CHAPTER 59: NON-NEGOTIABLE

Aurora blinked in disbelief.

"Don’t tempt me now. Because you’ll be meeting your parents sooner than you plan," she fired at her.

Valentina shrugged her weak shoulders. "Go ahead please. Don’t you know? I crave death like air. You’ll be doing me a world of good if you kill me right now," she laughed, mirroring her neighbours insanity.

Tyler listened with ears wide open. There wasn’t a chance in hell that he would survive lanotte.

But if by some stroke of luck he did, this very moment between both girls, he vowed to make poetry of it.

"You’re suicidal? Wow! Thank you for telling me that. Even more reason to keep you alive so you can continue to suffer."

"I’m fine either way. Life, death, what is the difference?"

She began to lower her head back to her knees, but Aurora wasn’t done with her yet.

"You’re going to be free from this cell if you agree to help," she said.

"Do you really hear yourself?" Valentina lifted her gaze back to where it was before. "Would you help me if the roles were switched?"

"You’re acting like some victim."

"Not any more than you are. Or even your brother."

"Don’t you dare bring up my brother!" She gritted.

Valentina huffed. "I’m not going to help you, Aurora. Leave me alone."

"Oh you’ll change your mind. I promise you will. You showed your hand already. All I need to do is give both Natalia and Jackson a gun and lock them both up in a room. The last man standing gets to come out. I am quite certain just the thought of that is enough to change your mind." She turned to leave.

"Wait!" Valentina quickly called her back.

Aurora smiled victoriously, as she turned around to face her.

"Do you see you’re in no position to negotiate now, dear Valentina?" She questioned in a heartlessly mocking tone.

Valentina felt irritatingly powerless. Her stomach curled in disgust at her very own uselessness.

Coming to Italy was a mistake she was never sure she could forgive herself for.

"It was for Natalia," a voice in her head reminded her.

That did nothing to change her stance.

"Let’s make another deal. Release both Natalia and Jackson, and I’ll fully cooperate with you."

Aurora chuckled. "It’s amazing how you think you’re in any position to negotiate. You’ll tell us what we need to know, and that’s it. See you later, Valentina."

This time, she didn’t make any stops as she walked away.

"Do you still think you have a chance at defeating LuceNera when his sister alone can send the fear of God into any man?"

Valentina’s teeth clattered, as her green eyes darkened past its normal shade.

Her hands folded into fist that trembled as she thought of how powerless she was.

All of the legends she was told about her father, yet here his own offspring was, trapped in a filthy cell.

"Don’t beat yourself up. You were never going to defeat them in their own turf anyway," he laughed out loud, and just kept on laughing.

Valentina’s eyes were beginning to close in despair, when a familiar scent suddenly drifted into her nostrils.

It was followed by the sound of footsteps.

"Val!"

The voice was the third thing to complete the trinity.

"Sonia," Valentina whispered, as her eyes snapped open.

"Val!" Sonia dropped to her knees, a tray in her hand, and some tear sting in her eyes. "I will come see you before. Luce deal with anyone who cross his word."

"I understand," Valentina smiled. "But how are you here right now?"

"Signora Aurora. She asked me bring you food and water. Here."

She tried to pass the tray through the bars, but the second the aroma of the food mixed up with the stench of the cell, Valentina gagged.

"Please take that awry from me."

"But you no eat for two days, Val. You grow too weak," Sonia tried to reason with her.

"If she won’t take it, I will." Tyler licked his lips, as his tongue watered.

"Yes. Give it to him, Sonia. I can’t stomach any food in this place."

Sonia’s face contorted with discomfort. She wasn’t sure how Valentina was still alive considering she had gone two whole days without any food.

"Sonia, give it to him. Please."

Sonia exhaled softly. "You sure you no eat, Val?"

"I’m sure."

Sonia grudgingly moved the tray to the other cell.

She lowered the torchlight, knowing that Tyler didn’t like to be seen.

"Take plate. I come collect later." She stretched the plate to him through the bar.

It was easier to pass through than the tray was.

Tyler stretched out his hands only, and as soon as he touched the plate, a smile formed on his face.

"Yummy!" He smacked his lips as he dragged the plate to himself.

"Animale," Sonia muttered under her breath before returning to Valentina.

"Thank you, Sonia."

"You take water then. You very thirsty?"

Valentina forced a smile. "I guess I can manage water."

Sonia’s face lit up a little as she stretched the bottle through the bars.

Valentina, who had remained in one spot for quite a while, cracked a few muscles as she reached for the water.

"Thanks once again, Sonia."

"I go now. Signora Aurora say you may come later. I not sure. Take torchlight. I know dark fear you." She passed the torch through the bars, before rising to her feet with the empty tray in her hand.

"Sonia darling? You can take the plate with you now. I’m done," Tyler said.

"Huh?!" Valentina’s eyes shot to the wall that separated their cells. "Did you inhale the food?" She blurted out.

Tyler’s chest shook, as he let out a deep rumble of laughter.

"You crack me up, Valentina."

Sonia collected the plate from Tyler, and with one last look towards Valentina, she turned to leave.

"We get you out, Val. Promise," she said, causing Valentina’s heart to squeeze affectionately.

"It would seem like you touched a lot of hearts here already, Valentina. You are certainly your mother’s daughter."

Valentina’s eyes watered at the thought she was like her mother.

However, the intent to cry didn’t last.

Allen Wallace wouldn’t laugh in a situation like this. And as much as she was her mother’s daughter, she was also her father’s daughter.

"What are you going to do now, Valentina?" Tyler questioned in a drowsy voice.

He had consumed a plate of food, and the next thing to naturally do in a hopeless place like this, was to sleep.

But first things first. He was curious about the mind of the poor girl.

"I’m going to give them exactly what they want," she said with a sinister look in her eyes.

"You’re sensible enough to give up easily. Good for you. It is a great quality every human should possess. Knowing when to give—"

Valentinas frowned when she didn’t hear him complete his words.

"Tyler?" She called out.

The next response she got was a sudden snore louder than a pig’s snort.

Valentina jumped a little, as her heart nearly exploded.

"Really Tyler?" She muttered, shaking her head hard.