Deadly Obsession - Chapter 25 (Patreon)

Romelo

No none is loyal. Everyone has their own personal Vendetta. No matter who you are. That's why the number of people I trust with my life varies down to 3. Because I've seen them risk their lives for mine, and I've done the same.

It's hard to feel indifference towards Charlie. Everything makes sense now. Why the cops randomly showed up, plucking her off the streets. Why they would go through the trouble of taking her. They must think I'm stupid enough to share my work with her, when that's not the case at all. If she had confessed to anything that could have held me in that prison, it would have been the end for us all. And all because her father.

I let out a sigh. I knew things were coming along too easy. I should have known he was a snake. I just figured that maybe he would put his daughters best interest before his own. He's known us for years. And he knows what kind of people we are and what we do to those that cross us. The question is, why would he do what he did?

I look up when I hear Charlie entering the room. She keeps her gaze down. She should be dead now. That's usually the retribution that goes along with betraying us. Take away something they love. The only reason she's still living, is because of me. She heard the guard when he admitted her fathers betrayal. She's been quiet ever since. She's always been a fearful person, but right now, she seems even more so.

She feels my gaze on her and looks up, immediately growing hesitant in her steps. I don't move. I just watch her. Call me sadistic, but I like seeing her squirm. I reach over to the fruit bowl on the counter, grabbing an apple and holding it out for her. She eyes it warily, but eventually moves her feet and reaches out with shaky fingers. She lightly pulls it out of my hand.

"What could possibly have you so shaken, Charlie?" I ask. She jumps at the sound of my voice. She reminds me of a Chihuahua the way she is shaking.

"I... I know you're going to do something horrible to me... because of my father.." she manages. I smile. She knows. I slowly stand from my seat, and stand over her, pulling her close.

"You're father is the one that's going to do something terrible, Charlie." I give her a light kiss on the top of her forehead.

"The question is, what is he going to do that's going to make me kill him?” She tenses.

"You don't like that idea?" I laugh.

"It's not like you have any emotional attachment to him." I place a finger under her chin, tilting her gaze to meet mine.

"I mean, I am your only family, right?"

She stares with wide eyes, and I can see the fight behind her gaze. It only makes me irritated. This isn't a debate. It's an immutable fact.

I'm two seconds from making that fact known, when my alarm goes off. He's here. Sooner than I had originally anticipated. I push Charlie away from me, letting it be known I'm pissed. But this will have to be something we discuss later. Much later. Because now, the man that is behind all of this tension has finally arrived.

I take hold of Charlie, pulling her into the living room. I stop in front of the door, pulling her around to face me. I should warn her. I should tell her how serious things are about to get. I should at least tell her about the consequences I'm sure her actions will entail. But I don't. I want to see for myself. Without coercion, without threats. How she will react when faced with a decision that could have an impact on who we are. It's a gamble that I shouldn't be taking. But part of me wants to know, if she really truly does love me.

* * * * *

Charlie

Romelo has an intense look on his face, but won't say a word. He only takes a step back and waits.

In a split second, my world erupts. Literally. The doors and windows are broken through, and men come in with guns and gear. All ready to fight. I stare at Romelo in complete and utter confusion. He's not even fighting. He just waits. And as quick as they came, they surround him. Completely ignoring my presence. I don't have to wonder why for long.

"Clear!" One of the men shout, and seconds later I hear footsteps. I slowly turn and see my father walking into the room. His gaze briefly flickers to me. I hear a loud crack and a thud, and when I turn I see Romelo on the ground, blood oozing from a new wound on his head. I gasp, and make a step to move towards him, but the men block my path.

"Romelo Vitello. I didn't think you'd give up so easily,” he says. Romelo looks at him, and a smile cracks his lips. A deranged smile.

"I figured you weren't thinking at all when you hatched this plan," he says. I shiver from his tone. I finally take a step forward.

"Dad, what's going on?" I say. My voice sounds how i feel. Panicked.

"Not now, Charlie," he snaps at me. I look to Romelo in confusion, but he's avoiding my gaze. A man presses his heel into Romelo's back, forcing him on his stomach.

"Tell me. Where is your leader?" My father asks. Romelo stays silent. My father repeats his question, yelling this time. But Romelo still doesn't respond. My father looks to the man over Romelo, and he raises his gun and begins beating him.

My reaction is automatic.

"No Stop!" I move towards them, when someone grabs me around the waist, holding me back. I struggle but it's no use. I look to my father, and he is glaring at Romelo with all the hatred in the world. He finally tells them to stop, and walks over Romelo's battered body. He grabs a fistful of his hair, yanking his head up.

I see the rage behind Romelo's gaze, but he keeps his body calm. I can't help but wonder why he doesn't fight back. He could have killed these men a long time ago. But he hasn't. He hasn't so much as defended himself. Why?

"I don't understand why you protect him. I would leave you in charge, Romelo. We would be unstoppable," he says. Romelo stays quiet. Then, my father does the unthinkable. His gaze falls on me.

"Maybe you can take pain, Romelo. But if you don't tell me what I want to know, I will beat her within an inch of her life. Is that what you want?"

Romelo finally gives a reaction. His eyes travel to my fathers, and I see the monster peaking through.

"If you lay finger on her, I will kill you," he growls. The room is silent, everyone taking in his words. My father let's out a soft laugh, and lets go of him. He stands up, and makes his way over to me. I stare in fear at the man that only a few weeks ago told me he loved me. He stands over me, and glares me down for a second.

"Please don't," I whisper. I don't want Romelo to kill him. But he doesn't listen. A sharp pain explodes across my cheek, and I cry out in pain.

"Where is he Romelo?" My father asks. Romelo doesn't respond. He slaps me again, this time harder. My whole head is forced to the side from the force, and a moan leaves my lips. I don't dare look at Romelo. I try and stay calm and quiet and brave, but it all falters when my father motions for another one of his men to come forward, and aims a gun right between my eyes.

Now, Romelo reacts. He lurches up, and just as I said, he takes out the men holding him down in a second. It's as if a monster has taken over. An inhumanely strong one. It takes more and more men to restrain him, and I cringe each time I hear a bone snap and a man cry out in pain.

The man that is holding the gun to my face looks to my father, and he nods. A shot goes off, and I automatically let out a scream, waiting for death to take me, but there is nothing. Not even pain. Then, I hear a loud thud. I open my eyes, and my blood runs cold. Romelo is on the ground, on one knee. He's clutching his side. His side that is now darkening as the deep red blood spreads. I gasp, and take off towards him. And for some reason my father lets me. I collapse next to him with shaky hands, move to press his wound.

He holds me back though. Tears are in my eyes, and spilling over, I feel like I'm in a full blown panic. I look at him in horror, as he slowly pushes my hand away and looks me dead in the eyes.

"No," he murmurs. It's strange, I always thought that I would love to see him hurting and in pain. Sometimes I even wished he was dead. But as I look at him now, the panic is beginning to set in. I don't like seeing him like this. Not one bit.

And I think back to what he said before all of this went to shit.

"I am your only family."

He was right. He is. I don't even know my own father. I grew up with Romelo. My whole life has revolved around him. Romelo let's out a pained groan, and I feel him pushing me away.

"Get back... Dangerous…," he manages in a broken whisper. I look back to my father in a panic, trying to figure out what is happening. What is going on. But he is looking at Romelo with all the hatred he can muster.

"Fine. You don't have to tell us now. But we will get it out of you. Mark my words." He snaps his fingers and everyone springs into action. Men haul Romelo up, dragging him away from me. I try and run after him, but hands are around my waist, preventing me from doing so. I scream and kick, needing to get to him, but it's no use. They won't let me go.

"Let's get out of here." I hear my fathers voice, as I'm being dragged across the yard. I look up in a panic and see Romelo being roughly shoved into the trunk of a car with his hands zip tied behind his back.

"No! Don't hurt him!" I scream. I struggle more, and more, but it's no use. I'm weak. Like I always have been. And I watch helplessly as they drive away with the only family I have ever known.