Page 27 of Run, Starlight (The Royal Ballet Presents #3)

MARCELLA

When I sat in the front row at Fabrizio’s funeral and heard all the words meant for him, all I felt was confusion.

Their speech didn't match my brother. Their grief was over a young man who lost his life, but he wasn't just a young man. He was Fabrizio.

I was starved for stories about him, moments that I, the little sister, didn't know about, but to everyone present, Fabrizio was just a cardboard version of himself.

For years, the questions with no answer made grief heavy on my shoulders until that afternoon when Enzo handed me the manila envelope.

He drums his fingers over the table, excited when I address the elephant in the room. The salty air dried my tears hours ago, and devastation morphed into a million different feelings that I guard inside my chest, unable to address them all when they barrel into me, trying to be the prevalent one.

Enzo did his research. I don't know how, and quite frankly, I don't know if I care how, but he found out everything about my brother and every single asshole who messed with Fabrizio.

“Kyle Kelper,” I say, looking at the insane man who thinks I'm his destiny.

“He sounds like an asshole.” Enzo nods with a wicked smile.

Lucciano clears his throat. “Can anyone explain to me what is happening?”

I nod. “Enzo found out what happened to my brother. And the name of the asshole who harassed him until he had to take his own life.”

A lump forms in my throat when I remember the most graphic parts of the document Enzo provided. Kyle Kelper wasn't just a regular bully. He wasn't satisfied with making fun of Fabrizio’s every move and pushing everyone to laugh at him too.

He assaulted my brother. Repeatedly.

The words flash in my head, as if I were reading them for the first time. Vomit threatens to come out and destroy our picturesque dinner, so instead of putting it into words, I just slide the whole thing toward Lucciano and let him have the displeasure of reading it.

I only realize my hand is shaking when Enzo takes it in his and pulls me to him. I let him move me until I’m on his lap, his strong arms around me.

“It’s you who needs to be held now.”

He’s not wrong. The document was gruesome.

It contains every part of Fabrizio's day-to-day life until his death. I barely made it through the reading, but I knew I had to honor my brother and read it. It’s not fair that he had to live it while I can’t even read about it.

I pushed myself to be stronger, and anger took its place when I stopped shaking and the tears dried .

Something dark got me by the throat and told me I was its bitch. Even as I sit here, hours later, I feel its claws sinking their black nails into my skin. The darkness spreads like wildfire, and Enzo’s words are replaying in my mind.

He said I belonged to darkness. He knew it.

Lucky finishes reading and puts the document down with a sorrowful expression. “I’m sorry, Marcella.”

His sorrow isn’t what I need right now. I need him to be vicious just like his insane brother.

Enzo’s arm tethers me to earth. He’s warm and safe, and I rest my back on his chest, breathing out.

Giving me that file was the most romantic thing anyone ever did for me.

Words will never impress me, not when people give them away without a thought.

Enzo is too crazy for me to take his words into account. He told me I was his destiny, I’m his queen, but until he understood what would give me peace, I couldn’t believe in anything.

Just like he predicted, my grief and fear turned into anger and power.

“I want to kill Kyle Kelper,” I say.

Enzo hums into my neck, his hand reaches my breast, and he feels it in his palm. The words make him as hard as a rock. I feel it against my ass and a faint smile comes to my lips.

“Say it again,” he whispers in my ear.

“I want to kill him.” My voice doesn’t waver. There’s no hiding from my wants.

“God, you’re amazing,” Enzo says, pushing the nightgown neckline down and spilling my breast to the warm breeze.

Lucky’s eyes follow the movement, but he shakes himself off. “Marcella, I know this is a lot?—”

“He gave the answers I needed. Things are clear now. ”

Enzo chuckles behind me, and without asking permission, he lifts my skirt, exposing my pussy to Lucky. I don’t stop him, he deserves to take me as he wants, on this table and right now. I’m getting hot just from his hands on me and his warm breath in my ear.

“This was a graphic reading.” Lucky grits out, “Maybe you need a couple of days to digest.”

I lean forward, disturbing Enzo, but he doesn’t complain. “I don’t need a couple of days, Lucciano. I've been living this nightmare for ten years, and Enzo finally gave me the keys to freedom.”

“Talking about keys…” Enzo chuckles.

“Death is not freedom.” Lucciano insists as if he doesn’t understand this firsthand.

A snap in my conscience, and Enzo’s words sink into me. “What have you done?” I ask over my shoulder.

His smile comes out slowly. He’s so proud of himself. “I got you Kyle Kelper.”

I blink at him, confused, but Lucky understands his brother more than I ever could. “You brought this scumbag here?”

My heartbeat speeds, and I turn on Enzo’s lap to look right into his eyes. “Is he here?”

“Not here in the house. No,” he explains. “I drugged him and left him loose over there. He’s a little fucked up and has no idea where he is, so…”

He trails off with a smile, and something big grows in my chest. A chance for revenge.

“Enzo, what the fuck! What the hell are you thinking about bringing a rapist this close to Marcella?”

I shake my head. “I’m the predator. Enzo is right.” I turn again to face Lucciano. “I’m tired of being the meal. It’s my turn now. ”

Enzo growls and pushes two fingers into my pussy, making me gasp at the end of my speech. “You’re so perfect. So wet when you plan your revenge. Look at you.”

I sit back on his lap. “I was afraid, and now I’m revenge.”

Slowly and deliberately, I part my knees for Lucciano and let Enzo push his fingers into me, showing it off to his brother. His other hand takes my breast, rolling my nipples with his fingers, and I shiver with pleasure.

Lucciano’s next words are strangled, as if it took everything in him to get them out. “I understand you’re angry?—”

“No.” I cut him off. “I’m beyond angry. I’m furious with Kyle Kelper and with every asshole who watched what happened and did nothing. Kyle is only the beginning. Every fear I felt in the past years, I’ll make them feel.”

“Turning into a serial killer is not the answer here.”

Enzo takes his fingers from my pussy with a pornographic sound and circles my clit spreading the wetness around, and I throw my head back. “It’s the rightful conclusion,” I argue with Lucciano.

Damn. Enzo takes good care of me. He’s a balm to all the anger.

It doesn’t extinguish the flame but gives me the strength I need to keep going.

His hands bring me back to earth and remind me that I don’t need to sit with this rage like I sat with my fears.

I can conquer them when I have Kyle’s head bleeding on my lap.

“We can bring this to Cygnus.”

I don’t need to address this comment. It’s Enzo who laughs, shaking his head. “That’s what you think Marcella deserves? A man she doesn’t know settling her score? No. She has to draw the blood herself. She deserves it. ”

Lucciano shakes his head and gets up, pacing in front of us, showing trepidation at every step.

It’s funny how hard this is for you when he is used to killing.

I’m the ballerina here. This is not my world, yet I feel at home finally.

I hold Enzo’s arm, making him stop, and I get up, standing in front of Lucciano.

His eyes are lost and dark, and too many feelings are trying to come out. I place my hands on his warm chest, his heart speeds with my touch, and I tip my head to the side.

“Why is it so bad to embrace what we are?” I whisper.

“Because I don’t think that’s who you are.” His voice falters, and I feel bad that he doesn’t see it.

“If none of this had happened, maybe I’d be this good and innocent girl you keep talking about. But it all happened, and I have a choice now. I can close that file and leave this place and be forever scared, or I can kill what is killing me.”

His eyes trace my features, looking for doubt, but he won’t find it.

Not anymore. Just like Enzo, I had a funeral for the old Marcella down at the beach.

I mourned that girl and let her go because there’s no space for her inside me now that I read the file.

Kyle Kelper killed the old me, just like the boys’ dad killed old Enzo.

“Would you still want me if I’m not the person you thought I was?” I ask him, afraid for the first time.

He covers my hands with his, blowing out a pent-up breath. “I’ve always seen you. I’m not mistaken about who you are. I just wish you’d chosen a better path.”

I smile. Lucky doesn’t fully understand just yet. He doesn’t see that this path is the best for me. I walked the other path for ten years, and all it did to me was make me scared with a collection of phobias. This is me taking action. There’s no better path than finally accepting who you are.

He’s meant for this too. Enzo is right. “Come to the darkness with us,” I whisper. “Forget everything and embrace this and this moment.”

And I kiss him.