Page 46 of The Bonventi Secret
I read the next entry, almost a month later, on November 2nd.
"Things have escalated beyond my worst fears. M and R came to blows today. Blood was spilled on our family's floor. Howdid we come to this? Family should stand united, not tear each other apart."
The raw emotion in the words makes my chest tighten. I can almost feel the writer's anguish, his desperation to keep his family together.
My fingers tremble as I turn to the next entry. It's only days later, on November 10th.
"M threatened to leave, to start his own family. R laughed in his face, dared him to try. The look in M's eyes, I've never seen such cold fury. This is no longer sustainable, no longer about business disagreements. God help us all."
I instinctively turn the page, as if I'm engrossed in a story and wanting to know what comes next. The next entry is stained with water droplets and smeared ink, as if written frantically or quickly. It's dated December 1st.
"The unthinkable has happened. M is gone. Not just from the family, but from this world. R claims it was a rival family, but his eyes tell me a different story. I see the guilt, the regret. He believes he did what was necessary for the family's survival. But at what cost? All our souls will burn for this. Please don't make me be next. And please God, don't let E take matters into his own hands."
I turn the page. That's it.
"What the fuck," I say quietly, and flip page after page to see if there's any more writing—it's empty.
I lean back. "What the fuck did I just read? Does E stand for Enzo?"
Damn it, I just read some serious shit and I have no idea who anyone is. I rub my temples.
"There's the author of this, V, who's Enzo's grandfather, but who's M? Who's R? And why did Enzo's grandfather's brother Marco die?"
I stash the diary back in my drawer, concealing it, and almost slam it shut out of frustration.
I do this. I get all into something, either by hobby or by academic research, and then when it doesn't immediately make sense to me, I want to burn down the fucking building out of frustration.
Gabriel used to tell me that was my only crazy side, not knowing things. Asshole was right.
Actually, I don't think he's an asshole anymore. I've rejected all his calls
and haven't spoken to him since he left me here, but like with everything else—things are starting to fall into place, and my mental outlook is shifting. Maybe it's time to answer the phone next time he calls.
I look up at the clock, 7:45 p.m. I slip back into my heels and touch myself up in front of the mirror. Something I've never done here.
I go over the questions I can slide in to ask Enzo. He's the key to understanding what I just read in the diary, so he'll help reveal his past to me whether he likes it or not.
Making some notes in my phone, I exit the library on a quest to break down the man who's supposed to become my future in just a few months.
LIVIA - 17
Ienter the dining room, my heels clicking against the marble floor before being quieted by the large rug. My eyes find Enzo immediately, and a smile spreads across my face before I can stop it. His reaction is instantaneous—his eyes widen, lips parting slightly as he takes me in.
He's dressed impeccably, as always, in a dark suit and tie, but there's something different about him tonight, a subtle softness in his expression as his eyes land on me.
I can practically see the gears turning in his head, processing this new side of me. "Livia," he says, his voice low and smooth. "You look stunning."
I feel a warmth spread through me at his words. "Thank you," I say, my voice soft. "I found it in the closet upstairs."
Enzo's eyebrows raise. "And heels? Wow. I'm impressed." He walks toward me, his movements fluid. My heart rate picks up as he gets closer.
Before I can respond, he reaches out and gently cups my cheek, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone. The casual, intimategesture sends fire through me. "You look beautiful, cara mia," he whispers, then leans in and places a soft kiss on my cheek, “But then again, you always do.”
I'm caught off guard by the gesture, my skin tingling where his lips touched me, and I stare at him, my heart pounding.
We stare at each other for a moment, and I feel the looks in his eyes. Antonio enters the room and alters the energy.
"Shall we sit?" Enzo asks, pointing to my chair.
