Cole comes closer to me and we're about 2 metres apart. His whole demeanour is laced with anger.
His fist is gripped so tightly to it.
My wig.
"Well?" his voice is cold, dark and authoritative.
"Cole, please. I can explain w-"
"I do not care for any of your pathetic excuses. Who are you? What are your intentions? Why are you in Italy? Why do you wear a wig?"
Fuck. Shit.
What do I do? What do I do?
"Ummm. I- I-." I'm stuttering so much.
My brain is fuzzed and I can't think straight.
I sigh, admitting defeat and Cole raises his eyebrow, demanding answers.
"My name really is Cassie. I don't have any intentions with anyone. I wear a wig because I'm on the run, hence the need for a disguise." I lowly say.
Silence.
Deafening silence.
Seriously... Say something.
Anything.
Yell, scream at me.
Just react!
He laughs. He just found out I've been lying to him for weeks, that I've lying to Carlo for years, and he LAUGHS??
"You expect me to believe that?" he questions, looking me dead in the eye.
"Believe it or not, I don't care. It's the truth."
"Cazzo!" he screams, gripping to the knife in his hand and I flinch.
He turns to the woman who seems a little stunned.
"Claire, cosa faccio? E se lei sapesse di noi, chi siamo veramente?" [Claire, what do I do? What if she knows about us, who we really are?] he asks, a worried expression taking over Claire's face.
"Mio zio sarà devastato se dovrò ucciderla." [My uncle will be devastated if I have to kill her.] he continues.
"Capo, io- non io so." [Boss, I- I don't know.] she sighs defeatedly.
"Think killing me is a bit extreme, innit?" I mumble and both heads whip to face me, shock on their face.
"What? I get it, go ahead. Omertà is important. Life or death, right?" I say in an 'obviously' kinda way.
Cole lunges at me, holding the knife to my throat and I try to keep the flashbacks at bay.
I cannot break down right now.
"How the fuck do you know about omertà?" he seethes and I smile like a lunatic.
"What? Non pensavi che la mafia italiana sia l'unica che vive di omertà, vero?" [You didn't think the Italian Mafia is the only one who lives by omertà, did you?] I smirk.
His whole body freezes and he looks at me in disbelief like I really just said that.
"Idiota." I roll my eyes at his dumbfounded face.
Breaking out of his trance, he puts more pressure on the knife, making me grunt in pain. It's his turn to smirk as he leans in to my ear.
"And how do you know about la mafia italiana?" he whispers, his warm breath sending shivers down my freezing body.
"There's so much I could say, so much I could tell you." I smile as he narrows his eyes.
"Well? Spill it then." he demands, and my smile turns to a grin.
"I said could, not will or would." I say, sighing and relaxing in the chair as he angrily storms away, making a phone call.
"So how much of that was actually true?" Claire interrogates.
"Every. Single. Word."
*
"You, tie her up. The car's outside. Andiamo." [Let's go.] Cole demands, returning about 10 minutes later with 3 men.
"And where are we going to?" I sigh as my legs are being untied.
"To my mansion, where I can interrogate you properly." he smirks.
My heart drops.
Torture.
He's going to torture me.
Seeing my scared face, the cold-hearted beast laughs.
"Awww. Don't tell me you're scared piccola." he smirks just as my hands are untied.
"Of course not." I smirk.
I grab the man's wrist, pinning his arm behind him, and use his body weight against him, slamming him down to the floor and knocking him out. Grabbing the guy's gun, pointing it at Cole who is shooting daggers at me. I simply smirk at him.
"Um, oops?" I say, still smirking.
"And where did my piccola learn to do that?" he smirks, crossing his arms.
"Nunya, cagna." [bitch.] I reply, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
"Where the fuck's nunya?" he asks, his face screwed up in confusion.
I laugh hysterically and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy.
Alright, no need to point it out, sheesh.
"Nunya business." I smile innocently.
He makes a 'really' face and I burst into more laughter.
"Alrighty, here's what's gonna happen. Imma walk outta here and get ready for work tomorrow, none of you will follow me, and in return, I won't spread any of your dirty little secrets. Capiche?" I state seriously.
"Yeah, no. No way in hell do I trust you." he blandly states.
"Good for you." I say, still aiming my gun at Cole and making my way towards the door, only to be stopped by the two other goons.
"Out. Of. The. Way." I grit.
The door bursts open and Livia walks in.
"What the hell?!" she screams, assessing the situation in front of her.
"Chill. I was just leaving." I say going to walk past her.
"Cole, the paparazzi is outside." she says timidly, blocking the door and ignoring the scene that's clearly unfolding here.
"Ugh. Why?" he groans, annoyed.
"They want more answers about the charity event. You know, the one for Vladimir?"
WHAT?! THE?! FUCK?!
VLADIMIR??!!
Vladimir?
The event was for Vladimir!
I freeze where I stand.
"V- Vla- Vladimir?" I stutter, my legs becoming weak and my body feeling numb.
My hand goes limp and I drop the gun in my hand, which thankfully has the safety still on.
"Cass? What wr- Cass!"
I begin to fall, darkness taking over me.
I feel myself being pulled into a warm chest before I hit the ground.
The last thing I remember is his comforting scent, and then I see black.