CONSUMED By Vengeance | 18+

CHAPTER 2

In an effort to keep up with Vince, I strain every muscle in my legs and urge my feet to move with great speed. Cazzo, he's fast for such a big guy. Every breath I take feels heavy and strained, as the blood-curdling screams of terror consume my senses, making my heart pound in my chest.

The air becomes increasingly thick with the pungent stench of smoke, causing us to cough relentlessly. But our determination pushes us forward until we finally reach the outlet of escape. With a firm press from both hands, Vince feels the resistance of the wall. A panel blending seamlessly into its surroundings, remaining inconspicuous unless one specifically seeks it out, faintly click. It stealthily slips open a few inches, and he smoothly glides it open.

Right as we are about to enter the alcove, the piercing screams fade away, abruptly replaced by chilling, garbled noises that mark my siblings' impending demise. They're gone... and the echoes of their voices linger in my head. I'm all alone now.

It's heartbreaking that the place, meant to offer safety, ultimately reveals itself as a deceptive mirage, leaving behind a bitter realization of its absence of protection. My childhood home—a majestic mansion—is now a raging inferno.

"Danté! Dobbiamo andare!" Vince's voice startles me, snapping me out of my daze, and I suddenly become aware of tears silently cascading down my face.

I wipe away the moisture and quickly enter the concealed compartment. As Vince effortlessly pushes the panel into place to ensure our secrecy, I flick a switch, illuminating the space with a sudden burst of light. Each of us takes a torch and a bottle of water before descending a flight of stairs to the labyrinthine underground tunnels.

Having spent countless hours studying and training in them, I know every nook and cranny, like the back of my hand. Reaching the bottom of the steps, both of us struggle with the effects of the smoke inhalation. I take a few sips from my water bottle, feeling the coolness soothe my dry throat. Then I inhale deeply, trying to clear my lungs of the lingering fumes. Despite the musty and stale smell in the air, it is a welcome relief compared to the suffocating smoke we experienced earlier.

In silence we follow the winding passageway, which stretches for slightly more than a mile, leading us away from the charred mansion towards the secure safe house. Twenty minutes later, we finally reach the end of the tunnel and ascend a flight of stairs. Vince deftly clicks the security switch, and a door slides open, giving us access to the safe house.

Our escape went smoothly, and I'm grateful to come out unscathed. However, emotionally, I feel completely shattered once again, my heart heavy with the painful loss of my family.

Vince walks over to the fully stocked fridge, grabs two cold beers, and hands one to me. "Qui..." he says, breaking the silence. With eagerness, he twists off the cap of his beer and lifts it to his lips, taking a satisfying gulp from the bottle. I then follow suit. "Since I don't know who attacked us, we're gonna hang tight for a few days. In the meantime, I'll make arrangements to get us out of the country."

Which will include Mia.

Knowing what his response would likely be, I continue nonetheless. "I need to get Mia before we leave."

Furiously shaking his head, he growls, "Not fucking happening. It's too risky."

"I won't leave without her!" I snap. "If Giana died in the fire, Mia will be all alone with that piece of shit."

"Per l'amor del cielo! "You don't get it," Vince bellows, the force of his words punctuated by the resounding thud of the beer bottle hitting the table. "If the people who murdered your family find out you're still alive, they'll come after you."

"I don't care a —"

"Well, io lo faccio!" he seethes with fury, grabbing me forcefully in front of my chest, his face mere inches from mine. "I made a promise to your padre that I'd protect you with my life if it ever came to this. Besides, you're the new Don now, and I gotta make sure you stay alive to carry on your old man's legacy in the US."

Reality hits me like a punch to the gut, but I'm not giving up on my plan just yet.

"I can't do it. I'm only eighteen," I protest, feeling the weight of my dishonesty settle in the pit of my stomach. The truth is, I'm more than ready. My padre and brother molded me to be just as ruthless as they were, even though it was never what I wanted.

I was groomed and trained from young to take charge of New York and run it like Uncle Sal, while Tony runs Sicily. Papà had a group of American tutors dedicated to help me achieve fluency in English with an American accent. They went beyond language and academic lessons, and took me on regular trips to various states, allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of the US.

The plan was for me to move there and seamlessly blend in as an American businessman once I reached twenty-five, but I never expected it happening this soon. Now the possibility of faking my death, a crucial part of my escape plan to start a new life with Mia, is slipping through my fingers.

Before speaking, Vince loosens his tight grip on me. "At your age, your padre took charge of the family business with your nonno's guidance. If he succeeded, so can you, and I'll always be here to offer advice."

My response is a simple, "Okay," my voice lacking any sentiment. Vince remains silent and abruptly spins around, his heavy boots echoing through the bunker as he heads toward a cupboard. Opening it, he accesses the hidden safe and grabs a knapsack. Then he extracts forged identifications, passports, and stacks of American dollars and euros, tossing them into the bag.

It seems like he is getting everything ready for a hasty escape, ensuring that we have what we need in case of an emergency. Afterwards, he saunters towards the door.

"I'll be on guard duty, and don't be stupid to contact Mia," he warns over his shoulder as if he could read my mind.

"I need her to know I'm alive and just wanna say bye."

"Non farlo! Her phone might be tapped."

Not satisfied with his response, I suppress all emotion, leaving me numb. The rush of the adrenaline is starting to wear off, and I am hit with a sudden wave of dizziness, finding it difficult to stay steady on my feet. My stomach twists and turns, but I forcefully swallow down the bile threatening to come up. I sink down in a nearby chair to regain my composure, but Mia is all I can think of.

I gotta go get her.

She's gonna need me.

Maybe after a shower and some downtime, I might figure out a solution.