Book 1✔️ The Mafia Entanglement

29. The one with the Ex Boyfriend

"So, what did he say, what took you so long?" Max asked me once I was back in the car.

"He promised not to shoot you," I replied hurriedly, not wanting to give away the little secret that might not be so little now that I had the time to think it through.

"What, that's it? Don't lie to me, Emilie. What's the compromise? I know him, I know him too well." He cupped my face, looking into my eyes. He knew. He knew I was hiding something.

"A kiss. He asked for one kiss. Now, he will not bother us." I looked the other way. Not wanting to see his eyes. It felt like I had betrayed him because I felt something towards his kiss.

He must've seen it because he stayed silent. He spoke Russian to Ivan. Then we were quiet the whole ride until we reached the business district in front of a tall building.

"I'm going to work for a couple of hours. Ivan will drop you off." He didn't kiss me goodbye like he always did. Nothing. I slumped back to my seat. My vision became blurry. Deep down, I could feel my heart start to break piece by piece. I made a mistake. A big mistake.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

"Ivan, to my apartment, please. I got something to take care of."

After what felt like the longest drive, we finally arrived at my place. God! It felt like years since I went back. Celia still stayed, taking care of my apartment. But she was not home when I arrived. I was relieved. I texted her and she said that she would be home late that night. Celia had some group school projects that needed to be done.

I was like a zombie. I couldn't cry anymore. It hurt too much to even cry. I was about to call my girls when the front door was knocked. I leaped to my feet thinking that it might be Max. I quickly opened the door and...

"Hello, Emilie."

"A...Aaron? What are you doing here? We're done. You left me and we're done." I tried to close the door on him, but I was too exhausted since Max.

So he let himself inside. "Baby, I'm back now. I need you. I can't stop thinking about you. Who was that guy on the phone? Come on, I've made a mistake. Please, please forgive me." He came closer and hugged me. But I felt so disgusted with myself. This morning was Leonardo, now Aaron. I was being such a slut while Max...

I started to cry. "Oh, baby please don't cry. I'm so sorry if I've put you in a bad place. Let me make it up to you?"

He started to cup my face and kiss me, I struggled under him. Trying to break free.

"What the fuck, Aaron? Let me go! Don't do this. I'm not yours anymore."

"Yes, yes, you are, baby. You just need more convincing." He started to rip my top. Leaving me in my bra. His hand was on my neck, choking me. Shit! That's definitely going to bruise. I was struggling under him, as he kept on undressing me.

"No! Please don't." I started crying.

"Don't play coy with me, baby. I know you like it rough." He slapped me. Hard. I can taste the blood on my lips.

"Aaron. Please don't. Stop it." I flinched when I saw his expression. It was exactly as I remembered years ago. The first time he hit me and promised me that he would stop. He never did it again. Not once. But now. I could see it as clear as day as he lost control and hit me hard. I lost my footing and hit my head against the coffee table. I could feel the blood trailing down my forehead before it all went dark.

"Shit! Goddamn it! Sis, wake up. What happened? Who did this? Fuck!"

I could hear Celia. But I couldn't open my eyes, my eyes were too heavy. I couldn't open my mouth as I fell back into the darkness.

I didn't know how long I was out, but I recognized Ivan's voice. He must've been waiting across the street for me. I heard him curse, I couldn't understand him. But I could feel my body was lifted as if I was gently carried.

"I'm going with her. I need her to be safe. We're going to the nearest hospital!" Celia was barking orders to Ivan. I wanted to smile. I was so proud of her.

Celia held me all the way to the hospital. Sometimes, I would hear them speaking, and then sometimes, I fell back into the void of blackness.

Eventually, I could feel the warmth and hear the distinct beeping sound of hospital machinery. I tried to open my eyes. My throat was so dry. I tried to move my hands when I felt someone's hand in mine.

"Water." My voice was raspy, I could barely hear myself. I was still trying to open my eyes.

"You're awake...I'm so sorry Emilie. I didn't mean to leave you like that." I recognized his concerned voice immediately. Max kissed my forehead but I turned away from him. I just couldn't. I felt so ashamed. I couldn't face him. I had let another man touch me. He must've sensed my avoidance when he got up and stepped away from my side.

I'm so sorry Max. 

"Hey, sis? How are you feeling? Here, can you lift your head? I'll help you with your water." Celia was by my side in no time.

"Sis, I'm going to call in the cops, telling them you're awake, okay? Ivan helped me and we managed to see the CCTV footage from the apartment lobby. We know it was Aaron. We just need your confirmation."

I could see Max pacing back and forth by the window. I could hear him talking in Russian, running his fingers through his hair. Just like he always does every time he is frustrated.

Less than half an hour later, I talked to the cops and agreed to press charges against Aaron as they took my statements. They had taken pictures of my wound for evidence. Celia kept holding onto my hands. She would hug me from time to time trying to calm me down while I was having a breakdown.

This is too much for me.

Later on that night, the girls came to my room. Max didn't leave me, not once. He just kept his distance. Maybe he felt guilty for not being there for me. But I was so disgusted with myself that I couldn't even handle his touches.

"My Goodness, I'm so sorry for my dickhead of a brother. But I won't keep you from pressing charges against him. He needs to know the consequences of his behavior. My parents will know about this. I'm sure they will send him far far away after this. You definitely don't have to worry about him. Oh! I'm so sorry, Emi!" Amanda cried her eyes out, seeing my battered state.

Angelica was taking it calmer. She kept on caressing my hair. "I'm here for you, Emi. We're all here for you if you ever need to talk."

"She's right, Emi. Studies have explained that it's not the physical abuse that hurts the most. It's the mental abuse that will scar the most. We will be there for you If your handsome brooding mob boss is too busy with his feelings." Amber stated.

"I can see that he really cared about you, Emi. He hadn't left your room since you were admitted. You should give him a break. I don't think he knows how to handle an abused victim. I think he's too scared to lose you." She uttered softly, while Amanda and Angelica were busy talking to Celia.

"I feel dirty, Amber. I kissed Leonardo that same morning, and he knew. Leonardo asked for a kiss, and in return, he promised me that he wouldn't shoot Max and would leave me alone. Then in the afternoon, Aaron tried to kiss me again. I feel like a slut Amber. Like I don't deserve him."

"Oh, Emi. This is not about you. You're far from a slut, when in comparison to us." She finally laughed, making the other girls turn their heads at us.

"Look, you will be fine. Just explain everything to him. I know that he loved you. You've got nothing to lose anyway, right? Just give it a try, okay?" Amber hugged me and we said our goodbyes. Celia went back with my girls, and Max insisted on staying in my room while Ivan stayed guarding from the outside.

*****

Celia: I love you, sis. Get better soon.