Matteo caught a flicker of movement in the glass reflection . A glint steel. His body moved instinctively. He twisted his torso to the right, the blade missing his ribs by mere inches. The attacker lunged again, but Matteo was already in motion. Tomasz came fast, eyes burning, knife flashing in a tight arc aimed at Matteo's throat. Matteo ducked under it, stepped into his blind spot, and kicked the back of Tomasz's knee.
Tomasz staggered.
Matteo smiled.
"You should've known," he said quietly, circling him like a predator, "you can't defeat me."
Tomasz roared, coming in again, stabbing forward in quick, aggressive jabs. Matteo swayed, ducked, his body . He caught Tomasz's wrist mid-strike, twisted it until the blade clattered to the ground. Before Tomasz could react, Matteo drove his fist into his gut. Once. Twice. A third time. Then a knee to the chest sent him sprawling.
The fight was over before it began. Tomasz writhed, gasping, blood dripping from his nose.
Matteo stood over him, breathing steady.
He beat him mercilessly. Fists pounded into flesh. Tomasz cried out, begged, but Matteo didn't stop until he was sure every ounce of resistance was gone. He only halted when his arms grew sore.
Annelise, shackled nearby, could barely watch. Her eyes were wide with horror, her breath shallow. Tears spilled down her face.
When it was done, Matteo turned to her.
He walked over, silent.
He unchained her wrists. She fell forward, landing on her knees.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, sobbing, "I didn't want this… I didn't....."
He grabbed her hair and pulled her up, his face cold.
"You think sorry means anything now?" he asked.
His palm slapped across her cheek. The sound cracked through the air. She fell to the floor, crying harder, holding her cheek.
Moments later, sirens blared. The police stormed in, shouting commands, guns raised. They arrested everyone.....Tomasz and his crew, battered and bloodied. Matteo stood untouched.
He led Annelise out like a possession.
Inside the car, silence reigned. Annelise trembled beside him.
He grabbed her chin and forced her to face him. "Only one person is allowed to mess with you," he whispered, voice dark. "That's me. No one else. Not a single soul gets to touch you, understand?"
Annelise nodded weakly, her voice lost. Fear rooted her.
They arrived at the quarter. The night had fallen heavy. Once inside, Annelise went straight to her room, unable to hold it in. She collapsed onto her bed and cried.
The betrayal. The pain. The humiliation.
Minutes passed before the door creaked open. Eliane walked in, followed by Noemie. Both sat beside her, wrapping her in silence.
Annelise buried her face in Eliane's lap.
"He sold me," her voice cracked, then broke into sobs. "Tomasz sold me like I was nothing. I trusted him.....he held my hand, he told me I was safe."
"Annelise....…" Eliane hugged her, voice soft but firm. "I know it hurts. But ending everything… that won't stop the pain. It will only pass it on.....to your parents, to us."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" she whispered. "Wake up every day knowing I meant a toy to him? "
She buried her face in her hands. "I can't carry this. I want it to stop."
"You think this is the end? It's not," Noemie said, brushing Annelise's hair from her face. "If you're gone, who will take care of your family? What will your parents feel, waking up every day knowing their daughter gave up?"
They stayed the night beside her, whispering comfort until her breathing evened.
The next morning, in Matteo's house, sunlight cut sharply through the blinds. Ladina sat cross-legged on the plush velvet couch, a sleek folder on her lap. Noemie, Eliane, and Annelise sat opposite her.
Ladina opened the folder slowly.
She laid out two photos.
All three women leaned forward.
Their hearts dropped.
"No....…" Eliane whispered.
Annelise felt her chest squeeze. Her eyes darted between the photos. "No. Not them."
Ladina smiled, tilting her head toward Noemie.
"You know what comes next, right?" she asked, voice like a knife wrapped in silk.
Noemie's lips trembled.
Annelise fell to her knees, clasping her hands. "Please. Please don't hurt them. They don't know anything. They didn't do anything. Please, Ladina, please."
Ladina stood and walked over slowly. She looked down at her, eyes void of mercy.
"Begging doesn't suit you," she said.
Annelise looked up, desperate.
"We'll make this right. Just don't involve them."
Ladina slapped her hard. Annelise fell to the carpet.
Ladina pressed her heel against her cheek.
"It's your job to deliver them. That's your punishment. Do it, or they suffer worse."
Noemie's hand clutched her chest. Her vision blurred.
Annelise didn't move. Her body shook. The weight of their mistake, the fate of the friends, the cruelty of this world...they crashed down all at once.
Both women sat frozen. Heartbeats deafening.
Ladina stepped back, satisfied.
"You have 48 hours," she said.
And just like that, she left.