Chapter 77 Freedom with price
Isabella POV
I didn’t have a concrete answer, and there hadn’t been much thinking that went on actually. It was just instinct, I only had seconds to make up my mind and intervene. If I’d sat there and tried to decide what I should do, he would have been killed. “I couldn’t let you die. It’s that simple.”
“But my death would have fixed all your problems, won't it?.”
“I’m aware” I could be back in my apartment right now, the shackles free from my ankles and wrists. My family would be safe. Dante was my tormentor, and he kept me as his prisoner for months and all I had to do was
nothing. “But I just” I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “Look at me.”
I refused. “Baby.” His tone was hard and soft at the same time. I breathed a sigh before I shifted my gaze back to him. “Just what?” he whispered. “You’ve done horrible things to me. You aren’t a good man. You’ve threatened to kill my family multiple times but you’re such a big part of my life now. You’re the man I’m sleeping with, the man I get jealous over, and
the man who makes me feel safe at night.
There’s two different versions of you. There’s the one I hate and there’s the other one. If I let you die, both of you die.”
He remained absolutely still, motionless like a statue. “You’re right, I could have let you die and no one would have judged me for it but it’s because of me that you were able to get revenge for your mother. You were able to put that vendetta to rest so you can move on with your life, now you owe me.” I swallowed the emotion in my voice and found my strength to remain strong. “You owe me for saving your life and you owe me for giving that fucker to you.”
I can believe I'm also calling him that. “They’re one and the same,” he whispered. “What does it matter?”
“Because I owe you for one thing, not two.” He rested his fingers over his empty glass. “And you’re right. I do owe you. I’m an honest man who honors my debts. You saved me when you didn’t have to, and I”
“Spare my family.” I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted my family to be safe from his wrath. I wanted them to continue their peaceful lives. They were so happy and had so much to be thankful for. If Dante threatened them, all the peace they worked for would be destroyed. “That’s what I want and nothing else.”
His chest rose and fell heavily with the deep breath he took. “You know I can’t do that”
My jaw almost dropped. “Are you fucking kidding me? I could have let you die”
“I know. But you need to understand that your parents took everything from me”
“Your father took everything from you because your father was a psychotic rapist. He kidnapped my aunt, raped her, and then he killed her right in front of my father. And then he raped my mother, who’s the best woman on this planet, and my father didn’t just let the past repeat itself. He did something about it
and saved her. Don't sit there and act like your father is the victim in all this”
He raised his hand to silence me. “Baby, I understand”
“Don’t fucking ‘baby’ me,” I hissed. “Leave my family alone. I saved your life so you could get revenge for your mother. You owe me, asshole. You fucking owe me. If your father wasn’t such a piece of shit, he would be alive right now. He wasn’t a good man, and we both know it. So shut up about it.”
His face remained stoic, and he didn’t get angry like he usually would. “I’ve heard you loud and clear.”
“Then you’re a psychopath just like your father.” I crossed my arms over my chest so I wouldn’t smash the bottle over his skull. Now I really did want to him kill him. “I have something else to offer you,” he said calmly.
“There’s nothing I want more than my family’s safety. That’s all I want and nothing else.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?” I countered. “What does that even mean?”
“You saved my life, and now I’ll spare yours. We’re even. I promise I’ll never hurt you, Isabella. I’ll never lay a hand on you and I’ll never try to kill you. Regardless of how I feel about your family, you’re safe.”
I stopped breathing because the offer was tempting. I was always scared that he might change his mind and send me to my early grave. Every day was a gift because he could take it away but now I wouldn’t have to live with that fear anymore. “And you’re also free.”
“Free?”
“You aren’t my prisoner anymore. You can do whatever you want. I don’t own you anymore.”
My life would be mine again. “And then we’re even,” he said. “You have my word I’ll never go back on it.”
This man made me feel equally safe and equally scared, but now there was no reason to be afraid You will always have my protection. If you need anything, I’ll be there for you. That’s
what I offer you, baby. Your life and your freedom. I think that’s more than fair.”
The original arrangement was my servitude in exchange for my family’s safety but now that that was off the table, what did that mean for them?
“Then you’re going to kill them tomorrow? Next week? My freedom means nothing if I’m about to lose everyone I love.”
He held my gaze, his look cold. I was so frustrated, I was on the verge of tears and I tried to see the good in this man, but I was starting to realize there was none. He was blinded by his hate, condemned to suffer forever because he didn’t know how else to live. It didn’t matter how much I gave him, he would never appreciate it. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, and two tears started to run down my cheeks. “I don’t understand you. I’ve given you everything. I’ve spared your life many
times but that’s never enough for you. There’s more to you than this blood lust. There’s more to you than all this hate. I know there is'
His eyes shifted down. “There’s not, Isabella. I’m sorry I misled you.”
“You didn’t mislead me. You’re misleading yourself.”
His eyes moved up again. “I wish I’d let you die. I wish” More tears came. “It doesn’t matter what I wish.” I rose from the chair and walked to the entryway. I’d left my phone and belongings behind, but I didn’t care. He could keep my paintings and keep my phone and wallet and everything else I owned. It meant nothing to me anymore. “Where are you going?” he asked, not rising from his seat.
I didn’t turn around before I got inside the elevator. “You said I was free.