Chapter 39 - Angela

My head was a whirlwind of thoughts; I couldn't assimilate just one piece of information—my mind wandered through everything Marco had told me and the good things I'd heard about Uncle Giancarlo.

He couldn't have done that. My father wouldn't hate Marco for killing his brother if he had truly abused a child in the most vile and disgusting way.

I wandered through the garden; the men were preparing for the invasion, and I needed to focus on that, but it seemed impossible to concentrate at that moment.

I spent the rest of the day in the room, trying to come to terms with my feelings, because the last thing I wanted was to doubt Marco, especially on such a delicate matter. But I didn't know what to think anymore.

The only conclusion I reached was that he was right—I needed to confront my mother about it and draw my own conclusions from there.

"Are you sure you want to come with us? We can do this alone," Frank asked when I joined the soldiers. "I promise we'll bring them back safe."

"No, I have to go. I wouldn't feel right waiting at home."

"Great, we know Marco trained you well to shoot and defend yourself, but stay close to us at all times," he said, not hiding his concern, and I nodded in agreement. But my eyes scanned the place, looking for him.

But all I saw were soldiers and more soldiers, adjusting their black uniforms and weapons.

"He's not here, sister." Mel arrived behind me, hugging her husband and giving me a kind look. "I don't know what happened, but he left the training room a few hours after you, and no one's seen him since."

I hated that he'd gone to meet my father after our conversation, especially the way I left. A thunderclap rumbled, making me shudder and reminding me it would be a long night until we were back behind these gates. I needed my siblings safe and to talk to my mother soon—only then could I think clearly and talk to him again.

"Let's go, then. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll return."

Mel said goodbye to her husband, and we left. The closer we got to the house where I grew up, the tighter my chest felt, and fear screamed loudly in my mind, telling me so many things could go wrong today—especially in Marco's meeting with my father.

I could lose everything tonight. I could lose my siblings, my mother, or even Marco, and I didn't know what would become of me if that happened. The mere idea of losing them destroyed my sanity.

"Don't worry—Nero went with him to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

"I hope Nero can keep him in line. I don't want to lose anyone tonight," I murmured as the car approached the street closest to my house. Then the black SUV stopped; from here, we'd go on foot.

"The only person capable of keeping the Demon of the Camorra in line is you," Frank said, giving my vest one last check before handing me two more weapons, in addition to the ones in my hip holster and the knife they forced me to put in my boot. "Nero's there to remind him of that, so he won't let his hatred for your father speak louder."

I let out a long sigh, remembering my last encounter with my father. If I already hated him since that day, now that I knew what he'd done to Alessia, he'd become my greatest enemy.

"I don't care what happens to my father as long as Marco comes back to me!" I affirmed, already marching alongside the soldiers.

Frank and I were in the middle of the formation—it was a way to ensure my safety, and I knew it, just like Frank being like a shadow, glued to me when we reached the mansion walls.

The electromagnetic pulse was activated, blacking out the entire mansion and opening the main gate. To everyone, it looked like a blackout thanks to the approaching storm. As expected, several soldiers ran to the main gate, and the sniper hidden a few meters away confirmed our entry was clear.

Jumping the wall and bypassing the electric fence was a challenge for me, especially not knowing what we'd find on the other side.

"You have ten seconds to cross the lawn, or the power will come back, and you'll be spotted," I heard the command on the radio, and we ran even faster.

I'd think about what we'd find when we were inside the house—when we were there. We couldn't be discovered before I found my siblings.

When we reached the walls flanking the house, the lights came back on, illuminating the entire property, and I heard her voice.

"It's good to check everything, especially the cameras," my mother said to one of my father's soldiers. "That devil might have invented a meeting just to invade the house."

"Yes, ma'am."

I'd never seen her giving orders, much less speaking in that tone with so much anger. My mother wasn't one for affection, but she was always restrained and silent.

I felt a hand squeeze my arm and only then realized I was walking toward her. Frank was the one who stopped me. We had to wait for the drone to finish flying over the house; its thermal imaging would tell us how many people were there and where.

"Go up to your room, Alessia. I'll send someone to guard you all night."

"Are you afraid I'll run away and you'll lose your bargaining chip? Too bad you didn't have any other daughters, or you could try other deals..."

I heard a slap and clenched my fists, controlling myself so my urge to protect my sister didn't ruin the whole mission. She'd been through worse, and now she just needed to hold on a little longer.

"If everything goes right in the ambush tonight, you won't be handed over to anyone, so don't be dramatic."

"Dramatic?" Alessia shouted, never intimidated by anything, as always. "You want to hand me over to some sick assassin, and I'm being dramatic?"

"I don't want to hand you over to a perverted mercenary who wants a fifteen-year-old girl! I raised my daughters to marry into the Italian elite." There was a long pause, and I stayed there wondering what was happening. "If you want to blame someone, blame your sister, who was selfish enough to forget about us."

Hearing that was like being punched in the stomach by a merciless blow that stole my breath. That's what they thought of me—that I was selfish and forgot about them. I could already imagine the lies my father had told my mother and siblings about me.

"Four soldiers around the house, one person upstairs, and two very close to you."

"Let's go—it's now!" Frank said softly after the intel, so we entered quickly.

My mother was in the middle of the living room, holding Alessia's face, which was red where she'd clearly slapped her. My sister was the first to notice us and widened her eyes in shock.

"Hi, little sister," I greeted, making my mother turn to me. "Hi, Mom."

"Angela? Is that really you? How..."

"I'll explain later, but we need to hurry. We have to get Enrico and get out of here!" I rushed, grabbing her hand and already running toward the stairs. My mother followed right behind with Frank; the few soldiers who entered stayed in the living room, guarding the stairs. "We don't have much time—the soldiers could come in soon and discover we're here."

We reached Enrico's room, and he was already in bed, clutching the covers tightly while looking out the window, scared of the thunder. He couldn't have toys to help him through a night like this, much less sleep with someone—if my father knew we always snuck into his room on stormy nights, he'd beat us for sure.

"You came!" he shouted, running to me and throwing his little arms around my legs, hugging me tightly.

"Of course I came—I wouldn't leave you behind," I lifted him into my arms, wrapping his small body, ready to get out of there.

I turned to the hallway with him in my arms and Alessia by my side; our boots hurried against the wooden floor. But then Frank came running back as we reached the stairs.

"She's here! Angela is here!" I heard my mother shouting, and when he reached her, a phone fell to the floor.

"What did you do, Mom?" Alessia shouted.

I shook my head in denial—she couldn't have done that, couldn't have betrayed me when I was there for them. But I didn't have time to confront her about it; in seconds, all the soldiers would be there. I needed to at least get my siblings out before that.

I hurried down the stairs, knowing Frank would bring my mother—even if tied up. It was for her own good; I could ask for forgiveness later.

"Alessia, go with the soldiers—they know the plan and will take you and Enrico to safety."

"I'm not going," my brother cried, clinging to my neck.

"I'll be right behind you, love. Alessia and my friends will take you ahead— that's all."

"Come on, Enrico. Don't be a crybaby now—we need to get out of here," Alessia pulled him from me and handed him to the nearest soldier. "Angela won't be long. Right?"

She looked at me for an answer, letting me see she was scared too, even if she didn't show it.

"Yes, I will. We're all getting out of this hell tonight!"

The soldiers didn't wait any longer and ran outside. It might seem like many minutes passed, but our whole argument didn't take more than seconds before they were taken from my sight.

"You can't take my children from me!" my mother shouted as they were carried away.

"What have you schemed? Tell me now!" Frank questioned, shaking her body to make her talk, but she just gave a devilish smile I'd never seen.

"It doesn't matter what you take—you won't leave this place alive."

Before I could respond, the sound of gunshots rang out from outside, making my heart race in complete desperation.

"There are several soldiers coming out of an underground passage at the back of the property," we were warned over the radio. "You're surrounded—you have nowhere to go without being easy targets."

Then I realized that was the trap she'd mentioned to Alessia. They hadn't set it for Marco—they'd set it for me.

I stared at her in disbelief; I'd never seen my mother like this until that moment. I'd never imagined she could be as cunning as my father.

"Surrender, Angela—you have nowhere to go!" my father shouted from outside. "There are several men here waiting for the fine payment that is you."

"How could you, Mom?" I questioned as Frank desperately used the phone.

"You joined the enemy, dear. What did you expect?"

I couldn't believe this was happening, that she was as vile as my father and I hadn't even realized it all these years.