Chapter 3: Riccardo Bernardi

It was great to see her today, but I still want more. I am a selfish bastard and always get what I want. With her, it's different, always has been. I know that what I did in the past was wrong, I admit that. I am going to make it right, without her knowing the truth.... The truth, somehow, always finds a way to bite you in the ass.

I am in my office at home, going through paperwork about our next arms shipment. My right-hand man, Aldo, has just brought the contracts for signature. I am into a lot of shady shit and deal with a lot of bad people. I have to watch my back constantly. My entire family was brutally murdered when I was just thirteen years old. My mother was such a sweet person, my father was an honest man, and my brother was your average ten-year-old kid.

I've sworn to get revenge ever since. Franco Romano... The fucker responsible for everything. Franco Romano is well-known among the Italian mafia. I don't run with the mafia; I am the mafia. I am feared and respected among all who know me. Those who don't know me have surely heard of me. I've built my entire being from scratch. After the death of my family, I decided to leave school, get training underground and introduce myself to some very infamous people. I am now at the very top of the food chain.

I have money, I have property, I have businesses and many allies. What I don't have...... is a conscience or any sense of remorse. The only way that I know I still have a heart is because of her.

Emily's P.O.V

I'm in the waiting room at my therapist's office. I see her every week. As mentioned, I am turning 27 in a month. Just before my 25th birthday, I was in an accident. My dad and I were driving home from the ice-cream store when a truck ran a red light and smashed into us. My dad died on the scene, and I was in the hospital for around 3 months. The doctors said that I was in and out of a coma and had bleeding on my brain. I have no memory from before I finally fully woke up. I don't even remember my dad. My mom is still around and very over-protective of me. I really had to convince her just to move in with Anna.

Dr Smith seems to think that my dreams are linked to my past somehow, but they don't give me much. Just the monster that comes into my bedroom. Although the words he spoke in my last dream are different, "I'll make you feel good baby." I get shivers just thinking about it.

"Emily, please come in", Dr Smith calls out from her office. I get up and walk to the sofa opposite her desk. She smiles and takes out her notebook, "So, how have you been doing? Any new dreams?" She starts to write. "I'm OK, thanks. Actually, something else did happen in my last dream...." I tell her about what the monster said to me and I see her raise a brow. Dr Smith is a very professional woman and makes notes on everything we talk about. She's in her late forties with long blonde hair and she wears glasses.

"So, you're sure that it was a man who spoke those words?" she writes it down, "Yes, it was definitely a man, with an accent I think." I'm not sure where that accent could be from, but it was there. Dr. Smith sits straight and removes her glasses, "Can you think of what he meant by telling you that he'll make you feel good?" I cringe, it sounds like he meant something dirty, but I can't even say it out loud. Surely if it was something abusive, I couldn't forget it?

We finish our session and I head home. As I start dinner, my mom calls, "Hi sweetie, how was your session with Dr Smith? I hope you told her everything that you won't tell your mother dear..." Ugh! "Hi mom, it was good. No real progress but she said that we will keep searching." She goes silent, "Mom? Are you still there?" I ask, "Yes dear, I'm here. I'm so sorry that you didn't make any breakthroughs. I'm sure something will happen soon. Are you still coming to visit tomorrow? We need to plan for your birthday!" She squeals with excitement. "Mom, yes, I'll still visit, but I told you that I'm not doing anything for my birthday. What's the use if you can't remember your family or friends? Just let it go please." I beg. "Alright dear, maybe we can just go shopping together then, nothing too social." That's better, "Thanks mom, I love you."

Anna left around 20 minutes ago to catch her flight to her parents who live in Asia. I hope that everything goes well with her dad. I can't imagine how she must feel, probably because I can't even remember my dad. I was told that I was a daddy's girl and always spent time with him, going fishing and watching the races together on Sunday's. My mom has never been involved with another man after dad died. Everything that I know is what I've been told by my mom. We have no other living relatives and no family friends, so it's just her and I. She lives alone in a big house in a richer part of London. I don't tell her much about my life, not that there's anything exciting about it, but because she always involves herself and tends to overdo everything.

I clean up the kitchen, lock all windows and doors and head to the bathroom to take a shower. Once I'm good, clean and fresh, I get into my bed and wait for sleep to take over. It doesn't take long for the monster to appear in my dreams, only this time, I can make out his figure but can't see his face.