CHAPTER 94 - out of control

"Why do you think that?" I asked, intrigued.

"You don't remember, do you? I tried to talk about Angel back then, but you were too busy torturing, killing everyone in your path... Every day, I was reminded of that girl saying how similar you were to Ethan, when in reality, you acted and were just like our own father!" I tried to recall your plea for help, but it was unsuccessful.

"Forgive me, brother, if I hurt you... This doesn't need to continue, we can resolve it without anyone getting hurt," I reasoned, attempting to bring clarity to your mind.

"Filipe, Mon Amour... You can't believe this, especially him, who never listens or helps... It's obvious this is a ploy to make you lower your guard!" Angel countered, pouting.

"No, it's not... Filipe, look at me, we don't need to kill each other. We can live in peace, seek the necessary help, and move forward, enough with the deaths!" Davina intervened, trying to calm everyone down.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ENOUGH WITH THE DEATHS? NO, NO, WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED!" Angel shouted, beside herself.

"Adam, if you truly don't want war among us... Step down as the leader and announce me as your successor!" Filipe proposed.

"What? Why would you do that?" I clenched my fists.

"With Ethan's followers and yours, I'll never be weak again. I can protect the woman I love from everything and everyone!" Filipe affirmed, his hands clenched in anger.

"Filipe, who do you need to protect her from? Who's after you guys?" I asked, suspicious.

"Who will be soon as soon as they find out she's alive!" He asserted.

"I can protect them, enough of this nonsense..." I tried to convince him.

"See? He doesn't take him seriously!" Angel conspired.

"That's not true!" I refuted.

"Ah, isn't it? Then why have you never forgiven him for the girl??" She smiled challengingly.

"Because he always thought he was better than me, always Ethan's favorite!" With disdain, Filipe responded.

"That's our difference, Filipe. I don't play the victim in front of everything I've been through and all the mistakes I've made... I own up to my damn mistakes and endure the consequences, if necessary, for the rest of my life! I don't justify them, I always strive to avoid making them, you can't make things right if you always do wrong. I couldn't forgive you because you always justified and never accepted what you did!" I exploded, tired of this ridiculous charade.

"You didn't understand, you don't know what I did and why I did it!" He defended himself.

"Nothing justifies it, it's in the past, there's no reason to let what's already been determine our future!" I affirmed. "Enough of this, stop your manipulation games!" Angel intervened again, creating chaos.

"We're not playing... you are!" I declared.

She looked at me angrily.

POV: DAVINA

I felt like I was in a dream, one of those where everything happens around you and your mind can't keep up or believe it... It took me a while to snap back to reality. Filipe kept the gun pointed at Adam, making him disarm. They were in a heated debate about mistakes, the past, and the handover of the Dom title.

"Angel kept interfering, playing with Filipe's mind all the time. It was clear that he was caught up in a deep conflict."

Before Filipe left the room we were in, Angel presented her proposition casually... she wanted to kill him! She acted as if it didn't affect her, getting close to him and explaining that it was just to make me feel comfortable and stand by their side...

It was evident that Filipe doubted her sincerity. He glanced at me and stood still for a while, lost in thought, before deciding to leave and confront his brother. Angel then erupted in anger as if another personality had taken over, grabbing me forcefully by the arm and placing a knife against my neck.

"Either you're with me or against me, Souer. I hope you make the right choice!" - She coerced me. Then she dragged me outside into the midst of the chaos... There was no reason to prolong this. Why did she want to bring down the Mavromatis and our father?

"Angel, answer me honestly." I pondered before asking my question.

"Go ahead."

"Why are you so determined to take over the mafias and bring them down? What's the purpose?"

"It's simple. I'm tired of these men trying to shape our destinies. They think we should live subservient to them, tiptoeing, pleasing them, living beneath our true potential!" - Angel replied, fists clenched, fiery gaze, and an almost psychotic demeanor.

Filipe stared at her, visibly puzzled by her response. It was exactly what he needed for Angel to reveal her true intentions.

"I understand, but with Filipe in control, things won't be any different. You'll still just be a wife!"

She laughed, a cold look in her eyes.

"No, I won't be... I'll seize power, ignite a revolution within the mafias, and break these shackles. I'll be who I want to be, how I want to be... Without needing them to accept every aspect of me, without relying on that!"

She put her hand on her face, lost in thought about her words.

"So your plan also involves bringing me down, doesn't it? Did you ever truly love me?" Filipe challenged, consumed by fury.

Her voice and demeanor changed abruptly.

"Of course, of course I loved you, sweetheart... You've always been a prince, but... it's just that... well..." Angel hesitated before continuing. Suddenly, her anger spoke louder and more intensely: "It's just that you're TOO weak to be by my side!"

"Filipe, can't you see? She was using you." Dom interjected.

Filipe scratched his head, confused.

"No, no, she wasn't... She's just tired and troubled, needing help, right? Right, DAVINA? You saw..." Filipe seemed as disoriented as Angel.

"I know it's hard to believe..." I responded cautiously.

"SHUT UP!" Filipe yelled, losing control again, pointing the gun at the henchmen once more.