Page 106 of Tainted Ties

I stared into the mirror, and I looked like death.

The bags under my eyes were puffy, my face blotchy and red.

Trying to force a smile on my face, I failed.

Sighing, I switched the light off and went in search of Enzo and Roman.

They were seated in the library, deep in conversation.

The smile I had failed to plaster on my face earlier, reappeared in its genuine form.

My heart soared at the sight of them.

“Hope I’m not interrupting.” I sauntered into the room, their conversation coming to a halt.

I sat across from my brother, beside Roman on the leather couch. Immediately, his hand came to rest on my thigh.

There was no right way to jump into the inevitable conversation, so I ripped off the band-aid.

“What happened to you, Enzo?” I asked. “Our father said you were shot dead… executed by the Mancinis.”

Enzo flicked his gaze to Roman before settling on me. “Iwasshot,” he clarified. “Not dead.” He gestured to himself. “Obviously and definitelynotby the Mancinis.”

This wasn’t new information to me. I had known Roman had nothing to do with what happened to my brother. However, him confirming that hewasshot, sent a jolt of dread through me.

“Who did it?” It was Roman who asked because I suddenly forgot how to speak.

I waited for Enzo’s reply, the ringing in my ears deafening.

“Angelo Bianchi.”

Ice rolled through my veins, freezing my entire body.

My father was a heinous man who had traumatized me from a young age, but his son? It was nearly unbelievable that he would do that to his golden child.

“He ambushed me, but I wasn’t surprised,” he continued, shaking his head. “I refused to support him in all aspects until he saved you, Aurora.” Then his mouth tipped up slightly. “But you didn’t need saving though, huh?”

My cheeks flushed with heat. The irony of it was not lost on me. I had fallen in love with Roman.

“Don’t be embarrassed. You could’ve done worse than this ogre.”

“Care to get shot again?” Roman deadpanned, though his tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

It was then that a petite woman entered the room, heading straight for my brother with her head bent low.

My eyes narrowed on her, trying to figure out where I had seen her before. She looked familiar. Red hair and freckle faced.

Then it hit me. She was the young housekeeper I had met when I first came back to Italy.

She took the seat next to Enzo, fidgeting with the sleeve of her shirt.

“Aurora, you remember Sofia?” Enzo asked, staring at her as if she held the world in the palm of her hands.

“Yes.Ciao, Sofia.”

When she lifted her head, her eyes were bloodshot, pupils dilated, almost drowning out the green in them.

There was something broken about this girl. I could see the empty void in her eyes, and it unsettled me.

---