[REBECCA]
Artemy abruptly left me standing in my room, leaving me in a state of shock. He didn’t even spare me a second glance as he walked out. My mind was racing with confusion and a million questions. What had just happened?
As I stood there, my fingers still trembling and touching my swollen lips, I realized how different this kiss had been. It was nothing like the kisses I had shared with Raffaele. With Artemy, there was a unique intensity that I had never experienced before. Despite its possessiveness and forcefulness, there was an underlying gentleness to it. It was as if he wanted me to truly feel him, to savor the moment. It was simultaneously sensual and overpowering, making me feel completely out of control. And yet, I couldn’t deny the strange allure it held for me. Why didn’t I find it repulsive?
Feeling breathless and disoriented, I glanced around my room, desperately searching for something that could anchor me and help me make sense of the whirlwind of emotions I was experiencing. My mind was in a frenzy, and the tingling sensation from his touch still coursed through my body.
The effect Artemy had on me was undeniably dangerous. He had the power to make me lose myself completely, clouding my thoughts and leaving me unable to think straight. There was a captivating and commanding presence about him, both ruthless and yet surprisingly gentle. Artemy was undoubtedly a dangerous man, but in his touch, I found a refuge from the constant fear that had consumed me. He made me forget the reasons I should be terrified.
Slowly, I sank down to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms protectively around them. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
I knew that no matter how hard I tried to avoid him, Artemy would always find me. I couldn’t deny him, and I couldn’t stop him. If he continued to toy with me like this, I would gradually lose myself until there was nothing left. Opening my eyes, I shook my head, determined not to let that happen.
With newfound resolve, I stood up and quickly dressed in a black shirt and the blue jeans Nona had bought for me. Looking around my room, a pang of sadness pierced my heart. I thought about Nona and felt hot tears welling up in my eyes. I would miss her. She had been the small flicker of light in my otherwise dark and bleak world. And Lynda, too. But I had no other choice. It was time to move on. I couldn’t stay in the estate any longer. My false sense of safety had been shattered.
Artemy had become the new danger in my life. His touch, his voice, his controlling gaze-all of it posed a threat to whatever fragile remnants of myself were still intact. Before he could break me completely, I had to save myself.
***
[Artemy]
“What?” I growled, my voice laced with disbelief, in response to Avim’s statement.
Brayden, sensing the tension, nodded solemnly and took a step closer. “It actually makes sense. Rebecca is an outsider. Isn’t it too much of a coincidence that once she arrived and settled in, the Italians suddenly started receiving information about us?”
Brayden appeared conflicted for a moment, but then his expression hardened again. “We can’t find any information about her. We have no clue who she really is.”
A surge of denial welled up within me, and for a brief moment, I wanted to scream in defiance. I didn’t want to entertain the thought that Rebecca could be a spy. However, as Brayden’s words began to sink in, a chilling realization dawned on me.
He was right. We knew next to nothing about Rebecca, and the timing of her appearance and the subsequent leakage of my plans to the Italians seemed more than just coincidental.
“Damn it!” I exploded, slamming my fist down on the desk. Pain shot through my hand, but I barely registered it as I raked my fingers through my hair, gripping it tightly. Rage surged through me, consuming my senses. “That conniving bitch!”
Leon cleared his throat, catching my attention, and I noticed him shrug nonchalantly. “It’s hard to believe, I know. She looks so innocent, but sometimes the innocent ones can be the most dangerous. It’s often the shy ones who hide their true nature beneath a veneer of harmlessness.”
“They’re experts at concealment,” Avim chimed in. All four of my men appeared disheartened, as if they couldn’t fathom the possibility that Rebecca might be the spy we were desperately seeking.
Turning away from them, I faced the window, gazing out with a blank stare. I allowed my thoughts to wander, refusing to fully accept the notion, but unable to dismiss it either. If Rebecca was a potential suspect, I couldn’t afford to overlook it.
Silence settled heavily in the room, gradually tempering my anger, although my muscles remained tightly wound. The little kitten had successfully ensnared me, lulling me into a false sense of control. I thought I was the master of this game, but it was evident that she had been playing me all along.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket, interrupting my brooding. With an exasperated sigh, I retrieved it, answering the call brusquely. “What the fuck do you want?”
“Boss, Rebecca is escaping through her window,” the voice on the other end informed me urgently.
My eyes widened, and a surge of anger surged through me once again. “Go after her,” I ordered harshly before abruptly ending the call. Turning back to my men, I met their gaze, my voice dripping with venom. “Rebecca is escaping,” I informed them through gritted teeth. They cursed simultaneously. “Brayden, go after her,” I commanded.
“I’ll come with you,” Avim offered. I nodded in agreement, and they began to back out of the room. However, before they could shut the door, I added one final instruction. “Bring her to the basement,” I said, my voice brittle and filled with malice.
Brayden let out a sigh, and for a fleeting moment, I caught a glimmer of pity in his eyes, but it vanished almost instantly. I locked eyes with Leon and Milandro, my gaze unyielding as I dismissed them from the room.
“Leave. Contact me the moment she’s safely locked away in the basement,” I ordered sternly. They acknowledged my command with stoic expressions, exiting the room and shutting the door behind them.
My hands found their place on the desk, fingers gripping tightly as I leaned forward, fixating my gaze on the closed door. The intensity of my anger was palpable, evident in the whiteness of my knuckles and the throbbing veins pulsating in my throat.
My jaw clenched, teeth grinding together in a desperate attempt to contain the fury surging through me. The primal beast within roared, demanding violence, craving the blood of those who had betrayed me. Only through their demise would I find any semblance of tranquility.
Narrowing my eyes into slits, I maintained my unwavering stare at the door. With deliberate movements, I rolled my neck, attempting to alleviate some of the tension coiled within me.
Kitten, you may have fooled me for now, but this game has become mine. Whether by manipulation or brute force, I will extract the truth from you.
For her sake, I hoped she hadn’t truly betrayed me.
Because if she had, there would be no mercy.