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

Chapter 72: Unraveling Shadows

The remnants of the confrontation lingered in the air like a heavy fog as Aemilio stood in the aftermath of Érico's death. The silence was deafening, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded. Evangelina leaned against the wall, her breathing uneven, still processing the horror of what had just happened.

"Érico..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Is he really...?"

Aemilio turned to her, his eyes darkened with a mix of emotions. "He's gone," he confirmed, his voice steady but filled with an underlying sorrow. "It was the only way to protect you."

"I can't believe it's over," she said, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I never thought it would end like this."

"It had to," Aemilio replied, stepping closer to her. "He was dangerous, and he wouldn't stop. But we need to focus now. There's more at stake here."

"More?" Evangelina felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "What do you mean?"

Aemilio exhaled slowly, raking a hand through his hair. "The men who tried to kill you—those were Raimundo's men. I didn't realize it until now."

"What?" Evangelina's eyes widened in disbelief. "Raimundo? Why would he send people after me?"

Aemilio looked away, his brow furrowing in concentration. "That's what I need to find out. There's something about you that has him pressed, something he's willing to risk everything for."

"Like what?" she pressed, the fear creeping back into her voice.

"I don't know yet," he admitted, his frustration palpable. "But I'm sending Bruno to dig into your past. There has to be a reason Raimundo is so interested in you, and I need to know who sold you and where you came from."

Evangelina's heart raced at the thought of unearthing her past, the life she had tried so hard to leave behind. "Aemilio, what if there are things in my past that I don't want to remember?"

He reached out, cupping her cheek with his hand. "We'll face it together. I promise you that. You're not alone in this anymore."

Tears welled in her eyes at his reassurance, the warmth of his touch soothing the edges of her anxiety. "I just want to be free from all of this. I thought after Érico, things would get better."

"They will," Aemilio assured her, his gaze unwavering. "But we need to understand what we're up against. Raimundo is a powerful man, and I've crossed him before. He doesn't play games. He'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants."

Evangelina felt a shiver run down her spine. "What if he comes after me again? What if he sends more men?"

"He won't be able to," Aemilio stated with conviction. "Not if we know what he's after. This time, I won't let him take you from me. Not now, not ever."

As he spoke, a flicker of determination ignited within her. "You really think we can stop him?"

"I have to believe that we can," he replied, his voice laced with urgency. "But I need you to trust me completely. We're about to dive into a web of secrets, and it won't be easy."

"I trust you, Aemilio," she said, her voice steadying. "I've never had anyone fight for me like this."

He smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth lifting just enough to chase away the shadows. "You deserve someone who will fight for you. Someone who sees your worth."

Evangelina felt her heart swell at his words, a warmth spreading through her chest. "You see me," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Even after everything."

"Especially after everything," he replied, his tone earnest. "You're stronger than you know, Evangelina. And we will find a way to unravel whatever secrets Raimundo is hiding."

Just then, Bruno entered the room, his expression serious. "Aemilio, we need to talk," he said, glancing at Evangelina before continuing. "I've been doing some digging. There are things you need to know about Raimundo and Evangelina's past."

Aemilio nodded, motioning for Bruno to continue. "What have you found?"

Bruno hesitated for a moment, weighing his words. "Raimundo has been searching for Evangelina for a long time. He didn't just want her for himself; he had plans to use her to gain leverage over you."

"What kind of leverage?" Aemilio asked, his brow furrowing.

"He believes she holds the key to some valuable information," Bruno replied, his voice low. "Something that could put him back on top in this game of power. He's been involved in a lot of shady dealings, and it seems like Evangelina is somehow tied to it all."

Evangelina felt her heart drop. "Tied to what? I don't understand."