TWO

She got involved in an accident, that's the story they are sticking with. The burial was short, done with a closed casket and later the body was cremated. They all pretended to their friends and business partners because if the story gets out that someone attacked Angelo Michel Rae and got away with it, others will want to try their luck. For a man with so many enemies, he can't risk that.

Brianna wasn't the only one that lost her life that day, her boyfriend, Keller, was caught in the crossfire. He was hanged with her. He didn't get a chance for a proper funeral because Angelo ordered that his body be buried in the woods where no one can find him, so as to prevent anyone from figuring how he died. The last thing they needed was the FBI snooping around.

The Rae's mansion and its inhabitants are going through dark times and Kaylee was having it worst. She hasn't left her room since the burial, Gianna had checked up on her once but she just stood there and watched her mum breakdown. She had no words to help ease Kaylee's pain.

As for Angelo, he has been having secret meetings in his office, the door closed. Gianna often sees Brianna's betrothed, Alex, drop by a couple of times and go into her dad's office. Gio has been drinking a lot. Gia and Gio got into a couple of fights and words were thrown, real hurtful words.

As for Gianna, she lost her best friend, the only one that understood her in the family. She is devastated. And these past few days had made her feel she isn't part of the family and the thing is, she doesn't want to be anymore.

The maids and workers in the mansions are walking on eggshells around every member of the family, they feel if they so much as breathe, they will get fired.

Today, Angelo made everyone come down for a family dinner, the first they have had in days. An hour into the dinner, everyone is still quiet in exception of the time that Kaylee asked Gianna to pass the bottle of wine which she finished under 20 minutes.

Gianna barely touched the food, she is not hungry. She is upset that they are just sitting down pretending that there's not an empty chair that's weighing everyone down.

"How is the company?" Angelo breaks the silence.

Gio oversees the legal part of Angelo's business so as to protect his son from that life, although, Gio has always wanted in on the illegal part.

"Good, the investors of the winery-" Gio words are cut off with a suddenly slam on the dinner table.

They all give attention to the girl who hit the table with her hands, "This is bullshit, lets fucking address the elephant in the room."  Gianna yells.

"And what's that?" Kaylee asks on the verge of another breakdown.

Gianna looks at her mum whose eyes are pleading for her to stop but Gianna is done playing pretend.

"She was killed, mum. They killed her. I heard your request for blood but why am I not seeing any action. Why are we not retaliating? Instead, we are hiding here, waiting for their next attack."

"There won't be any attacks from our end and theirs," Angelo says, cleaning the corner his mouth with a napkin.

"What?"

Kaylee clears her throat and looks up at her daughter, "We made a deal with the Texas people. An eye for an eye, now that it's done, no need for further bloodshed."

Gianna stares at her parents not believing her ears, "You made a deal with the people who killed Bri?" She says lowly, hoping if she words the statement out to herself, she will understand.  "How quick are you to forget? Imagine the fear, the pain, the struggles, her cries... "

It's Kaylee's turn to slam her hands on the table. She does need to be reminded of her constant nightmare. In her sleep, she sees Brianna calling out her name and begging for her help. "I haven't forgotten anything, so don't you dare act like you are the only one grieving. The truce is to protect the two kids I have left but be rest assured we are getting revenge."

"Kaylee," Angelo tries to stop her from speaking further.

"Since you want revenge so bad, you should probably know our plan. After all, you play a big role in it."

"What are you talking about?" Gianna asks raising an eyebrow.

"I am talking about Alex Banks, we intended he married your sister but now that the situation brings us here, you are the one getting married to him."

"No fucking way," Gianna says standing up, slamming her hand on the table once again.

Kaylee ignores Gianna's protest, "His father's men coupled with ours give us a fighting chance against those barbaric people."

"I am not getting married to anyone," Gianna says in rage.

"Oh please, I understood your sisters protest against an arranged marriage, she always had strong morals. But you, you are always going to end a wife to a rich man," Kaylee says, rolling her eyes.

"Why because I am dumb?" Gianna scoffs.

"Just sit down, Gia," Gio says in frustration.

She points at Gio, "He caused this and he gets to sit with us and discuss business? He should have been thrown to the wolves the minute they asked for his head." She faces her brother, "Why don't you marry the Alex guy and let Alex stick his dick up your butt hole? That's the least he can do for this family."

"Jesus Gia," Angelo says dropping his fork as he loses his appetite.

"I would rather be hanged than marry Alex." Gianna spits. In swiftness and in reflex, Kaylee sends her glass cup flying towards Gianna's direction. Luckily for her, she ducks.

Gianna stands up and stares at her mum in awe, which mirrors the same expressions of Angelo and Gio.

Kaylee stands up from her chair, "Say those words again and I pray your dreams to come true. Your wedding is in 5 days." Kaylee speaks with so much fury before she walks out of the dining room, leaving everyone speechless.

~~~

Gianna stares at her phone, watching the condolence messages pop up continuously as it has for a week now. Half of the messages are from Maggie trying to get Gianna to talk to her. During the burial, Gianna had ignored all her friends and fake friends who attended.  She wasn't in the mood for chitchats.

She sits up on her king-sized bed when she hears a knock on her door, "Yes?" She yells.

The door opens and reveals Bill, their butler, "Can I come in?" Bill asks with a sad smile.

The old man has been working for the Rae's for 30 years, Gianna sees him as her second father since he practically raised her.

"I brought pizza," He reveals the box as he walks into the room. "I doubt you ate anything at dinner."

"You are the best, "Gianna says getting down to get the box of pizza before walking back and sitting on her bed.  She taps her bed, "Sit," She says as she opens the box.

She picks up a slice and shifts the box towards Bill's direction for him to join her as well. He picks up a slice too and they both eat in comfortable silence.

Finishing his slice, Bill breaks the silence, "How are you doing?"

Gianna swallows hard, "Let me see, my brother is a rapist and a murderer, my sister is dead and I am getting married to a man I haven't spoken a word to, so I am good." Gianna says sarcastically.

"That was a stupid question, wasn't it?" Bill lets out a low laugh.

Gianna nods as her eyes go to the picture frame on her nightstand. It's a picture of her and Bri, taken at Brianna's college graduation. The blonde-haired beauty was filled with smiles knowing she had achieved something.

"She was so full of life," Bill comments, looking at the picture as well.

Gianna suddenly gets this unsettling feeling as she hears the word "was". Heartbreak is what you call it, that her sister is now a "was".

"She was the smartest in this family. She didn't have to play dumb like I do because it is easy. She called everyone on their bullshit." Gianna laughs as tears roll down her cheeks. "Remember when she refused dad's money when she found out that it's illegal."

"She was strong-willed but as for the smartest, I still believe it's you," Bill says.

Gianna looks at him, Bill nods, "You know when to talk and when to keep quiet, you know when to fight and not. Trust me, people who possess that ability always makes it out alive."

"I don't feel smart, if anything, I am scared. I can't sleep even though there are over 50 men outside and this so-called truce isn't going to last." Gianna says cleaning her tears.

"I wish I could do something to help,"

"You can," Gianna says in a rush to finally tell someone of what she has been planning for days. "I know when to fight and I also know when to flight."

"Wh-what?"

"I can't do this anymore. I am not going to wait to be killed." Gianna says.

"Your parents have a plan," Bill says.

"I am not getting married to anyone. You see Bill, all my life I have always seen how I will end up and mother's right. I will be the trophy wife of a rich man. Maybe that's why mum and I never got along, I hate that I am going to be like her. But now that's happening, I don't want it. I am changing my life's path and for that to happen, I will need your help." Gianna takes Bill hand into hers.

Bill stays quiet for a second before speaking, "Whatever you need."  He smiles at her.

~~~

Two days passes like a breeze, the Rae's continues having their awkward dinners where mostly Angelo and Gio talk about business. Kaylee mentions the wedding a few times, Gianna doesn't say anything. The only thing that makes the days bearable is the plan at the back of Gianna's head to run away.

Tonight, the plan is going to be executed.

"What's up with the security in your house?" Maggie says as she walks into Gianna's room. Gianna stands up from her couch and rushes to the door to hug Maggie. She has never been this happy to see her until today.

"Aww, baby," Maggie coos, rubbing her back.

"Did you bring it?" Gianna says letting go of her friend, immediately attempting to drag her bag.

"Easy there tiger," She drops her bag from her shoulders and hands it over to Gianna. Maggie walks up to her bed and sits on it.

Gianna opens the bag and begins to through it.  She brings out the hair dye, the exact clothes Maggie is wearing, and sneakers. Gianna smiles in relief, as her plan to get out of this mansion without being noticed is off a good start.

"Why do you need this stuff anyway?"

"I want to look like you," Gianna says smiling like that's a normal thing to say.

"What?" Maggie asks laughing at the ridiculousness of the statement.

"Look," Gianna faces her friend.  "I have been cooped up in this house for days, I need to go out. But I can't, my parents are still paranoid over my sister's death."

"That's sad."

Gianna knows it won't be hard getting what she wants from Maggie, she is not the brightest.

"But don't you think dyeing your hair blonde is too extreme for a night out?"

"Nothing is too extreme to get out of here,"  Gianna says picking up the hair dye and walking into the bathroom.

"Where are you going, if you manage to escape?" Maggie turns to the direction of the bathroom.

"To get laid," Gianna jokes.

Maggie laughs, "You whore."

~~~

"Hmm, not bad, as long as the guards don't see your face, I think we are good." Maggie comments as the pair stand in front of a mirror staring at their similarities. They are both dressed in a pink hoodie and blue jeans with white converse.  They are both of the same height.

Gianna is blonde now, she smiles at the mirror noticing how much she looks like her sister. She tucks her hair behind her ears and looks away from the mirror so she can focus on important matters.

"You got to stay here for at least an hour, cover yourself with the blankets and pretend you are me till I get back," Gianna instructs.

"Okay," Maggie says excitedly, "This feels dangerous like we are in an episode of prison break."

Gianna gives a smile as a mother would give her an ignorant child. "Yeah, like prison break." Gianna nods.

She takes Maggie's bag from the floor and walks over to her nightstand to put in the picture of her and Brianna.

"Why are you taking that?" Maggie raises her eyebrows at her.

"I am just being sentimental," Gianna says as she puts it in.

Maggie just gives her a sad smile.

Gianna should feel bad for playing Maggie like this but she has no time for guilt.

"Can you call your driver to drive to the front of the mansion?" Gianna says walking towards the door.

"Sure," Maggie says picking up her phone.

"Mags," Gianna calls out as she turns to her friend.

"Yes?"

"Thank you," Gianna smiles before walking out.

~~~

Gianna and Bill have been planning this escape for two days now and now that she has made it downstairs, getting past the first set of guards, her doubts about the plan are slowly fading away.

Gianna puts her head down as she continues her journey towards the door, it's the longest journey she has ever had to embark. Her hand holding tight on Maggie's bag and her feet moving fast.

"Hey, Miss," A security man at the entrance calls her.

Her heart stops, this is it, she is going to be caught. She begins to turn when she hears another voice which stops her from revealing herself.

"Cade, isn't it? I think I heard something or someone at the back, go check it out."

It's Bill's voice.

"Yes Sir," The Cade guy nods before walking into the house.

Gianna turns to Bill and gives a grateful smile.

"Don't forget, the car is ..."

"Just a few blocks outside the estate, I remember."

"Take care of yourself kid," Bill says teary-eyed.

Gianna nods as she pushes the glassed door of the mansion and walks out of it. Immediately she spots Maggie's car and she rushes into it.

"Madam," Maggie driver, Edward, greets not recognizing the change in passengers.

"I need privacy please," Gianna says as she imitates Maggie's voice.

"Sure madam," Edward presses a button and a blind goes up, barricading his sight from the imposter.

"Going anywhere else?"

"Just get me out of here first," Gianna says with a strong sense of urgency in her tone.

~~~~

The nerves begin to slip away as they drive out of the estate, her eyes glued to the window of the car trying to find the old Toyota that Bill had described. Her eyes lit up when she sees it from a distance, she can't believe that she made it this far.

"Excuse me," She calls out to Edward,

"Madam?" He answers.

"Stop the Car," She orders.

"What?" Edward asks in confusion.

"I said stop the car," Gianna yells in fear that they might drive pass it. Edward stops feets way from Toyota.

Gianna drops her phone in the car, takes Maggie's bag, and then exits the BMW. The cold breeze of the night blows her blond hair to her face as she knocks on the window of the front seat. Edward roll down the window, he almost jumps out of his seat when he sees Gianna's face.

"Madam Gianna, where's..."

Gianna interrupts him, "Back at the mansion, I assure you she's okay. We planned this. Could you do me a favor?" Gianna pouts, tucking her hair behind her ears.

"Sure madam," Edward nods slowly, confusion written in his face.

"Could you drive around the estate for 30 minutes before going into the mansion and getting Maggie?"

"30 minutes?"

"Yes, 30 minutes." Gianna nods.

"Okay, madam."

Gianna indicates that he rolls up the window and after he does, she waits for him to drive off, so he won't see her enter the Toyota.

When Edward finally drives off, she rushes to the Toyota and then takes out a key that Bill has given her days back, which is currently in her back pocket. She uses the key to open the car.

She enters the car and the first thing that catches her eye is the duffle bag on the floor of the front seat. She picks it up, opens it, and as agreed, there is 10k cash, a fake ID card, and a gun.

Gianna smiles before putting the bag in the back seat. She holds the steering wheel and for seconds she looks at the dark road ahead to brace herself for the uncertainty ahead. After this, she starts the car and drives off.

WORDS: 2905

NEXT UPDATE: SUNDAY