Mena
I remained quiet as Alessio led me through the garden back to the ballroom. Meanwhile, my mind raced, wondering what he was planning to do, and what he so desperately needed to show me to convince me that we would not be able to push our issues aside.
His hand was still wrapped around mine as he walked to the back and he raised his hand to ask for attention. “Everyone,” he called out loudly.
Anxiety filled my stomach as I tried to prepare myself for whatever was about to happen. Why would he need an audience to prove me wrong?
The music stopped abruptly, and all eyes turned in our direction. It was silent, and everyone was curious. “Dad, come here,” Alessio beckoned.
Domenico, along with the rest of the Fanuccis, including Gian and Dante, made their way over. As they gathered around, I noticed a large curtain behind us. I wondered what would be behind it, and it added to my worries.
Why were we standing in front of it?
“I can give you a speech, but I won’t because there’s no need for that. We did what we had to do, we won, and here’s our trophy,” Alessio declared before he aggressively yanked the curtain away with the help of his family.
I gasped loudly. Behind it were multiple heads on spears in a row. It was a gruesome and horrifying display. The sight was shocking, far beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined. All this time, I thought a head on a stick was some kind of metaphor, but I was mistaken.
These people were serious.
My following reaction came with a delay, but I turned to look away with a pounding heart. Alessio’s hand was still in mine, and it was a good thing it was because otherwise, I would’ve fainted from shock. I could feel the blood drain from my face as I repeated the same thing in my head.
I can take it.
I can take it.
I can take it.
The room around me seemed to spin as everyone erupted into cheers and the music kicked back in, but I felt completely disconnected. Eager to get out of the room, I tried to slip out of Alessio’s grip, but he wouldn’t let me.
“You missed one head,” he spoke in my ear, tightening his grip. “You want to know why we can’t go back and pretend like nothing happened? This is why, look!”
I shook my head, unwilling and unable to take in the horror in front of me again. “Look!” Alessio demanded.
“Ales, maybe you need to tone it down a bit,” I heard Dante interfere.
“Stay out of it, Dante!” Alessio snapped back, his attention fixed on me. “This is none of your business!”
“Jimena, look!”
I can take it.
I can take it.
Deep breaths in, deep breaths out…
With a flinch, I turned around and felt my body tense as I looked at the display once more. Alessio pointed out one head in particular. The head in the center, raised slightly above the others-and it was Anson’s.
I felt a wave of nausea surge through me as my gaze landed on Anson’s lifeless eyes. My head spun with dizziness as I finally realized what exactly I was looking at.
It was too much, too real, too brutal-and no, I couldn’t take it. This had gone too far.
The heads on spears were not just a symbol of victory but a disgusting and unnecessary thing to do. They won, great-but did they really have to go to that extent?
With all the strength I had left, I yanked away from Alessio’s grip and speed-walked while covering my mouth. If I would not get to the toilet any sooner, I would vomit in front of everyone.
Once I had left the room, I ran for my life. It was a race against the clock, and my feet barely kept up with me, but I had reached the bedroom just in time and immediately found my way to the toilet.
Bending over, I rested my hands on the side and began to throw up. Gags escaped my mouth as everything poured out. As I struggled, I suddenly felt a firm grip holding my hair up, keeping it away from my face. I didn’t need to look behind me to know it was Alessio.
His touch was familiar, even in a moment like this.
“It’s okay, you’re okay, I’m here,” Alessio whispered.
He rubbed my back gently as I spit out the last bits of vomit, but once I was finished, he just couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
“I know seeing that must’ve been shocking for you, but I hope you understand that when I say you can’t take it-this is what I mean.”
“Shocking?” I breathed. “That was barbaric.”
He chuckled softly, “So you agree that you can’t take it?”
“No, I can’t,” I admitted, still staring down at my own vomit as I was not ready to face him yet. “What will you say if Naty finds out one day and starts looking for answers?”
Alessio released his grip on my hair and gently pushed a few strands behind my ear. “Then I’ll tell her the same I told you. That I saved her from a monster.”
A shiver ran through my body. Turning around to face him, I searched his eyes for any sign of regret, any hint of remorse, but there was nothing. His gaze was empty, even after witnessing my reaction to his disgusting display.
“What’s happening to you?” I asked, trying to understand the change in him.
“Nothing. I’ve always been like this-you know that.”
“Then why do I feel like I’m stuck in some fucking nightmare,” I spoke, confused.
“You don’t have to be stuck here. I’m not keeping you hostage,” Alessio let out a breath, “Your head is all over the place, everyone can tell,” he spoke. “I have to be this harsh with you because I need you to understand that you either have to accept it or step away from it. I won’t put everyone else in danger because you change your mind every damn second.”
I felt an ache in my heart. “You think I’d put everyone in danger?”
He shook his head, “I don’t know, would you?”
“How?” I questioned, slightly offended. “By going to the feds?”
His silence didn’t need more explanation.
“All I’m saying is, you need to think where your loyalty lies. With me or with some head on a stick,” he spoke. “I want you to think about your decision, and if you need a year-I’ll give you a year, but I’m tired of going back and forth with you.”
Alessio walked out of the bathroom, and I turned to stone as his words left me paralyzed. Especially the use of the word ‘loyalty’ struck a nerve. The idea that my loyalty was being questioned while the real devil was among us-was sickening.
A soft scoff left my mouth as I looked down at my stomach. Clenching my jaw, I stood up and went over to the drawer where I had hidden one of the pregnancy tests.
I then walked to where I had stashed the folder about MISA. My hands trembled slightly as I pulled it out, and I knew this was not the moment for any of this, but I couldn’t take it anymore.
I walked towards the bed where Alessio was seated and stopped right in front of him. In a swift motion, I threw the pregnancy test into his lap. “We don’t have a year,” I dropped the news.
Alessio furrowed his brows, picking up the test before he examined it. His expression changed several times. It went from confusion, to shock, realization and then his eyes softened.
“Are you really…” he trailed off with a glimpse of regret in his eyes.
“Yes, I am,” I stated. “And while we’re at it, I’m not the one whose loyalty you should be doubting. Here you go,” this time I threw the folder at him, and he caught it.
“What is this?” Alessio asked, still overwhelmed by the news of the pregnancy.
“The trip with Gian wasn’t just a trip. I did it for you. Read it,” I instructed, hoping he would understand the depth of my loyalty to him. The one he questioned so much.
Fearing his reaction, I decided it would be best to wait by the door. I did not want to be anywhere near him when he would process everything and learn of his friend’s betrayal.
I walked to the door, but before I left, I turned around one more time.
“I may not always agree with you, but ever since we’ve been together, I’ve always had your back, and you’re welcome for that,” I stated, and then I closed the door behind me.
With a sigh, I leaned against the door and sank down. A mix of relief and regret washed over me. Now that he knew about the pregnancy, I hoped he would realize that we didn’t have a year or whatever to figure out what the hell was going on between us.
The regret came from the impulsive decision to throw the MISA folder in his face, but I didn’t want him to waste time questioning my loyalty while Isaac had been lying to him from day one.
I did exactly what Gian had warned me against, and hit Alessio with too much to process at once. Now, as I waited in front of the door, I braced myself for the outburst that was surely about to follow.