Artur was the one I needed. The man I loved. Now I just needed the courage to tell him. I had dragged this out for too long. He needed to know how I truly felt.
Since Ayla’s kidnapping, we had drifted apart, but I needed us again.
I also learned that love shouldn’t be kept to ourselves. Alessio and Ayla loved each other, but they never had the chance to say it. My heart ached for them, for what both of them were going through.
I didn’t want the same between Artur and me.
We didn’t need the words, but I wanted to say it. I didn’t want Artur to think that I didn’t love him enough. He had to know how much he meant to me.
Because anyway, we were about to take another step in life. Together.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. When I felt my racing heart start to calm down, I opened my eyes and smiled at my reflection.
Without a second glance, I opened the door but stopped dead in my tracks. My heart stammered to a stop.
“Don’t worry. They won’t find Ayla.”
My eyes widened, and I stayed completely silent. I was even scared to breathe. Artur’s back was to me as he faced the windows, his phone next to his ear.
My chest tightened when he continued to talk. “It’s been almost four months, and they still haven’t found her. All thanks to me.”
My fists tightened. No. This couldn’t be happening. Not Artur.
He listened to the other person and then replied, “I know how to do my job. I’ll make sure they don’t find you.”
Even though he was whispering, the words echoed through my ears loudly. My heart raced and pounded like a drum. The veins in my neck throbbed as my body grew cold with panic.
And anger. So much anger. The fury built up inside of me like hot lava until I was ready to explode.
“I have to go. Don’t call me again. It’s too much of a risk,” he mumbled before hanging up.
I stayed partially hidden behind the door, my legs feeling suddenly weak.
Artur was the traitor?
I didn’t want to believe it. My mind fought violently against me. It couldn’t be true. I tried to force the thought out of my mind, but how could I when the truth was right there in front of me?
I heard him talk. He admitted it clearly. How did I not see that before? How did I miss it?
Tears of anger and frustration blurred my vision. But I was also hurting at the thought of Ayla being in pain because of the man I loved.
The bastard. How could he?
Alessio would never let him live. Hell, I wouldn’t let him live.
Stepping forward, I marched toward Artur. He heard my footsteps and quickly swiveled around, surprise evident on his face.
“Maddie?” He swallowed nervously but quickly hid it with a seductive smile.
When I stopped in front of him, I drew my fist back before slamming it in his nose. “You fucking asshole.”
He stumbled back in surprise before quickly straightening up. His eyes went wide. “What the fuck, Maddie?”
“I heard you,” I hissed. There was a flash of horror on his face, but it was quickly gone, and he regained his composure.
“What are you talking about?” he asked, feigning innocence.
That little shit. It wasn’t going to work on me. I raged inside. My skin prickled with it, like flame dancing underneath. My body shook with my fury.
“Don’t act innocent, Artur. You are crazy!”
The innocence façade was suddenly gone, and he glared down at me. “Keep your voice down.”
I scoffed and took a step back. “You betrayed us,” I said to him.
When he didn’t even convince me otherwise, I laughed humorlessly even though the tears spilled down my cheeks. “How could you?” I choked. “After everything Alessio has done for you, this is how you repay him?”
His face was a mask of rage. “He didn’t do anything for me!”
I stumbled back from his outburst. “You are so stupid. Why? Why did you do it?”
“Is that really a question, Maddie? You’re acting like the stupid one here,” he hissed.
My eyes widened when realization dawned. “God, I am so disgusted right now. Your father was a traitor, and so are you!”
“He killed my father!”
“Because he was a traitor! And Alessio pitied you. You were left on the streets to die, and he gave you a home. He thought you were different. He trusted you,” I argued past the lump in my throat.
Shaking my head, I took several steps back. “You made him trust you. Was that your plan all along?”
When he didn’t say anything in reply, I had my answer.
“You disgust me!” I spat at him.
I swiveled around to walk out of the room, but Artur’s voice stopped me. “Where are you going?”
Turning back around, I leveled him a glare. “Away from you! I can’t even look at you right now.”