ARIA’s POV
As I slowly opened my eyes, the foggy haze of unconsciousness began to clear, and I realized I was in a strange room. I was lying on a couch, my legs and hands tied up with ropes, unable to move. I was surrounded by Anthonio’s guards, their faces hidden behind black masks, their eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.
My gaze shifted to Anthonio himself, sitting behind his desk, his eyes closed, and a look of serene calm on his face. He was listening to classical music, his fingers tapping gently on the armrest to the rhythm. The soft melody was a huge difference to the turmoil brewing inside me.
I struggled against the restraints, but they were too tight. Fear and anxiety coursed through my veins as I realized the gravity of my situation. I was at the mercy of a madman, a man who had no problems about using violence to get what he wanted.
Anthonio’s eyes snapped open, and he gazed at me with an unnerving intensity. “Ah, Aria, you’re up,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I see you’re enjoying the music. It’s one of my favorites.”
I glared at him, my anger and frustration boiling over. “You’re a madman,” I spat, my voice trembling with rage.
He chuckled. “Ah, but I’m a madman with refined taste,” he said, his eyes glinting with madness. “And I always get what I want.”
My heart raced as he rose from his chair and approached me, his movements slow and deliberate. The masked guards moved closer, their eyes fixed on me with an unblinking gaze. I knew I was in grave danger, trapped and helpless at the mercy of a man who had no limits to his cruelty.
As I lay there, helpless and bound, I watched in relief as Anthonio’s attention was diverted away from me. One of the guards coughed, and Anthonio turned to him, his eyes narrowing slightly. I couldn’t thank the guard enough in my head.
Anthonio approached the guard, his movements fluid and graceful, like a predator stalking its prey. “Something bothering you?” he asked, his voice low and menacing.
The guard shook his head, his eyes fixed on the floor. “No, sir. Just a tickle in my throat.”. The voice was extremely familiar.
Alonzo’s gaze lingered on the guard for a moment before he turned back to me. But then he turned back to the guard again.
“Why?”. He asked him.
“I haven’t smoked in a while. It’s just a reaction to that”. He said, and I immediately knew it was Charlie.
But before Alonzo could continue, another guard rushed in, panting heavily. “Sir, we have a problem.”
Alonzo’s expression darkened. “What is it?”
The guard hesitated, his eyes darting to me before returning to Alonzo. “It’s Carter, boss. He’s dying.”
“Why?”.
“Matteo stabbed him twelve times on his chest. He’s bleeding out” Anthonio chuckled and turned to his men on his right.
“Find that son of a bitch!”. Anthonio yelled then moved to me.
His men moved out in a line while one stayed back. He turned back to the man I knew as Charles and scoffed.
“Who the fuck are you?”. He asked
As Anthonio’s hand instinctively went to his holster, Charles was quicker, his gun materializing in his hand with lightning speed. Anthonio’s eyes widened, a hint of surprise and admiration flickering across his face.
“What would you expect from the best assassin in the world. You can’t kill me, especially with a gun”. Charles said as he pulled off his mask with his gun still trained on anthonio.
“Charles Dunlop”.
“In the flesh”. Charles responded with a smile on his face.
“Also known as Charlie if I’m not wrong”. Charles nodded, then once Charles was distracted, Anthonio pointed his gun at me.
I watched in horror as the scene unfolded before my eyes. Anthonio’s gun was pointed at me, and I knew I was just a heartbeat away from death. But Charles was quicker, his gun firing a warning shot that sent Anthonio stumbling back. The sound of the gunshot echoed through the room, making my heart race even faster.
But Anthonio wasn’t one to back down. With a maniacal glint in his eye, he began firing at Charles repeatedly, the bullets whizzing past his head as he dodged and weaved to avoid them. I screamed, my voice hoarse with fear, as Charles returned fire, the two of them engaged in a deadly dance. I knew he was determined to take me down with him, and I struggled against my restraints with renewed desperation.
Just when it seemed like Charles was gaining the upper hand, Anthonio suddenly turned and ran, dragging me with him into the back room of his office. I stumbled, my legs trembling beneath, as he slammed the door shut behind us.
We were alone now, just the two of us, and I knew I was at his mercy. Anthonio’s chest heaved with exertion, his eyes wild and unpredictable. I braced myself for the worst, knowing that I was trapped with a madman. Anthonio looked at me and screamed.
“I’m hiding in my own house like a pussy, ahh Dio”. He sighed
Then, he turned to me and smiled. What I didn’t expect was a hard slap across my face. Another one came next, and I was seeing stars already, and it brought me to the ground.
“I want you dead! I want you buried the way Daya was! I want him to feel the same hurt I felt!”. Anthonio said, and then he took a step forward towards me. “But I want to see the look on his face as I drain the life from you”
Tears streamed down my face, my body shaking with sobs as I lay helpless on the floor. I felt like I had nothing left, no strength, no hope. Anthonio’s words had drained me of any remaining energy, leaving me a shell of my former self, but I hoped Matteo would find me soon. I couldn’t lose hope just yet, and when he did, I’d run into his arms and apologize.