Chapter 5: Zolandria's POV

I wake from my slumber with a headache and stomach rumbling. I must have fallen asleep through my tears.

I haven’t eaten since I got here, and all the crying has depleted the little energy I had. Damien's not worth my tears; in fact, the entire family is not.

It’s been two days, and nobody has reached out.

The rejection is obvious, and though it hurts, I have to act like it doesn’t. Finding solace under this roof isn’t an option either.

I’m just a pawn in someone’s game.

I step out into the hallway, finding it empty and silent. The air feels still, and there’s an unsettling echo every time I take a step. Kane must have left.

Unsure how to find the kitchen, I decide to walk in the direction of the Mafia’s office. The huge oak door stands closed, making it impossible to tell whether anyone is inside.

I bypass the office and walk to the end of the hallway. Light streaks from a room. I carefully nudge the door handle and peek inside, relieved to discover the kitchen.

The place looks like it doesn’t get used often. Everything is cleaned spick and span.

There’s nothing to eat in here. It’s just bottled water and fruits. Who lives like this? I shut the fridge.

“Me,” Standing at the door with an annoyed expression, is the last person I want to see right now.

Wait, did I say that out loud? And when did he get here?

“How long have you been here?” I question.

He stares long and hard, scrutinizing me. Anger flickers across his face. I stare right back at him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking away. He takes slow steps towards me.

“Do you go around touching things without permission?” Completely ignoring my question, he grabs a bottle of water from the fridge.

“I’m thirsty,” I lie.

My stomach rumbles loudly.  Great, I might as well ask for food.

He quirks his eyebrow.

“I’m famished, and there’s nothing to eat.”

“Suit yourself.” He turns to leave.

“Fruits? They can’t satiate the hunger I am feeling right now.”

“When you are offered food next time, you eat it,” he turns to leave again.

“Where’s Kane? I didn’t see him outside my door. Is he tired of me already? I understand.”  I fake a smile. Kane will definitely give me other options aside from fruits.

“He’s busy. Your room was unguarded?” his jaw clenches.

“Is there supposed to be anyone else aside from Kane?”  He looks at me like I just grew an extra head and leaves.

Rude.

I have no choice but to eat fruits. Luckily, there’s milk, so I prepare a fruit bowl and sit to eat.

I don’t remember the last time I had a fruit bowl. Don’t get me wrong, fruits are healthy, but there are sumptuous and nourishing meals. Fruits are snacks. My opinion, though.

Right now, I need to figure out how to get out of here, what to do with my life next, and stay far away from my family.

I wash my bowl, place it on the counter, and head back to my room. Voices from the Don’s office make me stop in my tracks.

“Lucien.” I recognize Kane’s voice. I move closer to the door, trying to listen, but the room falls silent.

The door suddenly opens, and I stumble forward, cheeks burning with embarrassment. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop; curiosity simply gets the best of me.

“Sorry…I am so sorry,” I rush the words out when my eyes fall on Kane sitting on the couch.

Then the Don, who stands in the middle of the office.

 Then a guy on his knees propped down beside the Don.

Wait…is that blood?

Blood oozes from the guy’s nose and mouth. He doesn’t look so hurt, and he doesn’t look good either.

“Zoe…where are your manners?” The Don raises his left eyebrow and runs his hand through his hair.

My gaze drops.

“Answer me!”

“I’m sorry, okay. I didn’t mean to. I’m not supposed to be here. I’ll leave.” My lips quiver.

I rush to the door, but his words stop me in my tracks. “And where do you think you’re going to?”

“My, my…room.”

“Sit. Pray your curiosity was worth it.”

“Luci—” Kane tries to speak.

He is Lucien.

“Sit. I won’t repeat myself.”

He turns and hits the guy on his mouth.

Grunts echo in the room. I drag my legs to the couch and sit, my breath shallow.

He keeps punching his mouth, and Kane sits there, unfazed.

Lucien’s fingers are adorned with thorn rings, so every hit at the same spot takes a piece of flesh with it…it catches, pulls, and tears.

I taste bile, but I swallow it down.

“How dare you?!” He holds the guy by his hair and yanks him into the wall.

My stomach squirms.

The guy tries to crawl to the door, but Lucien walks to his desk. He pulls out a gun from his drawer, and my stomach drops.

He pulls the trigger and shoots the guy in his thigh.

A scream pierces the night.

Lucien walks up to the guy and pulls him by the hair to the center of the room. Blood pools behind them. There is so much red everywhere.

He sits on the couch opposite me, while the guy kneels trembling before him.

He stares at me. Minutes pass by.

He grabs the guy's jaw and questions him.

“Who do you report to?”

“Y—you,” the guy struggles to answer while blood pools out of his mouth.

“Open your bloody mouth and speak!” Lucien smacks him.

I can’t breathe. This is too much.

This doesn’t happen in meetings. Father never…we never had to see this part. I heard stories, but I never…

A shrill scream brings me back to the present moment. Lucien jabs a knife into the guy’s palm.

He pulls it out and attempts to cut a finger while looking at me.

Feels like a silent warning. I feel nauseous. He relaxes into the chair, completely unfazed.

The man turns around and starts crawling toward me. "Please...h…help me," he says, reaching his hand out as he approaches.

A gun goes off when he gets close to me.

His head falls on my lap.

A bullet through his head.

Cold blood oozes from his head onto me.

Tears stream down my cheeks.

Blood pools at my feet.

I’m immobilized.

My brain freezes, and darkness welcomes me, and for the first time...I don’t fight it.