16

[REBECCA]
“He did seem genuinely remorseful,” I admitted.
Chuckling softly, Lynda shook her head. “There you have it, then. You have your answer.”
My heart fluttered, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. With Lynda’s reassurance, I felt a sense of lightness, and my shoulders relaxed in relief. “Thank you,” I whispered, turning my hand over to grasp hers.
“It’s okay. By the way, Mom is extremely worried about you. Artemy informed her that you wouldn’t be working today. That’s why she sent me to check up on you,” Lynda disclosed, explaining her presence.
Pushing aside the comforter, I struggled to get out of bed and stood upright. “I want to see her,” I declared, unable to bear the thought of Nona’s distress.
In a short span of time, she had become a maternal figure in my life, offering me comfort during my moments of vulnerability. Most importantly, no one had ever shown genuine concern for me before.
Nona had come back, and all I yearned for was to embrace her. The comfort of her touch and the warmth of her gentle smiles were all I desired. It was as if I were a desperate child longing for the embrace of her mother.
“Okay,” Lynda’s voice snapped me back to the present. I turned around and saw her standing up, adjusting her black dress.
“I’ll see you downstairs.” She gave me a quick hug before making her way out of my room, gently shutting the door behind her.
I changed into my own black dress and took the time to brush my teeth and tie my hair into a tight ponytail. Then, I made my way downstairs. As soon as I entered the kitchen, Nona’s eyes widened in shock.
“Oh, my Lord! My sweet child, I was so worried!” She enveloped me in a tight embrace, squeezing me tightly against her.
“Nona, I can’t breathe,” I managed to utter, struggling for air. She immediately loosened her grip and took a step back.
“Let me look at you.” Without giving me a chance to speak, Nona cupped my face in her hands and examined it from left to right, checking for any signs of harm. Finding none, she stepped back and scanned my entire appearance.
“Nona, I’m fine,” I murmured, my throat constricting with emotion. I had hoped my words would bring her comfort, but her gaze fell upon my bandaged wrists, and her eyes filled with a tempestuous storm.
“That stubborn man,” she hissed. “I told him you were innocent. It took him far too long to realize his mistake.” Her lips curved downward in a sorrowful frown.
Drawing closer, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her jasmine perfume, which instantly calmed my senses.
“As long as he believes I’m not a traitor, I have no issues,” I reassured her. Nona remained silent, so I continued in a reassuring tone, “I’m alright, truly.” After a few seconds, she finally nodded and turned away.
“Take a seat. Lynda and I are almost finished with lunch,” she instructed, pointing towards the stools at the bar. I settled onto one of the stools while Lynda brought me a plate of toast, eggs, and potatoes.
“Thank you,” I expressed my gratitude, then ate in silence, observing Lynda and Nona working harmoniously in the kitchen.
As I slowly sipped my juice, Lynda broke the silence with a question that caught me off guard, causing my breath to catch in my throat.
“Mom, why do the Loskutovs and Cavalieri hate each other so much? I mean, I know it’s more than just two rival mob groups fighting. But I’ve never asked why.”
I almost choked on my juice.
Coughing uncontrollably, I carefully set the glass down on the counter, my hand trembling. Lynda and Nona turned their worried gazes towards me, their concern evident. I waved off their attention dismissively, my wrist flicking in a gesture that conveyed I was fine.
But deep down, I knew I was anything but fine. Breathing had become a struggle, each inhalation a labored effort.
“Oh dear, it’s a long and complicated story,” Nona sighed, her voice heavy with resignation.
Straightening my posture, a spark of curiosity ignited within me. Our families had always harbored an intense and bitter animosity towards each other, yet I remained oblivious to the reasons behind it. Raffaele had mentioned the Loskutovs in passing, speaking of their desire to eradicate the Cavalieri family whenever an opportunity presented itself.
Clearing my throat, I ventured, “I’ve been wondering about that too.” Nona regarded me with an odd expression, prompting me to quickly fabricate an excuse. “I mean, when Artemy believed I was a spy for the Cavalieri, he was infuriated. So, I can’t help but wonder why.”
“He truly despises them,” Nona replied, wiping her hands on her apron before making her way to the bar, where she perched on a stool. Lynda and I took our places on either side of her.
“Lynda, you were just a baby, so you wouldn’t remember much. There was a significant clash between the two families. Sure, they had always been enemies, but that night…” Nona paused, her head shaking mournfully. “Herman launched an attack on their estate. Damian, Artemy’s father, wasn’t there.” A tear escaped Nona’s eye, and she continued, her voice quivering with sorrow. “It was a bloody and chaotic scene. Many lives were lost that night. And poor Celia, Artemy’s mother, she was killed. Herman took her life and left a chilling message on her lifeless body. It read, ‘Let that be a lesson for you.’ She was pregnant.” Nona’s voice broke, and her sobs echoed throughout the room.
My eyes widened, and an overwhelming heaviness settled in my chest, threatening to crush me. My stomach twisted painfully, and I felt an intense urge to vomit. A wave of tingling sensations coursed through my body, as though I were being confined within a small, suffocating box. Numbness enveloped me, blotting out my surroundings.
Everything faded into a dull blur, and the only words reverberating in my ears were, “Herman killed Artemy’s mother.” My father had taken the life of Artemy’s pregnant mother.
It felt as if I had plunged deep underwater, suffocating as I desperately gasped for air, only to have my lungs sear with pressure and agony.
Trembling, I placed my hands firmly on my thighs, determined to maintain composure and listen to the rest of Nona’s story. Her voice was hoarse as she continued, recounting the heartbreaking tragedy that shattered their lives.
“Celia was five months pregnant,” Nona spoke, her words heavy with sorrow. “Damian and Celia were overjoyed, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their baby girl. But everything came crashing down that fateful night. And poor Artemy…” Her voice trailed off, breaking my heart. “Artemy witnessed it all. He was hiding under the bed, only seven years old, forced to watch as his mother was brutally taken from him. Nothing was the same after that. Darkness enveloped our home. Celia, our guiding light, was gone. She was the heart of our family. It shattered everyone. Eventually, we found ways to move forward, but Damian and Artemy… they were never the same.”
Silent tears streamed down my cheeks, my heart aching, and grief consuming me. How could my father be so heartless? My mind grew cloudy, and my lips quivered as I struggled to suppress my sobs. It was all too overwhelming, the pain weighing heavily on my chest. In that moment, I truly felt like the enemy, and the thought of them discovering the truth terrified me. I knew I wouldn’t survive if they did.
“Artemy didn’t utter a word for three years,” Nona revealed, her voice choked with emotion. “He showed no emotions at all, while Damian withdrew completely. When Artemy finally spoke again, his first words were, ‘I will avenge my mother.’ Since then, that has been his sole purpose. He vowed to eliminate every Cavalieri, to make them pay for what they did.” Nona paused, tears streaming down her face, as she buried her head in her hands. The intensity of her cries reverberated through her trembling body. “Lynda, your father died that day too. He lost his life trying to protect Celia. I didn’t just lose my best friend; I lost my husband.”
For several minutes, the kitchen was enveloped in a heavy silence, broken only by our sniffles and sobs. I closed my eyes, bringing a hand to my mouth, overcome with grief. My body shook, and a chill ran down my spine. My breath caught in my throat.
“I hope Artemy makes them all pay,” Nona said, her voice resolute as she wiped away her tears. “They all deserve to die, every single one of them.”
Her words struck me like a slap across the face, leaving me frozen for a moment, holding my breath. Eventually, I exhaled heavily and rose from the stool, placing a hand on my stomach, trying to alleviate the sickening feeling within me. Nona and Lynda watched me, likely thinking I had lost my sanity.
In that moment, I felt like I was losing my grip on reality. I whispered to myself, “Breathe, Rebecca, breathe.”
The tightness in my chest was unbearable, a searing pain that made it hard to breathe. I clenched my fists in an attempt to control the panic that was consuming me. Gasping for air, I felt a wave of terror wash over me, causing my eyes to widen in fear. I stumbled backward, disoriented and overwhelmed.
Nona’s concerned voice cut through the haze, calling my name. The sound pierced through the coldness that had settled in my body. I knew I had to get outside, to feel the open air and take a deep breath. Urgency fueled my movements as I pressed my hand firmly against my burning chest, desperately seeking relief.
In my haste, I turned abruptly, intending to flee from the suffocating atmosphere of the kitchen. But fate had other plans. Before I could make my escape, I collided with an immovable force. The impact jolted me backward, causing me to stumble and lose my balance. Strong hands instinctively grasped my arm, preventing me from falling.
Dizziness clouded my vision, and I struggled to keep my head upright. When I finally managed to lift my gaze, I found myself locked in a gaze with a pair of cold, bluish-steel eyes. It was Artemy, the only person I knew who possessed such captivating eyes. The intensity in his gaze sent shivers down my spine.
As I stared into his eyes, Nona’s words echoed in my mind, intensifying my fear and pain. The memory of his vow to eradicate every Cavalieri resurfaced, a cruel reminder of the danger I was in. And I, without a doubt, belonged to the very group he sought to destroy – I am a Cavalieri.