The Mafia’s Endgame

| 14 | Familiarity.

Emeliana clutches the chair in front of her carefully, unable to sit still as she stares out the window of the car. Oro, together with their other car, drives on either side of the fleeing car, pinning the car in the middle and trying to force it to a stop. All three cars are driving at maximum speed.

“Luca…” Emeliana calls out with a shaky voice, fearful that she will either injure her brothers in the car or they might crash in the process of trying to stop the vehicle.

“They’re not stopping…” Luca lets out as he glances over at the side of the car that is pinned against them. Luca then winds down the window and points his gun at the glass, firing it a few times without warning and watching as the bullets barely c***k the bulletproofed glass, making him huff in frustration for not being able to break the glass.

“Watch out!” Emeliana then screams as she points her finger forward and pulls everyone’s attention to the truck speeding towards them, and sounding its horn as hard as they can. Oro then swerves to the side of the road, driving across the sidewalk as the other vehicle moves to the side as well, but not without rearing the back of the van and causing it to spin out of control on the road. They listen as the tyres screech in front of them and before they know it, they watch as the van they are chasing eventually loses control and flips onto its side, flipping on the road a few times before it slides across the tarmac, the metal screeching again the road silencing everyone in the car as they watch the car suddenly come to a stop.

Emeliana is frozen in fear, tears now filling her eyes as she watches the car lose control, fearing how injured her brothers could be if they are indeed inside the car.

“Stop the car!” Emeliana immediately shouts as soon as her mind can register what has just happened. Oro does as she has ordered and brings the car to a swift stop in front of the wrecked van. As soon as she feels the car slow down, she opens the car door and climbs out before the car comes to a complete stop, sprinting over to the car without warning.

“Emeliana!” She hears Luca’s voice call after her as she rushes towards the car, just as she notices the other car also come to a stop, the people inside soon piling out and making their way over to them as well, gun in arms and being prepared for whatever they are going to find when they open up the van…

Emeliana then rushes to the back of the van and struggles to open the back, the handle of the door being too damaged to open properly, and once she realises it she looks around for the people closest to her, the armed men that came out of the second car.

“Help me open the door!” Emeliana shouts as she struggles to wedge the door, just as two men step forward and begin forcing the door open. Luca, finally reaches Emeliana, looking down at her carefully, both of their attention returning to the men trying to open the door.

Finally, they get the doors open, immediately pointing their guns at whoever may be inside, but they soon relax once they see that there is nothing they need to be afraid of, instead, they step away and all turn to look at Emeliana.

A frown rests on Emeliana’s face as she takes a few steps forward, looking into the van in confusion as she carefully analyses the two people in the can. They both have their heads covered with a black cloth and they have been strapped into their seats, hanging off the roof of the car, none of them moving a muscle, both of them completely silent…

“G-get them out…” Emeliana orders with a shaky voice just as the two men put their guns away and move into the van, carefully taking the two boys out of the van without injuring them since they are uncertain of any injuries they may have sustained. The men carefully take the boys out of the van, just as two more move towards them to assist, holding up the boys so that Emeliana may have a look at them.

“Are they…” Emeliana is too afraid to finish her sentence, stepping closer to them and fearing whether it may not be her brothers, or if they are even alive.

“They’re breathing…” One of the men answers just as Emeliana nods her head a few times before she moves first to the one bigger in size, bringing a shaky hand to the cloth that covers his face and slowly slipping it off his head. Emeliana chokes up as she covers her mouth to suppress a cry, tears automatically filling her eyes as she recognises the person underneath…

Her twin…

“Emelio…” She breathes out as she quickly moves towards him, tears now streaming down her face as she stares at her brother, noticing that his face is slightly bruised up and he is completely unconscious. Emeliana then turns her attention to the other boy and slowly takes off the cloth covering his head as well, completely breaking down once she sees who is underneath it as well…

“Franky…” She says as she stares at her little brother’s face, delicately placing her hand on his face.

It’s… it’s them… it’s her brothers.

“Take them to the car… they need help immediately…” Emeliana says with a shaky voice as she quickly tries to wipe her tears but that doesn’t stop them from falling.

“Move out…” Oro orders everyone, seeing how relieved everyone is that their mission has been successful and slightly distracted to have the Delassaro boys back and safe.

Emeliana watches them carry her brothers away just as she turns to stare up at Luca, finding a relieved expression on his face as well.

“We found them…” She says and as she looks at him she can no longer remain strong. She has been trying to all this time for the sake of her family… but right now, she just feels extremely vulnerable…

As soon as Luca sees how much Emeliana is tearing up, he quickly moves towards her and embraces her carefully, resting his chin on the top of her head as she tries to suppress a cry against his chest.

“Come on, let’s go home…” Luca whispers to her, pulling away from her and holding her face in his hands, just as she takes in a deep breath and begins nodding her head in response.

“Okay…” She mumbles, sniffling quietly just as the two of them begin walking back to the car. They both pass by the side of the driver and notice a detached arm and disfigured body part peaking from the broken windshield, and as soon as Emeliana notices it, she quickly looks away just as Luca carefully steps to her side to protect her from the gruesome sight…

Blood was spilt today, whether innocent or not, they are unsure at this point. But this is the price of war, and Emeliana knew from the start she was determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to get her brothers back…