Page 89 of Broken Princess

I’m lost in a fucking sea of peripheral noise. Completely detached from reality, floating over it, not registering locations and time. I’m vaguely aware of people getting out of the van, continuing back to the safe house. Being led into the living room, and many angry people yelling around me.

I know people try to talk to me, but my throat is too clogged with emotions to allow me to choke out my response. When everyone else has worn themselves out, a heavy silence descends, making the air thick and redolent with grief.

I step forward from the grim post I had assumed by the fireplace and look around the room, finally cognisant of my audience.

Sinclair stands behind me to my left, watching over me like a sentinel, guarding my back. In front of me are Nico and Benny. Nico looks haggard, but better than the last time I saw him. He’s laid out on the sofa, leg elevated with a rolling IV pole behind him carrying multiple bags, both red and clear.

Doc Em is hunched over the kitchen island, perched on a stool, Stefano behind her, rubbing her shoulders with a tenderness I don’t expect. Katerina’s face is nothing but shock and sorrow. I’ve never seen her look so… so unsure, so lost.

There are others here, ones I vaguely recognise as the people that risked everything to come for Nico and me—to avenge my father.

I clear my throat and address them all.

“Salvatore De Luca betrayed The Syndicate. Massimo De Luca murdered my father and butchered my sister. Manny Ferella deceived us all and poisoned our ranks.” I pause to cast my gaze across every eye that meets mine. “We have declared war on the De Lucas. We have dissolved any partnership the Bianchis had with them. Salvatore De Luca is dead, and his psychopathic progeny is under the delusion that he is in charge now.”

There’s a rumble of voices and I hold up a hand to silence them.

“There is only one course of action. They will pay for what they’ve done, and we will be the ones to make them. We are motherfucking Bianchis, and we will reign down fucking hellfire if that’s what it takes, but not one of those disloyal cunts will be left breathing by the time we are done.” I’m met with a sea of nodding faces.

“Stefano, I’m kicking you and everyone who doesn’t live here out. You and five of your best will report back here first thing in the morning to organise our ranks and start working on a plan. We are fucking restructuring and if I find even so much as one voice among them that objects to taking orders from the rightful Bianchi heir, I will have them sent to the De Lucas in tiny fucking pieces. Am I fucking understood?”

“Yes, Ms. Bianchi.”

I nod and he hurries everyone out until it’s just my men, him and Katerina, left. Stefano doesn’t say a word. Simply wraps his arms around me in a hug that feels like more than I can handle. I feel everything I’m desperately trying to block right now, so I take a step back and nod, watching as he backs away towards the door.

Doc Em steps forward next. “You call me if Nico’s condition changes. He lost a lot of blood, but it was straight through. I’ve stitched him up, he should be okay until I come back in the morning.” She also hugs me, and I wish she wouldn’t. I’m so fucking close to crumbling, but if I’m really going to do this, I need everyone to believe the front I’m projecting right now. She goes to say something else, but when she catches the look in my eye, she seems to recognise it for the silent plea it is and turns to leave.

I nod as Stefano adds, “I’ve left my personal guards on you tonight. They will remain on the perimeter until we work out more permanent protection for you.”

It takes everything I have left in me to remain standing as they leave and the moment the door closes, I collapse in a heap, nothing but a mess of tears and hopelessness. I don’t hit the ground as Sin is right there, sweeping me up and taking me to the same sofa as Nico.

Sinclair holds me as I fall apart, and a stream of incoherent words come tumbling out of me. Begging for Zo to be here, sobbing at the injustice, screaming out in rage at the vengeance I will visit on Max. I feel my emotions reflected in every other heart here and I feel comfort wrapped up here in this moment with them. A collective pain that only we understand.

Eventually, I have no more tears left to shed and find myself wrapped in a tangle of limbs. Sinclair holding me, Benny’s head in my lap, Nico’s head on my shoulder.

“I’m so sorry,” I heave out. “If it wasn’t for me, he’d still be here.”

“This isn’t your fault, Aurora,” Nico growls out.

“We would save you again in a heartbeat, colibrì.”

“You shouldn’t. The life of some pathetic mafia princess isn’t worth more than a man like Enzo. He was one of the most honourable men I ever met. It was an uneven trade.” My words are laboured as tears threaten to fill my eyes and I struggle to catch my breath.

“You’re not a princess, phoenix. You’re our fucking queen,” Nico says, turning my face to his and brushing his lips to mine. I can taste my tears on his lips. It’s a sweet agony.

“Anyone of us would sacrifice ourselves for you. It’s not your place to deny us that honour,” Sinclair adds.

We stay wrapped up together until the sun fades and the room darkens. I wake up hours later, nestled in the warmth of the men I don’t deserve. The rays of the morning sunrise dance across the room, highlighting that the world has turned, life has gone on, and there’s always another day.

But he is gone.

The light is meaningless to me.

I am lost in the darkness.

END OF PART TWO

FOUR WEEKS LATER…

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