Chapter 6 Six

• Footsteps echoed through the opulent hall as Matteo rushed to his boss's lobby. This is a disaster. He knew Camillo's temper, and this wouldn't be well-received.
• As he entered the lobby, a crystal glass cup came flying at him, narrowly missing his head. Matteo ducked, his heart racing, and looked up at Camillo. His boss's eyes were dark, red-rimmed, and bloodshot. The air reeked of whiskey.
• Barely 7 am, and Camillo was heavily drunk, his usual composure shattered. His tailored suit was disheveled, and his wavy brown hair mussed. Matteo bowed, cautious, trying not to meet Camillo's gaze.
• "Mr. Camillo," he said, his voice measured.
• Camillo's gaze locked onto Matteo, harsh, "Where is my Serena?"
• Matteo hesitated, taken aback by Camillo's state. Because of a woman who wants nothing to do with What if he finds out what's happened with Serena? Then he'll definitely go bonkers. "Sir," Matteo began, taking cautious steps towards Camillo, "we've retrieved the body of the driver who was with her."
• Camillo's expression darkened, his sapphire blue eyes blazing with fury. He rose from his chair, towering over Matteo, "I don't care!" Camillo bellowed, his voice echoing off the navy blue coated walls. "How dare you come here without Serena?"
• With a swift motion, Camillo yanked a small gun from the wine rack, pointing it at Matteo. The sudden movement almost caused Matteo to jump. "Ti sto per farti saltare la testa, Matteo!" Camillo snarled, his finger trembling on the trigger.
• (I'm going to blow your head off, Matteo!)
• Matteo froze."Sir, please—" Matteo began, trying to reason with him. This was how Camillo's last assistant died – a victim of his boss's unpredictable rage.
• "Silenzio!" Camillo roared, his gun hand shaking. "You'll bring her to me, or you'll suffer the consequences."
• With a burst of desperation, Matteo blurted, "We found her, sir. We know where she is." He raised his phone, indicating the information was stored within. Camillo's gaze snapped to the device. He lowered his weapon and walked towards Matteo. Matteo handed over the phone, cautious, as Camillo's eyes scanned the screen.
• What Camillo saw made his blood run cold. Serena, his beloved Serena, was screaming beneath Adonis. Her cries and desperate moans filled the air as he devoured her.
• His hands trembled on the device, his feet staggering backwards as if struck by an invisible blow. "No... No... This can't be!" Camillo screamed, his voice shattering the air. Matteo took a few steps backwards.
• Just then, the phone rang. It was a private number. Camillo picked up the call and a voice came through the other line, smug and triumphant, "Do you like my surprise?"
• "Do you like my surprise?" Adonis's voice dripped with smugness and triumph.
• Camillo's rage boiled over. "How dare you, Adonis! How fucking dare you!" He barked into the speaker.
• Adonis's chuckle was short and dark, a cold calculation. "I thought I might just have a taste of what you wanted. Just like you've always done to me." Adonis paused, "How does it feel to be on the receiving end?"
• Camillo's face contorted in rage, his eyes bulging. He would kill Adonis for daring to touch Serena."You're dead, Adonis," Camillo spat, his voice trembling with rage. "You're fucking dead. Serena is mine! How dare you touch her! I'm going to kill you, you bastard child!"
• The smugness in Adonis's voice vanished, replaced by a cold, taunting tone,"I'd like to see you try," Adonis sneered. "Try winning against me and see how easily I'm going to crush you." There was a pause before Adonis added, "Come for her if you dare." and the line went dead.
• Camillo let out a blood-curdling scream, flinging the phone at Matteo, who dodged just in time, letting it crash. Camillo's hands gripped his hair, pulling, as if trying to rip the roots from his scalp. "I'm going to kill Adonis for touching my woman! I'm going to fucking kill him!"
• He rushed to grab his gun, but Matteo was quick to intervene, grasping Camillo's arm. "Mr. Camillo, please. You know this could be a trap on Mr. Adonis's side"
• Although Camillo was outraged, he knew Matteo was right. He fell to his knees, covering his face as he yelled, "Fuck! Fuck!" Adonis had gone too far this time. He had the audacity to sleep with his woman, his little darling, his Serena. And that little slut, too. Was she blind? Camillo's mind reeled with images of Adonis and Serena together. So it was he who ambushed the chauffeur and kidnapped Serena. How could he have missed that? And how did Adonis know about everything in the first place?
• He ordered, "There's a spy among those men. Find him. Now!"
• "Yes, Mr Camillo!" and Matteo rushed out. Camillo pondered for a while. What was he going to do? He'll deal with Serena first.
• With that, he got up and rushed out of the lobby.
• He would kill them both.
• ***
• Serena's eyes fluttered open, but the harsh light piercing through her lids made her squeeze them shut again. She raised a hand to shield her face, only to realize her arm felt heavy. Slowly, she reopened her eyes, squinting to adjust to the radiance.
• The softness beneath her registered first – plush pillows and a luxurious duvet enveloping her. Was she on a bed? Confusion swirled, mingling with a throbbing headache that threatened to split her skull. The ache intensified, especially in the middle of her legs, where a dull soreness lingered.
• Gingerly, Serena lifted her hand to touch her hair, only to discover it felt tangled and knotted, as if yanked for hours. But then something else registered- she was naked.
• With a surge of panic, Serena sat up hastily, wincing . The room spun momentarily, forcing her to clutch the bed for support. Her gaze frantically swept the spacious, elegantly furnished room. Was this a hotel? Dread seeped into her.
• Why was she here? Naked and spent? In a hotel? Fear clawed at her chest, quickening her breath. She couldn't even remember a thing but she knew she needed to leave. Serena's legs trembled beneath her as she struggled to stand.
• She spotted her discarded dress, bra, and panties on the floor and hastily gathered them, tears welling up in her eyes. With shaking hands, she dressed.
• As she fastened her bra, Serena caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror – disheveled, pale, with haunted eyes. A sob caught in her throat. What happened? How did she end up here? Who could have done this to her? Camillo?
• Just as she mustered the strength to search for her phone, the door swung open. A towering figure entered, literally commanding attention. His disheveled curly ebony hair framed a chiseled face, and his fitted white shirt accentuated rippling muscles beneath. Olive-toned skin glowed with a subtle sheen with seductive full lips.
• But it was his eyes that left Serena breathless – piercing, fringed with thick lashes, and so familiar. Familiar? She was certain she's never met this Greek god.
• Suddenly, realization struck. Was he the one who slept with her? Serena's eyes widened in horror.
• "I see you're awake," his deep voice resonated, tempered by a cold expression.
• With trembling voice, Serena demanded, "Who are you? What did you do to me?"
• A small, sly smile spread across his lips. "That's rich, coming from someone who begged me to fuck her last night." His tone dripped with mockery.
• Serena's face contorted in confusion, "Beg...? What are you say...?" But before she could finish, memories came flooding back – Aria's kidnapping, Camillo's chauffeur, the drugged water, the crash, and when she woke up, she was tied to a bed post. Then he came in. This stranger came in and she practically begged him to fuck her and he did comply. Then she passed out.
• Serena flushed the deepest shade of red as she recalled everything. Her eyes dropped, and she stepped back. She wished the ground would swallow her whole.
• How could she? This is all Camillo's fault. Still, does this stranger have no dignity? No humanity? That he'd take advantage of a helpless lady.
• Adonis watched, unmoved, as horror painted Serena's face. Her amber eyes blazed with rage, "So?" she spat, her voice laced with anger. "Didn't you see I was drugged?! Have you no humanity? That you'd take advantage of a helpless lady?" She felt ashamed. She's never imagined she'd ever have a one night stand with a stranger. Her core ached like hell. Her first and only sexual experience had been with Camillo, five years ago, after a wild college party he threw. Then she started hitting her so she refused to sleep with him again.
• Adonis's cold demeanor made her wonder if she was confronting a soulless machine. No flicker of remorse crossed his face, no hint of empathy. Disgust filled Serena. She turned away, frantically scanning the room for her phone. "I'm reporting you to the cops."
• Adonis's response was instant, "You wouldn't dare."
• For a fleeting moment, Serena considered dropping the idea. Intimidation radiated from this man's imposing frame, his piercing gaze. But she wouldn't give in.
• "You just watch me," and with that, she made to walk out of the room. She needed to get out of this place and find Camillo first then Aria. She needed to find her sister then she'll report this rapist to the cops. But before she could take two steps, strong hands clamped onto her arms, spinning her back. Serena's cry of pain echoed through the room as her back slammed against the wall, hard.
• "Let me go!" she struggled against his tight hold.
• Adonis's gorgeous eyes locked onto hers, irritation flashing within. "You're too damn stubborn for such a tiny thing," he growled. Although Serena was of an average height, compared to Adonis, she was indeed tiny. "Keep that attitude in check, or I might have to do that for you," he warned, his gaze burning. "Shut your mouth!"
• Serena's eyes locked onto Adonis's, incredulity in them. She couldn't believe he was threatening her after what had happened. She shook her head , her heart pounding in her chest, "And if I don't?"
• Adonis's smile twisted, his lips curling upward for a second. "I'll shut it for you."
• Before Serena could respond, Adonis produced a small knife from his pocket. It was a familiar pocket knife with a red handle, stained with dried blood. Her face paled, eyes widening in terror. Her head spun, thoughts racing chaotically. Where did he find that?
• Adonis leaned in, his warm breath dancing across her ear and his calming scent invading her senses. "The police would love to know how this knife came about, wouldn't they?"
• Serena's lips parted, but words failed her. Her eyes flashed with anger, tears prickling at the corners. Who the hell is this stranger and how does he have the knife she used in killing that man?
• Adonis then took few steps away from her, satisfied with her reaction, "Now, are you going to shut up and cooperate, or not?"
• Serena slumped to the floor, weak. This is bad. So bad. "What do you want from me?" She muttered through the tears in her eyes. She never bargained for any of this. After kidnapping her and sleeping with her this strange man had the audacity to threaten her. Who was he exactly?
• He crouched before her and his long fingers wrapped around her chin lifting her face to meet his gaze. Although his fingers were cold, she felt his touch burn as his beautiful heterochromia eyes bore into her amber ones, "You'll keep quiet about everything that happened last night and do whatever I ask you to." He spoke, his voice low and commanding. "I'll keep your little secret in return. What do you think?"
• Her mind raced. Whatever he asked her to? She was scared. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to refuse but she knew she couldn't. He could easily handover her to the police then her life will be over. No that's impossible. She still needed to get out of here, to save her sister from Camillo.
• With shaky breath, she nodded and the cruelest smile curled on his lips," Good girl." and with that, Adonis rose to his feet and slipped the knife into his pocket. He's had her exactly where he wanted her.