[REBECCA]
Raffaele was gone, yet my heart pumped fiercely, fear still coursing through my body until I was weak in my knees. I was going to be sick. I bent forward as my stomach rolled, and I dry heaved in the driveway.
Artemywalked by me, leaving me there. Milandro and Leon followed closely behind. “Artemy,” I gasped through my dry heaving, my throat closing, tears stinging my eyes as I tasted the bitterness on my tongue. “Artemy…”
But he never turned. Brayden patted my back awkwardly until my stomach settled. He grabbed my arms again and pulled me inside, closing the gates behind us before locking it.
I shrugged off his hold and ran after Artemy. “Artemy! Please listen to me. Please.”
But my legs weakened. I went down in a heap but struggled after Artemy. “Give me a chance to explain, please. I was going to tell you the truth. That’s why I wanted to come back. Let me explain. Artemy!”
But he never looked at me. Not even once. None of the men turned. I was left on the ground, crying after Artemy, begging for him to listen.
“Artemy. Please,” I whimpered. “Just let me explain.”
Brayden stopped and turned toward me. “Let it go, baby girl.”
“No. Brayden, let me explain, please.” But he, too, followed Artemyinto the house.
And then I was left alone. I sank to the ground and sobbed. Wrapping my arms around my knees, I rocked back and forth, my mind quickly going numb, my body growing colder with each passing second.
You’re my Angel.
The creek. The piano. Flowers. Artemy’s smiles. Sweet kisses, gentle caresses, and softly spoken words.
I filled my mind with the good and tried to forget the bad. It’s okay, Rebecca. You’re okay. Everything is okay. Perfect. Complete happiness. Laughter, love, and beautiful smiles. I floated and went to my happy place.
I rocked myself gently and smiled. I laid on the ground. Happy. I was happy. Artemywas kissing me. He was making love to me. We were happy.
We were at the creek, playing in the stream. Artemywas running after me. Laughter. Happiness. We were happy.
We were dancing. Artemytwirled me around the room. We were happy. I was his Angel. I was loved. We were loved.
Happy. Happy. Happy.
I smiled, pulling my legs to my chest. It’s okay, Rebecca. You are happy. Everything is okay. Nothing is wrong.
And then suddenly I was thrust back into reality. I didn’t feel anything for a minute. I felt so cold.
But then my skin was on fire. I was burning. My skin prickled as if thousands of tiny bugs were crawling under my skin. I scratched and scratched. I was sobbing again, my chest squeezing with so much pain, it was impossible to breathe.
I had to explain and make Artemylisten to me. Even if I had to resolve to beg on my knees, I would. But he needed to know the truth-from my side.
Swiping away my tears, I went to stand up but fell back down again. My legs wouldn’t support me. My body was weak from my panic attack, and my vision was still blurred with dizziness.
So I crawled. I had to get to Artemy, no matter what.
When I reached the steps, I swallowed and wiped off the sweat on my face. Holding onto the banister, I stood up and walked up the three steps.
I stood in front of the porch and went to take a step forward.
But never got the chance.
Milandro stood in front of me, blocking my way. I breathed out a sigh of relief. “I need to speak to Artemy. Please, let me in. Let me talk to him and explain,” I begged, holding onto his arm.
But he sent me a glare so cold that I cowered away. Milandro grabbed my arm roughly, and I squeaked as pain shot through my muscles. He pulled me away, and my knees buckled underneath me. But still he didn’t stop.
He pulled me down the steps, and I shook my head wildly. “No, let me go. Milandro, let me go! I need to talk to Artemy.”
But he didn’t stop. Instead, he pulled me toward the gates, my legs dragging behind me as I tried to force him to let go.
He was stronger. I was dizzy, sick, and weak from my melt down. It wasn’t a fair fight.
“No. Let me go. Milandro! Stop!”
He did. I bumped into his back, and he swiveled around, his face filled with hatred and anger.
“Bitch! Do you really think Artemywants to see you? After what you did?” he snapped, his lips curling up in disgust. “You are more delusional than I thought.”
“No. Let me go!” I said, frustration and desperation building inside of me. “I don’t care. I have to make him understand why I did it.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “You are really delusional,” he said, spitting at me.
I stood there, completely shell shocked by his action. He was dragging me again. I begged him to stop. I choked out a scream.
“You little whore. He doesn’t want to see your face. Ever again. He wants you out of his life and far away from him,” he uttered, breaking my heart even further.
This couldn’t be happening.
I dug my nails into his arms and scratched, hoping Milandro would let go. “No! He wouldn’t do that. Artemywouldn’t do that.”
Milandro turned around and threw me over his shoulders. “No!” I punched his back repeatedly. “Let me go. I don’t believe you! Artemywouldn’t say that. He wouldn’t.”
“Artemy!” I screamed, my voice hoarse. It was useless. My voice was scratched raw. I sounded like a newborn kitten.
“Milandro, let me go. Artemywill kill you. Don’t touch me. He wouldn’t say such a thing. He would never cast me out of his life like that.”
I wanted to believe the words I threw at Milandro. But deep in my thoughts, maybe he was right.
I mentally screamed in denial.
I had to believe in Artemy. Even if he hated me, I was sure he would talk to me himself. Not send one of his men. But what if?
What if he hated me so much that he couldn’t bear to see my face?
No. Artemy-the ArtemyI knew, he would never do such a thing.
“You are lying. Let me go,” I kicked at Milandro.
“Your father killed his mother and sister. He hates you, Rebecca. Deep loathing. If you come into his sight, he will kill you without a second thought. You would never get a chance to speak. He is not the man you think he is. He is a killer. And you are his enemy,” Milandro said, chuckling at the last words.
“Artemy!” I screamed, but my voice was low and croaky from my tears. He would never hear me.
“Do us all a favor and get the fuck out of here,” Milandro said, pulling me down. We were out of the gates now, and I felt a rush of panic.
I pushed at Milandro. “If Artemyhates me and really wants me out of his life, he will have to say it to my face. Only then will I believe him. If he kills me, then so be it.”
I tried to walk back in, but Milandro grabbed my arm, pulling me away. “Fuck off, bitch.” I struggled, not giving up without a fight. I had to fight-for me, for Artemy, and for us.
Milandro pushed me away, and I would have fallen if it wasn’t for another set of arms.
NO!
His touch…my skin burned under it. My voice was gone again as I retreated into my head. I screamed internally. Screaming so much until it felt like my insides were going to combust.
His touch alone was enough to drive me insane.
My eyes widened, and I gasped loudly, my breathing coming out harsher as I felt panic claw at my throat. Fear slithered its way into my body and mind until my soul knew nothing but fear and pain.
His grip was strong, and I couldn’t move away from him. I was paralyzed as I saw Milandro walking backward, leaving me alone with the devil.
I tried to struggle, but my body wouldn’t move. I submitted under the devil’s hold because my body didn’t know what else to do. It was so accustomed to submitting to that man, it was the only thing it was capable of doing.
My muscles tensed and locked until it hurt. Panic spread through me as I slowly started to go numb, unfeeling.
“She’s all yours,” Milandro said before closing the gates.
And then I was alone. With Raffaele.
I was too overcome with fear and pain. My head felt like it was going to explode in two. My heart was already broken. How does someone live without her heart? Because mine had shattered in thousands of pieces. I felt it shatter. My whole body and soul felt it.
And this time, I knew it was beyond repair.
Raffaele’s grip tightened, and my stomach dipped. I repressed the urge to retch as dizziness took over again. An obsidian darkness surrounded me, and I wanted to scream.
Artemy! But no words were uttered.
Raffaele pulled me away, and when he pushed me into the car, I screamed.
“Artemy!”
But it was too late.
The door closed, and Raffaele sat beside me. I crawled away from him, plastering myself against the door as the car started moving. No. No. No.
I pulled at the door, trying to open it, but Raffaele wrapped his hand around my hair, roughly pulling away until my scalp burned under his assault.
He slammed my head into the door. Once. Twice. Pain splintered its way into my skull, and my cheek ached. I could taste blood in my mouth.
“You’ve been very bad, love. But it’s time for you to come home now,” Raffaele said, keeping my cheek pressed firmly against the door. I winced as tears splashed down my cheeks.
He pulled me so that I was facing him. Raffaele smirked, but his eyes were on fire. My blood ran cold.
My death had come sooner than expected.
“Time for you to go to sleep.”
My eyebrows furrowed, and then I screamed when I felt a sting in my thigh. I looked down to see a syringe in his hand and the needle in my thigh. “No,” I slurred.
His stares were cold and unfeeling, just like him. The back of his hand smacked across my face, and I flew against the door, my head cracking under the pressure.
I was losing myself as darkness clouded my vision.
“Artemy,” I whimpered.
Raffaele roared and pressed my face harder against the window. “You will learn to never say his name again. I think you forgot that he handed you over to me.”
I tried to shake my head, forcing my eyes open even though I was slowly fading away.
“I think I’ve been too easy on you before. Now, you will feel what real pain is.” Raffaele whispered his promise into my ears, his nail digging into my cheeks painfully.
A wash of numbness filled me, and I shuddered violently, my body crumbling and weakening under his hold and the drug he gave me.
My eyes rolled into my head. This was it. My reality. My fate.
All I could do was cry and stay still as the drug took over and the dizziness threw me into a cloud of darkness and despair.
I submitted to the heavy hold that was pulling me under, and my eyes closed.
My final thought as darkness took over was Artemy.
I’m sorry, Artemy. I love you.
His name was a mere whisper in my head as I lost consciousness.
Artemy.