Chapter 14 - Die With Dignity

A car unexpectedly appeared and stopped before a deserted old factory. In the darkness of the night, several armed men emerged out of the shadows and pointed their weapons at Santiago. 

As Santiago came out of the car, they took an immediate step back, putting their weapons down. Although they had never seen what Santiago looked like beneath the mask, they recognized him from his aura and the dark air surrounding him. 

The man was a Villain thorough and thorough. 

Surprisingly, all of them were standing frozen. They couldn't believe their eyes. Today, they saw what Villain looked like in actuality. 

To catch the glimpse of Santiago's face was already a miracle in itself. 

For the first time in life, Santiago forgot to come without masking his face. Even though the bodyguards were staring at him, he didn't find anything weird at all. He had been dying with worry over a certain curvy woman who had made his life hell since and time he had laid his eyes on her. But didn't know why the heck he was so worried? 

Santiago had a lot to figure on his own, but it was all for later. Right now, he had to make sure that Edward hadn't laid his dirty hands on his little captive. 

"Who is inside?" Santiago asked the question in a hard voice and the bodyguards didn't find anything usual with him except for the fact that he was extraordinarily angry. 

"Edward and… are on duty inside, Boss," one of them spoke immediately. 

"Damm it!" Santiago ran towards the secret basement where Persephone was held hostage by them. 

If something happened to her, his mission would fail. He would never be able to catch Lorzeno again. Not only would Lorenzo be roaming freely outside, but Alessandro Marino would be hunting him like a crazy dog for destroying the life of his daughter and his prestige in the entire New York. 

Moreover, he hadn't kidnapped Persephone Marino to satisfy their lust. He would never touch an unwilling woman. He ran his hand in his hair in frustration and desperation. He needed Persephone Marino to be safe for whatever reasons. 

He alighted the stairs quickly and when he reached the outside of the basement's door, his feet stopped on their own. The scene which graced his eyes shook his soul to the core. 

A crying naked Persephone tainted with blood. 

Before her, a dead or perhaps, an unconscious bleeding Edward. 

Santiago didn't know why Persephone was called the "goddess of spring", but right now, he could see with his own eyes, why she was called the " queen of death." 

____

Persephone looked up as she felt a jacket placed on her shoulders. She saw Santiago's hard eyes staring at her face fiercely. Was he angry that she killed one of his men? She closed her eyes to blink back her disobedient tears. She was strong. Yes, she was strong. She couldn't cry. She shouldn't cry. Please, God let me not cry. Especially in front of him. He was the last human she wanted to show her weak self. She was so pathetic. And he would mock her strength again. 

Santiago's face turned cold and un-stoic as her whimpers transformed into heavy sobs. 

Persephone now knew what her fate had now chosen for her future. 

She might have gotten rid of one monster but what about the one standing in front of him? The one who called him 'The Villain'. She would never be free of them. She was dragged to the underworld and she would have to make peace with this fact that there was no escape for her now. 

"Please," She whimpered. "Kill me. Torture me. Or cut me into pieces. But don't r*pe my body. My honor is the only thing I'm left with. Let me die with the last shreds of dignity." 

"Wear the jacket. This place is no longer safe for you," Santiago said, making sure not to touch her anywhere. He couldn't believe that the woman was afraid of getting r*aped by him. He had kidnapped her, surely, but he would never touch her body without her consent.. For heaven's sake, he was a villain, not a f*cking monster who fed on a woman's soul and body. Especially not Persephone Marinos