The Mafia's Pet: Pawn Of The Ruthless ( A Dark Romance)

Chapter 43: The Price of Speaking Up

Evangelina

I couldn't hold back any longer. The weight of the maid's screams echoed in my mind, amplifying with each passing day. I could hear her cries for help from the dungeon, a chilling reminder of her suffering, and I knew I had to confront Aemilio about it. I couldn't pretend that everything was fine when it clearly wasn't. The tension had built up inside me like a pressure cooker, and it was time to release it.

With a pounding heart and trembling hands, I made my way to his office. The thought of confronting him filled me with dread, but the injustice of what was happening pushed me forward. I found Aemilio hunched over his desk, engrossed in paperwork. The moment I entered, he looked up, his expression cold and indifferent.

"Aemilio," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We need to talk."

He didn't respond immediately, just stared at me as if weighing my worth. "About what?" he finally asked, his tone dismissive.

"About the maid. You have to stop this," I urged, taking a step closer. "She doesn't deserve what you're doing to her."

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I wondered if I had made a mistake. "Mind your own business, Evangelina," he replied, his voice low and threatening. "You don't know what you're talking about."

But I couldn't let his words deter me. "She's innocent! You're punishing her for something she didn't do!" I felt the anger bubbling up, rising to the surface. "You're a bully for doing this."

Aemilio's expression hardened, and he stood up, towering over me. "A bully?" He laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You think you can call me that? You think you can just walk in here and lecture me?"

I clenched my fists, trying to summon all the courage I had. "Yes! You're hurting someone who doesn't deserve it! What kind of monster does that?"

His eyes blazed with fury, and he stepped closer, invading my personal space. "If you don't shut up, you'll end up suffering the same fate as that maid," he hissed, his breath hot against my skin.

I gasped, the fear striking me like a lightning bolt. I couldn't believe he would threaten me so openly. But instead of backing down, I felt a surge of defiance. "You don't scare me!" I shouted, my voice trembling but fierce.

His demeanor changed in an instant. He closed the distance between us, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look into his eyes. "You should be scared," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "You have no idea what I'm capable of. If you keep this up, I might just have to make an example of you."

The threat hung heavy in the air, and I felt a cold wave of fear wash over me. But I pushed it aside, refusing to let him see how much he affected me. "I'm not going to stand by while you destroy someone's life," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Aemilio stepped back, a cruel smile curling his lips. "Then maybe you should go suck my brother's dick," he sneered. "You're of no use here. If you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of my way."

His words cut deeper than any blade could. I felt a mix of anger and humiliation, and for a moment, I was speechless. "You're a monster," I managed to say, my voice shaking with a combination of rage and fear.

"Monsters don't scare easily," he replied, his voice dripping with disdain. "And if you don't keep your mouth shut, I'll gouge out your eyes and cut off your tongue. Then we'll see how you feel about talking back."

I recoiled at the vividness of his threats. It was like a punch to the gut. "I didn't mean to disrespect you," I stammered, struggling to catch my breath. "But the maid—she should be released. She's not the cause of this mess. I am. Please, just let her go."

He crossed his arms, his expression cold and calculating. "You really think I'll listen to you? You think your pleas will change anything? The maid will pay for what happened. That's the way it works around here."

My heart sank. I had hoped he would see reason, that he would understand that torturing someone innocent was not the solution. "But it's not fair!" I cried, my frustration boiling over. "You're punishing the wrong person. She's just doing her job!"

"Her job?" Aemilio spat, taking a step closer again, his anger palpable. "You think this is about jobs? This is about power, Evangelina. About showing that I'm not weak. If I let her go, it will make me look like a fool."

"Then what's the point?" I demanded, feeling desperate. "If you want to show strength, then show it by protecting the people who work for you. Don't you see that you're only creating more fear and hatred?"

Aemilio's gaze hardened, and he leaned in closer, his voice a low growl. "You really think you understand how this world works? You're nothing but a toy, and toys don't get to dictate the rules."

I recoiled at his words, the harsh truth cutting deeper than I cared to admit. "Maybe I'm just a toy to you, but I refuse to let you treat others the same way. I won't stay silent while you hurt people."

He glared at me, his expression filled with fury. "You think you're so brave, don't you? But bravery without power is just foolishness. And I won't tolerate it."

I took a step back, trying to regain my composure. "What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you just want me to watch as you destroy everything around you?"

"Destroy?" he repeated, his voice mocking. "I'm not destroying anything. I'm establishing dominance. And if you can't accept that, then you'd better learn to keep your mouth shut."

I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. "I can't just stand by and watch this happen. I won't. The maid deserves better, and so do I. You can't keep treating people like this."

Aemilio's expression shifted, a flicker of something—perhaps regret or recognition—crossing his face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "You're treading on thin ice, Evangelina. I've warned you."

"I don't care," I said, feeling the weight of my words. "I refuse to live in fear of you, or anyone else. I refuse to let you dictate what happens to me or to anyone else in this house."

With that, I turned and walked out of his office, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't know what would happen next, but I knew I had to stand my ground. I had to fight back, not just for the maid, but for myself. No more would I let Aemilio or anyone else treat me like I was nothing. I was worth more than that, and I was done being silent.