Code name: Athena [18+]

Code name: Solo

The urn's plaque hasn't been cleaned in almost three years. This place hasn't been inhabited since my father died but that's why I left it here so she could be in peace and quiet just as she liked it.

Beside it rests her favorite book along with the positive pregnancy test and my favorite picture of us; she took it our first morning as husband and wife. My face was hidden in the crook of her neck as she held me tightly.

"Papà," Serafina said hugging my right leg.

I squatted down to pick her up "Yes, baby?"

"Wuv you," her chubby hands rested on my cheeks as she looked into my eyes with a big smile.

"I love you too, baby girl," I held her close and tried to keep the tears in because the last thing I want is for my daughters to feel my sorrow.

Marrying Allegra and then her leaving brought a lot of past memories along with feelings I thought had faded but no, they're all still very present; I should've taken more time for myself before rushing into marriage...I went into it thinking that it would fix me.

It was so selfish of me.

•Arabella DiStefano•

"You checked his favorite restaurant already?" I asked Angela using the car's Bluetooth.

"Yes, nothing," she let out a deep sigh "I'm worried."

"Don't be, he has Serafina and Viola; he won't do anything unreasonable."

"Okay, okay...I'm just so scared for him, he's the one closest to his feelings in the family; I've never seen someone cry when they see a baby dolphin."

A deep sigh left my mouth "We—" on the screen, there was a banner announcing an incoming call from Apollo "I'll call you in a bit, your brother is calling, bye love you," I hung up and picked up Apollo's call. "Hi, baby—"

"I found him," my husband announced.

I raised an eyebrow "What do you mean you—"

"I got off my ass and drove to Mariano's parents' old house," he said.

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly "APOLLO! YOU ARE INJURED—"

"My brother is suffering, besides I gave myself a shot of morphine," he told. "Calm down, it's not good for you for our piccola."

I took a deep breath since he is right "Baby, what is the address?"

"Piazza Santi Apostoli 81," he replied "drive safely, please. And Napsy is here with me."

Jesus Christ, he is a reckless teenager.

"All right," I said between greeted teeth "I'll be there in 10 minutes, sit the fuck down," I hung up.

Ten minutes later I parked the black Audi SUV; I spotted bodyguards along the block, which the Athenas joined as soon as I hopped off. The house stood in front of me; it's historic but well-preserved. Before I could walk in, the door opened from inside.

"Hi, princess," Apollo smiled weakly.

As he stood in front of me, it made me want to cry in the view of the fact that he has been in bed for a considerable amount of time "Do you have a death wish?" I slapped him across the face.

"Ouch!" he cupped his left cheek as he pouted with his eyes on me "What the fuck, Arabella?"

"You have two holes in you–"

"Shhh!" the shush came from down the hall and it was obviously Mariano.

My feet took me down the hall until I found myself in the middle of a formal dining room and a living room; there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere. Mariano was sitting at the head of the renaissance dining table with an urn in front of him "Hi, Ma–"

"I just needed a moment alone with her before I finally say goodbye," Mariano declared quietly "you would've loved her, Arabella," his eyes crossed with mine; they were bloodshot "she was a great woman, not only smart but the owner of an angelic heart," the tears poured down his face, shattering my heart. "She was the love of my life," he jabbed his own chest and seemed to be trying to hurt himself "it's all my fault!"

"It's okay, Mariano," I dashed to him and wrapped my arms around him tightly "you're going to be okay," there was a picture of her and Mariano leaning against the black marble urn. Maybe my generic words aren't enough but this is the best thing I can say, as I'm overwhelmed with a sense of guilt and sorrow for not realizing how bruised my best friend, no, my brother is.

Mariano is the light of the family, he always keeps on going no matter what and tries to make everyone happy; none of us noticed he had no Mariano to take care of him like he takes care of us.

How haunting must it be to take the life of the person you love the most?

I'm definitely enjoying but also suffering while writing the small plunge into Mariano's past. Maybe it seems like I just want to get to a certain number of chapters and am using this as the solution but it's not that at all. In the end Mariano is a major part of Arabella and Apollo's life and it explains some of Mariano's behaviors.
I love you all. I hope you are enjoying this little story within the story.
Stay home, stay safe.
-M

Ps. If you want to check out the last chapter of my short story collection and tell me if it's a good idea to make it a longer piece. I genuinely want to know, it's not for reads or anything like that.
Thank you! 💕