The Slave of Pleasure

The morning was just beginning when the phone vibrated on the bedside table in the mansion's bedroom. The sharp sound cut through the silence of the room and made my heart skip a beat. I knew who was calling, and even before I looked at the screen, a mix of anxiety and determination invaded me. Vincenzo.

I answered with a trembling hand, but my voice came out steady.

"Vincenzo?"

On the other end of the line, his voice sounded grave, full of concern and something that seemed like repressed anger.

"Rachel, have you completely lost sight of the danger?"

The intensity of his words hit me like a wave. He continued:

"You know very well that Veronica doesn't mess around. By returning to Italy, you put your life at risk... and Nancy's too! And on top of that, in the mansion. No matter how safe you seem, you know it's not enough!"

His words made my mind go back to recent events, to the threats Veronica posed and the constant fear that something terrible could happen. But at the same time, a strength was welling up inside me, a refusal to continue living under this shadow.

I took a deep breath and answered, trying to remain calm:

"Vincenzo, I've had enough of running and hiding."

There was silence on the other end, but I knew he was listening. I continued:

"I'm not going to live like this anymore. I'm going to help the police put an end to this story. You don't deserve to be there, and Veronica can't stay free."

Vincenzo let out a heavy sigh. His voice was lower, almost a whisper:

"Rachel, you don't understand what you're getting yourself into."

"I understand perfectly," I interrupted, my voice firmer than I expected. "That's exactly why I need to do something. I won't let her keep threatening us all."

"Rachel..." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Veronica is dangerous. For much less, she's done terrible things to people who dared to stand up to her."

I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering the stories I had heard and the times I had come face to face with Veronica's cold gaze. The memory was enough to send shivers down my spine, but I couldn't back down. "That's exactly why she needs to be stopped," I replied, with a conviction I didn't even know I had.

There was another silence, longer this time. When Vincenzo finally spoke, his voice seemed thick with emotion:

"I'm scared, Rachel."

My breath caught for a moment. Vincenzo, the man who always demonstrated strength and control, admitting fear?

"Not for me," he continued. "For you. I don't want to lose you."

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt my cheeks grow hot. For a moment, words failed me. When I managed to speak, my voice was soft:

"We'll get through this, Vincenzo. Together. Veronica will get what she deserves."

Before he could answer, I hung up the phone. I needed to gather my strength.

Nancy, who had been sitting on the bed watching me throughout the call, raised her eyebrows with a mischievous smile.

"I like this new Rachel," she said, crossing her arms and looking at me with admiration.

I stared at her, trying to contain a smile. There was something about the way Nancy always seemed to believe in me that gave me courage.

"Let's end this once and for all," I declared.

Nancy jumped to her feet, ready to follow me, as always. As we gathered our things, the weight of the situation seemed more palpable. We were preparing to face something bigger than the two of us, but I knew I wasn't alone.

We went down to the mansion's lobby, where a few security guards were strategically positioned, alert for any suspicious movement. Their presence gave me a false sense of security. I knew Veronica had eyes and ears everywhere, and that if she wanted to, she could reach us wherever we were.

As we approached the exit, the butler stepped forward, looking hesitant.

"Mrs. Rachel, are you sure you want to leave now?"

"Absolutely," I replied firmly. "I need to go to Vincenzo."

The butler sighed, but didn't try to dissuade me. He knew my decision had been made.

Nancy and I left the mansion and got into the car that would take us to the police station where Vincenzo was being held. The drive seemed endless. I stared out the window, watching the Italian landscape pass by quickly. Every street, every building, seemed to carry the weight of the story we were living.

Nancy broke the silence, trying to ease the tension.

"You realize you're living an action and drama movie at the same time, right?"

I laughed despite myself. Nancy had this gift for turning even the most tense moments into something bearable.

"If this is a movie, I hope it has a happy ending," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

When we finally arrived at the police station, my heart was racing. The building seemed larger than I remembered, and the presence of armed police officers at the entrance only increased my anxiety.

We entered, and I immediately went inside. I was immediately recognized by one of the officers. He led us to a waiting room while he checked to see if we could speak to Vincenzo. Every minute that passed seemed like an eternity. Nancy, beside me, was more restless than ever.

"Do you think he'll be mad that we came all the way here?" she asked, looking at me with concern.

"He's already mad," I replied, sighing. "But that doesn't matter. What matters is that we're here to help him."

Finally, we were called. When I entered the room, I saw Vincenzo sitting on the other side of the table. He looked exhausted, but his eyes lit up when he saw me.

"Rachel..." he began, but I interrupted him.

"Don't say anything. Just listen to me."

I sat across from him, ignoring the curious look of the officer who accompanied us.

"I know you think it's dangerous. And I know Veronica won't give up easily. But I won't abandon you, Vincenzo." He was silent, watching me for a long moment before finally shaking his head. "You're stubborn, you know that?"

"And you wouldn't be here if you weren't so stubborn," I replied with a smile.

As brief as it was, that moment between the two of us gave me strength. I knew the road ahead would be difficult, but I also knew I wasn't alone.

As we left the police station, Nancy gave me a look that was a mix of approval and admiration.

"You were amazing in there."

I smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in days. Maybe, just maybe, we were on the right track to solving all of this.