Chapter 16 #3
He doesn’t speak; he just looks at me. That tiny bit of attention gives me the nerve to continue.
“Look, we never really got the chance to know each other. Our relationship started off wrong from the very beginning. Let’s give ourselves a chance. Let’s get to know each other, for our baby’s sake.”
With his thumb, he strokes the skin of my hand that’s trapped in his, and for a fleeting moment, a weak flicker of warmth kindles inside me.
His tone is friendly, but his words are far from it.
“You’re right. You clearly don’t know me, or you’d understand how steep the price for your out-of-line remarks can be.
And I agree with your other point, sweetheart.
Tonight, I’ll give you a chance to figure out who you’re dealing with.
Let’s call tonight the beginning of a real relationship. ”
Cold settles deep in my chest. How can someone hold onto a grudge so tightly?
I pull my hand away, realizing that whatever twisted script he’s written for me, I have to play the part. I don’t have a choice.
Deep down, I try to reassure myself that he wouldn’t harm me because of the baby. But even that thought can’t offer much comfort.
The drive to our destination feels endless, dragging on forever. Finally, the car stops in front of a lavish two-story villa surrounded by a sprawling garden.
The car pulls up directly in front of the grand, glittering mansion. Even with the doors closed, the thumping bass of music is impossible to miss.
Tony opens the door for me like some perfect gentleman and helps me out. His fake politeness only makes him seem like more of a natural-born psychopath.
A servant by the door greets Tony and steps aside for us. I haven’t even stepped inside before the pounding rhythm of the music slams into my chest and skull.
I cast one last desperate glance at Tony, silently pleading for him to change his mind. But the pressure of his hand on my lower back extinguishes the faint flicker of hope, and I step into the dimly lit mansion.
Though I’ve never been to a nightclub before, I imagine this is exactly what one looks like.
Bodies packed tight on the dance floor, grinding against each other under flashing blue and red lights.
A young woman approaches me, wearing nothing but a bikini. She’s tall, with a flawless figure, and her toothy smile glows in the low light, making her white teeth gleam.
Cheerfully, she asks me for my coat, but I refuse to part with my armor. Tony’s hand settles on my stomach as he unties the belt.
I have no desire to let go of my protective shield, but starting a scene here, embarrassing Tony in front of these people, doesn’t seem wise either.
Reluctantly, I shrug off the coat and hand it to the model-like girl. Tony takes my hand again, trapping it in his, and leads me straight into the middle of the crowd.
My nerves are shot. I can barely look around. My stomach churns, and acid rises to my throat. Thank God the lights are dim enough no one can really see me.
The air is thick with the smell of wine and cigarettes. As I focus, I can make out the wet sound of kisses beneath the pounding beat of the music.
We stop by a table laden with various drinks and snacks. Tony picks up a glass and hands it to me. I take it, bringing it to my nose to sniff.
When he notices, he leans close to my ear so I can hear him over the music. “It’s just orange juice. I wouldn’t hurt my baby.”
As soon as he pulls back, I drain the glass in one go. I need every bit of strength I can muster because I feel it draining out of me, bit by bit.
Placing the empty glass back on the table, I step closer to Tony. Wrapping an arm around his waist, I guide his head down with my other hand.
He doesn’t resist, leaning in to let me whisper in his ear. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but please…let’s just go home. Don’t make things worse between us. I apologized for what I said. Can’t you be forgiving, just this once?”
His cold voice brushes my ear. “If I wanted to be forgiving, I’d be working under Carlo as a low-ranking soldier right now. Forgiveness is for losers, for those who get trampled underfoot. In my world, there’s no room for mistakes or forgiveness.”
I press my forehead to his chest.
“Not even for me? The woman carrying your child inside her?”
His hand rests on the curve of my back, and his warm breath brushes my cheek.
“Other than the baby I put in you, what else ties us together? Your endless concern for your murderous husband when I’m the only man who’s ever been in your holes?
What feelings do we share that would make you special to me? ”
I step back slightly, gazing at his face under the faint blue light. Placing my hand on his cheek, I say, “You’re wrong. I have no feelings for Carlo. I never did.”
I pause, closing my eyes tightly, summoning the bravery to open my heart to this resolute man, to tell him how I feel. To confess that, no matter how impossible or unbelievable it may seem, I’ve been yearning for his love for years.
I open my eyes and stare into his captivating gaze. “I lo…”
Before I can finish my sentence, the music abruptly stops, and a second later, every light in the room flickers on.
The deafening music and the murmur of the crowd that had moments ago felt like they would burst my eardrums are replaced by an eerie silence, like the air’s been sucked out of the room.
My eyes are still locked on Tony’s, which now glimmer with a mischievous spark. A sinking feeling washes over me, and I sense that every pair of eyes in the room is on us.
When I turn my head toward the crowd, I see that my instincts were right. All of them are staring, and here I am, in this sheer, revealing outfit, praying the floor will open up and swallow me whole.
I turn my anxious yet furious gaze to Tony, who’s watching me with amusement. I can’t fathom what he’s planning until he starts explaining.
“I told you,” he says, picking up a drink from the table. “I don’t like being in anyone’s debt. You said I owe you 26 orgasms, right? Tonight’s the night you collect.”
I press my trembling hand to my chest as I struggle to breathe. I still don’t understand what he’s saying. He steps closer, locking eyes with me, his face hard with cruelty.
With venom in his tone, he adds, “I’ve picked 26 of my best men for you. Take your time, sweetheart. You’ve got all night.”
My eyes widen in utter disbelief, and I whip my head toward the crowd. Other than a few women, clearly servants, the rest are young, muscular men. Without even glancing at me, they begin undressing.
It feels like an earthquake hits my body, shaking me to my core.
I tell myself Tony couldn’t possibly do something like this. But he still brought me here, half-naked, in the middle of a group of drunken men.
So yes, he could.
I turn back to him in shock, but he only smirks, raising his glass toward me.
“Cheers to you!”
For a moment, rage consumes me so completely that, before I even realize it, my hand flies up and lands hard across Tony’s face.
The slap is so forceful that his head snaps to the side, and the glass in his hand, raised near his face, falls to the floor and shatters into a thousand pieces.
The sound of breaking glass snaps me out of it, and panic surges through me again. I take several steps back, horrified. When he turns his head back to me, his eyes blazing with uncontrollable fury, I waste no time. I turn and run.
The only way to the front door is through the crowd of men now standing in the middle of the room, wearing nothing but their underwear.
I wait for one of them to grab me, to lift me into the air and for the others to pile on top of me. But no one even raises a hand to stop me.
Somehow, even in my seven-inch heels, I manage to make it to the front door. I’ve never known fear like this—the terror of facing a possible group assault.
Every nerve in my body screams, and my blood rushes through my veins like a raging river. I grab the handle and press it down repeatedly. I’m so panicked that my brain can’t process the fact that the door is locked.
After several futile attempts, I let out a wail of frustration and turn back around. The men in the room remain frozen in place, staring at the floor.
And then I see Tony. His face is flushed with anger, and he’s charging toward me like a bull seeing red. A whimper of fear escapes me as I bolt toward the staircase.
I take the stairs two at a time, but the cursed heels cause me to slip halfway up, and I tumble onto the steps. I hold my stomach to protect my baby, but my chest slams against the edge of a step, and a cry of pain escapes my lips.
“Lucia!”
Tony’s voice snaps my head around. He’s at the bottom of the stairs, staring up at me with fear etched on his face instead of anger.
I don’t waste a second. Like a deer fleeing a lion, I scramble to my feet. I don’t even know where I’m running, I just need to escape.
I dart into the first open room, hoping to lock myself inside, but there’s no lock on the door. Tony’s already reached the last step.
In panic, I run for the balcony. Without thinking, I climb over the railing and squeeze into the narrow gap behind it. I’m not even scared of falling, I just need distance from those men.
Tony bursts into the room. The second he sees me on the edge, his eyes widen. For a moment, he freezes, but then he begins to move toward me slowly, extending a hand.
“D…don’t come closer,” I stammer, gripping the railing like it’s the only thing keeping me alive.
Only now do I notice how badly I’m shaking. My teeth are chattering. But the adrenaline surging through me gives me the strength to climb a mountain if I had to.
Tony ignores my plea and steps closer. His chest rises and falls rapidly, his breathing uneven.
This time he raises both hands in surrender, his voice soft and coaxing. “Come here, princess. You’re safe. No one’s going to touch you.”
Tears flood my eyes and I scream, “You’re lying! You brought all those men here to rape me!”
His nostrils flare, and the raging bull returns. “I was just trying to scare you. No one touches you but me. Ever. No one is even allowed to look at you. Did anyone try to stop you when you ran through them? Don’t tell me you’re stupid enough to believe my bluff, Lucia.”
I shake my head helplessly, refusing to believe him.
He takes another step forward, his voice softening. “Fine. I went too far. I’m sorry, okay? Now, come on. Where you’re standing is dangerous. Let’s go home.”
I look at him, studying his face. He stares back, unblinking, as if daring me to test the sincerity of his words.
“Do you promise?” I choke out.
His hands lower slightly as he steps onto the balcony, extending one toward me. “I swear, princess. Come on. Give me your hand.”
My grip on the railing loosens, and I feel the adrenaline draining from my body. Weakness begins to take over, and a cold wind brushes against my skin, leaving tiny goosebumps.
I reach out for Tony’s hand, but before I can grasp it, a sharp pain shoots through my lower abdomen. I cry out, clutching my stomach with both hands.
That’s when the ground beneath me vanishes. I stumble backward as Tony lunges for me, his hand outstretched. Our fingertips barely brush before I slip out of reach.
For one split second, all I see is pure horror in Tony’s eyes.
The next, the black sky.
Then the impact hits, much sooner than I expect.
And after that, nothing but darkness.