Episode 7

I leaned in and looked at him.

"Damn, your neck is going to be marked..."

"I said, lost in thought."

"But I can put on some foundation, maybe it’ll hide the marks."

He stared at me in disbelief, as if two heads had suddenly appeared on my neck before his eyes.

"Are you crazy, damn it?" he shouted, letting out a sigh.

"My balls are hurting, damn it!"

I shot him a disapproving glance.

"Don't be so rude. Stop talking like that in a lady’s room, you idiot!"

I paced around the room, thinking about what I would do, or how I would announce his presence without making it obvious that he had been beaten. I surveyed the area, looking for something heavy enough to hurt him but light enough for me to lift, like the sensitive and weak girl I pretended to be.

Reluctantly, I unplugged my lamp from the socket and held it, approaching the man again.

"What are you going to do?"

"he asked, eyeing the object in my hands with a furrowed brow."

"You won, you crazy woman. My balls are crushed, I won’t be able to get up for a while..."

"He silenced as the object struck his head."

The ceramic shards shattered on the floor. The jerk softened and fell backward, but remained conscious, his eyes fixed on me with pure, unadulterated rage.

And then I didn't wait any longer; I screamed.

Loud and strong.

My throat scratched, sore from the effort.

"My God, you’re insane! Crazy, completely crazy!" he said.

The door burst open and my father entered the room, followed by Marco, the Capo, and other men I didn’t recognize. They looked at me and then at the scene.

"What’s going on here?"

I ran to my father and threw myself into his arms.

"Papa, I’m so glad you’re here" I whined, pretending to tremble with fear.

"This man broke into my room, but I managed to hide in time behind the dresser and hit him with my lamp."

I raised my eyes to Marco and saw the shadow of a smile decorating his face. The whole theater I had set up was clear to him.

"It’s all right, dear" my father said, stroking my hair, and turned to Marco.

"Take him to the interrogation room."

Soldiers rushed into the room and dragged the idiot by his arms.

"Through the back door. We don’t want any interruptions on such a pleasant night" said Gilliam, whom I recognized as soon as he entered the room.

"This girl is crazy, completely insane!"

"yelled the intruder before taking a punch from one of the men and passing out."

I wanted to laugh, feeling vindicated after all the insults I had endured, but I noticed the silence in the room and realized they were scrutinizing me.

"Oh my God. I think I’m going to faint" I lied, scrunching my nose in disgust.

"It’s all right, dear, it’s all right..."

"murmured Papa, comforting me, but I felt his chest tremble with silent laughter he managed to hide well beneath the mask of concern."

"Carmen, let me introduce you."

"He cleared his throat."

"These are the Venturelli brothers."

I stepped back from him and straightened my posture, standing face to face with the men who would soon be part of my family.

I recognized Gilliam at a glance and had heard much about him, the man who married a Brazilian police officer and brought her into our family fold. His actions didn’t go unnoticed by the men, nor were they approved, but no one had the courage to express their discontent.

Gilliam had black hair, brown eyes, and a stubbly beard covering his square jaw. He was tall, broad, and muscular beneath his perfectly fitted black suit. His eyes scrutinized me, analytical, but I sensed he was always alert, as if expecting an attack. A handsome, deadly man.

"This is Gilliam Venturelli, the head of the famiglia" my father introduced, his tone resonating the respect he held for the man.

"And these are Nery and Dominique."

I held my breath upon hearing the name of the unknown fiance and my eyes darted toward him.

Dominique resembled his older brother, yet there was something unique about him, even if I couldn’t quite identify what it was. His dark hair was neatly combed, and his beard had been trimmed. His brown eyes were cold and inquisitive as they gazed at me, his head tilted slightly to the side. He had a straight nose, a well-defined mouth, and a square jawline.

He was quite attractive, I had to admit.

Wearing a suit as dark as his brother’s, Dominique was without a tie, and the shirt had a few buttons undone at the collar, revealing a glimpse of his pale, firm chest.

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