Chapter 57: Chapter 57

There’s a confident rap at the door, I quickly rush over and open it.

“Did you..” the words get stuck in the back of my throat when my eyes land on his.

“Hello, Pretty.” He snarls viciously at me. Shit!

I curse as I quickly try to close the door, but he swiftly lodges his foot between the door and violently jerks the door back. I stumble backwards and land on my ass with a big thud.

He steps inside shaking his head and clicks his tongue before he locks the door behind him

“That wasn’t very nice.” He pouts at me.

“What do you want Mikal?” I crane my head back and look up at him.

“I have come here to send a message to some people.” He crouches in front of me and slowly drinks me in with a predatory look in his eyes while he strokes my hair.

“What does that have to do with me?” I begin to panic.

“Well, you... see..” He grabs me by the shoulders and roughly hauls me up to my feet.

“To send a message to people you need to start with the people they  hold dear to them.” He rubs the pad of his thumb along my quivering bottom lip. “You, sweet Vanessa happen to be the weakest link in the circle.” He sniggers and lowers his head to mine. “I’m going to have fun playing with you before I have to ruin you.” One corner of his mouth lifts sardonically slow.

“Let me go.” I struggle in his grip.

“Don’t be a spoilsport.” He leans in and roughly kisses me on the lips.

Fear has me seeing red and I bite down on his lower lip breaking the skin, the metallic taste of his blood makes me gag, and I quickly bring my knee up colliding it with his manhood. He roars, pushing me to the ground, and bends over in pain clutching his delicate jewels.

”You fucking bitch, you’re gonna pay for that.”. He howls.

I quickly stagger to my feet and make a run for it to the bathroom. It's the only room in the house that has a lock. I reach the door and turn the handle, suddenly there’s a pinching pain on my skull, his fingers are wrapped in my hair pulling me back towards him. Fuck... No!!

I was so close, so bloody close. He drags me by the hair to the living and recklessly pushes me onto the sofa. I climb onto the sofa and draw my knees under my chin wrapping my arms around my legs. Don’t let him hurt baby.

Must keep baby safe.

“Please..” I beg.

“Shut up!” He yells and points a finger at me.

“You don’t have to do this.”.

“I said shut up!” His hand strikes me across the face causing the room to slightly spin.

I marginally raise my shaking hands blocking my head from another harsh blow.

“All you women are the same you know that? You’re like poison.” I lower my hands to look at him.

“I... I don’t understand.” I raise my hands again and cover my head waiting for him to strike. When he doesn’t, I lower my hands and watch him.

“You all prance around seeking attention and when I give you the attention you're looking for you all act like your too good for a man like me.”  He scoffs.

“And, you go to the extreme by pinning a used condom inside of a card written with vulgar advances! You’re a predator.” I look at him in disgust.

“ I don’t like to be made a fool of.” His voice is dangerously deep and matter-of-fact.

‘Did it ever occur to you that you're the real problem and not these women? Your not ugly.” I leer at him momentarily.  “Well, not on the outside anyway! For someone that looks the way you do I can imagine the lack of rejection you should be receiving, but you don’t know how to approach women in the right form of mind.” I narrow my eyes defensively.

“The real problem is all you cock-teasing woman who can’t live up to the appearance you portray. If you don’t want the kind of attention I’m offering then don’t fucking dress like a hussy and act like a sex-deprived minx!” His hands roll into tight fists making his knuckles turn white.

“How we act and the clothes we wear don’t truly define our identity or the lack of respect we should conceive because....”

“Don’t practise your good little teacher shit on me!” He stands over me looking fiercely pissed off.

“I.. I’m sorry Mikal, I was just trying to help you see that what your doing isn’t right,” I say softly, trying to keep him calm. Ssshh.

Why can't you just be quiet? The voice in my head nags.

“I don’t need you trying to tell me what’s right and what’s wrong.”

"I.. I’m So.. Sorry..” My voice trembles.

“It doesn’t matter, not now anyway.” He sits beside me and slowly runs his hand up and down my thigh.

“The mob that Giovanni is busy trying to ruin found you, Nessa, they want to send Giovanni and Luca another message.” His lip curls into an evil smile. “No matter where you go, who you hide, we will find you and make you pay. Nobody is indispensable in our eyes.” His words are cruel and hit me like a dump truck.

“No!” I scatter to the far end of the sofa petrified.

This can’t be happening!

“Oh... Yes. You see Lucas sweet, sweet Vanessa. Nobody tells me no, or fucks with the mob.”

He slowly crawls towards me, covering my shaking body and forces his head in the curve of my neck placing deadly butterfly kisses.

“Mmmmmm, such a ripe delicacy. No wonder Luca can't get enough of you, you bitch.” He growls as he brings his hands up and roughly palms my breast.

My eyes start to water from the intense pain and I start to struggle under him. I claw at his face, breaking the skin and trying to get as much of his DNA as I can under my nails. If the bastard does succeed in harming me at least I can still get justice for myself.

“You fucking crazy bitch!” He touches his face and looks at his hand tinged with blood.

“Get off me!” Summoning all the willpower I can, I use it to push him off me.

“I don’t think so!” Mikal reaches out and grabs me by my hair, pulling me back towards him.

That’s it, if I survive I’m so... cutting my bloody hair.

“You’re a feisty little one aren’t you.” He snarls as he forces me back onto my feet. I dig my nails into his wrists trying to get him to loosen his grip but it only adds fuel to his rage and he intensifies his grip causing me to cry out in pain. “Only makes me taking you so much sweeter. I love a good fight.” He says sardonically.

“You won’t get away with this.” I cry out and spit In his face.

Mum always did tell me spitting in someone’s face was the filthiest insult you can make.

He runs his thumb over the spit on his face and brings it to his mouth sucking it dry.

“You're a fucking nut job!” I cry out in dismay.

“That’s what they all tell me lately.” His eyes harden. “But they don’t know a damn thing about me.” He laughs as his face turns bright red causing a sudden outbreak of goosebumps to crawl over my entire body.

I need to try and keep him calm, make him see there is always light at the end of the tunnel no matter how dark and long that tunnel is... The professional voice whispers. You should also learn to shut your mouth if you want to survive this.

You have to think of the baby! Hisses the sensible voice.

“Th... This isn’t the nor.. normal display of someone who claims to seek retribution. You need help Mikal, I can get you on Lucas Personal Security Detail. I’m sure I can convince him to change his mind, But I can't do that if you hurt me.” I plead.

He slowly runs his eyes up and down my body making me feel incredibly dirty and vulnerable.

He licks his lips and smiles. “Let's get this party started shall we?” He starts to drag me down the hallway and pushes me into the first room we pass that just so happens to be mine.