"At least there's that," he chuckles, walking around the room and helping me pack.
Opening a drawer he stills, his expression strained. I turn to him, my own features drawing up in pain as I see him lift the small ultrasound picture.
"Hell girl," he groans, opening his arms for me to run into. "Fuck, I'm so sorry. Marcello was right. I should have been here. I should have been by your side," he speaks in my hair, holding me close to his chest.
I'd tried all day to be strong, but somehow the sight of that one picture makes me break down, sobs racking my body as I finally let the tears fall.
"Shh," he coos, taking me in his arms and placing me on the bed. "When you hurt, I hurt," he whispers, slowly stroking my back.
Chapter Thirty
Lina gives me a worried look as she hurries out of the study after Sisi. Left alone with the bane of my existence, I close my eyes, breathing deeply.
Before I can help myself, my fist makes contact with his jaw. I already note the way his eyes follow my every movement, or how he just allows my knuckles to bruise his flesh without putting even the smallest effort into defending himself.
He blinks. Slowly. Then a twisted grin appears on his face as he wipes the blood from his mouth, bringing it to his lips.
"Not bad," he shrugs, "but nothing compared to your sister's," he says, and it takes everything in me not to pounce on him again.
He's trying to bait me.
A few breaths later and I have myself under control. I can't fall for his mind games, especially since I know Vlad never does something without a purpose, and the last thing I want is to invite danger into my own home.
Turning my back to him, I take the decanter from the table and I pour myself a strong drink. Already I can feel the hint of a headache emerging when I think about Sisi's claims of love.
I snort out loud, the thought so incredibly absurd I want to laugh. But more than anything I want to know how Vlad managed to brainwash her like this. What is it in for him?
I've never known him to be interested in a woman before, and besides Bianca, I don't think he's interacted with many either. A cynical smile pulls at my lips as I realize that Sisi was right in one respect—Vlad isn't exactly a ladies' man.
Then what's his angle? What is he trying to achieve by going after Sisi?
He's always been a fickle bastard, but even he wouldn't have stooped so low as to embroil an innocent in his games.
"I guess now we can talk openly?" he drawls, plopping himself in the chair again, a languid smile on his face.
It's his usual feigned affability that enrages me further because I know he's not taking this seriously.
"I promised Sisi I wouldn't bait you, but wow is it hard," he chuckles to himself, rubbing his shoulder wound and gazing at his blood stained fingers with an inscrutable expression. But just as it appears, it's gone, and I'm surprised to see he's not already succumbing to one of his episodes.
"Cut to the chase, Vlad. What do you want to leave Sisi alone?" I ask him outright.
He raises his gaze to meet mine, his eyes darkening.
"That's not on the table, Marcello. Not now, not ever. You may not believe me, but I do love your sister," he shrugs casually, "and she's the only thing that's keeping me sane. To take her away from me," he pauses, tilting his head to regard me thoughtfully, "would mean inviting war."
"War," I snort.
"And you know how I like my wars," his mouth stretches in a wide smile, teeth glinting in the low lighting of the room, "with no one left standing."
"See, that's exactly the issue, Vlad. You speak so casually of killing everyone, yet you want me to believe you hold my sister in some sort of superior regard," I roll my eyes at him.
"Sisi isn't everyone, Marcello. And that's your first mistake in assuming she's just like everyone else. She's the only reason I haven't killed you for wiping the smile off her face," he says, his voice low, his tone serious.
Standing up, he comes to my side, taking the decanter and pouring himself a glass of whiskey. Instead of drinking it, though, he raises it to his shoulder, dumping the contents all over his open wound.
My eyes are on his face that shows no reaction. There's not even the slightest suggestion that he's in pain.
His smile widens as he sees my baffled expression, pouring yet another glass and bringing it to his lips, downing the liquid in one go.
"Why don't we just put this behind us," he starts, "Sisi would be sad if you suddenly stopped being in her life, and that's the last thing I would ever want. So for her good," his lips twitch, "and everyone else's, we should make our peace."
"Are you threatening me, Vlad?" I raise an eyebrow at him.
"Me?" He shakes his head, a chuckle escaping him. "You forget one thing, 'cello. I don't threaten. I deliver," he places the glass back on the table, a sudden sound that emphasizes the silent tension between us even more.
"So you just want me to forget about everything and welcome you to the family with open arms," I say sarcastically and his face lightens up.
"Exactly," he quickly intones.
"I don't know what world you live in, Vlad, but that's never going to happen," I give a dry laugh. "You think to make a whore of my sister and I'll receive you with open arms?"
"Careful Marcello," he hums, his voice strained, his fists clenched, "careful with how you address her," he takes a step forward, his hands suddenly on my shirt.
I see the way his arms are trembling as if he's barely containing himself. He straightens the collar of my shirt, his eyes on my neck.
"Anyone else and they would be at the bottom of a ditch," he mutters under his breath before his lips curl up in a smile again. "But I can't do that now, can I?" he continues, "not when we're family," he purses his lips, patting my chest before moving back.
Without any warning, he turns around, smashing one of my shelves to pieces. It only takes one contact with his fist for the wood to give way, split into two.
I watch him closely, this display wholly unlike the Vlad I know. Tilting my head to the side, I study the way he breathes harshly, closing his eyes and trying to regain control over himself.
"No one," he grits his teeth, his back to me, "no one insults Sisi," the words are stilted and barely coherent. "Least of all calling her a whore," he spits the word out as if it's the most vile thing.
His knuckles are bruised, the skin peeling off as he continues to assault my shelves until there's nothing left standing.
Still, I don't intervene, waiting for his anger to wear off.
But even as I watch from a distance, I can't help but feel that there is something different about Vlad. In the past, he'd have never allowed himself to have an outburst like this unless it was one of his episodes. His mask of civility firmly in place, he likes to present himself as wholly inoffensive to the world.
And now he's doing the opposite.
He turns, his side profile to me as his nostrils flare, his teeth bared. Without another word, he's out the door, slamming it in his wake.
I release a deep breath, already tired from the confrontation. At the very least, Sisi hadn't looked any worse for the wear. Save for that monstrous tattoo on her neck, she'd looked unharmed.
I take a seat at my desk, removing my glasses and massaging my forehead.
"Marcello," Lina's voice startles me as she glides across the room, her eyes wide when she takes in the disaster Vlad had left behind.
Stretching my arm towards her, I bring her to my side, my head resting against her belly.
"Are we doing the right thing, Lina?" I ask, unsure of how to approach this. I don't want to alienate Sisi, but at the same time I know Vlad too well to not question his sudden interest in my sister.
"I don't think so," she answers thoughtfully, shocking me.
"What do you mean?" I raise my head to look at her.
Her hand on my head, she threads her fingers through my hair in a soft caress, calming me in the way only she can.
"He went to her room," she tells me, "and I... I stayed behind to eavesdrop," she confesses, a blush on her cheeks. "I don't think he has bad intentions, Marcello. If anything, I think he might be genuine."
"Not you too, Lina," I groan.
"No, listen," she stops me from continuing. "Open your computer and get the feed from the camera across Sisi's room. I left the door ajar, so we should be able to see something," she suggests, and my eyes widen slightly.
"You're devious, aren't you?" A smile pulls at my lips.
"I want to make sure. I'd never forgive myself if I let Sisi leave without making sure..." she shakes her head and I can see how worried she is.
For her, Sisi is like a younger sister. Certainly, she's her best friend and I know how much she cares about her and her safety. Why, since her disappearance at the wedding, I don't think Lina's managed to get a good night's sleep.
Every call I'd get she'd come to my side to ask for any more news about Sisi.
Even when Vlad had called and we'd had confirmation that she was safe, she'd begged me to find her as quickly as possible.
And I'd tried. If it weren't for the fact that Vlad's a crafty bastard, I would have found her location. Instead, Vlad had left no trace of himself, simply vanishing for months.
"Fine," I agree, needing that confirmation, too.
Lina settles nicely on my lap as I fire up the computer. I wound my arms around her, bringing her closer to my chest.
"Have I told you how much I love you today?" I murmur against her cheek. The corner of her lip pulls up.
"Only a hundred times," she whispers, turning briefly to give me a quick kiss, "love you too," she speaks against my lips, and those words alone have the power to restore my mood.
The screen flares to life, and I quickly access the camera feed. Just as Lina had observed, the door to Sisi's room is half open, the camera having a direct view inside.
"Do you think we can get some sound, too?" She asks, and I nod, adjusting the settings.
It's not much, but we can make out some sounds that come out of her room.
The first thing that we see is Vlad carrying Sisi in his arms as he settles on the bed. He's holding her close to his chest, not unlike the position I'm in with Lina.
"Is she... crying?" Lina whispers, straining to hear.
"Yes," I answer almost automatically, unable to believe my eyes.
All my life I thought I'd seen all there was to Vlad. A robotic genius wearing human clothes, his episodes abnormal instances for a usually calm and composed person. In fact, his composure was his winning quality since it allowed him to study the room and make informed decisions.
The outburst from today had been a first, just how the fact that he's touching Sisi so tenderly is a first too.
His hand in her hair, he's stroking it lightly, as if she's the most precious person for him.
"Shh," he seems to say, "When you hurt I hurt," he continues, and both Lina and I stare at each other, unable to believe it's Vlad saying those words.
"He's still a killer, Lina," I feel compelled to add.
"Yes. But he's a killer who sheds tears," she purses her eyes, pointing at the screen.
Frowning, I place my glasses back on, squinting to see the so-called tears.
My jaw goes slack, my mouth wide open as I watch stupefied the man who'd been nicknamed Berserker for his murderous rages and how his eyes are indeed shedding tears.
"I've never seen him cry," I add, almost in a trance.
Hell, I'd never seen him do any of these things.
He's holding tightly onto Sisi, trying to comfort her. She raises her hands to his face, her thumbs moving gently across his cheeks and swiping the tears away before leaning in to pepper his face with kisses.
I'm suddenly uncomfortable, as if I'm intruding in a private moment meant only for the two of them.
Her hands roam all over his front as she quickly removes his shirt.
"That's it, Lina," I groan, about to close the computer.
"No, wait," she stops my hand. "Look," she frowns.
Sisi gets up to pick up something before taking a seat on the bed again.
"I think she's sewing his wound," Lina whispers, her eyes glued to the screen.
And she's right as I watch my sister painstakingly try to work Vlad's wound, her movements sloppy even from a distance.
"She's never been great at that," Lina jokes, and a small smile plays at my lips.
"I'm surprised she's not squeamish," I comment.
Vlad doesn't even flinch as the needle penetrates his skin, his eyes wholly focused on Sisi.
And that's when I see something in his gaze I would have never associated with Vlad.
Love.
"I think you're right, Lina," I tell her, bringing her hand to my lips for a quick kiss. "Maybe we need to have another chat with them."
Chapter Thirty-One
Biting her lower lip, she struggles to cross the needle through my skin. Her brows are drawn together as she concentrates on getting it right, though she's admitted to not being great at arts and crafts.
A smile on my face, I watch her entranced, the mere fact that her two dainty hands are working to put me back together makes my heart swell in my chest.
"Are they still watching, you think?" she asks, lowering her voice.
"I don't know," I whisper, my mouth close to her ear.
As soon as Catalina had left the room I'd noticed that she was lingering a little in the hallway, her hand creeping up to open the door a little better, ensuring the angle gave enough visibility in the room. One look in the hallway and I'd seen a camera pointed right at us.
Although we hadn't acted per se, Sisi's grief still raw, her sadness influencing my own, I had whispered in her ear that her brother might be observing us. So she'd decided the best example of our teamwork would be to patch me back together.
"I still can't believe he shot you," she purses her lips as she pierces the skin. Two fingers are holding together the flaps of skin as she's sewing them in place. "And you had to dig the bullet out too," she shakes her head and one look into her eyes and I know she'd swat my arm if I weren't the patient.
"It's all about the show, hell girl," I say as I tip her chin up. "I wanted your brother to see that he doesn't intimidate me, no matter how many guns he waves around."
"Were the tears for show too?" she asks quietly.
"Sisi," my voice goes down an octave. "You hurt, I hurt," I bring her hand to my heart, pressing it to my chest so she can feel that semi-useless organ that beats only for her. "You cry, I cry. We're a team."
A slow smile appears on her face, lighting up her features and making her eyes crinkle around the corners.
"Good," she says and I release a breath, feeling like I just passed the most important test of my life.
"We should head down now." I nod at her to grab her stuff while I put on my shirt.
When she's ready, she shows me her small bag and I feel an ache in my chest at seeing her meager possessions, vowing she'll have anything she desires in the future.
Grabbing her bag, I motion her to go down.
As expected, Marcello is expecting us, a grim expression on his face and I know he doesn't want to admit he was wrong. He looks even more sour as he invites us back into the study.
"So what changed your mind, 'cello?" I ask, looking around the room, "was it my eye for redecoration?" I nod towards the fallen shelves and he groans.
"Behave," Sisi gives me a look and I immediately acquiesce, imitating a zipper over my mouth with two fingers.
"Lina and I have decided to give you a chance," he clears his throat. "We can see how much Sisi loves you, and for that alone we'll accept your relationship," he continues, his back straight, his entire posture screaming high and mighty.
I have to bite my tongue really hard to not reply to him in my usual fashion, since I know this is the longest olive branch he's willing to extend to me.
"Thank you," Sisi is the
first to speak, her entire face glowing with happiness. And for that alone I'll keep my damned mouth shut.
"I guess now on to more important business," I change the topic after everyone's had time to be sappy.
"What do you mean?" Marcello turns to me.
"We've discovered some evidence pointing towards Sacre Coeur having dealings with Miles. More specifically Mother Superior," I quickly give them a rundown of everything we'd learned, and I reluctantly tell them about the attacks on the house and the plane too, even though I can already see fire in Marcello's eyes when he hears that I put his precious sister in danger.
"No," Sisi places herself between us when our staring contest becomes too heated. "We're not doing this again. Besides, I handled myself quite well. Vlad's been teaching me how to defend myself." She states proudly, her chin raised high, her features unflinching.
That's my girl!
"We don't need you two at each other's throats," she sighs as she shakes her head, "no matter how much you dislike him being with me," she turns to Marcello.
Fuck, but I love when she's so assertive. It makes me so hard that I have to shift around so I don't draw unnecessary attention to myself—yet again. I'm sure Marcello wouldn't appreciate me rubbing it into his face that his sister and I are, indeed, having sex. Or the mere fact that her voice, scent, and her fucking presence are enough to give me a raging hard-on—like now.
"Good," she nods satisfied. "I'm glad we can engage in a civil conversation for once," she comes next to me, grabbing my hand and placing it in her lap.
"I do remember those cases, back in the day," Lina starts, shifting the topic back to Sacre Coeur, "when the twins disappeared. And a few others too. You would always ask me why they weren't looking for them," Lina addresses Sisi, who nods grimly.
"We think there's an entire trafficking ring that may have roots in Sacre Coeur and its orphanages," Sisi says.
"And there's a high possibility the five families are involved," I point out. "We know your father entertained the idea, even if he never fully went through with it," I nod to Marcello, "but I haven't been able to find any evidence that the other families are involved. I've spoken to Enzo, and he has no clue who Miles is, so I'm excluding him."
Morally Ambiguous: A Dark Mafia Romance (Morally Questionable Book 4) Page 62
