I'll be free when I die
Thalia clasped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming as she watched from the distance she was in.
She placed her hand on her pounding chest and bit her lower lip.
As they dragged away Arabella from the road into the waiting black van, she couldn't ignore the pain that filled Blaze's face.
He looked as if he was ready to kill someone. But she knew how being in the mafia works and also, how it was being in the Moon Howlers pack, Alessandro's pack.
They didn't tolerate betrayal. Anyone found guilty would get killed instantly.
That was the fate of Arabella's father, and it could be her brother's too.
She didn't want that for him. As much as she sensed he cared for Arabella, she didn't want him to get in trouble.
“Let go of her hand.”
Thalia snorted as she heard Blaze grunt out.
“It's for the best,” she mumbled to herself, slipping out of her hideout as soon as they were out of sight.
She jogged back home and shut the door as soon as she was in.
Thalia ran a hand through her hair and breathed out.
Her thoughts went back to Sandro.
After her encounter with him earlier, she received a call telling her he'd kill her if he found out she was helping Arabella.
If she knew the bítch scent was as strong as that, she wouldn't have got anywhere near her. It was a narrow escape for her as Sandro kept watching her every moment.
Ex-girlfriend or not, Sandro didn't care about that. He could kill her in a second and not spare her remain a second glance.
Thalia shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.
She was glad he didn't find out about her sheltering Arabella.
But then, she felt sorry for her. Perhaps she shouldn't have done what she did, but she couldn't risk being the one who would get hurt or, worst, Blaze.
Her phone vibrated, and she glanced at the screen.
— Meet me at the De Luca Villa as soon as you come awake.
“What does he want from me?” Thalia murmured, glaring at the content of the message.
She tossed her phone aside, but it vibrated again.
“What now?” She asked as soon as she picked.
“Just making sure you received my text.”
Thalia rolled her eyes, “I did, but…”
“No buts, darling. You don't object when I say or want something from you.”
“Are you my father?!” she scowled, even though he couldn't see her.
“I can punish you,” Sandro said.
“Goodness!” she hissed. “I did nothing to you. Do you go about punishing anyone you see?!”
The other end of the line was silent until he spoke up again. “You are hiding something from me, and I need you here tomorrow. Don't think you can run from me. Running will only make me angrier and do what you might term irrational.”
“Fúcking get mad, I do not care!”
“Careful, honey,” Sandro said, and Thalia had a mental image of him smirking at her.
“I rarely let people yell at me and leave freely.”
She puffed out a breath. “It is a mistake we met today. Please, we are not together any more, and you can't control my life as if we…”
“Bástárd!” Thalia gritted her teeth as he hung up on her.
She tossed her phone across the room and lay on the bed.
She wondered how he got her number in the first place because she was certain she changed everything after she left him.
Anyway, he was Alessandro De Luca. He could get whatever he wanted with only the snap of his finger.
Thalia sighed. She couldn't escape him, even if she wanted to. It wasn't even an option for her.
She believed it was best she went to see what he wanted. And she didn't need to think of what he was going to say to her as well because everything would be centred on Arabella.
***********
Arabella's head whipped backwards as Sandro slapped hard across her face.
She groaned and bit her lower lip before looking up at him.
Her eyes were red-rimmed and blood trickled down from her nose and a cut on her lip.
Sandro clasped her throat. His hand tightened around it, and she gasped out.
“Where the fúck were you? Who did you go to?!” He shouted.
Arabella winced as he shoved her backwards. She shut her eyes and took in a staggering breath before opening them once more.
“You prefer to die rather than answer my question?”
Arabella's head lolled as she attempted a nod.
“Kill me.” She slurred. “I'll be free when I die.”
Sandro stepped to her side and grabbed her hair. He wrapped it around his hand and brought her face closer to him.
“I'll make your life a living hell.” He rasped.
The door to the torture room opened and Thalia stepped in.
Her eyes strayed to Arabella, who looked as though she was going to pass out any moment from now if she tortured too much.
She turned to look at Blaze. He clenched his hands into fists.
She saw his muscles tense up as he stared at Arabella intently.
Sandro strolled towards Thalia and halted in front of her.
“Alessandro,” Thalia said.
He assessed her and gripped her hand, tugging her into him.
His lip closed over hers before she could react, and he kissed her hard and fast.
Blaze narrowed his eyes. The urge to break Sandro's hand that was wrapped around Thalia filled him.
He knew of the history between the two, but he didn't want to interfere, seeing as Sandro didn't know the relationship they share.
If he knew now, it would complicate things.
“You like it when I kiss you. Why are you rejecting me now?” Sandro chuckled.
He slapped her backside and went towards his shirt that was hanging in the corner of the room.
Thalia glared. “We are not together any more. How long do you want me to keep telling you that?! We are no longer together!”
Swiftly, Sandro moved towards her and yanked her hand. His hand gripped her chin, and he sneered.
“I told you to desist yelling at me, darling. Do you like me getting mad? Does that turn you on?”
“You disgust me.” She spat. But she didn't shove him or yell at him.
Despite putting on a strong facade, she was terrified of him.
She didn't know who was in front of her any more. He was barely the Sandro she knew.
She wondered what happened to him because the person in front of her was a monster.
A brutal man that only likes to torment people.
