Seventy.
Slowly sipping on my glass of red wine as I look at Aydem over the rim, a small smile curves on the corners of my mouth.
Setting his utensils down on his plate, he picks up his crystal glass with whiskey on the rocks and takes a sip from it, his eyes never leaving mine.
"You keep looking at me like that askim [my love], I'll have no choice but to take you right here, on this table, in front of all these people." He says roughly, setting his glass back down on the table.
I place my glass of wine back down on the table too, "Is that a promise?" I ask seductively, leaning over the table.
A lopsided smirk stains his gorgeous face, "You'd like that wouldn't you?" He chuckles, rubbing the side of his jaw.
I get up from my seat and walk over to him, running my fingers through his hair as I settle on his lap. "Yes and No." I state honestly, leaning in, "I'd rather you take me in the bathroom where there won't be an audience." I whisper in his ear, pulling back, I wink at him and get off his lap. "Don't keep me waiting too long, darling," I wink as I pick up my purse and proceed to the women's restroom.
I set my purse on the vanity and skim my fingers through my hair as I gaze in the mirror. Rummaging through my purse, I pluck out my favourite lipstick shade, applying it on the tip of my finger and dabbing it on my lips.
Spinning around, I brace my ass against the sink, as the restroom door opens and the sound of the latch clicking over sweeps across the room.
My mischievous smile immediately fades and is replaced with a look of hatred and dread.
The man in front of me, trapping me in the room with his presence, is not Aydem. It's Castello, and despite the fact that my blood runs cold through my veins.
I refuse to let him believe he terrifies me.
He reaches into his jacket, extracting a pair of black leather gloves, and puts them on as he slowly walks towards me.
His eyes are solely trained on mine, an evil smile touches the corners of his mouth and he clears his throat.
Exhaling roughly, "Credevi sinceramente che avresti potuto spostarti dall'altra parte del mondo e io non ti avrei trovata, Mila?" He growls viciously, stopping right in front of me.
[You sincerely believed that you could have moved on the other side of the world and I wouldn't have found you, Mila?]
"No." I swallow thickly. "I knew it would only be a matter of time before you grew some balls and finish what Trent failed to do." I thank the Gods that my voice doesn't mirror the tremor consuming me.
My fingers grip the basin behind me, turning my knuckles a ghastly shade of white as his hand reaches out.
Abruptly, he brutally wraps his hand around the base of my neck and squeezes his fingers, hurting me.
"After I squeeze the life out of you, Mila. I'm going to walk out of this restroom and straight into the restaurant where your Turkish lover sits. Then I'm going to put two bullets in his head, right here." He snarls, roughly stabbing the pad of his index finger into the centre of my forehead.
"Good luck with that," I spit with venom. "You've been a dead man walking since you landed in the country Castello. Different turfs have different rules and this isn't your turf." I snicker.
Fuccckkk...
Castello tightens his grip around my throat and forcefully moves me from the sink, against the hard wall.
His face is a whisper away from mine, "Do I look scared to you, bitch?" He huffs as he pulls out a pocket knife and flicks it open. Sliding the cold blade against my skin that burns with resentment. "Do you think he will still love you if I pluck an eyeball out?" His words are heavily drenched in his accent.
"You'll never get the opportunity to find out," A deep voice booms through the restroom and instantly I sigh with relief. "If you want to survive long enough to at least attempt to hurt me. I suggest you let my wife go or I will put two bullets into the back of your fucking head you Italian scum." My husband's voice is cold, calculating and full of fury.
Castello's eyes never leave mine and he sighs, "Pitty, I was hoping to take your wife for a test drive myself. Since I'm about the only man she hasn't spread her legs for." He growls with his breath fanning my face.
"Fuck you!" I spit out with animosity. "They fucking raped me, you piece of fucking shit!" I yell, struggling to break free from his embrace.
"You liked it, Mila. I watched the videos you dirty fucking whore!"
Two shots go off, the crackling sound reverberates off the walls and instantly Castello drops to the ground, groaning out in pain.
Aydem shot him in the back of his legs.
He marches up to Castello, pointing the gun at his head as he towers over him. "I changed my mind. Killing you is an easy way out, hayir. [no.] I have a better plan." He snarls viciously.
Four men run into the room, "Put him in the back of the SUV, contact Neriman and have her meet me at the farm in the barn." He orders with his gun still trained on Castello's head. "Nerimans going to have a fucking field day skinning you alive." He mutters.
"If you think I came alone, you have sorely misjudged me Aydem." Castello groans in agony.
Aydem chuckles, tucking his gun into the back of his pants. "The men you had waiting outside and in the restaurant are dead, or either waiting to join you in the back of the SUV."
Castello lets out a growl that is full of violence and defeat, "This isn't over by a long shot." He howls as he is dragged away by two of Aydem's men.
Raising his gaze to meet mine, Aydem holds his arms out and I run straight to him without a single tear shed.
His hands cup the sides of my face, his eyes intensely search my body, "Are you hurt, askim?" [my love?]
Frantically shaking my head, "No, I'm fine." I shudder with comfort.
As he presses my head against his chest and pulls me close to him, "How did you know he was here?" A rumbling emanates from his lips all the way to the centre of his chest.
"I saw his reflection in the glass window while we were waiting for our meals to arrive." I cling to him, inhaling in his aroma, which has the capacity to ease my anxiety.
