Chapter 2 : A Stain In The Rug
1367 Words
Angeline slowly turned, meeting the cold gray eyes staring back at her. His gaze was icy—like a predator counting the seconds before pouncing.
Her heart raced faster. She parted her lips to speak, to defend herself, but the words refused to come out.
It wasn’t out of guilt. She had done nothing wrong. But deep down, she knew no one would believe her.
The room fell silent. The strippers who had been dancing paused. The music was turned off, and Angeline felt everyone’s gaze on her—sharp and accusing.
“I…I didn’t do it. I didn’t poison him,” she said, but her words, which should have come out firm, only sounded like a quiet plea.
Not enough to convince even herself, much less anyone else in the room.
One jerk of his head was all it took for his large bodyguard to walk toward her, grabbing her arm harshly.
“She’s coming with us,” his firm voice rang out.
Angeline’s face paled with dread. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t poison him!”
Her eyes fell on the table—the two other glasses that had been left untouched, and then the last glass whose content had been halved.
Her gaze shifted to the old man, who looked like he was on his deathbed. Her worried expression morphed into confusion, realizing she had been dragged into a mess she had no hand in.
“Kaden, what the f**k?” the other guy, who had been quiet, roared in anger. “Why the f**k are we taking her with us? I should plant a bullet in her head right this instant.”
His hand dipped into his coat, pulling out a shiny revolver, which he pointed at her.
Angeline’s heart slipped into her throat.
“Don’t.” Kaden placed a hand on his arm just as he was about to pull the trigger. “Let’s take her in for questioning.”
Angeline let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. But once Kaden shot her a glare, that breath was sucked right back in.
Her throat went dry. These people were going to take her with them. They would kill her.
She tried to wiggle her way out of the bodyguard’s grip, but that only made him tighten his hold, nearly crushing her bones.
“Fine then,” the other guy gritted out.
“Wait, I really didn’t do anything. I’m being falsely accused,” Angeline managed to say.
Kaden covered the distance between them, the sound of his polished shoes sharp and cutting against the floor.
He was towering over her in seconds, his tall frame swallowing her whole. His movements were so fast she didn’t even see him pull out a gun.
The next thing she felt was the nozzle shoved right into her mouth, her lips forced around it, his fingers resting on the trigger.
“One more word. One more lie, and I’ll blow your brains out,” he said, his tone chilling.
Everything about him screamed danger, and it was then her slow brain finally picked up on the truth.
He…they were mafia.
She stiffened as the realization hit her like a wet slap, her heart thrumming violently in her ribcage.
Then he withdrew his gun, stealing her breath with it.
She said nothing more. She didn’t dare to.
She was dragged away and shoved into a sleek black car.
No one said a word—not even her manager—as they watched her being taken.
Better her than them, right?
Two bodyguards sat on either side of her small frame. The engine revved to life, and then they drove her out of the club and down the road.
Angeline’s eyes watered as she felt her life dangling by a thin thread.
She was one hour late, and she was sure Maria was already at the front door—not because she was worried, but because she wanted to milk her dry of any cash she had.
Her father barely cared what happened to her. And if she died right now, they would only feel annoyed that she wasn’t around to work like a horse for them.
Aside from that, they wouldn’t care.
And the thought felt like vinegar being forced down her throat.
The car soared through tall golden gates that had been pulled open for them.
Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of a grand mansion, one of the most luxurious things she had ever seen in all of Milan.
These people were rich, powerful, and dangerous.
They would kill her, and not even a whisper of it would be heard.
She was dragged out of the car and led into the mansion, straight into the luxurious living room.
Golden lights, rich mahogany furniture, sparkling tiles, and an air wrapped in wealth.
And then her eyes caught a large picture on the wall, an old man dressed in a crisp black suit. Even from the picture, she felt the power he exuded, and a name written underneath it: Alessandro Kathros.
Kathros?? Angeline turned pale.
Every living person in Italy knew of the Kathros; they were the strongest and most powerful mafias in existence. Just the sound of their name made grown men tremble.
These two men must work for the Kathros then, meaning they were even more powerful than she thought.
Her heart raced in her chest as she waited for both men to come and question her.
Her hands turned clammy, her black wig sticking to her face.
Then dull footsteps against the clean tiles drew her attention to the entrance.
A man who appeared calm strode in, draped in a blood-red suit, his hair combed back neatly.
She didn’t recognize him as one of the men from the club.
“Sit,” he ordered, his tone sharp and commanding, leaving room for nothing but compliance.
Angeline sat on one of the chairs, rubbing her arms nervously. “I-I didn’t do it. This is all a misunderstanding,” she quickly said.
His lazy eyes swept over her, and what looked like a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“We know,” he replied, the words making her eyes widen.
“W-what?” she stuttered in confusion. “But they said—”
“They just needed a figurehead. Sure as hell Kaden poisoned him himself,” he said indifferently.
Confusion morphed into anger, simmering in her veins.
They had framed her because they knew she had no standing. No one would care enough to confirm the truth, and they could simply get rid of her to clean their mess.
“Does this mean I can…leave?” she asked hesitantly.
His green eyes locked onto hers. “You would be wiped off like a stain on a rug.”
Worry flashed in her eyes as she processed his words.
“But don’t worry,” he added. “I’ll talk to him.”
His words were meant to calm her, but she only became more uneasy.
Why was he offering to help her?
She dug her nails into her palm, wishing this nightmare would pass like every other one.
“Tha—” she barely got the word out when the loud sound of the doors bursting open cut her off.
Sharp footsteps followed.
Then the devil himself appeared.
Kaden.
His hair was tousled, his eyes blazing.
Angeline rose to her feet in panic.
Kaden walked toward the man she had been speaking with and punched him square in the face.
The sickening sound of bone cracking echoed through the room. Blood gushed from the man’s nose.
Kaden pulled out his gun and slammed the butt of it into the man’s face, making him groan painfully.
Then his finger rested on the trigger, the nozzle pointed directly at him.
Angeline couldn’t tell when her feet moved or when she grabbed the vase sitting idly on the table.
But she swung it.
Hard.
It smashed against Kaden’s head.
Time seemed to pause.
Kaden slowly turned, unfazed by what she had done, unaffected even by the warm blood trailing down his head.
Those stormy gray eyes locked onto hers.
- Writer
