Book One: Dark Side of the Moon

“Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” ~—Mark Twain~

HAYLEY

Hayley watched as Lorenzo picked up the gun and placed the single bullet in it. Her heart was racing as he snapped it shut and spun the cylinder, then placed the gun on the table.

A bulky man loosened one of Luca’s hand restraints.

“Not that I don’t trust you, Luca, but…”

Another nameless heavy man stood next to Hayley and had his gun nearby, not pointed at her but if Luca fucked up he knew Lorenzo would kill her instantly. Lorenzo slid the gun to Luca. Luca looked at it and then back at Hayley.

“You’re a fucking crazy-ass mother~fucker~,” Luca spat as he picked up the revolver.

Hayley watched as he put it to his temple and, as if it was nothing, he pulled the trigger. She gasped as it made a little clicking noise, and Luca threw the gun on the table.

“All this over Elliana?” Luca laughed and he watched as Borroni slid the gun toward Hayley.

Hayley looked down at the revolver. Her stomach churned and her eyes looked up at Luca’s. He watched as a tear slipped down her face. He wished he could protect her, he wished he could get her out of here, but he couldn’t.

“Elliana,” Lorenzo sighed.

Luca chuckled, causing Lorenzo to look at him and not Hayley who was staring at the gun.

“She was a decent fuck. She said she didn’t give blowjobs, but she didn’t~ mind~ giving one to me!”

Lorenzo flew at Luca, his knife at his throat.

“You can get another one off that bitch when I kill you. She might be waiting for you at the pearly gates. She begged for death in the end, just like you will or perhaps Hayley will.”

His words were harsh as he went to pierce Luca Marcello’s skin.

But then he pulled away and looked at Hayley. Luca’s eyes were locked onto Hayley as she slowly and with a shaking hand picked up the revolver.

“You don’t have to do this, Hayley,” Luca said calmly.

Hayley looked at Luca, his face so calm even through such a scary situation.

“He’s right Hayley, you don’t have to do this at all.” Lorenzo looked intensely at the girl that sat frightened at the table. “Come with me, let me show you how a ~true~ Italian makes love.”

Hayley looked at him with disgust and held the gun to her temple. Luca’s stomach dropped as he watched as she closed her eyes and pulled the trigger with a click.

She let out a gaspy breath as she looked straight into Lorenzo’s eyes and then threw the gun on the table, her heart racing. But she shook her head and looked at him fiercely.

“I would rather die than touch you.”

Her words were harsh and Lorenzo smiled, as he slid the gun back to Luca and laughed.

“She’s playing the game, your turn.”

For Luca this was torture—if he died, he couldn’t protect her, but there was no way he could watch Hayley take the bullet.

He put the gun to his head and looked into her beautiful blue eyes. He wanted them to be the last thing he’d see. He pulled the trigger and with a click he was still alive. He slid the gun down the table.

Luca watched as she picked up the gun.

In her mind, she knew she could have made better life choices, but right now she had to face the fact that she was about to die today regardless of whether this shot was the bullet shot or not.

She took a deep breath as she placed the gun to her temple and closed her eyes before pulling the trigger. It again was not the kill shot.

The guy beside her took the gun and slid it down the table to Luca. But Lorenzo picked up the revolver before Luca had a chance to.

“I don’t trust you, Marcello.” He put the gun to Luca’s temple.

Hayley took another deep breath as she kept her eyes closed, and she listened for the gunshot. But there was just a faint click of the empty shot.

“No!” Luca yelled as Borroni placed the gun on the table and slid it toward Hayley.

Hayley opened her eyes. This was it, the last shot. Hayley looked at Luca who was struggling in the restraints, her heart pounding. Lorenzo caught her attention as he walked toward her.

“Pick up the gun, darling!” he demanded, and she slowly took the gun.

The tears were falling relentlessly, she was going to die. Will it be painful? Will there be a flash of white light? Will her mum guide her to the next life? Will she miss Luca?

“Shame you were a stunning creature,” he purred as she slowly put the gun to her temple, her eyes looking at Luca.

“Hayley, don’t you pull that damn trigger,” he ordered, but she shook her head.

“I told you, I play the games I play until the end.” She reminded him of the night she let him touch her, the night she was in his arms. She smiled at the thought, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.