Page 5 of Inescapable Ties
My heart pounded in my chest as I listened to Rolando’s words, my eyes widening with a mixture of shock and confusion. I had never seen him like this before. His usual calm demeanor had been shattered by an intense fervor that sent shivers down my spine.
I glanced at my father, who seemed unfazed by my brother’s outburst. His face remained stoic, eyes fixed on Rolando. He had already decided and there was nothing the other man could do to sway him.
“Father,” I said, “Why is he called ‘The Butcher?’ What has he done?"
His gaze shifted to meet mine, filled with resolve. “The Butcher is not a man one should cross paths with.”
“That’s not even fair-“ Martina started.
“All of you, go to bed!” Father said, commanding us like we were children again. “I won’t hear another word about this.”
Martina and Rolando ignored him and continued to argue. Me? I had accepted my fate and didn’t care anymore. I had to save Martina. She had the brightest future ahead of her, and this was a small price to pay.
If The Butcher was a dangerous man, good. Hopefully, he would kill me so I wouldn’t have to spend my life with him.
A small part of me still clung to the possibility that we could truly love each other. But that part was a foolish dreamer, blind to the harsh reality of the situation. As much as I wanted it to be true, when I looked into Emilio’s cold eyes at dinner, I knew our love would be nothing but an illusion.
“I said, to bed!”
His deep, gravelly voice cut through the air like a knife, sending shivers down our spines. My siblings and I glanced at each other nervously before quickly scattering to our rooms, hoping to avoid any further confrontation.
It was only eleven o’clock. There was no way sleep would come to me after the events of the evening.
I had to know how Emilio gained that grotesque nickname.
With a sense of urgency, I reached out and snatched my phone off the wooden nightstand, feeling the cool metal against my fingertips. My heart raced as I tapped on Gianni’s saved number, the screen illuminating against my fingertips. This simple action felt like a lifeline, a connection to someone who could help me in this moment of need.
“Hey Stranger,” he said.
“I need your help,” I responded.
The words were meant to come out as calm and composed, but somehow ended up vomited together in one string.
“Not ‘Gianni, it’s been forever since we talked!’ Or, ‘Gianni, it’s so good to hear your voice?’”
“It’s important. I’m getting married to Emilio Renzetti.”
“The Butcher? I can’t believe you said yes.”
If there was anyone who held incriminating information on my fiancé, it would undoubtedly be my cousin. Gianni, with his cunning personality and expertise in intelligence work, was well known for his role as a trusted informant to my powerful Uncle Fabrizio. Any secrets or indiscretions that taint Emilio’s reputation are likely in the hands of my relative.
“It’s not like I had a choice. Wait, did you know about this?” I asked him.
“It’s my job to know things like this.”
“Fucking...ugh, whatever.” I was pissed and felt betrayed that he didn’t give me a heads up, but there were more pressing things to worry about. “What do you know about him?”
“Enough.”
“Care to elaborate?”
Gianni sighed into the phone. “Look, the dude isn’t going to kill you, if that’s what you’re worried about. But this is theMafia;what are you expecting? That he has a nine to five and sometimes gets to work from home?”
“You suck.”
He chuckled. “Sorry to depress you with my realism. Anyway, I got to go. Talk to you later.”
“Hey wai-“ I said, but he had already hung up the phone.
