Killing Me Will Start A War

Chapter Five -- Killing me will start a war.

Florence Point of View

Maybe setting the house on fire was too much, but I just did not want to live in there anymore. I have accepted that I am trapped in this marriage, the least I can do is chose my prison. Truly, the reason I set the house on fire was because I was angry and hurt. I have been planning for the past few days, planning towards today.

When Roman told me about Mark and Rebekah using me and sleeping together, I was really pissed, so angry, vindictive, but I prefer to be sure before I do anything, which is why I am here, in Boston, in a car, heading to Mark's apartment. Mark is my first love, I met him when I got into Harvard and he was my on-and-of boyfriend, I never told him anything about my family, he was my escape from the Bratva world.

I grew up in Milan, Florence and Rome, then when I got older, I spent more time in New York, with my brothers. They did not want me to leave, but Boston was just an hour flight from New York, so in a way, I was still under their protection. 

My phone rings, again, as I get down from the cab and I ignore it as I walk to Mark's apartment, he does not know I am coming, this is a big surprise. I walk up the stairs, with a big smile on my face, because I have missed them. I knock on his door and my smile fades when an older woman walk out.

"Can I help you?" She frowns at me and I nod "I - I am looking for Mark - Mark Dickinson, my boyfriend and Rebekah Crown, she visits him a lot." I say and she looks at me "I don't know what you are talking about, this is my apartment, I moved in a month ago." She shut the door on my face before I can respond and I walk down the stairs, confused.

"Oh, Fiona." I gasp when I see a familiar face, we went to Harvard together and she knew about Mark and I. 

"Florence?" She stares at me, confused and I nod "Yeah, it is me, Flo. Where is Mark and Rebekah? Someone else is in Mark's apartment and I had a fast flight and I'm exhausted." I ramble.

"Mark got married, to Rebekah. They said you died, you passed away in a car accident and their marriage was your dying wish." Fiona says and I chuckle, because that is insane. "I am not joking. They got married." She repeats and shows me pictures, and everything just gets blurry.

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I find myself sitting in a restaurant, nursing a drink, I am exhausted and tired and so hurt. I cannot believe Mark and Rebekah got married and told people I died, how insane. The flight home is in a few hours, so I have time to kill, my brothers have been calling, Roman have been calling and Vuk, too, but I don't have the strength to pick their calls.

Exhausted, I get up, and walk to the restroom to relieve my bladder, I walk out of the stall and the door opens to reveal a man.

"This is a women bathroom." I say and he looks at me "I am Augusto Rosales, a member of the Mexican Cartel, and I believe our goals align, Ms. Visconti." He smiles at me and I take a step back and reach for the knife strapped to my hip.

"I am Mrs. Romanova." I clarify and he smiles "We all know you did not want to be married to Maxim Romanova, you were forced into the marriage and I have a way to free you." He says and I am so confused "I don't need to be freed."

"Of course, you need to be freed. Maxim Romanova has taken a lot from us, he is a liar and a thief, and we need to make him pay for his crimes, which is where you come in. According to reports, you stabbed him on your wedding day and now, you set your house on fire, these are actions of a very smart person and we want to channel the anger you have in you." He articulates and I am surprised by his audacity, so I go straight to the point "I'm not gonna betray my husband."

"He carries himself higher than most, he justifies his actions by abstaining from trafficking, he lies and he kills -- " I cut him off "He is a Pakhan."

"He killed my brother and he must pay for his crimes and you will help us, because I will make it worth your while. You have fire in you, don't you want to be with someone who appreciates it, not someone who cages you away. I will give you whatever you want, I will take away every obstacle in your way and all you have to do is spy on your husband, put a chip in his phone, let us in, into your home, and you get everything you need." He tells me and I shake my head.

"I will not betray my husband. I don't care what he did to you, he is my husband and I will not betray him for words." I declare and he pulls out a gun, making my heart skip a beat.

"Killing me will start a war." I warn and he smile "I am counting on that. Your husband loves his family and nothing must interfere, your death will send him into a frenzy and I end him, alongside your brothers." He tells me, and I pull out my knife "No one touches my family."

"You are a woman, I will kill you with just my hand." He throws away his gun, which is a big mistake. The next couple of minutes pass in a blur and when I come to, Augusto Rosales is dead and I am standing over his body, heart beating fast and a daunting realization. 

I just started a war.