stupid shadow

Chapter 38: stupid shadow

✴Isabella Marciano✴

Somebody would need something from me one way or another. No help nor friendship comes for free in my world. I just have to be smart when it came to picking out which friend I would benefit the most.

''What kind of need to you do you need my mafia for?'' I mumbled, hiding the havoc erupting on my chest with this man's bluntness.

''My team gathered for a sole purpose, that is to eliminate an empire that's beyond the world you grew up on, Isabella'' he stated nonchalantly, standing there with his hands in his pocket. ''Have you ever heard of the Schatten?''

I felt John stiffened beside me, the horror on his face made my chest tightened. ''John?''

''How did you know about them, ragazzo?'' John's teal eyes were dilated with mixed emotions. The fear in his face was so dark that it made me squirm on my seat beside him. (boy)

Kon shrugged, ''too much information could get you killed, vecchio uomo.'' (old man)

''Don't play with me boy'' John growled, straightening up his body and wincing a little. ''I won't allow my child to go into war with that group of people. We can take back the Italian mafia on our own, we don't need your help.''

''John, Kon,'' I butted in, ''what are you two talking about?''

Kon was first to speak, ''come with me, Isabella.''

''No,'' John retorted.

''Wait'' I raised my hand to stop them from arguing again, ''tell me or I'll leave both of you. I'm not a child that would follow whatever you say. I have a mind of my own and I can decide for myself.''

Kon smirked, ''that's what I like about you, Isabella.'' he walked towards the open window, glancing outside the vast ocean as if reminiscing something from his past. ''You already knew that Damien killed my mother, Agnetha, because he was jealous of her relationship with your uncle Santi. Neither of those men is my father. I still don't know who he is, that's why I need to get inside the Marciano database in New York. It's the only stone that we haven't turned yet.''

We listened silently to him while he shook his head. ''When I was eleven, a group of people took me away from my family. Mom looked for me, Damien didn't - why would he? -'' he chuckled, ''that's why she was forced to come to Santi. Your uncle manipulated her to his will, he made a deal with my Mom to find me and Damien learned about their affair. Santi never fulfilled his end of the bargain'

'You already know this by now that he's a manipulative man. A cunning bastard.''

''What happened to you?'' I interrupted his narration. It was the only puzzle piece that's still too vague. What he said was all true, I know everything about it and I'm eager to learn what happened to him.

Standing up on my feet, I walked to where he was standing and looked at the sight where his gray eyes were fixated on. The ocean was so blue, so beautiful and its powerful waves slammed on the shore as if it wanted to destroy everything in its path.

''Schatten happened'' he whispered almost all to himself.

''It's German for shadow, right?'' I inquired calmly.

Kon nodded, ''they do experiments on children, turn them into heartless monsters that would follow their bidding.''

My hands clenched and unclenched on my side, I knew I heard that word from somewhere, but I still waited for Kon to explain everything to me.

''All of us, Crow, Falcon, Cham, and Black are from Schatten. Their memories were erased but mine is still intact,'' he continued, ''there was this last test they do like a graduation ceremony where we need to kill a certain target. The five of us wanted to escape that prison and we managed to do just that. They're on our trail since and I had to die as Konstantine Zafeiriou to get them off of our tracks.''

I let out a sour laugh, ''you used me.''

''Isabella'' he softly mumbled, ''it was never my intention to use you that way.''

I raised my hand to stop him from blabbering more lies. ''I've heard enough. Let me talk to John alone.''

''You're not the boss here, Isabella,'' Kon argued.

I faced him, stared straight into his icy gray eyes. ''If you want me to side with you. You'll treat me as your equal. I wouldn't have it any other way. You're not my boss, you don't give me commands, I'll do what I need to do and you wouldn't question it. I'm not the traitor here, you are.''

He gazed at me for a few minutes, we just stood there, seizing each other up. No one wants to bow down to the other. That would certainly not be me.

''You don't get to make decisions around here, Isabella,'' he sighed, ''everyone in our group is equal, no decision is made by just one person.''

I crossed my arms over my chest, tilting my chin up in a challenging note. ''Isabella Marciano is not one to follow rules, Kon. I'd rather die than bow down to thieves and liars like you. Leave me and John and talk to your so-called group. Tell them my conditions, take it, or leave it.''

I turned back my gaze to the ocean, that strong powerful beauty is like me. I'm the one who'll swallow them alive and not the other way around.

I don't give a fuck if Lucifer himself trained these liars, I'm not bowing down to them.

''Alright,'' Kon mumbled after a good two minutes and walked out of the room without another glance at me.

When I was sure it's safe to talk, I faced John who had a creased brow and a glint of delight in his teal eyes.

''Tell me everything about that stupid Shadow thing'' I grumbled, ''don't try to lie to me, John. What did you and Dad have to do with that group?''