Page 22 of A Beautiful Crime

Appeasing him to lessen his worry over me I nod my head with a smile. “Okay, I’ll try not to. But please do not say anything to papa or Luca.”

“I won’t, Carina. Even if I think this is wrong.”

“You’re a good person, Giuseppe.”

“So are you.”

My smile falters.

I was once good.

But I am not that person anymore.

“Once you see Luca leave the cellar, wait an hour to not raise suspicion before you make your way down to me.”

He nods his head but I can tell that he wants to say more. “I will pray for you, la mia forte bellezza. I will pray that Luca is not harsh with you, and I will pray that you carry your strength until I come to you.”

I smile at him but it’s one that holds nothing but sorrow.

I would hate to tell him that the God he is praying to I no longer believe in.

And if there is such a God he wouldn’t help me.

Not after the ultimate sin I’ve committed. Not after my wings have been severed from my back.

“Thank you, Giuseppe.” And with a nod of my head and a crisp bow from him we part ways.

Yet still I hang by the end of the corridor until I hear the thud of his footsteps in the great distance, and I wait until I hear himsoftly knock on papa’s door. And as I hear the three soft rapt knocks it’s not shortly after do I hear the opening of the door and the closing after.

But as I hear the door closing I hear my fate being sealed.

Tonight Luca will unleash his wrath upon me, and papa will encourage him to do so.

The scars upon my back burn as I remember my last lashing. The stench of iron fills my nostrils as the taste of metallic sits heavy upon my tongue. And as I close my eyes I am transported to the cold hard unforgiving floor of the cellar. My knees cut open from digging them in the floor, and my wrists blistered from the chains binding them too tight.

I open my eyes before I can see the river of blood pooling around me.

I take a deep breath and push back my shoulders.

Giuseppe is right about one thing, I am strong.

For every lash my brother will give me I will not shed a single tear.

He’ll want to hear my screams, he’ll want to see my eyes turn to glass and I won’t allow it.

I will take away what gives him the most pleasure.

But there is something in the back of my mind that forebodes the worst is only yet to come.

CHAPTER 5

Constantine

“This isn’t wise, Constantine,” my consigliere, Rico, warns me with a tone that is emotionless.“Showing up at Don Fiore’s household without notice nor a meeting is a blatant sign of disrespect.”

As if I care about gaining the respect of Savio Fiore.

Every man bows before me.

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