Chapter 46 - Marco

I punched the wall as soon as Angela left our room, with that look of disappointment and hurt. But I couldn't help telling the truth—not after what happened to Melissa. She, more than anyone, deserved only the good from this dirty world we lived in. I'd done everything to keep her from going through anything bad, from suffering any trauma like my brother and I had. And in the end, everything I did led to her being killed in her own home.

I'd never forgive myself for that—bringing our enemies into the house was what caused my sister's death. The blame wasn't Angela's; it was entirely mine for allowing her mother to stay in that house.

I wanted to hurt her, break her heart, leave her as groundless as I felt in that moment. Even though I didn't blame her, I wanted to hurt her for it, so I said all those things.

My torment seemed endless. When I thought I'd gotten rid of one problem, I'd end up with two more. Now, while dealing with taking over the defeated Cosa Nostra territory, I'd have to prepare a funeral.

"Fuck!" I shouted, throwing everything on the table—where Angela had been just a moment ago—onto the floor.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. We should have been enjoying our honeymoon and celebrating our victory.

I stripped off my clothes, tossing them on the floor, and headed straight to the bathroom. I needed to cool my head and think better about everything, to get out of my mind the image of my brother collapsing on the floor, crying like a child and looking at Melissa the way he looked at our mother when he left the closet that night.

Nero had heard everything during my assault, and after I killed that worm, he heard my mother begging me to kill her, to end her pain and the shame it would bring to our family.

Our sweet mother begged me to free her, and when I did, it destroyed us both—leaving a deep mark on Nero just as it did on me. A mark that time couldn't erase, only camouflage so we'd think it was gone.

That's why Nero liked telling jokes and being with countless women without ever committing to anyone—avoiding letting any woman get close to his heart.

"Forgive me for this too, brother," I murmured to myself, stepping into the shower, realizing I'd ripped away the only woman left in his life.

Just when we'd need our little princess—Mel was excited about planning another wedding; she hadn't stopped talking about how she'd make everything perfect for Nero and Svetlana.

But now everything was undone—there'd be no more of her ideas or touch in our lives. There'd be nothing more made by Mel.

I lost track of how long I stayed under the shower, trying to think straight, align my thoughts. There were so many problems around me, and the person I needed most in that moment had made sure to send away from me.

"She's gone," Giovanna said as soon as I entered the kitchen. I wondered why she hadn't gone to sleep yet—the day had already dawned, and she was still up in the same clothes from hours ago.

"I know. I'm so sorry our Mel has passed."

"I'm not talking about her—it's horrible, yes, what happened to my little girl. I never imagined something like this could happen in this house, and to her of all people," Giovanna said, wiping her hands on her apron and approaching me closer. "But I'm talking about Angela."

"What about Angel? Where is she?" I questioned, not wanting to believe she'd left—it couldn't be true.

"She left about an hour ago—took her siblings and luggage..." I didn't hear another word she said; I left there in that instant, seeking answers.

I grabbed my phone, calling her as I went to my soldiers, wanting to know which of the bastards had let her go without telling me.

"I want to know where my wife is? And who was crazy enough to let her leave without telling me?" I shouted when I spotted two of them at the gates.

"They don't give me orders, Marco. Just like you don't," her voice sounded on the other end of the line. "But don't worry—I didn't leave you. I'm putting my siblings on the planes, and then I'll come home. Lorenzo and Mathias will travel with them, ensuring their safety. I'll be home in an hour."

"Who's ensuring your safety? Which other soldier went with you?"

"Why do you care? My well-being shouldn't be your concern right now—you have a takeover plan to execute," she said, trying to hit me, and though it hurt to hear, I knew she said it because she cared.

"Come home soon, Angela. Or I'll come after you myself—your safety matters to me more than you think."

I got no response—the call ended the instant the words left my mouth.

Hell! I should have kept her locked in the room—that way, there'd be no problem, no need to imagine a million scenarios, none of them good.

After half an hour, I got into a car and headed to the airport. According to the GPS coordinates, she was still at the airport, and I wasn't going to sit at home waiting. But as soon as I arrived, I couldn't find her anywhere—the flights had already departed, and there was no sign of Angela in any part of the airport.

"Spread out! She has to show up!" I shouted to my men as I grabbed my phone again, calling her. "Come on, angel. Answer, darling. Answer!" I murmured, pacing in circles while waiting on the line. "Angela? Where are you?"

"I'm afraid she can't talk right now," a male voice sounded on the other end, freezing my blood as I waited to discover the worst. "I think you owe me a bride, don't you, Falcone?"

Then it clicked for me, and I realized who was on the other end—who had captured her. He'd waited for the perfect opportunity, the moment she'd be alone and vulnerable, to take her.

"If you touch her, Filippo, I swear I'll peel your skin off slowly and love watching you agonize!"

"You're not in a position to negotiate. I'll have my time making your slut suffer, and when I'm done with her, I'll return her to you in pieces. That's a promise," he threatened, and I heard a snap followed by a grunt of pain I knew came from her.

"You're a dead man—hear me? A dead man!" I shouted, and the line went dead in that instant. "Hell! I want that bastard, and I want him alive. Find out where he is and where he took her—check the cameras and follow the car he used. We'll find him before that worm does anything to my wife!"

I couldn't believe this was happening. My hell had no end—everything just got worse every instant. I should have tied her to the bed, kept her with me—and I did the opposite. I wanted to hurt her and didn't think of anything else; I threw her into the hands of the maniac who'd wanted her from the start.

I'd never forgive myself for what happened to Angela!