Chapter 54

Angelo.

I know I promised myself that I wouldn't let Alessia go if I set my eyes on her. But after seeing her, and the words she threw at me, something chained me down. And just like that, I watch her walk away from me. Without taking any action. Without trying to hold her back.

Funny enough, the lies I kept telling myself that I had moved on hit me like a ton of bricks. How could I not dig deeper into the research? I wasted a month over searching for her and in the end, I allowed her to slip away from me.

My phone vibrates from my pocket snapping me out of my trance. I picked it up without checking the caller ID. “Hello, dear friend. No time no talk. Your thought just crossed my mind and I decided to call to see how you’re doing.” My jaw clenched hearing the familiar voice of Dominic.

“Cut the bullshit, Dominic. What do you want!” I spat. I knew for a fact that Dominic wouldn't call me just like that unless he had something up his sleeve.

“Meet me at my house. I have some business to discuss with you.” And the line went dead before I could say anything further.

I immediately dialed Kelvin’s number. “Get our men on standby to Dominic’s house and tail Alessia. I'm sure she has left with Ryan already.” I said through the phone.

“Noted, sir.” I slipped my phone back into my pocket before taking off.

The drive to Dominic's villa was half an hour. He chose a location that was quiet, away from the buzz of the city. I had two of my strongest men follow me inside while the rest stayed back together with Dominic’s men.

I was taken inside the big living room. This wasn't my first time visiting his house but I didn't fail to take notice of some of the changes he made to his living room. “You're here faster than I expected, Angelo.” He was seated on one of his master’s chairs, in a robe with legs plopped on the table in front of him while he drank.

“I’m not staying here for long so don’t waste my time,” I said as I sat down. Dominic’s lips curved up into a sinister smile. “I don’t know why you’re always in a rush. As if you’re on the run. You’re my guest so I need to serve you with good treatment.” He lifted his finger and summoned the guards standing behind him loaded with guns.

“Get-”

“Don’t waste your time, Dominic, I’m not here to have a drink with you. Let’s get straight to the point.”

His eyes lingered on me for a while before he smiled lightly. “If you say so. You know I’m a man that likes beating around the bush but I will drop that today for your sake. How is your search going? Were you able to locate him?”

I didn’t want to show my anger at him yet so I sat calmly. “Who are you referring to.”

“The girl’s father of course. Or should I say your woman?”

“You mean your business partner.”

“He might be my business partner but it won’t be bad to help him right?”

“Don’t even dare, Dominic! I won’t allow him anywhere near Alessia.”

He took a sip of his drink and relaxed more. “He’s her father.”

“He doesn’t have that right. He lost that the moment he abandoned his daughter. Alessia doesn’t deserve a father like Enzo!” I spat, my nose flaring with anger.

“Wow. You’re serious about this. When don’t you allow her to decide for herself instead of doing that for her.”

“Because it will break her if she learns that a killer is her father.”

Dominic said upright looking at me straight in the eye. “I now understand why you’re hell-bent on sending her back home.” My hand tightened on the couch armrest.

“Are you surprised that I know about your little plan? Well, I have my eyes everywhere. I know every move of the people around me. So, let’s say Enzo has a hand in your father’s death. What does that have to do with Alessia? If I understand why you’re so crazy about sending her, was because you don’t want to feel bad when you bring him down right.”

I didn’t say anything and instead gulped down my saliva. There was something Dominic was good at, getting on my nerves. He knows how to push me to the edge. But I was good at keeping a calm composure. “Enzo isn’t the only suspect here. You are the biggest one, Dominic. Enjoy your time a little bit more. I will expose your crimes.”

“You have said that for the longest time and nothing has happened. Should I consider it a bluff?” He ended with laughter.

“I don’t care how you consider it but I will do things my way. You and Enzo should watch your back because I will attack mercilessly. He won’t stay hidden forever.”

I sat up to my feet. “And it doesn’t matter whether Alessia is his daughter. She is also a victim. I just want to protect her from a monster like him. Goodnight.” With that, I turned on my heels. However, his next word stopped me in my tracks.

“How is your mother? Is she still blaming you for your father’s death?” I swallowed down a bitter saliva my jaw clenching. I hurried my steps out without answering him.

“Give me the car keys,” I said to one of my men waiting outside the car. He passed it on to me without arguing. “No one should follow me,” I ordered, then hopped inside the car, ignited the engine to life, and drove away.

My heart was filled with pain and vengeance. Yes, I knew I hadn’t been able to get solid evidence against Dominic. I still have to dig out the truth that will prove him guilty. I still have a long way to go but I believed I would achieve that. My phone buzzed from beside me with a text.

Kelvin: Alessia and Ryan are still out.

I hit the steering wheel in more frustration. Alessia being with Ryan has added more layers of anger to my already raging self.

Instead of texting back, I called him. “Go back home.”

“Why? I thought—”

“Just leave Kelvin.” I spat irritatingly. Silence followed for some seconds before he spoke up again. “Where are you?”

“None of your business,” I said hanging up the call and dropping the phone back on the car seat.

**

My head was spinning from the amount of bottles I drank. I can’t even make out my surroundings. I just needed to forget everything that transpired today. Preferably Alessia. I was about to gulp the remaining from my third bottle when it was snatched away. “Getting yourself wasted won’t solve your problems.” Kelvin sat down next to me.

“How did you locate me? I thought I told you to go back home.”

“How can I when you’re not in good shape? Look at your wasted here. How would you drive yourself back home?”

I looked at him, giving him a death glare. “That is none of your business. I don’t need your help. I don’t need anyone’s fucking help!” I nearly lose my balance from trying to snatch the bottle from Kelvin’s hand.

“Give me that, Kelvin,” I warned.

“I am not going to allow you to waste yourself like this. This isn’t the Angelo I know. You can’t waste your life because of a woman.”

“Because of a woman?” I repeated a chuckle escaping me. “Yes, I am doing this because of a woman. Why? Because I messed up.”

I know I did pretty badly. I shouldn’t have pushed her away in the first place. My visit to Dominic’s house had waken me up. “Yes, I want the best for her but I didn’t want her to hate me.”

“I saw the hatred she has for me when I first took her in my captivity today. She was hurt by my actions. What do you expect me to do if not waste my life like this.” I lamented bitterly.

“If Marco had been here, he’d definitely mock you. Because he was the one most angry about your actions.

I didn’t say anything and instead kept gazing into one particular spot. The table.

“He can do whatever he likes. What I’m more worried about is Alessia.”

“You should be worried about yourself here, Angelo. I honestly don’t know why you’re trying so hard to please her. She doesn’t even know the truth. So cool off.”

I shook my head in disagreement. “It’s just a matter of time before she finds out. I can feel it. I know it will break her.”

“But you have done that already by pushing her away. Do you think she’d forgive you for hiding the truth from her later on? This is the best time for us to take our revenge. Enzo is a ruthless man. He would think twice before attacking. He’d use Alessia as a weakness. And you know it.”

“That is what I’m afraid of. When it comes to her I want to do anything. Maybe it would be better if I let her go.”