His Villain

35

One month later.....
Time had passed, a full month since the incident that had shaken their lives. The tides had shifted, and Celia had made a swift recovery, seamlessly slipping back into her work routine. Warren and Dante, however, had become even more protective of her than before. They would visit her more frequently, keeping a watchful eye on her every move and meticulously tracking her outings, ensuring her safety in every possible way.

Meanwhile, Venezio had crafted a meticulous plan to apprehend the elusive third party responsible for the chaos. He devised a scheme involving a consignment, concealing hidden bombs within it. However, this time, the plan took a darker turn. As the consignment was infiltrated, no one survived the catastrophic explosion. The perpetrators were members of a mysterious new gang, and they had mercilessly eliminated any potential witnesses. The reason behind their ruthless act was simple: the exposure of their involvement would jeopardize their future dealings. Moreover, their reputation as astute capturers of culprits at first sight would be tarnished, rendering them unreliable in the eyes of other criminal factions.

Despite the passage of time and the semblance of normalcy returning to their lives, Venezio found himself unable to let go of the moment when Celia had selflessly taken a bullet for him. Thoughts of her consumed his mind, be it her radiant smile or tear-streaked face. The image of her at Dalia's birthday party, exuding beauty and grace, lingered in his memory. The notion of her carrying his blood within her intensified his preoccupation. It was always her, occupying his thoughts, leaving little room for anything else. In an attempt to distract himself, he threw himself into work, engaging in rigorous gym sessions, indulging in excessive drinking and fleeting encounters, yet finding himself increasingly frustrated and discontented.

The distant melody of music snapped him out of his reverie. Standing near the glass wall on the sixth floor of the bar, he waited patiently for the man to finalize the deal. A cigarette dangled from his hand as he glanced down at the oblivious crowd below, unaware of the events unfolding on the upper floors. Taking a drag, he exhaled the smoke aimlessly, watching it dissipate into the air. Alessia approached, presenting him with the signed documents, and with a handshake, the man left the premises.

Alessia settled into her own car and drove off after Venezio's departure. Unbeknownst to her, his thoughts drifted back to Celia once again. He knew he had to handle the matter at hand before another catastrophic event occurred. Altering his intended route, he steered his car in a different direction, merging into the emptier road. Private vehicles were scarce, with only a few public transports, enabling him to accelerate with ease.

A towering building stood majestically before him. Approaching the elevator, he pressed the button for the desired floor, the doors closing with a soft hiss. Tapping his shoe against the elevator floor, he observed the numbers on the screen, his focus unwavering. Upon reaching the designated floor, he strode toward a specific apartment and pressed the doorbell. It was well past midnight, and he knew she would be fast asleep, but his concern for her overruled any consideration. He rang the bell once again, the sound reverberating through the silence. After a brief pause, he heard a groggy "coming" from within.

The door swung open, revealing a yawning Celia rubbing her eyes with one hand. "Missed me?" In an instant, her eyes widened as she recognized the voice, shock washing over her features. Clad in nothing but a long white t-shirt that reached mid-thigh, she took a step back, pinching herself to confirm the reality before her. Unable to tear her gaze away, she stared at him in disbelief.

He stepped inside, firmly locking the door behind him, while she remained rooted to the spot, grasping the reason for his sudden, uninvited presence. Their eyes met, his grey orbs locking with her black ones. The sound of her pounding heart resonated within her chest as she whispered, "Why are you here?"