Hands on the Trigger

AURELIA’S POV

 

The eyelids fluttered open and my vision adjusted to my dark surroundings. I almost forgot where I was until I tried to move and the chains tugged at my wrists.

“Great, it wasn't a nightmare,” I bit out and swore under my breath, frustrated tears welling in my eyes.

 

How can I get out of this?

 

Suddenly, the door creaked open and the silhouette of a man stepped into the room. My pulse quickened as I tried to retreat towards the headboard, but a sharp jolt of pain shot through my arms as they twisted in an awkward position.

 

He took a step closer and stretched out his hand. I flinched instinctively, scooting back.

 

“Hey… it’s okay. I’m not here to hurt you.”

The voice wasn’t Vincenzo’s. My breath hitched. A wave of relief threatened to wash over me, but fear clung deeper.

What if this man was worse than Vincenzo?

Yet, there was something about his tone that seemed kind.

 My heart slammed against my chest.

 

“Who are you?” I croaked, my voice hoarse from lack of water and food. If Vincenzo didn't kill me anytime soon, starvation and dehydration surely would.

 

“Just a man checking up on you,” he said while walking away. The sound of him flipping on a switch echoed as light flooded the room. I blinked rapidly, adjusting to the light, and finally got a good look at the stranger.

 

He was tall, having about the same physique as Vincenzo, but leaner. Chestnut brown hair framed his handsome face, and when he got closer, I caught sight of the warmest brown eyes I had ever seen.

 

He leaned in and my breath hitched, as he reached for my arms. When I realized he was undoing my chains, I acted fast. The moment my wrists were free, I threw a punch to his face, aiming to disorient him long enough to escape.

He caught my wrist effortlessly, shocking me. His grip was firm but painless.

 

“Let's not do that, okay?” he said softly with a smile like I hadn't just tried to punch him.

 

I found myself nodding, enchanted by his gentle words. He let go of my wrist and reached for the ground, then placed a tray of food in front of me.

“I figured you'd be hungry.”

 

My mouth instantly watered. Without hesitating, I lunged for the food, eating like I’d been starved for weeks. When I finished, I drank the entire bottle of water down to the last drop.

I looked up at him, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

 “Why are you helping me?”

He watched me with an amused expression.

“I don’t believe you should suffer for your father’s sins,” he said, “but my cousin thinks otherwise.”

 

My spine straightened. “Vincenzo’s your cousin?”

 

He nodded. “He’s not all that bad, trust me. Revenge just has a way of bringing out the worst in us.”

 

Anger rushed through me.

“He killed my brother!” I snapped. “Then bought me to make me suffer. There's no good in him.”

 

Silence stretched between us.

I decided to push my luck. “I just want out of here… out of this prison.”

My gaze locked into him, desperate. “Would you help me?”

 

He leaned in close and cupped my cheek, staring deep into my eyes. “Don’t mistake my act of kindness for betrayal, Aurelia. ”

 

The way he said my name sent warmth rushing through me, and his touch on my cheek was soothing. It was the first time I was being shown compassion in this hell.

“So I'm stuck here.”

 

He nodded. “You’re Vincenzo’s prisoner. He would never let you go.”

 

Chills ran down my spine as my throat tightened. I looked at my hand cradled on my thigh as I fought back tears.

“I understand that,” I muttered defeatedly under my breath.

 

Something cold pressed against my thighs and my eyes widened when I saw the unmistakeable gleam of metal.

A gun.

I looked back at the handsome kind stranger, confusion creasing my features.

 

“Do what you want with it,” he said, his tone unreadable. “It might be your ticket out of here.”

 

I stared at the gun, my heart racing wildly. “Aren't you worried I’ll kill your cousin?”

 

He chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. “It won’t even take a hundred guns to kill Vincenzo… and you’re no killer.”

 

Was I that easy to read?

 

He continued. “He likes being challenged. Show him you won't let him break you easily.”

 

I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but I had a gun now, and that's all that mattered. I could kill Vincenzo the second he walked right through that door.

The brown-eyed stranger carried the tray and headed towards the door. I was conflicted on whether I could trust him, but he’d been nice to me. I didn’t want him to leave… I was scared to be lonely again.

 

“Wait!” He paused and glanced over his shoulder. “What is your name?”

 

“Matteo,” he said, then flipped the light switch off.

With a soft click, the door locked behind him.

 

I sighed, and stroked the gun,

The sudden urge to pee pulled me out of my thoughts. I rose from the bed, flipped on the light, and opened the door I assumed was the restroom.

I opened it, and inside was a small toilet, a sink, and a bathtub. I relieved myself and was washing my hands in the sink when I heard the sound of the lock coming open.

My heart sank to my stomach.

 

Quickly, I rushed out, turned off the light, and lay on the bed. I wrapped the chains loosely around my wrists, while the gun was hidden behind me.

 

The door opened and Vincenzo walked in.

Even in the darkness, I could tell it was him. His presence was suffocating, taunting the air, My breath shallowed, as I forced my body to stay still and appear weak.

 

The lights flickered on and I winced, pretending I hadn't already adjusted to its brightness a few minutes ago.

He moved towards me with calculated steps, like a predator stalking its sounded prey. I kept my eyes on him, our gaze fixated on each other.

 

When he got to the door, he scrutinized me.

Did he know I was free from the chains?

I tried to engage in a conversation to distract him.

 

“Here to end my life now?” I rasped, forcing my voice to sound weak.

 

His gaze was piercing, stripping me bare in a way that made every part of my body feel hot. He wrinkled his nose.

 

“You reek.”

Humiliation and anger rushed through me as heat warmed my cheeks.

 

“Maybe if I wasn’t trapped in this prison to rot, I’d smell a lot better,” I snapped, scowling at him.

 

His lips curved slightly. “You can still talk. I haven't broken you enough,” he said coldly.

I didn't let his words bother me as I calculated the right time to reach for the gun and blow his brains out.

 

He leaned in and I inched back, but he grabbed my jaw aggressively, tightly holding onto it.

“I’d make you my toy,” he murmured, his voice as cold as his fingers pressing my jaw. “Being forced to pleasure the man who killed your brother—that would break you, wouldn't it?”

 

His fingers dug into my skin, bruising as he forced me to look at him. The dark look in his eyes made my stomach churn with unease.

 

“I would rather die,” I bit out, my jaw aching.

 

“You’re a pretty thing,” he drawled, trailing his thumb along my bottom lip. “I wouldn’t want to waste that. And I spent a lot on you. You might as well be of use to me.”

 

Goosebumps erupted on my skin. I had to get out of here.

 

He let go of my jaw and I stretched it to dull out the ache. He turned slightly, distracted as his senses dulled for just a second.

That was all I needed.

 

In one swift moment, I yanked my hands free, grabbed the gun, and bolted to the other side of the bed.

 

I pointed the gun at his face, keeping my distance so he wouldn’t try to grab me. My fingers trembled on the trigger, my breathing sharp as my chest erupted rapidly.

 

But he didn't move. He didn't even flinch.

There was not an atom of shock or fear in his eyes.

And that terrified me more than anything.

 

“Go ahead, Aurelia,” he said, dragging my name in a way that made my skin crawl. His lips curved into a devious smile.

“Shoot me.”