Enzo blinks twice, taken aback by my comment, but he continues. "The orgies were but a small part. The Lastras were infamous ten years ago. Marcello and his father were always together, engaging in the worst, most debasing practices." Enzo pretends to spit to emphasize just how disgusting he finds those practices.
"I see." I turn to my coffee once more, not knowing how to answer. The man I know and the man he's describing are two different people. But that's the whole point, isn't it? He's a two-faced mafioso.
"Why did you call me here, Lina? And be honest. I can see that something's eating at you."
"I've been getting some harassing messages. At first it was letters and then they started showing up on my computer too."
"What does Lastra say about that?"
"I didn't tell him."
"Lina..." Enzo groans, slapping his hand over his forehead. "Why would you not tell your husband? I only agreed to the match because he was supposed to keep you safe."
"Because the messages are about him." I whisper, finally getting to the real reason I'd called him here.
"What do you mean?"
"The messages keep saying he's Claudia's father." I recount from the beginning, what each message had contained, and then my ever-increasing doubts, and my observations.
"So your evidence so far is that they have the same hair, allergy and blood type?" He's pensive as he asks, and I just nod.
"It's not exactly evidence. That would imply I already believe he is guilty. I just can't help being paranoid. I keep looking at every single thing they have in common and I have these doubts..."
Enzo is silent, his jaw locked tight.
"It's crazy, right? It's too crazy to even contemplate." I shake my head. I just want Enzo to tell me I'm seeing too much into this. I want him to confirm that I am going off the deep end.
"I don't know if it's too crazy."
My head snaps in his direction, my eyes wide.
"What do you mean?" I ask, almost horrified.
"Lina, I told you he wasn't a good man. The Marcello I knew... the Marcello everyone knew was a monster. Fuck! I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for agreeing to this marriage." He presses his fingers to his temples in a light massage.
"What do you mean by monster?" My words are a mere whisper.
"Every bad thing you could think of, he was guilty of." He says with a sigh.
"But it's just rumors, right? You can't know for sure."
"Lina, there was a time that absolutely no one dared to go against the Lastras. Everyone who wronged them ended up dead – killed in the worst manners possible. When his father died and Marcello went missing, no one mourned them. Like a stain in the five families' history, they were promptly forgotten."
"But... that doesn't mean he'd do something like that to me." I try to explain to him, but even to my ears it sounds fake. "He wanted to marry me, right? Why would he...?"
Enzo places a cigarette in his mouth and lights it up. He inhales a few times before blowing a cloud of smoke. He shrugs.
"I'm not saying that he did it. I'm only saying he's capable of doing it."
His casual manner doesn't help with my already increasing panic. No, I'm sure Marcello wouldn't do that. I know him, don't I? I know how gentle and how kind he is. How could such a person... I shake my head, not even wanting to go there.
"If you're so preoccupied by what a stranger said, you can always do a DNA test to confirm your doubts."
"That would mean I strongly suspect him."
"No, that would mean you get a result, confirm it's not him, as you clearly believe, and then move on. You're so stressed right now about the possibility that it might be him you can barely function." Enzo aptly points out everything I'd been thinking about, and I have to agree with his line of reasoning.
"You're right. I don't think it's him. But I'll do it just to be sure."
"Good. I'll take care of it. You just need to collect some hair samples from Claudia and your husband. I'll have someone drop by to pick them up."
"I'm scared." I admit for the first time.
"Lina, as much as I don't like your husband, if you believe he didn't do it then I trust your judgement. It is possible someone is just trying to drive a wedge between to two of you."
"I've thought about that. But I'm still..."
"You need to be certain. I can respect that. I'll make sure you have the results as soon as possible."
MY HANDS TIGHTEN OVER the unopened envelope. Enzo had sent one of his men to deliver it to me. It had taken less time than I'd imagined, less than a week.
But now I face the biggest decision. Open it and find out the truth, or discard it, forget about the entire thing, and trust my husband. It doesn't help that Marcello and I are closer than ever. Last night he'd gotten one of his night terrors, and I'd comforted him throughout the night as he'd shared some things about his monster of a father.
So many pieces just don't fit in this story, and it's making me more confused than ever. With a sigh, I put the envelope in a drawer.
I'll do it later.
Maybe I'm afraid of what I'm going to find out... I shake my head, telling myself there's only one likely outcome, and that is a negative result.
Pushing it out of my mind, I leave my room and head downstairs. The girls are in the drawing room as usual, playing a game. Even though there is a five-year difference between them, Claudia and Venezia have quickly become best friends. Sisi is present too, sitting in the far corner of the room, book in hand.
"So you've decided to join civilization again?" I joke as I take a seat next to her.
Sisi looks up at me, a guilty smile playing on her lips.
"I know I haven't been around much. I've been trying to find myself." She sighs. "It's weird being free to do whatever I want for the first time."
"I know what you mean. But tell me, does that include a certain Guerra boy?" She lowers her head, and I can spot a blush. So that's how it is.
"We're friends. I think we understand each other. Tell me about you and Marcello." She turns towards me, changing the subject.
"We're good." I confess. "More than good. He's wonderful." Sisi's eyes widen for a second before she bursts out laughing.
I frown, not understanding her outburst.
"So I'm wonderful." Marcello's amused voice echoes from behind me. I whip my head around, and there he is, smirking.
"You shouldn't eavesdrop." I raise an eyebrow at him.
"How can I not when I hear gems like this?" His lips curl up. "Lina, can I see you for a moment?" I nod, and he takes me back to the room.
In the center of the bed is a big white rectangular box.
"What's this?"
"Open it."
I lift the top off to reveal a white dress – a wedding dress.
"What... What is this for?" I stammer as I unfold the dress. I'm shocked as I stare at the most beautiful dress I've ever seen.
"I've been working on a little something for you. I know you didn't get your fairytale wedding, and I'd like to remedy that." His expression is hopeful, and my chest tightens with emotion.