Chapter - 22

Few weeks have passed since Nicolas has introduced Elio to their gang. And it was safe to say the gang accepted Elio. More like they adored him. Elio accompanies Nicolas to the base whenever he can. Luca, the second in command was more than happy to help him with understanding everything about the mafia. Which irks Nicolas sometimes. Now he was at their base waiting for Nicolas finish interrogating some guy. Luca came to him looking nervous.

"Sir you have a visitor."

"Who's it?"

"It's Madam Elena Giovanni."

Elio felt his smile falter when he heard it was his sister. Was she here again to humiliate him?

"She says it's urgent."

Elio sighed and nodded telling him to let her in. He sat straight when he saw Elena come to the living room and sit opposite him.

"If you're here for Nicolas, he'll take a while."

"I came here for you."

Elio looked genuinely shocked by hearing that.

"I'm sorry."

Elio's mouth opened hearing her apologise. She stood up from her seat and knelt before him. She took his hands and looked at him.

"I'm sorry for talking to you like that. I shouldn't have said such hurtful things to you."

Elio felt his lips tremble.

"You're not weak. You are anything but weak."

That's it. the first drops of tears fell down from his eyes. Elena also had tears in her eyes.

"We kept the mafia matter a secret from you because we wanted at least one of us to have a normal life. We didn't realise it would do more damage."

Elio just nodded. He didn't speak because he knows his voice will break.

"Please forgive us. It breaks our heart when you avoid us."

Elio hugged his sister and sobbed into her neck. He really missed her. He pulled back and chuckled at her.

"Call dad and mom, they miss you."

Elio was about to speak when suddenly the lights went off. He was relaxed, not at all nervous that the lights are off. But Elena stiffened and squeezed his hands.

"Looks like there's a power cut."

"Shh!."

Elena shushed Elio.

"Why are you shushing me?"

"Don't you get it? We don't have blackouts. Even if we have, there are backup generators. And the fact that the current is still not back means..."

"Somebody is inside."

Elio whispered. Suddenly a gunshot was heard. Elio covered his ears, shaking like a leaf. His heart was beating so fast that he knew if he don't calm down he'll die. Elena cupped his cheeks making him open his eyes.

"Hey! Hey! I want you to listen to me. We are going to go hide in a place where they can't find us. Okay?"

Elio just nodded with tears in his eyes. They quietly walked towards the door with Elena in the front shielding Elio. She takes her gun from her thigh garter. Does she carry gun around all the time? Elio thought to himself. She opened the door aiming the gun.

"Come."

She whispers when she confirms it is safe to go outside. Elio quietly follow his sister when they were pulled into a room.

"Don't shout. It's me."

Elio turned to look at Nicolas who was covering Elena's mouth. They were looking at each other like there was no other person was around them. This made Elio feel somewhat strange. He cleared his throat making Nicolas to let Elena go.

"Are you hurt?"

Nicolas asks Elio. Oh so he finally remembers me. Elio says in his mind. Elio just weakly nods.

"Someone has sneak into the base. The generator is broken. Two of our men were also attacked and left unconscious."

Nicolas said mainly to Elena. Are they seriously keeping him out of the matter. Suddenly Nicolas gets a text.

"East wing."

Nicolas says to Elena and she nods in understanding. Both of them walks towards the door.

"Hey! What about me?"

Elio asks, causing Nicolas to look as if he had forgotten about him.

"Just stay put."

Elio wanted to protest, but one stern look from Nicolas was enough to get him to stop. Elena gave a small smile before leaving with Nicolas. Soon after they left Elio locked the door and pushed the table to block the door. He walked back to the corner of the room and sat down keeping his eyes on the door. Making sure no one enters. Elio couldn't remember when he had closed his eyes, but he was startled awake by the sound of gunshots. It was getting eerily quiet after that gunshot. Panic surged through Elio's mind, thinking if any one of them got hurt. He decided to go out and check. He knows he shouldn't because he was told by Nicolas to stay inside. He quietly pushed the table which was blocking the door and opened it slowly so as not to make any sound. He took a deep breath and looked outside and saw no one was there aiming a gun at him. He steps outside and looks at both direction. Which direction should he take? He don't know which way Elena and Nicolas went.

"Let's go right."

Elio said to himself and walked ahead. His steps were so light that you wouldn't know he was there. His body came to a halt when he saw blood on the floor. His breathing quickened making him feel dizzy. He walked forward following the blood drops and stopped when he saw a body laying lifeless. Looks like it was one of their men. He turned around and saw walked out of the room where the body laid.

"Eli! What are you doing here?"

Elena came out of nowhere and pulled him towards her.

"I-I just wanted to make sure you guys were okay."

Elio said making Elena shake her head in disappointment.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

Nicolas walked towards them with anger in his eyes. Elio flinched at the harsh tone Nicolas used. Right now Nicolas looked scary.

"Caught you."

A deep voice said. All of them turned towards the voice and saw a man dressed in full black with a mask covering his face aim his gun at them. More like aim at Elio. Everything happened quickly. The man pulled the trigger and the same time Elio was pushed. He covered his ears and tears flowed through his eyes. When he opened his eyes he saw a whimpering Elena who was clutching her arm in pain. Blood oozed out of her dress painting the floor red. Nicolas was by her side in a second. He pressed on the wound so it would stop bleeding. Elena let out a groan of pain when he did that. Elio went towards her trembling.

"You have done enough."

Nicolas said making Elio stop in his tracks.

"Follow him."

Nicolas said to Luca, that's when Elio saw Luca and some of their men standing in the room. Nicolas lifted Elena bridal style and walked out of the room leaving Elio alone with his thoughts. It's his fault. He should've listened to Nicolas and stayed inside. It's his fault.