COLD TRAP

MATTEO 

There’s a rage that sizzles through my bones. The same rage that weakens my bones, yet, they’re as strong. The same rage which weakens my heart, yet, makes it so fierce. The same rage which has sent my mind into an overwhelming sense of disbelief and despair and loathe. 

All of those despicable feelings are directed towards one person. 

The man whom I’m storming through the compound into the holding cell to have a chat with. 

my footsteps echo across the long hallway, my wife’s father’s laughter begins to echo. He knows I am coming, and he knows why I am coming 

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And the sick man somehow finds pleasure in it; in the fact that he’s close to completely ruining my family. 

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I should have just severed his tongue when we caught him Bloody disgusting man. 

When I enter into his cell and find his teeth on display as he grins widely at me, I charge at him with a grow 

My but plummets his face, unending cuss words spilling from my mouth. 

“Idiota, slam 

“Sciocco, slam 

“Diavolo, slam 

“Malvagio, slam. 

“Figlio di pumana,” slam. 

– 

Marcelo’s nose and lips are ruptured, blood oozing out of them, yet he continues to grin at me. He laughs even, making mockery of me. 

He found a weakness. They’ve all taken note of my weakness–my wife, and they’ll continuously poke ine there. 

Spitting out the blood in his mouth, Marcelo chuckles. “You call me the Devil, son, but have you forgotten whom you are! What you are! Have you forgotten that you and I were carved out by the same hands?” 

I shake my head, expelling heavy breaths. “I am different! I am different from you and that man…I have humanity in me. I am human.” 

“Who are you trying to convince! Me or yourself?” 

I grit through clenched teeth, my voice thick with rage. “Marcelo!” 

He chuckles. “You think you love her? You think the love you share with that daughter of mine is so strong it can withstand every obstacle! You think… 

“I don’t think!” I roar. “I know! I love her so much, with all of my heart and my soul and everything 1 am and will ever be! And she loves me too!” “And yet, those secrets you keep away from one another, that darkness you suppress for her sake, it’ll swallow you whole–you and your love.” 

I snicker underneath my breath. “We aren’t keeping anything away from one another. Mirabella has seen me as I am, and she accepts me and my darkness regardless.” 

He raises a brow, tipping his head to the side as though contemplating. “But have you seen her as she is?” 

“What is that supposed to meant” My eyes narrow, 

“A little birdie sang a few songs to my ears,” he chortles, his shoulders raising proudly when he finds a look of interest peeking through my eyes. “And if I am correct, your wife is rumored to have booked an appointment at a hospital where she intends to evacuate the baby she’s carrying your baby. And the best part! She intends to undergo a surgical procedure that’ll prevent her from ever falling pregnant right after she has killed your child. 

“Liar…” I whisper, my heart shaking with fear and surprise. One question, Is my wife pregnant? 

“What was it again?” Marcelo taks. 

“Shut your mouth you bloody liar,” I grit, slapping him hard across the face. His head falls to the side, but it doesn’t deter him from taunting me. 

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Laughing, he whispers. “Ah, Tubal Ligation,” 

“Shut your mouth!” My voice is raging with anger and desperation and frustration. “You think I am as gullible as your daughter? That your words and schemes to pull us away from each other will work on me?” 

Marcelo breathes out a sigh and kisses his tongue. “Tall the hospital 

“Take your phone out and call the ho 

hospital for confirmation” 

I step back and stare at the bleeding man for seconds, my heart pounding against my ribcage, blood pumping so loud it sounds like there’s a party 

in my ears. 

I shouldn’t be egging him on, but I find my hand involuntarily disappearing into my pocket and reappearing with my mobile phone. 

Somehow, o even without being told, I guess correctly the clinic Mirabella would go to for something like this. 

One the fifth ring, the phone beeps, indicating that call has been answered. Whatever that delightful voice that greets me with a, “hello, wishes to say. I don’t wait to hear it before speaking. Tm calling as the legal guardian of one Mrs. Mirabella Denaro. She scheduled an evacuation appointment with you and we have the date mixed up. Could you please confirm the name and date for me!” 

“Oh, that’s not a problem, sir.” The person on the line says, her voice still as polite and friendly. “There it is. The procedure will be done in two days. so she’s expected to report to the clinic earliest on the day after tomorrow! 

I smile. “Thank you for your time.” 

Before Marcelo is able to open his mouth and gloat over this, I storm out of the holding cell. 

Oh. Mirabella, you’re so fucked. 

I’m standing in our living room, my heart racing with anger and frustration. My wife, my beautiful wife, is standing across from me, her eyes flashing with defiance. 

“You know, you had me fooled for a second. Playing your rule as a good wife so perfectly that I allowed myself believe in us” I say, my voice rising with anger. 

My wife’s expression remains stoic, “what now, Matteo. I really do not have the time for your nagging. 

A humorless chuckle elicits in my throat, a muscle feathering in my jaw. “You made the decision to get rid of my child without thinking to talk to me about it first 

Surprise flashes her eyes, her mouth pulling open. She searches for words but they fail her. Her confusion and fear confirms my greatest fear. 

“You didn’t… I breathe as I stumble on my feet. 

Mirabella’s head shakes as she steps forward, sorting to hold my hand. I pull away from her. Tean explain.” She whispers. 

“I don’t care for your explanation” I ululate. “What I need is for you to call that hospital and cancel whatever plans you’ve made with them.” She glares at me from underneath her lashes, her head slightly shaking in dehance. “That is not happening.” 

“You want to go there?” I scoff, “would you like me to show you what I am capable of? Perhaps a reminder will do.” 

“If anything happens to that child growing inside of you, Mirabella, you will be introduced to the side of me you never thought existed.” “You’re being unreasonable,” she says, her voice low and even. “We are already doing such a shitty job with the kids we have, Matteo, and I do not see a need for another one. You know our life doesn’t allow for it.” 

“Allow for it” I repeat, my voice rising. “We’re talking about our family, about bringing a new life into this household. And you’re telling me that our life in the mafia doesn’t allow for it? Didn’t we make a conscious decision not to allow this business of ours get in the way of our family?” 

She crosses her arms, her expression unyielding. “You know it’s not safe. And we do not have the mental capacity to bring another child into the picture. You know the risks we take every day. I can’t bring another child into this world, not now, not ever. If you’re so desperate for another child, then by all means go be with the one you had with your mistress,” 

“I did not touch Helen let alone have a child with her, per favore!” I feel a surge of anger, of resentment “Do not even attempt using that fucking lie 

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as an excuse to dictate what we can and can’t do? You don’t have the right to make this decision for both of us?” 

My wife takes a step back, her eyes narrowing. Tim making this decision for myself. And for our potential child. With everything going on with the business now, I don’t think it’s right to bring another child into the picture and risk putting them in harm’s way.” 

I shake my head, feeling a sense of disbelief. This is about your crime organization, isn’t it? You’re doing this because you need the freedom to run your fast–growing organization. You’re really willing to give up on our family, on our future for money and power?” 

She nods, her jaw set. “Tam. And you need to accept 

I feel a wave of intense anger wash over me. How can she be so selfish? How can she choose those insignificant things over the family we could have! 

But as I look into her eyes, I see the fear and uncertainty there. And I realize that this isn’t just about her, it’s about us. It’s about our life in the mafia, and the dangers that come with it 

“Mirabella,” I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “We’ll figure something out,” I say, my voice sofier now. “We’ll find a way to make this 

work. 

But she 

shakes her head, her expression unyielding. There is no way, And I won’t change my mind. 

曲 

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