Between The Flames ⚜️Il Paradosso Book Two⚜️

Chapter fourteen

My weight shifted as I began to resurface. The lightheadedness dissipated at the feeling of discomfort around my wrists, tied together by a poor excuse of synthetic fiber that was making my skin itch.

What a moron.

Mobsters would have used handcuffs.

A matter less feeble and more difficult to cut your way out of with a tiny surgical blade hidden away in the sewn pocket in the back of my underwear.

But this piece of crap didn't know better. Or had he no knowledge of who he was dealing with?

Only metal would do Adriana Bennett justice. Otherwise, you were in for the biggest failure of a lifetime.

"Stop trying to maneuver yourself out of them, Adri. You will continue to fail."

I almost smiled at his oblivion, but instead, I performed the act of a frightened little girl by batting my eyelashes with a pathetic expression that screamed please don't kill me.

"Hasn't your time spent with a criminal for the last three years taught you anything?"

Jimmy hadn't been updated on my last two years.

"Wandering the streets alone when you know that you're in danger of being stalked by the person that you sent to prison, with a fucking life sentence."

He continued to tear apart an old t-shirt of mine, wrapping a long piece around his wounded leg just above the bullet hole.

"Does dear Antonio know that you fucked his brother?"

His head shot up, flashing me a dirty smile before proceeding to make another tear through the cloth, creating a makeshift arm cast to carry his shoulder that was soaked with a nasty blood stain forming around it.

"Does he know that you specifically went to his club that night to scope him out and gain attraction for your own personal benefits?"

I maintained my composure, allowing him to focus on his maneuvers while I silently listened to his one sided conversation.

"What will he think of you once he figures out that you are nothing but a pawn? That you were driven by your desire on vengeance for your mother and what his father did to her?"

That's it asshole, talk to me and buy me the precious time that I need to execute my plans for you.

"You know, I don't blame you. If someone were to whore my mother across all boarders and then leave her like a worthless slut, I would be fuming with anger and seek revenge myself."

He stood up, making his way around me and I felt his breath near my neck as he grabbed a fistful of my hair, painfully yanking my head back.

At least he learned how to brush his teeth.

"Don't you worry, Adri, lover-boy will soon be receiving the beautiful package that I so generously sent him with naked pictures of you and his brother in bed and find out who you really are."

He looked at me as I questioned in my mind how that was even possible. He winked. "Cameron."

I remained indifferent. My heart hammered inside my ribcage, the realization of his words dawning on me.

"And then he will recognize that you are nothing but a spitting image of your mother. A dirty, washed up whore."

His hand released its grip from my hair, only to move to my shoulders and his fingers tightened around my throat.

"You've grown into a striking little bitch."

I gulped down the bile rising up my esophagus and bit back the tears stinging the back of my eyes.