Chapter 9
I spent almost three months in a hospital in London, having seven surgeries on my fingers.
Whenever the pain woke me up in the middle of the night, I would head
T
to the hospital’s rooftop and sit there, lost in thought. That’s where I met
Leon Ackrea.
Campagnol
He had broken his leg during a drag race for a bet and would sneak up to the rooftop to drink beer, keeping it a secret from his doctor.
I asked him if he won the bet. He
hed a bright, passionate smile. “Of
course I did. Just by 0.01 seconds, Lina. I never lose.”
On the day of my discharge, he stopped me, his face flushed, and handed me a love letter. In that instant, it felt like my lifeless heart had begun to
beat once more.
Later, I discovered he was the youngest son of a local mafia, nurtured under the care of his siblings.
When he spoke about the family business, his eyes sparkled with ambition -like a young leopard coming into its own. I couldn’t help but be captivated by him.
Yet, due to past events, our relationship has always remained in that less- than–lovers state.
I picked up my old piano dream again and applied to a local music academy. Leon would come to pick me up after class whenever he had time.
That day, I waited at the school gate for nearly ten minutes, but there was
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Chapter 9
still no sign of him.
I had just called him to say I’d go home by myself when a black van suddenly stopped in front of me. The door opened, and before I could even let out a cry for help, my mouth was covered, and I was roughly dragged inside.
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After a bumpy ride, the black cloth covering my eyes was torn off again. What I saw was Mateo’s face.
“Long time no see:”
I raised my hand and slapped him hard.
“What do you want? This isn’t America.”
He pressed the tip of his tongue against the reddened cheek where I’d hit him, showing no anger at all. He even held out the other side of his face.
“Honey, I want one here, too.”
I instinctively stepped back, unsure of his intentions.
“Mateo, you know I’ve already divorced you. I honored your request and didn’t stand in your way. What else could you possibly need?”
A hint of loneliness appeared in his eyes.
“I’ve been searching for you for a long while. I miss you.”
Missed me? He still wore the wedding ring we once exchanged–had he not married Mandy after all?
“Come back with me. I’ve been looking after your piano. Join me.”
“Keep dreaming! Mateo, I despise you, and that won’t ever change.”
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Chapter 9
His eyes turned red.
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“I know everything now—about our child. Let’s begin anew. I promise to protect you this time, and no one will harm you again.”
Speechless in his presence, I turned my face aside, avoiding his gaze.
The smartwatch on my wrist persistently sent out distress alerts. Leon had gifted it to me, and it was designed to automatically send signals if I moved beyond a specific distance.
Mateo had taken me captive and was on his way to a private airport.
hown with her hands
Leon sent a video message. In it, Mandy bound to a long rope, the opposite end secured to a helicopter’s wing.
Leon’s taunting voice echoed through the video
“Let her go, or I’ll make sure your wife is lifted like a kite right before your child’s eyes.”
The screen flickered briefly, showing a baby who looked almost a year old. My eyebrows raised in surprise. So, he hadn’t parted ways with Mandy after all. And their child had grown.
When the video finished, Mateo just switched off his phone, as if nothing unusual had occurred.
“Let me go! Otherwise, he’ll really go through with it.”
Mateo remained unfazed, responding softly. “She’s not as important as you, Lina. I would sacrifice everything for you.”
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