How Lilies turn Black Chapter 18 - Silvano Giacone (3)

‘Wait. You didn’t even know my name yet?’

 

She couldn’t believe it, but the calm eyes staring back at her held no hint of jest, no hint of sarcasm.

 

The anger that had been building up in her at the sight of this calm stranger was nowhere to be found. Lilia answered weakly, trying to calm her stomach.

 

“…I’m Liliana Moretti.”

 

“Yes, Liliana Moretti. I’ve warned you long enough that it’s better for your reputation if you leave.”

 

“…I know.”

 

“But if you still want to go, I won’t stop you.”

 

Hopefully, she’d return with Silvano in her hand.

 

Seeing no sign of surrender in her eyes, Theodoro snorted once.

 

“You’re so stubborn when it comes to safety… and now you’re going to die on your own feet.”

 

Her stomach flips again at the sound of his words. Lilia hid her heaving chest and spoke stiffly.

 

“We’ll see.”

 

A single shrug of his shoulders.

 

A response that wasn’t even worth answering. He didn’t seem to have any expectations for her.

 

She wondered how long that would last…

 

“If I do indeed bring him back, may I ask you a favor?”

 

Theodoro frowned and took a long drag of his dark tobacco. His voice carried with the cloudy smoke.

 

“What are you so demanding of me, is there something you have in mind for me?”

 

Lilia’s shoulders trembled.

 

But there was a little faith in the back of her mind, and she didn’t back down from her brazen and unreasonable demand.

 

‘If you’re such an arrogant prick to him… he’ll at least listen, right?’ 

 

If he was truly an unforgiving underboss, he could have killed her many times over by now. 

 

When she’d asked for a job and a safe place to live when she had nothing… or when Antonio had taken her in.

 

Theodoro could have killed Lilia on the spot for her insolence, or he could have stood by and let Antonio do whatever he wanted to her.

 

‘But with so many chances, he spared my life… and never once frighteningly warned me to never speak to him again.’

 

Surprisingly, Theodoro might not be such a savage, so Lilia knew that speaking more brazenly here wouldn’t get her head blown off immediately.

 

“I’m trying to make it look like the man died in an accident in North Wellington if you could help me with that. I think it’d be better for Theodoro if there weren’t any nasty surprises or… traces.”

 

“Don’t say that until after you bring him in.”

 

“…Can I take that to mean you understand?”

 

“Just get him here first.”

 

Lilia clamped her mouth shut in front of Theodoro, who was laughing hysterically and decided to change her mind.

 

The man wasn’t uptight about any of his decisions, but he was a loudmouth, a temperamental bastard, and a master at bruising people’s egos.

 

Sighing, she swallowed hard, the sigh that had been simmering in her throat all along.

 

“I’m leaving tomorrow, and I’m sure Theodoro will take care of the rest.”

 

“…You have a knack for making people look ridiculous every time. You’re so gutsy, even your liver is sticking out of your stomach.”

 

Theodoro muttered, leaning back languidly. It was a good thing he didn’t look particularly angry. 

 

Lilia was silent for a moment, and then, after some thought, she added, “In the meantime, may I ask you one more favor?”

 

Theodoro stared at her in disbelief. He even removed the cigarette from his mouth.

 

“…”

 

“If you have a car you’re not using, could you lend it to me? It’s hard to get around by public transportation, and renting one would be expensive.”

 

Theodoro let out a short sigh. Boredom and weariness filled his eyes as he stared into thin air.

 

He took a deep drag on his last cigarette, then flicked it out in the ashtray, his face grim.

 

“What’s the point of trying to get back to your feet if you can’t even find one?”

 

The words made my barely suppressed bitterness rise to the top of my head. How could he be so bitter with every word?

 

At this point, one might wonder what she could possibly believe in, and yet, here we are, at the end of the day.

 

But Theodoro rose to his feet, unconcerned whether she was seething or not. He began rummaging in his pockets.

 

‘What are you doing all of a sudden?’

 

There was a clinking sound, and he pulled a pouch out of his pocket.

 

Tink!

 

A couple of coins dangled from my fingers and landed on the table in a graceful spiral. What the hell? 

 

As Lilia stared at the money thrown in front of her.

 

A dry voice pierced my ears.

 

“Contribute to the boat.”

 

What does that mean?

 

North Wellington province, where Silvano would be, wasn’t a place to travel by boat. It’s a three- or four-hour drive away.

 

“What payment…”

 

“If you think back to what I’ve been saying, you’ll know what I mean.”

 

There was no further explanation. The unkind man walked away with those words.

 

Lilia narrowed her eyes, trying to process what he meant. After a few seconds, her face crumpled like a piece of paper.

 

Scrambling to her feet, she looked around the bar, but Theodoro was no longer there.

 

‘This, this man…!’

 

I realized this in hindsight.

 

It was the fare to cross the river Styx.

 

✨

 

The next morning. Lilia opened the trunk of her rented car and sighed heavily.

 

It was an old, dirty car. She couldn’t afford to splurge for a day’s journey, so she’d picked a budget-friendly one, but it was in terrible shape.

 

‘It’s a bit crude. All the cars in the lot behind the store are his, and he can’t lend me one?’ 

 

Well, how could I blame Theodoro, given that I hadn’t had a chance to show him my potential yet?

 

But this would change everything.

 

Sooner or later, Theodoro would regret treating her like an invisible person, a vocalist to be liked.

 

By then, it might be too late, and by the time he realizes it, her influence has already been felt.

 

Lilia checked her wristwatch as she stowed her luggage in the creaky trunk.

 

‘Even if I leave now, it will be around three or four in the afternoon when I arrive.’

 

The plan was to visit Silvano’s warehouse as soon as I arrived in North Wellington and meet with him. 

 

It would be nice to have an answer on the spot, but if he said he would think about it, it wouldn’t hurt to give him until the next day.

 

‘One way or another, the man will eventually accept the offer.’

 

I wonder what Theodoro’s face would look like when he sees me returning with Silvano. 

 

‘I can hardly wait to see it.’

 

Lilia closed the trunk, ignoring the savory smell she could already feel.

 

Then she straightened her hunched back.

 

“Huh?!”

 

A voice suddenly shouted from her right side, which had been empty before. My jaw dropped at the unexpected appearance of a third party.

 

Lilia let out an involuntary curse and pulled back.

 

“Wait…!”

 

The man in front of her quickly stretched out his arm and grabbed her.

 

Honk!

 

A shrill horn blasted past my ears. At the same time, a strong gust of wind swept past my back. My spine tensed. 

 

If I hadn’t been pulled in front of me, one more step backward, I would have flown down the driveway and landed in the street.

 

As Lilia froze, unable to move, she heard a familiar voice over the commotion.

 

“Are you all right, I didn’t expect you to be so startled, haha… I’m sorry.”

 

Am I seeing and hearing things again?

 

No. Wayne’s stammering as he held her was not in vain; he was standing before her as a living subject.

 

“It’s dangerous, please come inside first.”

 

Lilia stumbled to the sidewalk, drawn by Wayne.

 

Her heart was still pounding in her chest, and her thoughts were jumbled, making it hard to think straight.

 

“Uh…”

 

What the hell? How did Wayne get here? How do I explain this spectacle?

 

Her eyes darted back and forth, but she couldn’t find the words. Seeing the embarrassment in her position, Wayne speaks first.

 

“I saw you in passing and didn’t recognize you. I should have been more careful… I’m sorry.”

 

He turned to face her, his face filled with remorse. He glanced at Lilia, then hesitantly added.

 

“Oh, do you… don’t you remember… the other day in the alleyway…”

 

“I know, I remember.”

 

Lilia’s lips moved of their own accord as she answered, her confusion still evident, though she wished she hadn’t.

 

Her face relaxed into a polite smile at his answer, and her thoughts scattered in an instant.

 

“That’s good, because I’ve thought about it often since then.”