Seventy-One

He pulls back, gazing down at me. "When you play with fire, askim. [my love] You are bound to get burned, scorched or fried. If you ever pull this bok [shit] again. I will bind you to our bed, and you will never be allowed to leave the room again." He growls, and I know he means every word.

"I know you mean well and I'm sorry," I say as I search his eyes. "But this was the only option we had. I had to use myself as bait."

[No.] "Hayir, you didnt." He says coldly and I don't like the sound of his tone.

"I did." I snap, stepping out of his embrace. "If I didn't see him, Aydem. Who is to say he would not have followed us back to the villa where our son is sleeping and your cousins live with their children?" Placing my hands on my hips, I run the tip of my tongue over my top teeth. "He could have returned and figured out the layout of the villa as well as everyone's schedule," I explain trying to justify my actions.

His eyes narrow as he blows air out of his nose and points his finger at me. "Do you realise how much risk you had put yourself in? What would have happened to you if I had not checked my phone and seen the text you sent me?" He growls through gritted teeth.

"Don't do that!" I say in a clipped tone.

"Do what, askim?" [my love] He mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose as he clearly expresses his frustration with me.

"Don't try and turn the situation around and scold me like I'm a child. Especially now that we have him in our possession. What's done is done."

He raises his hand and motions for one of his men to approach him. "Take Mrs Burak back to the villa." He orders as he continues to make eye contact with me. "We will finish this conversation when I return."

I step forward. "I want to come with you." I plead gingerly.

[Hayir.] "No."

"Aydem, please." My voice cracks.

"Don't fight me on this, askim." [my love] He hisses, towering over me as he pulls me into his embrace.

I shove him away, "Fuck you." I hiss back, snatching my purse off the basin bench and I get in his face. "I love you, I'll see you back at the villa, but, fuck you." I sneer, turning away from him.

I halt my movements when he snakes his fingers around my wrist, and yanks me back against his chest. "I am doing this because I love you." He replies brusquely, gripping my jaw and compelling me to look at him.

Tears pool in my eyes, "If you love me, you'll let me come, Aydem." I plead. "I need to watch him die," I say bitterly.

"I'll call you the moment he takes his last breath."

Shaking my head, "No, I want to see him writhe in misery."

He leans in and kisses me on the forehead, his lips lingering for a heartbeat before stepping back and nodding to the man who has been assigned to drive me back to the villa.

"You promised me that we'd do this together." I remind him as I wipe away the tears spilling from my tear ducts.

He turns away from me, glancing back over his shoulder. "Sometimes promises have to be broken to keep those you love safe." His voice comes out strained.

"No, you flat-out lied to me, and that is the part that is going to hurt the most.," I whisper, turning on my heel and I follow the man out of the restaurant with my head bowed.

As I walk outside of the restaurant, I see one of Aydems men, standing by the sedan we came in puffing away with a cigarette in his hand.

I walk up to him, "Gotta spare?"

He raises his brow, and I sigh. He doesn't speak English, so I raise my hand and point to the cigarette in his mouth.

"Can I have one, please?" I say slowly and immediately feel stupid.

It doesn't matter how slow I speak. It's not like he is going to understand me.

Reaching inside of his jacket, he pulls out a small gold case and opens it. "Ah, sigara ister misin?" [Oh, do you want a cigarette?]

"Yes, thank you!" I sigh with relief and gratitude as I take a cigarette and stick it between my lips.

The man raises his hand, flips open his Zippo lighter, and flicks the wheel with his thumb. I take a step forward and light my cigarette.

Tilting my head back and shutting my eyes, I take a deep drag of the nicotine stick, filling my lungs with its poison.

"Ce vediamo dall'altra patre, puttana!" [I'll see you on the other side, bitch!]

I snap my head forward, open my eyes and I saunter directly up to Castello. "Non vedo l'ora, pezzo di merda!" [Can't wait you piece of shit!] I smirk, blowing smoke in his face, then snuff out my cigarette right between his eyes on his forehead.

He screams in anguish, his knees bowing as I press the cigarette deeper into his forehead. Assuring that it will leave a scar similar to the ones created by cigarette burns on my body.

"Until then, have fun with the she-devil who dons the face of a saint." I snarl. "Ti vedro all'inferno" [I'll see you in hell.] I turn away, coming to a halt when I see Aydem standing outside of the restaurant with his phone pressed to his ear.

His glance darts between me and Castello, and when it returns to mine, I drop the cigarette and crush it with the point of my stiletto. I go to the SUV, breaking eye contact with him, and the rear passenger door is held open for me. Before I reach the door, my back is forced up against the SUV, and I glance up to see Aydem caging me in with his arms outstretched and head lowered.

"You must remain at my side at all times. Am I clear, kedi yavrusu?" [kitten?] He demands, softening his gaze and drawing his lips into a thin line. "You make it difficult to deny you of anything."