Chapter 27: I hope she can forgive me

Dante
Dawn brought with it a sense of urgency and determination. I had to make sure that all traces of Paolo were gone before Ana woke up and started asking questions that could lead her back to him. I knew it was a risky move, but I had no other choice if I wanted to protect her.
I got up early and called Valeria to help me. I knew it was a delicate situation, but I didn't have time for long explanations.
"Valeria, I need you to come to Ana's house. We have to remove everything that has to do with Paolo before she wakes up," I said into the phone, my voice urgent.
"I'm on my way, Dante," she replied without hesitation.
As I waited, I started looking for anything that could be related to Paolo. Photos, letters, personal belongings. I couldn't leave anything to chance. I knew that every little detail could trigger memories that she wasn't ready to face yet.
Valeria arrived quickly and joined the search. We worked in silence at first, but finally, she broke the ice.
"Dante, I'm afraid this could all go wrong," she said, her voice trembling as she held up a photo of Paolo and Ana together.
I looked at her, seeing the concern in her eyes. I knew she shared my fears, but we had to move forward.
"We all have a new chance to try to fix things with Ana," I replied, taking the photo from her hands and putting it in a box. "We can't let Paolo interfere in her life again."
"What if she remembers him?"
I sighed, stopping for a moment to face her.
"If she remembers him, then we'll have to face that reality. But for now, we have to do everything we can to prevent that from happening. We're not trying to erase her memory, we just want to give her a chance to start over, without the shadows of her past."
We continued working, removing any trace that could connect her to Paolo. Each object eliminated was one more opportunity for Ana to have a fresh start. Finally, we had cleared the house of any evidence of her relationship with him.
"I think that's it," I said, looking around the now cleared living room. "Thanks for your help, Valeria."
She nodded, but the worry hadn't left her face.
"I hope we're doing the right thing," she murmured.
"We are," I assured her, though deep down, I had my doubts too.
Just then, I heard Ana moving in her room. My heart raced, knowing I was about to face her again. Valeria and I exchanged a knowing look and headed towards her room.
"Ana, how are you feeling?" I asked softly as we entered, trying to keep my voice calm.
She sat up in bed, looking at us with a mix of confusion and exhaustion.
"A little better, I think. But I still don't remember much."
Valeria came over and took her hand.
"We're here to help you, Ana. Whatever you need."
Ana looked at us, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and doubt.
"Thank you," she murmured. "I appreciate you being here. I really need support right now."
I felt a lump in my throat seeing her vulnerability. I knew we had a long road ahead, but I was also determined to do everything I could to protect her and help her rebuild her life.
Although the road was uncertain and full of obstacles, there was a new opportunity to do things right. And I was determined not to waste that opportunity, for her and for all of us.
After making sure everything was in order at the house, Valeria and I took Ana through the halls, slowly showing her her home. We knew this would be a difficult journey for her, and we were determined to make it as smooth as possible.
"Do you remember any of this?" I asked softly, as we walked down the hallway adorned with family photos and expensive artwork.
Ana looked around, her eyes full of confusion and curiosity.
"Some things seem familiar, but I'm not sure."
Valeria squeezed her arm gently, offering her support.
"It's normal, Ana. Take your time. Everything will come back to you."
We reached the door to Marco's office, her uncle. We knew this would be the hardest moment. We had to tell Ana the truth about her family and her legacy.
"Ana, before we go in, there's something you need to know," I said, stopping in front of the door.
She looked at us, her expression a mix of fear and determination.
"What is it?" she asked.
I took a deep breath and began to explain.
"Your parents died some time ago, under tragic circumstances," I said, watching her eyes widen in shock. "And your grandfather, before he passed, named you as his sole heir."
Valeria continued, taking over.
"That means you're next in line to lead... the family," she said carefully.
"Lead? Lead what?" Ana asked, visibly confused.
"The mafia," I finally said, watching as the truth hit her.
Before she could respond, we opened the office door and led her inside. Marco was sitting behind his large wooden desk, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and hope upon seeing Ana.
"Uncle Marco," Ana said, recognizing him vaguely. "They say I'm next in line to lead... is it true?"
Marco stood up and walked over to her, hugging her gently.
"Yes, Ana. It's true. You are the only heir to our legacy. Your parents prepared you for this, and even though you don't remember, I trust you will do well."
Ana pulled back slightly, looking at him with eyes full of uncertainty.
"I don't know if I can do it. I don't remember anything," she said, her voice breaking.
Marco looked at her seriously, but with tenderness.
"I know, dear. But you have all of us to help you. This is your destiny, and we are here to guide you."
Ana took a deep breath, taking in the information. Finally, she nodded, showing a bravery that I deeply admired.
"Alright. I'll do what I can. But I need to know more. I need to understand what all this means."
Valeria stepped forward, taking her hand.
"We'll tell you everything, step by step. You are not alone in this, Ana."
Marco nodded, sitting back down and gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk.
"Take a seat, and we'll explain everything."
We sat down and began to talk. We told Ana about her family's history, about her parents and her grandfather. We explained the responsibilities that now rested on her shoulders and the support she would have from all of us.
"This won't be easy," I said. "But we believe in you, Ana. We know you have the strength to lead the mafia. I am convinced that you are very capable."
Ana nodded, her face showing a mix of emotions. I knew she was overwhelmed, but I also saw a spark of determination in her eyes.
"Thank you for believing in me. I'll do my best to live up to it."
Valeria and I exchanged a look of relief. We knew the road ahead would be difficult, but we were ready to help Ana fulfill her mission. She had to lead this, and no one else.
Marco leaned forward, looking at Ana with pride.
"You are a Salvatore, Ana. Never forget that. And with our help, you will be a formidable leader."
Ana nodded, and at that moment, I knew we had taken the first step toward rebuilding her life and our family legacy.
I left Marco's office with my head full of thoughts and my heart heavy. Seeing Ana so vulnerable and lost was more than I could bear. Each step I took down the hallway echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the betrayal I was committing.
The vibration of my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. The screen showed an unknown number, but I knew exactly who it was. I moved away from Marco's office, looking for a more secluded spot to take the call.
"Dante, how is everything?" The cold and calculating voice of the mysterious woman echoed in my ear.
"Ana is better," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "The operation was a success, and she's starting to regain consciousness. But... she's lost her memory."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, as if she were processing the information.
"That might work to our advantage," she finally said. "What have you done to make sure she doesn't get it back?"
“I've erased every trace of Paolo from her life” I said, looking around to make sure no one was listening. “I've even told her he's dangerous and not worth anyone waking up for.”
“Good job” she replied, her tone approving. “We need to keep her in the dark for as long as possible. Ana is a key piece in our plan, and we can't afford any slip-ups.”
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words.
“I'll do everything I can to keep her from getting her memory back” I promised.
“I hope so” she said, her voice softening but no less authoritative. “Dante, you've handled the situation well so far. But I want you to be prepared. The time to reveal ourselves may be near.”
“Reveal ourselves?” I asked, surprised. “Do you think it's time already?”
“Soon” she said. “We still need to make sure of a few things. But when it's safe, we need to be ready to act. Ana will need to know the truth at some point, and we have to be prepared for the consequences.”
I felt a knot in my stomach as I thought about what that meant. I had been following this woman's orders for so long, trusting her judgment and her plan. But with each passing day, it became harder to justify my actions, especially when I saw the damage I was causing Ana.
“Understood”
“I trust you, Dante” she said. “Don't fail me.”
The call ended and I stood there, in the empty hallway, feeling the weight of my betrayal more than ever. I looked at my phone, the screen now dark, and wondered how much longer I could keep this charade up.
I went back to Marco's office, my mind still reeling from the conversation. I found Valeria in the hallway, waiting for me with a worried expression.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, noticing my demeanor.
“Yes” I lied. “Just a routine call.”
Valeria nodded, but didn't seem convinced. I looked into her eyes, seeing the reflection of my own uncertainty in them.
“Let's go see Ana”
We walked down the hallway together, approaching Ana's room. I knew I had to stay strong and go along with the plan, but every time I looked at Ana, I wondered how much longer I could bear this double life.
We entered the room and saw Ana, awake and conscious, looking out the window. Her gaze turned to us when we entered, and I could see the confusion in her eyes.
“Hi, Ana. How are you feeling?”
“Confused” she replied, with a faint smile. “But better.”
Valeria approached her, taking her hand gently.
“We're here for you, Ana. You're not alone and to start making new memories it would be nice to have a girls' day.”
Ana nodded.
I knew we were betraying her trust, but I also knew we had no choice. For now, all I could do was keep going and hope that, someday, Ana could forgive me.