Page 151 of Milo

"Yeah?" Fucking bastard. "And what's that?"

Marchello squats down in front of me, his gaze flickering around my face. "Either I kill you, right now.” He drags the pistol across my battered cheek as the silent man brings over a briefcase. "Or you take this money and disappear. You go far, far away. And never return."

I blink. "Why not just kill me? Get rid of me for good? If I'm such a cancer, why risk keeping me alive?"

"Because, Kiara, I look at the big picture. I plan ahead. That is my job. If you are willing to take this money—" He taps the metal case. “That tells me that you have a price. And if I keep you alive, I can buy you again, in the future, if I ever need to. You will be my pawn; I will own you."

"Vittoria took the money," I whisper under my breath. "You paid her to come back. You paid her to say?—"

"Of course, she took the money!" Marchello scoffs. "That was the only reason she latched her nails into Milo in the first place. She never loved him, she loved this—" He motions around. "She loved luxury, diamonds, champagne. So yes, she took the money and she moved to Dubai. She was smart, Kiara. And I hope you will be smart too."

That explains the Arabic. That explains everything.

"There's one thing I don't understand." I purse my lips, a thought popping into my head. “You said your job is to ensure the legacy of this family, right? Don't you think this whole thing is counterproductive then? Milo is changing the plans against the Russians. You would've reclaimed power in six days, but now? You fucked everything up by bringing in a fake mole. Did you think of that?"

"Once again, Kiara, big picture," Marchello hums with an unbothered shrug. "We will have another opportunity to take down Igor, but I will not have a better opportunity to get rid of you. So now—" He stands up. "I need your answer. Do you wish to die tonight? Or live a long, healthy life?"

The last time my life flashed before my eyes, I saw nothing. It was empty, deprived of meaning, emotion, substance. But this time, I don't see my past. I see my future. I see Milo. I see his face. I hear his laugh. I feel his touch.

I feel his love.

It's inside me. It's coursing through my veins, keeping me alive. It's given me life. He resurrected me. Brought me back from the brinks of existential death. Without him, I have no one. Not one single person on God's green earth loves me as much as he does.

And I know he does. I do.

He gave me his heart.

And I'll give him my life.

"I won't take your money," I whisper, my breathing shallow. "I would rather die than be blackmailed by you. I will not be your pawn, Marchello. So, kill me."

Marchello frowns. "Kiara, be logical, take the money."

"No.” I stare at his gun. "I don't want your money."

"This is what I mean.” He takes four steps backward as the bald man puts a gun with a silencer in his palm. Marchello holds out the pistol, pointing it at my head. "Love makes you stupid. It is truly the most destructive emotion." He sighs. "Any last words, Kiara? A prayer, perhaps?"

I close my eyes, a small twinge of peace gripping my heart. "I'll see you soon, Nana," I murmur under my breath. "I'll see you soon."

A loud bang echoes around the room.

"You son of a bitch!"

My eyes spring open, Milo, Gio, and Mateo storming into the room, guns drawn.

Relief washes over me.

"Untie her," Milo spits, glancing at Gio who rushes toward me. He re-grips his gun, pointing it at Marchello as Gio unties the ropes from my wrists and ankles. "You fucking little shit. I trusted you and you have been manipulating me this whole time!"

"What—How…How do—" Marchello stammers, backing away until his back hits the wall. He raises his arms in surrender. Milo nods at the cameras in the corners of the room. "But I—I disabled them. I?—"

"Even you, Marchello, do not know everything," he growls, burning rage twisting his face. "I heard every single word that came out of your traitorous mouth!"

"Traitor?!" Marchello's voice rises as I stand up. I keep my distance, rubbing my sore wrists. "I am not a traitor! I am loyal! More loyal than you will ever be, Emilio! Everything I have done is for the sake of our family. For you! For our future!" He takes a step forward, pressing his chest against the tip of the Beretta. "You needed to become a leader, Milo, and I made that happen. I made you into the man we needed, into a man who will rule the fucking world!"

"You betrayed me, Marchello," Milo says, his jaw clenching. "You were like a father to me, and you betrayed me."

"I did what I had to do, Emilio," Marchello spits. "I did my duty. I stayed loyal to Santi Oscuri."

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