Aurora’s POV
I was back in Chicago, sadly. It was sad because I didn’t want to have anything to do with Chicago anymore. Several months ago, I’d have been happy to be here after killing Matteo and his brother but now, even the thought of wanting to kill him earlier caused me to cringe.
We weren’t in the old house anymore but the house of my late parents. I didn’t know how to feel because I was lonely though Aunt Giselle and Sofia were with me.
How couldn’t I feel lonely when the man I loved had been taken captive? Matteo would never forgive me what happened. Never!
My gaze was fixed on two sparrows which were playing with each other on the top of the fence. They chirped like they had no problems in the world and for some seconds, I wished to be like the birds.
Light knocks resonated on my door, disrupting my attention from the birds and I was reminded that I didn’t have much freedom anymore. Ever since Erizo was inducted as Capo of the Camorra, he had gone on rampage, seeking bloody retribution from the Outfit. If Matteo ever got out, which I knew he would, he would take his revenge which would continue to fuel the unending battle between both territories.
All these fights and wars because of a man that thought he could have everything.
“Come in,” I sniffed, drying my eyes with a white handkerchief near me.
The wooden door was pushed open while Erizo strolled in the most carefree manner. His crooked lips formed an annoying smirk that always irritated me.
“How are you, cousin?” He greeted, his tone filled with taunts while leaning against the door which he had closed.
I couldn’t stand him for reasons I didn’t understand and I hoped that he would unite the Camorra again or else, the first fall would be much better than the fall that would take place under his rule.
“I don’t know how I feel.” I answered honestly, tucking a straying strand behind my ear.
“I don’t blame you for being at a loss of what to feel, after all, your boyfriend is going through so much pain.” He laughed and began to walk towards me in a fluid manner.
I just wanted him to leave my room so that I could think deeply and map out plans on how to save Matteo.
“Why can’t you stop it, Erizo? They aren’t the reason for the Camorra’s downfall and you know it,” I snarled, flinging the covers away and glaring at him.
But he was unfazed then I realised that I was talking to the wrong person. Erizo never cared about his family, why would he care about his enemies?
“I can’t stop it for obvious reasons and you know that Aurora. They are our enemies and I thrive on their pain, don’t worry, they will pay for your parents death.” He said with a grim smile then blew kisses at me while making a move to leave the room.
My eyes brimmed with tears that were threatening to fall but I wouldn’t let him see that his words got to me. If he wasn’t the only child of my uncle, I’d have killed him myself.
He slammed the door which caused a reverberating sound throughout my large room. Uncle Lorenzo explained while taking me on a throughout the house that this was the room I enjoyed sleeping in and he also hid me here when Aldo Moretti decided the fate of my parents.
My eyes darted to the clock and then I got off the bed to change my clothes. It was past 10pm already and I’d made plans to visit Matteo and Angelo at the torture room.
I hadn’t seen them since we moved back to Chicago and today made it a week. Each day, my heart ached in pain for them and with each minute, I regretted ever going to New York.
I zipped up a pair of skinny jeans that I’d selected and a sweatshirt. My debit card was already in my pocket together with my burner phone which had Francesco’s phone in it.
He was still mad at me for putting his Capo at risk but he wouldn’t hurt me except Matteo permits it. And saving his Capo was more important than whatever I did.
Aunt Giselle had agreed to help me as she knew every part of the house better than I did, besides, the man she loved was also there.
My collar bone has become very visible because of how quickly I emaciated and I threw up almost everything I ate. Though I felt weak and dizzy I had to be strong for him and our child.
Light flashed at my window and went off immediately which was the sign I needed to leave my room. I’d already fixed a kernmantle rope to the window pane, all I had to do was slide down and I’ll be out.
I locked the door and opened the window. It was a casement so I climbed on the pane, throwing myself over and while holding the rope tightly. There were little knots made in between which helped me to go down gradually till my feet touched the ground.
“Are you alright?” Giselle asked when she noticed how hard I panted.
“I’ve never done this in my life before, and my stomach hurts.” I complained and she massaged my waist till I felt better.
“We have to get going before people notice that we aren’t in the house anymore. Some of the guards are on toilet break right now, and we would have to take another route to the building.” She informed me as I braced myself for a harder task ahead.
Just like she said, the route leading to the building where they were kept was empty. I used to think that they were kept in the basement until I went there one night and didn’t find anyone no matter how hard I searched.
We trudged in between little buildings until we got to the back of a little bungalow. The outer lights were switched off which was slightly disadvantageous then I remembered that Aunt Giselle had her torch.
“We would have to distract them then run in, it’s the only way.” I said and she agreed.
We hid behind the walls of the front yard as I made a low whistling sound, throwing stones towards the opposite direction. Footsteps ran in the direction and quickly we ran in and walked slowly through the hallway which was dimly lit until we heard faint noises.
My heart almost stopped beating when I heard groans coming from a distant room. Aunt Giselle snapped her head and I did the same, our faces struck with horror at the realisation of the people that were being tortured.
Did they go through this everyday?
My heart clenched at the possibility and slowly we crept towards the room that the noise came from. It was blocked with some iron bars but Aunt Giselle led me to an adjoining room where we could peep through and see everything.
Luckily the door was open so I didn’t need to tamper with the lock. We got in and shut the door from within while I hurried towards the door and placed my eyes on the key hole which had wider space for me to view what took place in the room.
A gasp escaped my lips and bile rose up my throat because of the sight that greeted me. Matteo was tied to a stake, his face puddled with blood and his chest designed with different kinds of cuts.
It felt like he was handled by a skilled butcher who was good at cutting meats. Erizo and uncle Lorenzo were also there with two other rough looking men I couldn’t identify. Erizo held a knife, twirling it around his blood filled hands as he stared at Matteo whose expression was unreadable and his eyes emotionless.
My eyes searched for Angelo but he wasn’t in the same room with him, the knowledge filling me with dread.
Aunt Giselle squeezed my hands, her palm sweaty even in the cold night. “He isn’t here, what if they have killed him?” She cried, shaking her head while I held onto her.
I wrapped my hands around her, consoling her and praying at the same time that nothing had happened to him. I returned to the keyhole and watched Erizo trail the knife on the same wounds he had inflicted on him while Matteo remained still, his teeth clenched.
I was shivering with anger and fear. I couldn’t take it anymore so I opened the door and barged into the room.
Surprised filled their eyes as they saw me in the room while I passed disapproving glances at all of them.
“You have to stop this, Uncle. I don’t want this anymore.” I protested, my voice choked with anger.
Uncle Lorenzo chuckled then the smile wiped off his face, replaced with a scowl. “Your opinion doesn’t matter except you are willing to make a hard decision.”
My brows were furrowed and my lips shaky. “What… what decision?”
“You have to choose between Matteo and your family. I know that you said you didn’t want to have anything to do with us but that was a lie. Now you will have to make a choice and any choice you make has a consequence.” He offered.
“Dad!” Erizo chimed, surprised at his father’s offer.
I bet he was having so much fun that he didn’t want anything to interrupt it in any way.
“Aurora, if you want to save Matteo and his brother then we are cutting you off from the family and you will become our enemy, which means that you will be killed if you ever step your feet into Chicago again.” He said with a deadpan expression, which caused me to freeze.