Chapter 109 Ordeal
Chapter 109 Ordeal
Evelyn
As his embrace enveloped me, it felt like an icy balm had been poured over my raw wounds, caressing my frigid heart and stitching me back together.
I trembled, gasping for air, still haunted by the echoes of their menacing words. Yet, at this moment, within his arms, I found sanctuary. Safety. He was here....that's all that mattered.
"Ja-Jacob..." I stuttered, clinging desperately to him, "They broke everything."
"It's alright, love. None of that matters," he murmured soothingly, enfolding me securely. My face nestled into the curve of his neck, his warmth thawing the chill within me. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have left you alone. I'm so sorry." He pressed a kiss to my temple, his hand rubbing small circles on my back, coaxing my frantic breaths to slow.
His gaze fell upon my wound, and a sudden tension gripped his features. "You're bleeding, baby. Let me bring the first aid kit," Jacob moved to rise, but I clung onto him desperately, vigorously shaking my head.
"Please, Jacob, don't leave me alone. Please..." I sobbed, burying my face into his chest. "Don't go. Stay with me."
"But, baby..."
"They threatened to harm you too..." I hiccupped through tears, gripping his shirt tightly, my body convulsing with each sob. "They said they'd hurt you, Jacob. I can't let them hurt you."
He released a heavy sigh.
"They won't lay a finger on me, baby," he assured, lifting my gaze and gently wiping my tears away before placing a tender kiss on my lips. "I promise. They won't hurt me, and they won't ever harm you again. I'll ensure they're locked away for the stunt they pulled today."
"What if they hurt you, Jacob?" Tears continued to stream down my cheeks as I gazed at him, the fear of their potential violence striking a chord of terror deep within me. I wanted to flee to a place far removed from anyone with ill intentions, a place where I and Jacob would be safe and Italy certainly wasn't that place for me anymore. "I can't... I can't bear to see you in pain."
"Baby, can you please tell me what they said and how it all started?" He gently guided me onto his lap, his voice soft and comforting. His left hand found its place on my lower back as we settled against the kitchen counter. "I'm right here, alright? Tell me everything, and I'll make sure those bastards won't lay a finger on you for as long as we live."
I took a deep breath, summoning the strength to recount the ordeal.
Flashback:
"You guys are Jacob's...uncles?" I was taken aback by their claim.
Why had Jacob never mentioned them before? It seemed odd.
"Yes, indeed," before I could make sense of the situation, both brushed past me and entered the apartment, as though they owned the place.
I stood there, wide-eyed, a mix of surprise and confusion flooding my mind.
What the fuck was happening?
"How long have you been living with him?" Mario inquired, raising an eyebrow as he strolled toward the kitchen and casually grabbed a box of biscuits, not bothering to seek permission as he helped himself to one.
These guys were beyond weird. Actually, 'weird' didn't even begin to cover it.
"Why do you want to know that?" I couldn't help but question, feeling a distinct discomfort emanating from their demeanor.
A smirk played on Luigi's lips at my query. "Because your beloved boyfriend owes us a debt, honey. And we're here to collect what's owed."
What the fuck!
Jacob and debt? Hell no. It was fucking impossible.. These guys didn't appear to possess a single penny, so how on earth could Jacob have borrowed anything, let alone money, from people who seemed financially strapped themselves?
It was fucking absurd.
"Excuse me?"
Before I could grasp the situation, Luigi seized a nearby chair and hurled it towards the television.
My eyes widened in shock, and I instinctively flinched, pressing myself against the door as the TV crashed to the ground, shattering into countless pieces. Meanwhile, Mario emerged from the kitchen, delivering a forceful blow with his foot, pulverizing what remained of the TV set.
They allowed me no time to react, swiftly moving on to the next target the dining table. Mario marched toward the table, wielding the same chair his brother had used moments before to pulverize the television. With a forceful strike, he shattered the marble surface.
"W-What are you doing?!" I rushed toward them, attempting to halt their rampage as they began wrecking the kitchen. "Stop! I said, stop this madness!"
But my pleas fell on deaf ears. In a harsh grip, Luigi seized my wrists and shoved me aside before they systematically dismantled the cabs, dragging the fridge and sending it crashing to the floor with a deafening thud. The resounding noise echoed throughout the apartment, tempting me to close my eyes and shut out the chaos.
I had never witnessed anything remotely like this, nor had I ever been subjected to such a scene.
I felt paralyzed, unsure of what to do. Shock immobilized me, rendering me unable to respond.
God! What was I going to do?
"Stay out of this, girl. We're not here to deal with your crap," Mario barked, continuing to vandalize the furnishings, destroying paintings, shattering vases, and glasses.
"What the fuck do you think you're
doing? This isn't your fucking home, alright?! And what debt? You two look like a couple of trashy nobodies No one in their right mind would owe anything to despicable shitty jerks like you!" I snatched Jacob's picture frame from Luigi's grasp, carefully setting it aside to protect it from being smashed. "Get out right now, or I swear I'll call the police!"
"Police?" Luigi scoffed. "We've been behind bars too many times to be afraid of that, sweetheart. And you think we look like despicable jerks you? You have no idea what these 'jerks' are capable of, to you and your precious boyfriend." His gaze darkened, sending shivers down my spine. There was something truly sinister about their aura-their energy radiated malice and darkness.
"We could end your fucking boyfriend's life," Mario threatened, brandishing a sharp knife from his pocket. I froze at the sight, my breath catching in my throat. "And right now, we could slit that pretty throat of yours. When he comes back, he'll find nothing but your lifeless body, stripped of blood. Is that what you want?" He advanced closer, and I instinctively stepped back, my heart pounding in my chest.
Would I die before laying eyes on Jacob again?
No...
They wouldn't dare.
"What's the matter? Lost your nerve? You were quite courageous with your words earlier. Feeling scared now?" Luigi taunted, his head cocked to the side, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Frightened?"
I swallowed hard, my body trembling at the sight of the knife.
What if they harmed Jacob too?
No! I couldn't allow that to happen. But what could I do? This wasn't my home. This was Italy, far from our typical paradise.
I found myself backed against the wall, a cold sweat trickling down my forehead.
However, Mario halted just a foot away from me, a grin spreading across his lips. "Don't fret. We're not going to kill you today. So, if you don't want beautiful knife marks on that pretty face of yours, stay put and don't move. We'll be out of here once we've finished."
Amidst their shared laughter, they resumed their destructive game, breaking things as if it were all a mere amusement park. The clamor filled every inch of space, urging me to find a place to hide. I trembled uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down my face as a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me. I lacked the courage to even reach for my phone and call Jacob in their
presence.
Yet, when I mustered a bit of bravery and approached them, attempting one final plea, Luigi shoved me forcefully, and I tumbled to the floor, the shattered glass piercing my knee.
I whimpered in pain, my eyes widening at the sight of my own blood.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
"We warned you to stay the hell away from it, didn't we?" Mario's voice boomed, his tone menacing. "If you dare to move again, we'll snap your fucking legs, then your boyfriend's. Don't underestimate us."
I sobbed, trembling as I extracted the glass shard from my skin, blood trickling from the wound, while they relentlessly continued their rampage,
destroying everything else in Jacob's apartment.
Flashback ends.