**JONATHAN POV**
My jaw clenched in rage as I watched Fernandez's face turn dark, his eyes flashing with anger. I was holding back but barely. His next words, however, sent a chill down my spine, "If I let her go, Jonathan, next time I get hold of her, I'm never letting go." I knew what he meant by that as my eyes blazed with fury, my gaze fixed intently on Fernandez.
But then, in a swift move, he released his grip on Mia, shoving her away from him. I watched as she stumbled, catching herself just in time, before turning to meet my gaze.
I could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes, but I couldn't afford to show weakness now. I kept my deadly stare fixed on Fernandez, my eyes promising retribution.
"Watch your back twice, Maurizio," he taunted, his cold look still plastered on his face.
I responded with a low, menacing growl, my anger palpable. I turned on my heel and walked away, Mia hesitating for a moment before following me. The tension between us was thick as we walked, and I knew this was far from over. Fernandez was only getting started.
"What just happened?" Mia whispered, but I ignored her question and walked out of the hall to the waiting limo. She followed, asking about Tyga's absence, but I didn't respond.
"Drive," I growled, pouring myself a drink to calm my still-simmering anger.
Mia tried to break the silence, apologizing for the dress, but I wasn't having it. I couldn't shake off the anger I felt after seeing Fernandez today; his threat still echoed in my mind. Mia's nagging and complaining only added fuel to my fire.
"Can you stop talking?" I snapped.
Her anger flared, and she unleashed a torrent of questions and accusations. I tuned her out, focusing on my drink. She pulled off her mask, revealing her frustration and concern, but I kept my gaze fixed on some point outside the window, my expression unyielding, as Mia's words hung in the air.
She turned back to me, her eyes blazing with hurt. "You're really going to sit there and say nothing? After everything that's happened tonight?" she spoke, her voice trembling. I didn't flinch, my eyes still fixed on the darkness outside. I knew I was hurting her, but I couldn't bring myself to explain – not yet.
Mia's face crumpled, her anger and hurt boiling over. "Stop the car!" she blurted out. I saw the driver's eyes flicker to hers through the rearview mirror, then back to mine, waiting for my response. "PULL THE FUCK OVER!" Mia yelled, her voice echoing through the limo, as my jaw clenched in tension.
The driver still looked at me, waiting for confirmation. I hesitated for a moment before nodding, my voice calm. "You heard her, pull over."
Mia scoffed, a harsh sound, and immediately the driver pulled over. She opened the limo door, surprise flickering across her face when she found it unlocked. She stepped out, walking in the opposite direction, disappearing into the night.
I watched her go, feeling a pang of guilt and regret. But I still couldn't bring myself As the limo zoomed off, leaving Mia behind, all I could feel was hurt. It felt foreign, one I'd never experienced before. I was the one at fault, I knew that. I wasn't around to protect her. I should have stayed by her side, maybe then none of this would have happened. Fernandez wouldn't have had the upper hand.
"You're weak, Jonathan. Just like your mother.", my father's words echoed in my mind, And in that moment, I felt it. Weakness. Vulnerability. It was suffocating me. I threw the glass cup I was holding, yelling in anger as it shattered against the partition. The sound was drowned out by the sudden downpour of rain. Mia was out there, alone, getting soaked.
"Turn the car around," I muttered, my voice barely audible.
The driver looked at me confusedly through the rearview mirror. "Sir?"
"TURN THE FUCKING CAR AROUND!" I yelled, my anger and guilt boiling over.
The driver didn't hesitate this time. He swerved the limo around, heading back in the direction we came from. I could see Mia's figure in the distance, her small frame shrouded in the rain.
As I sat in the back of the limo, I watched Emilia walk barefooted, her determination evident in every step. The driver, Hans, pulled over beside her and rolled down the window. "Miss Emilia, Sir Blacksmith ordered that you get into the car," he said in his thick German accent. But Emilia ignored him, continuing on her way. Hans kept pace beside her, waiting for her to change her mind. But she didn't.
I grew impatient, my frustration simmering just below the surface. I rolled down the window, my voice firm and commanding. "EMILIA, GET INTO THE CAR NOW!!" I ordered, my power and control evident in every word. But she refused, her defiance infuriating me. Hans glanced back at me, his expression neutral, but I could sense a flicker of surprise. Emilia's "NO!!" echoed through the air, and I felt my anger boil over.
"LAST CHANCE, MIA, DON'T MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF!!!" I yelled, my patience wearing thin. But she just turned her back on me, ignoring my orders.
"Well, I can repeat myself, Jonathan," she called out over her shoulder, "and that's NO!! Until you tell me all I asked for, I'll remain out here and keep walking till God knows where."
I seethed, my anger boiling over, I slammed my fist on the partition, I'm basically doing all of this to protect her, why is she not getting it, I couldn't take it anymore. I threw open the door and stepped out into the downpour, my eyes fixed on Emilia. I strode towards her, my long legs eating up the distance.
"Emilia, get in the car now!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the night.
She didn't even flinch, just kept walking. I grabbed her arm, trying to pull her back, but she resisted.
"Let me go, Jonathan!" she shouted, her eyes flashing with defiance. "until you tell me about all that happened today I will n....", I pulled her harder, my grip on her arm tightening.
"Ow, you're hurting me!" she yelped, her words cut off as I yanked her forward. She stumbled, her feet scrambling to keep up as I pulled her through the rain-soaked night.
I didn't let up, my anger and frustration boiling over. I was determined to pull her to the limo, no matter what it took.
As we reached the limo, I shoved her inside, following close behind. She landed hard on the seat, her eyes flashing with anger and pain.
"Let me go, Jonathan!" she shouted again, but I just slammed the door shut behind us, trapping her inside.
The driver, Hans, looked at me warily in the rearview mirror, but I just glared at him. "Drive," I growled.
The limo surged forward as Mia's angry words hangs in the air.
"You're still not going to tell me, are you?" Mia spat, her voice venomous. "You're just going to keep me in the dark."
She expected a response, but I remained silent, my eyes fixed ahead.
"You're hiding something from me, Jonathan! I know it!" she accused, her voice rising.
I ignored her again, taking a sip from my drink, my gaze still fixed on the road ahead.
"You have no right to treat me like this!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the limo's interior.Fine, be that way," she snapped, crossing her arms.
Mia's angry words slowly trailed off, replaced by an uncomfortable silence. She stared at me, her eyes flashing with resentment, but I just ignored her, drinking from my glass.
As the minutes passed, her gaze fell on the rainy window, She stared out into the night, her body relaxing, her eyelid drooping.
I watched, fascinated, as she drifted off to sleep, her head nodding forward. Her face relaxed, her features softening.
I couldn't help but stare at her, mesmerized by her peaceful expression. She looked vulnerable, innocent, and beautiful.
For a moment, my anger and frustration melted away, replaced by a strange sense of tenderness. I felt a pang in my chest, a feeling I couldn't quite explain.
But I pushed it aside, keeping my gaze fixed at the window. "Everything I do, Emilia, is to keep you safe," I said quietly, "and I promise to keep you safe, no matter what."