Page 31 of The Cute Psycho

Lina, on the other hand, is horrified. Because whoever's done thismust know she killed Father Guerra. In fact, a message written in blood confirms it.

We don't linger outside more than we have to, and once we're back in the room, Lina starts talking.

"They know... and they're coming for me," she says, terrified. She proceeds to recount that both our families are in fact deeply involved with the mob. I listen in shock as she tells me about the five families and how they are all involved in illegal businesses, a fact which makes them extremely dangerous.

"I may have limited knowledge about the mob," she takes a deep breath, "but I know most live by one principle—retribution. His family will want justice for what I've done to him."

I don't speak for a long time. Mostly because I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around everything.

That means Valentino... and now Marcello are mafia bosses.

"I need to call Enzo, tell him everything," Lina says suddenly, getting up and taking out her phone.

While she's talking to her brother, I take a moment to digest everything she's just told me.

It's in my veins... this evil.

7

SISI

Fearing for her safety and that of her daughter, Lina decides to leave the convent and move in with her brother.

"I'm so sorry, Sisi," she whispers in my ear as she gives me one last hug.

"Don't! You need to think about Claudia." I try to reassure her, even though I have no idea how I'm going to survive this place without her.

I'd known from the beginning that she would leave at some point. But now that the moment has come, I find myself terrified at the prospect of being alone.

"Take this," she hands me her phone. "It has data, and you can call me any time."

"Lina..." I trail off, blinking rapidly to avoid crying.

"We'll see each other soon. I'm sure of that." She gives me one last smile before turning to go.

I say goodbye to Claudia too, and I can see the confusion in her eyes. Poor baby, she has no idea what's happening.

"We'll meet again," I whisper in her hair as I squeeze her in my arms.

Then... they're gone.

It takes me a while to get back to my previous rhythm, but their absence is like a gaping wound. During the day, I go about my work, but during the night, it's the worst. The deafening silence of the room is stifling, and I can barely fall asleep.

I miss hearing them breathe.

Even if we didn't talk, I knew they were there.

Now... It's just me.

The convent is trying to move past the Father Guerra incident, even though the nuns have become more and more inclined to believe in the occult. The number of ghost stories circulating around, or the fact that Father Guerra may have been the undead, would be funny if not for the fact that I have to return to an empty room at night.

I pride myself on being the type of person who doesn't have those sorts of fanciful notions. But late at night, even the smallest sounds, like the floor creaking, make me alert and on my guard.

"Damn it," I mutter to myself as I trudge my way back to the room after a full day of work. My muscles are aching, and my eyes are closing.

Already paranoid, I make sure to lock the door before changing my clothes and getting in bed. I'm fading in and out of sleep when the phone buzzes next to me.

Thinking it might be Lina, I quickly grab it and open it. There's one unread message. Frowning, I squint at the text, confused.

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