[GIOSEFFO]
“No one escapes death after attempting to kill me.” I shot the man in the middle of his head. He fell to the floor with his eyes wide open.
My team removed their disguises and checked the lifeless bodies of the enemies.
“All clear, Gio,” Dario said.
Yes, we infiltrated the enemy when I first heard about their assassination plan. I planted my men inside the enemy’s camp to gather information on all their actions and plans.
When the time came for my assassination, Dario and Elliott, along with other members of my team who were at my house, pretended to be a part of the enemy’s camp. The real enemies were heavily outnumbered by my men. When they attempted to kill me, instead of me getting shot, my team eliminated them. The remaining guards outside the house were mere pawns, meant to make them believe that there would be no one left to save me when they tried to ambush me.
Death is not a stranger to me. I’ve come close to facing it several times, especially when I couldn’t stand on my own two feet and make decisions for myself. And, guess what, even death doesn’t want to accept me. So, no matter how many attempts you make on my life, you will be the ones who perish.
The events of that night only made me even more feared. Those who had joined forces to eliminate me haven’t shown their faces since. I didn’t have the time to hunt them down, and if they ever attempt to harm me again, I’m ready to send them to the afterlife.
When I visited Millie again, it was raining. I wasn’t deterred. It had been days since I could come here due to the attempts on my life, and now that I was free, this was the first thing I did.
The excitement I felt when I saw Millie outside her house had vanished. She was sitting there, drenched in the rain. I furrowed my brow and motioned for the car to come closer.
My eyes widened when I saw her crying, shivering in the cold weather.
“What do you think happened?” Elliott asked, inquisitive about what I was observing.
I didn’t say a word, just continued to watch Millie. Aside from her shivering body, I noticed new bruises on her skin.
Without hesitation, I grabbed an umbrella and stepped out of the car. I could still hear Dario trying to stop me, but I paid them no mind.
I walked up to Millie and stopped in front of her. She noticed me and looked up.
I firmly held the umbrella, and when I saw not only bruises on her arms and legs but also wounds on her cheek and the side of her lip, I asked, “What’s wrong, Miss? Why are you outside your house when it’s raining?”
As calm as my voice may have been in that moment, I could feel anger slowly coursing through my entire body. The desire to end Astrid Pearce came back to me.
~***~
I offered her a blanket and turned off the car’s air conditioning to keep her from getting any colder. I also sent Dario, Elliott, and the driver away before bringing Millie here.
“Thank you,” she stammered, her body still shivering. It was evident she had been caught in the rain for some time.
“What were you doing outside your house?” I handed her a hot pack to warm her up a bit. I saw the hesitation in her eyes. In the end, she remained silent. I knew her mother was somehow involved, but I couldn’t admit that I knew.
We stayed together for hours. I wanted to take her to a more comfortable place, but she didn’t want to leave. She feared she might be missed and scolded if she wasn’t found.
We sat in silence, and I could tell she was also too shy to speak. Her actions betrayed her discomfort.
When the rain finally subsided a bit, Millie quickly grabbed the blanket and prepared to leave the car.
“I need to go. They might come looking for me.”
I couldn’t stop her. She got out of the car.
“Thank you,” she said, glancing back at me, her smile brighter than the sun, more beautiful than a rainbow after the rain.
I stood there for a moment, about to close the door when a car passed by, and Gia was in it. She just looked at me meaningfully before continuing on her way.
When I got home, I expected my twin to be waiting for me, and she was, with a cold look in her eyes.
I was about to walk past her when Gianna spoke up.
“So, you made a friend? Why didn’t you introduce me to your new friend, Gioseffo?”
I halted and faced her, meeting her icy gaze. I gave her the same treatment.
“I’ve never seen that kind of expression on your face, brother,” she said, walking closer to me and scrutinizing my appearance. “Do you actually like that girl? Wasn’t she the daughter of our grandparents’ killer?”
I was briefly surprised at how she found out, but it’s Gianna. We always know how each other’s minds work.
She smirked before leaving.
There were many assassination attempts in my life and even in Gianna’s life. Once, they nearly succeeded, something I hadn’t expected.
I overheard my uncle and, as I had observed, they were of the same opinion.
“It’s the Union, I’m telling you. With every attempt to kill the next generation, especially Gio, their methods are becoming more precise. They almost got Gia and Gio. What’s your plan, Aga?” Uncle Morgan asked Dad.
I didn’t leave my spot and listened to them.
“We need to eliminate them. They might become a bigger problem for us in the coming years.”
The Union is the name for the mafia organizations that have joined forces to bring us down. Over time, I’ve heard that they’ve been growing stronger.
“You can’t erase something you haven’t seen or don’t know where it is. We’re not even sure who’s still involved with them. Some of the rival families that were against us before are no longer opposing us, and we’re not sure who is still trying to take us down,” Dad replied.
“They are after Gio’s generation; they want to eliminate the next generation to end our organization.”
“As if we would allow that, Uncle Morgan.” I before leaving that place, thinking that I would let Dad figure out how to eradicate that Union. I was busy with other matters.
I will visit Millie tonight. We hadn’t spoken since the last time I helped her, but I knew there was a chance she was looking for me. Although I just didn’t want to see her again. When she’s around, my heart pounds so loudly, and I don’t want Gia to see us together. I’m cautious around my own sister; I know she has ulterior motives.