever?” He asked and I didn’t reply. I didn’t want him feeling emotional or even crying in my room. We were taught from an early age that emotions weren’t needed in the mafia. You had to rule with an iron fist, ruthless to your enemies and even more to yourself. I didn’t need any more lessons on that. I’d experienced it in real life.
I turned expressionless. This nightmare reminded me of that fact.
“Leave,” I said expressionlessly. Like the person who had that dream wasn’t me. He looked at me in shock, like he couldn’t believe what I said. “I said leave.”
He stood up and left without a word. It was time to work and I took a quick shower and got dressed in the most casual suit I had in my wardrobe.
I went downstairs and breakfast was served, and Arianna was seated at the table already. I didn’t say a word to her but simply ignored her and walked out. I saw that she wanted to say something but shut her mouth quickly. As soon as I left the house. Number three was already waiting for me with the car and Basilio in the front seat, then we drove off.
“What’s the situation with Demyan bychkov?” I asked Basilio as we made our way to my office through the private elevator.
“Well, your uncle hasn’t made any moves yet but I suspect that he’ll make a move tonight for sure at the party. He’s still in Russia, so it might be someone else that’ll be there to accomplish his plan.” He said.
I nodded. “In the party tonight, there will be an assassination attempt on my life, we’ve gotten the info on the Hitman but we’ve got to keep an eye out for him.”
“He may try to attack Mr. Stanley tonight so make sure that preparations are made. I’ll communicate with you throughout the party and you can track down the guy.”
Basilio frowned and then the elector stopped at our floor and I walked out with him in tow. “Arianna is going to be at the party.” I didn’t stop walking. “Yes, is there a problem?” I asked as we passed by the receptionist. “Good morning Mr. Andino.” I didn’t reply and continued talking to Basilio.
“There’ll be an assassination attempt with you or Mr. Stanley being the primary target. She’ll be in a lot of danger.” Basilio said and I ignored his words.
“She’ll be fine. Even if she isn’t at the most she’ll be injured but she surely won’t die.”
He didn’t say a word and continued as he followed me into the office. “I’ll call Doctor Adriano to be on standby. As much as I hate to say this, Sara would’ve been a much better option for this.”
I shrugged out of my jacket and hung it on the rack as I circled the table and sat down. “She’ll be alright, at the worst she’ll find out that we’re in the Mafia and at least she’ll behave. I’ve had enough.”
“I want the blueprint of the entire hotel and fast. I’ll call godfather over, some of our men should be disguised as guests. If I’ve thought about it, then Demyan and Gianni would certainly do so. Everyone at the party is a suspect.”
He nodded and walked out of the office. I picked up my phone and dialled godfather. “Hello, godfather. Could you come over to the office? I’ve got something I need your help with.”
“Sure, I’ll be there in a while. I’m taking care of something right now” I could hear screaming from the phone and then sudden silence and I knew that someone just left this world. I didn’t ask any questions and cut the call.
After a while, he came and Basilio also got the blueprint and we sat in the office planning strategies to stop the Hitman. I dealt with the documents that needed my attention urgently and soon it was time to set our plan in motion. Basilio had already gotten the dresses from the designer and soon we were heading back to the house to prepare for the party.
The sun was setting when we arrived at the house. A team of professionals was here to prepare Arianna for the party and I just got dressed in a suit and styled my hair as I went downstairs to wait for her. I picked up the magazine on the dining table and walked to the living room as I leafed through it. Two hours had gone by and I glanced at my watch impatiently. As I tapped my feet on the ground rhythmically. Basilio, who had now arrived to stand behind me, was clearly amused.
“You of all people should know how long it takes women to get dressed for situations like these. Well, I’m sure she’ll look utterly ravishing when she’s done.”
I didn’t reply and just sat there but I had to admit that I was curious about what she’d look like when she was done with everything. We didn’t have to wait for a long time to see that. Soon the professionals came down the stairs and next was Arianna. I looked towards her and I was stunned.
Her hair was packed in a messy bun on top of her head with the curls framing her face. She looked even more beautiful than she did with the makeup on. It gave her this sexy and stunning look. The gown complemented her beautifully. It was a blue and silver mermaid dress. With a low-cut cleavage and intricate designs of silver and pearls interwoven. God knew how much I itched to tear this gown off her body.
I could feel myself harden as I watched her come closer. The cleavage made it look like her boobs were spilling out of the dress and she tugged at it awkwardly when she met my eyes. What she did made my erection even worse. I swore softly in Italian at what she was doing to me. I couldn’t walk around sporting a hard-on. Basilio could see my struggle and I heard him stifle a laugh.
The professionals were sent away and I turned to look at Arianna and immediately tore my damn eyes away from her boobs. Goodness, that thing needed a shawl or something.
“Let’s go,” I said gruffly as I walked out and walked out and into the car. Basilio walked her out and I took deep breaths inside the car willing that the damn hard-on would just go away.