Cara’s POV
As soon as the words left my mouth, all necessary documents were brought to me, and Adonis was wheeled off.
Standing in the waiting room while I nearly ran out of my mind felt like a luxury with everything that was going on, and I was somewhat grateful for that.
I needed to get to my father, but my phone was broken. Reaching into the bag on the sofa, I pulled out Adonis’s phone, which I had intentionally hidden and lied that we left at home, immediately dialling his number.
First ring. Second ring. Third ring.
The call didn’t connect.
Who then sent the text that Adonis saw? Perhaps…
My finger pressed on his contacts, scrolling through until I settled on the one I had an inkling about.
The first ring didn’t even complete as the receiver picked up the call.
“Freddie. What the f*ck is going on? What did you say about Luca?”
“Cara? Dio, siamo fottuti (god, we’re screwed). I don’t know what to do.” He cried, sending a pang through my heart, but I cleared my throat.
“What do you mean you don’t know what to do?”
“Isn’t my father there?”
“He was. He led the rest of the men after Diavolo. I was told to stay with Luca. He was bleeding profusely, Cara.”
“Calm the f*ck down and get him to the f*cking hospital or something.”
“Didn’t you see my text?” He yelled back. “He’s dead. F*cking dead. Before we could even step out of the mansion. Diavolo shot him in the f*cking head.”
I choked out a sob, placing my hand over my mouth to stop him from hearing.
How could this happen? Weren’t we thorough enough?
“Tell me. What happened?”
“I don’t know the full details. It happened so suddenly. One minute, we were arriving at the mansion from the warehouse, and the next, Luca was jumping in front of the gun.”
“Then get me someone who’s f*cking on top of it all.”
The line broke as a loud, inaudible noise crackled in the background, and then, “Mrs. Bernardi?”
“You! You’re the one who helped Cecelia,” I recognised. “Speak.”
“Diavolo was already waiting when Boss Luca got to the mansion.”
“I know that. He went over with my father… tell me what I do not know and spare me not even the littlest detail.”
The guy gulped, “Okay, ma’am. So when they arrived…
****
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” Tina spat with annoyance as she watched the elderly man cross one leg over the other. From the glass of wine in his hand, she could see he had made himself comfortable.
What form of disrespectful attitude was this? Didn’t he know it was rude to barge into a person’s home for whatever reason might be at this time?
“Look,” she hissed. “I don’t know who you are or what you want. It’s 3am, and I’d rather be in my bed than entertain your muteness. Luca isn’t home, so go and come back another time.”
That got his attention as the glass halted at his lips. He pulled it down. “The second-in-command isn’t here?”
She frowned. “No, he isn’t, and it seems like you don’t know; he’s the one in charge now. We’ll be crowning him as Capo soon.”
He let out a chuckle, taking a sip from his drink. “Silly girl. Call me Sarah. Dille che sono venuto (Tell her I’ve come).”
Tina scoffed. “Excuse me! I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you can’t barge in here and start making demands.”
“Yes, I can.”
“No, you can’t. Not when you’re not the one in charge.”
“And who says so?”
“Are you really bluffing at this time?” She glanced at the guards standing behind him. “Take your nincompoops and get out of this place.”
The man gave a small jerk of his head in reply, and they pointed their guns at her.
“Enough talking, more doing. Get me, Sarah.” He growled lowly.
Time wasn’t on his side. He wasn’t going to pick this day, but what better time could arise again? Adonis was rushed to the hospital, and everyone was away. After seeing that spoilt brat run her mouth at him, he’d made the decision to hasten his plans… he was going to teach her a lesson. One that involved controlling her tongue; it seemed like fate was on his side as the opening was all happening at once.
“What is all this noise I’m hearing about?” Sarah stepped into the living room in a soft robe, rubbing at her sleepy eyes. As soon as her blurry vision cleared, she stumbled, staring at him. “Adrian?”
“Come… amor (love). I see you’ve done well here. It’s time to hand over.”
“Hand over what?” Tina frowned. “Mum, what is he talking about?”
Her eyes darted around in fear. “Tina, stay behind me.” And Adrian smiled at the action. “What are you doing here? The plan was for you to come in, next week?”
How did he get in? Where were the guards?
“The plan? You’re working with him?” Her daughter gasped in disbelief.
“Shut up, Tina!”
“Good one. Her lashing was beginning to get on my nerves and about that…” He threw back the remaining contents of his glass. “I made the plan; I can change it. Do you have the papers?”
Sarah raised her head. “They’re all in the study. He showed them to me the last time I asked. The throne is ready for your occupant whenever. Just keep your end of the bargain and let us leave.”
Adrian’s sadistic eyes met hers. “Take me there.”
The next few minutes were a blur; Diavolo’s men flooded in, some seizing control of the mansion and the rest escorting Tina and her mother with a grim Adrian to Adonis’s study.
The guard who had assisted Cecelia into the mansion nearly froze as he stood behind a secret door in the study. He had been tasked by Luca to bring what was left of his work to the hospital and was in the middle of doing so when the sound of advancing footsteps reached his ears.
He’d heard about Diavolo’s visit, and, in a hurry to get hidden, he’d left the confidential files all laid out on the table.
“Get me the crown,” Adrian ordered as he sat on Adonis’s chair. “Ah… I’ve longed for this. To take back what was meant to be mine. Re-establish what my father had spent his latter years trying to achieve. This is only the beginning.” He waved his hand at the men holding the mother-and-daughter duo.
“Take them away. Lock them up in a cell.”
Sarah began to struggle as soon as those words were said. “This isn’t what you promised.”
“Don’t touch me.” Tina screeched.
“And what did I promise, amor (love)?”
“That you would let us go free. Me and my children. You promised that you wouldn’t harm anyone if I helped you.”
“And you believed me? You know that’s the problem you’re facing; you’re so gullible. It made entering your pants so easy. Who knows? Maybe after all is done. I’d have a good time again.” His eyes raked over her, delight shining in them as he recollected their past acts. “You’re… talented if I do say so myself, eh.”
“Eewww… Mummy, you slept with this pig?”
In a split second, Adrian had his gun out and-
Bang!!
“Ahh!!!” Sarah screamed as her daughter’s head fell forward, the irritated look on it frozen with wide eyes, which had life a few seconds ago.
“Clean up that mess,” he instructed one of his men.
“This isn’t what you told me. I’ve done my part.” She cried. “Why did you kill her? Why are you going against your words?”
“I told you to rein her tongue.” He puffed air over the mouth of his gun. “You have one left, so do not whine.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Take her out of here.”
“No! Leave Adonis alone. Do you hear me?” The devastated woman shrieked. “I owe you nothing anymore.”
How could she let her love for this man ruin her? Seeing him as a saviour instead of the real devil he was…
“You think I’m stupid? Why would I leave any of you alive?” He leaned back against Adonis’s swivel chair, crossing one leg over the other. “I’d wipe you all out. The mistakes Dimitri or my father made, I won’t make them. I won’t stop until there’s no member of the Greco family alive. The Mafia has the potential to succeed, but only at the right hand.”
Sarah cried as Tina’s lifeless body was dragged away.
This was supposed to be retribution. Another chance to get things right with her children… with Adonis. She had planned it all; they were going to start afresh.
Regret filled her. She had lived a worthless life by letting her past define her… it had cost her almost everything in life.
Her hands clenched into fists in determination; she would make sure that Adonis escaped… even if that was the last thing she did.
“Open the safe. Bring it all out.”
With her help, the safe was opened, and they brought down the crown and all related documents, handing them over to Adrian who searched around the pile with his eyes. There wasn’t enough time to go through them one after the other yet he instantly noticed that an important piece was missing… the automatic power that spoke for itself.
“Where’s the signet?”
They all turned to Sarah.
“I… I don’t know. That’s all Luca showed me.”
“That’s a lie.” He shuffled through the documents. “If this is everything, then it should be here. Are you lying to me, amor?”
She shook her head frantically in denial as he walked up to her, his long, frail finger trailing down her chin.
“I really do not know. Please.”
“Hmm…” He hummed, turning back towards the desk. “Losing you would be a was-what is that?”
“Oh shit.” The hidden guard mouthed, thinking he’d been caught until Adrian spoke again.
“Why does that document refer to the owner of the factory as a ‘she’ and the legal ownership is stating the head of the Bernardi family?” He asked, referring to the earlier abandoned document on the desk.
Everyone turned to Sarah again. Even the hiding guard had no clue. The papers had come in the day before, but Luca didn’t have time to go through it. He wouldn’t have asked for it if it wasn’t pending work.
Adrian must’ve been so thorough to notice. He picked up the remaining papers, and everything kept stating a transfer of ownership; a loud growl tore out of his mouth, and he aimed at Sarah.
“Well played. You thought to deceive me? Was that why you took the signet? Where are the originals? And the f*cking damn ring?”
“I don’t know! I swear I do not.”
“You leave me no choice, amor…”
“Please… wait.”
He turned to the guard beside him.
“Initiate the plan. Kill every single soul in this godforsaken mansion. And then, we wait for the bastards. I’ve come too far to leave with nothing. It all ends today.”