Chapter Fifty-One
Minutes later, the two men returned, dragging Albert between them. Albert, a once trusted member of Antonio’s inner circle, looked terrified. His eyes darted around the room, settling on Reina with a mix of fear and hatred. He knew that his betrayal had been discovered and that there would be no mercy.
Antonio released Reina, letting her slump to the floor, gasping for breath. He turned his attention to Albert, his eyes blazing with fury. “So, you think I wouldn’t know ,” Antonio said softly, his voice a dangerous whisper. “You’ve been working with her.”
Albert trembled, his knees buckling under Antonio’s gaze. “Boss, please, I can explain,” he stammered, but Antonio’s expression hardened.
“Explain? There’s nothing to explain,” Antonio spat. He stepped forward and backhanded Albert across the face, the force of the blow sending him sprawling to the floor. “You betrayed me. You betrayed all of us. And for what? For her pussy? For this piece of trash?” He gestured to Reina, who was still gasping on the floor.
Albert tried to scramble to his feet, but Antonio’s men held him down. Antonio crouched beside him, his voice low and menacing. “You know the penalty for betrayal,” he said. “And you will pay it in full.”
He stood up and nodded to his men. They dragged Albert to his feet and forced him to his knees. Antonio walked over to a nearby table and picked up a knife, its blade gleaming in the dim light. He turned back to Albert, his expression cold and unfeeling.
“This is for every lie, every secret meeting, every piece of information you passed to her,” Antonio said, his voice devoid of emotion. He stepped forward and plunged the knife into Albert’s shoulder, twisting it as Albert screamed in pain. The men holding Albert tightened their grip, preventing him from moving.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Antonio withdrew the knife and wiped the blood off on Albert’s shirt. “Take him away,” he ordered. “Make sure he remembers this moment for the rest of his miserable life.”
The men dragged Albert out of the room, his screams echoing down the hallway. Antonio turned back to Reina, who was watching with wide, terrified eyes. “And as for you,” he said, his voice icy. “You will suffer for what you’ve done. You will pay for every lie, every manipulation, and every ounce of pain you caused Evelyn.”
He knelt beside her, his face inches from hers. “You thought you could play with me, with my people. But you were wrong. Very wrong.” He stood up and looked at his men. “Take her to the cellar. Make sure she’s secure. I want her to think about what she’s done. And tomorrow, we’ll decide her fate.”
The men moved quickly, hauling Reina to her feet and dragging her out of the room. Antonio watched them go, his mind already racing with thoughts of how to handle the situation. He knew that this was just the beginning. There were still many pieces to move, many decisions to be made. But one thing was certain: he would protect Evelyn at all costs, and he would make sure that those who had hurt her paid dearly for their actions.
Evelyn’s P. O. V
I woke up still on the same bed I was receiving treatment. The sterile smell of the room filled my nostrils, a stark reminder that I’d be staying here for a long time to recover from the injuries and sickness I sustained in the hands of Reina. My mind flashed back to the torment I had encountered while I was abducted, and how Antonio was busy enjoying Reina’s pussy. The memory of him, cut deep into my soul.
“Now, he wants to lead me on again,” I muttered silently, my voice barely audible over the steady beep of the heart monitor. I thought of how I was going to leave immediately after I recovered. There was no way I was staying with Antonio any longer. Going back to my ex, Charlie, wasn’t an option either. My plan was to ask Debbie to let me squat with her while I looked for a job. Maybe I could go back to my stripper business and start a new life. The thought of rebuilding my life from scratch was daunting, but it felt like my only option.
I was still lost in thought when I looked up and saw someone smiling at me sillily. It was Jacob, leaning casually against the doorframe.
“Hey Silly,” he said out loud, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Jacob had always been sarcastic about everything, and today was no exception. I didn’t have the energy to engage with him, so I just replied with a terse “Hey.”
“For real, I can’t believe you did that to Antonio. You’re really a…” Jacob began, his tone accusatory.
“Really? Really a what? What? Complete it. Really a what?” I snapped, my voice rising in anger. My eyes felt like they were bulging from their sockets as I glared at him.
“Wow, so I’m next,” Jacob said sarcastically, but I didn’t respond. My silence seemed to encourage him to continue. “I don’t care what’s going on in your mind, but I think you’re really crazy from the trauma.”
“Call me crazy all you want, but I promise you won’t be able to call me that when I get out of here,” I said, my voice steady with determination.
“Can’t you even be grateful that Antonio saved you? After everything he went through because of you, all you had to do was say hurtful things to him,” Jacob retorted, crossing his arms over his chest.
Unbeknownst to me, Antonio was already at the door, watching silently and listening to our discussion. His face was a mask of conflicting emotions, a mixture of sadness, anger, and something else I couldn’t quite place.
“Wow, I see you’ve joined the lying team. All of you are liars! Or do you think I don’t know? While I was gone, Antonio didn’t even bother to look for me. I thought I was a little bit important but I was wrong, I was just an ordinary stripper. All he did was fuck Reina’s wide pussy. I heard everything! Reina fucking showed me. If not for the man who saved me, I wouldn’t be here. You guys probably got me after he saved me and pretended like you were the ones who actually saved me. Quit it. Just quit it! I want to leave! I’ll get myself treated,” I lashed out, my voice breaking with tears and rage. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat a painful reminder of the betrayal I felt.
“Shut up and listen to me,” Jacob said, his voice harsh. His words hit Antonio like a punch to the gut. He immediately wanted to rush in and grab Jacob by the neck for telling me to shut up, but he held back, knowing that it would only cause more problems. I was already angry at him, and any rash action on his part would only make things worse.
Jacob took a step closer to my bed, his expression softening slightly. “Evelyn, I get it. You’re hurt. You’re angry. But you need to understand that Antonio did look for you. He never stopped looking. He even saved you”
I turned my head away, staring at the wall. “I don’t believe you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Jacob sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t have to believe me. Just focus on getting better. When you’re ready, you can decide what you want to do next. But please, don’t make any decisions out of anger.”
Antonio finally stepped into the room, his presence commanding. “Evelyn, I looked for you. I know Reina tried to frame me up. But please, listen to me. Let me prove to you that I care and that I didn’t do anything wrong ” he said, his voice filled with genuine remorse.
The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air. Antonio took a step back, his shoulders slumping in defeat. Jacob looked between us, his expression conflicted. The tension was palpable, each of us lost in our own thoughts and emotions.
I knew that my path to recovery was just beginning, and that it would be a long and difficult journey. But one thing was certain: I was determined to take control of my life, to find my own way, and to never let anyone hurt me like that again.
Go away!” I lashed out, my voice echoing off the sterile walls of the hospital room.
Antonio finally whispered something into Jacob’s ear, a command that I couldn’t make out but felt was an order to let him handle this alone. Jacob, with a quick nod, immediately left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
“Now, will you listen to me?” Antonio’s voice had changed, becoming hoarse and authoritative, reminiscent of the dangerous mafia boss he was. His eyes were dark and serious this time, a stark contrast to the Antonio I thought I knew.