CHAPTER 29 - A DARK DAY

Romeo POV:

Its been three days since Alina woke up, Mari and her family have been around her a lot. She seems quite distant from me. I guess with everything that happened that's normal. I have given her some space, it's hard but she needs it, I need it too I guess, I have to take care of Angel, he's my own flesh and blood. I bought a new place, it's in a different neighbourhood but about the same amount of time to the city, I have people moving the furniture today, and also got some new things so nothing will trigger Alina when and if she comes home. I hope she loves the surprise, it's the least I could do.

The house is massive, three stories, and secluded, with a few acres. Which is needed. It's very modern, yet homely a bit on the Mediterranean style, but still modern enough to fit both our tastes. It has a massive kitchen, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, two office spaces and two walk in closets in the main. Two living rooms, an enormous dining room, theatre, and a gym on the third floor with a game area, indoor and out door pool and wine cellar. We have a pool house which the guys can use when they over. It's perfect for everyone's needs with high gates, costing ten million. So by tonight everything will be moved and we will be in the new house, the doctor said she can be released tomorrow.

So this is where I find myself today, at the main headquarters, down in the cells. I need to get rid of Angel, and finally hear what he has to say, I also have Daniel in holding because I can't be sure he didn't know anything. I have known them my whole lives and I can't believe Angel would stoop this low. De Luca men do not harm women, and do not rape, especially the Don's girl. He's family, I have always looked out for him, this is the first time I have to kill family, now I can be a cold bastard, but this, this is different.

I make my way down with Dario and Leo, we change clothing, putting on some coveralls. I walk into the room where we do out torture and killing. Strapped to a chair is a dishevelled beat up Angel, next to him is Daniel. Now normally I don't do doubles but I'm making an exception today. "Angel," I call and he looks up with a sadistic smile on his face.

"You are going to kill me over some bitch? You forget I know how this goes cousin," he spits at me.

"You are no family of mine, we don't harm women, rape or attempt too, beat or kill them. You violated that rule, not only that you went after the King of the Mafia's girl," I say looking him dead in the eyes. "What I want to know is why? I gave you everything, I helped you, got you out of all your shit!" I say bitterly.

"You want to know why? You don't even have to beat it out of me. It was because you had everything! Everything I was supposed to have! My parents are dead, I had nothing left, you had money, prestige, parents and a sister, you lived the life I was supposed to have! Then I come here and I see your bitch, you even found yourself a hot Italian piece of ass, so why couldn't I have it too? She looked down on me as did you, as you always do, making me the black sheep of the family, so I wanted to make the golden child feel what it's like to lose something for once. I wanted you to feel what I feel everyday, a screw up, and guilt that I couldn't save my family. So fuck you Romeo for making me the fuck up of the family, always saying the right thing, bailing troubled Angel out of shit. So I welcome my death, at least I will be with my family," Angel says seething, with tears running down his face.

"Well Daniel, did you know anything? Did you help him? I won't ask twice," I ask him in a deadly tone, I had them rough him up just a bit to get my point across that you don't fuck with me.

"I only found out when he came to me after it happened, I didn't know he was going to do that, not a clue. I was afraid for my life, you don't fuck with the Mafia, I should know, my family is in it too, I sent him away told him to fuck off, I don't want to be involved with whatever shit he done. I was done helping him, that's why I called when I found out where he ran off too," he says looking down.

"Release Daniel," I say and he nods in thanks. My father, Dimitri and Gio are standing watching. I walk up to the table and take a gun, I shoot him in the dick no mercy, his knee caps and the shouts are excruciating for me to hear, he's my blood. "Goodbye Angel," I shoot him in the head, two in the heart. "It's done, give him a private service, bury him somewhere nice, but away from the family." I order. Daniel is as white as a sheet, "Daniel, don't ever fuck with me," he nods and they release him.

I don't know how to feel after the exchange with Angel, I walk past my family and don't say a word, they rightly say nothing as I pass them. I need space. I know we never mistreated him neither did the family, but he felt that badly that he had to ruin Alina to get his revenge. "Tino, take me to The Underground, I need a distraction," I say and I see his eyes in the mirror, he's judging me. "Don't fucking look at me like that, I just need a drink," I shout at him and he shakes his head in disappointment. I see him text but fuck, whatever, I just need a breather, I killed someone who was practically my brother.

We pull up to the club and I walk to my private booth, I see Valencia eye me and walk over, with a bottle of whisky and a tumbler, she places it on the table. "Romeo, good to see you, how's Alina?" She asks, with judgement too.

"Valencia, I'm only saying this once, if you want to sit here, don't fucking speak, or fuck off," she knows something big went down, she nods and joins me for a drink, and I start knocking them back. Eventually Valencia pats my back.

"I'm only saying one thing and then I'm leaving. If she's worth everything you're going through, it's real and hold onto it, she would do the same for you," Valencia puts a hand on my face and walks away. I end up stone drunk and Hillary approaches me.

"Baby, I missed you! So, Alina not keeping you satisfied? I knew she would love Angel," she tries to kiss me and I lose it, I choke her and mean it, she's flailing and trying to get free and I grab my gun and hold it to her head.

"Romeo what the fuck are you doing!" Dario shouts and I feel him and Leo I think, trying to pull me off, Tino picked up Hillary from the table she landed on and pulls my gun away.

"She fucking mentioned Angel and Alina!" They look at me and don't say a word. Dario signals some of the men.

"Lock her up," is all Dario says and they nod.

Leo realising the magnitude of the situation shakes his head and pulls me out of the club out the back. I try to fight him but I'm hitting and missing, Dario pushes me hard against the alley wall. "Romeo, if you don't calm the fuck down I will shoot you," for the first time I know he's serious and I stop, my mind swimming with everything that happened, I slump down to the ground and lower my head.

"Romeo man, we know this isn't easy, he was family and he betrayed you in the worst way possible, he never would have stopped. Please pull yourself together, now Dario and me are going to take you home and you are sleeping this off," Leo says and I nod he helps me up and they both place me in the SUV.

"I will deal with Hillary," I hear Dario and the whole world goes black and I fall onto nothingness.

I wake up to my head feeling as if someone rode a truck over it. Leo is sitting in the new bedroom on a chair opposite the bed. I can barely open my eyes. "Welcome back to the land of the living, now get your sorry Mafia king ass in the shower and I will go make coffee, Alina is coming home today," he says and leaves me. Leo is never serious, but I know this is tough love, I have the best cousins anyone could ask for. The door closes and I head to the shower stripping off all my clothes I was still wearing I step into the hot shower and I stand there for a while.

I feel the hot water pouring over me and it feels soothing. How am I going to face Alina? God this is all so fucked up. I finish up about a half hour later and pull on a dark navy fitted Alexander McQueen suit, something different, a white shirt and black tie. I slip on my black ankle boots. I fix my hair and fix my cufflinks, and slide my watch on, I look a lot better now that I shaved my beard off. I slip my holsters on and put my suit jacket on, with a long black coat. I grab my phone, wallet and keys and I head downstairs.

Leo and Dario are having breakfast and Leo hands me a coffee. "Romeo, cousin speak to us," Dario says looking me in the eyes.

I sigh, staring down at the coffee, I take a sip and two pills for my head. "I'm scared I'm going to lose Alina, I can't be around her because I feel guilty, Angel was like my little brother, and I killed him. I know it had to be done, but it's still hard, I hate him and I love him at the same time. Alina is my world but I can't face her, but I know I have too, what if she hates me eventually." I say rubbing my face.

Leo speaks up, "Rome, we don't know what will happen, but Alina will go through a lot of emotions when she does regain her memory. It's going to be hard. But you need to be patient with her."

"What if she leaves me?" I ask them.

"She loves you more than life, if she does she will come back. She just needs time. She knows it's not your fault, you can't help what Angel and Hillary planned. You need to be prepared for whatever happens, but she might need space and it's something you might want to give her, but you will know when you need to fight like hell for her. You both went through something, just because you're suppose to be a cold Mafia king, doesn't mean it applies with Alina. You love her, and give her what she needs for now, even if it is space, but don't give up on her," Dario says and I see nod Leo in agreement.

I nod and finish my coffee, it's time to go get my girl and face this one day at a time. I don't know how this will all turn out but I love her and I will wait for her, no matter how long it takes, I will wait. Angel will never break what we have, not for long anyway.

"Let's go get Alina," I say sombrely.