CHAPTER 94: LEFT BEHIND

Luciano’s composure snapped under the weight of her stubbornness.

With a trembling hand, he pulled the gun from between her thighs, and brought it to head.

"I swear to God, Valentina, I will fucking pull the trigger if you don’t tell me the fucking truth!"

Valentina’s breath sharpened, as her fingers clutched tightly onto the table, for support.

"What do you want me to say? I can’t tell you who gave me the phone. I won’t apologize for betraying my whereabouts when I didn’t. What do you want from me?" another tear followed the single tear, and soon enough, her body began to vibrate.

Luciano pulled the gun off her head, and looked away briefly. "I don’t believe you. You have wanted nothing more than to leave from the moment you were brought into Neravalle. In your desperation, you would have done anything. Who fucking gave you the phone?!" He whipped his head to her.

She burst into tears. "No, I can’t tell–I can’t–" the unsaid words quivered alongside her lips.

Luciano closed his eyes to search for some control deep within him. But in truth, it was to stop himself from seeing her cry.

Because her tears touched his soul.

However, Valentina had heard and seen enough.

She was tired of the back and forth. She was tired of her next breath being hinged on how much control he could muster. She was tired of being accused falsely. She was exhausted with being interrogated for a name she would die first before she dropped.

The only thing left was the part of her that craved death. The suicidal part of her she has buried for so long, at the begging request of Natalia.

It resurrected inside of her, and spurred her to action.

Her hands flew up just as he was opening his eyes.

She snatched the gun out of his loose hold, despite how hard she was trembling.

"What the fuck Vale–"

She didn’t hesitate. In one swift movement, she brought the gun to her head, and pulled the trigger.

The soft click echoed.

Valentina’s eyes flew open. She wasn’t on the other side. She was still standing in the dimly lit room, with her body still trembling.

"What—"

"You," Luciano’s voice was raspy and filled with disbelief. "You were really going to do it? Kill yourself right here?" As he spoke, he pulled out the bullets he had taken off the gun just minutes ago when he turned away.

Her eyes caught the bullets, and it clicked in her head why she was still alive.

"I told you I don’t fear death as long as I die by my design. I also would rather die than betray someone that helped me."

He smiled bitterly. "That’s how much you care about Elio and Ross Voltron? Yeah–" he bobbed his head. "He did say you two were lovers. I thought there was no way in hell. But it makes sense that he’s the one alleged to have made you hate sex. Even though that might just be one of your many lies."

Valentina’s heart broke for the umpteenth time in the span of half an hour. "Why won’t you believe me?" She sniffled.

"You just proved why. The people you do actually care about, you’d die to protect them. I’m not part of those people. Why should I believe you?"

He pushed the bullets back into his pocket, and turned his back to her.

"Luciano, no! Don’t leave me here!" She screamed through a raspy desperate voice, as she blindly sobbed.

He pretended not to hear her, walking away instead.

Valentina in desperation, ran to the door, but as she tried to open it, she couldn’t.

"No! Luciano, no! Please, don’t leave me. Don’t leave me here!" She collapsed to the ground, crying her heart out.

Her cries haunted Luciano as he walked away, but he was too tired, too drained to turn back.

He couldn’t even turn back the hands of time. If he could, he would have never instructed for her to be captured.

To admit it was stupidity, but he could admit he was stupid.

Blinded by the fascination the woman that kissed him out of the blue created in him.

That singular action had created a ripple effect that was so damaging, he couldn’t even think clearly.

Luciano found himself in the lounge after wandering around the empty hallway for a while.

"Babe!" Daniela dashed towards him the second he walked in.

She hugged him, but he didn’t reciprocate. He was still in shock.

Valentina had almost killed herself.

"Are you okay?" Daniela asked as she pulled away.

However, his gaze was past her, resting on Giovanni instead.

"Leave us," he said to her, but her mother was also in that equation.

"But–"

"You heard him, Daniela. Leave us," Giovanni Ferrari interrupted her.

Daniela’s frantic eyes searched her mother’s. They both had similar thoughts.

"Honey, are you sure we need to leave? I mean–"

"Helena, perfavore."

She swallowed her argument, knowing it was fruitless anyway.

"Okay." She rose to her feet.

"The guards will escort you two to Daniela’s room," Luciano said, as he walked over to his special chair.

Helena grabbed her daughter’s hesitant hand. "Let’s go," she whispered sternly.

Although Daniela didn’t want to move for fear the truth would come to light, and she wouldn’t be present to control it, she trusted her mother enough to go with her.

The door closed behind them, and Luciano sat down.

"What the heck have you gotten yourself into, Luce? You look like shit right now."

Luciano ran a hand through his hair, as he sighed.

"How many people do you know that don’t fear death?" He asked randomly, with his gaze still holding a faraway look.

"Not many unfortunately. Why? Are you planning on dying before my Daniela even gets to have the title of widow?"

There was a little humour in his tone. One that Luciano would usually smile at.

But his mind was in a dark spot.

Giovanni saw this, and grew serious. "What did Lorenzo do to you? He always manages to get under your skin, by using your father against you."

Luciano’s gaze shot sharply towards him. "That’s it, isn’t it? I was wondering why I was already on edge. It turns out my father is my weakness."

"It would be for anyone that went through the shit you went through. The first time I saw you outside of the very few times I saw you with your father, you were fighting off three older boys taunting you and your sister. I imagine it was an everyday thing. You’ve survived through the vilest word and action attacks against you, all for the alleged sins of your father. It is bound to be a trigger spot."

"I should be better at hiding it though. Not pouring out my frustration on someone who I’m not sure yet what she deserves or does not deserve."

"Hmmm," Giovanni’s head tilted to the side. "Would I be far off if I guess that this woman in question is the one that sparked conversations in every table tonight at the hall?"

Luciano held his gaze. "You won’t be," he replied with a weightless tone.