Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 37: Chapter 37

TERZO
I failed her. I failed everyone around me.
She almost died because I was too distracted.
Watching her at gunpoint was the scariest thing I’d ever experienced in my life. I couldn’t recover from it. The image was forever etched in my head, it sent a familiar surge of rage through me. It forever scarred my heart. I couldn’t forgive myself for letting that happen.
I couldn’t let this one get away. Francesco would pay one way or another. Francesco was going to die, but I had to plan it thoroughly. I couldn’t get sloppy, not when I had so much at stake now.
My whole body still trembled even though it happened hours ago. My vision blurred with tears as memories crashed over me, even right now, she was watching me fight, surrounded by my men to protect her.
I fought to numb the pain. This time it didn’t work. The adrenaline faded. Every punch and kick felt nothing compared to the feeling I had as she sat across me with her hands and legs tied to a chair.
For the first time, I felt utterly useless and hopeless. I regretted doubting her, that she knew where the book was. At that moment, I regretted not showing how much she meant to me, and I watched her cry, apologize, and forgive me.
It hurt even to breathe, and I didn’t realize that heartbreak could put someone’s life in so much misery until I felt it. But it still didn’t change the fact that I almost got her killed.
I pulled out the bundle of cash I won from the fight and put it on the table.
Her brow arched. “Do you think I want your money? You want to sell me for ten million dollars, remember?” It was a joke to piss her off.
My heart swelled with a mix of gratitude and relief that she didn’t lock herself in the room. I knew she was tough, but I was also worried that she might just turn out like Celestina, keeping the pain and trauma bottled up inside her.
“I got punches for that.”
“You think you’re funny? I was worried about you, Terzo.”
“You didn’t have to go there. I just wanted to get away, to clear my head, to punch and hit something. What I didn’t realize was you needed someone to be there for you, and I wasn’t there.”
“You mean you walked away when I needed you? A real stand-up guy, Terzo. I was traumatized when you broke your promise not to leave me alone. You’re a great husband, thank you very much.” She pushed the money to me and stood up. “Jackass.”
I didn’t stop her. I let her walk away from the booth. I knew she would be safe with my men protecting him. Despite what happened last night, I felt at rest.
I went home the next day. Celestina kept me updated that she was with Dani all day, binge-watching series on Netflix.
I felt stupid. I couldn’t even type a message to my wife, asking how she was doing. When I got to the room, she wasn’t there. The bathroom was empty. I searched the entire house, but I couldn’t find her. It scared the fuck out of me.
I instantly dialed Celestina’s number. She didn’t pick up. I called my father instead. Thankfully, he answered right away.
“Papa, have you seen my wife?”
“Why are you asking me?” I heard a humor in his voice. I was glad he wasn’t mad at me anymore. “Why don’t you call her number? She got her phone back yesterday.”
“Right.” Moron. I groaned inwardly and thanked my father before I ended the call.
“Boss, your wife is in the shooting range with your sister,” Marco called from downstairs. “Do you want me to start the car?”
“Do it.” I went back to the room to shower quickly and change my clothes.
The shooting range was thirty minutes away, which gave me time to think of an apology speech, but I came up with nothing.
“She’s gonna be fine, boss. She’s a tough lady,” Gio said from the passenger’s seat.
“That’s if she forgives you for being a what did she call him?” Marco asked Gio.
“Jackass.”
“Right. You’re a jackass.”
“You two, shut up.” I constantly breathed deeply to calm my nerves. Since when did I become nervous talking to women? But with Dani, it was different. She was my wife, and I let her down.
We arrived at the shooting range. My men, including their driver, acknowledged our arrival. I entered the safe area before the shooting ground.
“Signorina Celestina found a companion. She smiled and laughed more often,” Sandro said.
“Signora Dani is good. Are you sure she doesn’t have a military background?”
I glared at one of their bodyguards, Tristan, whom I assigned before I left that morning. “Do you think I didn’t do my job?”
“I’m sorry, sir. It was a joke.” Right. The humor in my body was gone, too.
I watched my sister and my wife work together with their automatic rifle. Dani was faster to change the magazine, and she started firing again. They hadn’t noticed us since they were both wearing earmuffs and goggles.
My brows arched. I found myself staring at her, impressed as she did it with ease. I looked at Tristan smiling at me, silently telling me I told you so.
“Well, damn.”
Once they were done together, they took off their earmuffs and did a high-five. My guys gave them an applause, causing them to turn in our direction.
Dani’s eyes widened, almost happy to see, or maybe she was. She wasn’t just expecting her secret would be out sooner rather than later.
I joined them. “You both learned how to shoot like that in one day?”
“What are you doing here, Terzo?” my wife asked, not so thrilled to see me.
“I could ask you the same thing, wife?” I picked up the nocs and looked at her target, and it was impressive. “Wow. Have you tried joining the military?”
“I still hate guns, husband.” She rolled her eyes and followed Celestina, leaving the table.
“Did you imagine me as your target, Dani? Is that why you have a great aim?”
“Should I imagine you to get the best result?”
“Since you’re still pissed at me. Maybe.”
Dani didn’t talk much on the way, even at dinner at the restaurant, until we reached home. She hit the shower and changed into her pink pajamas. I waited until she threw something into my face, but it didn’t happen.
I followed her to the kitchen as she got something to drink. “Can we talk?”
I grabbed a bottle of orange juice and a glass and poured it for her. I slide to her front across the island. She took it in silence and drank it.
“Dani?”
“What do you wanna talk about, Terzo? I’ve moved on from that incident. It was over. Is it traumatizing? Yes. I can still see the horrific image of your bleeding face. But there’s no way to undo it. It’s done. Have I forgotten what my father did to us? Hell no. Do I want vengeance? I want to punish him, but I don’t want to kill him. I’m not a killer, but he needs to pay for what he did. What else do you wanna hear, huh?”
“I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I’m not okay. Damn it. I’m angry!” I could see that. Her posture was rigid. Her eyes narrowed, and her chest heaved.
“Then you’re good. You’re angry. You feel something.”
“God!” She screamed and threw her hands in the air with her eyes wide at me.
“I listened to everything you said before we got rescued, Dani.”
“So what?”
“I–uh–”
“Boss!”
Fuck. I turned to Gio, marching toward us. “What?”
“Francesco just sent us a message.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
I just watched Dani’s face leach color, bouncing her gaze between me and Gio. “What message?”
“It’s addressed to Don Gaetano. You need to see it,” Gio said, fear crossed his features.
We ran outside, crossed the path towards my father’s house. We then joined him at his office. The medium box packaging was opened on his desk.
“What’s inside the box, Papa?”
“Black Dahlia and your picture taken at your door during dinner.”