DAMIEN
Rob, my underboss, watched me. I sensed his presence as he lingered in the doorway, pretending to adjust his cufflinks as I pulled on my black suit jacket.
I knew what he was thinking. He was probably thinking I was crazy to actually be going through with this. Who actually proposed to marry someone they barely knew? That was the old ways. Now, no one really gave a fuck who you were sleeping with or not. No one cared for traditions. Except for me. Now.
I'd proposed, but not blindly. The Trovato family. They'd been on my watch for a long time. And I decided the best way to work my way in, would be to break through the youngest and most fragile facets of that family. My fiancée. Magdalena Trovato. Eighteen and fresh out of the playpen, ready to be my wife until death eventually tore us apart. Or so they say.
I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled. I'd been waiting for this moment for far too long and now that the time has arrived, my heart pounded a little too loudly in my ears.
There was no coming back from this. Everything that happened from here on was to go according to my plans. Step by step, I'd go through with my plan. My palms were growing sweaty, so I wiped them down the front of my dinner jacket.
"Are you sure about this?" Rob asked me the very same question he'd asked me last night. "You know what this means." Of course, I was sure.
He didn't know all the details, but he knew enough to know that I had a history with the Trovatos. A tale as old as time. I never became who I am for nothing. Everyone had a price to pay and when the time was right, the people who had wronged me were going to pay. Whether they got on their knees before me or not, I'd make all of them fucking pay for making me suffer.
My eyes flicked to his in the mirror's reflection as I watched him slip his gun behind him and tuck it into the waistband of his pants.
"I've never been more confident about anything in my life," I said flatly.
He nodded and left the room. There was nothing else left to say. He knew there was no convincing me from beginning a war that was about to start from the moment I got married.
Maybe it wouldn't be all guns blazing right at that moment, but I was going to ruin everything in a slow process. They wouldn't even know how they got fucked over in the blink of an eye.
Just like they'd come in and stole my entire world from me. Nightmares still haunted me even though I was a fucking grown man. And I wish they didn't, but the smell of burning human flesh never quite left my memories. That sweet, putrid stench, almost like leather being tanned over a flame. I'd make them burn too and enjoy every second of it as I watched the blazing flames licking their skins. One by one of course, so they could experience what I had experienced too. The thought of their terrified screams filling my ears like sweet music sent a shiver of enthusiasm travelling through my bones.
All I had to do was go through with the wedding.
I grabbed my gun from the dark dresser. It was my father's Colt M1911, and I never went anywhere without it. I lifted my jacket and tucked the gun behind me into the waistband of my pants.
Leaving the hotel room, I pulled out the ring from inside my shirt pocket and ran my thumb over its cool surface as I glanced down at it.
You know what this means. Rob's words echoed in my mind.
Tucking the ring back into my pocket, I left the hotel with resolve.
It was a warm day out. Perfect in fact. Palermo's atmosphere was thick with the salty scent of the ocean.
The valet handed me the keys to my silver Ferrari Roma and I got in, revving the engine as I pulled out onto the narrow cobbled streets. The wedding was being held close to the hotel where I was, at Basilica di San Salvatore.
My knuckles tightened over the steering wheel as I saw the old church come into view. Several other luxury cars lined the road going up and a small crowd of locals gathered like they always did when there was a celebration of some kind at the church. All of them were poor. I could recognize the familiar look of hunger on their gaunt faces and a hard days work on their sunburnt Mediterranean skin from working long hours only to be cheated by haggling tourists. My parents were the same once.
I found a space to park my car and when I got out, I avoided everyone who stared in my direction with wide smiles and pats on the backs. Of course, all were members of the Trovato family.
Once inside the church, I was grateful for the coolness that protected me from the unnatural heat outside.
I looked at the pews once, watching as her family filled every seat. My side empty. The place where my parents should have been was empty.
Rob approached from the corner of my eye and placed an assuring hand on my shoulder. He was the only one I had to represent my side of the family. Even if he wasn't my own flesh and blood, he might as well have been my older brother and I appreciated him for that.
Relaxing my shoulders, I took a deep breath and glanced up and that's when she stepped in. I saw her smile first behind her translucent vale and heard the soft giggle next. My bride-to-be. Magdalena Trovato. My enemy's daughter. I bowed my head and kept my feet straight as she walked down the aisle in the same dress I had picked out for her only a few days ago. She was beautiful. More than I had expected her to look. I didn't wear the suit she had sent for me. I didn't want anything from her or her family. No gifts, no favours. Nothing. The last thing I wanted was to owe them anything. And that was never going to happen.
Lifting my head once again, I realized she was standing just two steps below me.
I nodded to her brother and reached out for her, taking her small, soft hand into mine. My fingers closed tightly over hers as I helped her up beside me and then I turned to face her.