This is most probably going to be the last book I publish, at least I think so anyway. I can't write anymore 💀 well not that I can't, there's just zero excitement like before yk. Idfkk mann.

Sorry for the long wait btw

G i o v a n n i

Five times.

I shot her five times.

It was more than enough to kill her. The look she gave me as I held the gun up to her looked betrayed, as should be, I broke my promise to her.

I reached for the handkerchief that was meant to be in my suit pocket but I realized as Lucifer carried her off, I had taken it off. Everyone seemed to be in complete shock, even Matteo stood there frozen, holding back Melanie who looked very much like she wanted me dead.

My mother and now my fiance, which in their eyes are my weaknesses have both died. One of which I killed myself... what can they hold against me now, other than the fact they just dislike me? I've proven that I'm not swayed by my emotions... if I was, I'd have killed Sergio right where he stood.

I looked at the gun in my hand then back at up and our eyes met for a few seconds. He knows that I intend to kill him and what's more, he knows that I can't do it right now.

He smiled smugly at me and slapped his hand down on my shoulder, "You did good, boy. Dino would be proud to see the man his son has become."

I listened to him praise me for hours on end. Every sound that came from his mouth felt like it might send me spiraling down into the anger that was welling up in me. I didn't realize until he was gone how much I'd been holding back. Matteo walked up to me and I held the gun up to his head without a second thought.

"Woah, calmati Gio," (calm down) he said, holding up his hands. "He's gone now."

I cursed under my breath and dropped the gun from my hand before letting out a sigh, "If he wasn't Sebastian's father... I'd have emptied the gun into his head," I muttered, "He deserves to rot right alongside Dino."

"But think about it this way, you still got what you wanted though- everything worked out as you planned it to. You don't have to worry about your men not following you, you've made a name for yourself. They won't think of you as an emotional little boy driven by his revenge rather than his power... and as for the girl well... That's all settled."

"I would've done it with or without him, " I said, slumping down against the tree beside me, "Where's Astarte?"

"Probably with Lucifer, taking care of the body... Mel is pretty upset-" Just as he said that Melanie stormed right up to me and raised her hand to slap me but I caught it, "Relax yourself, sweetheart, I'm already in a bad mood." I looked at her and she held eye contact with me for a while before scoffing and pulling away.

"You used her!"

"Oh? That's true... but why are you so upset about it?"

She looked at me dumbfounded and pinched the bridge between her nose, "You know... I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt and think maybe you were just misunderstood like I misunderstood Matteo but you, you really are fucking heartless."

"Melanie."

"Please don't stand there and try to defend him, Matteo, you saw what I saw."

"Incorrect," I said, standing up. "You saw what I wanted you to see, you saw what I showed you. It's really that easy to sway someone into either trusting you or hating you. I frankly don't care which side you choose to stand on. If you think I'm cruel, welcome to the club, the entire city agrees with you. A city which I now have in the palm of my hand. I did use her. It's a loss for a greater gain, and in this case, all I did was gain."

"Loss for the greater gain? Is that what you think about your mother's death?"

Matteo pulled her away from me and stood in front of her, "I'm going to take her home, Gio. Shit's been hectic lately, you know that already... I trust you made the right decision, whatever decision that you made with that girl."

I smiled and nodded slowly while brushing off my clothes. "Good, take her home, Matteo... "

I watched them as they walked away, leaving just me in the cemetery alone. I went back over toward my mom's grave and crouched down, holding my hand over the marble slab. After all this, it still feels as if I didn't do right by you. As much as I want Sergio to pay for what he did, I'll let Sebastian take care of his own father. I swear though... I'll never become like Dino. Never.

"Addio, mamma," (Goodbye, mom) I whispered. I closed my eyes and let the wind blow against my face and let out a deep breath. I heard the sound of footsteps behind me and I paused.

"I thought you were with Lucifer..." I said, opening my eyes and she crouched down right by me before squinting her eyes, "You crying?"

I glared at her and she threw her hands up, "Damn, I'm kidding." She shook her head and sighed, "Lucifer can handle that on his own... doesn't necessarily require me. Besides, you made a deal with us to protect you, I'm just doing my part."

"Are you now?"

She nodded then paused, "You didn't really kill her, did you?"

"What makes you say that?"

"I've seen my fair share of bodies, I know when I'm seeing a dead one or a living one. Besides, something tells me that you're not that type of guy. I doubt she'll like you much when she wakes up."

I shrugged, "That's nothing new under the sun... I don't need people to like me." I stood up and let out a sigh, "There isn't a single person in this world that everyone likes, if they do then that person is a monster. I'm not a monster, Astarte. Whether she wakes up hating me or she wakes up liking me,

none of it really matters, at least she wakes up."

Word count: 1051

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