Page 72 of Pain and Possession

The rusted and molding scent of the steel that surrounds me fits perfectly with the derelict structure I seem to be stuck in. Bars and pipes jutting out and twisting into darkened holes line the walls and ceiling of the underground storage area. The neighboring rooms from what I can see are without overhead light and filled to the brim with metal drums I don’t want to know the contents of. Anxiety threatens to take the place of my adrenaline and anger as each second ticks by. Logically I know I've been brought here for a singular purpose to get to,him.To get back at him. My kidnappers aren't bothering to conceal themselves, which means they have no intention of letting me go. The camera set up on a tripod in front of me is just another small sickening detail of my new reality. If he finds me… when he finds me I hope he sees the bracelet. I hope it was worth it ripping it from my wrist in what could be my last few moments on earth. I work my jaw, trying again to dislodge the disgusting oil-stained rag they shoved into my mouth. The duct tape slapped across the top of it gives slightly, jerking out tiny peach hairs as I go.

"Hurry the fuck up and get the camera ready, the crazy bitch never said we were snatching someone from the Arcuri family."

Crazy bitch, huh? Wild guess of who they are referring to.

I jerk again against the zip ties keeping my hands bound tightly in place behind the back of the chair. My shoulders scream in protest with each movement, the chair matches everything else in here. Rusted and moldy, the ragged edges cutting into my arms with each breath.

Definitely going to need a tenuis shot after this assuming I get out at all.

"Smile for the camera." One of them taunts as he grips my hair forcing my head back, "What did a little thing like you do to earn yourself a place on a mafia hit list?"

Exist in the presence of Noè Arcuri.

“Stream is live. 3.5k and growing.” Another calls from behind the camera and my stomach rolls.

They are streaming this?

I scowl at him as his hand wraps around my throat, his squeeze isn't strong, but makes it harder to breathe all the same. It doesn't help my nose is stuffed. I can't suppress the strangled cry as he releases me.

"I'm pregnant!" I try desperately to make the words come out, to make them make sense but they don't behind the gag. Not that they would matter either way. My bravado escapes me the moment his hand returns to my throat, my head still fuzzy as tears spill from my eyes.

God, I hate that I'm crying.

The haphazardly hung florescent lighting dangles and swings as his head lightly grazes it, the light reflecting off the razor-sharp cut of steel he whips out from somewhere behind him. My eyes meet his dark ones as black spots dot my vision, his hand tightening. The sharp point on the knife finds my stomach, making me cry out again as I try to force my eyes to stay open.

If you're going to kill me, I'm going to make sure you see every moment of it. I won't close my eyes.

He jerks my head back again finally releasing my throat as I struggle to suck in breath through my stuffed nose.

"Hey, you better hurry man I think she's suffocating." Another voice calls from a dark corner of the room.

I didn't even get to tell Noè he was going to be a father. This will destroy him. I know it.

More tears fall and my head is jerked back further the blade slowly trailing up my stomach as I gasp for breath that isn't coming. My nails bite and scratch at my wrists and the restraints on them, desperate to free myself. All the panic aside I can't help but to feel relieved when the knife passes my stomach all together making its way slowly over my breasts to my exposed neck. The sound from the room seems to be getting further a further away, but I feel the muggy air hit my chest as my top is ripped away. I can almost make out… what is that?

Gunfire?

There are voices too, familiar ones but one stands out among the rest. It's dripping in malice and hatred, and I've never been happier to hear it. A blinding moment of sharp concentrated pain rips into the front of my throat, forcing a scream from my mouth ad my lead eyes spring open. Forcing me away from the fuzzy darkness that had crawled into me. In an instant the man drops from sight, his ugly face replaced by the damaged person who holds my heart. His dark hazel eyes are filled with panic and I hate it. I think something is wrong, very wrong. I'm cold, my arms and legs don't feel like mine and my neck doesn't hurt anymore. I suck in a ragged breath but it's nowhere near enough as he jerks the gag from my mouth. Halfway grateful I don't feel the tape coming off. I try to sit up, but I can't… I can't move my head.

"I got you baby. I got you. Don't close your eyes, okay? Eyes on me. Please, god- fuck Olive look at me!" He's holding my neck so tightly it's uncomfortable but I’m just happy his hands are on me.

"I'm pregnant." I try to say the words, but he doesn't hear me. Too busy shouting orders. Goddammit asshole pay attention to me. Why aren't you listening? I keep saying it. Followed by I love you. I say it over and over until my eyes get too heavy to hold open.

He's here now, so it's safe to sleep.

Chapter seventeen

Weakness

Noè

"Sir! Sir you cannot come in here!" The small framed nurse yells as I plant a palm on her face shoving her backwards out of my way. She let's out a surprised gasp as she collides roughly with the wall behind her, my eyes never leave the stretcher as they rush Olive into a backroom at the hospital. A fully equipped mafia funded room reserved for families such as mine. I exhale a shaky breath as Marcus breezes in through an opposite door holding his hands out in front of him as another nurse begins rapidly firing off information. Information that makes me sick to my stomach.

"Twenty-one-year-old female, deep incised laceration to the front of the neck. Breathing and pulse both weak. Heart rate is at 44bpm. Oxygen dropping rapidly.”

He doesn't glance my way as they all spring into action, moving and cutting away what clothes are left on her. Inserting tubes, hooking her up to machines and IVs while others begin to flush the deep wound on her delicate neck.

"Get an intravaginal ultrasound in here stat! I want a constant monitor on fetal heart rate."

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