Page 75 of Ruin

All the time I spent with Arik, the conversations about my work, sharing my concern over this deal. How wrecked I was about Antonio not showing up…

Antonio’s attention turned to the group of people that were telling him goodbye for the evening. Lorenzo and I made eye contact as I nodded and waved, silently letting him know not to wait for me. There was too much riding on this conversation with Antonio. Moments later headlights began to disappear into the night, leaving only the haze of red taillights blending into the road as they drove away.

“Regardless, I want your business. And I want to earn it fairly,” I exclaimed, reaching for the bottle from Antonio.

Antonio looked down as my hand before sitting the bottle in my grasp with an air of acceptance. “Well, considering your only other competition is dead…” he stated with a laugh.

My eyes widened hearing Antonio’s laughter.

As he regained his composure he glared at me, seeing my lack of enjoyment in his form of comedy. His face turned dark with irritation as red blotched across his cheeks and neck. He pulled the bottle from my hands and took a large swig, finishing it off.

“Speaking of dead…where were you the night Jennifer died? Hmmm?” he questioned me as he stood up.

In that moment I looked around us, slowly realizing that it was only the two of us there. Between the grappa, the shock of learning the truth about Arik, and the stress of trying to make a good impression on Antonio—I had my blinders on.

“I was with in my room—alone,” I mumbled as I rose to my feet.

“Of course you were!” he said as his body began to sway in the direction of the only car that was left. “Come on. I will take you back to the hotel. We can continue our little…chat…in the car.”

I stood in fear. Absolutely not. I would not get in the car with this man.

I need Arik.

“Antonio, I appreciate that, but we’ve had a lot to drink, and it may be a better choice to call someone to come get us,” I stated with certainty.

I could call Arik. Or Sam.

A feeling of helplessness settled over me as I realized that I was still without a phone.

“A better choice?” He laughed as the car keys jingled in his hand. “Sounds like you want to sleep here.”

“I don’t…I just, don’t think that is safe,” I replied, my arms crossing against my chest, weighing the gravity of the situation.

Antonio walked toward me, finally coming to a stop a mere foot from my face. I could smell the grappa on his breath as I watched his eyes go in and out of focus.

“You know, I really do not understand you women. Especially you American women,” he slurred as his finger shook at me. “I try to do something nice and cannot get the fucking time of day. But all of you whores will come running to lay on your backs when men like Lorenzo and Arik show up.”

My eyes widened as I took a half step back, shocked by Antonio’s outburst.

Antonio stepped toward me, his chest against mine as I struggled to breathe. The sudden awareness that I was in danger filled my body, but instead of giving me adrenaline, it turned me into stone.

“Did Jennifer say no to your advances?” I asked, staring dead into Antonio’s eyes. My mind raced as I waited for his response, putting together the puzzle pieces and hoping I could find my way out of this.

Antonio licked his lips as his eyes wandered the surroundings. I felt the sea breeze at my back as I slowly backed up from him until I felt my calves graze the boulders that lined the cliffside.

I am going to die.

Antonio’s eyes met mine once again as he nodded and looked down at his feet. He scanned my body slowly as his chest began to rise and fall faster.

“Bitch!” he screamed as his hands gripped the back of my head, pulling at my hair and forcing me onto my knees.

I reached back and clawed at his hand as my other arm punched at his legs until I was no longer kneeling. The warm earth met me back as Antonio threw me, my head crashing against a boulder as pain washed over my body.

Antonio grunted as his heavy body straddled my frame. I let out a scream that echoed into the night’s silence before his hand covered my mouth. My hands reached into the dirt, pulling me up onto the boulder as I struggled to break free from Antonio’s grasp.

Antonio’s hand moved to my chest as he grabbed my dress and raised my body up to slam my head against the boulder once more. Pain burst in the back of my head as my body became limp, and my vision blurred. The night stars that were once so bright and vivid appeared to flutter in and out of my view.

As my torso dangled over the edge of the cliff, the sounds of waves crashing below overpowered my senses. I heard Antonio whisper into my ear, “Say hello to Jennifer for me.”