The Mafia’s Lost Daughter Came Home. Then She Tore the Family Apart. Chapter 05
Chiara’s mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again, like a fish that had just learned it couldn’t breathe air.
“I—I didn’t—someone must have—”
“Someone must have what?” I smirked, shaking my head.
“Chiara, if you’re going to set someone up, at least spend some real money on it. “
“With brains like that? I’m starting to think your skull really is missing something.”
She opened her mouth—nothing came out.
Then, her eyes rolled back.
And she dropped like a bag of rocks, one heel flying off, skittering across the marble.
Marco rushed to her side. I stepped over the shoe and walked out.
“Tell her I said sweet dreams.”
…
The gala fiasco ended with Chiara fainting dead away from shock.
The Morettis became the joke of Chicago society overnight, and this time Chiara actually took it hard.
She was in bed sick the second we got home.
Weak, barely breathing, coughing up blood every so often.
The family doctor came out looking grim. “Chiara’s system is in shock, and it’s triggered her congenital anemia. She needs a transfusion urgently.”
“But her blood type is extremely rare, and the blood bank has none in stock.”
Enzo and Marco paced circles in the hallway.
Donna Moretti’s eyes landed on me, calculating. “Reese, you’re the same rare type. Get in there and give her your blood.”
I was on the couch, working through an apple. Didn’t even look up.
“Why would I? My blood’s worth too much. Wouldn’t waste it on a dog, let alone her.”
“Reese! She’s dying! “
Leo lunged, grabbed the apple out of my hand, and threw it on the floor.
“Can’t you spare some blood? You’d watch her bleed out and not lift a finger? “
I looked at the apple on the floor. Something in me went hot fast.
“Why should I care if she dies?”
“She’s your sister! God! You’re not human, you’re a damn monster.”
I didn’t bother answering. I just stood up, shoved past Leo, and walked straight for Chiara’s room
“What the hell are you gonna do?” Leo scrambled after me, panic creeping into his voice.
“What’s the matter? Aren’t you the one who wanted her to wake up?”
My hand rested on the doorknob. I turned and looked back at him.
Then I smiled.
“I spent a few years learning from an old country doctor. Don’t worry. I’ll fix her up myself, out of the goodness of my heart.”
Enzo’s eyes went wide. Then turned to the guards.
“What are you guys doing! Stop her!”
Guards moved toward me. I grabbed the fire extinguisher off the wall and pulled the pin.
“Anybody comes near me, I’ll spray this straight in your face.”
The guards backed off fast.
I kicked Chiara’s door open.
She was propped up in bed, a chunk of blood pudding tucked in her cheek to fake the coughing blood act.
The second she saw me walk in swinging a fire extinguisher, she nearly swallowed the whole thing.
“Sister… what are you doing…”
I dropped the extinguisher on the floor and pulled a steel needle out of my pocket, half a foot long, thick as a matchstick.
The kind I used to stitch up canvas bags.
“Heard you’re on death’s door. Lucky for you, I know an old family trick. One needle, and you’ll be up and running around in no time.”
Chiara’s eyes locked on the needle, and she forgot to act sick.
“No… I don’t want a needle! Enzo, help me!”
I lunged, pinned her shoulder down, and drove the needle straight at her thigh.
I didn’t actually stick her. Just jammed the blunt end hard into the nerve.
“AAAH—”
A scream tore through the whole house.
Chiara shot upright, clutching her leg, thrashing across the bed.
“It hurts! It hurts so bad! She’s killing me!”
Full lung power. Perfect coordination. Not a trace of the dying, bloodless girl from ten minutes ago.
Enzo, Donna Moretti, and the rest came running in and froze at the sight.
I calmly tucked the needle away and dusted off my hands.
“Mom. Enzo. Look. One needle and she’s snapped right out of it. “
“Even her anemia’s cured. Color’s back in her face, she could run a marathon right now.”
Donna Moretti’s face went gray, watching Chiara jump around perfectly fine, finally realizing she’d been played.
“Chiara… you faked being sick?”
Enzo looked equally floored. “Chiara, why would you lie to us?”
Chiara dropped straight down onto the floor, pointing at me, sobbing.
“She made me do it! She stole all your love, I just wanted you to pay attention to me for once! What did I even do wrong!”
I didn’t stick around to listen to that. Turned and headed for the door.
“Alright, you’re cured. I won’t even charge for the house call. “
“If you fake sick next time, I won’t be aiming for your leg.”