Betrayed by My Mafia Brother novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

On our father’s death anniversary the next year, I purposely waited until dark to go to the cemetery.

I didn’t expect Fabio to still be there.

Seeing his thin figure standing there, I hesitated. Then I walked over. Knelt. Paid my respects. Pretended

I didn’t see him.

Just as I was about to leave, he grabbed my arm. His voice was hoarse.

“Can’t you give me another chance? For Dad’s sake? Emilia, we’re family. We grew up together. Everything I did, I did for you.”

It had been a long time. Looking at him now, I felt almost nothing. Only a faint, dull ache when I thought

about the three years I’d lost.

On the headstone, Dad’s black-and-white photo showed him smiling.

Just like when we were kids. The way he’d smile at me and Fabio.

He was a soldier. So we had to train every night. Sit-ups. Two hundred every night before we could go to bed. Sometimes I couldn’t do it anymore. I’d cry. Throw a fit. Fabio would always calm Dad down. Pat his own chest and say, “I can do it. I’ll do them for her.”

He’d be sweating like crazy. Finish his own and then have to do mine. He hated it. But Dad was always

so pleased.

“That’s right. That’s what a big brother should do, Fabio, you remember this: no matter what, Emilia is your sister. You protect her. You hear me?”

He’d always nod firmly. Wipe away the sweat. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll take care of my little sister.”

But then…

“Fabio. I didn’t take the road you paved for me. But I’m doing okay. I don’t blame you anymore. But I can’t forgive you either. So from now on… let’s just pretend we never knew each other.”

Slap.

He slapped himself across the face. Then collapsed to his knees. Covered his face with his hands.

Sobbing.

“You’re my sister. How, how could I have lost you?”

I looked down at him for a moment. Then turned and walked away. Didn’t say a word.

Chapter 9

6.92%

After that day, a long time passed. We didn’t see each other.

I heard he went crazy. Walked around with my picture. Asked everyone he met if they’d seen me. He was looking for his sister. After he mistook a few girls for me, the, police took him to a psychiatric hospital.

The year I turned thirty, I got married.

After I had my own children, I became calmer. More at peace.

I went to see Fabio at the hospital once.

He was sitting under a tree. Holding an old, faded photo. Muttering the same thing over and over.

“Emilia. I was wrong. I’ll go to prison instead. Please. Just forgive me.”

The doctor said that was all he ever said. Nothing else.

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