Page 33 of His Cursed Heart

"I know you feel that your Papa hates you, but that's not true, amor. He is harsher with you because, unlike your sister, you have the behavior and mind of a true leader. Hanibal thought that he needed a boy in order to have an heir, but you are proving him wrong." These words are nothing to me, because my Mamma knows too, that he will never make me the heir of the Famiglia.

He never hides his anger for me.

"And if I want to leave this place?" My words are bringing tears in my mom's eyes.

"Then I'll help you." She takes my face in her hands, dirt still on them, and kisses my forehead. "You are meant to do greater things. I won't let anyone stay in your way."

"Really?" I ask with tears in my eyes.

"Your heart will always be safe with me." I hug her

as hard as I can. "And when you'll be older, you can finally understand some things."

I am older, but she's not here anymore.

I sigh and look in her mirror. My eyes are red but so tears are falling. I haven't cried in a long time.

Are you happy to see me as a bride, Mamma? Or are you angry because I'm not marrying for love?

One daughter is dead, the other is forced to marry a man who will bring her to despair.

Did you ever saw this coming?

"I'll try to visit you, Mamma." I touch her face and leave the room.

Venus waits for me next to the door, but she is dressed this time.

Her black dress hugs her curves like a second skin. Her tattoos are visible and her black hair is tied into a high ponytail.

"This looks more of a funeral dress." I say the obvious.

"Good. Because we're grieving."

We leave the mansion and in front of the gates are so many beautiful cars with purple flowers around the side mirrors.

I smile at Venus and she winks, entering the black limo.

I turn and look for the last time at the house who kept me a prisoner for the last twenty-three years.

Papa's servants look at me with small smiles and I know that they are more relieved than I am.

Papa is waiting for me to enter the limo, and before to put a step into the car, he takes my arm in his hold and leans to whisper:

"If you think you've escaped me, you're wrong. You better open your legs for that boy and remain his wife. This union is exactly what Vincent needs for when he'll be Capo."

"You better pray to stay alive to see him as a Capo."

"Oh, I will."

"We'll see about that, Papa."

And I enter the limo, leaving the snake den just to enter the beast's.

Silence.

This is everything I need before leaving this house and marry Althea.

With a glass of scotch in one hand and a cigar in other, I stare at the big garden that holds the memories of my fight with Althea.

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