Page 105 of The Don's Deadly Assassin

Chapter 41

Camela

The floor beneath me feels like it is shifting. My anger makes me unsteady. "I thought I told you to stop fucking with me," I shout at the Handler, staring him right in the eyes, my voice shaking with fury. "Who is my real father?"

The Handler gazes at me with an unnerving calmness in his eyes. "Camela, now you’re wishing to avoid what’s right in front of you."

He pauses, looking away from me for a moment, as if considering how best to deliver the news. Then, he stands and walks over to me, placing his hand under my chin. Vincenzo reaches over, grabbing the Handler’s hand, trying to pry it off my chin. The Handler ignores him, clutching me tighter.

“Look into my eyes,” he says. “Look!” he screams.

I stare defiantly.

“For all the powers of observation I’ve instilled in you, have you never truly noticed we have the same eyes?”

My heart arrests in my chest as the Handler's words sink in. His eyes, the same color as mine. All these years, I thought it was a mere coincidence.

He let’s go of my chin. Vincenzo looks between us, taking in my face, then the Handler’s. “No…” he pales.

My knees shudder, and buck under me. I fall to the ground. Vincenzo rushes over, gently patting my back.

I look at him, tears filling my eyes. “V..Vincenzo,” I whisper. I don’t need more words to express my distress at the fact that the Handler isn’t lying. He is my father. I shake my head, and my throat feels jammed, like it’s full of rocks.

"Your mother... she had an affair with Antonio,” The Handler continues to speak from where he stands. Both Vincenzo and I look up at him.

“Antonio?” Vincenzo asks. I take his hand, and he helps me up to my feet.

"Indeed," the Handler continues, his voice betraying no emotion. "I worked long hours. Yes, I had a wife and a child. But Rose was the mother. It was her job to care for you. She used to keep crying and sobbing about how she needs me, but I was giving her the money, wasn’t I?”

I gasp at how callous he sounds, when he talks about his family. About us.

His brown eyes flicker over to me, piercing me with intense focus. “I played my role as a husband by bringing the money and food to the table. Rose was supposed to raise you, and remain loyal to you. When I discovered their indiscretion, I was furious. I had Rose killed and took you in. By the time I reached Antonio, he had a full force of security. Understandably, it took a few years for me to have him dealt with. It was regrettable, but necessary."

“No,” Vincenzo whispers, his head falling in his hands.

I clench my fists, struggling to hold back the tears threatening to spill. Betrayal washes over me like a tidal wave, leaving me breathless and gasping for air. My world has been upended, and I can barely form the words to express my disbelief. "You lied to me all these years, pretending I never had a family? How could you do this to me?"

"Camela, you must understand," he says quietly. "I brought you into my world and trained you because I saw potential in you. Even as a child, you were precocious. A little fighter. One time, your mother and I were arguing. I struck her, and you came ramming into me to protect her, without fear. It was in that moment I realized you were fearless, and I needed a fearless weapon. What’s the first cause of fear, Camela?” he asks and walks over to me.

“Family,” he whispers, his breath hot on my ear. He steps back and circles Vincenzo and I. “Had I told you I was your father, it would have weakened you. I did not want another failure on my hands and did what I did to break you and mold you. Look at you now, ruthless. Strong. But now that you know the truth, there is no turning back."

"Whatever you thought you were doing for me," I say through gritted teeth, "it doesn't change the fact that you took away the only family I might have had. And for that, I will never forgive you."

The veins in my temples pulse. The Handler's face remains infuriatingly calm as he watches me, calculating and cold. I can't bear it any longer – I need to make him pay for the pain he's caused me.

"Handlerrr!" I roar, feeling a primal surge of anger propel me forward. I lunge at him, aiming for his throat, but he sidesteps with ease, evading my grasp.

"Camela, don't let your emotions control you," the Handler warns, his tone condescending. "This is not the way."

"Shut up!" I snarl, my fury making me relentless. As I try to strike him again, he swiftly pushes a small button under his desk. A shrill alarm pierces the air, and my stomach drops, knowing what comes next. I got angry. I got weak.

"Really, Handler? You're calling for backup?" I spit, even as I brace myself for Matthiera’s arrival. I know all too well how skilled my former comrade is, and I'm not eager to face him in combat. He could get hurt. Unless if I put a stop to this madness first.

My world narrows to the sight of my hands reaching for the Handler one last time when suddenly, the door bursts open. I don’t turn, eyes on The Handler, when I hear Vincenzo grunt. “Let me go.”

I turn. Matthiera has Vincenzo’s hands behind his back, and holds Vincenzo in place.

"Camela, don't do anything stupid," Matthiera warns, his voice steady and cold. I can see the muscles in his thin arms tense as he grips Vincenzo, prepared to snap his neck should I try anything. My heart races, knowing that any wrong move could prove fatal for him.

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