Page 45 of Solace
“Well go out there and fucking deal with the cunt. What the hell do I hire you for?”
My blood pumped hard and fast around my body, for some reason Ricco wasn’t my priority, Layla was.
Chapter 23
DANIELLA aka Layla
After what happened yesterday with Antonio I was left with severe guilt. The truth was as he was making love to me, I saw nothing but Monica and those evil eyes stabbing me. I had to stop, I had to get away even if I wanted nothing more than to stay with him.
What felt like ages, I decided I needed some air, even if it risked bumping into Antonio. I unlocked the door and as I stepped out my throat was grabbed, and I was forced back into my room, my back crashed the bedroom wall hitting a picture frame and hitting the corner of my head. It took me several seconds to focus when I saw Monica and a knife in her hand.
Her hand was tight around my throat leaving me with restricted breathing.
“Didn’t you listen to a fucking word I said?” she growled in my face.
“Yes,” I squealed. Her hand held tighter by the second when she brought the knife’s blade to my throat. I felt the blade cutting close to my skin.
“I am telling you…this is your last warning, fucking leave, get the hell out of this house or this knife will be used to cut your throat. Do I make myself clear?” she gritted her teeth. Her eyes bulged. I dare not move my neck as otherwise, she would cut my skin.
“Yes,” I managed to say restricted as she slightly released her hand. I was certain I was turning blue.
She pulled the blade away.
“Good now get the fuck out, before I slice your throat.”
She released and stepped back from me, her eyes were tiny slits, her nose flared. She left the room.
I wrapped my hand around my throat and burst into tears, shocked at what just happened. I wanted to fade into the background, wishing the floor would chew me up and spit me far away from any possible trouble.
The thing was I was safe here, where Ricco could not get me and out there…he would find me and what he would do to me didn’t bear thinking about.
The whole thought of leaving this house left me traumatised. I didn’t wish to go. I like being in Antonio’s company and yet, I was being forced out all for a jealous bitch. I want to tell Antonio, only I feared what the repercussions would be. For some reason, telling Antonio the truth about who I was appeared less worrying than possibly coming face to face with the Monica the monster.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, my world was collapsing, with far too much screw up’s the lie to Antonio, falling in love and now Monica had to drop into the equation and turn on the bitch mode and use a knife to scare me.
Moving to my bed, keeping my hand around my throat where her hand had been trying to figure out what I should do, hating the fact that woman was driving me out, and why the hell should she?
The truth was I was sick and tired of ruthless people trying to dominate my life. I know Antonio killed, but to me, he had shown nothing but compassion, respect, and trust and made me feel like a woman rather than an object. Only he was surrounded by evil, did I want this? Could I live with it all again? Would I fear each time Antonio left the house was he coming back? I saw Monica as she held the sharp knife to my throat, I couldn’t and wouldn’t live in fear, waiting for her to strike and steal my young life. I wasn’t ready to die. I had far too much to live for.
Scanning the room to look for me, my identity, I owned nothing. There was nothing even in this house that belonged to me, meaning I had nothing to pack, I guess it made it easier to leave and less to carry.
I grabbed the door handle and without hesitation and with my heart beating like a brass band I stepped out the room, checking the coast was clear of Antonio’s men, all clear and I ran down the corridor. I arrived at the tops of the stairs and again, checked for anybody about, no-one. I quickly rush down the stairs and arrive at the foyer. No sight of a soul I sped to the front door, opening it, and stepped out into the warm weather, not a cloud in the sky and temperatures I bet were souring. I saw a few cars lined up in the driveway, maybe they were preparing to go after Ricco again. I didn’t care, all I had to do was keep low and make sure I wasn’t captured by Ricco or Antonio or his men.
The coast was clear and speedily ran down the drive to find the gates were closed. I ran up to them and with both hands wrapped them around the iron bars and in frustration tried to move them, only they didn’t even shift.
Longing to scream.
Annoyed I looked for another means of escape only the large wall that surrounded the house was too much for me unless the tree I saw the other day, but something told me that wouldn’t happen. The idea was to protect the house not put it at risk.
I tried once again to shift the gates, but no joy they were locked and not budging.
“Fucking hell!” I was stuck. I was stuck between heaven and hell, there was no chance for me to get out without…
“Layla, what are you doing?” I turned to see Carlo sauntering towards me.
“Can you open the gate?” I asked in frustration.
“No, not unless the boss gives the authorization, which for you I doubt he would do.”