Chapter 8: Photos

I'm in my office, sitting in my chair with the phone to my ear — it's almost 11pm — but I accepted a call from a man looking for an investor for his company. I need to distract myself so I don't think about Chiara, about her small body enjoying the silky sheets of my bed, without me. So I listen carefully to the arguments and numbers that the man gives me, and I assess whether this investment is worth it or not. My wine company is completely legal, it was founded by my parents, so it is a family symbol that I have never tarnished. In addition, it is the employment and livelihood of many families.

After a few more minutes of meaningless conversation — because at that point I decide not to invest in that man's olive company — I hang up the phone and sigh, letting thoughts of Chiara flow freely in my mind.

I think of the threatening words I said to Chiara from the moment I kidnapped her, she never avoided looking me in the eye, she faced her fate calmly, she was giving up. Before I know it, I have this discomfort in my chest that has been bothering me since Chiara almost died. I thought Chiara was a princess to Aldo, that she was as important to him as my parents were to me, that she was just pretending to be good, but I was wrong.

Magda's words echo in my head, "No matter who that girl is, she doesn't deserve to pay for anyone's sins." Now I feel further away from avenging my family.

My thoughts are interrupted when the door opens and Magda walks in, she has a cup of coffee in her hands. I watch her with intrigue. The last three days—ever since she knew what I did to Chiara, she's kept me at a distance.

Despite my curiosity, I act nonchalant as she sets the coffee cup on my desk.

“What will you do with Chiara when the doctor says that she is better?” Magda asks me.

His words force me to face an uncomfortable reality. I have to think about that before answering. My thoughts intertwine as I reflect on Chiara's future, on the consequences of my actions on her life. About Chiara's idiot uncle. I can't let my impulses control my judgment.

"I won't hurt her," I finally reply, "but if I let her go, her uncle will find her and hurt her."

Magda's lips trembled and she looked at me with concern.

“You are not different from Chiara, her parents also died. But you have me and Bruno, and she's alone, with a murderous uncle who wants to hurt her. So give it a different life here. Let her out of the house. And also”, Magda looks into my eyes with concern, “let Chiara know that she is now staying with us for her protection.”

"You can tell him."

Magda rolls her eyes.

“She won't believe it if I tell her. Besides, you were the one who brought Chiara here.” Magda looks at me seriously, but her furrowed brows relax and then she grabs my hand. “Wolfgang, use that kind and gentle part that I know you inherited from your mother. Chiara needs it now."

My gaze drifts towards the coffee cup, my mind fills again with images of Chiara locked up, of her pain and suffering. I thought I would rejoice in her pain, but I feel bad. Magda is right. I can't afford to be the catalyst for more harm in Chiara's life.

“Will you talk to Chiara tomorrow?” Magda insists.

I sigh heavily, but finally nod. I can't say no Magda.

"I'll try to talk to her tomorrow."

Magda smiles with relief.

"I like her, she's a beautiful girl" Suddenly, Magda's face looks sad. “I am sure that, at some point, Chiara was a very happy girl. I wonder what she was like before she was caught in this situation."

“Don't get attached to her,” I warn Magda, acting like I don't have the same question as her. I am also curious to know what Chiara was like before she moved to Sicily. “Chiara is not going to stay here forever. When I take care of her uncle, she can go."

Magda smiles, but doesn't say anything about what I said.

“Tomorrow I will invite Chiara to have lunch with us in the dining room. There you can talk to her,” she informs me.

When I am alone in my office, I feel that curiosity pushes me to find my phone and check Chiara's social networks. I see many photos of her when she was in college, she took care of dogs, cats and many horses. After seeing about 30 photos of her with horses, I confirm that Chiara likes horses.

Chiara smiles in all the photos, and her body doesn't look malnourished, nor does she have dark circles under her eyes. When I find a photo of Chiara with Andrea, I am filled with indignation. Andrea lied to her own daughter, he was still in the mafia, he could have protected her from Aldo, hidden Chiara away from Aldo.

Andrea is lucky to be dead, but Aldo is going to suffer twice as much.