“Cu è surdu, orbu e taci, campa cent'anni 'mpaci,” the Italian man says. “He who is deaf, blind and silent will live a hundred years in peace. I become a brother of the Circle of Shadows this day forward, pleading my allegiance to the order. A pact between Russia and Italia."
I watch then suddenly those arms I waited for to take me comes for me. And I can’t breathe.
Everything fades to the darkness.
“Isabella…” someone is calling me but they sound far away. “Isabella, wake up Bellezza. It’s just a nightmare, come back to me.”
It’s Tristan.
His voice pierces through the darkness like a light and I follow it. I open my eyes and see him.
I start coughing and run my hand through my hair which is matted with sweat. I’m drenched in it.
He sits me up in the bed and switches on the light, then grabs a cup of water.
I down it and need more. He gets me more and it’s only with that second glass that I feel better, but not calm.
“Isabella, it was a nightmare baby,” Tristan says taking both my hands into his.
“I keep having the same nightmare and it’s not of Eric anymore. It’s just of her… my mother.”
“Maybe it’s because you’re finally able to do something to get justice,” he suggest.
“I don’t know. Tristan… there was someone else in the room with my father. A man. He watched as my father stabbed her over and over again. He was there watching.” I recall the whole blood ritual too. I’ve heard of things like that and that was the one and only one I saw. That time it was Sacha that grabbed me and told me to never let my father know I saw them.
He didn’t know that I’d seen the man before. I think though it was more about what they were doing, as in the significance of it. Kruv’ omertà. I know what it translates to but not what it means.
“I’m sorry Bellezza.”
I want to know what it all means. I’ve never been able to ask anyone.
“Kruv’ omertà. Cu è surdu, orbu e taci, campa cent'anni 'mpaci. He who is deaf, blind and silent will live a hundred years in peace. Kruv’ omertà,” I say and Tristan’s hand stills on mine. His skin goes pale and I realize I’ve said something of importance.
“Isabella where did you hear that?” he asks.
“It was a secret meeting I shouldn’t have seen. I dreamt about it. It happened ten years ago. The same man was there with my father and Nikoli. Does Kruv’ omertà have some significant meaning. I know Kruv’ is blood in Russian. Omerta’ refers to the Italian code of silence. But I’ve never hear the two words together except for that night. I remember the man because it was the second time I’d seen him after my mother’s death.”
“Oh my God. Oh my… God. Do you know who he is?”
“No, he’s Italian. That’s all I know.” Which is nothing. Tristan is Italian.
“Did you ever see him again?”
I shake my head. “No, never.”
“But you could recognize him?”
“Yes. I would. I would definitely recognize him if I saw him.”
We stare at each other. I notice the shift in his mood.
“What’s happening? Who do you think he is?”
“Someone who’s part of the plot to destroy us all. Kruv’ omertà is a secret blood oath the Bratva and Italian mafia take. It’s a rare thing. Thank you for telling me about your dream.”
“I dream about him almost every night. It’s like my mind is screaming to me to remember the past. I’m scared of what could happen next.”
“I’ll take care of you,” he promises. “I will take care of you.”
He brings my hands up to his lips to kiss and I fall for him even more than I should.