❤A
NANNY
FOR
AURORA????
{The Mafia’s little princess}
By Precious Pinky
Chapter 165&166
••••
( ELODIE DREAMS )
«TINY APARTMENT»
Lottie entered the house and took off the face cap she wore out.
Her eyes were red and swollen. It shows that she has been crying for a long time.
Julius stepped out of the tiny bedroom alongside Denise.
Immediately they saw her, Denise let out a breath of relief.
“Where have you been?” He asked, rushing to meet her.
“Out.” She simply answered and went to sit down on the couch, heaving out a de-ep breath.
Julius stood in front of her with his hands stuffed in his pocket.
“You went to see the Italian mafia, didn’t you?” He sounds so sure of his accusation.
Lottie did not answer. She just kept staring into space, biting her bottom li-p.
“How could you do something as dumb as that!?” He snapped, startling Denise who was standing behind the couch Lottie was sitting on. “Do you want to fuc-k ing ruin our plans?”
“Can you stop yelling?” She gro-aned, ma-ssaging her temple that haven’t stopped aching her since last night.
“We can’t risk the chances of getting caught, Lottie. If we do, it is over for us.” He said.
“And you think I don’t know that already?” She scoffed, standing up. “Stop scolding me like a child, Julius. We are partners, is that, is that clear?” She rolled her eyes, attempting to go to the mini refrigerator but Julius caught hold of her wrist.
“So you know you are not a child and yet you acted like one.” He growled darkly, clutching her wrist really ha-rd to the point of aching.
Lottie glared at him, her brows pinched together.
“I do not want to get into any argument with you, Julius. Let go of me.”
“Neither do I. But you have to a-ssure me that you wouldn’t do something as stupid as this again.” He said.
“Let go of me!” She shouted.
“Julius, I think you should_” Denise began but immediately kept quiet when he saw Julius’s ha-rd glare.
“Fine.” She agreed. “I won’t ever go out to see Mikhail again. Are you happy now?”
Julius smiled with the side of his li-ps and let go of her wrist.
“Good. You can’t go back to your word, baby girl.”
She stared at her reddened wrist, balling her fist.
“I’m sorry about that but you brou-ght it upon yourself.” He nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.
Lottie didn’t say anything to him. She opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of gin.
“You haven’t eaten. Don’t you think it is a bad idea to drink by this time of the day with an empty stomach?” Denise said, worriedly.
Lottie uncapped the gin and took a large gulp, cringing as it burned her throat and the bitterness.
“What I do is none of your business.” She said, heading towards the basement.
“Where are you going to?” Julius asked but Lottie ignored him completely.
She entered the basement and slammed the door shut.
“Where is that?” He asked Denise.
“The basement.”
“The basement? Why is she going there?”
“She is holding someone captive down there.”
“Really? Now, this just got very interesting.” Julius stood up and sauntered to the basement.
•••••
«IN THE WARD»
It was completely quiet between father and daughter.
Diamond was waiting patiently for her father to have enough courage to start talking while Rhodes was still finding it difficult to open his mouth and talk.
His head was hanging low.
Diamond could no longer take the silence.
“Father,” She called out calmly, watching him closely. “What is going on?”
He didn’t still say anything.
Diamond reshuffled herself on the hospital bed, sitting upright.
“You are getting me really worried and sick.”
“Sick?” He abruptly shot his head up. “Are you okay? Should I call the doctor over?”
She quickly shook her head as a no. “I don’t need the doctor right now, father. I am feeling sick in the sense that you are getting me worried and scared. What is this secret you have been keeping away from my mother and me, and why are you afraid to say it?” She questioned, staring into his eyes.
Rhodes squee-zed his eyes shut for a few moments, inhaling and exhaling before peeling his eyes open once again.
“I am afraid of losing you both.” He said in a mutter, holding her gaze.
She frowned not expecting to hear that from him.
“What do you mean?”
“This secret I hold will cost me your mother and you if I ever spill it out.” He stated.
“Father, you will not lose us, trust me. Especially me. You mean the whole world to me. We might not be related by blood but you are the father I never had. You taught me the value of family and love. You gave me hope when I thought I lost everything. You drew me out from the claws of my mother. You are an amazing man.” She told him.
“What if I told you I have been wearing a facade? What if I am not the man I claim to be? Would you still love me like a father?”
“Well, you’ve always treated me right. And I don’t know what secrets you are keeping away from my mother and me but one thing I know is that you did it because you are scared of losing us and that’s normal. It’s normal to lie, keep secrets, and so on just because you want to keep that one person that matters to you. I don’t care what you have done in the past, father. I love you regardless of anything.”
Tears streamed down Rhodes’s face which he quickly wiped off.
“I love you, child. I love you so much.” He stated.
“I know. Even if you are a murderer, I don’t care.”
He frowned. “Really?”
She laughed. “I know you wouldn’t do that. You are not a murderer but a good man. But, if you really killed someone then you must have a good reason.”
“Should there be an excuse to kill a fellow human?”
“No. However, look at me. I almost got killed because of a dumb reason. If I kill Lottie today, it will be for a good reason because I am trying to protect myself from her. But will I ever escape from the guilt of killing a human being?” She shook her head with a shrug of the shoulder. “I honestly don’t know.”
Rhodes swallowed nothing, lowering his gaze.
“You don’t have to force yourself to say this ‘secret’ I will be ready when you are ready, father. Don’t push it.”
He brou-ght her hand up and kis-sed her knuckles, softly.
“I love you, my beautiful daughter.”
She smiled. “I love you too, my handsome father.”
They both chuckled.
A comfortable silence fell between them once again until he spoke up.
“I am ready.”
She raised a questioning brow. “You are?”
He nodded. “Yes. I want to tell you everything. And I just hope you don’t hate me by the time I am done with the whole storytelling.”
•••••
«HOSPITAL ★ GARDEN»
Zara approached Ayden.
“What are you doing here?” She asked, surveying the place.
“Nothing. Are you done fuc-k ing Sean?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?” She asked, feigning ignorance.
“I can’t believe you both did it in an office.”
“Oh, please. Didn’t you fuc-k Lake in a cell?” She rolled her eyes, sitting down beside him on the bench.
Ayden smirked, biting his lower li-p.
“That was the best s-ex experience, you know.”
“Ew.” She playfully scrunched up her nose.
Ayden laughed, not saying anything.
A comfortable silence fell between the both of them until she asked him again,
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in the ward with Diamond?”
“She is with her stepdad and I think they both need some privacy to have a conversation.”
“Oh.”
“By the way, where is Sean? Why are you here?”
“He is in his office with a patient.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Are we doing Q&A?” She chuckled lightly.
“Whatever. Just answer the damn question.”
“Well, I saw you heading towards here and then followed you from behind.”
He simply nodded.
They both sighted Elodie strolling inside the hospital building, having an expressionless look on her face.
“Hmm, did you notice the changes in Mrs. Elodie?” Zara asked, breaking the silence and looking away from the hospital building.
“Yeah… Do you think Diamond’s condition made her realize her mistake?”
“I don’t trust that woman. She might be doing all these just to find a way to crawl back into Diamond’s life and start controlling the poor girl again.”
“Let’s not judge, Zara.”
“I can’t help it. This is my defensive mode.”
They both laughed.
“I just wish things can go back to normal without any psycho on the loose, waiting for the perfect moment to attack my best friend.” She said in a mutter, lowering her gaze. “To be honest… I am scared. What if this murderer tries to harm our Diamond again? What if she succeeds this time around? What if_”
“I’ve told you countless times to stop worrying over these things. Diamond will be fine, trust me. And I am going to tell Lake about this, what do you think?”
Zara frantically nodded her head, having hope in her eyes.
“That is a very good idea. With the police involved, that bit-ch won’t go anywhere near Diamond ever again.”
“Yes.” Ayden nodded his head in agreement, smiling widely.
•••••
«BASEMENT»
Julius walked, examining the dark basement that smelled of dirt, dust, and blood.
He sighted Lottie sitting down in front of someone while drinking from a bottle of gin.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this place?” He asked, grabbing her attention.
“Was it necessary?” She simply fired back without sparing him a glance.
“Partners should never keep secrets from each other, you know?”
She rolled her eyes and hissed.
Julius stepped closer to the person tied up in front of Lottie.
The girl was covered in her blood. She was looking so tattered and… Dead.
“Well, well, well, now what do we have here?” He questioned with a smile of amusement on his face.
“A person.”
“I can see that. Who is the beauty?”
She hesitated, taking a swig of the drink whilst clenching and unclenching her fist.
“She was a friend.”
“A friend? Can you be more specific?”
“What exactly do you want to know, Julius?” She raised her gaze to look at him.
“Her name, who exactly she is to you, and some other vital details. Whoo, she’s cute though.”
Lottie scoffed as she rolled her eyes.
“She was my best friend who betrayed me without fuc-k ing hesitating. Her name is Aria.”
“Wow. So she is a betrayal. I see. Aria is her name? Damn, her name is even cuter.” He bites his lower li-p, staring at Aria who was unconscious. She almost looks dead but the faint breathing coming from her shows that she was still very much alive.
“What did you do to her?”
“Nothing much. Just a few hits.” She said nonchalantly.
Lottie heard the conversation they had in the hospital. There is no way she will let Aria escape her wrath.
Her gaze moved to the torn pa-ssport on the floor, beside the unconscious girl.
She smirked, leaning her head back, and stared up at the ceiling.
It was fun hurting someone she once called a best friend. She felt no ounce of guilt or remorse. Instead, she wanted to hurt her even more. However, she doesn’t intend on killing her. Yet.
Julius poured a bucket of water on Aria, surprising Lottie in the process.
“What are you doing?” She asked, furrowing her brows.
“Waking the damsel in distress, baby girl.” He said.
Aria moved a little, coughing painfully.
She slowly opened her eyes, breathing shakily.
She had different cuts and bruises on her body. Her hair was a mess and she felt so weak.
“Hi, honey.” Julius appeared in her view.
Aria gazed at him, seeming confused.
“Who… Who are you?”
“The person who woke you up just now.” He winked.
“Wha… What?” Her gaze fell upon Lottie who remained seated on the spot. “Lottie, get me out of here.”
Lottie eyes were solely on Julius.
“Why did you wake her up?”
“I want to have a little fun with the cutie.” He crouched down to Aria’s level and ran his fingertips across her cheekbone.
“Who are you? Get away from me.”
Lottie stood up and started heading towards the door.
“Lottie, where are you going? You can’t do this to me? Who is this man? Why are you treating me this way after everything I’ve done for you?”
In a flash, Lottie appeared in front of Aria and slapped her in the face.
“Don’t you ever say something like that to me ever again? You have done absolutely nothing for me, you little brat.” She rou-ghly grasped her by the jaw.
“By the time I am done with you, you will wish for death and won’t find it. Julius, she is all yours. Do whatever you want with her but don’t kill her.” She smirked deviously and left the basement.
“Lottie. Lottie. Lottie, please don’t leave me.” Aria cried.
“Shh, darling. You are going to have fun as well, trust me.” He shreds her dress, grinning menacingly.
“No, no. Please don’t do this.”
“You are going to enjoy it, trust me.”
“No!”
•••••
«IN THE WARD»
“Uhm, so where do I start?” It was a rhetorical question but Diamond still answered,
“Start from anywhere.”
He forced a smile to his face and cleared his throat, looking very nervous and scared.
“Dad, calm down, okay?” She said to him, giving him a rea-ssuring smile.
He nodded.
“Yeah…okay. So I uhm, I was a drug dealer.”
Diamond’s eyes went wide.
“Drug… Drug dealer?” She repeated.
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Okay? Continue.”
He hesitated for the longest period, gathering his thoughts in his head.
“I worked with one of the most brutal drug dealers in Italy. Julius Santiago.”
She frowned. “I… I don’t think I know of anyone with that name.”
“I don’t think you do too.” He replied. “Can you please not say anything until I am done talking?”
“Okay. I’m sorry. I won’t interrupt you again.” She said.
“Thank you.” He paused, staring at the wall behind his stepdaughter. It was the only thing he was brave enough to look at. “Julius Santiago is a man who doesn’t give a fuc-k about anybody.” He cringed. “I’m sorry for using the f-word.”
She waved him off, giving him the ‘It’s alright’ look.
“He is a man who is determined to get what he wants regardless of who he takes down on the way to achieving that one thing he wants. He is selfish, greedy, and an animal. And, I have been friends with this animal for a very long time. We were best buddies when we were just kids. We do everything together, encourage each other, fight bullies, and so on.” He stayed quiet for a while,
“We grew into puberty and I started noticing the changes in my best friend. He started smoking, drinking, and doing drugs. I joined him. He was my best friend after all. We had get into trouble and sometimes, he had put the blame on me and hell, I wouldn’t mind. I was ready to do anything for him. I even followed him to…” He swallowed the huge lump that formed in his throat. “I watched him ra-pe a girl and I didn’t do anything to help her. She pleaded for him to stop. But he didn’t. I stood on the watch for him instead of stopping him. I…” Tears rolled down his face. “According to him, she turned him down when he tried to ask her out. He wanted to show her a lesson – Well, that was what he made me believe. I thought he only wanted to convince the girl to date him but little did I know he had other plans in those psychotic brains of his. He broke her vi-rginity. He ruined her. And he enjoyed every second of it. While she cried in pain and anguish, he was laughing.”
Rhodes lowered his head, more fresh tears streaming down his face as memories of that unfaithful day clouded his mind.
He could hear the screams of the girl. Her cries and plead. They still haunt him to date.
The guilt and remorse were breaking him. Who knows? Maybe the sin of that day was what made him infertile.
“We left her in the abandoned warehouse. She had lost so much blood and I know if nothing is done she was going to die. So I… I sneakingly called 911 to her aide. I don’t know what happened to the girl but I never saw her again after that day.”
Diamond didn’t say anything by the time he was done talking.
She blinked thrice, looking very confused, shocked, and disappointed.
He might not be the one who ra-ped the girl but he was also involved in it.
How could he?
How could he let his supposed best friend ra-pe a girl almost to her death?
“Why didn’t you stop him?” She asked in a whisper. “Why did you let him do that to the poor girl.”
“I don’t have an excuse to give but I swear I regret my decision of that day. Believe me.” He said softly.
“What if she is dead? Have you thought about that? You don’t even know what happened to her which means you never cared to look for her to know how she is faring.”
“Diamond_”
“Why did you keep a friend like that? He ra-ped a girl. How could he be so mean and wicked? He is a monster!” She cried.
The door burst open, grabbing their attention.
Elodie entered the ward, tears flowing down her face.
She dropped her bag on the floor and approached Rhodes directly.
“Elodie.” She said.
“Huh?” Rhodes queried, not understanding what she meant.
“The girl your best friend ruined in that warehouse… Her name was Elodie.” She said, sobbing.
Rhodes slowly stood up to his feet, the pieces falling into place.
He looked between Diamond and her mother, shaking his head in disagreement.
“No…”
≈FLASHBACK≈
“So what do you want to do? Force her to date you?”
“Well, something like that.” Julius smirked.
“Hmm. By the way, what is her name?”
“Elodie. I heard her name is Elodie Dreams.”
≈FLASHBACK ENDS≈
“Elodie… Dreams?” He choked out.
“That’s me. I was the girl your best friend ra-ped in that warehouse. It was me! You and your best friend ruined my life.” She dropped to her knees, crying profusely.
TBC.