67

67
Francesco 

“Why are you silent? Are you so shocked to hear my voice? It's me. The woman you left broken.”

My blood turned to ice.

Alessia Santini.

Of all my enemies, she shouldn’t be back.

My breath came in short, sharp gasps, and my legs were rooted to the floor. Move, I told myself, but my body wouldn’t obey.

“Could it be…?” My voice cracked as I forced the words out.

A soft chuckle came from the other end. Cold and mocking.

“You guessed it right. I am the real mastermind. Do you love the plot twist?”

A jolt of guilt shot through me. No. No, this isn’t happening.

I made a mistake. I made a fucking mistake.

Five years ago, when I returned on The Dark Night, I should have killed her.

I found Alessia near the mountain’s edge, The Black Book clutched in her hands. The crypt key was with her too. 

My men overpowered hers. I took back what belonged to me. But later lost the crypt key too which I have retrieved from Marshall. 

With Alessia back, my life is most likely to take a drastic fall. What the fucking hell?

I heard her click her tongue against her teeth, “Opps. So bad. Are you shocked? I am not a ghost. You let me go five years ago, remember?” 

“And that is the greatest regret of my life. I should have ended your life. I should have crushed you right there.” I shouted when I finally found my voice. 

Alessia's sinister laughter echoed from the other end. She resumed back to talking and her tone took a new one – Harsh, cold, and alluring, “How solid is that? How can you be scared after you let me live? Are you scared that I am going to take your life?” 

“Scared?” I scoffed. “Why would I be?”

“Then, why is your heart beating fast? Do you still love me?” Her laughter was sharp, slicing through my ears. Then her tone dropped again — Harsh, cold, and eerily alluring.

And, annoying as hell. 

I panicked as waves of memories surged through me. 

Back when we were kids, everyone believed that Alessia and I were childhood sweethearts. She was always around — Clinging to me, seeking my attention.

She was my first. Nineteen. Young. Reckless. And that continued for years. 

But the night I walked away from the Dante family, I walked away from her too — Without a word.

She searched for me. She wanted answers.

But I hid.

Then I met Brinda.

“I do not love you nor will I ever love you. Get that!” I spat. 

“Well then, do you want your precious little lover in exchange for The Black Book?” She asked. 

A wild laughter tore through my throat. “Do you believe that I am gonna believe a crazy bitch like you? Seriously? You telling me that you kidnapped Brinda is absurd.” 

“So, you admit she's your lover, hun? Love. Sweet. Love.” She punctuated every remark with caution, her tone filled with mockery. “If you want to see her alive, get the fucking Black Book out.”

“I'm not with The Black Book nor do I care about what you are saying.” I shot back. 

I ended the call, tossed my phone on the bed, took off my clothes and headed for the bathroom to have a warm bath. 

I needed a shower. A long, fucking shower.

The alcohol still burned in my veins, and my head pounded.

As I sank into the warm water, my mind spun with questions and I can't stop asking myself why Alessia came back?

Why now?

For a moment, I thought she was working with Marshall. But no.

She was acting alone.

She wanted the crypt key.

And she thought using Brinda was the best way to get it.

How foolish.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped loosely around my waist, all I wanted was sleep.

I returned to my bed, ready to take some nice sleep but before that I need to jerk off. I can't wait to see myself spurt sperm after sperm while admiring my handsome face through the mirror. 

Obviously, this would be the fiftieth time since Brinda's disappearance. 

As I reached the bed, my phone vibrated and I saw that it was the same private number that was calling on a video call. I decided to pick it and give Alessia a taste of her medicine. 

“What the fuck is your problem?” I raised my voice as soon as I picked the call. 

“I guess you do not believe me after what I requested for earlier, right? Well, here I am if you do not believe.” Alessia chimed as soon as her annoying face showed via the video call. 

She hasn't changed much. Just the same pretty average face. Nothing changed about her — Same body, big nose and a thick neck. 

“Bla… Bla… Bla… You've said that before. No need to waste my time. I think it's better you get your fucking ass out of my life. Bro, you look so horrible right now.” I commented staring at her in a green crop top that doesn't match her personality. 

“That's your deadbeat father's business. Your beloved Brinda is in my possession. Do you want to save her or not?” She asked a question as he tilted her head to the left. 

Now, this is looking like some bullshit, right? 

“You didn't expect me to believe…” 

I was still talking when she switched the phone's camera. 

My eyes nearly popped out of my sockets. My breathing stopped, my crawled with unease and my whole being felt weak at once. 

Fate is yet playing another cruel game with me. 

Marshall waved at me with a bright smile on his face and right beside him is Brinda who was chained to the floor. 

She was a fucking mess. 

Her hair was tangled. Her face streaked with dirt. Food remnants were stuck to her skin. She was still wearing the clothes I threw her out in. Torn. Filthy.

Has she even bathed since then?

How the fuck did she end up in their hands? 

Alessia switched the camera and rubbed her breast while making some faces as if she was fucking. “I will give you some time. When next I call, I would want a positive reply. The Black Book or Brinda's dead body. Remember that.”

“Please… Save me… Francesco.” Brinda's voice came barely as a whisper. 

What do I do? 

The Black Book

Or 

Brinda?