THE MAFIA'S VENGEANCE

Chapter 2

My eyes meet Lorenzo's. He must have noticed the shock on my face.

And then—

“Shut up!”

Lorenzo's sudden shout startles me. I quickly look away, trying to hide the tears welling up in my eyes.

What kind of day is this? I should be at home, celebrating my son's birthday. Instead, I'm standing in front of the man I've spent years trying to bury in my past.

Next week, he'll belong to someone else. They'll build a happy life together. He'll have children with her.

Of course he will.

It means he's moved on. There's no longer any reason for him to be angry with me or hold a grudge against me. That should make me feel relieved.

And yet, it still hurts.

Suddenly, one of the men drags another man over and forces him to his knees beside us.

So this is what they came here for.

Lorenzo kicks him several times, then plants his foot on the man's back, pinning him to the ground. Without a word, he pulls out his gun and shoots him in the leg.

The man's scream of pain sends a jolt of fear through me.

“Consider that my thank-you for bringing me here,” Lorenzo says, his chest heaving.

I just can't afford to stand there frozen in fear. Seeing my chance to escape, I try to run. Unfortunately, Lorenzo immediately grabs my wrist.

“Handle him. I'll catch up later,” he orders his men.

Once his men are gone, he releases my wrist and turns to face me. He says nothing, his expression blank.

I'm nervous, frightened, and overwhelmed by the countless emotions swirling inside me. It's been four years since we last saw each other, and our last encounter...

I try to read him. To decipher his thoughts. To find some sign that I'm safe, that he has no intention of hurting me. Maybe he just wants to talk. Whatever happened in the past, we are still two people who share a history.

And it seems that way.

I cling to the belief that four years would be enough to dull the pain of what happened, make him stop caring, and help him forget me.

“Congratulations on your wedding,” I say, forcing a small smile to gauge his reaction. “This is an unexpected reunion. I'm glad to know things are going well for you.”

God, do I sound pathetic?

I feel like crying.

I miss him.

So much.

Four years have passed, and the young man I once fell in love with has become someone impossibly distant, someone I can no longer reach.

He's more handsome now, more charismatic, more imposing. A beard shadows his jaw, and tattoos cover his hands and neck—details that seem so at odds with the man I remember.

His frame has grown broader, fitting his clothes perfectly. There's an unmistakable authority in the way he carries himself, in every measured step he takes, in the weight of his voice.

A mature, intimidating man.

Once, I envisioned this.

But now he’s no longer mine.

“Get in the car,” he finally says.

Panic immediately grips me. “Where are you taking me?” I shake my head, taking a step back. “I can't go with you. I—”

“Get in!”

His shout makes me flinch. That's all it takes for every nerve in my body to go on high alert.

I don't dare open my mouth again.

Throughout the drive, Lorenzo drives like a madman. I have no idea where he's taking me. I keep telling myself that this is only temporary, that he'll let me go soon and I'll be able to return home. After all, he has no reason to keep me.

It takes quite some time before he finally pulls up in front of a hotel. Although I was terrified, I still believed Lorenzo would never force me into anything against my will.

Once we reach the room, he immediately locks the door. He slowly approaches me, making me instinctively back away. My body tenses as a sense of danger washes over me.

And then, I can no longer back away. My back hits the wall. “Lorenzo…” I whisper fearfully.

“Committed a grave sin, then ran away afterward,” he says, stopping right in front of me. His gaze travels over my face, cold and merciless. “Look what we found tonight. A fugitive.”

I hold my breath as his thumb gently brushes over my lips. The touch feels like an electric shock, sending a jolt through every nerve in my body.

“At first, I thought your ghost had come back to haunt me. But then I remembered,” he says, staring deeply into my eyes. “Your death was nothing but a foolish little scheme. Did you really think I'd believe it?”

His words are enough to make my entire body tremble. He suddenly leans closer, his lips near my ear, making me flinch.

“That day, I swore I'd find you myself,” he whispers before pulling back to look at me. “And I did. Even the universe knew you were a criminal who deserved punishment.”

Only then do I fully realize that he hasn't forgotten the past. His anger is still there. He still holds a grudge.

His last words from four years ago immediately flash through my mind. The fear I've been trying so hard to ignore suddenly overwhelms me. I immediately drop to my knees.

“Please…” My voice breaks. “Please, don't hurt me.”

He crouches in front of me and tilts my chin up. A sinister laugh escapes his lips. “I haven't even done anything yet.”

Unable to hold them back any longer, tears spill down my cheeks.

He watches them fall with a disturbing sort of fascination. “You look even more beautiful when you're crying.”

He catches a tear with his thumb, then tastes it. He looks like a psychopath toying with his victim before the execution.

“It could've been saltier.” His mouth curls into a faint smile. “Perhaps you're not emotional enough yet. I'll give you more from now on.”

“Please... don't hurt me…”

“You have no idea how long I've waited for this. You're in my hands now. I can do whatever I want with you. Don't even think about disappearing again. I'll turn over every stone to find you.”

His voice is deadly serious. I don't know what he intends to do to me. All I know is that his hatred runs deep.

“From the moment you gave me that letter, you tied yourself to the wrong monster, Isabella.”

He pauses, letting the words settle between us.

“You belong to me. And only me. Forever.”