Forbidden love for a Barkley
Part Twenty One:
"I Knew You Were Trouble, pt. 8; A clue for Three"
Nick just woke up in a room that easily be described as a torture chamber without the stuff used for torture or basically, a portal to hell with its peeling paint, cracks everywhere, a chandelier hanging on by a thin piece of metal in its chain, and vines creeping through the cracks among other things. It's a place nobody would ever want to wake in and to top it off, Nick was either chained or tied down to a slab-like thing. Feels good to be chained or tied down, right? Then, if that's not enough to creep someone out/drive them nuts, a person was seemingly toying with Nick's psyche by making like they were going to open the door and come in only to shut the door and laugh very quietly. Understandably, the second Barkley son was growing tired of being toyed with and wanted to know who brought him to this place, then get on with his quest to track down McMahon and his gang & take them out one by one. To put things lightly, Nick was now slowly getting what he wanted as the person came in, lit a lantern, and slowly turned around to face him. The questions that remain are as follows: Who was this unidentified person? Was it a man or woman? Does the person have anything to do with bringing Nick to this room? What's going on? Will Nick get back to his task of tracking down McMahon and his gang deliver the messages from Tom, Beth, and Dominique? Will he and Carmine Mangano come face-to-face? Why am I asking these questions? Jarrod, Stefania, Victoria, and anybody else, where are you? Stay tuned and find out!
Author's Note: I do NOT own The Big Valley or its characters. I ONLY own this fic and the characters of: Stefania Mangano, Carmine Mangano Sr, Carmine's friends, Paulie Mangano, the unidentified person in the room with Nick, Leonard Barkley, Seth & his gang, and the Mangano family. This is the eighth and final part to this second multi parter saga. You get the idea by now and also, this one may or may not be another brief chapter. We shall :D and huge apologies for the very long italicized summary section in the previous chapter. I'm going to go back and fix it/clean it up. Anyways, happy reading!
WARNING/TRIGGER WARNING: There may be violent moments & slight hints of assault in this chapter. If it makes you uncomfortable, I understand completely and urge you to skip this chapter. Rated 'T' for a reason.
(Flashback to part 20)
Nick was eyeing the door like a Hawk about to swoop down and take a Mouse for its meal. He was bound and determined to see who was behind the door and all of what had happened. He wanted all of this to be done and over, so that way he can get on with his goal of getting McMahon and his gang, one by one and making them pay for what they did to Stefania.
'Any day now. It is a little rude to keep someone waiting.' Nick thought, as he stopped struggling against his restraints.
The door started to slowly open only for it to close immediately, followed by soft laughter heard out in the hallway. It was almost as if the person enjoyed doing this to Nick, knowing they may be getting to him.
'This is going from ridiculous to immature within a minute! Just get in here, show yourself, and we can go from there! Come on!' Nick thought.
The door started to open again and went to shut just as fast only for somebody to be heard whispering: "Get in there already. You've stalled long enough!" even though, the whisper was very faint. As soon as the door shut, a figure started to walk towards Nick.
'Finally! Now, just to see the face of whoever this person is and go from there.' Nick mentally told himself.
As soon as the figure stood right next to Nick, they remained silent. A lantern could be heard being set down, followed by the sound of a match striking and the flame that came from the match after being struck.
'This is promising.' Nick said in his mind.
Just as the lantern was lit, the room started to brighten up a little. Nick took his attention away from the lantern, looking over to see that the figure was clad in nothing, but black boots, black pants, black gloves, a black hat, and a black cape. He couldn't see their face as they had their back to him, but that all changed when the person took their cape and hat off, letting their long dark hair fall onto their back.
"Good. Good...so far." Nick quietly said under his breath.
The person slowly turned around to face Nick.
(Now)
"Ahhhhh, you're awake." the person took their bandana off of their face, revealing themself to be an Italian woman due to their accent.
"Ahhhhh...you're not Stefania." Nick retorted.
"How dare you say her name after what you have done to her?!" the woman snapped.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, who I didn't do anything to her! Whoever you are, you got the wrong man!" Nick attempted to sit up, only to be stopped by his restraints.
"Sure, you white people all say the same lies! It wasn't you...it was somebody else!" the woman hissed.
"Look, I want the cowards who did what they did to her just as badly as you and Carmine Mangano do. Just let me loose and we'll talk things over." Nick told her.
"How dare you say my uncle Carmine's name?! How dare you?!" the woman walked over to Nick and punched him in the gut.
"Oomph! Your u-uncle?" Nick groaned.
"Yes. If you must know, my name is Italia Mangano. I am the daughter of his late brother Santo who was unfairly lynched by your kind!" Italia barked.
"Listen, I'm sorry about your father, Italia. You have every right to be angry, but well...for heaven's sake, I didn't do it!" Nick slightly raised his voice.
"You're a white man, aren't you?!" Italia asked in a bitter tone.
"Yes, I'm a white man, but what does that-" Nick was cut off.
"You white heads all stick together and only care about justice when it's your pale ones being hurt. You don't give a damn about anybody else!" Italia shook her head, "Do you know a vile woman with yellow hair?"
"I don't know a vile woman with yellow hair. I know of a decent woman with yellow hair. She's my sister Audra. Granted, she can be immature, but she would never make false charges against somebody." Nick replied.
"Does she have a high pitched voice and a face that looks like a rat?" Italia asked.
"No, she doesn't and I'm sorry, but what does this have to do with anything? I just want to be untied or unchained then we along with Carmine, Paulie, and his friends can join forces in our quest for justice." Nick insisted.
"No! No! I don't do dealings with white people or any other people except Italians! No dealings with you, evil white man!" Italia spat on the ground after saying the term "evil white man".
"Italia, you and your uncles have the wrong impression of white people and all others. Not all of us, white, green, spotted, etc are as evil as you guys think." Nick shook his head.
"You're a liar!" Italia walked around the slab-like thing Nick was laying on.
"Call me a liar if you please, but I'll prove it to you. In fact, ask Stefania. She'll tell you that I'm not evil." Nick sighed.
"How dare you even say my cousin's name?! How dare you?! After what you did to her or let happen to her at the hands of your buddies McMahon and his gang! How dare you?!" Italia got nose-to-nose with Nick.
"Italia, they are not my buddies. I want McMahon and his gang to pay dearly for what they did to your cousin! I would never ever condone such heinous acts. Ever! Look, unchain or untie me and you'll see." Nick told her.
"I will not unchain you. You shall stay chained like a dirty prisoner! Plus, even if I could unchain you, it would be impossible." Italia rattled the chains that were holding Nick down.
"Why is that?" Nick asked.
"Somebody holds the key in their pocket and that somebody is not me." Italia said in a nonchalant way.
"Who holds the key, Italia?" Nick asked.
"I will not tell you. Besides, you will find out soon enough." Italia put her hand on Nick's right cheek and gently patted it, "You know, I hate to admit it, but for a white man, you sure are beautiful."
"Thanks...I guess." Nick was a little uncomfortable by Italia patting his cheek.
"Very beautiful. Very...Very...beautiful." Italia kept patting Nick's cheek, making each pat a little harder than the last and chuckling.
*Out somewhere else*
Stefania, Jarrod, and Victoria had been riding around for what seemed to be an eternity although it was only an hour and a half. They looked around, but found no trace of Nick. Growing worried, they had decided meet up at a spot in order to discuss further plans.
"Mother, any sign?" Jarrod stopped his horse after meeting up with Victoria.
"None. Jarrod, where could he be?" Victoria had worry in her voice.
"Jarrod, Signora Barkley, anything?" Stefania met up with Victoria and Jarrod.
"Not a sign, Stefania. We've combed through everywhere and everything. He's just disappeared it looks like." Jarrod sighed.
"Oh, my papa and zio Paulie plus Massimo, Luca, Vito, Enzo, and Arturo have done something or are about to do something! I just know it!" Stefania's voice started to break.
"Now, we don't that, Stefania. For all we know, they may have joined forces with Nick and are probably getting McMahon and his gang right now as we talk. So, the best thing for us to do is keep looking until we find some clues." Victoria tried to reassure Stefania and lighten the mood.
"Papa, zio Paulie, and the others would never side with Nick. He's a white man and papa is so convinced that Nick either raped me or is friends with McMahon and his thugs that there is no changing his mind. Papa is just stubborn that way." Stefania shook her head.
"Stefania, there has to be a way to convince your father that-" Jarrod was cut off.
"Jarrod, like I told you all before, my papa is very angry. He seeks revenge and Nick is in danger. We have to find Nick before papa and the others do & fast. I'll go straight ahead, Signora Barkley, you go north and Jarrod, you go south. We search before sundown then-" Stefania stopped herself due to fear continuing to build up.
"It'll be alright, Stefania. We'll find him. We'll search before sundown then once it is sundown, we meet up back here and go off together, because it is never wise to search alone at night. You never know who is crawling about and it's best to stay in a group, especially at night." Jarrod put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Jarrod, do you-" Victoria paused.
"Of course I do, mother. We all know Nick. He'll go down kicking and screaming." Jarrod smirked.
"You're right, Jarrod. You're-right. Just like your father. Well, let's search around. No sense in sitting here and looking pretty." Victoria smiled before heading in the north direction to search for Nick.
"It'll be alright, Stefania. If anybody knows Nick more so than he knows himself, it's mother and me and we know that he wouldn't go down without a good fight." Jarrod rubbed her shoulder.
"I hope you're right, Jarrod." Stefania looked at the ground.
"I always am. Don't tell Nick I said that." Jarrod chuckled before riding off in the south direction.
"I won't. I just hope we can find him before papa does." Stefania quietly said to herself before riding off straight ahead.
*Meanwhile, at Barkley Ranch, a few moments later*
It had been a good while since Stefania, Jarrod, and Victoria took off in order to search for Nick, but all of this waiting and getting no results had taken their toll on Heath, thinning his patience which would prove to be a first in many instances, because he was always patient, even when times were trying and testy. He was always the patient one whereas Nick, likewise to the late Tom Barkley, was always the one to go off guns blazing. Jarrod used to be "the patient one", but after he went on a vengeful rampage as a result of the murder of his wife Beth, he would somewhat lose the title to Heath...until now.
As she was finishing up tending to the badly beaten Eugene, Audra returned to the parlor room only to find Heath and a shot gun gone. Worried, she went out the barn where she found him saddling up his horse.
"Heath, what are you doing?" Audra asked.
"We're wasting time, Audra. Neither mother nor Jarrod or Stefania have returned and Nick could either be getting badly hurt by Carmine Mangano or be going on a rampage in the midst of trying to track McMahon and his gang down one by one. Either or, I can't just sit here and wait. I already rounded up some men and sent them out to comb all of Stockton until we get a trace of Nick, if he's been abducted or to try and talk him down, if he's going on a rampage." Heath finished saddling his horse up.
"Oh, I understand, Heath but...but...what if Nick returns here while you and everyone else are roaming around looking for him?" Audra walked up to him.
"If he returns here, he returns and you can explain to him what's going on and why we're not here. However, I highly doubt he'll be coming back here any time soon. Especially with what's happened to Stefania and how he is bound and determine to make McMahon and his gang pay. That being said, I'm joining mother, Jarrod, and Stefania in the search for him and nobody's stopping me." Heath got mounted onto his horse and grabbed the reins.
"But Heath, what if...what if something were to happen to all of you?" Audra had a look of worry in her eyes, "Gene was badly beaten. God only knows what else could possibly happen."
"I know, sis, but never you worry, beca-" Heath was cut off.
"Never you worry, my right foot! Every time someone has said that...something always happens." Audra sighed, "Father said that before going up to Barkley Mine and then, he was murdered."
"I know, Audra but from what Nick said, father didn't have a fighting chance. He was caught by surprise. The rest of us, we have a fighting chance, because there's more of us against maybe a few people who may have Nick or against Nick if he's on his rampage. Either way, we all have that fighting chance that father didn't have. Plus, Nick, Jarrod, and I are brawlers. Something we'll have to teach Eugene." Heath pointed out.
"Oh, I know, Heath but-" Audra was cut off.
"Audra, I've said my peace. I'm going to go join the search and nobody will stop me. I mean we have been waiting and waiting and waiting and nothing has happened. There's no use for anybody to continue sitting on their hands and I for one will not continue to do that while our brother's life hangs in the balance or our brother is creating a bloodbath in the form of McMahon and his gang. Now, you just stay here with Eugene and whatever happens...happens." Heath told her, before tapping his horse with the reins, "Giddyup. Git."
Audra watched with concern as Heath rode off and disappeared in the distance. She couldn't help, but worry about the fact that part of her family was out there possibly getting within the crosshairs of Carmine Mangano, his brother Paulie, and their friends, especially since both Stefania and her mother Andrea informed the Barkleys of the Mangano patriarch wanting blood-Nick's for the most part. To her, it was like Tom all over again; the quest for revenge and him wanting to go up to Barkley Mine to see what was going on. The latter part costing him his own life. Like her siblings and mother, Audra didn't want a repeat of that. It was bad enough that Eugene was badly beaten and Nick was either taken hostage or going on a rampage. She didn't need the rest of her family to get harmed. In fact, Tom had, had that rule ingrained in all of them, but as with all rules, that one was broken on many occasions, this one being the latest.
'I sure hope they know what they're doing and return home safely.' Audra thought, before saying a quick prayer and going back into the house.
*Back with Nick and Italia*
Time had passed and Italia went from gently patting Nick's right facial cheek to running her fingers in his hair and kissing his neck, nibbling it every few seconds. Nick was very uncomfortable by this for two reasons; One, because it wasn't making a bit of sense for a woman who hated white people just as much as her uncles did to be putting the moves on him and secondly, it wasn't Stefania who was doing this. He would never mind Stefania doing this at all, because they were in a slowly growing relationship and if it were her, she'd be gentle. Italia was not being gentle at all. In fact, she was being very very aggressive, especially with the nibbling.
"Oooh. Italia?" Nick flinched.
"Shhhh." Italia put her finger on his lips and continued kissing and nibbling his neck.
"Ouch! Italia, suppose-suppose Stefania was to walk in here? I doubt she would take-" Nick was cut off by Italia blowing into his ear and stroking his hair.
"Hush now, handsome boy. There's no need to fight or fret or anything. I've got you now." Italia whispered into his ear.
"Italia, I'm-I'm-Look, Stefania wouldn't take too kindly to you doing this to me." Nick shuddered after Italia blew into his ear, again.
"Well, Stefania isn't here, now is she?" Italia looked him right in the eyes, before pressing her lips against his and forcefully kissing him.
"No, but-" Nick was cut off.
"Then, don't worry about being-" Italia was cut off by a knock at the door.
'Who can it be now?' Nick thought.
The door opened and in came...Paulie, who was sported a sinister smile the minute he saw that Nick had awakened.
"Oh, vedo che il bel ragazzo ha aperto gli occhi. Non ti sta dando problemi, vero? (Oh, I see the pretty boy has opened his eyes. He is not giving you trouble, is he?)" Paulie walked over to where Nick and Italia were.
"No, nessun problema. Solo che è stato difficile per me non picchiarlo e non essere duro con lui, perché mi ricorda uno degli uomini che hanno impiccato papà. (No, no trouble at all. Except it has been hard for me not to hit him and be rough on him, because he reminds me of one of the men who hung papa.)" Italia thought of her father and sadly sighed.
"Capisco, tesoro. Non meritava di essere linciato. (I understand, sweetie. He didn't deserve to be lynched.)" Paulie put his arm around her.
"Zio Paulie, spero davvero che Stefania non consideri attraente quest'uomo bianco o non provi sentimenti per lui. Solo guardandolo, non vedo niente, se non il volto dell'uomo che ha impiccato mio padre. (Uncle Paulie, I really hope Stefania doesn't consider this white man attractive or have feelings for him. Just looking at him, I see nothing, but the face of the man who hung my father.)" Italia told him.
"Non preoccuparti, Italia. Tuo zio Carmine farà in modo che Stefania finisca con un vero uomo italiano. Non un uomo bianco. L'uomo bianco ci ha già fatto abbastanza. (Don't you worry, Italia. Your uncle Carmine will see to it that Stefania ends up with a proper Italian man. Not a white man. The white man has done enough to us already.)" Paulie laughed and patted her shoulder.
"Puoi dirlo di nuovo. Comunque, quest'uomo qui sostiene di volere ciò che vogliamo noi. (You can say that again. Anyways, this man right here claims he wants what we want.)" Italia rolled her eyes.
"Sta di nuovo tirando fuori la storia del "Voglio McMahon e la sua gang"? (Is he pulling the whole "I want McMahon and his gang" thing, again?)" Paulie shook his head.
"Immagino di sì. Perché? (I guess so. Why?)" Italia asked.
"Italia, questo è McMahon qui. Potrebbe provare a dire di essere Nick Barkley, ma è impossibile, perché Massimo e gli altri lo hanno già malmenato. (Italia, this is McMahon right here. He may try to say he is Nick Barkley, but that's impossible, because Massimo and the others already roughed him up.)" Paulie told her.
"È Nick Barkley quello per cui Stefania sembra così arrabbiata? (Is Nick Barkley the one Stefania seems so mad over?)" Italia tilted her head to the side.
"Oh sì. Comunque, è un uomo molto cattivo, Italia. È lui che ha violentato Stefania o ha visto McMahon qui e i suoi amici attaccarla e violentarla. Barkley è amico di McMahon e della sua gang. (Oh yes. However, he is a very bad man, Italia. He is the one who either raped Stefania or watched McMahon right here and his buddies attack and rape her. Barkley is friends with McMahon and his gang.)" Paulie explained.
"Sembra papà. L'uomo bianco fa del male, la donna bianca mente e a nessuno importa. Un uomo o una donna italiana si stabilisce negli Stati Uniti e noi siamo perseguitati! (This sounds like dad. White man does wrong, white woman lies, and nobody cares. Italian man or woman settles into the United States and we're persecuted!)" Italia slapped the slab-like thing that Nick was laying on.
"Look, I'd hate to break up a conversation, but could somebody please unlock these chains?" Nick spoke up.
"Sembra che quel bel ragazzo odi quelle catene. (Pretty boy seems to be hating those chains.)" Paulie pointed at Nick and laughed.
"Certo che sì, ed è un peccato, perché per essere un uomo bianco in catene è piuttosto attraente. (He sure does and it's a shame, because for a white man in chains, he is kinda good looking.)" Italia purred after saying the last part.
"Italia! Non ti starà mica prendendo in simpatia lui, vero?! (Italia! You're not taking a fancy to him, are you?!)" Paulie's eyes got big.
"Zio Paulie, sai che non vado mai con nessun altro uomo se non con i bei ragazzi italiani e sai che non mi innamorerei mai di un uomo bianco. Mai! Non dopo tutto quello che ci hanno fatto e, inoltre, i bianchi di solito non sono attraenti dal punto di vista estetico. Tuttavia, anche noi dobbiamo ammettere che per essere un maniaco e un uomo bianco, McMahon qui è piuttosto attraente. È un peccato che sia un uomo bianco e un delinquente. (Uncle Paulie, you know I never go for any other man except the beautiful Italian ones and you know I would never fall for a white man. Never! Not after what all they did to us and plus, white people are usually unappealing in the looks department. However, even we have to admit that for a creep and white man, McMahon here is pretty good looking. It's a shame he's a white man and a lowlife.)" Italia tried to reassure her uncle that she wasn't falling for Nick, though it seemed that in a way, she was.
"Ammetto che è un bell'aspetto fino a un certo punto. Tuttavia, devi ricordare cosa ci hanno fatto i suoi simili e cosa ha lasciato accadere a Stefania. Non lasciarti ingannare o ammaliare dal suo aspetto. (I will admit that he is a looker to a degree. However, you must remember what his kind have done to us and what he let happen to Stefania. Don't let his looks fool or charm you.)" Paulie reminded her.
"Okay, I hate to interrupt, but could one of you unlock these chains? Please." Nick spoke up, again.
"I see you're complaining about being a little tied up, pretty boy." Paulie reverted to English.
"Well, it's no picnic to be laying in a room like this and staring up at a chandelier that looks like it could fall directly onto you at any given moment." Nick replied.
"I bet it is no fun, pretty boy. However..." Paulie got closer to Nick, grabbed his hair, and held his knife at Nick's chin, "You should've thought about that when you raped Stefania or watched your buddies rape her! Now, I'm going to ask you for the final time...where are McIntyre, Gunderson, Hyatt, and Williamson?! WHERE ARE THEY?!"
"For the last time, I don't know! In fact, I want to know the same thing!" Nick insisted.
"Topo bugiardo! (Lying rat!)" Paulie backhanded Nick in the face.
"Ooh!" Nick groaned.
"Let's try that, again! Where are they?!" Paulie raised his voice.
"You really think that hurts, don't you?" Nick snarked.
Paulie backhanded Nick in the face, again causing him to grunt and a little blood to come out of the corner of his mouth.
"You're wasting time doing this to me." Nick exhaled deeply.
Paulie backhanded him for a third time and pretty soon, started doing it repeatedly. The backhanding would turn to punching after a few minutes passed.
"Prendilo per bene, zio Paulie! L'uomo bianco deve pagare! (Get him good, uncle Paulie! White man must pay!)" Italia cheered.
*Out somewhere with Stefania*
Stefania had been riding around for a while and there was still no sign of Nick anywhere. She was starting to fear for the worst, but seeing as she was bound and determined to find him, she tried to put those fears to bed by reminding herself of what Jarrod had said earlier; Nick would go down kicking and screaming. She hoped against hope that if her father, uncle Paulie, and their friends were holding him captive, he was putting up a big fight. Little did she know what was happening to him and the message he had to deliver to her.
"Father God, please protect Nick. Please, please keep him safe and protected. Please, father God." Stefania softly prayed before starting to ride off again only to stop when she saw something on the ground.
The object started to shine the second a ray of sunlight hit it in a certain spot.
"What's this?" Stefania got down from the wagon, walked over to the object, picked it up, and gasped.
*Stefania's POV*
'Zio Paulie's ring! Zio Paulie's ring!'
I look at it some more and get wide eyed.
'That means he went this way which means Nick must be this way! I gotta follow the trail!'
I put the ring in the pocket of my brown dress and get back into the wagon. I pick up the reins and go to instruct the horses, only to stop myself.
'Wait a minute. Signora Barkley and Jarrod! I must tell them...well show them the clue I found!'
I think about what could happen if they come with me after I tell them.
'Nah. Probably not. I mean say if I do tell them and they come with me, lord only knows what could happen. Zio Paulie, Massimo, the other guys, and papa won't take too kindly to the presence of multiple white people. So, it is probably best I just keep going.'
I shake my head.
'No! Nick is Signora Barkley's son and Jarrod's brother. They deserve to know, so I best try and meet up with-'
I pause when I hear the sound of hoof beats.
'I think one of them is coming right now. I hope.'
*Outside of Stefania's mind*
Stefania looked to her right and saw Jarrod riding up. Truth be told, it was a little unusual for Jarrod to be riding this way, considering that he went north as per the agreement between Stefania, Victoria, and him. However, he just might have found a clue off where he was and wanted to meet up with Stefania & his mother and show them the clue.
"Jarrod?" Stefania said.
"No sign of Nick in the north part. Any sign here?" Jarrod asked, as he rode up to her.
"No, but..." Stefania pulled Paulie's ring out of her pocket, "I found my Zio Paulie's ring not too far from where I am. This may mean that he went this way and Nick could be with him."
"That's most likely it. Well, let's go down this way and-" Jarrod was cut off.
"Let's wait for your mama first." Stefania told him.
They wouldn't have to wait long, because the sound of hoof beats was heard again. The duo looked to their left and saw Victoria approaching.
"No sign of him in the south part. Jarrod, anything in the north part? Stefania, anything here?" Victoria rode up to the duo.
"Nope. No sign of him in the north part, mother, but Stefania found her uncle Paulie's ring right near where the wagon is parked." Jarrod told her.
"That could only mean one thing; Paulie went this way and took Nick with him." Victoria came to the same conclusion Stefania did.
"A clue for three to follow." Jarrod nodded.
"Let's go! The day isn't getting any younger." Stefania instructed before riding off.
Jarrod and Victoria nodded and followed suit, staying close behind Stefania. Unbeknownst to any of them, Jarrod's hat blew off and landed on the ground.
*A few minutes later*
A few minutes after the trio of Jarrod, Stefania, and Victoria rode off, Heath rode up to the area they were just at and waited around for the other men to show up. So far, he and the other guys didn't find any trace of Nick either. As he looked and waited around, he saw Jarrod's hat on the ground.
"Jarrod's hat." Heath said to himself before getting off of his horse and picking it up, "That means he went this way which means Nick could be somewhere in this area. This is the path to go."
Just as he got back on his horse, the other men showed up and pretty soon they were talking about how they found no trace of Nick and discussing what plans were next when Heath showed them Jarrod's hat and explained the whole thing of how Jarrod might've rode down this path which meant Nick could be here somewhere. Coming to an agreement, Heath rode off and the men followed him close behind.
*Back with Nick, Paulie, and Italia*
Nick was now seated against the wall, stripped of his shirt, had his hands chained behind him, had his ankles chained together, and was badly bruised now than he was before from Paulie repeatedly punching him in the face and body. What made these bruises a little more gnarly than usual was the fact that Paulie had been wearing some rings on his fingers this time and rings usually made bruises and cuts way worse than the usual cuts and bruises. After the beating was done, Paulie and Italia left the room. Despite trying his hardest not to show it, Nick was in a lot of pain from this beating. As he sat against the wall and quietly groaned, the door was heard opening, yet again. This would be soon followed by footsteps approaching him.
Nick slowly lifted his head and looked up at the figure standing in front of him, their shadow looming over him.
"I knew you were trouble!" the voice said.
To Be Continued...
Author's note 2.0: I fixed the italicized summary section in the previous chapter. Just wanted to let you all know :D
Stefania: Don't worry, Nick. We're coming!
Heath: Hang tight, big brother.
?:(laughs).
Nick: Who are-
?: R&R, people!