52. For Her (Bonus 9)

Roberto, Anna's father was bound to the wall as he was watching Antonio on a table with doctors trying to save him. He had lost a lot of blood by the looks of it. He could hear doctors trying to stabilise him. He wasn't sure what was happening. Was there a cardiac arrest. He didn't know. They were giving Antonio shock after shock. He was worried for him. He had no idea how Antonio had been caught. It was impossible to catch a man like him. He never got caught. He died fighting or killed everyone. How did they catch him. He was a skilled hit man. Antonio was a security expert. So they had placed them now in a highly secure section a couple of floors below ground with no windows. Jackson must have feared they escaped.

Roberto asked "Is he going to live?"

One of the doctors looked at one of the guards who nodded at them "You can talk to him doctor."

The doctor said "It depends. We have given him medication. If his body can survive this blood loss and there is no infection he may live. It's not easy fighting off an infection on a wound like this when he has lost so much blood. We have done what we could."

The doctors packed up and left Antonio there alone with the guards who restrained him to the table.

As the guards left, he weakly looked at Roberto. "I am sorry Roberto. I couldn't save your daughter."

Roberto sighed "What happened?"

Antonio slowly spoke telling Roberto everything who was listening intently.

Antonio said sadly "I am afraid Roberto. What if she is developing feelings for him. He has her captive and making her believe there is no hope of escape. What if she cracks? I don't know any more. What I saw says she loves him."

Roberto said defensively "No. My daughter never loved him. He was always the unwanted admirer she never wanted. She loves Arturo. The man provides everything she wants and needs. He has never hurt her unlike Jackson. Why would my daughter love a man who hurt her?"

Antonio looked up at the ceiling "I am not as optimistic. She could have escaped. She had the chance. If she had done what I told her, she could escape and get help with enough time to spare for me to kill Jackson and rescue you. She hadn't even turned on her engine. I was waiting for her to leave. Then I could go and find some machine guns there on the roof. They had a unit there. I saw it when I went back up to get her to leave.... She didn't try to leave. Why is that? I don't understand why she would not leave fast enough for me to have the chance to kill Jackson and save you..."

Roberto said "She is my daughter. I didn't raise a weak woman Antonio. My daughter won't betray her husband."

Antonio said "Then why didn't she leave? She told me she didn't want to leave me behind and didn't think I could save you. But it makes no sense. She fears Jackson and I don't get why. Jackson is nothing. Not when so many unite against him. She must not give in. Then there is this... I asked her if she minds when I kill Jackson. She said she doesn't want anyone to die for her. Since when? Doesn't she know how precious she is to the males in this family? We will die before we let any man takes her away."

Roberto said " She must be scared. She is fearing Jackson because she knows what he is capable of. Jackson has no honour. He has no soul. He pretends to be honourable. He isn't. My daughter made a mistake by not escaping. A costly one."

The door opened and Jackson came in. As he came in Roberto cursed at him. "Get out you coward."

Jackson raised an eyebrow at him "You think I am a coward? Do you?" He then walked to him. He punched him in the face and then punched him in the gut. "If you want me to unchain you, learn to watch your mouth old man."

Antonio roared "Don't touch him."

Jackson turned to him "You have nerve. I suggest you don't talk. The doctors say you must rest or you die. You only live because I have use for you."

Roberto coughed and breathed as the punches had hurt him badly "You must give up now. You blame Francesco for convincing your father, Anna was no good for you and made him to lock you away and not let you near Anna. Give up. It's over."

Jackson said in a low tone "What did you just say?"

Antonio swallowed hard. What was Roberto thinking? He closed his eyes as footsteps echoed through the room.

Jackson walked to Roberto "He did what?"

Roberto said "He is the reason you couldn't have my daughter. You knew that already."

Jackson punched him in the gut making him cough hard.

Antonio sighed. "Jackson. Unchain him and get someone to check him for internal bleeding." He watched how Jackson was losing it. "Go get a punch bag. Don't use Anna's father as one. She wouldn't like that." He wasn't surprised at his reaction. If anyone else had given him the news he would have killed them.

Jackson stormed off and Antonio looked at Roberto worriedly as he shouted "Jackson. Don't take it out on Roberto."

Jackson turned "Francesco is dead. This is war on him."

Antonio whispered "Phew. Finally. Go for it. So he kills you."

Jackson turned. He walked around the table where Antonio was restrained. He took out a pocket knife and started running the knife on his arm without piercing his skin. Once you are well, I am going to torture you until you break. You will tell me everything you know about Francesco."

Antonio said "You will never get anything out of me."

Jackson said "I will. I know how to break men. The strongest break under pressure." He then left and closed the door soundly.

Jackson was full of rage. He made his way to his pent house. He opened the door to Anna's room and closed it soundly. She was awake rubbing her forehead looking confused. He went to his desk and grabbed some papers. He threw them at her "Sign it."

Anna looked at him as her heart was racing "Where is Antonio? What have you done to him?"

Jackson shouted "He is alive. Your father is alive too... Now sign the divorce papers. I will send them to Francesco. So after your husband dies by my hand he will watch me marry you in a legal ceremony."

Anna breathed "Wait. You can't do this..."

Jackson said "Sign now."

Anna stood up and put aside the papers "I love my husband."

Jackson said "You love me too. You didn't leave when you could."

Anna said "I didn't leave because I didn't want to leave Antonio here at your mercy."

Jackson said "I am glad you didn't. Now I found out Francesco convinced my father to lock me away from you... It's his fault."

Anna felt chills run down her spine "Who told you this?"

Jackson said "Your father. I drugged him early with some sedatives so he doesn't try to escape. It had side effects. In a moment of weakness he told me the truth."

Anna gasped "You drugged my father. How could you?" She walked to him and pushed on his chest "What have you done with my cousin and my father? You are a coward."

Jackson said "That's what your father said to me while he was chained to the wall."

Anna felt sick to her stomach. She slapped him hard. He let her do it. He didn't stop her. Then he looked at her. "You hard your turn. Now it's my turn. You will sign the divorce papers or I will send men to kill your father. Your choice. Choose wisely..."

Anna felt sick. She knew he meant business. She knew this was a situation she couldn't get out of. She had to sign the papers. There was only one thing to do and he had learnt it from Antonio. She closed her eyes and fell down hard pretending to faint but she didn't hit the floor. Jackson grabbed her and held her in his arms. He carried her to the bed and put her down. He kept calling her name and she remained unresponsive. He went to call for a doctor. She didn't think he would buy it but he did.

As she was waiting on the bed she fought hard not to allow tears fall. Her whole life came in front of her from the time she remembered being small child till now. All her years came in front of her eyes. She questioned herself on why he hadn't escaped. She just didn't want to leave Antonio behind. She couldn't do it. She was thinking of her father too in that helicopter. She didn't want to let others risk their lives for her even though they saw it as their duty. Jackson wasn't even on her mind when she was wrestling with herself back on that roof top. But .... Was Antonio right? Did she love Jackson. How could she? She cringed every time his fingers touched her even in the slightest way. She loves Arturo. But she didn't want Jackson to die. Why had Jackson done something like this? Didn't he know he could die? She didn't want him to die. She cared that much. She hated herself. She cared for a man who was willing to kill her father. How could he do this to her?

This wasn't the first time she had such thoughts. Anna recalled when she was crying after Jackson had hurt her father and had broken her heart. That was what had initiated Francesco's decision to talk to Jackson's father to keep him under watch so he didn't come near Anna.

Francesco had held her in his arms and had whispered to her "Anna. It's not your fault. It's not your fault that Jackson loves you. It's not your fault you attract the worst kind of men. It's their fault for looking. It's their fault for having eyes for innocence. You are innocent. Pure evil men have eyes for the beauty of innocence. It's not your fault Anna. Always know if anyone gets hurt for your love, it's well worth the fight. You are worth fighting for Anna."

His words brought peace to her. She had strength to fight another day. The shot gun divorce papers were next to her touching her elbows. She wasn't going to sign. She had to resist.