Chapter 437 - Boogeyman (3)

Angela was baffled. What was Evan talking about?

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Evan's smile stretched wider—he was happy to explain it to her. "You see…his family, along with the others, agreed to a treaty with the Parks. They marked their territories and the Parks' conditions were that the Italians' illegal businesses were unwelcomed in Esmea, and…its people were off-limits. Meaning…they can't lift a finger at us. It doesn't matter the context or reason. If they inflict any harm while here, that will be considered as them breaking the agreement. The Parks will mark them as enemies and use their connections to end their bloodline."

Angela looked at Gael who returned her stare wordlessly. She didn't know how Evan knew all of this. It still surprised her that he knew who Gael was. And Gael also didn't tell her about that agreement Evan talked about, though perhaps if she asked, he would've probably told her.

All of a sudden, some things made sense. She remembered what Gael had said a couple of months ago during the party with the Sus where they talked about the orphanage's head's disappearance, Herman Mitchell.

'I didn't do anything to him. Physically, I mean. Despite wanting to. I couldn't… I wouldn't do that here.'

Now that she thought back about that, Gael must mean he couldn't because of the treaty. If that was the case, why did he risk himself being here when he wouldn't be able to do anything? He'd told her he'd "kill" Evan for her if he got his hands on him, but how would he even do that? Gael even stayed for a month in Esmea even though he knew he was in a vulnerable position. He said he'd protect her when he could hardly protect himself while being here, what with his power being limited because of the agreement. 

Despite all that, he still stayed. Tears continued to fall from her eyes as her heart bled for him just like he was bleeding for her now. His white shirt now had blood splotches on them from the cuts on his face. His bruises from the fight he had with his brother, Sebastian, not long ago turned a faint yellow and Evan already replaced them with new fresh wounds.

Angela struggled against the rope around her wrists despite the ropes cutting her skin, desperate to get out so she could go to Gael. There was so much intensity in his eyes at the moment. How could he look so confident while enraged? It was as if he was telling her not to worry. But how could she not when he was beaten up in front of her? He had fallen on the ground from getting kicked and punched repeatedly, but he stood right up like they didn't hurt.

Her attacker tugged her backward, telling her to stop fidgeting.

"So you see, Angela…" Evan continued. "I can do this all night and he can't do no shît to me. You can stop this, you know you can. Actually, if you had only given it to me the first time I asked four years ago, we wouldn't be here now, would we?"

"What do you want?" Gael asked.

Something passed between Evan and the man behind her. Her attacker ripped out the tape from her mouth and she winced in pain. Seriously? She swore she would get back at this guy.

"Tell him," urged Evan.

Angela swallowed. "A video."

"A video of what?" Gael wondered, his voice gentle as if telling her everything would be okay, even though his lip was bleeding and a couple of bruises started to form on his face.

She could hardly look at Gael because she began to feel all sorts of emotions. Shame, for one. So she directed her scowl at Evan. "Of him and his father transporting illegal stuff. Drugs."

Gael trained his eyes at Evan as if assessing him.

"Ah-ah-ah." Evan waved his finger. "Don't leave out the details, Sweetheart. You don't get to shit on my family and leave yours out. Tell him the reason why you hold on to it." He paused, wanting to prolong Angela's seething to provoke her. "Well, if you don't want to, then I'll do it." He shrugged then faced Gael.

"You see… That incriminating video she has will also destroy her beloved father. The truck, the warehouse, the workers—all owned by Su Group." Evan chuckled. "That's why she can't give it up. So you see, fucker? She's choosing her father over you. She won't ever give it up because she doesn't really care about you." He pulled back his fist and struck another hit in Gael's cheek as if to prove a point. The force was strong that Gael's head whipped to the side and he hissed. Then he glared at Evan, but he didn't retaliate.

"Stop. Please!" Angela cried. She could no longer watch Gael suffering.

Gael didn't understand how Charlie was involved in whatever was in that video Leos was referring to, but he understood why Angela couldn't give it to him. She loved her father and brother, he didn't doubt she would sacrifice herself for their sake.

Thinking about what Angela said, Gael couldn't help but connect some dots in his head. He already had suspicions before, but this somewhat cemented them. He now believed that the Leos were the Morellis' connection in Esmea for their drug business. It made sense since Evan knew about the treaty and Gael being a De Luca. He underestimated this man.

Gael looked at Angela and reassured her, "Don't worry about me, Angel. I'm okay. Don't give him what he asks for."

Evan clicked his tongue. "Oh. Shut. Up. Stop being a hero, for fuck's sake." He rolled his eyes. "And you call her Angel? She's no Angel." He scoffed. "She spreads her legs to anyone. Does he know about your little accident?" Evan smirked at Angela. "I bet she didn't tell you that either. She's one hell of a liar, you know."

"Shut up, Evan! Shut up!" Angela snapped as her entire body shook from rage. This was the first time that Gael had seen her react with extreme anger.

Though Gael was afraid to ask because of her expression, his question slipped out in almost a whisper. "What accident?"

"Does he not know about it, Angela? Do you want to tell him, or should I?"

"Enough, you piece of shit!" she bit out. "I already told you I don't have what you want. You're wasting your time here. Let us go."

Evan drew his brows together as he glared at her while she held her own violent stare. He exhaled a sigh, and he held out his hand to the side. Buff handed him a one-meter chain. Then Evan wrapped one end around his hand. "I guess I'll tell him this too since you're not being nice. You see… Four years ago, Angela and I had a memorable rendezvous. It was here, you know… Remember that, Sweetheart?"

Angela's breathing became labored, flinching as Evan dropped his hand and the chain clanked on the ground. The jagged memories from that horrible night clawed its way into her head.

Gael kept his stare at Angela and from the way she was reacting, he had no doubt Evan, the sick bastard, was talking about that night the scandal was made in the dark web. Fuck. Gael clenched his hand so tight his knuckles turned white. He was itching to pummel him to the ground.

"Of course you remember it." Evan tucked Angela's hair behind her ear and she recoiled from his touch, though her eyes continued throwing daggers at him. She refused to back down. "I wanted her alone… All to myself. But she didn't fucking come alone, not really. We were just about to have some fun, for old time's sake—well, that and because she wouldn't give me the fucking video—"

"Shut your mouth, Evan. I mean it." Angela seethed and tried to lunge forward, only to be yanked back by the man holding her from behind.

"What? You afraid he'll find out what kind of a whore you are?" Evan tilted his head to the side, his stare full of disdain towards Angela.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Gael snapped, his muscles quivering from the fury running in his body. His patience was running so thin.

"It's true, though," Evan continued, unbothered by Gael's outburst. "As a matter of fact, that night, I found out she was carrying some asshole's spawn." He spat on the ground.

Gael's eyes widened, unsure of what he just heard. "What?" he probed, his voice barely audible.

Angela met his gaze and there he saw the fear and devastation in her eyes before she looked away. Now she was crying hard, her head lowered and her shoulders shaking. What that bastard had said caused her so much pain that her knees gave up and she unceremoniously dropped on the floor.

Evan bent down to her level, though his response was directed to Gael. "You heard me. She got herself pregnant.. Which says a lot, given the fact that after screwing McCarthy and then breaking up with him, she wasn't dating anyone for months… And then she suddenly got pregnant," he said in a mocking chuckle. "So what do you call her if she got pregnant by a random hookup?"