Chapter 27

Aliyana 1 year Later "I think it's an idea you should consider." My short steps rush behind Gabriel's long strides. The touch of cold tickles my nose as Gabriel moves a few paces ahead of me. It's a year since I found out I was the Queen of killers and so far, I've done well not to call them for anything. I meet with all my Shadows for training and my life as my mother promised is very different. But hiding Mero for a year is a long time and I have pushed finding Elise who is still MIA back for longer. The thought of hurting her just doesn't gel with me. I believe there is always two sides to every story. "No." "Gabriel, it makes sense. Think about this for a bit, a few months working with my dad could do wonders for your rank and we can see each other every day." Also, I don't have to hurt you when you try to prevent me from killing your Uncle. "Working for my Uncle is going to do that Liya and we already see each other every day. You would be married sooner or later. Choose a husband already. How's Salvatore?" "Papa said I didn't have to marry anytime soon. Salvatore isn't up for discussion. And Papa isn't your Uncle. Don't you want to work for someone who is going to make you look honorable?" What I really want to say, is my father doesn't have any say over how I live my life, and you should really consider working for my father because it is going to keep you alive so you can take over as Capo after we kill your uncle, when we find him of course. He laughs, "Your father doesn't have an honorable bone in his body." I know that, my father didn't become the Consigliere of the most powerful man in the 5th State doing honorable things. And I certainly didn't become the Queen of Shadows because I was a saint either. "He is ambitious, nothing wrong with that." He stops a few steps before his black Jeep, and I ignore his soldiers, and my shadows around us smiling at how my head knocks into his back. Gabriel grips my arm and brings me to the front of him. "Where do you get all this energy from?" His face looks perplexed. Like he thinks I am absurd. Which isn't too far off the mark. I am training 3 hours a day, including a 2-hour run in the morning and my fortnightly sessions with Killer, the torturer who works my body for 4 hours non-stop. But I can't tell my friend any of that. He is clueless that his friend is the Queen of Shadows. Since last week this has been the same conversation Gabriel and I have been arguing about. His uncle is the Capo Dei Capi, but he has been really bad and pissed off some really important people that want him dead. So, our plan was to fake his death and blame ourselves for ending his life. Obviously actually killing him is not part of the plan. But he will step down from his rank and the new Capo Dei Capi will rise. My free time now mostly spent with Kylie since Diamond disappeared. It is a favor for Killer. I'm still not sure of the whole story with Diamond, but I didn't pry. Kylie is the type, if she wants you to know, you will know. But Killer asked me and I didn't mind. Kylie was changing and we were both worried about that. Seeing Gabriel and Michel was becoming a problem. People in the 5th State were starting to talk; well my stepmother was doing the talking and the other people were just repeating. My link to Catelli Famiglia had to be kept, because if it didn't then the 5th State would wonder and that would make me a target. More so now that my birthday was tomorrow. Filippo told me not to worry, but I didn't want Papa to have more to worry about. There was a war brewing with the outfit and Amariya DeMarco was the name whispered. Papa wasn't pushing a marriage on me since my sister and Leonardo got married last year. Not that he had a choice but if he asked me I would do it. He knew that, we both did. And I wasn't interested. Life without Marco was good. He was still engaged to Camilla and my guess was after 2 years of being engaged, we would be attending their wedding soon. But there was no baby. I thought of asking him about Camilla but every time I saw him the question died in my mouth and understanding that his business was his own. The Shadows is something bigger than our quarrel. I didn't avoid him like I did before. I couldn't, because there was a lot of times where he needed my answer to a problem. I found out that the Shadow's relied on my input to make decisions, because I was the Queen, and the more empathetic of all of us. His engagement to Camilla was known amongst the Famiglia and public but since our time at the manor he was never spotted with her often. It took me a while, but I could say that he never crosses my mind when I am awake. I have moved on. Kylie told me, the day I confessed everything to her, that moving on, and loving different people is a normal thing to do. She said a strong woman loves without worry. It is all part of the ride. Her advice helped me realize that Marco Catelli was not meant to be part of my entire story, and Leonardo was just a really good idea but not worth writing about. His infidelity is something my sister hates but knowing him I know his reasons run far more than just the story people paint about him. The two of us have gotten close and he is the one I would choose tomorrow as my 3rd Protector. Papa wants to cut off his dick and shove it in his throat. I know, he told me many times after Guilia called crying. Papa also wants to do worse with Deno since the two of us have become somewhat friends that saw more of each other than was acceptable, but he was the Capo of the Famiglia and I happened to be quite interesting to his now new found life. The Queen of Shadows is an important person to have as a friend. To think Leonardo had my sole interest for years. Life always shows you why it does what it does when you are ready. As for Gabriel, he didn't want to hear about working for my father. In his charming way I was beginning to believe that he didn't hold my father in the highest regard. "Come to the Apartment, I'll invite a few people over and we can just relax, tomorrow you'll be officially, Legal to be Illegal." "I can't. If I want to enjoy tomorrow, I need to get that assignment done and finish that art piece for Mrs Krane. Plus, I promised Kylie I'd meet her for lunch then I have to get to the Azure for dinner with Deno, it's Thursday." This time I am talking the truth. I had a lot to do before tomorrow. He touches my cheek, his deep attentive gaze frowning at me, "Has Kylie mentioned anything to you about her and Vincent?" "Maybe, why?" "Michel mentioned he's been staying there." This is a moment where I have to chew my tongue. Vincent has been staying there, and Kylie isn't the reason. The truth was much bigger than that, and no place for me to open my mouth, especially to Gabriel. A few months ago, Deno and I went out, which was a normal thing now. The Capo of the Famiglia and I were friends. Real friends. And with that friendship came knowledge and trust that I would never jeopardize. And one of those things was the daughter of Gabriel's Uncle, Amariya DeMarco. Her story is one story that the more I learn the less I want to know. It is a dark and twisted nightmare; she still lives with. It is the reason she calls herself Beggar, and the reason my father had to work so closely with the Catellis'. It is also the reason Vincent is living with Kylie, because Amariya is there, hiding from her husband, Lucca Sanati. The man I am going to kill. The funny thing is, I didn't find out from Kylie, it was Deno who spilled the beans about everything. "Maybe Vincent finally decided that a Texan girl is exactly what he needs." "Maybe. You should get your ass home!" I know Gabriel doesn't buy that, but I also know he will never suspect me of knowing anything. "Miss Capello, we need to leave." I smile at that sound as I look across to Salvatore. His black suit fits him like it was meant for him, which it was because it is tailored. "Think about what I said." I tell Gabriel as he touches the tip of my nose before giving chin lifts to Salvatore and Leonardo. I walk the small distance to the Bentley as Salvatore opens the door for me, my mind contemplating on what I should be doing first.