Fatal Pursuit

trentadue

*translations are adjusted to fit the feel of the literature and English equivalent*

I feel a prickly feeling in my stomach and it reminds me of when I found out that Xavi was cheating on me. That feeling that I get when I discover that someone has been lying to me all along. Right now, it feels less like prickles and more like claws digging into me and I slam the sliding door open.

"So it's been you all along? You fucking liar! Who are you?"

Dante turns to look at me, perplexed, "Infinity? I thought you were walking..."

I start to feel disoriented as the realization all crashes down onto me. It was him. This whole time it was him. He killed Ignacio. I let him into my space, I let him into my body. Oh my god, what have I done?

My throat feels strained and my vision starts to blur with tears, "I knew it. I knew something was up. I knew it didn't add up but you made me feel like I was being stupid, you made me believe that I was insane! I want a key card! I'm getting out of here. You did something to Ignacio!"

He hangs up the phone, "Calm down, angel. Just tell me what you are talking about?"

I step back towards the door, "Don't play dumb! I know everything! Just tell me...who are you?"

"I'm your boyfriend, angel. I'm Dante."

"No, you're not! You're fucking not. You killed Ignacio..." saltwater pours from my eyes, "...sei Zio!"

(You're Zio)

He tilts his head and just stares into me and the way his eyes transverse my body makes the blood in my veins seize, "Ma non ha alcun senso, Infinity." a crisp smile spreads across his face.

(You're not making any sense, Infinity)

His voice used to make me swoon but now it just makes my skin crawl.

"The day that Ignacio showed up to the house and told me about the people that kidnapped him and everything, he told me that a man had come looking for him. A dangerous man. He saw him kill Isaac and other people... t-then..." Dante stepped closer to me and I stepped back, my body now plastered against the glass door.

"Then what, hmm?" he rasped.

My fingers curl around the doorframe and my heart starts to bounce in my chest. If I make a run for it now, I know that I won't get far, "S-se l'hai ucciso" I gulped, "...dimmelo." (I-if you killed him... just tell me)

He chuckles, shaking his head, "Oh, angel. You know, your Italian has gotten really good...but not good enough. Do you even know what zio means? It's not someone's name. It just means uncle or from where I'm from in Milan, means dude or bro. You can look it up for yourself if you don't believe me," he tosses me his phone.

My fingers tremble as I type the question into Google and sure enough the first thing that pops up is:

In the Milan metropolitan area and some other places in the North, zio is a slang used amongst young people. While zio is also Italian for uncle, it is a way to address others informally, and could be translated as "dude" or "dawg".

My cheeks warm with embarrassment and the prickly feeling in my gut melts. I look up at Dante and he just looks back at me with contempt, his arms crossed.

"So, then why did that guy on the phone say you did a really good job and you said you 'did what you had to do'."

He chuckles then his face melts into disbelief, "Seriously, Infinity? That was my cousin. And he was congratulating me because I've finally gotten them to start construction for my nonna's new house. I've told you about it several times, don't you remember?"