THE RUSSO SECRET

CHAPTER 6

Luciana collapsed onto the bed, exhausted, as soon as Viktor led her in. She kicked off her shoes and looked up at Viktor, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What kind of people are you?"

Viktor's gave a light shrug before answering. "It's not up to me to answer that." He turned to leave, opening the door. "If you need anything, use the intercom over there."

With that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

Luciana stared blankly at the intercom before bursting into tears, her head buried in her palms.

She thought of her Chihuahua, probably starving at home, and a wave of regret washed over her.

If only she hadn't attended the gala, she thought. Her intention had been pure – to find a sponsor for her mother's hospital bills.

But she had let her guard down, getting drunk and vulnerable. Sophia had known she couldn't handle her alcohol, which was why she had plied her with drinks.

She got up and walked to the mirror, where she gazed at her reflection. Her tears had smeared her mascara, making her look like a Halloween caricature. She turned away, taking in the opulent room.

The walls featured a stunning frescoed design, with delicate florals and scrollwork. A beautifully crafted tea table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by plush armchairs.

The king-size bed, adorned with luxurious linens, seemed to glow in the soft light. There were pictures of a beautiful well aged woman with grey hair on the walls. She wondered who that was, and why her eyes held so much emotions.

As she admired the room's serenity, the door opened once more.

“weren’t you taught how to knock? Or are you here to kill me too?” Luciana asked as soon as Antonio stepped into the room.

Antonio smirked as he shut the door. “there is nothing hidden behind that dress, that I haven’t seen.”

He walked over to her. “sorry you witnessed that. You didn’t have anything to eat because of…unforeseen circumstance. Are you hungry?” he asked gently.

“why are you being nice all of a sudden?” she asked, her voice cracked from the stress she’s been through the past 48 hours. “I want to go home; I don’t need your fucking rotten food!” she spat

“I see.” He took a closer look at her makeup ruined face and her blood-stained dress.

“are you hurt.?” He asked

“oh now you care?” she swayed her hands up dramatically. “you didn’t seem to care when you tossed me into the jet away from my home and my people, like a sack of grain.”

“if you cooperate with me, we won’t have any troubles here. I’m trying to make things easier for you.” He slipped his hand into his pockets.

“Easier? what do you want with me?” she asked

“your father.” He stared deeply into her eyeballs. “I want your father, and only you can get me to him.”

“what? My dad?” she laughed hysterically. “you’re even more crazier than I thought.”

Antonio’s expression darkened. “I’m not joking Luciana Russo. You will lead me to him.” He gritted his teeth, his face muscles grabbing her attention. “unless..”

“unless what?” she interrupted him. “you’re going to kill me too?” she raised her voice.

In a swift motion, he pulled out his gun and tackled her to the bed. His left hand holding both her hands above her head, while he caressed her neck with his gun.

“I can tolerate your insults. But yelling and disobedience is something else.” He pressed the gun tighter on her neck and could hear her heart beating rapidly. “do you understand?”

“y..yes” she stuttered, her hands trying to free themselves from his grip.

“good.” He released her hands and stood up.

“now, where is he?” he asked, still pointing the gun at her.

“I..I really don’t know.” She stammered. “I haven’t seen him in months.”

He shot at the window, the sound deafening as she felt the bullet graze past her arm. she collapsed to the ground.

“lies!” his voice thundered across the room. “I hate lies”

“I swear. I’m telling you the truth.” She said. “I really haven’t seen ..”

“shut up.” He slammed his hand on the tea table. He ran his hand through his hair.

“tell me, while I’m asking nicely.” He said with a sigh. “Where is that son of a bitch?”

Luciana braced herself as she held her injured arm and stood to her feet. She took a step forward, her heart racing like a jackhammer as she thought to herself, 'I won't back down. I won't give him the satisfaction.'

“why don’t you go find him yourself?” she said, her voice trembling with fear. “or are you just weak? can only capture a woman and not face a man like yourself?” she asked valiantly, her eyes tingling with fright as she dared him.

Her face reflecting that she doesn’t care whether she will be shot in the head or not.

He stared at her blood dripping arm. A pinch of regret showed on his face as he returned the gun to its holster.

“I didn’t mean to do that.” He said as he looked away.

“oh, is that how to apologize in Italy? That’s how your mother taught you?” she spat. Despite the fear etched on her face, her voice rang out clear and steady.

His facial expression changed at the mention of his mother. A muscle twitched in his jaws as he took a step closer to her.

“if you mention my mother one more time, just one more time. I’ll make sure not a generation is left in your family. I swear it.”

“I’m not afraid of you. Not anymore.” she said, her voice firm, despite the tremble in her body. The soft rustle of her injured arm against her dress made him uncomfortable.

"on a second thought, where is the fun in going after your father, when I can have the one thing that will make him crawl into my trap?" he grinned.

"you're nothing but a cruel flesh eating demon" she retorted

He laughed, revealing a white set of dentition.

“which is why you should be scared. You should be.” He turned to leave the room.

“I want Ms. Grace here.” She said as he opened the door.

He stopped in his track and turned back at her.

“what?”

“well, if you want me to give any information, you have to be nice to me. I want Ms. Grace here and a change of clothes.” She looked down on her dress. “this one is out of vogue already.”

The room fell silent. The only sound heard was the soft hum of the air conditioner.

“We’ll see about that.”

“and a phone too.” She called after him.

“we’ll see about that too.” He said and slammed the door.

As soon as he was out of sight, Luciana released her pent-up breath and pounded her chest in relief, feeling as though she'd been holding her breath for hours.

She gazed down at the deep cut on her arm, the bullet's graze a sharp reminder of her precarious situation.

Her head ached as questions swirled in her mind like a vortex. What did Antonio need her father for? Who were these people, and what did they want? Was this why her father had been a ghost for months? what secret was he hiding?

She walked to the bathroom, the cool marble floor a welcome respite from the tension. The bathtub, a majestic masterpiece, left her breathless. She'd never seen anything like it.

With a sigh, she pulled off her dress and slipped into the tub, letting the warm water envelop her like a soothing balm.

As she lay back, closing her eyes, she wished it all away. Maybe this was just a dream, and she'd wake up in her own bed, safe and sound. But deep down, she knew better.

She was stuck here forever.

In her own nightmare.