Left for Dead, My Brother Said It Was My Fault

After days of torture at the hands of my familys rival gang, they offered me one last phone call.

I called my brother, Matteo.

I just wanted to say goodbyewhile I still had the chance.

What is it now? he snapped.

Matteo, I

He didnt let me finish. Fix your own mistakes. Until then, dont call me again.

Death didnt hurt as much as those words did.

I felt my heart slow to a stop as my brothers words echoed in my ears.

I guess youre finally at peace now, Matteo.

I wont bother you again. And youll never have to see me again.

Chapter 1

Bellas POV

I called my brother after I was taken and tortured for days by my familys rivalry gang. The call was my last chance to hear his voice.

But all he told me was to leave him alone.

I dont care what youve done this time, he said coldly. Now is not the moment to call me. Fix your mess, until then, dont call me.

And with that, Matteo hung up.

I stared at the phone as the line went dead and slowly closed my eyes, feeling my heartbeat slowed down.

When I opened them again, I wasnt surrounded by darkness like Id imagined death would be.

I was floating.

I watched my body lying broken on the floor below me as I drifted upward, pulled by something I couldnt fight. An invisible force carried me away, faster and faster, until I was back at my familys casino.

Just in time to see the gang that killed me dump my unrecognizable body at the back entrance.

No. They couldnt do that.

Leaving my body here would bring trouble to my familyto my brother.

But I was dead. All I could do was watch.

I felt sad and guilty. Even after dying, I was still causing brother and the DeLuca problems.

The next morning, Matteo arrived early. He spotted the body and immediately ordered the casino shut down for the day.

I watched as he searched the torn clothes for identification. He didnt recognize me.

It wasnt his fault.

The Moretti had tortured me beyond recognition before deciding to end it quickly.

Don, Lorenzo said quietly, crouching beside him, the guards didnt see who dumped the body last night. But several gangs passed by the casino. It couldve been any of them.

Those sneaky bastards, Matteo swore. If I find out who did this, Ill send them straight to hell.

What should we do now? Lorenzo asked. We cant just hide the body. If the police find out theres another corpse tied to the casino, theyll shut us downand drag you in for questioning.

Matteo straightened, his expression dark. What matters most is who she was. Do you know anyone who could identify her?

Lorenzo shook his head. Ive asked around. The damage is too severe. Forensics is the only optionbut that could take a week.

Matteo said nothing.

Lorenzo took another careful look at my body before standing. Whoever did this didnt want this woman to be recognized. Lookthey didnt mean to kill her at first. See the bruises around her neck? The broken wrist and ankle? This was torture.

My chest tightened.

I think she mightve worked for us, he continued. Maybe one of our rivalry gang were trying to force information out of her. When things got out of hand, they killed her and dumped her back here.

He was right.

They tortured me for hours, trying to make me talk about my brother. About my family.

When I refused, they broke my wrists. My ankles.

After a moment, Matteo spoke. Move the body to the basement. Bring in someone discreet to examine her. Until we know who she is, this stays quiet.

Lorenzo nodded and reached for his phonethen froze.

Shit, he said. Don, I forgot to tell you. Bella went to meet the Moretti about the last contract. I havent heard from her since.

A pause.

Should we check on her? Lorenzo asked. We dont have a history with the Morettibut losing contact with Bella doesnt sit right with me.

The moment my name was mentioned, Matteo snapped.

Shes been spoiled for years, he barked. People like you are the reason she cant even handle one contract properly. She screwed it up, then tried to blame Victoria. I dont care if it takes days or weeksshe made the mess, she fixes it.

I wanted to scream.

I hadnt messed up the contract. Victoria had. She switched the numbers and pinned it on me.

I only learned the truth in the Moretti basement.

Before that, Id believed it was my fault toountil they mocked me, laughing about how easy it had been.

She really is as stupid as Victoria said, The Moretti mocked me. All we had to do was say it was her mistake. She came running to us, trying to make it right.

I circled my brother, desperate to make him hear me.

Nothing changed.

I forgotI was dead. Nothing I said or did could reach him.

Don, Lorenzo said carefully, I know you wont like me saying this, but Bella is your sister. Dont you think youre being a little too harsh

Matteo spun on him, fist clenched. I regret not being harsher, he said coldly. Maybe then our parents would still be alive.

The words hit harder than any blow.

Five years ago, when I had just turned eighteen, I begged my parents to take me on their routine trip to Mexico.

No one expected the meeting to fall apart so fastuntil both families were caught in the crossfire.

Father and his right-hand man, Marco, died protecting Mother and me. Mother died shielding me from what those men wanted to do.

After that, Matteo hated me.

So did VictoriaMarcos daughter.

They blamed me for everythingfor my parents deaths, for her fathers too.

They said that if my parents hadnt been so focused on protecting me, they couldve escaped in time. That innocent peoplelike Marcowouldnt have died trying to save them.

And I let them condemn me.

Because some part of me believed I deserved it.

What I hadnt expected was how close Matteo and Victoria would becomehow Matteo would start treating Victoria like his real sister, while I became nothing more than a spoiled burden. Just a reminder and a killer.

Hearing Matteo mention about our parents now made the same pain tear through my chest.

I had thought death would numb everything. I was wrong.

If anything, it hurt more.

Chapter 2

Bellas POV

Im sorry for overstepping, Don, Lorenzo said quietly, lowering his head.

Before Matteo could respond, his phone rang.

I saw the name on the screen.

Victoria.

My fingers curled into a fist. I never got the chance to confront her about what really happenedbut after what the Moretti told me, I knew she was nothing like the sweet, considerate girl my brother believed her to be.

V, hey, Matteo said, smiling. Your birthdays coming up. Ive taken care of everything. You just have to show up and be the prettiest birthday girl.

He paused, his voice softening.

Dont worry about the Moretti. Ill make Bella admit it was her fault. Not yours.

The words burned.

Ever since our parents died, Matteo had treated me like a spoiled, useless bratas if every disaster in our lives could be traced back to me.

So when I doubted myself about the contract, he shut me down. And because of the guilt, I turned that blame inward too.

If only Id stood my ground. If only I hadnt gone to the Moretti to make things right.

I would still be alive. I would still have the chance to stand in front of Matteo and tell him the truth.

Instead, I could only listen as Victoria spoke in that soft, false sweetness and brother believed her every word.

Actually, she said gently, Id like to go somewhere different for my birthday this year. Maybe you could take me there tomorrow?

A chill ran through me.

What if my death hadnt given the Moretti family and Victoria what they wanted? What if, now, they were coming after my brother instead?

Matteo was the Don of DeLuca. He never went anywhere without protection. Never alone. But if Victoria used her birthday as baitif she asked him like thishe wouldnt refuse.

And theyd be alone.

I tried to strike Matteos shoulder. Tried to scream.

It was useless.

All I could do was watch as my brother smiled into the phone and said,

Anything you want.

I realized I could only go where my body went.

So when Lorenzo wheeled my body into the casinos basement, I followed, watching the forensic specialist hed hired examine what was left of me.

Even I was shocked by how my body looked.

Bruises layered over cuts. Broken skin everywhere.

So this was how much Id endured before dying.

Whats the status? Matteo asked as he walked in.

He didnt spare my body a second glance.

Were waiting on the DNA results, Lorenzo replied.

Matteo stepped closer.

My chest tightened.

One more step and he would see the birthmark on my left arm. One more step and my brother would realize the dead woman on the table was his sister.

A ringtone cut through the room.

Alissa? Matteo answered.

Alissamy friend.

Have you heard from Bella? she asked anxiously. We were supposed to go out of town today, but I cant reach her.

Matteo frowned. Shes handling business. You know how it is. Shell call you back.

But Im worried, Alissa said, her voice trembling. Your line of work is dangerous. Pleasecan you just call her and make sure shes safe?

Even my friend cared more than my own brother.

For the first time, the feeling in my chest wasnt just guilt.

There were also sadness.

When had Matteo and I become this distant? He used to be the person closest to methe one I shared secrets with, the ones I never even told our parents. Once, hed panic if I so much as tripped and scraped my knee.

Now Id vanished after going to meet another gang, and it barely seemed to register.

Matteo stared ahead, expression unreadable. After a moment, he said, Alright. Ill call her.

He hung up and pulled up my number.

He stared at it for a long time.

Then he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

Youre not calling Bella? Lorenzo asked.

After were done here, Matteo said, turning back to the body on the table. I cant risk the cops getting suspicious again. And Bella this isnt the first time shes gone quiet. She probably screwed something up and doesnt want me to know.

Matteo left the basement soon after without ever coming close enough to see my birthmark.

I watched my brothers silhouette disappear and wondered What will you feel when you find out this body is mine?

Relief that Im finally gone? Or sadnessif only for a momentthat youve lost the last family you had left?

As the days passed, I felt myself growing less attached to my body. I started drifting through the casino insteadsometimes lingering in my brothers office, watching him work. Other times, I just wandered.

That afternoon, I was hovering in his office when Victoria arrived.

She looked cheerful. Too cheerful.

Matteo, do you have time for dinner tonight? she asked lightly.

He smiledthe first real smile Id seen from him in days. Of course. You know I always have time for you.

She tilted her head. Things feel tense around the casino. Did something happen?

As if she didnt already know.

I knew exactly why she was asking. She wanted to know whether hed found out about me.

Matteos smile faded. Someone dumped a body here. I think it was a message.

Victorias eyes widened, her expression carefully innocent. Do you think its because Bella messed up the deal with the Moretti? Maybe theyre taking revenge.

Matteos face hardened. Always spoiled. Always careless. If it werent for her mistake, those thugs wouldnt even be looking at us.

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and began typing.

I drifted closer.

It was my chat window.

Stop ghosting me. Fix what you screwed up with the Moretti and get back here. Something happened. I need to know if its connected to you. For once, Bella, dont bring more trouble to this family. Dont repeat what you did to our parents.

The words hollowed me out.

Desperation mixed with something colder.

I was dead. How could I bring him more trouble?

Matteo finished the message and looked back at Victoria, his tone softening. If only she were as considerate as you, V.

That was when something inside me broke.

The emptiness in my chest spread wider, deeper.

When would Matteo learn the truth? When would he stop blaming me for everything?

Chapter 3

Bellas POV

Victoria slipped her arm through his. Bella is different from us. She never had to grow upbecause she always had you to fall back on. She knew youd be there whenever she messed up.

Matteo rubbed the bridge of his nose. Youre right. I did spoil her.

He sighed. I thought she wouldve grown up after our parents died.

Victoria didnt miss a beat. Actually Ive been meaning to tell you. The other day, when she said shed go fix the mess she made with the Moretti contractI saw her got on a train that was leaving town.

She let it hang in the air. Maybe she lied to us again?

Matteos expression darkened. You mean she never went to the Moretti?

Victoria gave him that wide-eyed, innocent look. I suspected it. But I didnt want to be the kind of person who talks behind someones back.

Liar.

Matteo looked furious now, and Victoria pushed in deeper.

I found this on her desk, she added, slipping something from her purse. She left it behind.

It was a necklace.

Our familys token. Every one of us had one.

Victoria mustve taken it off my body before the Moretti dumped me like trash at the back of the casino.

Im just worried about her, she said softly, like it pained her.

And Matteomy brothertightened his fist around that necklace like it had betrayed him too.

Dont be, he said coldly. If shes capable of walking away from her family, maybe its time we stop calling her one of us.

Then he pulled out his phone and called the Moretti.

Sorry about my sister. NoBellas mistake, he said. I thought shed handled it with you. Turns out, she may have skipped town and left me with the fallout. Again.

And then I heard him.

The Moretti Don.

The man who killed me.

His voice came through the phone, slow and polished, sending a chill down my spine. Dont worry, Mr. DeLuca. Perhaps we can reschedule the conversation for another day.

Thank you for your understanding, Matteo replied.

I stood frozen.

Furious.

My whole body trembled with rage I couldnt unleash.

Theyd killed meand that still wasnt enough.

Now they were rewriting the story, painting me as the coward, the traitor.

What else did they have planned?

I turned to Matteo, my chest aching.

Brother for once, couldnt you just believe in me?

Why would I run?

You knew me better than anyone. You knew I was stubborn. You knew I never backed down from a fight.

If I made a mistakeId own it. I wouldnt run.

Id never run.

Over the past few days, I could see itMatteo was growing more anxious.

I wasnt sure if it was because he hadnt heard from me or because of the body in the basement.

This afternoon, just as he tried calling me for what mustve been the hundredth time, someone finally answered.

Where the hell have you been, Bella? he barked into the phone. I cant believe youd go this farabandoning your family and skipping town? If our parents were alive, imagine how disappointed theyd be

Don? a voice interrupted.

Lorenzo.

Matteo froze. Why do you have Bellas phone?

There was a pause. I found it, Lorenzo said. In our casinos backdoor.

I watched the color drain from Matteos face.

He bolted.

Stormed down to the casinos basement like the floor was on fire.

Wheres the body? he barked.

Lorenzo looked just as stunned. I already handed her over to the forensic team. Shes at the lab.

And the phone? Matteo snapped.

Lorenzo handed it over with a shaking hand.

Matteo unlocked it in seconds.

Our wallpaper flashed on the screenhim and me, grinning like the world hadnt touched us yet.

He staggered back like hed been punched.

Im not jumping to conclusions, Lorenzo said quickly. Maybe Bella dropped her phone earlier before that dead body got dropped

But Matteo didnt wait to hear the rest.

He was already on his feet, storming out the door.

Did Matteo finally start to suspect the truth?

He checked the location history on my phone.

It confirmed his worst fearId gone to the Moretti compound. And after that, every signal traced back to the casino.

Within minutes, Matteo had gathered a team of armed men. I followed him, helpless but unwilling to leave.

He was trying to stay calm as he issued orders.

If they resist, fire without hesitation, he said flatly. If the Moretti want warthen war it is.

Yes, Don.

I hovered close, torn between rage and dread. Part of me couldnt bear to return to that placeto the hell where I was tortured and killed.

But I couldnt let Matteo go alone.

Chapter 4

Bellas POV

The moment I followed my brother into that warehouse, my entire body trembled.

This was where Id been tortured. Where Id died.

Matteo walked in slowly, eyes scanning the space. The Moretti were nowhere in sight. Maybe Victoria had warned themgiven them just enough time to run before Matteo arrived.

It didnt take long for Matteo to find the room.

The room where theyd kept me.

Blood was everywheresplattered across the floor and walls. The chair Id been tied to was stained with things I didnt want to name. The smell alone made Lorenzo gag.

Even Matteo recoiled.

I stood there, frozen, staring at that chair.

And the memories came rushing back.

Id arrived at the address the Moretti gave me, expecting a tense negotiation. A confrontation over the contract, maybe.

InsteadI blacked out.

When I woke, I was already here.

Back then, I still believed the Moretti were simply mad at me for that contract. About business.

But it was never about the contract.

They were mad at the DeLucas.

Turns out, the Moretti were the same family our parents had been meeting when they were killed.

If it wasnt for your stupid father, the FBI wouldnt have started sniffing around our family, a man growled, the one with deep scars on his face. He spat at me. Do you even understand how long weve been running?

Gang wars werent new. Crossfire happened. It was the cost of the life we lived.

But federal attention? That was the death sentence no one wanted.

Because of the chaos that day, the FBI targeted the Morettirelentlessly. Years of investigations, trials, attempted takedowns.

All because of your father, he hissed. He brought hell to our door.

My father died, I shot back. It was one of your men who pulled the trigger first. How is any of this his fault?

The man looked at me, his face unreadable.

You really dont know, do you? he said. Your fathers right-hand manVictorias fatherhad already agreed to the deal before the meeting. If your father hadnt changed his mind last minute, none of it wouldve happened.

He stepped closer.

So yeah. I blame your father. For the blood, the fallout, and everything that happened to my family. He yanked my hair, forcing me to meet his eyes. And you dont get to walk away clean. I know you whispered something to your dad before that meeting. So yeahyou get some of the blame too.

I overheard MarcoVictorias fatherwhispering to the Moretti Don before the meeting.

I didnt think much of it at the time. Just mentioned it to my father in passing.

Then everything unraveledshouting, drawn guns, shots fired.

And then...My parents were dead. So was Victorias father.

It wasnt like that I whispered, my eyes fixed on the chair. I just mentioned something I overheard. I didnt mean

The man with the scarred face strode over and struck me hard across the face.

I know exactly what you told your father, he snapped. You said his right-hand man betrayed him. That our contract was a setup. If you hadnt planted that idea in his head, the deal wouldve been signed.

He leaned in close.

And youre still telling me you dont bear responsibility for what happened?

After that, everything blurred.

Not because I forgotbut because some part of me refused to remember all of it at once.

They questioned me about the DeLuca business secrets, who we worked with, where did we get our products from. Of course, I remained silent the entire time.

Soon, the Moretti lost all their patience. They shattered my ankle and wrist with a baseball bat. Then they hit my stomach until I couldnt breathe.

Through the haze, I remembered hearing the Moretti mention Victorias name during a phone callthanking her. Saying they never wouldve gotten to me so easily without her help.

Victoria sounded she didnt just hate me. She hated both Matteo and me.

Shed driven a wedge between usnot only because she blamed me for her fathers death, but because keeping us divided gave her control. She needed Matteo close. She needed me isolated.

Chapter 5

Bellas POV

A loud bang snapped me back to the present.

Matteo was searching the room now, scanning every corner for proof that Id been here.

He accidentally kicked over the chair.

I stared at that chair. At the claw marks gouged into the wood.

Id been in agony. But Id held onso long that even theyd seemed surprised.

The scarred man shoved a phone into my hand at the end.

Ill give you this, he said. Youre tough. Call your brother. Convince him to meet with us, and Ill let you live.

I dialed Matteos number.

I never planned to tell him to come. I just wanted to tell him the truth. To give him somethinganythingto understand what had really happened.

I didnt get the chance.

Dont call me unless its necessary, Matteo snapped. And dont tell me youve screwed up another deal. Honestly, Bellawhen will you grow up and take responsibility?

I felt my strength drain away with those words.

Dont call me until you fix what youd done wrong.

The line went dead.

The scarred man laughed softly, almost pitying. Damn. Your brothers cold.

He stepped closer.

Guess youre useless to us now.

He raised the gun and pointed it at me.

Lets just hope youre worth something after youre dead.

Don, weve searched everywhere, Lorenzo said, stepping up beside Matteo. Looks like the Moretti cleaned out the place after they killed that woman.

He held something small in his hand.

All we found was thiscaught under the chair.

A torn shred of fabric.

Floral.

Matteo froze the second he saw it.

His eyes locked on the pattern. Recognition flickered. I could almost feel him remembering

the dress.

The one hed given me. Before everything went wrong.

He stared at it for a long moment. His voice, when it came, was low. Hollow.

This this cant be it.

He looked away.

It must be a coincidence.

It wasnt long after Matteo and Lorenzo returned to the casino that the forensic came back with the results.

Don He couldnt even bring himself to look Matteo in the eye. That body...It's Bella DeLuca. I ran multiple tests. They all confirm the same result.

Matteo looked shattered.

Finally, I saw itthe crack in him.

No, he said hoarsely. No. Thats not real.

I drifted closer, reaching for him even though I knew he couldnt feel it. Its true, Matteo. Im dead.

Relief tangled with anger and guilt.

Part of me felt awful that even in death, all Id done was bring Matteo more trouble. And part of me burned with the questionwhy couldnt Matteo trust me? Not even once.

If he had maybe things wouldnt have ended like this.

No, Matteo shouted suddenly. Take me to the body. I need to see it myself.

Don, the forensic said carefully, the body decomposed quickly. It was really hard to recognize just by looking at it. But I can assure youthe DNA results are conclusive.

Matteo sank back into his chair.

I hadnt expected this. The grief on his face was raw, devastating. Id thought brother no longer cared about me.

Bella he whispered.

Yes, Matteo, I answered, though he couldnt hear me.

I was angry, he said, voice breaking. But I couldnt lose you. Youre the only family I have left in this world.

Tears slipped down his face.

Bella, please you cant do this to me. I was wrong. I was wrong.

I pressed my hand to his cheek, wishingachingfor him to feel it.

If only youd admit you cared about me while I was alive.

If only I couldve heard it then.

But nothing could go back to how it was.

The brother who loved me was finally backand I was too dead to ever hold him again.