Page 90 of The Air You Breathe

“I have to hand it to you, I almost believed you were innocent in this entire situation.”

I couldn’t see much since we were in the dark, but I heard him stepping closer, making me step back into the gun that was still pointed at me. The lights suddenly came on, making me flinch from the brightness.

“I almost believed you until guess who came back from the dead?” He clapped as my vision finally came back and there stood Giovanni. The blood drained from my face because I was expecting Geraldo.

“Giovanni?” I said in disbelief.

“Did you really think I would go against my father?” He looked at me with no emotion. “I knew what the hell you were doing for a while. I knew you wanted all of us to go to jail. So, dying was my last play so you couldn’t hurt our family anymore. Sneaking around proved to be easier when everyone thought you were dead.”

I ground my teeth, wondering how the hell I had missed all the clues that he wasn’t against his father as he led me to believe. What didn’t make sense though, was Vittoria’s hatred for Lucio. I scrutinized him again, looking for any sign that these past years weren’t a fucking lie, but Giovanni had his expression firmly in place that he had learned from Lucio.

Giovanni wouldn’t do this, this wasn’t him. Something else had to be going on.

How the hell did he pull off his death? Saul told me he got shot— he got shot in the face and when I saw him in the casket… I could have been looking at anyone. Vittoria refused to see him, but this man had all of Giovanni’s personal belongings. A punch in my face knocked me back on my ass with a gun to my face.

“I hear you also poisoned my brother with your bullshit and both of you are sharing a woman. You think pussy will keep him in line?” Another blow to the face. “I guess you guys weren’t that smart about keeping her safe.”

“Evan,” Darcy screamed.

I snapped my head in the direction of her scream, trying to get my vision in order. Two men were dragging her in as she kicked and screamed.

“Darcy,” I said, lunging forward, but Giovanni was there with a gun in between my eyes.

“No, No, No,” she yelled more.

“On your knees, asshole,” he snarled.

I slowly got on my knees glaring at this man who I thought was my friend. It made no fucking sense. A small part of me hoped that this was just some play.

“Alright Evan, so here’s how this is going to go. You will tell the feds that this was your entire operation. You masterminded everything and we will give you a few names so they can also be arrested with you.” Lucio walked up to me. “You will take the fall for me, and you will continue to keep up the lie because if you don’t…”

Giovanni moved so I could see Darcy crying with a gun to her head.

“I’ll make sure she is taken care of, after your arrest, maybe she will even enjoy some father and son action,” he said. I lunged for him, but Giovanni was too fast, pushing me down, swinging at me before I leaned back so he would miss. I reached for the gun, when Giovanni fired a shot really close to me that I felt a sting in my arm from the bullet grazing me.

“Stay there,” Giovanni ordered.

My lip quivered as I thought about having to leave her, when this morning, I was ready to build a house for her and see what Dev’s plans were.

“You got that cazzo di merda?” Giovanni pushed the gun against my temple.

“Let me say goodbye,” I said, my voice hoarse from wanting to cry. “Then I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”

“You have a few minutes before the police arrive for your arrest.”

Giovanni stepped back, still glaring at me. It was a punch to the gut to think I had trusted him, but I guess in the back of my head I was always wary of trusting him too much. I just didn’t know how the hell I was being punished for Giovanni calling the cops. Why would he do that? I was missing something, but I couldn’t concentrate. My thoughts were too consumed with keeping Darcy safe.

I stood up and walked over to Darcy who was crying hard enough that she was taking deep, sharp breaths every so often. My head was pounding as I knelt in front of her, bringing her into my arms.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” I said, by her ear.

“Evan there has to be another way.” She cried into my chest.

“Not with your life on the line.” I kissed her forehead.

“I just got you back.” She looked at me, trying to control her crying. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Dev will take care of you,” I said, leaning back, taking her face into my hands. “I left things for both of you. On my computer is a folder labeled Camellia. Please tell my mama and sister I love them. There is some stuff for them too.”

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