Chapter 93 Force My Hand
Serena's POV
I was ready to leave, to walk away then face the consequences of my actions my way.
Afterall, I started this, and I must be the one to end it.
But Dante stood in the way of the elder.
“Elder Moretti, forgive her ignorance and give me a moment to speak with her,” he pleaded.
I looked away, not willing to talk about anything involving my unborn children.
“Mr. Russo, it's only the respect I have for you and the bond I had with your dad that's keeping me here. Do as you wish,” he replied.
“Thank you, Elder. I appreciate,” Dante said and tugged at my hand.
I resisted at first then he pulled me up so I followed him against my will.
He took me towards the corner of the office. “What are you thinking?!” He asked, trying his best to suppress his voice.
I looked away immediately. “I'm doing what's best for my children,” I replied firmly.
“Listen to yourself, Serena. Do you have any kids?” He asked with a frustrated sigh.
“Not yet, exactly why I can't go around selling off their future for my past,” I replied firmly again.
He ran a hand over his hair and stared around. “And what if you don't make it to have children? What if you die before that time? Would you have the children you are so desperately trying to protect?” He shot back.
I folded up slightly as I hadn't thought of it that way. But still, signing up to have my children taken the way I was taken wasn't something I'd do easily.
“You don't understand,” I replied.
“Oh I perfectly do,” he replied sharply, then took a deep breath. “I understand that you don't want to give your children the same torrid experience you had while growing up, I get. But you need to understand that this is the only way,” he continued.
“Then I'd rather die than sign that paper,” I replied without thinking.
Dante nodded carefully. “Are you sure about what you are deciding now?” He asked.
I nodded confidently. “I'm very sure,” I replied.
He took a deep breath, shaking his head then looking away. “Well, sorry to inform you, Serena. But it's beyond your choice alone now. You need to sign the dotted line,” he said in a hard voice.
“What do you—” I tried to say but he cut me off.
“Topic's closed, you are signing that paper whether you like it or not,” he spat out.
“Are you really going to force me to do this?” I asked in shock.
“Apparently it's what you want,” Dante replied in a hard voice that shattered my everything.
I stared at him, hoping he didn't mean it or we would add a smile or punch line.
But no, he stared at me with a hard look that suggested nothing was coming afterwards.
I nodded, knowing this was coming, knowing I had little or no choice from the beginning.
This was never in my favor, he had always cornered me, I had no choice from the moment he dragged me into his world.
Dante nodded back. “One day, you'll thank me,” he said.
I swallowed my response, my anger, my pain. I guess nothing had changed from the day he dragged me into this life, I was still his toy, still his possession.
Dante strolled back to the table and I reluctantly followed.
I had no excitement in me, no reason to smile.
The elder stared at me as I approached the table, then he smiled. “The children will have the right to swear loyalty to this family, it's only if they don't, that death will be the choice,” he explained.
I didn't know whether I should be happy with those words, or if they were aimed at comforting me or making it worse.
So I said nothing as I reached the table then crossed my hands over my chest.
“We are not wicked, you brought this upon yourself. It's either you submit yourself now as the price, or you submit those to come. Someone has to pay,” he added.
I barely met his eyes as the choice had already been made and it wasn't mine.
“She's aware now, she'll sign,” Dante replied and the elder nodded.
Then he sat back to get to writing but his phone began vibrating a few words into it.
“I have to take this,” he remarked and got up, walking over to the corner and speaking briefly into his phone.
Then he walked back and sighed deeply. “I need to go somewhere now, we'll have to pause this,” he remarked.
Dante looked pretty much frustrated. “We can't quickly have this done now?”
“No, I need to go now, it's very important. You can come tomorrow to have everything concluded. I'll be taking my leave now, Mr. Russo,” he said hurriedly as he arranged everything on his desk to its rightful place.
“Thank you, elder Moretti,” Dante remarked as he got up with a bow of his head.
“You are always welcome, Dante” the elder replied as Dante turned and gestured to us to step out.
I strolled out with my arms crossed over my chest like I was still angry when in truth? I couldn't be any happier.
At least I had one more day before I had to sign my children into doom.
One more day to try and convince Dante otherwise, or maybe find my way out.
“You must be over the moon,” Dante whispered to me as we approached the reception.
I looked straight, refusing to say a word as I kept my ‘I am angry with you’ face.
He only smiled and then exchanged looks with the receptionist before we stepped out.
Outside felt so much cooler now, like the air was more refreshing all of a sudden.
Dante and Nico walked ahead and discussed something among themselves.
So I pulled out my phone and immediately texted the unknown number fella.
“Hey, we need to begin making plans for me to escape tonight.”
I sent and took a step, aiming to push my phone back into my bag when a reply came from it.
I paused on the spot as I read over the scary words.
“I hope you said goodbye, it may just be your last.”
The words stared right back at me as I couldn't un-look them now I had.
My last? Could he in any way be referring to my death?
Only one way to find out.
I texted back immediately. “What do you mean?”
I waited for a reply as I glanced up at Dante and Nico, careful not to be caught.
It soon replied.
“The elder, I fear for him.”
I looked back instantly, staring at the entrance to the building like the elder would just walk out.
Could he be in trouble?