Page 157 of Monster in Disguise

I feel close to a mental breakdown. Who could have done this?

"Signor," Amelia knocks on my door and comes inside.

"Someone left this for you." I nod absentmindedly and prompt her to leave the package on the desk.

After she's gone, I'm still lost in thought, my mind playing tricks on me and showing me all possible scenarios, all of them ending with Lina dead.

No!

I need to focus. I can't allow myself to go down the rabbit hole.

Dear God, why? Why her?

My prayers are ineffective, not that they've ever been.

I shake my head and turn my attention to the package. I grab it, noting it's very light. Curious, I take a knife and cut through the cardboard. Inside, there's only a letter and a piece of material. I frown.

I carefully open the envelope to find a picture and a small note. I turn the picture around and I gasp.

Lina!

Her back is bare, her scars on view. The gown she'd been wearing is pooling at her waist. The same gown I'm now holding in my hand. My fingers clench around the material, despair threatening to overwhelm me.

With clumsy movements, I pry the note open.

PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ANOTHER LETTER.

I close my eyes briefly, grief threatening to spill over.

What have I done? What have I brought upon her?

I scrunch the piece of paper in my hand, flinging it at the wall.

"Wait for me, Lina," I whisper, even though there's no genuine conviction behind my words.

Pocketing the photo, I head directly to my room, to my inner sanctuary. I lock the door behind me and I kneel in front of the altar. I turn my eyes towards the centerpiece, the statue of Mary, and I supplicate her.

"Please, I'm begging you. Let her be alright. I'll do anything. I'll stay away from her for the rest of my days. Just let her be alright." I keep on repeating the same prayer, hoping someone will hear me.

Lina, my beautiful Lina... a most innocent soul.

It's all my fault.

I'm almost tempted to grab the handle of the whip, craving the medicinal bite of pain. But as I'm battling those thoughts, my phone beeps. It's Adrian.

"Yes?"

"We have a match. You did great by ranking them."

"Who is it?" I rasp out.

"Your first choice..."

Marcello

"Your first choice..." Adrian pauses, and the anticipation is killing me. "Nicolo."

"Are you sure?"

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