AVELINA’S POV.

The Rossi mansion is never quiet, yet is looks and feels dead inside.

The morning after the dinner, staff moves around with their head bowed and their eyes fixed on the floor without daring to look at me.

The sounds of footsteps reminds me of my home. A home that I was stripped away from after my father’s death.

I walk towards the window. The sun rises over Florence. The city was alive. I kept thinking of my father and his words telling me not to trust anybody that is not family.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. It is the same maid, with her gentle and nervous nature.

“The Don left for the city today, and he wants you to know he won’t be back till evening.” She says not daring to look at me.

“That is nice, I can finally breathe fresh air.” I say in excitement.

“Can i go into every room in this house”? I asked with my eyes lighting up.

“You can’t go into all the rooms in the mansion” She says after much hesitation.

I smiled at her faintly. “But that is exactly where I want to go into”.

From the look on the maid’s face I could tell she was terrified but she doesn’t dare to question or stop me. After she leaves the room I slipped my shoes on and step into the hall.

___________________________________________________________________________

From the inside you could tell the mansion was bigger than it was outside. I walk past picture frames of past Rossi men hung up on the wall. I finally stumped upon a picture different from the rest. It was signed at the bottom ENZO ROSSI.

Allessandro’s older brother.

My father was killed because he died. And he is the reason i am married to a monster.

I cleaned the dust off the frame with my dress. He had same eyes as Allessandro and i guess he is as tall too. But his smile seems softer.

I thought to myself: Did my father actually kill him? or that is what Allessandro wants me to believe.

Before i could think further, i heard voices from the other room.

“Are these the shipment we were expecting from Germany.?” A voice asked.

“Yes it is.” Another replies.

“Take them to the basement. I will come handle it shortly.” It was Emilio this time. Allessandro’s right hand man.

I quickly close the door behind me and duck under the table. It was the Rossi’s study. The shelf is covered with dust and i doubt if anybody has been in here in years.

Curiosity takes the best of me as i start to open the drawers and go through contents. It was filled with files and each of those files was labelled with numbers and names. A letter drops from out of one of the files i held. I pick it up to read the content.

The letter was handwritten by Enzo Rossi to my father. But i guess it was never delivered.

Don Marco,

We all know there would be no peace under one side surrenders. But when this war is over please promise me you will keep her out of our mess.

-E.R.

I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

Why was Enzo writing to my father? Were they friends? Who was the “her”?

Before i could complete my thoughts, the door flings open and Allessandro stands at the doorway.

For a moment neither of us moves. His eyes turns to the opened drawers and then to the letter in my hand.

“I see you have made yourself comfortable.”

“You had left the door open” I quickly say.

“Not for you to snoop through.”

He slowly steps inside and close the door behind him. He was calm but i could tell his calmness was worse than anger.

“Can you tell me what it is you were looking for, Avelina.?

“I need answers because you are clearly hiding something from me.” I responded.

“You shouldn’t be in here.” He says walking towards me.

“I know. But if you wanted an obedient wife then i am the wrong woman for you.”

“I can see that now.” He said.

He stretches his hands towards mine and takes back the letter. His fingers brushes mine. I could feel a spark that sent shivers down my spine.

“Where did you get this letter from.?” He demands staring into my soul.

“It fell out of one of the files from the drawer,” I shoot back at him. “You didn’t know you had to destroy everything that had to do with my father before marrying his daughter?”

He clenches his jaw. “You act like you know everything.”

“I know enough to know you killed my father. And i also know my father didn’t kill your brother, did he?”

He doesn’t look at me.

The silence could be felt in the mansion.

My voice breaks. “Then who did it? Why was my father framed?” I asked demanding answers.

He looks up, staring into my eyes.

“Go to your room right now.” He says backing orders at me.

“I wouldn’t until you give me answers.”

He walks slowly across the desk until he stands in front of me. “Disobedience will lead you to dangerous parts, Avelina.”

“The day you took my father i stopped caring.”

For a moment he doesn’t say anything. “You should be careful and think things through.”

He says leaving the room whilst slamming the door behind him.

___________________________________________________________________________

By nighttime i find it difficult to sleep.

The words on the letter still rings in my head.

We all know there would be no peace under one side surrenders. But when this war is over please promise me you will keep her out of our mess.

Who was he referring to?

I stand up and turn on the light.

I step out of the room, the guards bow without looking at my face. The mansion feels stuffy like someone was watching me.

I head downstairs where the maid lead me to a room and hands me a tray. “The Don ask i serve you dinner here today.”

I thank her, still lost in thought. “Does the Don ever talk about his brother?” I asked.

She freezes in her place. “ We do not speak of him.”

“Why not.?” Now inquisitive.

“Because we do not want to remember.” She says as she walks away.

_______________________________________________________________________

By afternoon the rain starts. The sky turns grey as thunder cracks over the city. I walk towards the hall, going over every portrait until i reach Enzo’s.

Something felt different this time. There was a hidden compartment. I pulled the panel open and there was a faded photograph. Two boys and a girl standing side by side – Enzo, Allessandro and me. I could barely catch my breath.

I can barely remember this say but i should have been like four or five.

Enzo.

He was there and his hand is over my shoulder.

If they had known me then... they weren’t my father’s enemies after all.

The door creaks open and there he was standing. Allessandro.

His voice low. “You are making this a habit. Going into places you are not supposed to be seen in.”

I turn to face him. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew my father.? Your brother did too and also wrote him a later.”

He slowly exhales. “You shouldn’t have found out about this.”

“But I found out.”

“Avelina.” He calls my name. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Then you have to make me understand.” I said staring at him.

“Searching for the truth wouldn’t save you.”

‘I do not need your protection, Allessandro.” I shoot back at him.

He walks towards me and takes my hand. “You are not ready for the truth Avelina. If you keep searching you will get hurt.”

“Let go of my hand.” I said pulling myself away from him.

“Not until you listen to me.” He says still holding tight.

“I did not kill your father. But if you do not stop digging the people that kill him will come for you and this time they won’t miss.” He said finally letting go of me.

___________________________________________________________________________

Before laying on the bed at night, I hide the photo under my pillow.

The rain had stopped and the storm is calm but i wasn’t as my inside begins to burn.

If Allessandro didn’t kill my father then who did? Maybe another close rival.

For the first time since i came to the Rossi mansion i felt a sense of purpose – To look foor my father’s killers.

I stand up from the bed and walk towards the window, watching the city of Florence glitter as the moon shines over it.

“I need to get to the bottom of this.” I say in a whisper. “I need to know everything.