Vince
The darkness that had consumed Sophia shattered my resolve. Every fiber of my being buzzed with anger and fury. The image of Robert's predatory gaze, his hands on her, clawed at my mind, fuelling a rage I could barely contain.
I scooped Sophia into my arms, her body limp against mine. Her breathing was shallow, and her skin felt cold under my touch. Fear gnawed at me, a primal instinct to protect her overriding everything else.
I carried her back into the ballroom, my eyes darting around, searching for help. The sight of me with an unconscious Sophia in my arms drew immediate attention. Whispers rippled through the crowd, faces turning to us with varying expressions of concern, curiosity, and judgment.
"Is she alright?" a woman in a glittering silver gown asked, her voice tinged with genuine worry.
"Someone call an ambulance!" another voice shouted, and the murmur of the crowd grew louder.
I spotted a familiar face in the crowd—Dr. Bennett, a trusted family physician for many. I made my way towards him, my grip on Sophia unwavering.
"Dr. Bennett," I called out, my voice barely concealing my desperation. "She needs help."
He nodded, immediately assessing the situation. "Let's get her to a quiet room," he said, leading the way to a nearby lounge. The crowd parted for us, their whispers following like a relentless tide.
Once inside the lounge, Dr. Bennett instructed me to lay Sophia down on a sofa. His hands moved with practiced efficiency, checking her pulse and breathing. I stood by, my mind a storm of emotions—anger, worry, and an overwhelming need to understand what had just happened.
"She inhaled a small amount of chloroform," I informed Dr. Bennett
"She should be fine with just some rest," Dr. Bennett said, his voice steady. "I'll stay here with her to monitor her condition. I just need to contact my driver to bring my medical equipment. It will help me assess her condition more efficiently. Shouldn't take more than five minutes."
"Thank you. Do whatever needs to be done." I replied, my voice tight. "I have something I need to take care of. One of my men will be here in a few minutes to stay with you and Sophia."
Dr. Bennett nodded, his expression serious. "Go ahead, Vince. She'll be in good hands."
I turned to leave, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. The lounge door closed behind me, and the murmurs from the gala outside reached a fever pitch. I could hear snippets of conversations, fragments of gossip swirling around me like a suffocating cloud.
What happened to her? The voice gnawed at my sanity.
Who was that woman with him? Another voice in the crowd whispered. The fury inside me grew with each passing second. I pushed through the crowd, my gaze fixed on the grand staircase at the far end of the ballroom. I needed to find Robert, to make him pay for what he had done.
As I reached the foot of the staircase, a hand grabbed my arm. I turned to see Luca, who had also accompanied me to the event, his expression a mixture of concern and suspicion.
"Vince, what happened?" he asked, his voice low. "People are talking. What happened to Sophia?"
"Robert," I replied, my voice cold and unyielding. "He attacked Sophia. He tried to..." My voice broke, the image of Robert's hands on her flashing through my mind, making my blood boil.
Lucas' eyes widened, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. "I see," he said slowly. "You need to handle this carefully, Vince. We don't want the authorities or the media to be involved."
"I don't care about the media Luca!" I snapped, my anger flaring. "I care about her."
"Of course," Luca said, his tone placating. "But you need to think about the bigger picture. You can't afford to let your emotions cloud your judgment."
I took a deep breath, struggling to rein in my fury. Luca was right, but my priority was still clear.
"Go to where Sophia and Dr. Bennett are immediately," I instructed, my voice firm. "Stay with her and make sure she's safe."
Luca nodded, his expression resolute. "I'll take care of it, Vince. You handle Robert."
I pulled my arm free from his grasp, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. I couldn't think clearly, not with the image of Sophia's pale face seared into my mind.
I turned away from Luca and continued down the staircase. The lower floor was quieter, the noise from the ballroom above a distant hum. I headed towards the terrace where I had left Robert, my footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.
When I reached the terrace, Robert was still there, lying on the ground, clutching his leg. His face was twisted in pain, blood seeping everywhere. He looked up at me with a mixture of fear and hatred.
"She's... just a... woman," Robert sneered, his breath laboured. "A... plaything. Nothing... more."
Rage surged through me, and I stepped forward, my fists clenching. "She's not just a woman," I said, my voice trembling with anger. "She's my woman. And you will never touch her again."
Robert's laugh was a harsh, mocking sound, interspersed with pained gasps. "You're... a fool, Vince. You... think you can... protect her from... everyone? From... everything? You're... deluding... yourself."
Before I could respond, I took out my phone and dialled the number of one of my men. It rang once before a gruff voice answered.
"Boss?" Tony's voice came through, laced with tension.
"Tony, I need you on the terrace now. Bring two others with you," I ordered, my voice cold and clipped.
"On our way," Tony replied without hesitation.
I stood over Robert, my eyes boring into his. "You're going to regret ever laying your hands on her," I said, my voice low and deadly.
Moments later, Tony and two other men appeared, their faces hard and determined. Tony took in the scene with a quick glance, understanding immediately.
"Take him," I said, pointing to Robert. "And use this." I handed Tony the chloroform-soaked handkerchief.
Tony nodded, his expression grim. The two men he brought with him moved swiftly, securing Robert's hands and feet in place. Robert struggled weakly, cursing under his breath. Tony pressed the handkerchief over Robert's face, and his protests quickly faded as he lost consciousness.
"You know where to take him," I instructed, my voice hard. "Ensure our doctor extracts the bullet from his leg immediately. His death must not come swiftly; I intend to relish every moment of torture and amusement before he meets his end."
As the men lifted Robert's limp body and carried him away, I turned to Tony. "Clean up the blood and also contact my security team. Have them erase the CCTV footage from the cameras surrounding this area. I don't want any evidence left behind." I ordered.
Tony gave a sharp nod, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Consider it done, Boss" he said before continuing on his way.
I watched them go, my mind already racing with plans for how to make Robert hurt for what he'd done.
Now with Robert taken care of, I returned to the lounge where Sophia lay resting. Dr. Bennett and Luca looked up as I entered, both their expressions serious.
"How is she?" I asked, my voice softer now, filled with concern.
"She's stable," Dr. Bennett replied. "She needs rest, but she'll be alright."
I nodded, feeling a flood of relief. Carefully, I shifted Sophia's head onto my thigh and sank into the chair. My eyes remained fixed on her peaceful face, while my fingers gently brushed through her hair. The fury and worry that had consumed me began to ebb away, replaced by a fierce determination to protect her, no matter what it took.
Sitting there, watching the slow rise and fall of Sophia's chest, my mind replayed the evening's events in an endless loop. Every detail sharpened, every sound amplified, every emotion intensified. It was like a nightmare on repeat, one I couldn't wake up from. My mind was a battlefield, torn between the violent urge for vengeance and the desperate need to care for Sophia.
How could this happen? My thoughts were relentless, a chaotic swirl of anger and fear.
How could I let this happen to her? Each thought was like a dagger, twisting deeper into my heart.
She didn't deserve this. The thought echoed in my mind, a stark contrast to the darkness of my other thoughts.
None of this was her fault.
"Luca, contact one of the drivers," I instructed urgently into the phone. "Have him come to the back exit. We're going back to the mansion where Sophia will be safer."
He listened intently, nodding as he absorbed the instructions, his gaze fixed on a distant point, perhaps visualizing each step of the plan.
"Vince, we need to discuss our next steps," Luca said in a low, serious tone after arranging for the driver.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know. But right now, my only focus is ensuring Sophia's safety."
"And she will be safe," Luca affirmed. "But we also need to ensure Robert pays for what he's done. We need a plan."
A plan. My mind raced as I considered the options. Torturing Robert wasn't just about revenge—it was about sending a message. The pain he'd inflicted on Sophia, the fear he'd instilled, it all had to come back to him tenfold.
His torture wasn't going to be quick fix—it needed to be drawn out, meticulously planned. I'd visit him every day, at different times, so he never knew when the next wave of pain would hit. I'd keep him on edge, his mind running in circles, unable to rest or find solace.
I looked at Luca, my decision made. "Robert will pay," I said, my voice steely with resolve. "He'll pay dearly, and I'll savor every second of his agony". I said, imagining taking away his senses one by one, blindfolding him, silencing him, leaving him in the dark with nothing but his thoughts and fears for company.
As the minutes ticked by, the lounge remained a quiet sanctuary, the only sound being the soft rustling of fabric and the occasional whisper of reassurance from Dr. Bennett.