8. BURYING THE DEAD

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I stirred in my sleep as I felt someone drawing circles on my bare stomach and opened my eyes.

"Morning." Adrian whispered huskily in my ear.

I just nodded my head in response and closed my eyes again to let his touch lull me back to sleep.

His hands were resting on my bare stomach and were slowly caressing the area under my breasts, tenderly.

"Wake up." he whispered softly.

I shook my head in negative and turned in his hold.

"It's been ages since I've slept like a baby. Please let me sleep and stay here." I mumbled in his chest.

"What do you mean by that statement? Is everything okay?" he asked with worry evident in his voice.

Uh oh.

"Of course. With the university and all, it was rare to get this good of a sleep." I replied and placed my hand on his mouth to keep him from talking more.

He pulled me impossibly closer to him and removed my hand before burying his face in my hair. And we both fell asleep once again.

***

The next time when I woke up, however, the bed was empty and cold with a note neatly placed on his side of the bed.

There has been a kidnap attempt on Selena. Thankfully, she was saved by the guards but is in a pretty bad shape. They hit her. I've to be there with her. See you, tomorrow. Take care.

-A

A strong wave of pain hit my insides but I ignored it and picked up my phone to call home and ask about Selena.

"Hey dad, what happened to Selena?" I asked as soon as dad picked up the call.

"We're not sure who it is, kiddo. But we're trying our level best to find out. Zanvil is this close to losing his shit since somebody tried to harm his babygirl but we're all thankful that she's safe, save for the few bruises and scratches." he explained.

"Oh. Did she try to fight?" I inquired.

"Mm hmm. But as you know she hasn't learned much so it was a futile attempt." he told.

"Let me know when she's able to talk. I'll call again. Take care, you guys." I said.

"Sure. You, too." he replied and ended the call.

I sighed loudly and checked the time to see that its one in the noon and hopped out of the bed.

I showered, brushed my teeth and changed into a mustard colored babydoll cotton dress with a brown crossbag and white converse before heading out.

Today, we were going to hang out with our whole group. I haven't been able to see much of Xavier and Ross since a month and I missed them dearly so we made a plan to catch up. If Adrian was here, I would've just let him tag along.

Getting in my car, I drove towards Xavier and Ross's house. Yes, they were an item and had recently bought a small, cute house together.

Nobody knows except Xavier and I that Ross was also a part of our mafia. At first, he was sent to protect me but we became friends in no time and formed our small group.

When I reached there, I saw Liam's car already parked in the driveway and got out. I climbed up the porch steps and rang the doorbell.

There house was built perfectly in a hut shaped style painted in red and white. The door opened revealing Ross and he immediately pulled me in for a hug.

"We've missed you terribly, pumpkin." he mumbled in my hair.

"I missed you too, strawberry." I replied and ruffled his hair.

He pulled back and pouted making me laugh. We had a weird habit of calling each other by random fruit and vegetables' names.

I met the rest of the crew and we put on 'Twilight' before settling on one couch with popcorns and sodas.

It was almost almost eight when we finished all the parts and decided to grab dinner.

We settled for Italian food and went out to one of the best Italian restaurants in New York.

"When are you leaving?" Talia asked.

"Tomorrow morning." I replied taking a sip of my red wine.

"That's so soon." Xavier complained.

"I know but I told you guys that I have a few things to take care of." I replied with an apologetic smile.

Liam's phone rang and he picked up. Soon, a worried expression took over his features and Talia grabbed his hand in concern.

"I'll be there, soon." he sighed and hung up.

"What's wrong?" we simultaneously asked.

"It's my dad. He broke out of the prison and my mom is scared shitless. I've to be home." he told.

"I'm so sorry. You should go." I said.

"I'm sorry I've to cut this short but I'll see when... I see you." he spoke sadly and got up.

"I'll come with. You guys carry on." Talia said standing up.

"Yes, don't ruin the night." Liam said when we insisted on coming along and they both hugged me before leaving.

"If it was in my control, I would've killed his asshole of a father a long time ago." Ross spoke through gritted teeth.

"Me, too." I replied.

Liam's dad was a drunkard who used to beat his wife every night for no reason. When he started beating a ten year old Liam, too, that's when Melody, his mother, got her husband arrested.

We finished our food and left the restaurant.

"Let's grab ice cream before heading home." Ross suggested.

We agreed and walked to an ice cream parlour nearby.

I got my mint chocolate chip and they both got their favorite coffee flavored ice cream and we started walking on the pavement reminiscing old days.

We were laughing when a black SUV came out of nowhere and shot at Ross. I, instantly, took my gun out and shot at the back two tires.

The SUV drifted to one side of the road crashed in a wall.

"Xavier." I shouted.

He was standing there still in shock as to what has happened in only a matter of seconds.

"Look at Ross." I shouted again and that seemed to snap out of his trance and rush towards his boyfriend who was bleeding on the floor.

Two men came stumbling out of the SUV and I shot one in the brain twice and the other tried to shoot at me but he missed. I tried to shoot again but he was quick and shot at the gun in my hand which fell on the ground. I hissed as I felt the bullet graze my palm but I couldn't care less.

He hurt my family.

I lunged forward and knocked the gun out of his hand and slid it away with my feet.

"How fucking dare you?!" I shouted and landed a punch on his jaw.

"It wasn't meant for him." he coughed out.

I drew my knee up and hit him in his balls. He screamed in pain and fell to the ground clutching his balls tightly. I kicked his stomach twice and reached out for his gun.

He kicked my leg and I fell on the ground, hitting the side of my head on the concrete. My knees scraped against the road and I inhaled sharply when I felt a warm liquid trickling down my face and grabbed his gun before turning around and shooting his knee caps and left shoulder.

His body fell backwards with a loud thud and I sat up feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me. I stood up and hit his head with the barrel of gun to knock him out.

"SYLVIA." Xavier screamed and I turned around only to find his tear stained face.

I ran towards them and fell on my knees ignoring the excruciating pain.

My heart stopped when I saw Ross's pale face.

He was shot directly in the chest. His eyes were barely open and his face was losing all the color.

"Ross, stay with us. I'll take you to the hospital immediately." I spoke to him and he grabbed my hand.

He shook his head in negative and pulled me closer.

"I won't survive this one." he whispered weakly in my ear.

"No, no. Of course, you will. Xavier pick him up and we'll take him to the hospital." I  shouted.

Xavier didn't budge. One look at his face and I knew, he knew we didn't have any time.

"Don't fucking give up." I yelled at him.

He looked at me with nothing but pure sadness and pain.

"Don't fool yourself." he whispered and gulped audibly.

I looked at him in shock and anger.

Ross squeezed our hands one last time before succumbing to darkness and closing his eyes. I looked at his face and my breath hitched.

He wasn't breathing.

"Ross." I whispered.

My breathing became heavy and my body started shaking violently. I could feel the blood rushing to my face and hear my heartbeat loudly in my ears.

No.

"SYLVIA." I heard someone scream my name but I was too busy looking at my best friend's lifeless body.

Someone tried to shake me but I could only focus on the black dots that has made an appearance in front of my eyes, yet again.

"Don't do this to me, Sylvia. Please, snap out of it. I'm here." a familiar voice spoke in the background and as if a switch was flipped inside of me.

I blinked twice and my vision cleared. My pulse rate returned to its normal pace and everything resumed. I could see Xavier kneeling in front of me with his hands wrapped around my shoulders.

"Stay with me, please." he begged.

I swallowed the painful lump in my throat upon seeing his devastated expressions.

"I'm so sorry." I choked out and he hugged me tightly for a solid minute before pulling away.

"Let's get out of here before somebody comes." he spoke after composing himself and we got up.

He picked Ross's body up, effortlessly and I dragged the knocked out man along and hid them in an alley until I came with my car after five minutes and we went to my place.

"Inform his family in Italy and I'll let our friends know tomorrow morning." I spoke quietly.

I grabbed my packed suitcase and called the pilot to prepare the jet.

When we reached the airport, the security was shocked to see the state I was in and also the dead body that was secured in Xavier's arm.

"There's a man in the backseat of my car. Make sure he stays asleep throughout the plane ride." I instructed Lorenzo, the head of the security and he nodded.

"Speak a word to somebody about it and you're dead." I warned them all and settled on a seat beside the window.

Xavier laid Ross's body on the couch before coming to sit opposite to me.

"Who were they?" he asked.

"I'll find out and when I do, I'll make sure that you're there." I replied coldly.

The hurt and coldness in his eyes resembled mine and I was satisfied. It will make our vengeance, easy.

Because I will avenge my best friend in the worst way possible.

An eye for an eye.

Upon landing in Florence, I was greeted with a driver and more security. Lorenzo put the unknown man in of the SUVs before he joined us in another one.

"I am sorry for your loss, signora." Lorenzo sympathised and turned his head back to look ahead.

Xavier and I remained quiet but his grip on my hand tightened to a point where it hurt. The bleeding had stopped long ago and the bruises and scratches don't hurt as much as my heart.

I squeezed Xavier's hand in reassurance and looked out the window.

We arrived a the estate house twenty five minutes later and saw Mariano, zio Xander and Paul and dad waiting for us outside.

I just told them that I'm coming. No else information was exchanged.

Everyone's eyes widened as they saw me getting out of the car. My bloodied face, crumpled dress and scraped knees was bound to elicit that reaction.

"Oh my God, babygirl, what happened to you?" dad asked as he started to step forward but his eyes darted over my shoulder and he stopped in his tracks.

"Cazzo." zio cursed as he looked at the dead body that was being taken inside the house with Xavier trailing behind quietly.

He didn't want to let go.

My hands balled into fists at my sides as I looked at his helpless face.

Warmth enveloped me as dad hugged me close to his body.

I pushed him away gently and he looked at my blank face.

"I'm so sorry for your loss but you have to tell us what happened, babygirl." dad asked.

"I was supposed to be dead. Not him. They came after me, not him." I whispered hoarsely.

"Don't say like that, cara." zio Paul said with a pained expression.

"Why zio? He was somebody's son, too." I said looking at him.

"Let's get you inside." dad said and draped a hand over my shoulder, breaking the tension in the atmosphere.

"How's Selena?" I asked.

"She's fine now. She was discharged last night. They said it was a panic attack." dad informed.

Mariano took my other hand and led me inside to the living room. Zio Paul stitched up my forehead and cleaned my knee caps before wrapping them in a thin gauze. He stitched up the torn skin of my hand, too.

"Oh Lord, what happened to my child?" Angelina gasped as she saw me.

I sat there, numb, wanting somebody else to speak for me this time since I was too drained to even say a word.

They all started talking in hushed voices when zio Xander came to sit beside me.

"I know that look in your eyes. I have seen it in your zia's eyes when she talked about her family. Your father was there to help her and so as your mother. Don't fall too deep. Let somebody be your light and be light for your friends for they share your grief, too." he said quietly and kissed my temple before standing up and joining the conversation.

I stood up, robotically, and turned in the direction of the infirmary where my best friends were.

Although, I've spent a tad bit more time with Liam and Talia but that didn't mean Xavier and Ross were any less. I loved them equally. They were family.

I, quietly, sat beside Xavier who was seated on a couch and his eyes were fixed on Ross's now head to toe covered body.

He spared me a glance for a brief second before stretching his body on the couch and resting his head on my lap.

I started to comb my fingers through his hair and he let out a first choked sob which was followed by a thousand more, probably.

With every sob, my heart wrenched inside my chest. I, somehow, felt like it was my fault.

The guy clearly said it wasn't meant for Ross.

So I sat there all night, wallowing in self pity, anger and hatred while Xavier fell asleep after a couple of hours.

My eyelids became heavy as I heard Xavier's steady breathing and I shut them close, eventually.

***

"Sylvia." somebody shook me awake and I opened my eyes before rubbing them.

Dad was looming over me with concern etched on his face.

"His family has arrived from Milan. Its time for the funeral. You should go and change. Xavier has already been taken care of." he spoke.

My eyes darted to my lap first and then the empty hospital bed.

I nodded, wordlessly, and walked out. Dad drove me home and I showered after meeting mom and Aless. Changing into a knee length, full sleeved black dress, I wore my black heels and neatly secured my hair in a high ponytail.

We piled up in the limo and headed towards the cemetery where the funeral was held. Mom tried to talk to me but I kept looking outside while Aless's hand was placed above mine.

The images of last night were still crystal clear and playing in my head like a broken record. I remembered how his pale blue eyes stared at me as the last breath left his body and he gave into the darkness.

He looked content. As if he had lived his life to the fullest and didn't regret dying.

I grabbed a water bottle and drank two sips from it to swallow the unwelcomed, painful lump in my throat.

Ross was a part of the clan meaning all the mafia family would be present for a final goodbye, irrespective of the rank.

The cemetery was heavily guarded with men dressed in the typical security uniforms. My heart was pounding against my ribcage as I put my right foot forward to step inside.

As if they all knew, I was here, they all turned in our direction but I kept my gaze on only person.

Matilda DiViao.

Ross's mother.

She was staring right back at me with tears pouring down her cheeks and sheer pain swimming in her eyes. On her one side stood, her husband and on the other, Xavier.

Every mafia family was present to honor the deceased. It has always been like that.

As soon as I was in her reach, she pulled me in for a hug and cried her heart out on my shoulder while I patted her back to offer her some comfort.

After all, Ross was her only child.

The ceremony began and his parents gave a small speech about him. Xavier was next but he couldn't say much.

My name was called and every head snapped towards me. I just shook my head in negative and looked away.

I felt like I'm mute. But then mute people have a lot to say yet I didn't. I couldn't speak even if I wanted to. So I stayed quiet while everybody said one last goodbye and he was gone under the ground.

Everybody left for the tea and cakes at Estate house while I stayed behind.

With a rose in my hand.

Which dad handed me.

I, courageously, took a step forward towards his grave and dropped the flower on the ground couple of feet away from his grave.

"You hated flowers." I whispered.

My throat hurt when I spoke. It felt as dry as a desert.

"I'm sorry." I whispered quietly and turned around only to collide with a hard chest.

I stepped back and looked up to see Adrian standing there, dressed in a black three piece suit and matching tie.

"The funeral is over. You can join the rest at the estate house for tea and cakes." I spoke monotonously.

"I am well aware of that. I was present throughout." he replied.

My eyebrows knitted at the information. I didn't notice him.

Again.

I cleared my throat and nodded stiffly before side stepping him to leave.

He grabbed my elbow and stopped me, "I'm sorry for your loss." he spoke quietly.

I was staring into space and even though I heard what he was saying, I didn't feel like responding.

So I placed my free hand above his and removed his tight grip before leaving.

Losses are to mourn the dead, not to feel sorry for someone who's alive.

Or maybe I was just saying it because I wasn't in the right state of my mind.

"Sylvia, come home with me." he persisted following me out.

I shook my head, "I wish to be alone." 

"Let me drive you back, please tesoro." he nearly pleaded but held himself back.

I shook my head again and kept walking. Eventually, he'll get tired and walk away. He's got important things to look after.

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