♥ Chapter 65 ♥

Isabella Conti.

My head hurts intensely, throbbing as if it were about to explode. I try to open my eyes, but the light is too strong, and my eyes feel heavy. With a lot of effort, I manage to open my eyes slowly, blinking several times until my vision begins to clear. What I see is a completely unfamiliar room.

"Where am I?" I think, feeling my heart race. I look around, trying to spot anything familiar, but nothing seems to make sense. The walls are a dark shade, and the furniture is minimalist, almost cold. Suddenly, memories of the kidnapping come back like a wave, filling me with dread. The car, the security guard, the gun-everything comes back with terrible clarity.

I sit up quickly in bed, anxiety, and fear taking hold of me. What is happening? Where am I? Why am I here? My heart is pounding uncontrollably, and my breathing is rapid and shallow. Before I can process everything, a calm, cold voice interrupts my thoughts.

''Hello.

I look quickly in the direction of the voice and see a man sitting in an armchair in the corner of the room. Surprise and fear paralyze me. He's there, watching me with a look I can't decipher. I feel a shiver run down my spine.

"Who are you?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, but it comes out shaky.

He smiles, a smile that brings no comfort.

''Don't worry, Isabella. You're in good hands.

His words don't ease my fear, on the contrary, they increase it. Who is this man? What does he want with me? And, most importantly, where is Alessio?

Anguish mixes with uncertainty, creating a whirlwind of emotions inside me. I try desperately to think of a way out of this situation, but everything seems so confusing and frightening.

Suddenly, the man gets up from his chair and moves closer, allowing me to get a better look at his face. My heart races even faster when I notice a disturbing resemblance to Alessio. The dark eyes, the robust figure, the confident bearing-everything about him reminds me of Alessio. The only difference is the color of his hair, which is blond.

''You're even more beautiful in person. '' He says, a mischievous smile appearing on his lips. ''Now I understand why Alessio wanted you for himself.

He laughs, a sound that fills me with dread. That cold, cruel laugh is an absolute contrast to the pain I feel in my chest. I try to control my fear and ask what is burning inside me.

'' Who are you?

He takes a step forward, his malicious smile deepening.

''I'm Alessio's younger brother. Nice to meet you, Isabella. My name is Salvatore Vecchio.

I knew Alessio had a brother. He told me that only one survived the war between the brothers. But I never imagined meeting him like this, in such a terrifying way.

''Why are you doing this?'' My voice trembles and I feel tears forming in my eyes.

Salvatore laughs again, a cold, cruel sound that echoes in the room.

"Because you're Alessio's weak point. Having you under my thumb makes you even more vulnerable?

I feel a shiver run down my spine. Tears finally run down my face as the reality of my situation sets in. I am in the hands of a man who sees me as a tool to hurt Alessio, and despair consumes me.

Salvatore laughs at the sight of my despair, his laughter echoing cruelly through the room.

''Do you think Alessio will come and find you? From my source of information, you had a big fight? Didn't you?

He approaches slowly, his firm footsteps echoing in the silent room. When he grabs my chin tightly, the pain is intense, and his closeness is suffocating. His smile is cruel, and his eyes sparkle with malice.

'' Do you really think Alessio is coming to save you? From the way he's proud, I'm sure he'll thank me for getting rid of his little weakness. A mobster like him shouldn't have any weaknesses, and you, Isabella, have become the biggest weakness Alessio could have.

The despair I feel on hearing this is overwhelming, leaving me in shock. Negative thoughts invade my mind, questioning whether Alessio will really come to save me. Would he abandon me? Could it be that our argument was enough for him to give up on me? Doubt and fear mix together, becoming more and more intense, leaving me even more terrified. Salvatore's every word is like a blade, cutting deep into my hope. My heart beats fast, fear and anguish consuming me completely, as the darkness of my situation closes in around me.

Salvatore looks at me with a cruel, mocking glint in his eyes.

'' I feel sorry for you, my beauty. Did you really believe he loved you? '' He says, his voice dripping with venom. ''He was trained to be a cruel leader, someone completely insane, someone you will never love. He's a monster, you must know that.

He strokes my cheek, and the gesture, which should be comforting, is disturbing and full of contempt.

"He just wanted to use you, you know why? Because you're beautiful. Just looking at you makes me want to devour you. That got his attention, but do you think he'll stick with you when he finds someone more beautiful? Don't kid yourself, Isabella. He's a mobster, and mobsters lie. You fell for it.

Before I can react, he leans over and kisses me on the forehead, a gesture that makes me feel disgusted.

'' You'll be mine. Alessio must be with someone else right now. You've been asleep for two days now, you must have been very tired from the shock, but during the two days you've been asleep, I haven't had any news of him looking for you. What a shame.

Salvatore laughs, the sound echoing in the room like a sentence. He leaves, locking the door behind him, and leaves me alone with my tears and my fears.

The tears finally run down my face. Will Alessio really save me? Am I lost?

"Alessio, please…" I whisper between sobs, my voice broken by anguish. "Don't abandon me, please come and save me…

The anguish and despair are overwhelming. Salvatore's words echo in my mind, each one pulling me deeper into the abyss of uncertainty and fear. I close my eyes, trying to shut out the negative thoughts, but all I can see are the happy moments I spent with Alessio.

I remember our passionate kisses, I think of the warmth of his arms as they wrapped around me and the security I felt at his side. These thoughts bring me momentary consolation, but the pain of his absence is almost unbearable.

''Alessio, I need you… Our son needs you…'' I whisper, feeling my heart squeeze with pain.

The tears continue to fall, and despair becomes a constant presence around me. I'm trapped, in the hands of a cruel man who could kill me at any moment. The hope that Alessio will come and save me is the only thing keeping me on my feet, but the doubt planted by Salvatore grows, making every moment a torture.

I beg silently, with all my being, for Alessio to find me. For him not to abandon me. So that all this is just a nightmare that I can wake up from.

Every minute that passes seems like an eternity. The silence in the room only amplifies my fears and doubts. What will I do if Alessio doesn't come? How will I protect our son?

I close my eyes, trying to visualize Alessio's face, to remember every detail about him, the strength in his eyes, our nights together. I try to hold on to those moments, to let them be my anchor in the midst of the chaos.

''Alessio, I love you…'' I whisper again, my voice breaking. ''Please come and save me…''