4

"Answer me, Farfalla," Don Massimo let out a low growl from the back of his throat. "Would you rather have a bullet deep in your head or dance to the rhythm of my drum?"

Instinctively, my hands flew up in surrender, and my throat knotted.

"P-please, don't shoot me," I stuttered, and a sheen of sweat broke out on my forehead. "I'll travel to Italy with you."

A sly smile tugged the sides of his lips, and he let his hand lie idly beside his body.

"Good," he said in a gravelly tone that made my stomach clench. "I'll send Viola to you."

With that, he returned the gun to his pocket, giving me a once over. Goosebumps racked the entirety of my arms, and I could feel his eyes, skimming my skin with phantom fingers.

He pivoted on the balls of his heels and willed his legs to the door. My gaze never faltered, I watched him like a hawk with my heart in my mouth.

He gripped the door knob and glanced over his shoulder with an icy stare directed to me.

"And don't even think about running. My men are mounted everywhere, ready to shoot on command."

I hurried to the window, shoving the blinds aside, and to my chagrin, the window had iron bars. Glancing past the bars and the green scenery, I saw huge men in singlets, holding guns.

I shuddered, moving back. There was no way I could escape.

"Hi, there. It's Viola again!" Viola beamed, causing me to judder.

I turned, meeting her gaze.

"Don Massimo asked me to get you ready for the trip, which means we'd have to do one thing ladies love a lot." She wiggled her brows, and a smile played at the corners of her lips.

I watched her with my tongue tied, waiting for her to continue talking.

"Shopping," she beamed, holding up a black card. How was she happy in this place?

Viola's smile faltered, and her lips fell into a flat line. "Aren't you excited?"

"How am I supposed to be happy about this?" I asked, staring at her with incredulity.

"Because he gave us this to shop with. We can get whatever clothes and shoes you want," she explained with a glint of happiness in her eyes.

"Were you also kidnapped?" I asked, my curiosity bubbled.

Her brows kissed each other in a slight frown. "What?" Her brows flew up, and a smile graced her lips. "I came on my own."

I wrinkled my nose in confusion, wondering if she was suffering from Stockholm syndrome.

"Hurry up now. Don Massimo hates tardiness. He's driving us to the H and M or whatever designer you want. Maybe you could sneak in a dress or two for me." She winked.

Viola turned to leave, but I rushed towards her with conflicting emotions.

I gripped her wrist, halting her in her tracks.

"Please, help me escape. I have a life to get back to," I begged, feeling a lump in my throat.

She turned, looking down at my grasp around her wrist before lifting her head to view my face with surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Calm down, you'll like it here," Viola assured me, mustering a small smile. "Can you let go of my wrist?"

"Please, help me," I begged, fear oozing off my skin. "I can't like it here. It's not my place. I do not even know any of you. How do I survive? I know you love it here, but I don't."

"I'm sorry, miss. I can't help you. The moment you try to sneak out of this mansion, you'll be shot by his men," she explained with a sorry look in her eyes.

Gently, she unclasped my fingers from her wrist. "I'll be back with your clothes. You should shower as soon as possible and be at the car before him."

Dazed, I peeled off my clothes and headed into the ensuite bathroom. My brain reeled with a lot of thoughts.

I glanced around, inspecting the window, but to my disappointment, it had iron bars.

Gritting my teeth, I showered and then returned to the room where Viola was already waiting for me with a neatly folded dress.

A knock on the door gripped our attention.

"Viola, hurry up!" A male voice boomed from the other side of the door. "Don Massimo threatened to shoot you in the leg if you're not down with her in ten minutes' time.

"Hurry, madame. I still need my legs," she said to me, and I couldn't miss the clouds of horror in her eyes.

I quickly dressed up, not wanting to be among his shooting list today. My eyes diverted to the digital clock beside my bed; we only had four minutes left.

Viola packed my hair into a ponytail and led me out of the room with fast strides.

We climbed down the twin staircase and walked out of the jaw-dropping foyer. There wasn't enough time for me to scan the interiors.

"What took you so long?" Massimo's voice announced his presence.

Our heads turned in perfect sync towards his voice.

He was sitting in the back of his car with the door open. His cherry lips curled up in annoyance, and I couldn't miss the pulsating red veins in his temples that conveyed his irritation.

"I'm so sorry, I was trying to get her ready," Viola apologised with a slightly trembling voice.

"Get in," Massimo ordered, and I willed my legs towards him. "Take the other side," he let out a low growl.

Viola led the way to the other side of the door, and one of the men pulled it open. She stepped aside for me to climb first.

Once I was seated, I moved for Viola. The side of my body sandwiched Massimo's. A jolt of electricity ran down my spine, and I quickly moved away from him.

Viola closed my door and walked to the front seat.

"No, don't leave me alone, Viola," I begged, dread filling my bones.

She flashed an apologetic smile at me and hopped into the front seat.

I leaned forward, whispering into Viola's ear, "Can I sit in front instead?"

She shook her head much to my chagrin.

Massimo's chauffeur started the car and drove out of the mansion's driveway.

My head was a whirlwind of emotions and ceaseless thoughts.

How did I get myself into this?

I glanced out of the window, watching trees swing in the wind. Annoyance washed over me when I remembered how he asked me to sit at the other side of the car. Who did he think he was to speak to me in such a manner?

My neck tingled, and I glanced to the side only to meet Massimo's intense gaze. I shifted closer to the window, suddenly conscious of the dress I was putting on. I tugged it down to cover my exposed thighs.

I blinked twice when I thought I saw a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

My heart raced. He was sweet to look at, and when he darted out his tongue to wet his bottom lip, my throat ran dry.

"When are you going to stop staring at me like I stole your belongings?"

The car stopped, and I looked ahead of me to see a tall building with a chanel and Lacoste logo on it.

"You were staring at me first," I responded, feeling heat spread up my neck. "Plus, I was just trying to figure you out."

"And what conclusions did you arrive at?" Massimo cocked his brows, and I felt Viola exiting the car.

I mustered the courage to say what was on my mind, "Possibly a kidnapper or a murderer."

Humour danced in his eyes, and he thumbed his chin.

His door opened, and he placed a foot, saying, "With a mouth that sharp, I might just be the the latter, and you'll end up being one of my victims."

Shivers bit their way down my spine, and a lump grew into my throat. My heart pounded violently, and I sat rooted to the spot until he stepped out, and Viola tapped me from outside.

****

Viola had assisted me in picking various dresses and shirts while I scanned the boutique, looking for an escape route.

"Do you know why he's forcing me to go to Italy?" I asked Viola, taking off the last dress I had fitted.

"Yes. It is for matrimonio di rispetto," she answered, handling the dresses to the shop attendant.

"What is that?"

"This is when the Don is required to get married for respect, heir, and continuation of tradition," she explained, and my heart raced.

I couldn't marry a cold jerk like him. I didn't even know who he was. I felt sick in the gut.

"I need to use the restroom." My voice shook as my stomach knotted itself.

The shop attendant directed me to the bathroom, and I found my way there in no time.

Immediately I got inside, I locked the door with the keys and rushed to the window. Seeing that it had no iron bars, I closed the toilet seat and climbed on it, pushing the window open.

"Madame?" I heard Viola call from the other side of the door. My heart skipped a beat, prompting me to move faster. "What are those sounds?" She asked, sounding suspicious. "Don Massimo calls for you."

I ignored her. Escaping was more important.

Jumping down the window, the wind rushed into my nostrils, and my heart hammered against my chest. Once my feet touched the ground, I felt the force vibrating up my legs, followed by pain encircling my ankle.

I grunted, squeezing my eyes shot.

Damn it! I sprained my ankle.

Throwing a furtive glance ahead of me, I saw Massimo's men, all dressed in black with expressionless faces. I decided to go around the building.

Just as I spun on my heels, I bumped into a hard chest. Anxiety shot down my spine.