Deadly Obsession - Chapter 27 (Patreon)

Charlie

I’ve never been so paranoid before. Not even with Romelo. At least with him, I knew what to expect. I knew if there was some kind of torture happening. Some kind of punishment. But living here, on constant guard, constantly looking over my shoulder is beginning to make me weary. Any day. Any moment, Luca and his men will storm my father's home, taking back what is theirs as well as exacting revenge on him and his men.

My father has been abusive, mean, short tempered. But I know it’s because he is scared. Hell, I’m scared too. It’s no secret Luca doesn’t like me. In his eyes, I betrayed Romelo. Why else would I still have my illusionistic freedom?

“There. All done.” My maid says as she finishes with my hair. I turn around, looking at myself in the mirror. My hair is pulled in an intricate updo, and my face is covered in makeup. I almost don’t recognize myself with this blood-red lipstick that is on me. I immediately think about how Romelo would feel about this. He’d hate it. He hates it when my hair is pulled up. And he has a strong disdain for me in makeup. When we were still growing up and I asked him about makeup, he was so snappy about it. He says it’s not me.

My father is holding some kind of party tonight for the new mayoral candidate of the city. Apparently, he’s going to sponsor his campaign. And my father thought it a good idea to have the party at his house. We’ll be sitting ducks here. I notice that he’s beefed up security, but I know that will do nothing. Luca Pasquino isn’t a man to be stopped by a few guards. Luca isn’t the type to sit back in the safety of his home while others do the dirty work. He’s out there right along with them doing it.

The party is in full swing. People are laughing, and having a good time. I look around me at the guards. Most or all of them are about to die. Soon. If what Romelo has told me is true, Luca Pasquino likes to make a grand gesture when making a point. It’s only a matter of time. I think back to the amount of confidence Romelo sported in that prison. He’s not worried in the least. He even laughed at the mention of death.

They’re going to splatter the walls with these people here tonight. All I can do is sit back and wait for that time to come.

“Mrs. Vitiello?” I look up at the sound of my last name. My new last name. A man is standing in front of me, and not just any man. The man himself. The center of my fear. Luca Pasquino. He has an evil grin on his face. That scar over his eye makes him look even more terrifying. He grabs ahold of my shaking hand, placing a soft kiss on my knuckles.

“So splendid to see you. And unharmed I might add. Romelo was very adamant about that. Make sure you weren’t hurt. Strange request coming from him of all people,” he laughs softly. I look around for my father's guards, but it seems that they somehow let this man slip through their grasp. Luca grabs ahold of my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor.

“Elise was so sad to have to miss this event tonight. She really wanted to see you.”  I’m frozen in fear. I don’t know if he hates me, and I feel like he’s playing with me. Until the moment he decides to strike.

“As I’m sure Romelo is as well,” he adds. I look up at him and he’s watching me in amusement.

“W...what do you want?” I whisper. He raises a brow at me. If anything, this man is more terrifying than Romelo at this moment. He’s so calm yet so far from being calm, I don’t know how to react. He’s confusing as hell. He chuckles over me.

“To show your father, just how powerless he really is,” he growls. All earlier amusement is gone from his voice. It is now filled with nothing but malice.

“You see, people try all the time to take my throne. Who wouldn’t? I’m one of the world's most powerful men. Not only in strength and wealth, but you see, if I wanted to influence an election, all I would need to do is see payment from my supplier and it would be done. What your father doesn’t seem to understand is that with my kind of power comes a price. A price that someone of his stature isn’t fit to pay.” I’m shaking. His gaze travels beyond me, and he lets out a soft laugh.

“Looks like I’ve been spotted,” he says.

“Luca Pasquino!” We both turn our heads, and I see my father walking towards us with a handful of guards surrounding him.

“I don’t recall you being on the guest list,” my father says. Luca’s smile only grows wider.

“I wasn’t. You made quite sure of that didn’t you senator,” he says. My father stares for a while, and motions for his men.

“Take this criminal into my custody.” Luca only smiles wider, placing his hands behind his back. No one moves. I look around, and none of the men guarding my father move. My father looks at them in shock, and I see the panic beginning to set in.

“I said, take him!” he shouts.

“You know what your problem is senator?” He tilts his head slightly, and one of the guards closes the door to the room we’re in, shutting us off from the party. Luca begins walking towards my father and pulls out a gun.

“The power that you have comes from a man saying that everyone voted for you.” He motions to the men around him, and all of my father's guards turn on him. They all pull out their guns, aiming them at him.

“The power I have, however, I earned.” One of the men hits my father in his leg, causing him to collapse in pain. Luca walks over to him, kneeling so that he is eye level with him.

“You break in, shoot, and kidnap my right hand. You try and torture him, demand my head on a platter, and use the love of his life against him. Senator if it weren’t for your daughter being here, I would have killed you already.”

The door to the far side of the room opens, and in comes the man of the hour. And he does not look happy. Romelo’s gaze is as cold as it was the day he killed his parents. His eyes briefly flash to me, and I don’t miss the frown of disdain that he shows. My gaze travels to the gun in his hand. He walks past me to Luca.

“Good to see you, boss,” he says. Luca nods his head. I’ll never understand the relationship these men have. But I can tell they really feel strongly for each other. Luca is angry at the whole situation. Romelo completely ignores me, turning to my father who is watching the whole exchange in shock and disbelief. Romelo speaks.

“Usually I would drag this out. But I’m not in the mood anymore.” He holds up his gun, aiming it right at my father.

“Let’s get this over with.”

I involuntarily take a step forward, a small gasp leaving my lips. Romelo turns to me so quickly, I have to take a step back. My gaze travels to my father, and back to Romelo.

“You.. you said you wouldn’t kill him,” I whisper. Romelo glares me down and finally, he moves. He smiles softly, letting out a soft laugh.

“You’re right.” He begins walking towards me until he Is towering over me.

“I’m not going to kill him,” he says softly. I feel the cold press of steel in my hand and look down in shock. He put the gun in my hand. I look back up at him in terror and see the sadistic glint that was in his eyes the same day he told me he wouldn’t kill my father. He reaches out, pulling the pins out of my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders out of the intricate updo. He places his hand against my cheek. The first time he’s touched me since my father took him from me.

“You are.”

I've held a gun before. I've watched Romelo as he trained, and held his gun for him. I've used a gun when he would play his sick and twisted games, giving me a chance at false freedom. I know how they work. I know how to use them.

But never has a gun felt so heavy in my hand. Never has my nerves been in such a deep shock. I look to my father in s hock, and even he's surprised at the turn of events.

"What?" I look to Romelo, my breath barely above a whisper. His smile drops a little, and he looks at me in irritation.

"I didn't stutter, Charlie. Shoot him," he snaps at me. I look from him to the men around me, until my eyes fall to Luca. He's watching me with such an intense expression.

"I...I can't," I manage. Romelo doesn't speak for a second, and then he chuckles softly to himself.

"You can't. You can't?" He stands over me, grabbing my face between his palms.

"My sweet, sweet naive girl. What makes you think there is even a choice?"

The room is silent as I stare into the deep emotionless pits of my husband. The man that has always sworn to protect me. That has been there for me. But also been the source of my pain. Even now. I could take the gun and shoot him. But even that sounds distasteful to me. I know it, and he knows it. I could never.

My gaze travels beyond Romelo to my father.

"Charlie, don't do this. I am the only family you have left, you wouldn't kill the only family you have left would you?" he asks. Romelo steps next to me, staring at my father in disgust before turning his gaze back to him.

"Remember what I told you? I am your only family, Charlie. I am all you have in this world. You have always been, and always will be mine," he growls.

"If you don't want to do this, then fine." He holds his hand out.

"Give me the gun. I know where your allegiance lies." His voice is like venom. I look down at the gun in my hand. Logically, this should be an easy decision. Super easy. My father, my blood. I should spare him. I should shoot Romelo, and take my death with pride knowing i disregarded his words to me.

But I can't. How could I? Romelo is the one that saved me, raised me, provided for me, loved me in his own twisted way. He has been my family. He has been all I've ever known. Not my father. Romelo. My ears are ringing. My heart racing. My mind frazzled. I've never taken a life before. And Romelo wants me to take my fathers?

I take slow steps towards my father, until I am standing over him.

"If you do this, then what? I am a public official! You think that you can just kill me and get away with it? That life will be simple or easy? If you do this, you will be damning your entire family!" he shouts. I ignore his words, focusing on what Romelo said.

"I am your only family."

I chant them over and over again in my head until they are dancing across my vision, and the man before me is nothing more than a stranger.

"Go ahead, Charlie. Make me proud," Romelo urges. I bring the gun up, aiming at my father, and pull the trigger.

'Click'

Nothing. I let out a loud gasp and my legs suddenly feel weak. It's as if my breath has been sucked out of my body. I jump as Romelo's laugh fills the room. I look at him in confusion, and take note that Luca is smiling softly. My father is screaming in front of me, all kinds of obscenities.

Romelo takes the gun from my grasp.

"Like I'd really make you shoot your father." He laughs giving me a soft kiss on the cheek. He looks over to Luca, and has a smug grin on his face.

"I told you. She's loyal only to me," he says. Luca laughs softly taking a step forward, until he is directly in front of me. His gaze looks slightly deranged. He and Romelo are two peas in a pod.

"You were right. Sorry I doubted you," he adds. Romelo pulls me into his grasp, and I'm still in shock.

"You people are fucking crazy! You will ALL pay for this! I will have all of your heads on a platter!" he shouts. Now it's Luca's turn to speak. He steps around Romelo and me, and gone is his charm. Gone is the friendly smile he sported only seconds ago. Now in front of all of us, stands the monster of the North. The man that stories you hear are so gruesome, you think they can't be true.

But I know they are. Because the man next to me is just as cruel if not more.

"Listen to me, senator. This little game you have tried to play is dangerous waters. Even for you. You're right, I won't kill you. But not for the reasons you think. Anyone can be replaced. But you see, my right hand man. The one you kidnapped and shot, and tortured. He's married to your daughter. And now that I know where her allegiance lies, it would be in bad taste to murder you, and make his life any harder by putting that distress on her. So by his request I will spare you. This once."

"You now belong to me, senator. Any decision you make, any laws, any person that comes to your employ. It is all mine. Your empire, is now mine. The very blood that runs through your veins, is mine until the day you die. Got it?" he says. I shiver from his tone. My father grits his teeth. He looks angry. But he nods his head, keeping his gaze down.

Luca smiles, and it's terrifying. Even more so than my own husbands. He walks across the room to one of his men, grabbing the glass from his hand, and taking a drink.

"Great. It was foolish of you to cross me, senator, knowing who i am. And now you will pay the price. Romelo knew about your plans long before you attacked. I could have ransomed your daughter. But I know how men in your position see your daughters. You wouldn't have flinched had I threatened to slit her throat. And I think I liked this way better." He walks towards my father.

"I see a great future for the North. Don't you?"

My father glares at him with all the hate he can muster.

"Yes," he growls. Luca turns away, walking to the doors that lead back to the party. He pauses.

"Oh. And don't think that we trust you with your own child anymore senator. Any visits, calls, outings, you want has to go through me first." My father laughs bitterly.

"Why would I want to see that traitorous bitch," he growls. Romelo tenses next to me, and is away from my side, holding my father by his collar in an instant.

"That traitorous bitch's love for you is the only thing that is keeping you alive," he growls.

"But she isn't what's keeping your tongue in your head." He pulls out a knife, holding it to my fathers lips.

"So if you want to keep it, shut your fucking mouth." Luca laughs in the doorway.

"He makes a good point doesn't he, senator?"

* * * * *

"Charlie, you need to eat." I look up at Romelo as he steps into the room. He's wearing a white shirt and shorts. I've rarely ever seen him in such attire. I look down to the plate of food in front of me.

"Am I a bad person?" I ask. For once, Romelo looks shocked at the words that have come out of my mouth.

"What?" he asks.

"How can you even ask that?"

I shrug.

"I was going to kill him. My father," I say.

It's been bothering me, for days. My father hates me now. The only real family I had in this world, and he hates me because I was going to kill him. I chose Romelo over him. And I'd do it again if I had to.

"Charlie, you aren't a bad person for doing what you're told,” he says. I look at him in confusion. I forgot for a second who I was talking to. Romelo lacks empathy. I don't even think he understands the line between right and wrong.

"You love me, right?" he asks. I nod my head.

"Then how is it wrong to choose the one you love over someone else," he says.

"But he was my father. My blood,” I say. Romelo laughs softly. He takes a hold of my hand, running his thumb over my knuckles.

"When you were first brought into my home, I had no idea that I would come to love you. In fact, I was plotting to kill you the moment you arrived. You cried and whined, and I hated you because you had the one thing I craved. My mothers affection. And as we grew older, my hate for you slowly dwindled. You were my brother, to love and to protect. Not by blood, but by everything else that connected us. The pain we shared. How we both fought to survive in that hell hole." His smile drops a little.

"And when I came home, to find my father dragging you behind those doors... The panic that was in your eyes. The fear, the terror. The desperation. I have never felt so scared in my life… so helpless." He looks up, placing his hand against my cheek, running his thumb back and forth.

"And that night. When you bled in my bed. When in a matter of seconds, you morphed form a boy that I had grown up with, to the girl. The rage I felt, towards my parents. They both knew. And yet, you never told me. Why was it again?"

"Because... your parents said they would kill you if I told,” I whisper.

"Right. You were so worried for my life, you disregarded everything that was happening to you. Why, would you endure that, for me?"

"Because... I loved you," I say. He smiles.

"Exactly. And what did I do for you when I found out," he asks.

"You killed them." He nods his head.

"I chose you, Charlie. I chose you over my own blood. I was going to spare them and leave, because deep down I felt that they are my blood. My real family. I was going to run away with you, and never look back. But when you revealed who you really were, and what was really happening to you, how could I leave without punishing them?" he says. He leans in so close to me, his crystal blue eyes are boring into my soul.

"Ask me why I did what I did, Charlie," he says. My mouth is dry, and I feel my heart rate rising. I'm afraid and I don't know why.

"Why?” I whisper. I'm surprised he can hear me.

"Because I loved you. And those people. My blood. The people that brought me into this world, they hurt what was mine. And I will never think twice about punishing those that hurt you. Because I love you, Charlie. So if you think you are a bad person for choosing me over him, then I guess that's something you're going to have to live with."

"He chose his fate. It all fell to him. And now he's hurt because we blew his plans up in a matter of minutes." He's searching my gaze.

"I love you, Charlie. I always will. Only you. No one else. I let that be known. I never would have let you kill him. I know how soft you are. I know you. But I didn't know if you truly loved me. If given the choice, I didn't know if you would choose him or me. But now I do," he says.

"I know you're not a bad person. You're good. Pure. Innocent. Which is why I will never let the world taint you. Who you are. No matter what I threw your way, no matter how much I hurt you, I could see that love in your eyes. For me,” he laughs in disbelief.

"My mother tainted love for me. But you... you came back into my life, and have been showing me what it means to have unconditional love. Me. A monster. An evil person. Someone that doesn't deserve an ounce of it. When I look at you, I don't see a bad person. I see a good person. A great person. A person the world doesn't deserve." He smiles softly at me.

"For the first time, you made a decision for yourself. Don't hate yourself for that decision. You chose me. That doesn't make you a bad person, Charlie." I stare in shock at Romelo. I've never heard such words come from his mouth before. Never. He leans in to me, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. And when he sits back, his face is back. He's blank, empty, and cold. As if he hadn't confessed his inner most feelings to me moments ago. He pushes a stray hair out of my face, and stands. His gaze drops to the plate.

"Eat," he says before turning to leave the room.