Fatalé (18+)

Chapter twenty three

⚠️ Warning ⚠️ this chapter contains sexual content. Recommended for 18+ readers.

Ilaria

Since leaving the gala, I've learnt two things.

Alexei was dead and Niccolò killed him.

When we left, I thought we'd part ways just how we entered but Niccolò didn't give me a choice when he reached for my wrists and walked with me until we reached his car. The whole journey to God knows where, it was so quiet. I think the silence was needed because I wanted this time to process what had happened and what I could've done to prevent it.

Never interact with a pervert.

But my job consists of it. I clench my jaw as I contemplate my thoughts, what job do I even have? Does whatever the fuck Ricardo and Alfonso do make me guilty too as I work for them? Am I a part of what they've created? I feel my stomach tremble and my throat full. I had nothing, no emotion to use but somehow, I felt pain inside. I feel everything at once but then, nothing all of a sudden. But when the car stops moving, I realise that I was in location I wasn't familiar with and soon, I feel nothing but anger because the person sat right next to me was the reason why I had a shitty day today.

"You still haven't told me the reason for my attendance to this absurd event." I mutter. Niccolò takes his phone out and scrolls through it, unbothered and detached. I turn to the door to open it but quickly hear the violent click, when I glance over my shoulder, Niccolò had managed to lock the door before I could even get out. He stares at me, and I lose. My. Shit. "How the fuck do you know who Maksim is? Do you work with him?" I spit, my voice was breaking, it nearly collapsed but I stopped talking because if I continued, I know I would lose it all.

"No." Was all he said. His answer was simple yet it held so much. I just knew he had more to say but didn't say it all deliberately. I gave him the benefit of doubt, just that five seconds to let him explain but he didn't speak and my anger spikes. I move back and exhale a breath, turning my head away from him and closing my eyes. I could feel the tears burning through my eyes. "Your attendance to the event was for you to identify Maksim. I've never met Maksim so I needed your help." He says, "You were never going to go if I asked."

"Bullshit." I mutter, a tear slides out but I quickly wipe it. Niccolò saw it but I couldn't give a shit anymore. I've just realised I had nowhere to go because Seattle was no longer my safe haven. "You took me to a trafficking ring to get me raped. You expect me to believe a word you say? Surely you knew what you were walking into." I look away again and feel like the world was going to turn upside down again. The lack of space in this car also frustrates me and Niccolò saw it. He still doesn't say anything, and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking because I couldn't look at him right now. If I did, rage would return. I reach for the door and mutter, "Unlock the door, Niccolò. I want to get out of here."

"You can't do that." He states, "Stefano and Stella are yet to meet us, you can't leave yet."

"I'm not going anywhere with you." I state, releasing the door as Niccolò shows no signs of cooperating with me. He sighs again, like he was bored out of his mind and then, he slips his phone in his pocket.

"It's either you stay here and wait or you can wait in there," he raises his chin to the building we were parked in front of. I turn my head toward it and feel my jaw shaking, "in the penthouse. Where you'll be much safer."

"Safer?" I scoff, "That's a lie isn't it? Why haven't you killed me yet? Is Maksim up there waiting for me so he can finish the job with you?" I probe, Niccolò says nothing. "I'll never be safe around you."

My breath gusts out of my mouth when Niccolò reached for my arms and pulls me closer to him. When I was close, close enough to inspect every little detail on his perfect face, Niccolò glares at me, his eyes connected with mine, they were dark and they were in heat. I think I could see what he wanted and what he thought, he wanted to tell me I'm wrong, it was like as if it was his mission to tell me I'm wrong. My words angered him, the force he used to grab me and the way his fingers tightened around my skin said otherwise. I feel my heart beating in my chest, it was raging, it was so intense and fast.