50 ~ In Death And In Life

Brinda

I paced up and down in Francesco's room. Despite the fact that the air conditioner was working perfectly well, sweat still glistened on my face and neck. 

“Will you keep pacing up and down?” Francesco asked before he sipped some wine. I ignored him, my left hand to my jaw while my index finger tapped my cheek gently. 

Francesco lit up the cigarette in his right hand, his eyes fixed on me. “Can't you take your eyes off me?” I questioned, throwing my hands in the air. 

He rolled his eyes sarcastically, “Really?” He arched an eyebrow. “You are not that beautiful for me not to take my eyes off you.”

“Seriously? What is going on?” I ranted before I sat opposite him. “Thus far, from my investigations, I have also met a deadend just like your mother told me a few minutes ago. Who killed your father?” 

“I don't know. I'm lost, just as you are.” He replied.

“In that case, why haven't you told me to find out who killed him?” I asked, which after I folded my hands.

“We are on it. Aren't we?” He chuckled. 

“How can you be jovial with something like this? This is not a game, Francesco.” I blurted. He is probably still annoyed with his father because of the will. 

His gaze shifted to a more serious one. “Initially, I thought that the Fernandez family was behind it. As it is now, I am sure that they have no hand in it. However, we can't judge since we haven't reached the end of the investigation. Hope still lies somewhere.” 

Yes, hope can still lie somewhere. But where? Where exactly can the hope be? 

“Can I get more information on Purab Chaturvedi?” I inquired after an idea crossed my mind. 

“How so?” He questioned, trying to understand why I asked before he slammed the glass cup on the table. He released smoke into the air. “I thought you would give up on the investigation after my mother punched you in the face.”

Oh, yes! The witch did punch me earlier this morning in the face. But that is not enough to stop me from investigating Ronald's death. 

If I am to leave here or try to find out if Francesco has the antidote to the poison in me, I will have to resort to every means possible even if I have to lay down my body but I won't give up till my last breath. 

“That is none of your business, Francesco. I want more information on Purab.” I said in a harsh tone then I slammed my right hand on the table. 

“My vicious black rose, are you trying to boss me around?” He asked, gritting at his teeth. 

“Maybe.” I replied before I straightened my posture and looked to the left. “Aren't you the one that wants to know who killed your father? How is that any of my business? I can give up on it right away but I do not want you to keep suffering in the dark.” 

“Are you showing signs that you care about me?” He raised an eyebrow. 

“Me? Care about you?” I scoffed. “You must be kidding me, right?” 

“Let’s make a deal then.” He suggested shifting to a more comfortable position on his chair. 

A few minutes later, his eyes bore into mine and I stared at him fiercely knowing what was at stake with his conditions behind what I requested for. 

“Deal!” I concluded. 

He stood up, walked to the wardrobe, looked into it for some time before he brought out the same bag he gave me the other day at his office while we looked through Liam Parker's profile. 

“Are you sure that you want to do this?” He asked while he scratched his head. 

“I am in for it,” I said, my mouth not stuttering. 

As soon as he dropped the bag, I opened it, brought out the laptop, then I began my mission to ensure that I defeat Francesco and make him do what I have in mind. 

One thing I have come to learn in the world of the Mafias is that they value loyalty and honesty more than any other thing so he won't trick me.

My eyes scanned the laptop's screen while I typed away trying to get to know partially everything about Purab Chaturvedi. He was close to Ronald Dante and Marshall's father at the same time. 

Why? There is still a missing link that I can't decode.

“ACCESS DENIED. TRY AGAIN.”

I tapped my forehead slowly seeing that rubbish written boldly on the laptop's screen. “I guess I have to try again,” I whispered. 

Tracing Purab Chaturvedi’s profile has led me to an external server in Japan, however I have been denied access. It looks like I boasted too much. My hacking skills have surely gone to its grave. 

Suddenly, the laptop closed shut. I raised my head to meet Francesco’s gaze. “You lost. Game over.”

“Yeah… I know. What's your request?” I gave up voluntarily not wanting to extend the issue. Nevertheless, I shouldn't have lost. 

“I want to make you mine.” He retorted almost immediately. 

“This can't be happening,” I thought, my mind rebelling against the reality of the situation. 

“This is not business. It's personal. Just. You. And. Me.” 

“And I don't want to. Ask for something else.” My words flew out. 

“That is the only thing I want. I want to make you mine. I really want you to be mine.” He added more pressure but ensured that he did not raise his voice. 

“I don't want to be. How many times should I spell it out?”

“This wasn't the ‘you’ I have seen since morning. Why are you changing again?” He questioned, then he dipped his left hand into his pocket. 

“I’m still being myself.” I replied. 

“Do you want to get flogged? Do you want to be punished instead?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I have always threatened you. This will not make much of a difference. What do you say?” 

His hand reached out to mine gently. My body kept on saying ‘No’ but to achieve what I want, I may just have to be his little puppet. And at the most critical time, I will stab him off-guard. 

He swept me off the surface of the tile and took me to the dark room. My heart raced a million times as I watched him chain my hands to the window behind me. 

“What are you doing?” I asked, my mind racing with concern for myself. 

“This is the first step of making you mine. If you pass this stage, I might as well give you a chance.” He smirked. 

“A chance. I am the one giving you a chance. Not you!” I stated boldly at his face. 

My words must have irritated him because a few seconds later, my skin cried in pain as the black belt around his waist ensured justice on his behalf. After beating me with twenty slashes of the belt, he stopped, breathing hard. 

“Fran… Francesco, won't you just stop?” I pleaded, pain coursing through my whole body. 

“I am just getting started,” he growled. 

“In the end…” I said, smelling blood and feeling it flow on my body inside my cloth. “If I die, we will both die. Remember that, Francesco.”

“I am anticipating that moment when we will both go to hell since you have been adding powdered glass to whatever I take into my stomach. In death and in life, we will be together.” 

His words rang non-stop in my ear like a church bell. How did he know that I have been poisoning him? 

What the fuck? 

Who told him? 

Bullet? 

I had better not get my hands on her. 

Now I believe that no matter what I do, Francesco would not give me the antidote to The Deadly Nightshade.