Chapter 7 Seven

• Serena sat on the cold, marble floor, her eyes downcast, shadows dancing across her face. She'd been caught, and the weight of it settled heavy in her stomach. How did he even know about her? What was she going to do now? Her gaze drifted upward, locking onto the towering figure before her. Adonis stood with his back turned, his broad shoulders squared, resembling a statue chiseled from granite. Serena's heart pounded.
• Who was he? He looked like the type who was a drug dealer or an assassin. Could he be either? Or both? Serena knows that isn't the most important thing at the moment. Aria is.
• With that, she got up on her feet. As she rose to her, Adonis turned, his piercing eyes cold, "And where do you think you're going?" he asked, his deep voice low.
• Serena's voice trembled. "My sister, Aria. She's in trouble. I need to get to her." Adonis's glare intensified, his eyes narrowing. Hastily, Serena added, "I need to save her before he does something to her."
• Adonis didn't need to ask who the 'he' was; It's obviously Camillo. He then raised a brow. Her sister is with Camillo? "Who is she with?" He had to understand something.
• Hesitation filled her eyes. She fidgeted with her dress. Should she tell him? Why should she? He's just a random assassin that slept with her and that knows her secret. As she contemplated, his voice snapped at her," Talk! "
• Serena's eyes snapped up, "Someone... I was supposed to meet him last night," she stammered, her heart racing. What if Camillo had harmed Aria because she hadn't shown up? The thought terrified her.
• "The person who drugged you?" Adonis's voice dripped with incredulity. "And you're still willing to go to him? You're aware he drugged you to take advantage of you, right?" Is she into Camillo also? Fools, he thought.
• Anger flashed across Serena's eyes, burning bright like embers. "You don't expect me to sit idle when I know he can do anything to my sister!" Her voice trembled with desperation. "Besides, what does it matter now? You've already done it!"
• Adonis arched a brow, his gaze piercing. A small scoff left his lips, the sound dismissive. "This petty little thing," he muttered.
• If Serena went to Camillo, Adonis knew his brother wouldn't hesitate to keep her. He might even. And Adonis couldn't let that happen. Not now, when Serena had become a valuable pawn in his game.
• Initially, Adonis had wanted to sleep with Serena solely to enrage Camillo, to disrupt his plans. But witnessing Camillo's obsession with this fiery redhead, Adonis conceived a better plan. Serena might just be his key to defeating Camillo.
• Using Serena to set a trap for Camillo wouldn't be bad at all. Adonis was certain that by the time he was done, even she would be shattered. But first, he needed to ensure she stayed away from Camillo, who would obviously stop at nothing to claim her.
• He looked down at her, "Stay there and don't go anywhere." And not waiting for her to respond, Adonis opened the door and dashed out, the wooden panel swinging wildly, almost hitting her in the process. Serena's eyes widened, startled.
• What just happened? Where was he going? And did he just say not to go anywhere? There's no way she's listening to him. She has to go to Aria. Serena frantically scanned the room, her eyes scanning every inch for her phone. Finally, she spotted it tossed into a corner. She then rushed to the door, ready to leave.
• But as she twisted the door handle, her brows creased in frustration. Was it stuck? She attempted to open it again, but it refused to budge. Her eyes widened, panic creeping in. Was it locked? No, it couldn't be. She didn't hear the click of a lock.
• Yet, with each futile attempt, reality sunk in. The door was locked.
• Serena's shoulders fell. She dragged her feet to the bed and slumped on it, exhausted. What kind of a fate was this? She slept with a scary stranger who knows her secret and her sister's life was on the line. Just then, her phone rang and she checked the screen. It . It was a call from a private number.
• Serena sat up and picked the call, heart racing. It could be Camillo. Before she could say hello, a loud, shrill scream blasted through the phone speaker and then, the line went dead.
• Serena paled. Aria.
• ***
• Urgent footsteps echoed through the elegantly designed office. A tall figure paced up and down, rage etched on his face like a scar. Camillo's sapphire eyes blazed with fury, his jaw clenched.
• What was he going to do? It was already noon. Wouldn't Serena come for her sister? He'd ordered his men to make the girl scream into the phone, no matter the cost. He was certain Serena would come running, and when she did, he'd trap her.
• He planned on capturing her the moment she stepped into his path. He wouldn't let her escape again. And then, he'd make Adonis pay for touching her.
• Camillo's fist connected with his palm, the impact resounding. This wasn't his plan at all. He'd intended on drugging Serena and trapping her which was why he added aphrodisiac and... Camillo froze. He had added aphrodisiac and Fertilaé to the water. Fertilaé was a potent drug boosting pregnancy chances, were meant to secure his plan.
• But Adonis had slept with her. What if...?
• A loud, angry yell ripped from Camillo's lips as he picked up a stapler from his desk and flung it across the room. The metal object shattered against the wall before clanking on the floor. Goddammit! He couldn't let Serena get pregnant with Adonis's child. He'd lose everything – his inheritance, his Serena. No! No! That wasn't happening.
• Camillo's mind raced. No way Adonis would claim victory. Not now, not ever.
• Camillo's phone vibrated in his pocket. He retrieved the phone and checked the screen, his eyes scanning the message. A text from Petros Andreas.
• "Dinner tonight by 7. We have things to discuss."
• Camillo replied with a brief, "Yes Father" before tossing the phone onto the polished mahogany desk. His mind returned to the issue at hand.
• He began pacing again, his footsteps echoing off the white tiles. The soft thud of his Italian leather shoes resonated through the room. He needed to think, and fast.. All his life, he's strived to be better than Adonis in all ways. To show he's more capable than Adonis. But Adonis was always on par with him or a step ahead. .
• "That bastard just wants what's mine." Camillo muttered, a bitter smile twisting his lips. He would devise a plan, ensure everything unfolded according to his design. He would crush Adonis, no matter the cost. Camillo's gaze drifted to the city skyline outside.
• Just then, a loud bang shook the room, making him jolt slightly . He spun around to see Matteo rushing towards him, panic etched on his face.
• Before Camillo could unleash his fury for the interruption, Matteo cried out, "They've taken her, sir!"
• Camillo's brows shot up, "Who?" he growled.
• Matteo's gaze fell, his voice barely audible. "The little girl, sir. Aria."
• Camillo's face darkened. "What?!" he roared, his brows flying up. The sound shook the room, echoing off the walls.
• Matteo crumpled to his knees, "They attacked the house where she was kept. We don't know who they are. They took her and killed some of our men."
• Matteo knew Camillo wouldn't take this lightly. And he was right. In a rage, Camillo began to pummel Matteo, hitting and kicking, cursing, "Voi sciocchi incompetenti! That girl was my only way of bringing Serena here! Damn it!"
• (You incompetent fools!)
• Matteo managed to yell out an apology, but Camillo was beyond reason. With one hard, last kick, Camillo sent Matteo rolling. Blood escaped his lips, staining the plush white rug.
• "Find out who did this," Camillo spat. "I want them dead." Matteo nodded, scrambling to obey.
• Camillo's jaws clenched. It was Adonis, wasn't it?