Chapter 16 (Aliyana)


    My morning goes by without a hitch as Guilia and I spend three hours on the phone with Kylie, half of


    that time she is bantering with one of her brothers or screaming for her mother when one of them


    teases her.


    It is a memorable conversation as we try to find a suitable way to teach the She demon a lesson while


    Kylie navigates the craziness which is her life. If I knew I could have a life simr to Kylies’ I would long


    for it. But that is never going to happen, so I enjoy just listening as an outsider and by the end of our


    conversation, Kylie, Guilia, and I have a solid n.


    Guilia and I skip breakfast but Leonardo has other ns when he walks into my room around 12 and


    carries a shrieking Guilia away.


    I’ve just done my make-up when Salvatore’s name shes on my screen, “I was beginning to get


    worried.”


    “Hello Miss Capello, I have just ARRIVED, at the Manor.”


    “Perfect timing, I’ll be right down.” I click my phone off and grab my heels. This time I am prepared for


    the lunch, with a cream flirty but respectful dress.


    My bare feet rush down the stairs with my heels in my hand. And just before Ind on thest step,


    without thinking I run and throw myself at Salvatore who instantly grabs my waist.


    “We have lots to do.” I smile but it drops when I see his grave face frozen on something to my right.


    I turn and see two angry faces, one belonging to Marco and the other my brother. In an act of self-


    preservation, I run toward my brother and throw myself at him too, and like I predicted, he holds me


    and loses his anger, thinking I am just happy. Which is not off the mark.


    I am very happy.


    “You are extra bubbly, did sleeping next to Guilia rub off on you?” He asks holding me at arm''s length.


    “Maybe.” I y coy and Filippo smiles, shaking his head.


    I give a still evil-eyed, Marco a small acknowledgment which he answers by storming off to his man


    cave, sh library.


    “What’s up his ass?”


    “Nothing you need to worry about. What are your ns for the day?”


    “Not sure as yet, why?”


    “I wanted to spend the day with you and Guilia. The brothers are going hunting and Cami is going to


    the doctor, apparently, she hurt her knee.” My brother gives me a look but remains quiet on why. I know


    Filippo has a thing about killing animals, but he still eats the meat.


    “I was hoping to justy low today,” I say and Filippo looks behind me, before his attention darts back to


    me, “You were hoping to snoop, and Salvatore I’m sure was going to be the wingman.”


    “Not snoop, just check the ce out.”


    “We can do that together, Cami and Salvatore don’t get along, inviting him here was a bad idea.”


    “She didn’t invite him, I did,” Deno says and it is the first time I notice how quiet and not himself he has


    been.


    Filippo raises his brow but remains quiet.


    “Since he is here, he can join us.”


    Marco storms back to where we are all standing, “Actually Salvatore needs to leave.”


    I want to refuse but something in his eyes tells me not to and I don''t. Salvatore and I will have to


    discuss Mero when we get home tomorrow.


    Guilia, Filippo, and I spend the day around the property, and although my brother’s knowledge of the


    history of the ce is not as extensive as Salvatore he does a good job keeping us entertained.


    The rest of the men are back around lunchtime and Cami walks in just as everyone is starting to


    gather around the dining area.


    “How is your knee? Did the doctor say what is wrong?” Marco asks her as she kisses him on the


    cheek. She is dressed in a ck low-cut dress that hugs her entire body.


    “It’s fine, all sorted.”


    “That’s good, I got Xander and Gabriel to take Mischa back to my sister’s ce for the evening.” He


    tells her as we all sit around the table.


    “Oh, I thought she was staying with us?”


    “No, I think some alone time is on the tables.” Marco looks at her, but there is something I am missing.


    “So, how were the grounds?” Deno asks me, all smiles and charm, which is aplete 360 since we


    arrived yesterday.


    “It was interesting, though I want to know more about Berenice and Edio.”


    “There are different stories surrounding them, the romantic version is she was a princess trapped in a


    castle for her own protection, but the other one is she was a prisoner, kidnapped and stuck in this ce


    her husband built to keep her hidden.” Leonardo is the one who answers and I find thetter version


    unappealing to what I have seen.


    My eyes skitter to Marco and he is staring right at me. Was he angry I refused to kidnap my friend?


    “I think I like the first version.”


    “Well there is a journal hidden somewhere in this ce, and I believe Edio wrote the truth in it,” Deno


    responds as the food arrives.


    “Did you men manage to catch something?” Guilia asks from next to me.


    “No, we didn’t end up hunting,” Deno informs all of us and the silent exchange between himself and


    Marco is palpable. What was I missing?


    “Oh, well there is always a next time,” Cami adds, joining the conversation.


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    “Before we eat, I would like to say a few words.” Marco stands, and we all stare at the man with the


    ck molten eyes as he lifts the whiskey ss in his hand.


    “To new beginnings, and past endings. We are all part of one family, but years ago tragedy struck and


    my father made a choice that separated the Catelli and Capello families in a way that has caused many


    problems over the years. But, my brother, Lorenzo, found his closest friend in a Capello, Aliyana. And


    now Leonardo has found a wife too. So let this union bring us closer and let the past be the past. I


    know I can never right the wrong of my father but I am hoping with this union we can mend old wounds


    and create strong bonds. Today I officially wee Capello’s as part of not just the Famiglia but the


    Catellis’.”


    “To new beginnings,” Deno says and we all repeat it drinking our wine. But as I sip, the after taste is not


    sweet, the bitterness is potent and the happiness I had when I woke up this morning dissipates under a


    cloud of hate. My sister is still gone and Marco expects us to just forget about it. That can never


    happen.


    I remain silent throughout the meal, and the moment it ends I get up and begin clearing the table. No


    one stops me or pays me any attention. I get to the kitchen and smile at the workers, washing the


    dishes and clearing up the mess.


    “Sei bellissimae tua sore, Azure.” You are very beautiful like your sister, Azure. The one


    lady says to me, and I am a bit confused, she is older than the others.


    “Azure?”


    “Si, il signor Capello l’ha sempre portata nel maniero per il fine settimana.” Yes, Mr. Capello always


    brought her to the Manor for the weekend.


    I smile as my mind goes through equal parts shock and hope. Azure Capello, my sister. I have a


    name for my sister.


    “Grazie.” Thank you


    I go back to the dining room and hear them all talking andughing and I watch them. All of them are


    so joyous, care-free happy. I have tried for years to find something about my sister. A sister I never got


    to know but I felt a kinship to, love, and honor her.


    These people knew her, they touched her, seen her, and watched her get taken away. And now after a


    small speech, that basically said fuck her, they want us to forget what they did. I can’t.


    It isn’t the brothers that I me, but their father and I understand Marco’s desire to try and fix his own


    family since Ren died, but what about mine? My sister is still somewhere out there and now I have a


    name. I can find her.