MATTEO’s POV
I walked slowly behind Alonzo. My body was still weak from the drug Carter injected me. My eyes were a little blurry, but I had to push on. Alonzo turned to me smiling
“I’ll help if you help me out”. Alonzo said
I looked at him, tottering a little.
“With?”
“Help me take someone out of here safely and I’ll help you find the son of a bitch”. He said.
“My wife doesn’t have much time”. I replied but I needed his help so I decided to go with it.
As we descended into the basement, the air grew thick with the stench of mold and decay. The walls, once white, now peeled and cracked, revealing the dampness that seeped into every corner. The floor creaked beneath our feet, echoing off the walls. The only light came from a faint bulb, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
My eyes adjusted slowly, and I made out a figure huddled in the darkness. She was slumped against the wall, her wrists cuffed to the concrete. Her hair hung in damp strands, obscuring her face. She looked frail, her skin pale and clammy.
Alonzo’s sudden sob broke the silence. He covered his mouth, composing himself, but his eyes betrayed his sorrow. He approached the girl, his footsteps hesitant, as if afraid to disturb her.
“Gabriella,” he whispered, his voice cracking.
My mind raced with questions. Who was Gabriella? What was her connection to Alonzo? And why was she being held captive in this dingy basement?.
I took a step forward, my eyes fixed on Gabriella, my heart aching with concern. But Alonzo’s gaze snapped towards me, a warning in his eyes. “Don’t move, Matteo,” he growled.
My fists clenched, but I remained frozen, my eyes locked on Gabriella, willing her to look up, to see me, to know she wasn’t alone.
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut.
Gabriella’s resemblance to Daya was scary, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I never knew Daya had a daughter and with anthonio?
I struggled to keep my emotions in check, my eyes fixed on Gabriella as Alonzo helped her to her feet. She stood quietly, her eyes vacant, her expression unreadable. She didn’t seem to notice, but she didn’t seem to notice anything at all.
“Gabriella, sweetie, it’s okay,” Alonzo cooed, his voice soft and gentle. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
But Gabriella didn’t respond. She didn’t even flinch. It was as if she was trapped in her own world, a world of silence and darkness.
I felt a lump form in my throat as I watched her, my heart aching with sorrow. What had happened to this little girl? What had Anthonio done to her? And why was she so silent, so still?
I took a step forward, my hand reaching out involuntarily. “Gabriella,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “My name is Matteo, I’m here for you,”
But Alonzo’s gaze snapped towards me, a warning in his eyes. “Don’t touch her, Matteo,” he growled. “She’s fragile.”
I hesitated, my hand covered in Carter’s blood hovering in mid-air. Gabriella still didn’t react. She didn’t even acknowledge my presence. It was as if I was invisible, a ghost standing in the shadows. Ben rushed in. He rushed down the stairs holding onto his mask in one hand, but he came to a stop when he saw the scene before him.
Ben’s eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. Gabriella stood motionless, her eyes fixed on some point in the distance, her expression blank. Alonzo stood beside her, a protective hand on her shoulder. I stood frozen, my heart heavy with emotion.
“Anthonio’s been holding her captive,” Alonzo explained, his voice urgent. “I managed to get her out, but we need to get her to safety now.”
Ben’s face hardened, his eyes flashing with anger. “Charles is with Aria. I managed to get out before he noticed me. We have to hurry.”
“Where are they?”. I asked, holding my gun tight.
“His study”. Ben and Alonzo said at once.
Alonzo’s jaw clenched. “But first, we need to get Gabriella out of here before he finds us.”
I nodded, my mind racing with the situation. “We need to move, now. We can’t let Anthonio get his hands on her again.”
I looked at Ben, and he smiled at me “Take her out of here, Ben”
I watched as Ben approached Gabriella, his eyes filled with concern and compassion. But to my surprise, Gabriella shrank away from him, her eyes wide with fear. I could see the trauma and abuse she had suffered etched on her face, and my heart went out to her.
Ben seemed to understand, and he didn’t push her. Instead, he turned to Alonzo, who was whispering soft words of reassurance in Gabriella’s ear. Slowly but surely, Gabriella’s fear began to disappear, replaced by trust in Alonzo.
With a gentle nod, Gabriella allowed Ben to help her up, her eyes fixed on Alonzo as if seeking comfort. Ben’s face was filled with empathy, and he wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders, leading her away from the dingy basement.
But before they left, Ben paused, his hand reaching up to his face. He adjusted his mask, his eyes locking onto mine for a brief moment. I knew that look, that gesture. It was a reminder that our work was far from over, that we still had a long way to go to bring down Anthonio and his empire.
As they disappeared into the shadows, I turned to Alonzo, my eyes narrowing. “What’s your game, Alonzo?” I asked, my voice low and even. “Why are you helping us?”
Alonzo’s smile was enigmatic. “So you could save Gabriella.”. He sighed. “I know I wasn’t loyal to you, Matteo, but I want to help get Aria back”
I raised an eyebrow. “And what about Gabriella? What’s her story?”
Alonzo’s expression turned somber. “That’s a story for another time, Matteo. But know this: she’s been through hell, and she deserves our protection.”
I nodded, but everything went dark as my legs gave out beneath me. I felt myself crumbling to the ground, my head spinning, and the drugs had finally taken its hit. The last thing I remembered was Alonzo’s voice, distant and faint, calling out my name.