⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️
Graphic depictions of rape. Read at your own risk.
I will be putting the rape scene between two sets of red stop (🛑), so if you wish to skip that particular scene, you may.

Vote, comment, and share this story with your friends. ENJOY! ❤️

——————————————————

(Arie's POV)

          "Sir will have my head for this," Zaya complained, removing the gag from the man's mouth who was tied up in the basement of my home.

          "As long as you keep your mouth shut, we'll be fine." I tightened my grip around the handle of the knife and rested it against the man's lips, preventing him from speaking or screaming. Since the house was on a hill, away from other neighbors, no one would hear his cries regardless. "This is the only way I can keep myself occupied since the hospital thought it was best if I took a couple of days off in light of the recent events."

          "You should be mourning, Arie," she advised as if I didn't know this myself. I had been crying day and night, took up drinking to numb the pain, but it was useless, and almost got myself killed on the road twice which was unintended. The only way I could stop myself from going crazy was to find the bastard who killed Fred and avenge his death hence the half-beaten man who was tied to a chair in front of me. "Get it out before you go back to work and kids. You're a first-year resident at that teaching hospital. You can't learn under stress, and you can't be sure if they'll allow you any more days off. You're not their boss."

          I spared her a quick glance and spoke curtly, "Zaya, I get your concern and I appreciate it, but for fuck's sake, focus on the task at hand. If you don't want to help, go upstairs. I can handle this myself."

          "But, Arie..."

          "Actually, just go."

          With a sigh and a heavy heart, she walked up the stairs and shut the door, allowing me to turn my attention back to the scared man. "I'm losing my patience here now. Tell me where your boss is or else I'll make it hurt worse than your dead friends at the pub."

          The man's lips trembled against the blade, his tears and sweat mixing and sliding down his face like trails of miniature rivers. Retracting the knife a bit, I offered him a chance to speak. "We only get orders over the phone, ma'am." He paused to regain his failing voice. "He doesn't meet us personally. We are only dogs who follow the orders."

          "Oh, boy." My nails sink into the flesh of his cheeks to force his scared brown eyes to meet mine as I scraped the knife against his torso to inflict a small wound. "I will keep torturing you unless you give me something to go on."

          "Please!" He sobbed, lowering his head. "All... All I can do is give you the number we received the calls from. But I believe it's a doctored number, so I don't know if it'll be of any use to you. That's all the information I have."

          I hummed and noted the number down before stepping away from him. "Let's hope I can trace it back to a location, doctored or not. If not, I'll come back to wet my hands in your blood again."

          Shoving the gag back into his mouth, I put tape over it and then knock him out cold. I felt a sudden urge to hurl and immediately found myself in the bathroom spilling all my insides out. A part of me was disgusted, repulsed, and ashamed of myself for doing this and killing men to get information about Orel Pavlov, but the rest of me made peace with it all instantly. Alon's passing was my tipping point, leaving my heart and soul in a rotten state, and I knew I was spiraling out of control. This wasn't me. Never so reckless and murderous, but I needed to bring that son of a bitch to justice for Fred's murder.

          After washing the blood from my hands, I dragged my body upstairs and noticed Zaya rummaging through a box with multiple pages lying to the side of it. "What are you doing?"

          "Oh!" Zaya put back the contents in the box and stood up from the sofa. "This was delivered at the door. I was making sure it had nothing harmful inside. I wouldn't want my head on a spike now."

          As I trudged forward, I asked, "Who is it from?"

          "The Queen."

          "Verona?"

I was invited to the crowning, but I couldn't delve myself in that family so soon, or in any celebration for that matter, but I wished Verona the best in her new position as the queen and hoped she handled it well. The kids were missing me, but I also knew they enjoyed the castle too much according to Harry and Soph whom I hadn't gotten a call from today. I was waiting for the phone to ring any moment and have it either be them or Leo.

"Here." Zaya handed me the wooden jewelry box. It was a beautiful antique with flowery motifs engraved throughout.

          Carrying the box upstairs to my room, I closed the door and settled on my bed to inspect the contents inside. I flipped the small latch and pulled out the written pages to set them aside for a bit. My fingers reached for a chain inside and lifted it up to see a small key dangling from it. It was the same key Leo once wore that unlocked the locket sitting in my dressing table. The glistening ring inside didn't fail to grasp my attention either. The diamond was large, surrounded by other small ones that wrapped around the band. The two pieces of jewelry only left me puzzled and forced me to read the long accompanying letter.

Dear Arie,

I wanted you to be there with me at the coronation but I understand your circumstances which is alright. I did something I shouldn't have. I sentenced Marsilia to the dungeons. I know you would've enjoyed that very much as I did.

I smiled, knowing she'd do great things as a queen. Go Verona!

I wish I could've said goodbye and told you all this in person but I do not have time. By the time you receive this letter I would be long gone. I just want you to know my story and how it all started.

***

SIX YEARS AGO

(Verona's POV)

I was glued to the edge of the bed, my thoughts racing and driving me pazzo (crazy). It had been three days since I found out I was with a child. Leo was returning from his business trip today, and I didn't know what to tell him. His father had been pressuring us for an heir ever since we got married two years ago. Marsilia said the same things as him to hold up an act in front of Leo, but she didn't want a great-grandchild from me. I knew it very well. "Figlio di puttana (Son of a whore)," she would spit on the thought of my child. I could never let Leo know what she'd say to me in his absence because it would cause a rift between them, and I wasn't here to break his family apart more than it had already been because of me.

To think of it, Marsilia wasn't wrong. My child would have my blood which would tarnish his or her name from the moment they took a breath. They'd be looked down upon no matter whom they had as their father. Marsilia instilled this fear in me and it worked its magic. Hunted by Leo's enemies and disrespected due to my name, I couldn't allow that dangerous life for my child.

Footsteps sounded in the hall outside my bedroom door and informed me of Leo's arrival. I couldn't decide if I should be happy to see him or drown in sadness for having to let this child go. There were predators out there and Marsilia was one of them. She'd make my child's life miserable because of me.

          "Tesoro." Leo stood at the door with the most endearing smile as I rose from the bed and met him halfway in a tight embrace. Pulling his head back, he pressed his lips to mine eagerly to compensate for the week he spent without me, devouring me whole just as easily. "I missed you so much. Cristo!"

          "I missed you, too." I tried to put a smile on my face, but with everything transpiring in my head, it failed miserably. I sat back on the edge of the bed, lowering my head to hide the distress molding my face.

"What's wrong?"

How was I going to tell him that I was carrying his child whom I couldn't birth into this cruel world where I feared his own great-grandmother would strangle him for having my sporco (filthy) blood? How could I subject a child to that? I'd rather never become a mother than have my bambino (baby) become a target for the world.

"I don't want to be a mother." I couldn't meet his eyes for it'd break me and my resolve.

          "Did father speak to you regarding an heir again?"

I nodded and saw him kneel before me, stroking my bare legs under the hem of my dress. "As I've said before, don't listen to him or Nonna. We are both young. I want it to be just us in this marriage. Neither of us is ready to become parents, but if it happens, it happens." His fingers secured a few loose strands behind my ear. "I know you'll make a great mother to our little prince or princess when we do come to that in a few years."

          "No!" The word erupted like wildfire from my mouth. I pushed off the bed and stepped away from him in a fright. "I don't want to be a mother. Ever. Do you not realize the ill everyone will speak of the child?"

          "Why?" His voice grew firmer as it did when he'd be hard on his men.

"Perché io sono la madre (Because I'm the mother)," I raised my voice for the first time at him and regretted it immediately, but it didn't do anything to satiate my paranoia or the jittery nerves in my body. I couldn't even recognize myself. Maybe it was the hormones that were playing with my emotions or it was just the fear. Irrazionale o non (Irrational or not)? I wasn't sure.

Inside it was tearing me into a million pieces. Leo was the love of my life. I wanted nothing more than to have a family with him and to achieve the felicità (happiness) my mamma always spoke of, but I didn't want to ruin his reputation any further because of his loyalty and love for a woman like me. It hurt to watch him fight his own family to protect my name every day, and our child who would bear his name... Dio! I could only imagine the distaste they'd have for the kid.

          Turning around to face him, I wiped my despairing tears, my heart breaking at the sight of the harrowing look on his face. "You forget where I come from."

"Yes, I forget, because your past job doesn't define you, Tesoro." He was still so calm and composed despite my outburst. "The world can say whatever they wish to about you, but you know yourself better than anyone. I know you. Those bastards can't do anything about it hence they all run their mouths, and I'll end every single one of them. You can't allow them to dictate what happens in our lives. Father and Nonna can shove their heir up their ass for all I care, but we can't allow them to get between us." In a couple of steps, he held my face gently and pressed a firm kiss to my lips. "You matter more to me than them. Don't listen to them or anyone. You know that."

It was too late. Marsilia was already too deep in my head, playing dirty games with me. I distanced his hands from my face and took a step back. "What they say does not matter when my own child will be ashamed of me."

His jaw tightened upon hearing the words. "No such thing will happen."

"No one wants a putta—"

"Basta (That's enough)!" he roared like a lion, unleashing his wrath upon me and forcing my soul itself to shudder at the chilling sound. "I will not stand here and listen to you disrespect and doubt yourself in any further, Verona. I don't know what's going on, but no one gets to speak of you like that, not even you." Anger predominantly radiated off the bulging veins on his tight fists, his eyes blazing with rage. "You're my wife. That's all that matters. I don't ever want to hear you spout such shit from your mouth again. Am I clear?"

I stood there like a statua (statue), unable to move or say anything in response to his demand. For the first time, I felt helpless before him. I could always tell him anything and he'd listen attentively, but when it came to Marsilia, I was rendered speechless. She had been trying to break us apart two years, and today, I let her words and fear get to me.

Leo's eyes softened at once with regret as he came forth and pulled me into his comforting arms. "Mi dispiace (I'm sorry)." As he pulled away, he wiped my tears with gentle swipes and kissed my lips soft and slow, holding my face in his rough palms. "I did not mean to yell."

         I couldn't think of what to say or how to say it to him. Our nerves were running high and made me act irrationally. Space was what I needed and advice on how to approach this with him. It couldn't be done here.

          Separating our bodies with my eyes low, I spoke, "I need some time alone. Don't send your men after me. Per favore (Please)." I stormed out of the mansion without a word from him and borrowed his car to drive away. Tears of desperation and anguish raced down my cheek as I called my mother. "Mamma."

          "Verona, piccola, che succede (baby, what's wrong)?" She noticed the tremble in my voice at once.

          I tried to kill the pain in my shaky tone and took a few seconds to calm myself. "Sei a casa (Are you home)?"

          "No."

          "Devo parlarti. Ti aspetterò a casa (I need to speak to you. I'll wait for you at home)."

          I hung up and continued driving to her house for the next few minutes that felt like hell. Water in my eyes blurred my vision constantly, and I didn't know how I made it to my destination. I parked the car and immersed myself among the tourists, walking toward the jewelry shop. I accessed the small, narrow building from the backdoor that led to the home upstairs that I once lived in.

          The moment I entered the second floor, I heard the chilling voice that startled the life out of me. "Hello, my moon."

          Turning around, I glared at the unpleasant man. "What are you doing here, Mr. Aguillard?"

          He shook his head, disapproving of my attitude. "You can just call me Astor, you know that."

          Everything about him screamed of his wickedness underneath the mask I was certain he wore to fool people. His mere presence made me sweat and clenched my guts uncomfortably. When he stepped closer to me, I held my hands up defensively.

          "I wish for you to leave. Now."

          The blues of his eyes sparkled with challenge mischievously, his lips stretching into a vile smirk. "What if I don't?"

          Despite my fear at the moment, I swallowed my discomfort and stood my ground firmly. "I will tell Leo that you're an unfaithful husband to his sister. He will kill you for that."

          Astor burst into laughter. "Sweetheart, you've been married to that wanker for two years and you haven't said a word." In a swift move, he twisted my arms behind my back and pinned me to his chest. "What we had was before I got married. You know nothing about me now, and you will never open your mouth because you're too... Fuck!" Before I could push the filthy man away, he harshly slammed his lips to mine and bruised them with force. "I've waited so long for this."

          "Vaffanculo (Go fuck yourself)!" I spat on his face in sheer bewilderment. With a menacing laugh, he stepped back to wipe the saliva from his face and released his hold on me before I, in a fit of rage, rammed my fist to his jaw. "What is wrong with you?"

          "Strong punch," he remarked curtly, turning his devilish gaze back to me as I immediately picked up the closest sharp object on the dining table nearby, which was a fork, and held it up as my weak weapon. There was nothing else in close proximity that I could use against him. "He taught his precious little pet how to distend her claws now."

          "I'm not his pet, I'm his wife. A man like you will never understand that." Holding the utensil up as my only defense, I tried to back away from him. "Leo will know of what you just did and your disloyalty to his sister. He's going to kill you."

Astor blew out another amused laugh, indifferent to my threat. "My moon, that is only if you ever see him again."

          "Stammi lontano (Stay away from me)!" I swiped the fork, striking him on the back of his hand and forcing blood to surface up in tiny drops. "I will kill you myself!"

          Eyes darkening with anger, he blocked my second stab with his hand and allowed the fork to puncture the skin of his palm before he yanked it away from me and tossed it aside. Pushing me against the wall, he grabbed my neck with his bloody hand and held my body still with his. "I don't want to hurt you, but I will."

          "You will die for this," I managed to mutter despite his hold, squirming against his strong body.

          "We shall see when the time arrives."

          Throwing me to the sofa, he pinned me down on my stomach and imprisoned my wrists to my back. He raked down the zipper of my dress harshly and started to pull it off my shoulders as I began to scream for help and beg for mercy.

          "Astor, per favore (please)!" Trepidation clenched every organ inside me, my eyes stinging with the mascara that mixed with the tears emerging from my ducts. "Don't do this! I'm carrying a child."

          His fingers tangled in my hair and pulled my head up. "Why do you think I'm doing this?"

          "You know?"

          No one could've known about the pregnancy but Zee, the new trainee Leo appointed to me, and I trusted her. She was just a seventeen-year-old girl getting into the bulk of her assassin training with her sister. Whom would she have told? Another maid? I had destroyed the pregnancy stick the same day to conceal the truth. How could this be possible?

          Without stopping, he removed the sleeves off one at a time whilst keeping the other arm restrained under his knee since he was seated on my back. He somehow slid the dress down my ankle as I continued whimpering under him like a helpless pesce (fish) without water.

          "Please!" I sobbed, trying my hardest to get him off me and save myself, but my strength was failing miserably against his imprisonment. "You can't be that much of a monster. I know you can't."

          In a swift move, he hauled me up to my feet and pinned my front to the wall. He violently bit my naked shoulder."If you knew me, you'd know that I was in love with you, but you married Leo. Why? Because he had more money?" He unhooked my bra with his teeth while his hands kept a firm hold on me. "Tell me!"

"You were just a client. It was my job to please you. Now, let me go!" I begged like the pathetic woman he rendered me to be.

"I promised you the world," he hissed in my ear.

"Every man did. You were no one special!" I snapped, making another attempt to jerk myself free but it was to no avail. "You only loved my body."

🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑

Launching my bra to the floor, he stripped me completely naked by pushing my panties down. My heart stopped when his fingers invaded my vagina. "I still love your sweet cunt. You had me addicted. Barren Belle can never satisfy me the way you did. Only you can do it, Verona. Only you."

A cry of pain and fear unlike any other broke from me as he drove his cock in me. "Nooooooooooo!" I screamed, hoping someone would hear my wails and come save me, but who was I fooling? The tourists were loud and the music in every shop along the marina di Portofino stifled my cries for help. "Per favore (Please)! Please, don't do this! I-I beg you."

          The bloody fingers of his one hand squeezed my breast ruthlessly. "Oh, sweetheart. Your beautiful tits are already growing." After flinging my body to the sofa, he shoved my face in the cushion and pounded into me like a mad dog without any remorse. I couldn't even throw him off for my legs and hands were suddenly held captive by different people. "I'm being gentle right now. I got plans for that child of yours."

          I feared the baby to be surrounded by enemies, but to be taken like this? Never imagined it.

          "Take her clothes," I heard Astor order and grunt in pleasure to my misery as he dug his nails into my behind until I felt him tear the skin beneath it. "Put it on the other girl and drive her off the cliff in that car quickly!"

🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑

          Immense power surged through him for having his way with me forcefully, and I could hear it in every grunt and moan he voiced. Per dimostrare il suo potere, la sua superiorità (To demonstrate his power, his superiority). For men like him, that's what it was all about. Women were only made to please their cocks and were the dirt of their feet, meant to be stepped on and scraped off when done, and I had just become his biggest victory.

          Everything in me was breaking. My heart, soul, the will to live, and any shred of hope in me was shattering into pieces that could never be sewn back together. Heat in my body was increasing with the exertion of the men holding my limbs and the scoundrel who violated me without any regard. The more he pounded into me, the more my face nuzzled into the cushion and restricted the amount of oxygen which started to numb my body.

In that moment, all I could think about was Leo and how we ended with our first quarrel. I wished it had been different. If only I could roll back the time and tell him about our child that I was carrying, or about his best mate who—I had a gut feeling—wasn't good to his sister, and this just proved it. Astor was my client before any of us had gotten married, but I knew he was seeking pleasure from other women in the industry. A man like him always would, and I hated that I couldn't tell Leo sooner. I couldn't tell him that I loved him one final time because I knew I was never getting back.

As darkness slowly crept into my vision so did the realization that I was caught up in a big conspiracy that I couldn't escape from.

———————————————————

This isn't the end of Verona's flashback. We will get to the rest of it in the next chapter.

How do you guys feel now?

For those who thought Arie was up to something and that Verona sent that box to Arie, good job!

Do you guys think Arie will get her shit together?

Will we get anything out of the number given up by the man that was being tortured?

Where did Verona get the locket's key from?

Why would Verona send the key and a ring to Arie?

What did you guys think about the flashback?

Do you think Verona's fear of her unborn child was rational or irrational?

How did Astor find out Verona was pregnant?

Who wants to murder Astor again?

Thoughts on Verona?

Leo?

Or Arie?

Further comments and questions are always welcome ❤️

I got finals next week so wish me luck. 💕

HIT ME WITH THE THEORIES!

INSTAGRAM: reetilicious

Much love ❤️
~Reet