31. Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty One
Emilia
T ony and Gino move to the side, Tony keeps his gun aimed at me, as Javier saunters over to crouch down in front of me.
“Javier?” Why is he in my apartment?
“I told you we were not over, my beautiful Emilia. Look at what these brutes have done to you,” he croons as he lifts his hand, his eyes full of concern, focused on my forehead.
“Don’t fucking touch me.” I flinch back before he can put his hand on me.
His eyes turn cruel in a split second, and his hand snaps out to roughly grip my jaw. I try to twist my face out of his hands, but he squeezes my cheeks together painfully and leans in close. “Fine. We can do this the hard way.”
Javier pushes me back by my face as he releases his grip, the movement making the chair rock backwards. “Where is the painting?” He pulls a handkerchief out of his grey suit pocket and wipes his hands on it, like touching me made him unclean.
“What?”
“The Monet, Emilia. Where is my Monet?”
“You’re… You’re the buyer?”
“Yes. I am the buyer. And you are the forger. Now that we are clear on our roles, where is my Monet?” he asks the last part slowly, threateningly.
“I don’t understand,” I confess.
He exhales heavily, like I am trying his patience. “I have told you many times that I collect rare art. You know this, yes?”
He’s waiting for me to respond, so I nod my head.
“Sometimes, I can’t find the piece that I want, so I have one made.
When I learned that you had created two of my previous pieces, I just knew I needed to meet the talented artist filling the gaps in my collection.
It took several months, a large sum of money, and calling in a few favours owed to me by other collectors, but I eventually tracked you down through your manager. Silas.”
I feel the colour drain from my face at the mention of my friend's name. Is Silas involved in this somehow? Javier waits expectantly, so I nod again to show I understand.
“Of course, I had to get someone else to pose as the buyer. Someone who had not used your services before. My last dealings with Silas did not end so well, and he blacklisted me, the pendejo. Imagine my surprise when I got the photos from one of your meetings with Silas, and you’re the most breathtaking creature I’d ever seen.
I planned to just steal you away as my own, but seeing you, I thought maybe I could just make you fall in love with me instead, so we could enjoy a life together.
I would have given you everything. You would never have had to work for anyone else.
You could have just created beautiful art for me.
Then when I met you… you were even more enchanting in person.
I knew you were meant to be mine.” He strokes the side of my face gently, his voice and face so animated he clearly believes every word.
I can’t help the shiver of disgust that runs through me.
“But then your father died, and you came here, and that fucking Italian scum turned your head. You didn’t even hesitate to betray me,” he screams at me and his face twists into something horrifying.
I can feel the anger rolling off him in waves and he practically pants in my face with how heavily he is breathing.
The next second he blinks, and it’s like he’s a whole different person again. His face clears, as he stands up and brushes his hair back off his face and straightens his suit.
“I thought perhaps you just needed to blow off a little steam before you came home to me for good. But when you stopped returning my calls and messages. I grew tired of your games.” He starts to pace in front of me, taking the gun out of Tony’s hand.
“I was going to just kill you for your insolence, but you were so apologetic when we spoke, so sad… I knew I had to give you a chance to prove you deserved everything I was going to give you. Every time Silas asked for an extension, I granted it. I’ve been so understanding.
” He pauses in front of me, his face imploring me to see how reasonable he was being.
“I even forgave you when I got the photos Tony had taken of you in the club with this… Vincenzo Rossi.” Javier gesticulates at me with the gun, like he doesn't even realise it is in his hand, while he all but spits out Vincenzo’s name like it's a dirty word.
He clearly believes I should be grateful as he stands there and stares at me. I quickly nod in agreement. I need to work out how to get the fuck out of here and away from this psycho.
“I was so disappointed when you chose him, bella . All you had to do was come home and finish my painting. But you chose him ,” he sighs again in disappointment, “So, I came to bring you home. But when I got here, my painting was nowhere to be found, and you were out, with him,” he roars, spit flying out of his mouth as he gets right in my face.
“The painting is in the studio next door, Javier. It’s finished. I finished it for you, before I went out,” I say in a rush. “You can take it. It’s my apology gift, for treating you so poorly. I’ll have Silas refund the deposit immediately…” I taper off at the shaking of Javier's head.
“The painting is not enough, now,” he replies, sadly.
“I have others. Pieces in my warehouse. You can have as many as you think is fair. It is the least I can do to make it up to you.” My mind whirls in desperation at what else I can offer to get us out of this situation.
“Or, I can create you another custom piece, anything your heart desires. I will work day and night to get it done straight away.”
“It’s not enough, my bella . I was to have you. We were to be together, and you were going to create the greatest art collection in history for me. I was going to give you the world.” He straightens up and turns, taking a few steps away from me.
“Tell me, then. What can I give you, Javier? What can I do to show you how sorry I am?” I plead. I stand up from the chair and take a step towards him, as I implore him from behind to tell me how I can make this right and get the hell out of here.
“You, Emilia. I must have you.” His eyes widen as he turns to see me take another step towards him. “She is not fucking restrained,” he screams and raises the gun between us.
Tony and Gino both lunge for me, but the sound of the front door crashing open again startles us all, and a gunshot rings out.