Chapter 42
ISABELLA
Some sort of weird music is playing in the club.
I don’t know the lyrics or if they are even singing lyrics.
I just know that I'm dancing as if no one can see me or judge me.
Becky is grinding against me with a small mojito in her hand and Angel is behind me cheering.
She is probably the most drunk, which is ironic since she is not even eighteen yet but drinking age here is eighteen so I guess this is like her being twenty-one in the states.
It was her idea to go to a club tonight and of course Becky, being the party animal she is, agreed and pulled me along.
Slade is going to be pissed but I didn’t really care.
I needed a night out and Slade wouldn’t let me leave after what happened at the bookstore.
Becky is in town and I want to spend as much time as I can with her.
I feel eyes on me as I dance and I look around but don’t see anything. I’m probably just paranoid and need another drink.
“Who wants to come with me to get a drink?” I yell.
“I’m good. I feel like I’m going to throw up,” Angel says while groaning.
We probably need to leave soon before she starts vomiting.
Boris is here keeping an eye on us. I knew it would be stupid if we didn’t bring anyone to watch us and make sure we don’t die.
I leave the girls and stroll towards the bar. “I’ll get one more shot of your best vodka!” I yell at the bartender. He nods and leaves to get the shot at the same time a cold wind blows against my face. I get chills everywhere and glance behind, only to see a very familiar face.
Blue eyes and a hood covering his head.
I’m drunk, but not drunk enough to not know that this is the situation I can’t be in.
“Little Rossi,” he says, smiling at me, creepily.
He looks much older than when I last saw him as a kid.
This was the man that ruined my life and took everything from me for no reason at all.
I suddenly am that little girl again who lost her parents and needs help or someone to save her.
“You,” I whisper as my heart starts racing.
I don’t feel anxiety or discomfort but extreme fear.
Every hair on my body stands on end. My fight-or-flight kicks in—but I’m frozen.
This night could be my last night.
And it’s all my fault because I didn’t listen to Slade.
I should have stayed home.
“I’ll let you finish your last shot. You’ll need it.
” He motions his head to the glass of vodka the bartender slid next to me.
“Drink it, Isabella.” I take the glass with shaky hands and throw it back.
The liquid burns as it slides down my throat.
“Good. Now we can get started.” He grabs my hand and pulls me through the crowd of people.
“If you scream or ask for help, after I kill you I’m going after your grandma and boyfriend next. ”
I follow him with weak legs, not knowing what to do.
I need Slade.
I need to find a way to get Slade to come here and save me.
I search the dance floor but don’t see the girls anywhere.
Did Georgino take them?
Are they dead?
His hand on my wrist is tight and my hands and my forehead start to build with sweat. I take a deep breath, slowly breathing in and out.
Georgino unlocks a room, with keys he must’ve stolen, and pushes me inside. I yelp and fall to the floor. While he locks the door I back up until I hit a wall.
“Please, don’t-”
He cuts me off with his hand on my throat and pulls me up to stand on my shaky feet.
“Do you know why I killed your dad and mom?” He raises a dark eyebrow and takes his hood down.
His dark hair is messy and his eyes have that maniac look in them.
He looks exactly how he did all the years ago, just a little older in a way because his skin isn’t smooth anymore.
He has wrinkles and a scruff. “He took everything from me,” he says, tightening his grip with every word.
“I lost her because of him. She left me because of him!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, please!” I cry in his hold and thrash against him, trying to get him to let me go but it’s no use.
He’s going to kill me.
“Oh little Rossi, your dad isn’t who you think he is. You think he was a good dad and perfect husband but little do you know it was all a lie. It was all a show for him.”
I shake my head. “You’re a liar. He wouldn’t do anything to put someone in harm's way.”
“He fucked my wife!” he screams in my face. “He cheated on your mom with my wife and then my wife left me. I have nothing now. She’s gone and she’s not coming back and it’s because of your fucking dad!”
I yelp in pain as he slams my body against the wall.
I shake my head.
No.
No, that can't be.
“Please! Please let me go. I have nothing to do with this!” I cry and beg. “It’s not true! It’s not true!”
He throws me to the floor and my head slams against the wall making it pound. “It’ll be over soon, little Rossi. Your dad is finally going to pay for everything.” He raises a knife towards me but before he can take another step a shot rings in the air.
I freeze with my jaw open as blood starts to stain his shirt
Before Georgino can turn around, a gun butts his head and he falls to the ground.
Slade stands at the doorway with dark, voided eyes and a ski mask covering his face. I can only see his eyes and that menacing scar.
His stare reminds me of the time he chased me in the garage.
Like he’s capable of anything.
I stay on the floor and wrap my arms around myself.
Slade kneels in front of me and trails his eyes all over me. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” he asks, his voice almost sounding robotic and with forced care.
I nod and go to hug him but he stops me.
My heart cracks a little bit from the rejection. He stands up and backs away from me.
“The one thing I told you not to do, Isabella. The. One. Fucking. Thing!” he yells and walks over to Georgino’s unconscious body. “I can't even look at you right now, Isabella. I’m so fucking mad at you right now.”
I stand up. “I just wanted-”
He pushes me against the wall. “No! You know everything I’ve been doing leading to this moment has been to protect you and you just said, fuck it all! Let’s go to a club when there is a fucking stalker out to kill me!” Slade yells in my face.
“Don’t act like you’re all high and mighty. You’re just like him!” I cry, without thinking.
I didn’t mean it like that.
Regret fills me.
I open my mouth ready to apologize but he shakes his head lightly.
Slade doesn’t care to hear explanations.
His eyes twitch and he lets go of me.
He doesn’t show that he’s hurt but I know he is. His jaw ticks and he nods before backing away from me. “Ryker!” he yells and his brother comes into the room, strolling in and acting nonchalant. “Take him and leave.”
Ryker nods and grabs Georgino’s heavy body and throws him over his shoulder. “You need anything else?”
Slade keeps his eyes on me. “No, I have to handle something before going back to the house.”
I know that something is me.
And I know he isn’t going to make it easy on me.