Chapter 21 #2
This woman had gone through more than I could imagine since marrying me.
The mental abuse I gave her on a daily basis was eating me alive and now this— the physical torture she endured.
There was nothing I could possibly say that would ever make up for what I did.
I didn’t even know if she’d want to hear me out but I would try.
I wouldn’t stop trying until she listened, until she forgave me, and until she accepted being my wife because she wanted to be, not because she was forced to.
I had never tried before, but I was willing to try now. Willing to do anything to make her see that I was a man worthy of her.
As we entered the house, Thomas, the family doctor, was already waiting.
His eyes widened at the sight of Anastacia in my arms, his expression a mix of concern and professionalism.
“Take her upstairs,” he instructed, his voice steady but laced with urgency.
I nodded, my grip tightening around her as I hurried up the stairs towards my bedroom.
Once there, I used one hand to pull back the covers, placing her under one of the thinner sheets. Thomas appeared at my side, taking a good look at my wife.
“You may stay or leave. It’s your choice.” He nodded as I stepped aside to let him get to her.
“I’ll stay. I promised I wouldn’t leave her again.” I pulled the armchair to the side of the bed, settling into it without letting my gaze leave her.
Thomas worked swiftly and gently as he examined Anastacia. When he lifted her shirt, I saw more bruises covering her ribs, stomach, and waist. I felt sick and tried my best to suppress my rage. Despite being asleep, her brows furrowed. She winced with every bruise that he touched.
“Her rib is broken,” he muttered, his gaze flicking to me. “I suspect her jaw has a minor fracture. You can bring her to the hospital for an x-ray. Other than that the rest are bruises, but she’ll need rest. A lot of it.”
“Trust me, she’ll get it. Whatever she needs.”
Thomas nodded, handing me a bottle of medication. “I’ll leave this for her, along with some instructions for her care. Keep her as still as possible, no matter how much she protests.”
“You have my word.” I nodded, “I’ll arrange to bring her into the hospital too.”
“Good.” He smiled softly. “And Lorenzo, don’t beat yourself up about this. She’s safe because of you.” He patted my shoulder. I had known Thomas since I was a boy. He looked after every cut, scrape, and wound I had.
“She was also taken because of me. I should have come straight to the house the night I let her father live, but I didn’t, I went for a drink. One I didn’t even have. I wasn’t here when she needed me.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“But you’re here now. That’s what matters. Take care of her.”
With a final glance at Ana, he was gone, leaving me alone with the woman who turned my whole life on its head.
I sat beside her, gently brushing my thumb over her bruised cheek as her pained expression softened and relaxed. I took her hand in mine and caressed her bare ring finger.
“I’m so sorry, Ana,” I whispered, taking her wedding band from the side table, but before I could put it back in its rightful place, a commotion erupted downstairs.
My head snapped up, my body coiling like a predator. I rose to my feet, leaving her side for a split second to investigate. The sound of Victor’s bellowing voice reached me first, the man’s fury vibrating through the halls.
“I want to see my daughter!” he roared. I rounded the corridor, catching sight of him from the top of the staircase. His frame blocked the entrance to the foyer, his men scattered behind him like discarded toys.
“You go. I’ll watch Ana.” Nicolo nodded as he joined me at the top of the stairs.
“Don’t take your eyes off her,” I ordered before making my way towards where Victor waited for me.
“I suggest you keep your voice down,” I hissed as I reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes narrowing in on me.
“You killed three of my best men,” he spat.
“You mean, the men you banished? The ones that used to be your best men? Or the ones who kept your daughter locked away and tied up like she was nothing?!”
“Where is she?” he demanded, but he had no right to demand anything.
“She’s safe. Unlike Chad, who will pay a heavy price for what he did to her.
” I stepped closer to him, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“Let me make myself clear, Victor. If you think I’ll ever disclose Chad’s location to you, then you’re out of your mind.
The only one who will kill him is me. Or my wife, if that’s what she wishes. You are not part of this.”
His chest heaved, his pride faltering. “I’m her father! I have a right?—”
“No, you had a right once but not anymore,” I interrupted. “Did you know about Chad’s games?”
“I swear I didn’t know what he was up to,”
“Did you know he had photos of her? Hundreds of them were plastered all over the walls. Did you know he let those men you claimed to once be the best assault her until she was covered in bruises?” I leaned into him.
“Of course you wouldn’t, because you don’t give a shit about anyone other than yourself. ”
I knew he had no clue what they’d done to her.
I only just found out, but that didn’t stop me from losing it.
I used to think that the second he agreed to my deal was the second he stopped caring about her, but I was sure he never truly cared about her to begin with.
I may have told him to stay away, but as her father, he could have gone against my word and started a search himself.
“Get out of my house, Victor,” I had calmed down a little, I realised there was no point in losing it, he wasn’t worth it.
“No, I want to see my daughter,” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
The man to his right stepped forward, raising his gun as if to threaten me, but I wasn’t born yesterday. I noticed every clumsy movement he made. I raised my weapon faster, the gunshot echoing the walls as the bullet ripped through his kneecap.
“I’m giving you one more chance to choose: leave freely or in hacked up pieces.” I kept my gun raised as he took less than a second to decide.
“This isn’t over, Lorenzo. I will see my daughter. You can’t keep me away.”
“Believe me—I can and I will.” I turned my back to him, my eyes locking with Red’s. “Show Victor and his men out. They aren’t welcome in my house.”
“Boss.” Red nodded, already carrying out his task.
I wasted no time in racing back upstairs to Anastacia, who was still asleep. I settled into the chair beside the bed, picking up the ring to continue where I left off. I slid it back onto her bare finger, dried blood still staining her skin.
“I’ll be better for you,” I whispered, kissing her knuckles. “I swear it.”
“L-Lorenzo?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
“Shh, I’m here, go back to sleep.” I stroked her hair as she turned to face me, letting sleep overcome her yet again.
I pulled my phone from my pocket, calling the one person I knew would be able to help me.
“Lorenzo, thank God!” my mother cried from the other end. “Please tell me you found her.”
“I did. She’s here…but I need you.”
“I’m on my way.” She hung up the phone, stopping what she was doing to come to my aid, just as she always did.