Chapter Twenty-Two
I walk outside with Enzo. I can feel the fury radiating from him, his fists clenched at his side.
I stare up at the stars. They seem so bright but so very far away.
My legs reluctantly take me to the car. Following after Enzo, I stumble when he stops and steps to the side.
He slams my back against the car, my back crashes into it, and my neck jolts at the impact.
He punches me in the stomach, and I fold and wince as the breath flees my lungs.
I grip my side. He steps closer, glaring at my face, and he snarls down at me.
“If you ruin this for me, I will destroy you. If you derail my plan, I will see to it that you are so fucking sorry, and even Bellino fucking Ricci won’t be able to save you.”
I don’t know why, but I believe him. It looks like I’m not going to have a choice in whatever these two powerful men decide about my life, and with a little hope, they may take each other out, and I’ll be free to be with a nice girl I choose for myself.
I straighten up as his eyes bore into me.
“You make that man fucking happy. I don’t care how you do it—take it in the ass, suck his fucking dick, but you will take everything.
You’ll report back to me. I want to know what dirt you can dig up.
I will not have him making me look like a fool.
You will help me take him down. You understand me, boy? ”
I nod. He turns and walks around to the other side of the car. I sag against it, catching my breath. Glaring at me across the roof, he snarls.
“Take a fucking cab.” He climbs in, slamming the door, and I jump back as I feel the car start to pull off.
The car screeches its tyres as it exits the car park.
I don’t have money. I can’t get home, but I can’t go back inside either.
I blow out a breath as I stand there, the night sky weighing down on me as I contemplate how I’m going to survive this world I’ve found myself in. I wish he had never come into my life.
I slide my phone out of my pocket and open the app.
I find the local bus route and start walking; it’s a three-mile walk.
If I’m quick, I should get there before the last bus of the evening.
I speed up because I don’t want to be stranded here, and focusing on that last bus, my lifeline, I start to jog and then run, every step leading me closer to freedom that will be short-lived.
I concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other as my feet pound the road.
When I see headlights, I step into the hedgerow and trees, staying hidden, then moving out when they’d passed and set off running again.
I reach the bus stop with minutes to spare, and I take out my bus pass.
It shakes in my hand, and I wonder how far I can actually make it with this.
The bus pulling up startles me from my thoughts, and I step inside the doors.
They close behind me and head to the back.
I rest my head against the window and watch the world as it trickles by.
Shadows flicker and dance as we pass by trees and then houses, shops, and bars.
It’s just a blur; it feels surreal. I just want to stop the world and get off.
The bus pulls up outside the campus, and I make my way inside.
I run into my dorm and throw myself down on the bed.
The engagement party was a complete farce.
I’m being forced to marry a man, firstly.
A possessive, deviant, fucking psycho. And yet while he held my hand and kept me by his side all night, I had actually started to feel safe, then my father turned up, and it was gone in an instant.
As I roll over and flop onto my back, there’s something under my covers. I pull them back to see another gift.
My stalker seems to be ramping things up.
I don’t know how they keep getting into my room, but it’s starting to scare me.
I toss the unopened package onto the floor and roll back over and let sleep claim me.
I need to figure out a way to get out of this situation, and I’m wondering if my stalker is the way to go.
Maybe if I play along with the wedding and make it public, maybe, just maybe, my stalker will get jealous and end Bellino for me, and then I will just have my father to contend with—or better still, I could get Bellino to take care of my father, and then the stalker to eliminate Bellino.
I don’t know where to turn for the best. But when did a stalker feel safer than a father or fiancé?