Chapter 4

Liliana

"MOM!" I shouted. Blood is oozing from her shoulder. I try to find her pulse but could not. I cup her face in my palm and bury my head near her neck. I was unable to control myself. After some minutes, everyone was running around because of the gunshot. We were laying at the entrance in the middle of the palm trees, and it all looked like a dream. After trying to drag myself into reality, I know she was no more.

In a swift, some people approached us, and someone dragged me from behind while pulling me into a hug. Meanwhile, I saw Antonio, who bent down and checked the pulse of my mother. He turned to look up at us, but he remained quiet. Roger came in out of nowhere. He begins to cry; I've seen him cry for the very first time. At this moment, I wanted to join him and cry out all the pain that is inside of me. But I wanted to let them be alone for the last time. I had always been in between them; maybe that is why Roger hates me. He used to say that someday they would be killed because of me.

"Are you fine?" Rocco asks me as he runs his hand through my hair. His hand is well wrapped around me, and this cannot be more comfortable than anything. I bury my face in his chest, trying hard not to cry.

"Mrs. Pachino!" Antonio's wife, Arielle, shouted loudly when she turned to look back. Rocco swirled around with me in his arms. I wanted to jerk my face up, but he forced me to stay near his chest.

"Rocco, please," I say in a little voice. He removes his hand from me, but he immediately wraps one hand around my waist to give me support. My eyes widened when I saw Mrs. Pachino laying on the floor with a gun in her hand.

"Who killed her?"

"Simple. That means Mrs. Pachino shot your mother, and someone else killed Mrs. Pachino from behind. Maybe someone was trying to save you or your mother by killing Mrs. Pachino," Rocco says. I can't believe this. It's too complicated. Why would she kill my mother?

"No one will find the secret between them now. It's over," I say while wiping my tears.

"What secret?" Rocco turns my face toward him.

"I have a history. We don't have time for this."

"Arielle," Rocco calls. Arielle comes in; she has tears in her eyes too.

"Take her inside and don't let her go anywhere until we come back," Rocco tells her, and she nods her head. She approaches me with a warm smile. Then she hugs me.

"I know it's hard. Stay strong." She pats my back, then she leads me toward the mansion. Reaching inside, she brings me to a bedroom. I sit on the bed. Arielle kneels in front of me.

"What is your name?"

"Liliana."

"Liliana dear, this will be hard, but don't lose hope. Everything will be fine."

"Thanks, Mrs. Giordano."

"No need to be formal. Call me Arielle."

"You don't have any of your parents too, right?" I ask her. She nods her head.

"Everything happens for a reason. Maybe something worse was about to happen to you; that's why you lost your mother in order to keep you safe."

I nod my head, remembering the last words my mother told me before her death. "Save the Orlov." Maybe she died because of the diamonds. I want to get rid of them, but how? I can't go and sell them anywhere. I'm an ordinary girl, and who would believe my story of being adopted and the diamonds being with me since my birth? Only a person with power will be able to sell those diamonds, maybe a mafia. Still, I can't risk my life because of those diamonds. I've already lost my mother; now I can't sacrifice my life too. I need to hide the Orlov before it's too late.

"Arielle. I need to leave."

"Sorry, Liliana, but I promised Rocco that you'll stay here until he returns."

"But..."

"You can't deny Rocco. He is the Capo now." Arielle smiles at me. Arielle is a nice woman. She has stayed with me since I came here. She is really caring.

"Okay. I won't insist anymore," I exhale.

"By the way, where is your daughter?"

"She is in the other room with my sister-in-law, Arabella."

"It must be tough to handle a baby in this situation." Arielle lets out a laugh.

"That's why we gave the throne to Rocco, and even Rocco was being possessive about Alaïa's protection. I must say, Rocco is a great brother, uncle, and he will be a great husband too—I mean when he decides to get married. Otherwise, Alaïa has all the qualities of her father. She is fearless and smart. I like the fact that she isn't emotional like me, but I don't know when she'll grow up. For the time being, she is an unafraid baby."

"Aww, that's really sweet. She'll adjust perfectly to this family. It is good that she has all these qualities."

"Yeah. I've never seen you in the famiglia before."

Running my hand through my hair, I half-smile. "I was never interested in staying connected with the mafia life. I always wanted to live a simple life. That's why I've distanced myself from this world, but I think it's now dragging me in."

"Sorry to say it, but when the incident happened, I eavesdropped that you were adopted."

I nod my head. "Yeah, my biological mother gave me to Myhrra. She was young, but still, she raised me. She was a teenager when I was brought to her. I'm proud of her; she did everything for me." I weep.

"Calm down, Liliana. You're going to be okay." She embraces me while caressing my back.

"Even I lost my mother. I was nineteen. The fact is that my father killed my mother. The last time I saw my mother was at the wedding. Afterwards, Marco murdered her, then he spread a fake news story about her going on a holiday trip." Tears begin to fall from her eyes. Opening my arms, I hug her back.

"I never knew that I would ever talk to you like this." A slight laugh escapes from my mouth.

"With this conversation, we can start a friendship," Arielle says.

"Of course," I grin. "I never had a friend before. After high school, I was married, then I met Arabella, but now she has settled down with Carmelo; I never got the chance to make other friends. I am always busy with Alaïa."

"So do I. I've never made friends with other people. I used to love staying alone, but now it's different. After my mom... I don't think I will be able to endure loneliness."

"Don't worry; I'll be here for you. Always."

"Thanks for supporting me. I needed it."

"Now I'll give you some warm clothes. Take a shower. You'll feel better."

"Thanks again."

Arielle walks out of the bedroom. Meanwhile, I roam around the room, then I spot a window. Opening it, I see the entrance where Adonis is sitting. The place where my mother was murdered. Leon mansion has a different way of deceiving people. Firstly, it made me meet the real Adonis. Secondly, when I was not ready to leave, it gave me grief by taking away my loved ones. I think I will now need the help of the Leon mansion.