The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 112

Rachel

When Nancy and I spent hours in our room, our eyes glued to the laptop screen, each new piece of news that appeared was like a punch in the stomach. The information about Veronica was often obscure, but everything pointed to a ruthless figure. Vincenzo, on the other hand, seemed to be getting more and more entwined in this maze of dangers.

Nancy, as always, was there, relaxed. Her enthusiasm and curiosity almost eased the weight I felt, but she noticed my apprehension. I had a hand on my chest, trying to control the rapid rhythm of my heart. "Is everything okay, Rachel?" she asked, now a little more serious.

I nodded, getting up from the floor and leaving the room. The atmosphere was heavy and suffocating, and I knew I needed to get out for a while, to breathe. I walked down the stairs slowly and saw my mother in the kitchen. She was focused, but when she saw me, she dropped what she was doing and looked at me with a worried expression.

"Rachel, is everything okay?" she asked, with her usual affection, but with a tone of doubt, as if she knew I was in conflict.

"Yes, Mom," I replied, trying to smile, but the tension on my face probably didn't convince her. She raised her eyebrows, as if she knew I wasn't feeling well, but decided not to insist.

I walked through the living room and to the front door, feeling the cool night air as I walked out. The cold breeze touched my face, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my mind. Sitting on the porch steps, I felt a certain relief. The night was calm, but my head was spinning with all the thoughts about Vincenzo and the news we had found.

That was when I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out and frowned when I saw an unfamiliar number. For a moment, I hesitated. Maybe it was someone from Italy, maybe... maybe it was Vincenzo himself. But if it was him, why wouldn't I call directly? Even so, I answered.

"Hello?" - my voice came out trembling, almost like a whisper.

On the other end of the line, a formal and serious voice could be heard.

-Miss Rachel? This is Detective Castelli, from the Italian police. We have received some information and would like to ask you a few questions about Vincenzo Moretti and his involvement with Veronica De Luca.

I felt the ground disappear from under my feet. My fingers began to tremble, and the cell phone seemed to slip from my hands. The voice continued, oblivious to my shock. -Miss Rachel? Are you still on the line?

I-I... yes, I am I managed to answer, although my voice was weak and hesitant.

He continued to speak, explaining that he was involved in an investigation into criminal activities and that Vincenzo's name was among the suspects. According to the investigator, Vincenzo had voluntarily come forward to give a statement, revealing information about Veronica. He said that Vincenzo's statement could involve serious risks, but that the police were committed to protecting him.

My head was spinning. Vincenzo, the man I felt so deeply for, was risking his life, revealing dark secrets involving such a dangerous woman. I stood up, pacing the balcony, feeling the despair growing. I didn't know if I was scared, outraged or... grateful. It was a mix of feelings I had never experienced before.

"Investigator, why... why are you calling me?" I asked, my voice sounding a little stronger.

He explained that Vincenzo had mentioned that I could be a target if Veronica found out about our relationship. They wanted to make sure I was safe, that there was no risk of retaliation.

His words, however, made me even more scared. Could I be a target? It was too much to process. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned, meeting Nancy's worried gaze.

"Are you okay? Who is it?" she asked, almost in a whisper, probably noticing my panicked expression.

Nancy, it's... it's the Italian police - I replied, not knowing how to explain.

She frowned, confused, and tried to listen to the conversation. Her presence there was a little comforting, but I still felt lost.

-Miss Rachel, I understand that this is a shock. I know the situation seems serious, but we are here to help you. Please, if you need any assistance, contact us - he concluded, before giving me a contact number and hanging up. As soon as the call ended, I looked at Nancy, still in shock. I quickly explained everything to her, about what the investigator had said, about Vincenzo's involvement, and the potential danger Veronica represented.

Nancy looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes that mixed curiosity and excitement. Maybe she saw this as a great adventure, but for me it was something much more serious.

-Rachel, he's doing this for you, you know that, right? - she said, with that smile of someone who believed in happy endings.

I took a deep breath, trying to process her words. He was taking a risk everything, giving up his life, everything... for me?

"I don't know if that's good or bad, Nancy. He's playing with fire. Veronica is dangerous. You've seen everything we've read about her, the things she's done to people who challenged her," I said, feeling fear take over me.

Nancy shrugged, looking unconcerned.

"Look, Rachel, if there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that nothing ventured, nothing gained. And honestly, if he's willing to face a sick mobster for you, that says a lot about how much he really cares."

Her words made me think, but panic still consumed me. I felt like I was in an increasingly tangled web of trouble, and the idea that I could be a target for Veronica gave me chills. How could I live with this, with the constant fear that someone was watching me?

Nancy seemed to notice my concern and tried to change the subject, saying that it was better to focus on what we could control.

"Shall we go inside? It's starting to get cold out here," she suggested, grabbing my arm and pulling me back inside the house.

I nodded, trying to relax, but the weight of the situation was hard to ignore. We went to the living room, where my mother was still. She looked at us with a worried expression and asked:

"Is everything okay, girls? You seem tense."

I forced a smile, wanting to protect her from the truth.

"Yes, Mom, everything is fine," I lied, even though the turmoil in my chest said otherwise.

Nancy grabbed my hand and dragged me back to the bedroom, closing the door behind us.

"Now, let's focus on what matters. We need to decide what you're going to do from here. Vincenzo is there, facing everything for you. And here we are, far from all the action. What do you want to do?"

I looked at her, realizing how much this situation was out of my control.

Nancy grabbed my shoulders and said,

"No matter how hard this seems, you have to think about what's best for you. Vincenzo has already made his decision. Now it's your turn to decide."

My thoughts were confused, but one thing I was sure of was that my life would never be the same after that phone call.