15

I grabbed her angry hands and set them down on my lap. I wiped her tears away and silently consoled her as I rubbed her back and arms.
Why do you care if Enzo kills me ? I whispered.
She sniffled and dropped her face. I don’t.
You care about me ? She didn’t answer, choosing to keep her head down. Look at me, mo ghra amhain.
Then, reluctantly, she lifted her chin, and heartbroken eyes sliced through my heart and defense.
Would you care if I died ? I asked, cradling her face and forcing her closer to me.
Her lips parted, and I leaned closer, eager to hear her confession, and I felt her body relax in my arms.
I-
My phone blaring cut her off, and she jumped from the sound. Frustrated and pissed off, I pulled out my phone from my pocket and silenced the call. Another came right after, and I ignored that one too.
Growing impatient, I went to turn my phone off when Liam’s name showed up on my screen. It had to be important, and I got anxious as if something was going on.
She used this as her chance to get off my lap and walk away. Fuck. Damn it. I picked up angrily.
What ? I shouted.
Where are you ?
I rubbed my face angrily. I’m home. What is it ?
Finn called me. Someone torched one of our factories to the ground. He said.
My blood ran cold, and anger boiled and coiled inside me in a million knots. I could feel it prickling underneath my skin, and it had me seeing red as I stood up. I ran inside the house and up to my room to change my clothes.
Iosa Criost. How many casualties ? I asked, and I hated how weak I sounded.
(Translation : Jesus Christ)
Fifty died from smoke inhalation, and thirty are in intensive care.
Fuck. Where are you now ?
The hospital with Finn.
I’ll be there as fast as I can.
I’d kill whoever it was. I’d fucking burn them alive when I got my hands on them.
Elena
I looked out the window of my room and saw Oisin running toward his car. He was screaming commands at the men that guarded the front doors, and as if feeling my eyes on him, he looked up. He gave me an almost apologetic look, slid into his car, sped out of the driveway, and away from the house.
I clutched my chest as this strange feeling began brewing inside my gut. Something was noticeably wrong. I didn’t know what was happening, but I wasn’t stupid enough to not notice the signs. Someone attacked Oisin, and now it was his job to find out who did it and to retaliate.
It was terrifying to worry about Oisin’s safety, but I couldn’t help but grow anxious and feel nervous about his return. It shouldn’t matter to me if he never came home. Maybe that way, I could go back home, but it did.
He married me against my will and killed my brother’s men, yet I was worried about him going into this war with my brother. I didn’t want either of them to kill each other, but I knew Enzo wanted blood. I knew he’d never stop until Oisin paid for what he did to him, to me.
The world we all lived in was cruel and brutal and never left many survivors. It was unpredictable and unforgiving. If they were to clash, I knew both sides wouldn’t give in until one was dead.
My heart hurt, and I clutched it harder as I leaned against the wall and fell to the ground. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around my knees. It didn’t make any sense. I should want Enzo to kill the man who brought me here, but I couldn’t find it in me to think like this.
I didn’t want Oisin to die. I wanted him to live. It wasn’t about how this man looked at me or spoke to me but how much his entire world revolved around me. It was staggering, being the epicenter of his entire world.
I’ve never mattered so much to someone or had anyone view me as salvation or sanctuary. Not only did he know everything about me, but my name was imprinted onto his skin forever, and he wore his wedding band religiously.
Like he’d rather die than ever take it off. Like he wanted everyone to know he was married. It hurt to think so poorly of Enzo, but I knew everything Oisin said earlier was all true.
When your brother took over, he burned every bridge your father worked his whole life to create. People spoke very lowly of your brother long before I decided to take you. The Polish man he is teaming with killed his brother to be the leader. He is an embodiment of everything your father despises.
I know this. I know Enzo was dishonoring my father’s name and legacy. He was a horrible and brash man in command, but he was the only Morelli with the right to be in control. You couldn’t question a Don, especially Enzo. He didn’t mind killing a few of his men if they doubted him or second-guessed his commands.
He’s doing this because the Polish want to take out the Russians, and your brother wants my trade routes and control of my distribution.
I knew deep down he was probably right. Enzo didn’t care about me. He’s never in his life shown kindness to me. It always felt like all we shared was blood, and even that sometimes felt like bad blood. I still remember how his hand struck my cheek when I begged him not to marry me off.
I remember his fingers branded my arms when he held me and threatened me before the wedding. But, all that put aside, I still didn’t want Enzo to die. As horrible as he was to me, he didn’t deserve to die for it. We weren’t close, but I truly loved and cared for him deeply.
He’d always have a special place in my heart, and I wanted him alive. Oisin said if it came down to it, he’d kill him, but I hoped that, for my sake, he’d spare him again. Enzo had tarnished the Morelli name and legacy my father tirelessly worked to create.
Even though it upset and angered me, he was the only living son of my father and the only man who could lead our family. I thought about the brief moment I shared with Oisin and how he looked at me.
God, this man looked at me as if I were the most beautiful, fragile, precious person in this world. It saddened me because I don’t think I could ever look at him remotely the same way.
Would you care if I died ?
Yes, I would. Of course, I would. It didn’t make sense. It was foolish, naive, stupid, and irrational to care about Oisin. I told myself I cared about him like how I cared about any other human being whose life was threatened, but even I knew that was a lie.
I cared, but I couldn’t offer a legitimate reason why. I was thankful when his phone rang because I don’t think it would have ended well. I would have lashed out or screamed more nonsense at him. I didn’t know the first thing about him.
All I knew were rumors that people spread about him, and I confronted him about the biggest one I knew, and he laughed. I felt like such an idiot that day when he told me his wife was very much alive and engaged to someone else.
She left her daughter for her husband to raise, and even though Aofie was doing well and happy, I felt some stabbing pains in my chest whenever I remembered that her mother abandoned her. His little girl was an angel and the sweetest girl I knew.
She always had a smile on her face and was polite and humble. He had done a fantastic job raising her, so I guess he wasn’t all that bad. I stood up, shrugged myself out of my pity party, and washed my face.
I walked down the hall and toward Aofie’s bedroom. Fiona was usually the one to wake her up, but I wanted some time with her today. I knocked lightly and walked in slowly.
Aofie, cara mia, are you still sleeping ? I asked.
The girl in her princess canopy bed grumbled and rolled over. It’s early.
What about we get you out of bed, and maybe we can spend today together ? We can bake and decorate cupcakes, order pizza, and watch movies. I offered.
Aofie jumped out from under the covers, and her face lit up with a smile. Really ?
I laughed at her excitement. Yes. Come on, let’s wash up and get dressed.
I washed her face and brushed her teeth ; after she was done, she pulled out a brush and some scrunchies for me to do her hair. Aofie didn’t look like Oisin, which concluded that the little girl was a replica of her mother.
Her hair was dark, but not black, no, not entirely. It was almost a mocha-brown color and was rather long and curly. I brushed it out and parted it before giving her two braids. She spun around, and I fixed the front, and she handed me two hairclips which I put on both sides.
Aofie’s eyes were almost a cinnamon color, and they were so innocent and cheerful that she made me forget the sadness I felt inside of me. We walked down the stairs together, and I helped her up on the countertop.