Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
My head tilted to the side, and I speared Viktor with a glare. He glared back. “Are you done? Because you can’t act like that when Ayla comes inside. You’ll scare her to death.”
I didn’t say anything. Only because I knew he was right.
I had to get out of here, think clearly, away from Ayla so I couldn’t hurt her.
Even though she was my Angel, she still betrayed me. My heart and mind were in a constant battle.
In that moment, I realized that I was more hurt that she lied to me than the fact that she was an Abandonato.
Ayla might have been an Abandonato, but she was innocent. She was another victim. And I couldn’t hurt her for that.
I shook my head at that thought. That was exactly why I had to be heartless. Ruthless. That was why I never wanted to get close to her in the first place.
The human heart was a strange thing. It was treacherous and weak. It made us weak. It was easy for me to forget my revenge, only because what I felt for Ayla was more powerful.
What we had was more powerful than my need for vengeance.
I sank down on the couch and rubbed my forehead tiredly. How did this happen? One minute everything was perfect, and now…it was ruined.
What concerned me more was Ayla’s feelings. How scared and worried she must have been.
“What are you going to do?” Viktor asked, sitting down on the sofa facing me. He regarded me with curious yet suspicious eyes. “With Ayla?”
I leaned forward, placing my elbows on my knees. “Is that even a question?” I hissed. “Do you really think I will hurt her?”
Viktor stared at me in silence and then shook his head. “I know you won’t hurt her.”
“And what if I did?”
I needed to know his answer. I needed to know where Ayla stood with my men, how much she meant to everyone.
I needed to know that when the time came, they would all stand in front her, protecting her.
“I would have had to go against you,” he replied simply, shrugging his shoulders as if it meant nothing. But his eyes were intense and told me everything I needed to know.
My head turned toward Phoenix as I waited for his answer. He shook his head. “We can’t let you hurt her, Boss.”
I felt a sense of relief. They were Ayla’s champions. If something happened, they would protect her.
But the relief was short-lived.
I saw Artur standing in the doorway. Alone. His face was forlorn, and when he caught my eyes, he looked down, shaking his head.
“Where’s Ayla?” I asked, standing up.
“Boss, I’m sorry,” he replied, keeping his head bowed.
“Where. Is. Ayla?” I asked through gritted teeth, punctuating each word as my heart accelerated almost painful.
“Boss, I tried to stop to her. I really did. But she left. With that fucking bastard. I couldn’t believe my eyes, either.”
“No!” I bellowed, rushing past him.
Panic rushed through me as I ran down the steps and into the driveway. The gates were closed, and I tore them open, but I was too late.
There was no sign of Alberto. No sign of Ayla. My Angel. She was nowhere to be seen.
I heard Viktor, Phoenix, and Artur behind me. The air crackled with tension.
“Ayla was just playing with you this whole time. She lied to us. That little bitch,” Artur said in disgust.
Turning around, I grabbed Artur by the collar. “You are lying!”
It was impossible. Ayla couldn’t betray me. She wouldn’t betray me…not like that.
Artur winced as I pressed my fingers around his neck. “Don’t ever call her a bitch! Where is she?”
“Boss, I saw Ayla going to him. She was in his arms,” he wheezed as I pressed my fingers tighter around his throat.
I wanted to scream. Rage. Hit someone. I wanted to kill…I needed to kill.
“She betrayed you, Boss,” Artur said, his voice hoarse.
And that was when I exploded. I lost it.
“Shut up! Shut the fuck up!”
Taking my gun from my waistband, I pointed it under Artur’s chin. His head tilted up in surprise, and his eyes shone with sudden fear. “You are lying!” I growled, pushing the barrel into his throat. My fingers itched to pull the trigger and end his life.
He gulped hard and shook his head slightly.
I almost pulled the trigger then. If it wasn’t for Viktor pulling me away, Artur would have been dead.
“Alessio! Damn it!” Viktor hissed in my ears. I glared at Artur as he coughed for air.
“Have you lost your mind? Pointing your gun at your man. We are a brotherhood, Alessio,” he tried to reason with me. But I barely heard Viktor.
The only words that rang through my ears were Artur’s.
She betrayed you, Boss.
She left. With that fucking bastard. I couldn’t believe my eyes, either.
She was just playing with you this whole time.