Chapter 17 In His Grip
1175 Words
Selene stared at the dangerous figure of Leonardo who loomed by the library doorway.
The look in his eyes was threatening. She had never seen it before. The muscles in his jaw clenched. His fists were so tight she could swear his knuckles were turning white.
His demeanor spoke of raw anger. Raw, bloody and threatening.
"How dare you, Selene ?" He asked rather too calmly as he took predatory steps towards a trembling Selene and a confused Mike.
Mike stood up with a smile, but it vanished once his eyes snapped with Leonardo's fiery gaze.
Selene bolted up at once and swiftly stood in front of Mike in a flash, keeping Leonardo and him distant. "Leonardo, please, I can explain," Selene spoke up, trying to stop the jitters from spreading across her body, but it was of no use.
Leonardo had his persistent tent gaze on both of them, his bloodshot eyes scaring the wits out of them.
"Selene, what's going on?" Mike asked calmly, but his tone had already begun failing him.
Leonardo snapped his fingers and began clapping.
"Wow. So this is what you both were up to? I didn't know you were coming to my house to f*ck my woman," he spat with a false chuckle. "Your woman?" Mike asked, his features disconcerted.
Selene felt a clog in her throat hearing him utter those words.
How did she become his woman?
Why was she even feeling accountable to him? Anger and fear created an abode within her, and she felt like screaming out.
She turned to face Mike and attempted to speak when the baritone voice of Leonardo cut her short.
"I expected better from you, Selena," Leonardo stated with a grin. "Mario, Luca, Carlos," Leonardo called out.
In a flick, three men of equal muscularity stepped inside the library.
"Se-selene, what's going on?" Mike stuttered, the eagerness and bravery he had earlier on suddenly vanishing.
"I can explain Leonardo," Selene begged, amid feelings of tears pooling in her eyes.
He hoisted his hand at her.
Before she could say another word, Leonardo's carous hands swiftly yanked her arm. Dragging her away from Mike, he pulled her towards himself with her chest pressed against his front.
He jutted his chin towards his men, who began approaching him like he was some sort of prey.
"Leo, c'mon, wh-what are you doing?" Mike asked, terrified.
Selene turned her face immediately to look at Mike's mortified features and made an effort to break free from Leonardo's captive grips, but he at once tightened his grip on her waist.
"Give Mike the punishment for messing with my woman," Leonardo authoritatively stated.
Fear masked Selene's facial features and her eyes widened in horror. No, Leo! Please, Selene cried out, tears like a river running down her cheeks.
She watched, horror-struck as one of Leonardo's men kicked Mike to the ground, causing a loud thud.
She was not even given a chance to register what was going on as the awful sounds of kicks and punches followed.
Selene's heart sank to her knees hearing the painful cry of Mike. Her legs struggled to keep her standing and she crumbled into tears.
"Leo p-please. I—I will not touch Selena…pl-please, Mike begged, his tone shivering and lips trembling with each painful and agonizing punch.
Selene screamed out and fought to free herself from Leonardo's grip, but his grip only tightened the more.
"Leonardo, please don't do this. I beg you, please," Selene pleaded, with tears distorting her vision.
"Enjoy the show princess. This is your punishment," Leonardo whispered gravely into her ear.
Selene shook like a leaf. She begged and begged, her voice becoming hoarse, but the beating didn't relent. Mike was curled up into a ball. Blood gushed from his ears, nose and mouth, creating a bloody pool around him, but the beating persisted. The agonizing and painful sounds of bones breaking filled the air.
Selene cried more and hit Leonardo vigorously on the arm, her nails clawing and digging into his flesh, but his grip didn't falter.
He instead nuzzled against the nape of her neck, sucking and stroking on different spots as if nothing was going on.
Selene could feel her knees buckling to the ground, but Leonardo's strong hold kept her afloat.
"Leo, for the sake of Maya, please," Selene at once screamed in her raspy voice, making Leonardo go rigid. Selene could feel his grip on her waist lessening and she at once freed herself from it, falling to the ground in an instant.
Let him go, Leonardo commanded sharply.
The beating died down immediately.
Selene was about to crawl towards Mike, battered and bruised, but Leonardo gripped onto her hair in a flick, causing her to flinch and painfully stand up.
She held on to his hand, wincing in pain.
"Listen here,"Leonardo growled savagely.
"The only reason I'm letting him go, the only reason I'm letting him escape his death, is because of Maya." Fear resurfaced in Selene, and she gulped, trying to calm the torrential waves of emotions surging through her like a strong tide.
"Next time you try this, I'll slaughter the man in your presence. I never want to see him in this mansion." He balefully threatened before pushing Selene to the ground.
"Ouch," Selene cried out, her elbow grazing the tiles of the floor.
Take him out of here. Drop him at a hospital. I'll foot his bills,"Leonardo ordered to his goons.
Selene watched them drag Mike's now unconscious body out of the library, leaving a nasty trail of blood behind.
Her gaze followed their steps until it locked with the trepidated form of Maya, who was perched on a corner, her frail eyes observing everything.
Selene breathing got hitched, and she almost choked on the air. Leonardo stood unfazed and exited the library, not passing a glance at the elderly woman.
Selene ponderously walked towards her, her heart already swimming in her stomach at this point.
"He banned Mike from coming here, didn't he?" Maya asked in a whisper.
Tears formed in her eyes. Selene attempted to touch Maya, but she stepped back at once.
Why did you do this to my boy Selene? I took you as a daughter, and you chose to repay me this way!" Maya screamed in tears.
Selene felt her head spin and confusion washed across her face.
"H—how? I don't understand you, Maya?"
"You don't understand? You knew fully well that Leonardo was interested in you, and you went ahead to give Mike hopes of a relationship. I bet you are happy now. I won't forgive you for this, Selene!" Maya spat angrily at Selene before scurrying her feet away, stabbing.
Selene felt a migraine throb in her head.
Nothing was making sense to her anymore. She, at some point, forgot to breathe as she tried processing what just happened.
Everything was going haywire.
Nothing was ever right in her life.
Leonardo wasn't making things easy for her. This was the life she had to get accustomed to.
- Writer
