Chapter 25 – Two Weeks Later
AIDA
TWO WEEKS LATER
The last couple of weeks have been uneventful, which for us is a good thing. I’m still dealing with my nightmares, unable to do anything with Matteo other than kiss him. He’s patient and kind. Too good to me.
The loss of Ms. Greco still haunts me, but we all try to deal with it the best we can. I vow to find her family and tell them what happened and how much she meant to me.
I don’t know where Agnelo threw her body, and I doubt anyone had informed her mom or sister that she’s gone. I could just imagine how upset they are, not knowing where she is.
Her family probably has already assumed the worst, knowing who she works for. But even still, they deserve closure. They need to hear it from me, someone who actually saw her die.
Her sacrifice for me, even in her final moments, is nothing but heroic. She always stood up for me in one way or another, and even while facing death, she fought for me—the daughter of her tormentor.
Sitting in the kitchen with Robby, we munch on some leftover baked ziti I had made yesterday. “I love ziti.” He coughs suddenly, placing his fork down as he’s unable to catch his breath.
I’m instantly on my feet, opening his bottle of water, stroking his back as he continues to cough. Once the coughing fit eases, I hand him the bottle. “Drink a few sips, buddy.”
He slowly does, his eyes watery as he looks up at me. Once he’s done, he hands it back and coughs again.
“Do you feel sick?” My brows huddle.
“I think so. My throat hurt me a little yesterday.”
“Robby, why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve gotten you medicine.”
“I’m sorry.” He frowns. “I didn’t want you to get into trouble.”
“Why would I get into trouble?”
“Because he’s always yelling at you.”
I let out a sharp breath, a bout of sadness gripping my heart. “Oh, Robby. I love you. Don’t ever hide when you don’t feel well, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Try to eat if you can.”
He nods, picking up his fork, taking a few bites as I take my seat across from him at the kitchen table.
As though knowing we’re having a nice time, Agnelo comes stomping in, scratching the side of his gray hair.
“Where’s my fucking lunch?” he barks, his fist hitting the counter, causing my plate to rattle, some sauce spilling over.
Robby’s fork clatters against the ceramic plate, his hand clutching my thigh, those small fingers digging into me, his face hiding in my side. Fear, that’s all this poor child has ever known. He would’ve been better off with someone else. I’m almost sure of that.
“Fridge,” I answer firmly, picking up my fork and continuing to eat. The next thing I know, my plate is swiped from the counter, cracking into pieces scattered across the floor.
“What the hell?” I grit.
“You stupid little bitch! I ask you for food and that’s your answer?” He reaches for my throat, clasping it tight as he lifts me off the chair. “You still don’t know any better, do you? You’ve learned nothing,” he grits.
My throat aches, and I cling to every tiny fragment of a breath he allows, but his grip only tightens. “You should’ve gotten off your lazy ass and served me the food that I buy.” He spits in my face.
“Aida!” Robby cries, and I try to twist to look at him, but it’s impossible.
“You’re a monster,” I croak out, but it sounds like whispered words.
A sly grin pulls at his mouth. “And you’re about to find out just how much of a monster I really am.” He pulls me toward the basement by my throat, my feet dragging. I fight him, my fingers trying to pry his hand off me as I stare at a terrified Robby, his sobs louder the further I’m pulled away.
My fa—Agnelo yanks me forward even faster. “Your big mouth always gets you into trouble. Just like your whore mother.”
My mother wasn’t a whore.
He pulls the basement door open.
“Aida, what’s goin’ on?” The alarm in Matteo’s voice is evident. I can just see him jumping to his feet, readying for a fight.
“She came to say hello,” Agnelo answers, mockery dripping.
“Aida, talk to me.”
But I can’t, even as Agnelo’s hand drops from my aching throat and he pushes at my back to head down.
When we reach the bottom, Matteo’s there, hands balled at his sides, teeth bared. “What’s going on? Why are you here?” He zeroes in his attention at Agnelo.
“You know…” Agnelo eyes me, then Matteo. “I’ve got a lot of regrets in my life.” And the way he talks, it’s as though he’s giving us great news. “Two of them are not getting rid of you both when I had the chance. That kid upstairs too. I have no reason to keep any of you, and today—”
“No!” I instantly turn to him, my head shaking, my pulse jumping. “Do whatever you want to me, but don’t hurt Robby. Please! Give him to his mother or her family, just don’t kill him!”
“Oh.” He chuckles. “I’m not gonna kill him. But he’ll want to die when I send him to the club.”
I gasp, my stomach stirring. “No, please.” The tears swell, the back of my throat closing. “Don’t hurt him. He’s a child.”
“We’ve all been children once. But I have some good news.” He folds his arms across his chest. “I’ll give you a choice like I did Matteo here once upon a time.”
Before I could wonder what choice I could possibly make, he removes a gun from his waistband. My eyes expand, my world growing dizzy. It’s like I’ve been yanked from gravity and thrown into the pits of hell.
“Your choice is pretty simple. Save one. Kill the other.”
“R-Robby or Matteo?” I pant, staring at the gun. I can’t kill the man I love or the boy who’s like my own! “Oh God.” I tremble, slapping a hand to my mouth, vomit slinking up my throat. Fear creeps up my body like a hungry ghost ready to possess me.
The weapon in his palm nears me. “Decide. Which one will it be? The kid? Or your boyfriend?”
“No! Please!” I drop to the floor and beg for his mercy, the pain in my heart unbearable. Every inch of me feels as though it’s been sliced open. “I can’t!” I yank at my hair.
Large tears roll down my face. Faster. Faster. Unending. The agony. I can’t lose either of them. My hands claw at my chest.
I can’t breathe. I’m taking shallow breaths.
“Kill me!” I implore him. “Just let me take their place. You never loved me. Let me be the one to die.”
“No fucking way!” Matteo fires. “Aida, look at me.” But I can’t seem to do it.
If I do, I’ll break more than I’m already broken.
His eyes, they always seem to carry me away to a place I wanted to one day share with him.
But now—I choke on a sob—that will never happen.
“You know it has to be me,” he continues, his voice dripping with emotion, and I crack with every syllable.
But it can’t be him. It can’t be Robby either. I have to be the one to die.
My eyes reluctantly fall to his, and I burst into tears, barely able to catch my breath. “I c-can’t.” I weep louder. It hurts so bad. I don’t want to hurt anymore.
I turn to Agnelo. “Please, I’ll do anything. The club. Take me there for good.” I sniffle, my body shuddering.
“This is what I want.” He hits me with a cold glare. “You will choose one. Right now, or I will take both.”
“You’re a sick fuck!” Matteo roars as I get to my feet.
“Maybe.” He cackles. “But now you’ll both be killers. Take the fucking gun!”
“I can’t do this!” Every inch of me swarms with an icy chill.
“Take it!” He points the gun to my chest, and my inhales come faster than my exhales.
“No!” I yell, but he pushes it into me.
“Take the fucking gun!”
“Pl-please, d-d-don’t do this!” My every word is a strangled mess, splintering out of me.
“If you don’t shoot him…” He pivots the weapon toward Matteo. “Then I’ll kill him and that other bastard. Choose.”
“Coward,” Matteo sneers. “You were always such a damn coward. Kill me yourself. I dare you.”
The room swells with Agnelo’s sinister laughter. “You think you’re better than me, huh? You know…” He sighs like he’s bored. “Once upon a time, your dear old daddy thought he was too and look where it got him.”
Matteo snarls, pulling at the chain, attempting to come at Agnelo, who only chuckles harder.
He turns to me with a depthless stare. “You have on the count of three, then both of their deaths will be on your head.”
My gaze finally lands on Matteo, this beautiful man who’s never had a life thanks to this monster. Within his eyes, I picture us older, a bunch of kids running around like I once dreamed about, but it’s over now, isn’t it? Because I’ll be the one to kill him.
I get it now, the weight of his decision. It wasn’t easy killing Ms. Greco. He did what he thought he had to, just like I do.
I can’t kill Robby. I know that. But killing Matteo…
I choke on my breaths, the tears coming heavy. I can’t lose him.
“One.” Agnelo’s thumb presses on the trigger.
My heartbeats thrash within me, my chest tightening.
“Pl-please,” I manage, looking at the man who stole everything from me. There’s nothing redeeming about him, and yet, I wish he had an ounce of humanity.
“Two.” With the gun pointed to the man I love, his glare drops to mine.
“Leave her alone!” Matteo says roughly.
“I’d have killed you already,” Agnelo tells him. “But having her do it, knowing I can make her… Well, that’s a lot better.” He slams those cruel eyes to mine. “Your time is almost up.”
“It’s okay.” Matteo softly smiles. “I love you. I’d never hold it against you. Do it. I’m ready.”
“I’m so sorry.” The tremor in my voice rolls down my spine, and my heart is practically being wrenched from my chest. “This was never how it was supposed to be for you and me.”
We made promises. We wanted to have a life. A beautiful one. But deep down, we knew it’d never happen. We lived in our fantasy and now we’ve finally woken up.
“Remember us and the life we swore we’d have,” Matteo says, the tears carving a path down his cheeks even as he fights them. “Live it. For me.”
“No! Please! I can’t say goodbye!”
“It’s not goodbye,” Matteo promises. “It’s I’ll see you later.”
But it is goodbye. And it’s forever.
“Pinky swear?” The words come in a pant.
“Always.” His grin is wide, the glow within his gaze flickering, and I’ll be the one to shut it off completely.