My Dad's Bestfriend novel Chapter 109

Evelyn

As his embrace enveloped me, it felt like an icy balm had been poured over my raw wounds, caressing my frigid heart and stitching me back together.

I trembled, gasping for air, still haunted by the echoes of their menacing words. Yet, at this moment, within his arms, I found sanctuary. Safety.

He was here....that's all that mattered.

"Ja-Jacob..." I stuttered, clinging desperately to him, "They broke everything."

"It's alright, love. None of that matters," he murmured soothingly, enfolding me securely. My face nestled into the curve of his neck, his warmth thawing the chill within me. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have left you alone. I'm so sorry." He pressed a kiss to my temple, his hand rubbing small circles on my back, coaxing my frantic breaths to slow.

His gaze fell upon my wound, and a sudden tension gripped his features. "You're bleeding, baby. Let me bring the first aid kit," Jacob moved to rise, but I clung onto him desperately, vigorously shaking my head.

"Please, Jacob, don't leave me alone. Please..." I sobbed, burying my face into his chest. "Don't go. Stay with me."

"But, baby..."

"They threatened to harm you too..." I hiccupped through tears, gripping his shirt tightly, my body convulsing with each sob. "They said they'd hurt you, Jacob. I can't let them hurt you."

He released a heavy sigh.

"They won't lay a finger on me, baby," he assured, lifting my gaze and gently wiping my tears away before placing a tender kiss on my lips. "I promise. They won't hurt me, and they won't ever harm you again. I'll ensure they're locked away for the stunt they pulled today."

"What if they hurt you, Jacob?" Tears continued to stream down my cheeks as I gazed at him, the fear of their potential violence striking a chord of terror deep within me. I wanted to flee to a place far removed from anyone with ill intentions, a place where I and Jacob would be safe and Italy certainly wasn't that place for me anymore. "I can't... I can't bear to see you in pain."

"Baby, can you please tell me what they said and how it all started?" He gently guided me onto his lap, his voice soft and comforting. His left hand found its place on my lower back as we settled against the kitchen counter. "I'm right here, alright? Tell me everything, and I'll make sure those bastards won't lay a finger on you for as long as we live."

I took a deep breath, summoning the strength to recount the ordeal.

Flashback:

"You guys are Jacob's...uncles?" I was taken aback by their claim.

Why had Jacob never mentioned them before? It seemed odd.

"Yes, indeed," before I could make sense of the situation, both brushed past me and entered the apartment, as though they owned the place.

I stood there, wide-eyed, a mix of surprise and confusion flooding my mind.

What the fuck was happening?

"How long have you been living with him?" Mario inquired, raising an eyebrow as he strolled toward the kitchen and casually grabbed a box of biscuits, not bothering to seek permission as he helped himself to one.

These guys were beyond weird. Actually, 'weird' didn't even begin to cover it.

"Why do you want to know that?" I couldn't help but question, feeling a distinct discomfort emanating from their demeanor.

A smirk played on Luigi's lips at my query. "Because your beloved boyfriend owes us a debt, honey. And we're here to collect what's owed."

What the fuck!

Jacob and debt? Hell no. It was fucking impossible.. These guys didn't appear to possess a single penny, so how on earth could Jacob have borrowed anything, let alone money, from people who seemed financially strapped themselves?

It was fucking absurd.

They wouldn't dare.

"What's the matter? Lost your nerve? You were quite courageous with your words earlier. Feeling scared now?" Luigi taunted, his head cocked to the side, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Frightened?"

I swallowed hard, my body trembling at the sight of the knife.

What if they harmed Jacob too?

No! I couldn't allow that to happen. But what could I do? This wasn't my home. This was Italy, far from our typical paradise.

I found myself backed against the wall, a cold sweat trickling down my forehead.

However, Mario halted just a foot away from me, a grin spreading across his lips. "Don't fret. We're not going to kill you today. So, if you don't want beautiful knife marks on that pretty face of yours, stay put and don't move. We'll be out of here once we've finished."

Amidst their shared laughter, they resumed their destructive game, breaking things as if it were all a mere amusement park. The clamor filled every inch of space, urging me to find a place to hide. I trembled uncontrollably.

Tears streamed down my face as a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me. I lacked the courage to even reach for my phone and call Jacob in their presence.

Yet, when I mustered a bit of bravery and approached them, attempting one final plea, Luigi shoved me forcefully, and I tumbled to the floor, the shattered glass piercing my knee.

I whimpered in pain, my eyes widening at the sight of my own blood.

"We warned you to stay the hell away from it, didn't we?" Mario's voice boomed, his tone menacing. "If you dare to move again, we'll snap your fucking legs, then your boyfriend's. Don't underestimate us."

I sobbed, trembling as I extracted the glass shard from my skin, blood trickling from the wound, while they relentlessly continued their rampage, destroying everything else in Jacob's apartment.

Flashback ends.