I’ll be Rid of You

AURELIA'S POV
My throat tightened, and my breathing shallowed as I pointed the gun at Vincenzo. My fingers trembled against the trigger, slick with sweat, but I never lowered my aim.


His eyes narrowed, burning into mine, sharp and calculating like a predator sizing up its prey. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, and my pulse quickened. Panic crawled up my spine, and I stumbled back, my knuckles turning white as my grip tightened.


"Take another step forward and I swear to God, I'll pull the trigger!" my voice cracked, betraying me.
But he didn't stop.


I held the weapon, yet my body trembled like I was the one staring down the barrel. That was the kind of feeling he commanded— suffocating fear and oppression.


He took another step forward, and I mirrored him with a step back. Anger and frustration burned through me. 
"You think I'm bluffing?!" I bit out


"If you shot me already, I wouldn't think so," he replied, his tone mocking.


He didn't even know me— yet, he dared to look down on me. I was the daughter of a ruthless mafia don— a man whose cruelty didn't stop at his enemies but bled even into his own family. All my life, I'd been raised in bloodshed and violence. And still... he believed I wouldn't kill him.
The worst part was that he was right.


Realization and acceptance clawed at my insides. 
If I couldn't kill him, then—

The moment he took another step, I pressed the barrel to my temple. My skin prickled at the icy touch of the metal.
For the first time, Vincenzo's expression wavered; his eyes widened slightly as his brows shot upwards.


"If I can't kill you," I said, my lips quivering as my heart pounded like a frantic drum. "Then I'll take my own life."


His surprised expression melted off his face and was replaced with disdain.


"I paid a lot for you. Only I decide when you can die," he said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. 
He spoke like he'd breathed life into me, deeming my life as nothing more than a transaction. And that made rage burn through my veins.


"You're no god," I spat out, my tone venomous. "And I'll rather die than live as your prisoner."
At least death would be my choice, and I would win in the end.


A dark, humorless chuckle rumbled from him, sending chills down my spine. He rubbed his stubble as his shoulders relaxed.
"Go ahead," he taunted, "Do it before I get to you.’


My chest heaved as my heart aggressively sent a rush of blood to my head.
This was it.


This was supposed to be the moment where I closed my eyes and let my life flash before me in a second, before I pulled the trigger.


But my eyes remained open, stalling Vincenzo.
Not because I feared death.
But because there was nothing to remember. No happy memories, no warmth, no whiff of hope to cling to before the end.
My life had been nothing but a cycle of suffering and regrets. There was nothing for me to live for.


Vincenzo decided I was wasting time and lunged toward me in a blur. I acted quickly. Taking in one final breath, I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled the trigger.


I waited for the bright light. For the ladder to heaven. 
For anything at all.


But all I got was the ghost of a breath on my neck as strong arms wrapped around my waist.


"Stupid girl."


My eyes flew open.


The same dimly lit room with its darks suffocated me. Horror surged through me like ice seeping into my veins. 
I was in hell.
Vincezo's arms locked me in an iron grip. Panic ignited every nerve in my body, and I struggled with everything in me, but he was too strong.


With frightening ease, he lifted my body and tossed me, sending me sprawling on the bed. My fingers dug into the bed as I tried desperately to crawl away from him, but he seized my ankle and dragged me until I was beneath him.


He turned my body so my back was to the bed. I trashed around, kicking and screaming at him, but he clamped his hand over my mouth and grabbed both my wrists in his free hand.


Instinctively, I bit down hard on his hand over my mouth, my teeth sinking into his skin. His bitten hand left my mouth and wrapped around my throat.


He squeezed hard, cutting off my breathing in a merciless grip. My fingers clawed at his hand, my legs kicking beneath him, but that didn't stop him.
"S-stop," I wheezed, losing control of my chords.


My lungs burned. Black dots danced in my vision as tears welled in my eyes. My face grew numb and blue from the lack of blood flowing to my brain, making my head spin.
His dark eyes held mine, and a silent plea slipped down from a tear.


As quickly as he'd stolen the air out of my lungs, he let go of my throat, and oxygen flooded back into my lungs. 
I gasped, coughing violently as I tried to breathe. Before I could properly recover, he gripped my jaw, forcing me to look at him as he leaned in close.


"I'll never let you go, Aurelia... even death himself can't take you away from me."


A shudder ran through me. I couldn't speak... I only watched him, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill out.


How had I gotten myself into this mess?
Maybe I should have never run from my father. I'd dealt with his abuse for years... I should've endured till he grew weak and died.


Because now, I'd gotten myself caught in the devil's webs, which made it clear that my freedom was out of reach.
This was my life now.


"I'd break you till you're nothing but tainted pieces of glass." His hand moved down my jaw, his cold fingers prickling my skin.
"I'll punish you for father's sins... and each punishment will be worse than the last."


I drank in his words, accepting my doom, which didn't seem so far away anymore.
"When I'm done with you, and daddy comes for you..." he trailed off as he wove his fingers through my hair, his touch surprisingly gentle and soothing.
"I'll kill you both."


Dread coiled like a venomous snake in my gut.
"You'll be a good girl now? Won't you, Aurelia?"


I nodded weakly, my gaze never leaving him.


"Speak," he commanded.


"I'll be a good girl," I bit out through my clenched jaw.
He didn't say another word as he left the bed. He bent down and picked up the gun I foolishly believed would be my ticket out of this hell hole.


"You really thought my cousin would give you a loaded gun?" his gaze was nothing short of degrading, "And here, I thought you were smart."


Embarrassment and rage burned through my cheeks. Matteo. I'd trusted him, and look where that had gotten me. 
They planned this to make me look like a fool, and it worked.


How could I have been so stupid and trusting?


Before he left, I sat up on the bed, my head lowered as my hair fell over my face. Tears slid down my cheeks.


"One day, I'll be rid of you," I said calmly, my voice made of steel. "God help me I ever get the chance to kill you. I'll take it in a heartbeat."
I didn't look at him, but I knew he was watching.


He left without saying a word, the sound of the lock clicking in place echoing through the room.


As soon as he was gone, I rushed to the restroom, collapsed to my knees, and threw up the little food that remained in my stomach.