Deadly Obsession - Chapter 26 (Patreon)

Charlie 

From one prison to another. My fathers home has been nothing short of a prison. I look around me, and there are guards everywhere. By the windows, by the doors, and there is always one next to me.

The only time I ever get alone time is when I’m in my room. There is no sign of Romelo. I don’t know where my father took him, i don’t know what he’s doing to him. The last time I saw him he had a bullet wound in his side. How could this happen? And why would Romelo let this happen? I’m sure he was ready for this. He knew it was coming. So why not get Luca involved? And why hasn’t Luca saved him yet?

I look up when I hear my father walk in. His gaze travels to me, and he motions for some of the men to leave us. I haven’t spoken to him since we arrived. I hate him. I don’t know this man in front of me.

“Charlie,” he says my name, but I keep my gaze trained down. I hear his quick footsteps and he roughly grips my chin forcing my gaze to his.

“You will not pout like a child about things.” I immediately slap his hand away from my face, and stand.

“You will not touch me like I am one,” I snap back. I meet his gaze head on, not in the least afraid. Being in his custody is a walk in the park compared to the torture that Romelo has put me through. My father stares me down for a moment, before letting out a soft laugh and stepping back.

“I’m sorry.” He steps away from me, looking to his guard. The man nods his head slightly and leaves us.

“Charlie.. I know that from what you have seen, I am not a good man. And I wouldn’t blame you for being angry with me-”

“Good,” I interrupt.

“But... I need you to talk to him. Convince him,” he says. I look at him like he’s crazy.

“Father, you were aware of the people you attacked before you took action, were you not? What makes you think that I can do anything to help?” I say.

“You’re the wife of the second in command. And whether or not you choose to believe it, you have an influence over him.”

I scoff at my fathers words. I’d have better luck influencing the rain than that man. I think back to the man that beat me and shot Romelo in front of me. And now he’s here, asking for my help.

“Why would I help you?” I ask. My father looks a little taken aback by my words.

“I am your blood, Charlie. You want to see your father suffer an untimely demise?” he growls at me. At one point, I may have told him no. But if there is one thing that Romelo made sure to instill in me, it’s that he is my only family. I look to my father.

“Romelo is my only family.” His eyes widen in shock at my words. And his face grows angry.

“The man that beat and abused you! That’s who you’re going to side with over your own family?” he shouts at me. I take a step towards him, searching is face for some kind of compassion, but finding none. I knew I wouldn’t.

“Romelo, has been more family to me than you have ever been. Or ever will be,” I say.

“And when Luca comes for your head, there will be nothing I can do to stop him. You may have thought of these consequences before you broke into and shot his right hand man, father,” I say. I turn away from him, but he grabs me roughly by the arm. I can see the terror in his eyes.

“How dare you, turn your back on me-”

“Like you turned your back on me?!” I shout. The room silences.

“I was taken from you, because you had better things to do than pay attention to your child. I was missing, for years, because of you! And when you finally found me, what did you do to reconcile it? public outings, press conferences, balls.” I shake my head as tears fill my vision.

“You don’t even know who I am... who I truly am,” I whisper. His gaze searches my face, and he lets go. He knows I’m right.

“I’m not stupid father. I know. I know how the world works.” I look at my feet.

“You had the power. You had it, and yet you decided to kidnap and shoot the deadliest man in existence.” I let out a laugh of disbelief.

“Romelo killed his parents. The people that birthed him into this world. The people that were his true blood. He murdered them slowly, and painfully, and painted the walls with their corpses. Why do you think that you will be shown any mercy?” I ask. He doesn’t respond. How could he? He knows I’m right. I may never have spoken much around him because Romelo. But I’m not stupid. I never have been.

I slowly turn away from him, then i pause.

“If I take you to him... I need you to convince him to come to my side. Or I can’t guarantee that he’ll survive another week.” I stop, turning to my father. Is that a threat?

“If you kill him, Luca will not be happy,” I say. The few times we have met, Luca has been very protective of Romelo. Even giving me subtle threats when he felt like it. I doubt he will take kindly to Romelo’s death by my fathers hands of all people. He’ll probably kill me as well.

“I don’t want to kill him, Charlie. I want to better his life. And yours,” he says.

“Sounds to me like you just want the power for yourself. I’ll talk to him, but it won’t change anything. You sealed your fate the moment you put your hands on me,” I say walking past him.

“You’re my daughter and I can do what I see fit!” he shouts after me.

I pause in the doorway.

“He won’t care.”

* * * * *

I expect my father to take me somewhere across the world, but he takes me to a place that is on the property. And once we travel down the elevator and into the ground, we arrive at Romelo’s holding cell. My heart is fluttering in my chest in fear. I haven’t seen him since my father shot him in the entry way of our home.

And now I’m going to see him in chains.

We all pause in front of the doors, and my father stops his guards.

“Let her go alone,” he says. They look at each other a little uneasy, but do as he says. I shakily reach out, pushing the doors open, to reveal a dark and cold room. I half expect a skeleton to be hanging from the ceiling or something, but there isn’t. Just Romelo. With his arms chained above his head.

I let out a soft gasp when I see him. I’ve never seen him like this. At someone else’s mercy. His head perks up at my entrance, and his cold gaze falls on me. I half expect him to try and strangle me, but he does the exact opposite. He laughs softly, dropping his head once again.

“If you’re here to convince me, save your breath. You’ll need it,” he says. His voice is not at all broken. Not in the least. He just sounds irritated. My gaze travels to his side, and I take slow steps towards him, gently placing my hands on his shirt. He’s silent as I raise the soaked fabric. A strangled cry leaves my lips.

There are messy stitches, closing the wound, and the skin is angry and red. He needs real medical attention. I slowly trace my hands over his abdomen, wrapping them around him. Before I know it, I’m hugging him, and sobbing into his shoulder. I don’t even know what to say. I feel responsible for all of this.

“Shhh. Don’t cry. Don’t let them see you weak,” he says. I sit back, wiping my tears.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. He laughs softly.

“I’d think you’d be happy to see me like this. On the receiving end for once,” he jokes. I frown at that. I may have thought it in the past, but now, seeing him like this, it makes me upset. Sad. I hate it. That’s how I know Romelo is just screwed up in the head. I couldn’t imagine doing this to him personally. Seeing him in pain because I willed it.

“That’s not funny,” I murmur.

“Charlie.” His tone is serious, so I look up and into those cold, blue eyes.

“Don’t feel sorry for me.” I shake my head.

“I don’t like seeing you like this...”

“What. Immobilized?” I shake my head.

“Hurt.” I say.

He’s quiet.

“Why not?” he asks. I only shrug. How do you explain to someone that enjoys seeing others in pain why you don’t?

“My father wants me to convince you to join him,” I say.

“And what’d you tell him when he asked this of you?”

“I told him it was pointless,” I say. I feel his lips atop my head as he presses a soft kiss there.

“Good girl,” he murmurs.

“He’s threatening to kill you,” I say. I feel tears spilling from my eyes as i tell him.

“He can make all the threats he wants. He won’t.” I shake my head.

“You don’t know that,” I say. He laughs.

“Yes. I do. Your father is a fool. He’s bit off more than he can chew.”

The room is silent.

“Would you even consider it... joining him?” I feel Romelo tense under me.

“No,” he hisses.

“I’m sorry,” I quickly murmur. There’s silence.

“Are you in pain?” I ask.

“I’ve had worse than this.”

I remember when we were younger, and I was still parading as a boy he would come home with battle scars, and not even flinch about them. He probably has.

“No wound could ever come close to the pain I felt when I saw you being dragged away by my father. And when I realized what he was doing to you behind those doors...” he says out of nowhere. I look up at him, and I see him struggling to keep control on his anger.

“Nothing can hurt me Charlie. Nothing but you. And I killed the only people that did hurt you. So imagine what I have in store for your father.” I sense the menace in his voice.

“I’ll be out of these chains soon enough. So save your worry and tears for someone who’s going to need it,” he says. His gaze travels to the door.

“You should go. Tell your father the good news,” he chuckles. I slowly move away from him, looking at the door and then back to the man that fears nothing. Not even death.

“Are you really going to kill my father…?” I ask. His gaze is emotionless as he stares back at me. Then I see it. The gears are turning. That sadistic glint that he gets before something evil. He gives me a small smile.

“No.” I slowly stand to leave the room.

“Charlie.” He calls my name just as I reach the door. I pause, turning back to him.

“Come here.” I slowly walk, until I’m in front of him in his chains.

“Kiss me,” he says softly. My eyes widen at his request. My heart speeds up a little, as I lean into him, and place my lips over his. He kisses me softly. Gently. As if he’ll break me. He pulls away from me, smiling.

“Sweet dreams.”