Chapter 27

Aliyana I jerk back from the past as a loud honk of a car shocks my senses. Marco drives with a casual shift in gears, flying at an insanely illegal speed I know too well. "So?" He asks, patiently waiting for my reply. "Matteo devised a plan to kidnap Alec. Alec escaped with Alice's help, we weren't going to kill him. She told Matteo, believing he was on Alec's side. The night of the Fraternity party, Matteo sent Xander to us, knowing Alice was there." "So, Xander was a diversion?" "Yes, he was keeping Alice occupied, well, all of us occupied while Matteo got Alec. Ren slipped out after Matteo sent him a message. They were close enough that Ren could walk back to the party and far enough that nobody saw them. I didn't know any of this until Ren got back and told me." "And I supposed the others don't know?" "No, they didn't trust Matteo. Deno is the only one who knows Matteo's involvement." "Sure, he does." I ignore Marco's sarcastic reply. "Papa is getting old if he thinks Matteo is going to keep me safe." "Or maybe he sees an opportunity," His words have me frowning. "For what?" His lips thin as his mind works. Marco doesn't answer my question. "Have you decided how you're going to find out which of your friends killed my brother?" "Maybe after you tell me why you told us about Diamond and the drug, knowing that this probably has very little to do with Diamond?" "I'm not, but I have my reasons. This, it has everything to do with Diamond, she might not be the reason he is dead, but she is the reason Lorenzo lived." I don't ask him to elaborate, sometimes even I know when to leave certain things alone. "I was thinking of a direct approach," I answer him. "That won't work. Have you considered it might have been all of them?" Yes, but I don't say the words. They are my friends, and right now, they are innocent. "What do you suggest I do? Hold a séance?" "No. I'm going to talk your father into hiring them as soldiers. That way, you can be more hands-on. With Matteo in the picture, it might be just the trigger we need." "And he would listen to you, why? You do know my father doesn't enjoy getting told what to do, especially from a Catelli." "Your father and I share a mutual interest, he would listen. Now, get yourself inside so I can leave." "Yes, sir." He parks the car next to the entrance of the dorm. I don't inquire how he knows where Josey stays. He is a Catelli, there isn't much he doesn't know. Josey was Ren's friend too. Ren spent quite some time with her shooting the shit and getting his assignments done since they both shared a chemistry class together. The Catelli's didn't invite her to the funeral. I doubt she would have joined if they did. Josey hated funerals. Didn't blame her, when her kid brother was killed at a gravesite. "Thank you." He turns his head to face me. I stand with my hand on the open door doing the same, except Marco is frowning, and I am trying not to drown in the weight of it all. We have both lost, for Marco, it's a brother, a sibling. Me? I lost a friend, my person, one who I have chosen to be a part of my life. Sometimes I wonder what hurts more, letting go of someone you are related to and obligated to love or someone you choose, and start to love. Only those who have had both and lost them could tell you, and even then, the answer changes from person to person. "Be careful, Aliyana." I nod my head slightly, understanding that this is our goodbye until we meet again, which I knew would be soon. I walk toward Josey's Fraternity house, remembering, last minute she's staying there and not the dorms. "Aliyana." I spin around at the sound of the man in the dark suit walking closer to me. His strides are so long. Powerful. Marco's face is set in a harsh scowl as his eyes burn with so many emotions that I can't pinpoint just one. He cradles my face in the palm of his hands. I surrender as his lips come in contact with mine. Standing on my toes, I kiss Marco. His lips consume my senses as he glides his tongue into my mouth, touching my own. My hands grip his forearms, digging my fingers into the suit jacket. The sun is bright as his lips come apart with my own. I never kissed a guy before Marco Catelli. I always thought my first kiss would be with Leonardo. I imagined it would be in the corner of a building or behind a big tree, hidden from prying eyes. Never did it cross my mind that I, Aliyana Capello, will be kissing Marco Catelli under the bright sun, in broad daylight with people strolling past us, and he would be kissing me back. Claiming me, a half-blood. Mezzosangue His kiss is felt down to my core, my body warming under the heat rushing through my veins like tiny bursts of static. My lips move with his, as his tongue demands more, sucking on mine. A forbidden happening, with the sun bearing witness to another stolen moment with the brother I didn't choose. Yet, every time it feels as though he chose me. I feel wanted. Is that why I line my body, stepping into his as our lips move together as two lovers unite. He pulls back, and I look into his eyes. A mad man. Death. Marco Catelli feels- The haunted look in his eyes that never had a chance to be a child, born amid bloodshed undoes me. "Your soul brings kings to their knees, Mezzosangue." "And what about a mad man?" I don't say made, I say 'mad' and the smile dominating my attention, disregarding where we are is enough to bring me to my own knees. "His death." My father would think me a foolish girl falling so fast. Gullible. I know my eyes stare intently into Marco's burning gaze. If we could swap thoughts right now, I wonder what his would say. "Marco!" Deno's voice booms like a whip behind us. Cutting this moment. "Go away, Deno," He says, not releasing his hold on my face. His chest blocks Deno from my view. It's the first time I really notice how big his build is. I am a cat trapped in a bear's cave by just his will, and his hands that I am positive have snapped many necks. Is this how it feels to be held by a killer? "This is not the way, Marco." His eyes turn tortured, I know, because they closely resemble my own when I looked in the mirror this morning. It isn't easy burying someone you love, especially when the person is the only one who really saw you. No, it's like they are dying all over again. Whatever his battle raging in his head, wins over him. He releases me and takes a step back. "Go Mezzosangue, I'm not leaving until you do." One would think the word is meant to hurt me. When he says it, his focus is dead set on me. The tone of his voice dipping in darker territory. His Italian heritage dominating, when that word is spoken. He says Mezzosangue with affection, but right now, I sense his darkness, his need. Marco Catelli wants me. There is something about that which makes me heat up inside like a reckless inferno as I stand and stare at him. "Go, Aliyana." His order comes out like a whip. I jerk out of the small frozen state I'm in. I don't question Marco Catelli further. I listen to his order, turn my back, and walk away from him. I didn't turn my head. I was confident I would be seeing him soon. I didn't know the circumstance would be different.