Mixed Feelings (book 1) - Chapter 33：His Past

“Ok, Let’s meet then,” Antia replied,

“Ok,” I answered.

She decided the place and time, I agreed and went to bed.

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Next day I woke up and did my morning duties, I made my breakfast and had it. I took my car keys and drove to my college, I was majoring in both English and creative writing.

I had made a couple of friends here in my college Morgan, Rachel and her boyfriend Jackson and Thimothy along with Aron, Beth, and Zach.

*********

“Morgan, I already said to Beth that I’m not coming,” I said, irritated by that question.

“Please Ness everyone is coming except you, don’t do this to us” she used her dramatic side again, I glanced her and sighed.”You are not going to leave until I agree to come?” I asked shaking my head, she giggled “Nope”, “Fine,” I said irritated by it.

She jumped and hugged me “Thank you,” She said smiling,

“Ok. Ok, “I said.

We walked to our classes although she was majoring in law we shared the core curriculum which was a compulsion for all students.

We walked inside and sat beside Aron, Beth, and Zach. Later, Rachel and Jackson with Timothy. They sat beside us, and we were chatting with each other, The professor entered the class and soon we were drowning in course work. In the middle of the lecture, Aron passed a piece of paper.

Coming to the party, this Saturday?

I scribbled my answer and passed the paper back to him.

I heard him chuckling.

I have to thank Morgan later.

I turned and shot a deadly glared at him.

Over past days, since we became friends Aron and I grew a strong bond and extremely close to each other. He was always there for me in those dark days; he never pressurized me to tell what happened between Enzo and me, he used to understand me.

At the end of the class, we went to the cafe, Aron and Timothy brought us coffee we sat on a slightly secluded table, and I opened one book to study a little for the next class.

“You look happy,” Said Beth to Morgan, I looked at Morgan.

“It’s Jax,” she said with a smile in her face, “we are going on a date” Jax is a model and Morgan’s boyfriend, they’ve been together for a week now.

“Oh…” Everyone said at once which made her blush, we laughed watching her blushing.

Suddenly, Enzo came into my mind and I stopped smiling, I miss him. I miss our movements with each other.

Aron noticed me and put his hand on mine squeezing it lightly, I glanced at him and smiled he smiled back.

After college, I called Rose manager of the cafe where I work, said to her that I couldn’t come because of some emergency. She said okay, and I went home, I got ready to meet Antia.

I reached the cafe and parked my car in the parking lot, I stepped outside and walked inside the cafe. I can see Antia on a table near the window in the middle, typing something on her phone. I walked there, she noticed me and stood up from her chair and hugged me, I hugged her back.

We smiled at each other, I sat down in front of her and ordered coffee for both of us.

“It’s good to see you again Venessa, How are you?”

“I’m good how are you and Andrea and Edoardo?”

“We are good, Hows your college-going on,”

“It’s going well”

“Hm… So, What do you want to know about my brother?”

“I just want to know why he is like this, you said there was a reason behind his behavior. I want to know it, please tell me.”

She nodded and took an album from her handbag, and she placed it on the table, She pushed towards me.

“Open it.”

Hesitatingly I opened it, There was a photo of young Andera and Edoardo with 4kids, one was a boy with jet black hair and blue eyes, wearing a red t-shirt and a pair of shorts, with a girl beside him who has a cute smile on her face wearing peach color dress reaching her knees, beside her was cute little Enzo with innocent big green eyes and a big smile on his face, in a green T-shirt and a pair of brown shorts, he was so adorable, beside him was small cute Antia smiling.

I flipped the page and there were photos of Enzo with that boy and girl, he was so happy, there were photos of him and that boy in their younger versions, they both looked alike.

I flipped another one and gasped when I see the women with whom Enzo was smiling wholeheartedly, she looked like me, not exact copy her features matches mine. She has brown hair, and mine was Black. I look up to see Antia watching my reactions very carefully, “She’s my elder sister Milena and he’s my elder brother Damien.”

“She looks like me,” I whispered, touching her picture,

There was a sad smile on Antia’s face, “What happen?” I asked,

“They died,” she said sadly. It hurts me to look at her like this.

I reached her hand and squeezed it, “Can you tell me what happened to them” I asked looking at her, she slowly nodded.

“My sister Milina is kind like you, she is outgoing and a very strong woman. She was close to Enzo more than me, he loved her so much like she is his second mother, my brother Damien was very protective towards us, he loved and protected us, my father was a businessman and a mafia leader, he wanted Damien to take his position after him, but Damien wasn’t interested in that but Enzo was interested in these things, then father trained him. Enzo was a good man he never killed a soul or hurt anyone. After he had taken his father’s place in business, he became very powerful and famous, people started feeling jealous of him, his enemies used planned against him all the time and always gets defeated by Enzo. Enzo was very kind towards his staff and employees, and my father often gets worried about Enzo’s kindness towards workers and business partners. He many times tried to explain to Enzo that showing kindness to employees would lead them to take advantage of him someday but my brother never listened to my father. One day we brothers and sisters came to Italy for vacation, because of the weather we landed on Italy but not on our Island, we were in our car traveling to our home and suddenly something hit us, our bodyguards helped us and guarded us against one of the Enzo’s mafia enemies who couldn’t take his success and planned to kill us all, our men were protecting us against those men who were shooting at us, I was younger among us. My brother Damien gave me to one of our trusted men and made him hide me in a store behind a house. Our bodyguards were protecting my siblings, those men killed our bodyguards and kidnapped Damien and Milina along with Enzo, they took them to an old underground basement near our Island. They tied Enzo to a wall and beat Damien until he breathed his last breath and They raped Milena, every one of those men raped her in front of Enzo and brutally killed her in front of him. When father went there, Damien and Milena’s bodies were lying on the ground and Enzo was beaten up very badly, he was fully covered in blood, we thought we will lose him too. But he was strong, he survived.[A lone tear slipped from my eyes, listening to his past] He searched for those bastards and learned that one of his business partners took advantage of his kindness and helped my brother’s enemies in their plan so that he could ruin the business and get his money. Enzo killed him and those bastards one by one mercilessly, from then he changed into the way he is now, ruthless, merciless and cold. The good in him is gone, it is replaced by anger and hatred…[wiping her tears, she looked at me and took my hand in hers.] I think you can change him Venessa, not only me my mom and dad also think the same. That night when we saw Enzo on the floor outside of your room, we were shocked. We never saw Enzo like that, we can see how much you effect on him, he never brought anyone to us. He never displayed his affection to anyone; you can change him, you have to change him for all of us Venessa” she said squeezing my hand. I didn’t say anything, I just smiled at her.

I can’t imagine how Enzo could have felt when they killed his brother and sister in front of him, I can slowly understand why he turned into a cold and ruthless person.

“Mom dad wants you to meet them, My mom misses you, She sees my sister in you, could you please meet her in your free time.” She asked, pleading me with her eyes. I say okay, and we chatted for some time and left the cafe. I drove to my house, I parked my car in the garage and walked to my main door. I opened it and stepped inside closing it behind, I put my handbag on the couch and walked to my bedroom, I changed my clothes and tied my hair into a messy bun. I went to my kitchen started preparing my dinner, while I’m cooking I heard a knock on the door. I walked there and opened the door, there stood Enzo in a navy blue suit with his bodyguards behind him. He was looking at me in his usual serious expression, I moved aside letting him in. He walked inside and sat down on the sofa, one of his bodyguards came forward giving a file to Enzo. He took it from the bodyguard and gave it to me, I opened it. It was written that next week is our marriage. I looked at him with anger evident in my eyes, “Next week, really Enzo…I have college, and I have to submit my assignments next week, I have exams after that” I tried to remember my other excuses too But nothing came in my mind,” Why can’t we get married next…year, “I said, he has the same expression. “You are coming with me now pack your things,” he said in a serious tone, “What.No, I’m not coming with you anywhere, you can leave,” I said folding my hands with a serious expression. He stood up and slowly took a step forward, “Do not test my patience, You know very well what happens when someone disobeys me,”

I gulped, I know it very well still, I said, “I will not go anywhere with you.”

In a swift motion, he lifted me up and threw me over his shoulder. I screamed and began to beat his back.

“Enzo you idiot leave me…help somebody…He is kidnapping me…Enzo…” I was screaming and hitting his back, he opened the car door and threw me inside. I bounced on the seat, he stepped inside and sat beside me. I was hitting him on his shoulder shouting in his ear to let me go, he grabbed my hand and turned them behind my back, pulling me towards him, I raised my head, “leave my hand Enzo…” He didn’t respond, he was staring at me, “Enzo…I swear I’ll bite you if you don’t leave my hand,”

He wasn’t responding at all, that’s it. I turned and bit his neck, he hissed and quickly released my hand.”What the hell…” He said, touching his neck. I shrugged, “I told you, that I would bite you if you don’t leave me,”

He glared at me, I turned my head and stared at the building passing by, promising that, I will try my best to change you Enzo… I will do every single thing to change you I promise.