Chapter 34

Just when I thought everything was well planned out, it came crashing and turning all sour. Someone was behind the shadows ruining my mission just so I wouldn’t gain my freedom.

My chest rumbled, and rage boiled inside me like a raging fire. I could feel my whole body burning, veins red and sprouting as I clenched my teeth to control myself.

The last time I felt this way was when my father was killed, and now it was back. That monster that turned me into a villain, killing every trace of empathy inside me.

My eyes moved to the gate where Diane had rushed in, and I felt like a knife was stabbed to my chest. All I wanted was to keep it a secret and finish this mission; then we would live that life I dreamed of. But someone from my organization decided to destroy it all.

“Just pray I don’t get you!” I bellowed, entering the car and zooming off to the location Sofia had sent to me.

As I got close, I found out it was her house.

She called me as soon as the gate was opened for me.

“I am glad you came. The security will take every weapon from you. Nothing else. We are just going to talk!” She said through the phone, and I hung up with a hiss. Her voice was like a trigger to the fury inside me.

She wanted us to talk, and she said all that to Diane? She just made her hate me, and it had turned into cold fear. I scare her like a beast.

The security men scanned me through, taking everything I had in my pocket before I was led upstairs in the mansion.

The door of her room was opened by her with a bright smile on her face, and as I entered, she closed the door and locked it.

“Why do you still want me here? Are you not scared I will just strangle you to death?!” I growled, my eyes scanning her from head to toe. She was clad only in a linen robe, transparent enough for me to see her lingerie and bra.

“You are in my mansion. You should be the one to be scared, but no need for all that because we aren’t enemies!” She shrugged, heading to the wine bar.

“I don’t want anything, so don’t offer any. What do you want us to talk about?” I muttered, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves.

“How did she take that message I delivered to her? Diane hates you now, right?” She sighed with a fake sympathy written all over her face.

“Yes, and I know you are so excited about it. That’s your plan, and kudos, it worked.”

“But you were going to kill me. I did nothing to you. It hurts more because I was falling really hard for you. From the first moment I set my eyes on you, the wall around my heart melted. You are everything I dreamed of in a man.” She mumbled, filling her cup and mine even when I had clearly told her I wanted nothing.

She placed them all on the table and sat on the bed. “Come sit with me.”

“Sofia, who was the anonymous person that told you to check that file? What was the voice like?” I asked calmly, gritting my teeth, and she burst into laughter.

“Now you sound like my friend. You have been talking so harshly.”

“I am not your friend, and you know that.”

“I helped you. Remember? And now you want my help again to find out who betrayed you. Don’t you think we are really meant to be close?” She chuckled, and I took a deep breath, folding my hands over my chest.

“You did all that because you didn’t know my intention about you. Now that you know, I am sure you will do everything to destroy me first before I do the same to you.” I seethed, glaring at her as she maintained a smile, those eyes fixed on me.

“No, you are wrong.” She sighed, standing up from the bed and closing the gap between us. “Your charm has got me. I was pained to read all that you planned to do to me, but guess what? I couldn’t send the document to the cops. I couldn’t even tell my father about it.”

“What do you mean?” I sneered in confusion at her as she trailed her fingers on my chest.

“I am also confused. I don’t know why I can’t hurt you. But you keep tearing my heart. Diane isn’t the woman for you. Isn’t it clear how dumb and careless she is? She couldn’t even keep hold of such an important thing till you are back.”

“So what are you insinuating?”

“Break up with her. It is easier now because she already hates you.” Sofia leaned and whispered in my ear.

“So what next?” I asked with a heave.

“Then we can be friends, and I will help you.” She replied, her teeth gleaming as she grinned.

“I don’t want to be your friend. I see your father in you, and I don’t mind killing you even if I would die the next second.” I spat as the flashback came running through my head.

Not only had her father killed our former mafia boss, he was also the sponsor of the gang that murdered my father. This was a secret I had kept, waiting for the moment we would have him as our captive. I was going to remind him before torturing him to death.

“You would have done that the moment you stepped in here. I saw pure hatred in your eyes when you talked about my father, and it is very satisfying. For the first time I see someone who knows how evil he is.” She paused and walked to the drawer beside her bed.

“Are you trying to tell me you hate your father?” I frowned, and she brought out a diamond ring from the cupboard.

“This is the engagement of my first love. He was the best thing that had happened to me, but a year ago, my father killed him. I can’t even find his body. My father took him to the forest, and that was the end…” Her eyes were gloomy as she let out a sad laugh.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because he wanted me to marry someone, and my boyfriend won’t leave me. He was afraid I would elope with him, so he decided to kill him. Jason was my life… He...” she broke down in tears before she could finish, her face buried in her palms as she whimpered uncontrollably.

I pulled her into a hug, feeling pity for the young girl as I imagined losing someone I loved. I knew how it was with my father, not to mention one you are in love with.

“You look a lot like him, but I can’t pinpoint where. You brought memories of him to me, and that is why I fell for you. I don’t know, but it felt like God brought him back to me through you.” She sniveled under my chest.

“I’m sorry for what happened.” I managed to say it because I didn’t even know what to reply to her. The only thing running in my head was how I would capture her and send it to the mafia boss.

I badly needed that freedom, and it had become so important to me after meeting Diane.

“My father won’t surrender even if you hold me captive. He doesn’t love me that much and only treats me nicely so I would be a good asset to him. He wants to give me out for marriage to a man I don’t love. A man who wants to use me as a toy…”

“Really?” I frowned, peering at her as she wiped her tears and dropped back the ring.

“You asked if I hated my father.” She let out a sad laugh. “I prayed day and night for death to save me from him. My hate for him was a burden, and it ate my heart slowly. What father rapes their daughter? What father locks up their daughter and feeds her with food like a dog and then pees on her?

“What?!” I frowned, wondering if my ears heard her right.

“I had to pretend I was fine. In the public, I was his treasure. People thought he loved and cared for me, not knowing I was forced to hide my pain so he wouldn't kill me. Then Jason was like a breath of fresh air, but he snatched that hope from me. I will be forced into marriage after I am done with my college. Leo, I will help you get him so he doesn't ruin my life.” She breathed, leaving me stunned.

I was about to say something when the door creaked open, and I turned only to see Diane standing at the door.

My jaw dropped in shock as she walked into the room with a smile on her face.

“What?” I gasped with a grimace, wondering if I was having an illusion.

“Yes, she heard us. I had my guard pick her up, and she had been behind the door.” Sofia said with a little laugh.

“Leo, Sofia is not your enemy. Promise me you will trust her and won’t do anything that will hurt her.” Diane said to me, and I sighed, wondering how everything ended up like this. Was I about becoming friends with the daughter of my enemy?

Is this a trap?