*Jason*
I still couldn’t believe Sarah was dead. She’s gone. Gone for good. How is it possible to die from a stab? This isn’t the first time she has been stabbed. So why did this time? My heart ached. I had cried uncontrollably when I held her close. This was a blow I didn’t think I would be able to get through.
I should be comforting Steve, who is sitting and staring into space. He has not said a word since we left the hospital. My chest tightened as I watched him. His eyes were hollow, devoid of any emotions. He had stopped crying, and now I felt like he was going to do something stupid.
Sarah was his only family. She had raised him, loved him, and defended him. He had nothing to fear because she would always protect him. Even If it meant walking through the pit of hell, Sarah would stand up for him.
But I had taken her away from him.
She died because of me; how could I possibly forgive myself for what I have done? Though she had hurt Lucia and I was angry at her, I didn’t want her dead.
Or should I have accepted her affection?
I was torn. Maybe my past decision was wrong.
Maybe I shouldn’t have come here. No matter, she has been my friend. And Lucia, I wonder if she was fine. I had seen Sarah hit her so hard on her head with a metal object. I hope she was alright. Though I hate to admit it, I trust that Bruno would take good care of her.
I heard muffled sobs and turned to see Steve. He was finally crying again. Head down, hands between his thighs. I felt my head spinning. I should comfort him. He needs it. But what should I say?
I walked to sit with him on the sofa.
The sitting room was small with a dim, warm light. There was no one in sight. The men had beat themselves up when they heard that Sarah was dead. I moved closer to him; it seemed he had not noticed me. He was too absolved in his pain, in his own emotions, to notice me.
Somehow, the house looks empty without Sarah.
When I left some weeks back, I had sworn never to return. I didn’t want to set foot in this house anymore, but here I was. But this time, a huge difference has happened. I threw a hand over Steve’s shoulders and pulled him closer.
He sobbed on my shoulders, smearing my shirt with his tears. But I couldn’t care less about that for now. What matters now is that he is finally able to release all his pent-up emotions. In moments like this, I remember that he is still young-he has just turned twenty.
He behaved too maturely for his own good.
But that’s what happens when you grow and learn things the hard way. You behave so maturely that everyone thinks you are fine and never in pain.
“I couldn’t do anything. I watched her die. I have failed her, ” he cried. I shook my head, though he couldn’t see me. If it was someone else, I’d say he was too weak to be in this mafia world, but right now, I feel weak too.
This has reminded me, once again, that no matter how strong we are, we are always and will always be weak in the face of death.
I pulled him closer. I know I should say something. I should comfort him, but my words were stuck in the back of my throat. I couldn’t think of the right words to say.
I know how he felt. Words sometimes aren’t enough. Maybe warmth should be. So I just stayed with him, hands on his shoulders, and allowed him to sob. He will be fine after that.
It took a while before he was fine.
I handed him a glass of strong alcohol. His eyes were dead as he took them and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. As he gulped down the drink, I knew something had changed. Something else has awakened in him. He downed the glass of alcohol in a go, and I wondered if he didn’t burn his throat as it went down.
“I must avenge my sister. They must pay for what they have done to her.” His voice was cold. Yes, something had died in him. That warmth that was always in the corner of his eyes was gone. “They killed her. They took the only person I have in this world away from me, so I’ll do the same. That is the only way they will feel how I feel. This pain, this void, that is slowly eating me away.”
He clenched his fist, “I’ll make them feel this too. I’ll take what they love most away, and you,” he paused, his voice hoarse, his eyes narrowed. The atmosphere changed and I almost couldn’t breathe, “will help me.” He said. There were no questions. He sounded like I would help him whether I wanted to or not. I seem to have no say in it.
I knew he wanted revenge.
And that was what he would get. But I had to correct something. The last thing I want is any harm coming upon Lucia. I wanted her to be safe. If anyone needs to die, it should be Bruno. He pushed her, and that was what killed her.
“Make no mistake boy, Bruno is who needs to die. He caused this from the start. Lucia has nothing to do with this,” I said, staring right at him. He stared back, and for a moment, I could swear that I saw something pass his eyes.
“Fine.” He said and stood him.
“I’ll start making preparations. We attack when his guard is down,” he didn’t say a word afterwards. He just started walking away. I leaned into the chair as I watched him walk off.
Once Bruno is out of the picture, Lucia will be mine, and Steve will get his revenge. I pulled my phone out, dialing the number of my most diligent and meticulous men. I didn’t want to waste any moment.
~
*BRUNO POV*
Lucia had been treated immediately when we came back. She was now sleeping. As I watched her sleep, and sometimes wince from pain even in her sleep, rage boiled within me. I heard that Sarah was dead. If only she hadn’t died, that death was way too easy for her. I wanted to torture her and tear her apart limb by limb.
She had hurt Lucia. She had touched my woman, and the only thing I did was to push her. If only I didn’t have to take Lucia back for treatment.
Lucia winced again, and I felt a tug on my chest. I felt helpless. Nothing could be done. I pulled the duvet, covering the part that wasn’t covered in it. I brush the hair on her face away. “What would I have done if you had not been treated? You know Sarah is dangerous, so why did you go alone? Was it difficult to tell me? To ask me for help?” I whispered, wishing she could hear me as I traced her lips with my thumb.
Lucia had lost a lot of blood, but thankfully, it wasn’t too much.
I cleaned her up and gave her a new dress to wear. The doctor said she may be unconscious for a while, which I preferred to call sleep because unconsciousness makes it seem like it was something very bad.
Unable to hold myself, I picked her hands from under the duvet, wrapping my large hands around them. I brought them close to my lips and kissed them.
There was a knock on the door before it opened.
Rave stepped in. He closed the door behind him as gently as he could. He walked to me. Since I left the club, he has been there, making sure things were in order. He walked towards me. I didn’t stop holding Lucia’s hands. If I could, I’d hold it forever.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, seeing the expression on his face. He only made that face when serious trouble was lurking around.
“There is none for now. But I can sense that it will come in a while.” He said. One side of my lips pulled to the side. I wasn’t afraid of anything. If at all, I wanted a fight. It has been long enough as it was. I was never one to run from it and he knew. His eyes slowly moved to Lucia who was lying on the bed. “How is she?” He asked, his voice soft and eyes warm.
“She will be fine,” I said. That was what I was hoping for right now. She should have been taken to the hospital, I know, but I couldn’t allow that. It isn’t something that the doctor couldn’t treat.
Rave nods and takes a step forward. “Sarah is dead; there is no way Jason and Steve won’t want to get back at us,” Rave said.
“It isn’t like we killed her. There is no way Lucia’s stab could have killed her.” I said. I was sure about that part. With her Lucia, she must have avoided her vital organs.
Maybe it was time Sarah died.
Rave scoffed, “And you think they care about that?” I filtered out the statement, trying not to focus on the rude part. He said so because he cared.
“I know. But then, that’s the truth.” I placed Lucia’s hand back under the duvet; the bandage on the side of her rib came into view as I pulled the duvet on her.
My eyes lingered on her wrapped head. “Whatever happens, Lucia has to be safe. The last thing I want is for her to get entangled in whatever will happen between us. Whatever danger is lurking around, Lucia must be protected from it,” I said. Rave bowed.
I know he cared for Lucia and it hurt him as much as it hurt me to see her in pain. “You know what you have to do,” I said, dismissing him. Someone needed to be at the club. I watched him walk out. He closed the door behind him before I took my eyes away and fixed them on Lucia’s face.
I spent that night by her side, hoping she would be better in the morning.
~
*LUCIA POV*
I felt a throbbing pain in my head. I wince from pain. The familiar smell of the bed sheet hit me, and I immediately knew I was at home. Sunlight poured in from the window at the side.
The last thing I remember was getting hit in the head. And voices. I closed my eyes and slowly opened them. My body ached all over. Someone was by my side. I turned to see Bruno. He was sitting on a chair, and his head rested on the bed. As if sensing my gaze, he slowly sat up. “you are finally awake,” his voice was hoarse.
I wanted to nod, but I couldn’t bring myself to it. Even moving any part of my body felt like a chore. I tried to sit up, but Bruno’s hands brought me down. “You are still unwell,” he said.
“What happened?” I asked him. My eyes darted around. Sarah, what happened to Sarah? I had fallen unconscious before I could notice her.
“You were lying unconscious on the floor when I got there, and I brought you home,” he said. I made an o with my lips as if what he was saying was new to me. “Why did you go alone? You didn’t trust me enough to tell me?” He asked.
Despite the pain, I shook my head. I didn’t want to bother him. He moved his chair closer, his head slowly moved to mine until his lips stopped beside my ears, and he whispered, “Tell me, how should I punish you, sweet girl?”