Page 75 of The Devil's Den

“You’re a monster,” I croak out, but it sounds like whispered words.

A sly grin pulls at his mouth. “And you’re about to find out just how much of a monster I really am.” He pulls me toward the basement by my throat, my feet dragging. I fight him, my fingers trying to pry his hand off me as I stare at a terrified Robby, his sobs louder the further I’m pulled away.

My fa—Agnelo yanks me forward even faster. “Your big mouth always gets you into trouble. Just like your whore mother.”

My mother wasn’t a whore.

He pulls the basement door open.

“Aida, what’s goin’ on?” The alarm in Matteo’s voice is evident. I can just see him jumping to his feet, readying for a fight.

“She came to say hello,” Agnelo answers, mockery dripping.

“Aida, talk to me.”

But I can’t, even as Agnelo’s hand drops from my aching throat and he pushes at my back to head down.

When we reach the bottom, Matteo’s there, hands balled at his sides, teeth bared. “What’s going on? Why are you here?” He zeroes in his attention at Agnelo.

“You know…” Agnelo eyes me, then Matteo. “I’ve got a lot of regrets in my life.” And the way he talks, it’s as though he’s giving us great news. “Two of them are not getting rid of you both when I had the chance. That kid upstairs too. I have no reason to keep any of you, and today—”

“No!” I instantly turn to him, my head shaking, my pulse jumping. “Do whatever you want to me, but don’t hurt Robby. Please! Give him to his mother or her family, just don’t kill him!”

“Oh.” He chuckles. “I’m not gonna kill him. But he’ll want to die when I send him to the club.”

I gasp, my stomach stirring. “No, please.” The tears swell, the back of my throat closing. “Don’t hurt him. He’s a child.”

“We’ve all been children once. But I have some good news.” He folds his arms across his chest. “I’ll give you a choice like I did Matteo here once upon a time.”

Before I could wonder what choice I could possibly make, he removes a gun from his waistband. My eyes expand, my world growing dizzy. It’s like I’ve been yanked from gravity and thrown into the pits of hell.

“Your choice is pretty simple. Save one. Kill the other.”

“R-Robby or Matteo?” I pant, staring at the gun. I can’t kill the man I love or the boy who’s like my own! “Oh God.” I tremble, slapping a hand to my mouth, vomit slinking up my throat. Fear creeps up my body like a hungry ghost ready to possess me.

The weapon in his palm nears me. “Decide. Which one will it be? The kid? Or your boyfriend?”

“No! Please!” I drop to the floor and beg for his mercy, the pain in my heart unbearable. Every inch of me feels as though it’s been sliced open. “I can’t!” I yank at my hair.

Large tears roll down my face. Faster. Faster. Unending. The agony. I can’t lose either of them. My hands claw at my chest.

I can’t breathe. I’m taking shallow breaths.

“Kill me!” I implore him. “Just let me take their place. You never loved me. Let me be the one to die.”

“No fucking way!” Matteo fires. “Aida, look at me.” But I can’t seem to do it. If I do, I’ll break more than I’m already broken. His eyes, they always seem to carry me away to a place I wanted to one day share with him. But now—I choke on a sob—that will never happen. “You know it has to be me,” he continues, his voice dripping with emotion, and I crack with every syllable. But it can’t be him. It can’t be Robby either. I have to be the one to die.

My eyes reluctantly fall to his, and I burst into tears, barely able to catch my breath. “I c-can’t.” I weep louder. It hurts so bad. I don’t want to hurt anymore.

I turn to Agnelo. “Please, I’ll doanything. The club. Take me there for good.” I sniffle, my body shuddering.

“Thisis what I want.” He hits me with a cold glare. “You will choose one. Right now, or I will take both.”

“You’re a sick fuck!” Matteo roars as I get to my feet.

“Maybe.” He cackles. “But now you’ll both be killers. Take the fucking gun!”

“I can’t do this!” Every inch of me swarms with an icy chill.

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