Barely conscious, Carmi's vision swam in and out of focus. Two shadows stepped through the haze and through the loud sound – familiar, but impossible to place.
Marco burst through the door, his face bathed in rage, fury carved in its every line on him as he saw Carmi laying there, helpless. Behind him followed his little cousin – Dave, silent and on a mission, carrying a steel bat like third leg.
As they walked in, unexpectant of any company, everyone froze, Carmi laying there with her clothes almost completely torn off, her consciousness barely registering. Marco grabbed the first bottle he could find and smashed it over the head of one of the men, knocking him out completely.
Before the others could reach inside their jackets, Marco and Dave had already covered ground, his bottle shattered over the nearest head. Dave followed with brutal precision and no plan for good, swinging his bat like it was a gospel.
It took them nothing to incapacitate them leaving just one conscious, the one who seemed like the leader, he had his hands on Carmi, so there was little he could say to save himself…
Marco took off his coat and covered Carmi who was laying on the lounge couch half naked, while the scared thug gathered himself on the floor, he had been struck with a heavy punch, he could barely feel one side of his face.
"what's your name," Dave asked him.
"Wolf,' he muttered through his busted lip,
Dave snorted. "Wolf? With a whimper like that, you're barely a broken dog." He sarcastically remarked.
Marco, without saying a word picked Carmella up and headed for his car. Leaving Dave behind to clean up.
Time flew by as he drove to his home with Carmi in the back seat of his car, the family's doctor came in just moments after he had gotten home and covered her up.
"She was drugged, nothing strong, she should be fine, with a little rest of course." The doctor said to Marco after setting up an IV stream for her and setting aside medication for the cuts on her hands.
"Thank you" Marco said as he waved the doctor goodbye, just then Dave drove in with half a smile and obviously something to say.
They stood a few fts across from where Carmi laid, "I trust you had a fruitful talk with our man, Wolf." Marco asked.
"Yeah, he didn't know much. She was drugged, he and his crew were asked to make her disappearance and make it look like an accident."
"Still doesn't explain why she's half naked," Marco chipped.
"Yeah, about that, they figured they could have some fun since they were going to kill her anyways."
"What'd you do after the talk?" he asked
"Broke a couple of bones, the usual. I also figured I could have some fun while I'm at it," Dave replied.
As they spoke, a long shaky breath escaped from across them, it was Carmi.
A cold jolt of sweat had pulled her awake, her limbs were trembling, the ceiling above her spun in slow motion, her throat – dry as ash. She gasped, not for the pain but because of the memories she just woke up to.
But she couldn't find anyone on her. I'm alive, I'm okay – she thought to herself as she looked around, Marco and Dave were both looking her way.
"Marco?" she croaked, barely making a whisper, but it filled the space like a scream.
She tried to sit up, wincing. He was beside her in a heartbeat, his hand gently catching her shoulders.
"Easy," he murmured. "You're safe now, Carmi. No hospital. Just me, just my house."
Tears soaked her eyes, half relief, half anger.
Dave, took a hint and walked out of the room.
And her tears fell silently as she curled up in Marco's arms, what terrified her was what would've been if Marco didn't come back for her.
Moments went by, she let out all the tears she could and when she could finally pull herself together, all they did was sit in the silence, it was all they could do.
"Let's go for a drive, maybe get something to eat while we're at it," he suggested.
"Sure, that's fine. If only I can find what to wear." She responded.
He stood up and helped her to her feet, then led her to a room next to his, "there should be something in her that fits you." He said as he led her in.
"Thank you" she said to his departing figure.
Not long after, she was done and they set out on their drive, it was long and quiet till they got some food and Marco headed for a quiet hill with a view of the city.
"What now?" Marco asked as they ate on the hood of the car looking down on the city.
She took a minute before saying anything, she had no idea what to do next. "I don't know, I don't know how to be back at that house, especially as his wife."
He let out a long sigh and said, "going back, is not an option, you must. It's what you're going back to do that'll make the difference."
"But first, you need to answer the question honestly, what do you want?" he added.
"I don't know!" she yelled a little, "I don't know, all of this have been overwhelming, everything is happening so fast, it's all going wrong so quickly… I don't know what to do." She added, her voice low and calm, she couldn't look him in the eye, she didn't mean to yell.
"I get you! Its fine, you can take all the time you need Carmi"
"Why? Why are you helping me. I know you hate me, so why go all this way to help me." She asked out of nowhere.
Marco set his drink down, looked at her, and sat there in silence, for a while.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say all that" she said, breaking the silence.
"It's fine Carmi, I understand. But I don't need a reason to help. I care about you and it is the right thing to do, that should be enough."
"Thank you!" she said sniffing her nose and tucking her hair back. "While we're being honest, I saw this on my way out." She said, handing him a recorder.
"It had my father's name on it, so I thought I'd sneak a listen when I'm alone. I'm sorry." She added.
Marco scuffed and pushed it back towards her, "I was going to give it to you when you feel better, but since its here now, you should listen to it. It is about your father."
They sat there as she chose to listen, he said nothing, just sat there as he lips parted in disbelief, pain, and grief.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing, the words sank in like stones to the bottom of her belly. She didn't cry right away, first came the numbness, a shortness of breath, then a silent tear slipped down her cheek. Then another, and another after that. And when the flood came, her body could do nothing to let it stop.
"I'm sorry, Carmi," was all he could bring himself to say.
With a shaky breath, she whispered, "Let's go back to the house."
The drive back was long and quiet, it gave her time to pull herself together – she had just learnt from a recorded conversation between Devon and Anton, that they were responsible for the death of her father, and her marriage to Devon was just a long con. She had never wanted someone dead so badly.
When Marco pulled in to the house she quickly went down and before shutting her door, she turned back to him and spoke, but while she spoke, he couldn't help his smile, it was exactly what he wanted, a war with the Moretti house.
"Revenge," she quietly said – then louder. "I want them to pay, I want them to choke on their own blood like my father did, and I will do anything to make that happen, anything."