Chapter 40

Chapter 40
40

Jennifer

We were close to our son, outside of the brand new built grey-black constructed loft. I gulped, thinking of every worst possibility that could appear to bear. My heart was trembling, I couldn't breathe properly because of excessive unhealthy anxiety, my hands were cold and sweaty and most of all, I had it all on my face. My guts failed to mask it from my husband who seemed as if he would score at least one killing tonight.

He stopped the car right before the main door, following cars behind us circled around the targeted area and all armed men occupied their assigned spots. I, on the other hand, stayed in the car until Luciano himself came to my door's side after making sure there wasn't any predicted danger for me.

Wondering how he agreed on taking me with him with all this harm standing ahead of us?

This year I learnt a new skill; that I could emotionally trap him in my net. Although he was all against on taking me with him, but I had my dad's blood racing in my veins; I was born to be stubborn and that's a superpower in my eyes, I made myself clear on this many times.

"Strawberry, you will stay behind me, anything could surprise us with no greetings, I don't want these surprises to fuck us, especially when you're willing to worry me to death," Luciano wasn't an innocent man, but his concern always made me admire him for his only-for-me innocence. He had a nice heart but only due to his circumstances, he was pressured to become something of this sort; a chaotic knife guy.

He was holding my hands firmly as if he would never leave me; that was a great feeling to have until I glanced again at the loft, thinking there was no time for six and sevens. As he was about to abort the black mission, I pulled him back with my fragile might, for one last time. "You did all the talking work, it's time you listen to me," Again, anything could be waiting for us inside and who knows who would be the one to come back without bullets. So, I had to deliver my ted-talk now.

"I know this is wrong timing to say but I have to. I hoped for tonight to be special for us but it's ending this way. If..." I made contact with his hazel orbs, blinking, biting the inside of my lip and gathering courage to say this even when I knew how harsh his reaction on this could be, "If anything happens to me by chance, please do take care of our son, I know you love him, but you will have to give him—,"

"Don't you spill a single word after this. Enough. I'm not ready to listen to your if-something-happens-to-me bullshit, I told you to just follow what I asked you to do even after convincing you in every possible way to just stay in the car and now you really have balls to say things like you will leave me alone. Tell me, do you really wanna leave me? Am I terrible enough to deserve this?" He gnashed, jerking my whole existence. If I was a cold-hearted woman, I either would leave him already or take revenge for my suffering by killing him.

But I wasn't a cold frigid bitch, I was velvety-hearted and he was aware of my nature at first glance. That's why he fell for you. "I—I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, I promise," I blurted out, noticing the anger morphing into softness. Mario came forward, whispering something in Luciano's face to which he nodded and Mario left us alone. I didn't miss giving him a what's-going-on look.

He didn't reply to me, just walked to the main door with my hand in his. My eyes fell on the holster attached to his waist, that was the cause of my growing anxiety. Luciano entered the password and the main door unlocked with a click. I gulped when Luciano slammed open the door and darkness welcomed us. Filling my lungs with enough air, I matched steps with him. Luciano's arm snaked around me as his men spread everywhere. "Don't be afraid, I'm with you," He whispered in my ear as we walked to the main lounge.

Suddenly the loft was lit, the sudden outburst of light made me squint for a second, but the blurry vision didn't miss to catch a tall object. I blinked twice before my vision stabilized but meanwhile, I heard the guns cocking. "Relax, relax, guys, I'm not your enemy, I'm just an innocent man," I didn't miss a second to recognise the familiar voice. Nikola, that fucker who had my son, not stood before my sight, clapping his hand. "Bravo bro, bravo! I have never seen you standing close to a woman let alone you're hugging one, that's quite a lot of improvement I must tell you," Was he aware he was annoying to an extent where a person could beat him to death? If not, then that's how he's gonna die.

I glanced at Luciano who didn't leave me even after hearing his brother ridicule him. My eyes turned to glare at Nikola but before it, I had a glimpse of a huge painting behind him; that was of a gorgeous brunette girl, her bluish oceanic eyes stood out first than her plump lips painted in red. She was partially naked and that somewhat upset me because she didn't look like a whore, she had a virgin face and the fact I didn't leave unnoticed she resembled me, a lot.

A bucket of ice water cascaded on me.

But then, Nikola saw me checking her out, his clearing throat got me out of trance and a smirk appeared on his evil face as if he knew what I was thinking. I was about to ask about my son when he interrupted, '"Ah...Ah... my beloved sister-in-law before you start insulting me, I would like to ask what's the secret ingredient you used that turned him into a sex freak from being so gayish..." I didn't understand but the way he looked at me made me insecure as if he was jealous, and it wasn't only observed by me but Luciano pulled me closer to his chest, "Seriously Luc? A child in one stroke? That shit happens when you hold your desires for too long. But I admit you've got a good dick, I'm sorry for calling you bad names earlier,"

"Just shut the fuck up and tell me what nonsense is this? Why have you abducted Luca?" Luciano's chest reverberated, internally flinching me as my sensitivity always showed up at the worst timing.

"Fuck what? Abducted? You think I abducted my nephew? C'mon man, I took him with me just to have some fun with him, why are you red for nothing?" He scoffed as if it was fair to take anyone's baby with him without enlightening the parents. I pitied the woman who would be his wife.

"Excuse me, walking out with my baby with no permission to take him away exactly makes you a captor, I'll file a complaint against you to the police, you rascal!" I budged from my position only to get a tighter hold of Luciano's arm. "Hand me my son back!" If Luciano would loosen his hold for even a nanosecond, I would be punching his brother in the next tick.

Nikola's hands up in the air, gesturing to me to slow down. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, you are still a feisty cat, don't you, that's why I like you till now," Every bit of my strength fell into a trashcan when a shiver ran down my spine. His lustful eyes were the reason. Above everything, he admitted his evident interest in me.

"Just give me my son back and fuck off from my sight, you psycho!" This man had the balls to stand in front of me as if he did nothing. He was beyond proud, to an insane level. May God have mercy on him because if he would stay this way, I was sure he would get killed really soon.

But due to extreme arrogance, he scoffed again, proudly. "First of all, it's my loft that you've trespassed and second, I have every right to have some quality time with my nephew, whether his mother likes it or not and third I won't tolerate you CALL ME WITH NAMES AGAIN!" He went from cool guy to lava in a matter of a blink.

I scooped into my husband who heard my heart beat like a bat out of hell. "Nikola, you should've kept in mind it's my wife who you're raising your voice upon, beware the next time, I still have authority to give the real name behind the heroine loan and throw you to Russians, the rest you can imagine what can happen," I didn't miss to see that horrifyingly dumbfounded look Nikola had, this threat did have an effect on him. My heart was smiling, my heart backflipped in bliss. This man had become the best thing that had ever happened to me. I never had anyone standing up for me.

His anger flushed away "Don't you think you are not in a position to threaten me? I mean I am not done playing with my nephew," His words stabbed me equally. No. Nikola I'll burn you alive if you drag our newborn between this messy situation.

"Enough, Nikola!" Luciano left me and dashed to him, grabbing him from the collar, Nikola's hands raised high in the air. Luciano threw him on a couch, raising two fingers that made his men rush every here and there. Both of them glared at one another. I felt a presence behind me, snapping my head back, I found my guardian ghost; Audrey.

"Oh girl, you scared the shit out of me," I muffled.

"Cerca, cerca ovunque, ma non lo restituirò finché non toglierai queste fotocamere o non le riprenderò da solo. (Search, search everywhere, but I will not return him until you take these cameras off or I shoot each of them by myself)," Nikola laughed. I frowned and wondered why he spoke Italian.

They continued to argue. I turned to Audrey, "Can you tell me what he just said?" I whispered in her ear, she cleared her throat, her face clearly telling she didn't know if she should translate it to me or not. "Audrey, tell me, I'm not requesting now," I commanded, sternly.

"He said he will not hand him in until master will take down all the cameras from his loft," She told me and by the look on her face, I knew she didn't lie, but one question... Why the cameras?

"Why are cameras installed here if he doesn't need them?" That was confusing until she explained.

"Because Mr. Nikola is accused to murder a woman for his pleasure. Master Luciano has cameras to keep an eye on him against his will," She elaborated and I forgot to breathe. What kind of lunatic Nikola was? He fucking killed a woman for his sexual gratification? Poor soul who didn't know death was near her.

"And now, Luciano isn't removing these cameras, what if Nikola damages or turns them off?" I asked as my curious cat stuck out its tongue in excitement.

"He did. Many times. But some cameras are hidden and can't be spotted. Also, master has men behind him, so he can't run away from him," This information told me enough about the man I was married to. If someday, by chance, I would try to escape him, it wouldn't be possible at all. If he was keeping an eye on Nikola, I could be under that list too.

"Found him, master!" A guard's voice echoed to our ears. It was coming from behind, turning in that direction. My eyes turned upwards, to the first floor, where he was pulling a girl who was holding my baby toward the stairs. I had this urge to rush to grab my son from her but my legs didn't move.

But when that girl walked in the limelight. I gasped. This was the girl whose painting was on the wall. She walked toward me, handing me the baby tremblingly. Her eyes glanced at me frighteningly but shot down when she saw me gaping at her. She looked even more beautiful from close. "Thank you," I didn't say it intentionally, it mouthed off on its own.

"He's a humble guy, we are already friends," She whispered softly, taking my heart in her hands, her voice was smooth as silk. I already felt a pull toward her.

Caressing my Luca baby skin, I placed a kiss on his cheek. "Yeah, I know he is friendly. He is my everything," I told her, warmly. She gave me a cute smile. Which made me smile back. She wasn't only beautiful by face, but also by soul. Her face again got tense as if she was scared. "What's wrong?" I politely asked her. I think she was under this maniac's effect. "Did he hurt you?"

"N-No, he didn't," She shook her head in small movements, telling me enough she was under severe fear.

"I can help if you need someone to get you out of here," I offered her as my helping worm activated.

"Just take care of him, do not leave him alone again, he is too young to be away from his mother," Her innocence sparked in her words. She merely looked above eighteen, and I couldn't help the thought she looked like my younger version. I wanted to give her a hug out of love.

Luciano interrupted us, taking Luca from my hands and caressing his skin. As he was done admiring him, his eyes fell on the girl. An 'Oh' left his mouth as if he recognised her. Of course, why wouldn't he? That huge painting in Nikola's loft could make anyone guess her. "We have met again," Luciano said with a strange look and I looked at him, frowning inwardly. I knew it wasn't business but I felt like enquiring for my well-being.

The girl nodded helplessly, her eyes to the ground, her body visibly shivering. I pitied her.

"What's your name?" I didn't care if her name mattered to me but I wanted to know for the future. I wasn't secure anymore, this girl was beautiful and my husband knew her already.

"K—Kris... Kristen," Her accent stood out this time. She didn't sound Italian. It's an American mixture.

"Are you from Texas?" Hope she didn't mind asking me questions. I took it a yes as she lightly nodded to my question.

"Can you stop bothering my blueberry?" Nikola popped out of nowhere and stood beside the girl named Kristen. A jerk in her body was before our eyes. She definitely feared this monster. If he could kill a call girl then this poor soul was no issue for him at all. But everything aside, the nickname really got my mouth hanging in the air. He copied his brother, didn't he? "You can see I have a girlfriend and we deserve privacy," Nikola's eyes were on me. "So, my sister-in-law, will you help me convince your husband to respect my private space?" He smiled, mixing two emotions; softness in a devilish way.

"Do you want that too, Kristen?" I asked to spot one more confirmation that she wasn't comfortable with this man and he was holding her captive. Again, a criminologist woke up in me.

"Yes, Kristen. Tell them, what do you want," did he threaten him in code words?

"She can speak for herself," Luciano snapped at him.

"Uh—Yes, I agree with Mr. Nikola," To say that Mr. Nikola was from her mouth was odd, that was an underestimation, it was obvious. She had a problem and she needed help or he would kill her.

"Like she said, she agrees. Also now, you have our little Luciano in his father's hands, I think the best is you leave," Nikola grinned.

I gazed at Luciano who blinked his eyes in a yes. "Alright then, we shall take a leave for now," I formed a formal smile. "I will come to meet you once again, it was nice seeing you," Twice. The portrait had her in awfully short dress but here, she was wearing a long floral skirt, full sleeves plain white blouse and her hair tied in a ponytail.

"Same to you, sister-in-law. Oh, and... I'm sorry, I didn't apologize for not coming to your wedding, I was occupied with my business, you know. But we will invite you both to have a meal with me. Wouldn't we, my blueberry?" Nikola scooped an arm across her shoulder and she bowed her head more, her fear had my conscience screaming to help her, but I could not.

"Y..Yes, we—will,"

"Let's go, strawberry," Luciano placed a hand and pushed me gently to walk out.

"Goodbye, happy fam," Nikola waved as we passed him and everyone followed us to their respective cars. As we settled inside ours, Luciano handed me Luca who was peacefully sleeping in my arms now.

"This girl is in danger," I exclaimed as soon as he stepped inside the car.

"I know, I'm handling it," He replied back, calmly.

"How? Your brother can kill her too," I stated and he looked at me suspiciously. I knew he wondered how I knew. "Someone told me about that incident," He inhaled deeply and fastened his seatbelt. "How can you get her out of here?" I was too much about her. Her dried face was plastered to my memory.

"It's not your problem to worry about. We just got our son back. The best you can do for me is to keep yourself away from this guy, he is insane,"

"That's exactly what I'm trying to tell you, he is crazy and he can hurt her too," I didn't realize I shouted until Luciano's eyes shot on Luca who stirred in my arms. I placed my arm on his chest and he stopped moving.

"My little strawberry, I'm working on helping her out. Nothing will happen to this girl, okay?" He took my hand and placed a kiss on my knuckle. "For now, you can worry about tomorrow night because I'm not going to spare you this time," His statement got me giggling, I shook my head while he started the car and reversed it.

"You know what, we can still complete what he started before the sun rises," I winked and he got my clue.

I never realized this man would become this important to me. I still could recall the feeling I had when I spotted him standing behind me. I was crazily scared of him. I wanted to run away from him. I never thought this man would be my breath in just a year. He was difficult to understand but he was an amazing loving guy.

"Honey," I put my palm on his hand that he placed above the gearbox. I called him that because I knew he liked it. He glanced at me, leaking out a smile.

"Yes, strawberry?" I traced his lips with my eyes, too lost in them.

"Will whatever we have always stay real?" I asked him.

Since I was eleven, I had this idea of staying real with one person and now when I had him in my life, I would like to clear it with him.

"Do you have any doubt, lovely?" He smirked, grace dripping out of him.

"I don't know," A playful smirk appeared on my face. "Maybe, I need a roadmap," And this made both of us burst into laughter. We had a bitter memory attached to it.

I knew what he did to me was wrong, but he changed himself. He turned into a better man and stole my heart with his affection. And most of all, this little thing who was in my arms. He was the reason to connect me to him. Nine months changed me for good. This newborn brought a new life to me and I would always be grateful for this chance.

I hope this journey would always end well.