ANTHONIO’s POV
I pulled Aria along with me, her struggles futile as I dragged her through the secret passageway. My heart raced with excitement, my mind reveling in the thrill of the chase. I had outsmarted Matteo and his friends, and now I had the prize.
As we emerged into the hallway, I quickened my pace, my eyes scanning the area for any signs of pursuit. I spotted one of my vans, parked discreetly in the shadows, and made a beeline for it.
I tossed Aria into the back, her muffled cries music to my ears. I bound her hands and legs with rope, silencing her protests with a rough hand over her mouth. She squirmed and kicked, but I held her firm.
“You’re not going anywhere, my dear,” I sneered, my eyes gleaming with triumph. “You’re coming with me, where you’ll be safe from Matteo, from Ben, from all those who would seek to take you away from me.”
A gunshot rang from a distance, I tossed her over my shoulder, her weight slight, her struggles growing weaker. I held Aria tight, my heart racing with fear. I had been so close to escaping, but that gunshot had ruined everything. Now, I was trapped, hiding away like a rat. I glared at Aria, her eyes flashing with anger even in the face of captivity. She was a feisty one, I’d give her that. But she was also a means to an end. A way to get back at Matteo and the rest of them.
I smiled to myself, my mind working overtime. I would wait until they thought they had me cornered, and then I would strike. I would show them all that I was capable of.
Aria struggled against me, but I held her firm. “Don’t bother,” I whispered in her ear. “You’re not going anywhere.”
I looked down at her, my eyes lingering on her face. She was beautiful, I had to admit. And right now, she was nothing but a pawn in my game of revenge.
I leaned in close, my voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re going to help me get out of here, Aria. And then, you’re going to help me take down Matteo and the rest of them.”
Aria’s eyes flashed with anger, but I just smiled. I knew she had no choice. She was mine now. And I would do whatever it took to get what I wanted.
I emerged from the shadows, Aria held tight against me, the gun pressed to her temple. Charles’s eyes widened, his smirk growing wider as he took in the scene.
“Ah, Anthonio, you madman!” Charles exclaimed, his voice dripping with excitement. “Why did you hide away?”
I laughed. “Shut up, Charles,” I spat, my eyes locked on his. “I’m going to fucking kill her!”
Charles chuckled, his eyes gleaming with a manic intensity. “Oh, go ahead.”. Charles said, unbothered.
I snarled, my grip on Aria tightening. “You’re just a foolish old man, Charles. Do you think I’m playing games? I’ll fucking kill her!”
Charles’s grin grew even wider, his eyes flashing with a mad gleam. “Then go ahead. But I must remind you, I’m faster, so my bullet will get to before your bullet gets to her head”. He said, stressing the word head.
I heard footsteps behind me, and I turned to see him. It was the perfect moment. Matteo, weakened and vulnerable, standing right in my sights. I couldn’t resist, I had to take the shot. I pulled the trigger, feeling a rush of excitement as the gun fired. Aria screamed, but then, out of nowhere, Alonzo appeared, his massive frame stepping in front of Matteo. The bullet hit him instead, and he grunted in pain as it struck him.
I cursed under my breath, my eyes locked on Alonzo in disbelief. How did he…? No, no, no. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Alonzo’s eyes met mine, fury burning in them. “You’re not taking him down, Anthonio,” he growled, his voice low and menacing.
I snarled, my mind racing with anger and frustration. How dare he interfere? I’ll show him, I’ll show them all.
I raised my gun again, ready to take another shot at Matteo, but Alonzo stood before Matteo, protecting him from me.
“You decide to betray me brother”. I said to him, and he held my gaze, his hand trying to the bleeding on his right arm. Matteo was just there behind him. The man I wanted a few steps away, and I couldn’t get to him.
“Stop this madness! Carter is dead! Stop it”. Alonzo struggled to say.
“Suit your fucking self!”. I yelled.
I unleashed a flurry of bullets, watching with satisfaction as Alonzo stumbled back, his massive frame crashing to his knees. But as I turned my attention to Matteo, my triumph was short-lived. My gun clicked empty, and the chamber was dry.
“No! No! No!”. I whispered.
I didn’t hesitate, my rage and frustration fueling my next move. I shoved Aria aside, not caring where she fell, and launched myself at Matteo with a fierce battle cry.
My fists flew, aiming for his face, but Matteo was too quick. He dodged out of the way just in time, my blow grazing the air.
I stumbled forward, off balance, my eyes locked on Matteo’s smirking face. But as I charged at him again, I felt a sharp pain in my side. Alonzo, still on his knees, had managed to land a lucky punch.
I stumbled back, my vision blurring, my anger and frustration fueling me even more.
I unleashed a flurry of punches, my fists flying wildly as I tried to take down Matteo. But he was a formidable foe. His face, a mask of determination, took my punches well.
Alonzo’s choking gasps grew fainter, his body limp on the floor, but I didn’t care. My focus was on Matteo, on taking him down.
But Matteo was a manly beast. He shook off my blows, his eyes flashing with anger, and counterattacked with a powerful punch that sent me stumbling back.
I lost my balance, my feet flying out from under me, and Matteo pounced. He pinned me to the ground, his fists raining down on me like a hailstorm.
I tried to defend myself, but Matteo was too strong, too fast. He hit me again and again, his blows relentless, until his hands were covered in my blood. I couldn’t feel my face anymore. I was powerless. So this is how it all ends.
As I lay there, helpless and beaten, I saw Carter emerge from behind Matteo, his eyes wild and crazed, his knife glinting in the light. He was covered in blood, his chest stained and bare, and his face was twisted in a snarl.
But before he could strike, Charles appeared out of nowhere, his gun raised and ready. He fired a single shot, and Carter’s eyes went wide as the bullet hit him in the head.
Carter’s body crumpled to the ground, his knife slipping from his grasp, and Matteo turned to face Charles, his eyes thanking him.
Charles smiled, his eyes glinting with a mad gleam. I turned back to Matteo, and I saw him staring at my battered face with a smirk on his face. He pushed his thumbs into both my eyes as I struggled to push his hands away. I heard him grunt out loud like a beast. This was the real Matteo Marino, a beast, the rumors were true. I screamed as he drove them in even deeper till his thumbs were fully in.
I’ll see you soon, Daya.