71: The Day the Devil Offered Me an Apple
Emil's POV
Geno's laughter filled the air in the park as I pushed him in the swing. His bubbly self made me laugh while Sam and Mina cooed on him.
"You want to go higher, boy?" I asked before carefully pushing him a little bit higher this time. His baby squeals pierced my ears and I couldn't stop myself from laughing. God! He's adorable. I caught a glimpse of Marcus smiling and taking a picture.
"Hey Marcus! Can you take a picture of us on my phone?" I requested. I caught Geno the moment he reached me and he began to swing himself, urging me to push him again.
"Just a second, caro. Let's take a pic." I chuckled, fishing out my phone from my pocket. I opened my phone and saw that it was already 10 AM. Maybe Biya is still studying. The thought of my woman studying hard for her profession was sexy to me. My smart Biya. My bodyguard gladly took the phone from me and went into a position as if he was like a photographer. It was the first time seeing him like this; calm and socializing. It was rare to see him without acting like a bodyguard to him. The two women with us began waving their arms in front of us trying to catch Geno's attention. Kneeling beside him so we could fit in the picture, I pointed at the camera for him.
"Look at the camera." I cooed and his gaze went to Marcus who was now crouched down. It was so weird to see him acting like a photographer really... a big bulky photographer. I smiled at the camera the moment I noticed my boy now having fits of laughter while the girls were fooling around behind Marcus.
"1, 2, 3. Smile!" Marcus spoke before smiling and he began tapping on my phone probably murdering it with pictures now. Once he was done, he quickly gave it to me. He didn't step away without ruffling Geno's hair. Moving from one photo to the other, I was impressed at the photos he took. They were clear and great!
"Damn bro. You can take pics especially when around children." I complimented him. I chose the photo with me and Geno smiling from ear to ear, my hand behind him on the swing and his eyes twinkling with amusement and delight. I sent it to Biya with a heart emoji.
"You're whipped." Sam commented before chuckling. She gave me a look the moment she passed by me and I smiled.
"Yes. Yes, I am." I proudly replied and she smirked. I took Geno out of the swing and carried him while we continued to work in the park.
"Marcus, make sure no one is around here. I don't want anyone to invade our privacy here." I told him and he quickly went to order the security to not let anyone near our vicinity.
"Isn't it awfully quiet today?" Mina spoke while scanning the park.
"Hmmm... now that you point it out, yes it is." I hugged Geno, my eyes now trying to spot anyone who is trying to mess our day. No one was around...
"I'll widen the perimeter if you like, Sir." My bodyguard offered.
"Do that but act subtle with it. I don't want anyone to notice." He nodded at that and began to call for my men again.
"Done." He let me know the moment he was done calling. I couldn't help but sigh at our current situation. One day, I won't go hiding to protect everyone I love. My job will always have threats following me. It's no surprise but one day, when I take my family out in the park, I will have the luxury to spend time with them without worrying that someone will hurt them. I was okay with paparazzi's to be honest. I don't give a fuck. I just want them to stay away from me as much as possible and not try to create stories out of thin air.
"I'm sorry, son. If only I can buy the entire Rome so we can enjoy our time together, I will." I softly spoke to him before I kissed his cheek. I hardly noticed my company stopping from their tracks.
"What? What is it?" I looked back at them. Sam has her mouth open like her jaw just dropped, Mina has her eyes wide as saucers and Marcus was trying his best not to smile.
"What?" I asked again and they all came rushing to me.
"Holy shit!" My bodyguard began before the two women gushed over us. What the fuck is happening?
"You called him your son! Dio mio!" Oh...
"Is-Is that bad? Is it offensive?" I hesitated and looked at my boy who was now listening to our conversation as if he understood us.
"No. I think it's great. It's a progress. You subconsciously called him your son. Holy shit!" My bodyguard laughed and the women laughed in delight.
"You two are adorable." Sam cooed, lightly pinching Geno's cheeks. Mina silently agreed with a nod. She's still getting used living with us and I hope she'll get more comfortable as time passes by... We were busy playing with Geno when my phone rang.
"Hey. Can you take him for a second? I need to answer this." I asked Mina and she happily took him away from me. Taking my phone out, I saw it was Paolo Moretti.
"Good-"
"You had one fucking job!" He screamed at the end of the line. I could hear a woman crying and I was sure it was Lorena.
"Excuse me? Sir, what do you-" I was cut down by him shouting.
"My daughter! She's in the hospital right now."
"WHAT?!" Everyone stopped talking. Even Geno stopped laughing. Please tell me I am hallucinating or something. Please tell me this is not real.
"Biya is in Salvare hospital right now and she's in a critical condition. They were involved in a car accident. If something bad happens to her or I learn that this is because of you, I swear to God, you'll fucking regret living!" He seethed with so much anger that I could hear someone warn him about heart attack. My hands shook and I looked at Marcus in horror. This was my greatest nightmare. It happened. I looked at my phone and and I tried moving my lips to speak. I couldn't. I felt faint and on the verge of blacking out. Everyone rushed to me, asking what was wrong.
"G-" I drew out a shaky breath as I looked at my bodyguard who now was trying to help me stand.
"Get me a fucking car now." I managed to speak, clenching my fists as I tried to get a hold of myself and not breakdown without even checking Biya first.
"What?"
"GET ME A FUCKING CAR NOW!" I screamed. No. This can't be happening. I tried to breathe in and out trying to be rational and calm at this time. I pulled on my hair hard and paced around. What happened? Where the fuck would they go? The moment I got my shit together, I stood up and wiped up my tears. Sam and Mina looked at me in worry with Geno also looking at me quietly. He pointed a finger at me and made baby words.
"Mamla?" It felt painful to see him and hear him try to speak about her mother. I went to him and kissed his forehead. I smiled through the pain and caressed his cheek.
"Take him home. No one leaves the house until I say so." I lowly spoke to them not wanting to alarm them how grave the situation was.
"Got it, Sir." My housekeeper quickly tugged Mina and all of them hurriedly walked home. I nodded on my bodyguards and pointed at the two women with Geno in their arms. Motioning them to follow them, they quickly took off and went to them. I ran to the roadside and waited for Marcus. The loud sounds of wheels screeching tore the quiet road in the villa. My McLaren Elva roared throatily before coming into a stop in front of me.
"Where to, Sir?"
"Salvare." I told him getting in the car.
"What happened?" Marcus asked the moment we were off to the hospital. My heart raced again, fucking stressed out and worried about Biya.
"I don't fucking know. All I know is Biya got into an accident. I don't know the details but I need to go see her as soon as possible." I tugged my hair hardly again and shifted on my seat.
"Go faster!" I barked out and Marcus shot me a look.
"You know we'll get into trouble if we do that." He sighed as he turned. I glared at him.
"I don't fucking care."
"You're acting reckless. I know you want to see her but we have to think about our safety too." We slowed down near the intersection that was full of people now. They were surrounding something. Smoke was coming out to where they were standing and police cars where everywhere. My heart dropped at the sight. A white Audi A5 has been smashed and crumpled like a fucking tin can.
"Shit." I heard Marcus curse. I didn't believe it at first. No. This is not her car. I tried to convince myself. I gripped on the car door as we slowly passed by it. Then I saw the damaged MD badge on the bumper. My world fell. The passenger's side was wrecked. I saw blood there. Ronaldo must be with her. I spotted the now wrecked SUV that crashed on the passenger's side. I wanted to get out and take a look but I knew Biya was waiting in the hospital. I slumped on my seat as I watched the bloody and destroyed car disappear from my view. I looked away from the window and tried to breathe. My sight went blurry and I don't know if it was because I was crying or we were really going fast now. My chest constricted and I felt like I was suffocating. I loosened my tie and popped off a few buttons of my shirt.
"Sir? Sir. Breathe. Sir?" He tried to call for me but I couldn't respond. I leaned forward and tried to breathe from the pain, anger, and everything in between of my stormy emotions.
"She's fine. She's fine. She's fine." I tried to tell myself. God. Please. Please. Help her live. Please. I felt my bodyguard pat on my back repeatedly as I shook and cried.
"She's a fighter, Sir. She will live."
The moment we arrived in the hospital, I shot out of the car and rushed inside. Nurses in the lobby straightened as they saw me barge in.
"Mr. Carini!" A middle-aged woman acknowledged me.
"Beatrice Kairis. Where is she?" I asked her and she stopped typing on her computer. Everyone stopped on their tracks and stared at me. I didn't fucking care.
"Tell me now."
"She's still in the operating room, Sir." Marcus came to my side in a rush and leaned closely to me.
"We're getting attention, Sir. Calm down." He whispered but I just shot him a look to shut up. I didn't fucking care about the attention. What I need now is to get to Biya.
"Thank you." I regarded the nurse before I sprinted to the hallways and went into Blaze's office.
"Blaze, I need your fucking help. Where the fuck is the operating room?" My friend who was surprised at first before getting confused came to me. I noticed that he was on a meeting with other doctors. I could remember one of them being with Biya before.
"Why?
"Biya. She was in an accident." I told him and his eyes widened.
"What?! Viv, tell me what your solutions are later. Come one!" He talked to the girl I remember hanging out with Biya.
"Of course, Sir." She shot us a look of worry. We all went out of his office and run to where Biya was. A moment later, we came into a halt only to find Paolo Moretti already marching in my direction. Before I could even say a word, he punched me square in the face.
"Sir!"
"Paolo!" Everyone came to us. A bodyguard and Signora Lorena came to stop him from advancing to me again while Marcus came to block me from his view.
"You! I should have known. You did this to her!"
"Paolo, please calm down! For the love of God, please stop." His wife pulled him away and they went near the double doors of the operating area. I rubbed my cheek and looked down. Was this accident my fault?
"Please tell me what happened, Sir? I don't know what you're talking about?" My voice was firm but my heart was racing. It beat so hard I could hear it thump in my ears.
"That fucking Vicenzio who is terrorizing my daughter did this! Someone purposely crashed their car on hers! And now she's fighting for her life!"
"Who was with her? Where were they going?"
"You are asking me? Me! You're the one she's been with, Carini!" He screamed again in anger.
"I didn't know she would go somewhere." I lowly spoke. I felt guilty not knowing where she was. I thought she was in the house...
"Where were you then?" Lorena spoke this time.
"I was playing in the park with Geno. I thought she was reviewing and I left her to focus." The elderly couple both cried and hugged each other. We were silent for a few minutes. Lorena's cries echoed across the hallway. I was slightly calm that Paolo and Lorena are not angry anymore but I knew they weren't done with me. No. They were far from that. I saw him pinch the bridge of his nose before he came to me.
"I'm sorry I didn't see this coming, Sir." I started. Blaze gave me a sad look as he took a step back for us to talk.
"I'm sorry too for lashing out on you. It's just that..." He sighed before continuing.
"It's just that I... I thought you could protect her." I took a sharp breath at that and guilt stabbed my heart repeatedly.
"I'm really sorry, Sir."
"My daughter is in there because of you, Emilio Carini. She's fighting for her life. We should not have let you come back to her life if this is the cost of you two being in a relationship. Oh my poor Biya." Lorena added pain to my already bleeding heart. My head hung low and clenched my fists together.
"I-I..." I didn't know what to say except sorry. I felt helpless. In a world where money can control everything, here I am standing, feeling useless and silent as I waited for Biya to get better.
"The driver is also in a critical condition."
"How did you know she was here?"
"She was on the news. We were with our friends in a restaurant nearby when we heard. We came here as soon as possible." Paolo replied. I drew out a shaky breath. The weight of the tragedy was crashing upon me. I faltered and leaned against the wall.
"Where was she going?" I asked to myself, thinking where she would go.
"Did you call her?" I asked Blaze and he quickly shook his head.
"No."
"Marcus?"
"I didn't receive any update from Ronaldo, Sir. I'm sorry." My hands shook; not only from fear for Biya's life but also from anger. I was angry at myself. I was angry to whoever did this. I stood straight and looked at the closed doors of the operating room.
Do you think you caught the real Vicenzio? Biya's voice rang in my head. I quickly looked at Marcus. Realization daunted on me.
"Marcus, tell the team to check on Martina." He quickly went to the side and began calling the team.
"That woman still has not talked yet?" Paolo asked, his anger growing again.
"She is afraid of speaking. She told me she would die before even telling the truth."
"But now we have to hunt for the real Vicenzio." I looked at the doors again and I felt this surge to end this once and for all. This act Vicenzio pulled felt like they did it rashly.
"Vicenzio is out there..."
"Go catch him." He patted my shoulder in encouragement.
"But Biya-"
"Don't worry. We will be with her. Make sure to end this today." I nodded, assured that when I come back here, everything will be better.
"Please let me prove to you that I'm worthy for your daughter, Sir."
"Then end Vicenzio once and for all." I clenched my jaw and nodded. The determination I had made me breathe hard.
"For Biya, I will do anything." I promised. I walked to the operating doors and touched them with both hands. Leaning my forehead on it, I closed my eyes and prayed. God, please let her live. Heal her. She's everything I have. Please. Behind those closed doors, I knew they're trying to save her life. My tears flowed and I let them. I felt someone rubbing my back.
"Please let her live. I love her too much." It fucking hurts to be in this situation. I may be rich and have the ability to make everything possible but now here I am begging to God she would live. It hurt to love someone too much. It hurt to love someone who was fighting for her life right now. I felt someone hug me.
"It's going to be okay. She's a fighter." I heard Lorena speak beside me as she hugged me tighter. I clutched on her arm and cried.
"I love you, Biya." I whispered. Once I calmed down, I faced my bodyguard who was now waiting for me. Wiping my tears away, I nodded at him.
"I'll stay here and give you updates. I'll talk to the doctors as soon as they're done." Blaze patted my shoulder in comfort.
"Thanks man."
"Now go take down Vicenzio."
My bodyguard and I both rushed out of the hospital. My bodyguards surrounded the exit as paparazzi and reporters swarmed the hospital exit. Cameras flashed and reporters shouted their questions at me.
"Signore Carini! Are you back with Signorina Kairis?"
"What are you doing here, Sir?"
"How is Beatrice Kairis?"
"Are you two dating?"
"What happened?"
"Why are you here, Sir?
"Is it true you got back together?"
Question after question, everything was fired at me but I ignored it. I put on a hard and blank front in order to protect the woman I love.
"Move away please!" Marcus shouted as we struggled to get out of the crowd. More bodyguards came to our aid and created a path for us. A car was waiting for us at the end of the crowd. Once we were out, Marcus opened the door and I got in. He hurriedly got in the passenger's side and the driver finally drove away. Stress built up on me and I massaged my shoulders. First thing's first. Who would know she would be out? I took off my suit jacket and tie. Throwing it to the side, I huffed out a breath of frustration. I was about to talk when my phone rang. Checking the caller, it was Nyle. I sighed. He still doesn't know...
"Nyle. What is it?"
"Oh. Sorry Sir. I didn't mean to disturb you."
"No. It's okay."
"Okay. Uhm... so my sister is supposed to pick me up earlier in the airport today but she never came. Do you know where she is? I'm still in the airport." My heart stopped and I went stiff. So that's where she wanted to go. Someone knew where she was going.
"Nyle. Listen to me and try to remember what she told you."
"Okay but why? Is there something wrong?"
"Yes. Just a second." I covered the phone and talked to Marcus.
"Marcus, send someone to pick up Nyle in the airport quick."
"Yes, sir." He began to call someone again. I went back to Nyle and tried to connect the puzzle pieces together.
"Okay, Nyle. Listen to me. Watch your back. You might be in danger."
"What?!"
"Act calm! Don't let anyone know."
"O-okay."
"Nyle, I'm sorry to tell you this but... your sister..." I felt my heart crack at what I was about to say to him.
"She's in the hospital right now."
"What?! What happened?" He asked in a whisper-yell tone.
"She got into a car accident. It was done on purpose. She's in the hospital right now."
"I have to go there then!"
"Yes but listen to me first. Try to remember, okay?" He hummed.
"Did you tell anyone you were coming home?"
"The media department only knows I would be coming home since I finished my internship."
"Did they know what time you will arrive?"
"No. I booked my own ticket."
"Then it must be someone in here. Biya must have spoken about it."
"That's impossible. She told me not to tell anyone about us meeting up in the airport." He replied. I began to think of the possibilities and narrowed down to where she was last in. No one was in the house when we went out of the park. It was only Ronaldo and Biya... and Nonno... He was also there.
"SHIT!" I cursed at the sudden realization.
"What is it? Who hurt my sister?"
"I'll talk to you later, Nyle. I'll explain everything once we meet. Be safe."
"The bodyguards are with him now, Sir." Marcus informed.
"Oh. Your bodyguards are here." Nyle spoke at the same time.
"Good. I'll see you later." I ended the call and gripped the phone hard.
"Let's go back to my house now! Quickly!" I ordered and my driver stepped on the gas pedal to go faster.
"What is it, Sir? Do you know-"
"We didn't know. How the fuck... Why would he do this?" I slumped on my seat and tugged on my hair.
"Who?"
"It's Nonno! My God! She... she trusted him. She must have told him where she was going. It all makes sense. He has contact in my company. He knows everything about me. Everyone trusts him because he is family... He... I... How could he do this to me?"
The car screeched to a halt and I went out of the car hastily. Dio! Geno is with him right now if he's still there. Rushing to my home, I opened the door and went inside. Sam was the first one I saw in the hallway, cleaning.
"Sir!" I quickly held my index finger to my lips and she nodded.
"Take Mina and Geno with you and get in the car now." She must have sensed the urgency in my voice as she nodded and ran to the master's bedroom. I went to the kitchen and spotted two empty white cups in the sink. Nonno. Those white cups were his favorite ones. Who drank coffee with him? I went to the living room and saw that no one was there. Marcus slowly came beside me. I motioned for him to go with me in Nonno's bedroom. The betrayal made my blood boil. My hands shook in anger, wanting to scream and punch him for hurting Biya to the point where she's fighting for her life. I reached to the door knob and opened it.
"Who is it?" I heard my grandfather ask. My grandfather who ordered someone to fucking kill Biya. Marcus grabbed me by the shoulder and glared at me like he wanted to tell me something.
"He doesn't know..." He whispered and I swallowed the anger I felt.
"Stay here." I whispered to him. Taking a breath, I went in and acted calm. Nonno munched on an apple as he smiled at me.
"Hey, son. What's up?" He asked and acted like he didn't just try to kill the woman I love. My hands itched to get a hold of him but I need to make him talk. I put my hands in my pockets and clenched them into fists.
"Want some apple?" The devil offered and I shook my head.
"No." He tilted his head and tried to figure me out.
"What's wrong?" His brows furrowed. He was a really good actor to put his act together. I tried to breathe and be calm but the fact that I was facing the man who put Biya and I through hell and back made it so damn hard for me to maintain my cool.
"Tell me. I'm here to listen to you. What's wrong?" The sympathy in his voice made me sick. He has the audacity to ask me that. Ha! What's wrong? What's fucking wrong?! I tried to be calm but I couldn't. There was no way to break it to him other than breaking him. I raised my chin and looked at him in fury. Towering over him, I glowered.
"Nonno, tell me now and be fucking honest with me." I seethed in a growling voice. His eyes widened and he gulped. He took a step back and his mouth opened and close.
"Did you do this? Did you order people to hurt Biya?" I went closer to him and he held his hands together.
"I- You.."
"TALK! DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT FUCKING HURT HER?! THE WOMAN I LOVE IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF YOU!" His eyes flashed into something that seemed like he got caught. There was defeat but also repulsion in him. Got him.
"Fine! Yes! I did it but I did it only for you!" He shouted his confession.
"For me? For me?! Do you fucking hear yourself? Do you sound sane right now?!" The sound of betrayal made me whisper at the end as I tried to stop myself from beating the shit out of an old man.
"That woman will ruin your reputation, Emil! Can't you see? She jumps from one man to another like the gold digger that she is!" I grabbed him by the collar and raised him until my eyes met his.
"Don't fuck with my life when it's not yours." My voice went low and he tried to get out of my grip.
"I only did what's best for you. That woman! What did she do? Huh?! She only made you weak! What does she have to make her worth it?" I threw him to the side and he fell with a groan. I didn't fucking care now. He messed up with my woman. I cannot see him as my grandpa anymore. I walked towards him and grabbed him again by the collar.
"She doesn't have to prove anything to me, to you or to anyone else because I fucking love her."
"So you will waste your life for her?! Her?!" He laughed like the sadistic man that he was. I was beyond disgusted by his actions.
"Fuck yes!" He scrammed away from me and stood up.
"Listen to me, Emil. I am doing this for your own good. She's good for nothing. She has a son for fuck's sake. She's leeching on you! She lives here in your own home now!"
"For my own good?! Nonno, you hurt Biya. You didn't just hurt her, you scarred her for life. I can't... I can't look at you now and see the Nonno that I know." He went mad at that and his brows met in anger. I turned my back at him to try and breathe again.
"Are you saying you value her more than me? Your own flesh and blood? Your family?" He asked. I turned to the side and gave him a glance.
"Biya is family. If you can't accept her, then I'm sorry." I told him. It broke my heart to be in this position but I have to stand my ground and fight for what I feel. He clenches his fists together and glared at me.
"I thought you were better than this!" He began to shout. I faced him again. For a man on his age, he was still powerful and influential. He abused it for his own selfishness.
"You thought? You sent Stephanie and fucking set me up to shit I will never forget! Who the fuck does that to his own grandchild?" He wanted to speak but I didn't let him.
"Don't fucking speak and listen to me. I never thought you would do this because I looked up to you. But now, it makes sense. You come and go in the company. No one would doubt it was you. Now, I know better. You fucked up, Nonno. You fucked up really bad. If something bad happens to Biya, I will make sure you'll regret it every single day you live." I swore on my life.
"That stupid stupid girl!" He exclaimed making me stop talking. He huffed and paced the room.
"She was sneaky, that one. I didn't know she would come and get her brother until earlier today. Now, it's her fault you're acting like this. It's her fault! I acted rashly. I-" I didn't let him finish as I throw a punch at him and broke his nose.
"I'm your Nonno, Emil! Stop!"
"Fuck you! I don't want to see you ever again. How can you do this to her? You were with us. You stayed in this house with her. You bonded with her!" I punched again and again. He laughed cynically and it horrified me to the core. He was sick! He countered with a punch but I hardly felt anything. The anger in me fueled the fire and it made me want for hell to break loose in the room.
"Sir!" Marcus came rushing in and grabbed me by the arm to stop me from beating the shit out of this corrupted man.
"Call the police, Marcus. It's fucking over. Tell me who drank coffee with you before you did this to her. Who was your accomplice? Tell me now!"
"Oh! You thought somebody came here to do the dirty job for me?" He scoffed before he spit blood.
"I simply added something to make her bodyguard... you know... hazy. Then, hired someone desperate enough to crash his car with hers. Easy." He smirked and I struggled in Marcus arms.
"Fucking let me go!" I demanded and he did let me go.
"Sir, it's-"
"I hope that bitch dies so you can move on. Find another socialite worth your match. I don't care. Just not that orphaned, homeless, hopeless girl."
"You're sick in the head!"
"She should have left you when she had the chance. She deserved what's coming to her." I looked at him in horror as he smiled at me with sinister in his eyes.
"Shut the fuck up!" I screamed before I launched at him. Grabbing him by the collar again, I raised my fist and prepared to punch him.
"Go on. Punch me. Punch your Nonno who helped you get to where you are today. You're not thinking straight. What love can do will never equal to what money and fame can give. That woman will pull you down. Lucky the Moretti's took pity on her or else she might have died in the streets now." That was it. Before I could even blink, I punched him hard on the face and knocked him out.
You know that shitty feeling you get when you want to update but you can't because the internet says no? Anyway, this chapter is so long. A whooping 5k-word chapter! I didn't know it was long until I checked the word count. So, there it is. Vicenzio is finally revealed. Thoughts on this chapter? Comment them down below. Don't forget to vote. Love you!
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