“It's for you, tesoro,” he said softly, and waited for me to take it from his hand.
Confused and weary, I accepted the phone and slowly brought it to my ear. “Hello?” I asked hesitantly.
A voice I hadn't heard in two years sounded in my ear. “Olivia...Olivia please help me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
The Past ( 3 years prior)
Blood froze in my veins at the note of fear and despair I discerned in the fragile voice of a child.
“May!” I cried out and jumped from the bed. “Where are you, May?”
“There are mean people with guns in the house,” she stammered. “Olivia, p-please come. I'm scared.”
“May, listen to me—”
Alessandro snatched the phone from my hand before I got a chance to say anything else.
“May!” I reached for the phone, begging him to let me talk to my little sister, but he looked straight into my eyes and disconnected the line. Pure terror took hold of my entire being because I knew very well who those men were and what they were about to do to my family. “Alessandro, please…” I beseeched desperately, as my eyes filled with tears.
I expected he would pounce on me now, but he remained calm. His emotionless gaze froze on my face as he approached. I thought I would pass out from worry and fear, but Alessandro steadied me against him, snickering as if my turmoil amused him. Then, he caressed my cheek and smiled. “Shh, calm down, tesoro,” he whispered. “There is no need for either of us to get upset. We are going to discuss the situation and agree on a solution to this recurring problem in our marriage.”
Those words were not meant for comfort, but served as a warning of what was to come. “Please don't,” I pleaded with him hysterically. “Kill me, but please don't hurt them.”
He just stared at me with that smirk on his face as I turned into a crying, shivering mess.
“That's very touching, tesoro, but I don't want your death,” he delivered with cruel, unfeeling finality. “I want your loyalty. I want your obedience.”
“Alessandro, p-please—”
“Hush,” he said softly, brushing away my tears. “What did I say would happen if you ever try to run from me again?”
“A-Alessandro—”
“What.Did.I.Say?” he bit out, but kept his voice calm and composed.
“You said…You s-said…”—My teeth chattered so badly I couldn't speak—“You s-said I would l-lose a family member.”
“Tell me, have I ever broken any of my promises?'
My heart sank as I shook my head in utter despair.
He forced me to look at him. “The magnitude of your offense is so great that I should let my men blow all of their brains out, but I'm going to be merciful. I'm going to let you choose.”
I clutched my hair. “No...No...I'm sorry...Alessandro, I'm so sorry...P-Please—”
“No more tears and no more pleases, Olivia,” he warned in that emotionless, quiet voice. “Choose the fucking person.”
My jaw ached from grinding my teeth. “But I c-can't,” I sobbed. “A-Alessandro I s-swear—”
The sound of a bullwhip registered first before the burning sting that spread across my face. Wide awake from a drowsing dream, the impact had been so intense I found myself on the floor, fighting the prickle of tears as I pressed my palm against my throbbing cheek, and gazed into those cold, dark eyes. I heard him speak, but I couldn't make out his words. I was in complete shock, devoured by chilling fear. He stared at me without a trace of feeling or mercy.
Then, his lips were moving again, and finally, there was sound. “...easy way or the hard way. Last chance...Get up!”
Slowly, I forced myself back on my feet, trembling with such force I could barely keep my balance. I didn't care for the pain inflicted on me. I would have taken a thousand such slaps if he'd give up on the idea of hurting my family. Desperation took hold of me, and I glanced up at him pleadingly. “P-Please.” I couldn't help myself. I had to keep on trying. I prepared myself for another blow, but it never came. Instead, some undecipherable emotion glistened in Alessandro's gaze.
“Tesoro, I would advise you not to make me angrier than I already am, and not to waste anymore of my time,” he stated quietly. “Choose the person who is going to die because of your disobedience, so we can move on with our lives.”
I went down on my knees, giving it one last try. “Alessandro, I'm begging you...don't do this.”
“Get up this instant!” His reprimanding voice thundered in my ears.