Chapter 31

"Point it at a man's heart and you kill the love he's had for everyone he's every loved. But when you're truly ready to kill. Aim it at his head."

"Why tio?"

"Simple sobrina. You shoot him in the head and you kill him and everything he's ever done."

"Like erasing him completely?"

"Exactly."

"I'm going to kill the man who killed mi mama."

"Venganza, will eat you up little one. You have to live for something Scarlett, your life has to mean more than just for the blood of your mother's killer."

"It means nothing without her."

"Killing them won't bring her back."

"But she can rest peacefully."

I look myself over quickly to find the gunshot wound and once I find the spot I know I have to apply pressure. I lift my right leg to check if the bullet has an exit wound, and I thank Mary for the bullet exiting. I rip the lower half of my tank top and tie it tightly around my thigh. I let out an excruciating scream before I take in a deep breath and say a quick prayer. 

The shots are still ringing out all around me, and I hear footsteps coming around the empty crate. I hold my gun up and see Emmanuel. He looks down at my leg and then gives me a look of remorse. He feels this is his fault when in all reality, it's mine. 

I kept my enemy so close that he made me blind to everything. I was being lead on a wild goose chase for more than half of my life.

"Gio! She's been hit." Emmanuel continues firing. "Stay down and don't move. I'll get him over to you."

"Give me a gun. I can still shoot."

"Stay here keep pressure on it." He says before he races off into the warehouse.

I throw my head back trying to think of anything other than the pain. The adrenaline is wearing off and I feel myself becoming less and less aware of my surroundings. So much so that I don't hear the footsteps of one of the Russo's men as he approaches me.

"This is all because of you. You filthy bitch." He says cocking his gun and aiming it right at my heart.

"I have no one left that I love. No one will miss me. Do it."

I have no fight left in me. It's my time and I say a prayer before I close my eyes. A shot rings out and I can smell the gunpowder filling my nostrils. I open my eyes and there stands Giovanni, with his gun still pointed at the lifeless body now at my feet. Before I can do or say anything, everything goes black.

"Is she resting peacefully Scarlett? Now that you've killed him?"

"I don't know tio. Everything I've known was a lie."

"Don't cry sobrina."

"I have no one. Nothing left to fight for."

"Fight for life Scarlett, that's all we've ever wanted for you."

"Mama, I miss you. I'll stay here with you."

I open my eyes and see bright lights and faces I don't recognize. My eyes are too heavy to keep open and I feel myself slipping away.

"It's not time. You have to go back."

"She's coding!" I hear a female voice faintly in the distance.

"Please. I want to stay."

"One day."

A warm weight pressed against my cheek. I snuggled into it, finding comfort in the warmth. I struggle to open my eyes but when I finally win the fight. I'm greeted by Giovanni's eyes. I search his face and feel relief wash over us both.

"Save your strength." He says stroking my cheek.

I realize that was the warmth that awoke me. His warm skin against my cool cheek.

"Did you kill him?" I whisper and the words feel like sand paper on my throat.

"Just because you're here does not mean you do not need to listen to me." He says playfully. "Yes. He's dead and you're alive."

"Yeah, alive." I say pulling my eyes away from his and to the blonde woman standing in the doorway.

"The famous Scarlett, I'm Claudia. Mind if we talk privately Gio."

Giovanni, sat the water closer to me after he helps me sit up. If I had never seen him before I would have sworn he was another man. They exchanged looks before he exited and she began to make her way closer to me.

"First, I want to tell you how lucky you are to be alive. You were working with some very dangerous men. Most women would have cowered under Giovanni, but not you."

"I'm stubborn by nature."

"That you are." She says in a dismissive tone. "I'm curious as to how you became involved in all of this. An Italian war and in the middle a little Latina."

Well, if I was hiding my irritation with her before it was certainly gone now. I look her over. She's tall about five foot eight inches, but I'd still kick her ass. Ruby red lips paired against her pale skin. It's her smile that I dislike the most.

"And what does a FBI rat have anything to do with this? Are you here to arrest me?"

"Oh honey settle down. If I was here to arrest you it would be done. I asked you a simple question."

"The Russo's killed my mother in front of me as a child, and I was told it was the Luciano's."

"Interesting."

"Which part? The part where they killed my mother?" I say throwing her my most sinister look.

"What a tragedy. But I'm more concerned with how you became linked up with the Russo's. Well one Russo in particular. Antonio. Were you two lovers?"  She has a fucking death wish. 

"Why? You can't arrest him he's dead, and the rest of his family I'm sure."

"I'm not your enemy. In fact I'm a friend."

"I've had a few of those and they're all dead. I have no friends."

"I was friends with your uncle Santiago."

"You're his FBI, contact?"

"I am, and I happen to be Giovanni's as well. Among other things."

"That's nice." I say trying to sound unimpressed. "Still brings me to the question, why are you here? You already know my story, and why I'm here so spare me the fucking formalities."

"You're in love with him."

"Are you asking or telling?"

"A little bit of both, but I don't want you to get your hopes up. He's taken."

"By you." I say uninterested.

"Yes, by me. We work hand in hand together. I know all about the escapades you had with him in the club, and back at the house. You're entertainment."

"What part of this is supposed to interest me?"

"Just don't get your hopes up. He's mine."

I don't answer I just look for something to strangle this conniving snake. But before I could Emmanuel enters the room.

"Everything alright in here?" He says looking between us two.

"I was just leaving. Scarlett, let me know if you need anything." She says before leaving out the door.

"Yeah, I'll call her if I need a hole in my head." I say and Emmanuel laughs.

Emmanuel, looks me over like a doctor and I find myself cowering under his gaze. I'm pretty sure I look close to death. Hell not too long ago I welcomed it.

"You're a tough one."

"You're not so bad yourself. How is Isabella?" I say and I watch his eyes brighten.

"She's good. Thanks to you. Gio, will never forget what you did for him and the family. "

"What about you?"

"How are you holding up?"

"You do realize you're the one in the hospital bed and I'm standing perfectly healthy."

"I mean about Isabella."

"What about her?" He says defensively.

"You used to have that same look in your eye when we would talk at the club. You like her."

"He smiles shyly and then clears his throat. "Gio, would never allow it."

"I mean he's one to talk. I just stood here in the room with the woman he fucks when he's not stuffing his cock down my throat." I say with a look of disdain.

I didn't realize how pissed I was until that moment. Emmanuel only appeared aggitated.

"It's not what you think Mari- Scarlett. He's using her."

"He used me too."

"I know he's an asshole but Scar, I know he cares. I saw it when we rushed you here. He sat here with blood stained clothes until you were stable and if I had not made him shower and change. He'd still be in them."

"Guilt makes you do things you wouldn't normally do."

"So does love Scarlett."
Belonging to Him
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