Page 153 of Cruelest Contract
“Got it,” I say.
He tries to smile. “Don’t worry, Cecilia. My angel is watching over you.”
I can hardly nod. I bite my lower lip to keep it from quivering.
With the utmost care, I set the gun down on the small table beside the lamp. Louisa allows me to sit on the armchair beside her and she promptly snuggles close, already purring. I keep my tears at bay until Julian’s father shuts the door. As a sob shakes me to the core, I cover my mouth with my hand in case this room isn’t soundproof.
That solitary cry is the only one I’ll allow to break through. I refuse to grieve. I insist on believing Julian will be back soon, just like he promised. Julian always keeps his promises.
I haven’t prayed in so many years. I forget where to start.
Spreading both palms over my belly doesn’t nearly cover the bulge. My left hand is bare, my rings left behind in their velvet box because my fingers were too swollen this morning. This feels like a bad omen now, as if I’ve severed a connection with Julian.
My babies can surely feel my level of distress and I breathe in and out, shutting my eyes, summoning calm. It’s not easy to come by here in the safe room while wearing a bulletproof vest with a loaded gun sitting nearby.
A sudden loud bang is terrifying. Louisa’s hair stands on end. I cannot tell if the noise comes from inside the house or outside. I will know nothing until it’s all over.
Being in here is helpless torture. I can’t stand it. And I have no choice.
But I trust Julian. I trust all the Tempestas. I trust them more than my own blood.
“Protect them, Teresa,” I whisper because this can’t hurt. If Cass believes Teresa watches over us all, then I want to believe it too.
Minutes pass. At least, I think they do. I’m reminded of the horrible day in the vineyard with grass tickling my nose amid the sound of gunfire and screaming. Time lost meaning then too. I never knew how long I was lying there on the ground. I wonder if Julian knows.
A tiny foot kicks right under my hand. “Shh,” I tell my babies. “Mommy is here.”
I’m filled with an overpowering urge to soothe them. My mother had a lovely voice and often used to sing lullabies. I can’t even carry a tune but I’ll sing for my babies anyway. I singHush, Little Babybecause it’s the only song I can remember just now. When I finish, I start over again.
But as I sing the ‘mockingbird’ line, I hear an unknown noise and quit singing. On instinct, I reach for the gun, suddenly comforted by its weight.
The noise repeats and it’s a voice. It’s faint but I think that’s just because the safe room door is thick. But I’d know that voice anywhere. I’ve heard it my whole life and I know exactly who it belongs to. We arrived in the world together.
“CICI!”
“Gabriel,” I gasp and scramble out of the chair to reach the switch.
The door opens with maddening slowness.
“Cici!” my brother shouts from somewhere in the house.
“Gabe!” I yell back.
Footsteps pound in this direction and my twin brother runs into the room. Relief floods his face when he sees me exiting the safe room. Louisa hisses at him and runs under the desk.
“Come on,” he says with a firm grip on my arm, pulling me into the hall. The gun is still in my other hand but I don’t want to let go of it just yet.
“How did you get free?” I ask. “Did they come back? Where did Cass go?”
All other questions die in my throat because the last one has just been answered in the worst way imaginable.
Cassio Tempesta lies on the floor by the foot of the stairs. There’s blood pooling around his head and a man stands over him.
The man is my brother, Angelo.
A scream dies in my throat. Cass is not moving. He lies on his side and the blood leaks from a gash in the back of his head. On the floor by Angelo’s feet is the heavy marble rolling pin I’ve seen Enzo use in the kitchen.
“What did you do?” I shriek at my brother.
