Chapter Sixteen

It was dark and cold, all I could see were the bars and dark walls around me. The air smelt of sweat and had this particular stench of death.

The sound of a door made my ears perk up and the continuous rattling of keys made my heart sink. Someone was coming down here.

The cell was opened and someone walked in, I was too scared to look up from where I sat huddled up at a corner.

"Aimee" for the first time he didn't address me as 'mia regina'

Raising my eyes, my gaze met Raffaelle who stood before me staring with an unreadable expression.

"Why did you do it?" he asked lowly to which I didn't reply.

Raff had been the only one I trust. The only sensible one who stopped Luca from killing me numerous times.. But here under his gaze, I felt his spite for me.

"After everything Luca has done to me, you dare ask me this" for the first time since last night a tear fell down my eyes.

"I can't protect you this time Aimee, you betrayed us. You'll suffer the consequences of your actions"

Just then the noise of the door caught my attention again and loud footsteps were heard.

"Aimee" Mona said pushing past Raff her hands opened an engulfed me in a hug.

"I'm here Aimee, everything is going to be fine. I'll talk to Luca, try to change his mind" her words were somewhat comforting

"Don't lie to her, everything isn't fine" Raffaelle said folding his arms on his chest as he leaned on the door.

"Raffaelle please, talk to him. Help me, help her she's our queen" Mona pleaded

"Non abbiamo una regina, la nostra lealtà sta nella casa di Savedra. You seem to have forgotten Monica"

( we have no queen our loyalty lies with the house of Savedra) he spat rudely

"Raffaelle please, I know you can talk to him" she pleaded while I remained in her arms crying silently

"This is out of my hands" turning his back on us he made his way out of the cell turning a deaf ear to our pleads and cries.

"When I talked about poison, I didn't know you were crazy enough to attempt it" Mona said, a smile playing on her lips. She had somehow succeeded in lightening the intense mood.

"He's going to kill me" I spoke up seconds later.

"Don't say that Aimee, I won't let that happen" her eyes saddened.

"You know it's true, Even Raffaelle isn't on my side"

"Well fuck him, that's his problem. We're going to get through this and laugh about it in the future" I could see through her facade of hope, fear lingered in her eyes

The huge doors creaked open as multiple footsteps were heard. The light in the cell and the hallway flickered on almost blindly me instantly. The metal bars screeched as they were fully opened, Mona got up and made her way out of the cell immediately as I cast my head down, it was Luca he had finally come to pass his judgment.

"Get up" His voice still held its stoic tone.. I didn't comply to his orders, there was no need to be obedient he would do whatever he had in mind either way.

"I said get the fuck up Aimee!!"

This was the day I had been dreading since I got married to him but it had caught up with me so quickly.

"your queen is being a spoilt brat, she needs assistance" he mocked

Two pair of hands immediately found my arms and roughly pulled me up and off the cold hard ground.

I stood there in front of him, my eyes quickly scanning my environment.

The huge hallway was crowded with guards and I spotted Raffaelle, Adam, Gustavo and Alfonso among the crowd.

Fixing my eyes on the man before me, I held his gaze staring right back at him.

His hair was messily held up as always, Jaws hard with his face as deadly as ever.

"You tried to poison me?? You ungrateful slut, after everything I gave you, you dare go against me!?!?" his tone increased as he addressed me in the lowest form ever before his people.

"I will make you suffer before you die a cold miserable death which is much less than you deserve"

I felt the tears creep inside me and spill out through my eyes. I couldn't understand why life had punished me this way. I hadn't done anything, growing up I had planned out my life and how happy it'll be with Maximiliano.

"after everything you gave me?? Except sorrow and grief what else do you have to offer??" I spat at him

His hand immediately found its way to my cheek as my body staggered backwards but was pulled back by the two guards who still held me in place. My eyes found Mona's eyes which mirrored her broken heart

" Ragazza sciocca"

(silly girl) his large hands latched to my neck as he squeezed tight and slammed my head to the metal bars of the cell.

"Luca Please!!" Mona yelled rushing towards us as Luca kept choking me. Her hands found his as she struggled to get me out of his hold.

"you'll kill her Luca" tears poured out her eyes

"I thought the point was obvious" an evil smirk prominent on his face.

The crowd behind us stayed quiet in place with no one going against their boss except Monica.

His grip suddenly loosened from my neck as his attention turned to Mona, he delivered a quick blow to her stomach which was enough to send her to the ground.

"Restrain her" he ordered as guards moved to her with guns pointed at her.

"Since you love her this much, I give you the privilege of the front role in her suffering" he laughed evilly

The pair of hands still held me up as my legs gave out.. My gaze was fixed on the floor as I brawled my eyes out. I was tired of everything.

The silence in the room was suffocating along with Luca's hard gaze on my body which shot daggers at me. Raising my head , I stared at him with watery eyes hoping he would somehow let this pass and let me go but his face showed me the opposite.

"Take turns on her after you're done cut her to pieces" my husband said

My heart broke as I heard this, I struggled to breath as everything somehow seemed to be sucking up the oxygen in the room. My chest was heaving as I trashed around trying to free myself from the grip of the guards. The tears rushing down my eyes seemed to increase.

This wasn't a honorable way to die. I didn't deserve such brutal death.

The smirk that spread on his lips and his emotionless eyes showed that there was no hope. More adrenaline pumped into my body as I kept screaming and trashing around. The guards by now pulled me to the bed in the cell while another was working on tying my hands and legs in place.

"LUCA YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO HER!! SHE'S YOUR QUEEN!!! DON'T FUCK'N HUMILIATE HER THIS WAY!!!" Mona yelled struggling in the hold of the guards

A cellphone went off, it was that of Luca. Putting his hand to his pocket, he brought out the device and handed it over to Raffaelle telling him to pick up the call.

" Get on with it, you go first" he ordered pointing at some random guard who stood among the crowd.

The man who looked to be in his forties walked towards where Aimee lay helplessly weeping and began working on taking off the gown she was clothed in.

"Si it's Raffaelle" he spoke into the phone

"Luca è nel mezzo di qualcosa di importante in questo momento"

(Luca is in the middle of something important right now)

By now, the queen had been stripped off her clothing and was only shielded by her lingerie.

The man got on the queen a cocky smile on his face. Who wouldn't have this look if given the opportunity to be in his place, he took off his shirt before working on his shorts.

"Ne sei certo"

(are you certain about this) Raff spoke loudly this time.

"Luca please.. I'm sorry" Aimee begged as Mona joined in

"Tutto apposto. I'll let him know immediately" Raffaelle said before getting of the call.

"Stop" He yelled getting everyone's attention and stopping the male from assaulting Aimee

"You oppose me Raff??" Luca questioned in rage.

"Capo, it's about her" his face held so much emotion for the first time that day

"And?? What is it???" Luca demanded

"she's - A-Aimee, she's with child" he dropped the bombshell

"It was doctor Nevio, he said the test results she ran just came in"

"Noooo this can't be" Aimee said under her breath in disbelief. She didn't want this baby, not in the type of life she lived.

"what?!" Mona exclaimed

Luca's eyes met his half naked wife who was strapped to the bed with a guard ready to have his way with her.

"untie her" he ordered walking towards her.

"You're carrying my baby" Luca announced more to convince himself.

"Get the maids, I need her cleaned up immediately"

"You're going to bear me a son" he laughed as he pulled her into his arms peppering her red wet face with kisses.

"congrats man" Raff said as others begun expressing their happiness.

"Lunga vita alla Regina"

(long live the queen) Adam begun as the others joined in chanting.

"You're one lucky girl indeed, today is your lucky day" Luca whispered to her.

"I don't want this baby, I can't have this baby" the queen thought within her as tears rolled down her cheeks