Chapter 4

FOUR: 

                    Jessica's Pov 

"Cut it out, Raphael," Someone disrupted, stepping into the light. I recognized him as the one who gave them orders when they barged into my uncle's house, the one who sedated me. 

"Come on Gray, it's not as if he's going to find out" Raphael chuckled, putting the knife away from my sister, I heaved a deep sigh of relief. 

"Just take them to the room, Alistair go check the warehouse, and tell Erick we got the girls already" He ordered the last guy and he nodded before leaving. 

Gray walked towards me and I noticed the rope in his hands when he stood in front of me, he tilted his head as if asking if I had a problem with it. 

I need to be smart about this if I want to get out of here alive, it seems like my uncle made a deal with mafias. 

That bastard used me as collateral. 

"Don't think about fighting, I can always knock you out, I don't have time for your childish tantrums" He exhaled, hunching down in front of me, I stretched my hands accepting defeat. 

After binding our hands, Raphael carried Willow in his arms while Gray let me walk. He wasn't like his partner. He didn't even pay attention to me as I slowed down looking around, engraving each detail to memory in case I found a way out. 

We left the basement and got to the main house. It was beautiful and large with a spiral staircase leading upstairs that was like those in movies. 

Gray finally noticed I was stalling and decided to stay behind me this time, my feet were aching by the time we reached the top and Raphael was already in the hallway with Willow so I rushed to follow him. 

He opened one of the doors and walked in, I followed and my jaw dropped at the design of the room. It was modernly designed in teal and silver colors. 

Crystal chandeliers with floor-to-ceiling windows, the ceiling was high above our head designed exquisitely, the marble tiles were golden and the king-size bed took up half of the room, it had a canopy and the silk looked expensive. 

There was also a grey colored couch at the other side of the room, a vanity mirror, and three other doors. 

"Get some rest, the maids will be here with your food soon," Gray said and gestured for Raphael to follow him but the creep stalked toward me instead. 

"You are only safe for now, the moment your uncle gives his consent for the boss to take his collateral I will be the first to come in here and I will-"

"That's enough, she's under the boss's protection and you will stay away from her" Gray warned sternly and that gave me some relief until the bastard opened his mouth again. 

"Have you forgotten I'm his cousin I can do whatever the fuck I want, Gray, and you won't stop me either" He groused and walked out of the room slamming the door hard. 

"Ignore him, when the maids come in you can ask them for anything if you try to leave there will be consequences" He glanced at Willow, his message was clear. 

If I do anything stupid I would be putting her life at risk. 

He cut the rope on my hands. 

"A word of advice, you should stay calm and be patient until your uncle is found" He added and I nodded heading for the bed where Willow was sleeping. 

"I will be back in thirty minutes" He announced before leaving. 

Finally, alone I burst into tears. 

This was never how I wanted to live, the constant betrayal from my uncle and all the suffering. I don't deserve this nor does Willow. 

My sobs must have been loud because Willow stirred and her eyes opened, she sat up looking around while I quickly wiped my tears putting on a false smile. 

"Where are we? What happened?" She asked groggily, I hugged her instead of replying to her questions. 

"It's alright, we are going to be fine" I lied and she sighed. 

"Did those bad men say something to you? Are you okay?" She probed perplexed. 

"I'm fine, I'm just waiting for Uncle to come get us. They didn't do anything to me" I answered, a small voice at the back of my mind adding 'yet' to my answer bringing more tears to my eyes. 

I don't know why my own uncle would use me as collateral to the mafia, how am I supposed to get out of this situation? 

What will happen to Willow? 

She still has her whole life ahead of her and I don't want her to be tied to this kind of life. 

"It's a pretty room, I like it" She smiled, pulling back from my embrace and checking the place out while I mourned my miserable life internally. 

"Yes, but it's not our house" I reminded her and her brown pools caught mine twinkling in the light. 

"We don't have a house, Jessi, that is not our house" She insisted, leaving me dumbfounded. 

"Well, it's the only place that feels like home to us" I faked a chuckle but she didn't smile. 

"It doesn't feel like home to me, this may not be our house but it sure feels like home to me" She argued. 

"Stop it Willow, this isn't our home and we can't stay here. Look at your hands, are you always tied up in your home?" I pointed out but she didn't appear to be bothered by that. 

"It's not that tight, besides the bed is so soft I can't complain. The light is hurting my eyes though" She squinted and I sighed. 

"When we get out of here I will buy new glasses for you" I promised even though I had no idea if we were going to get out of here. 

The door creaked open and three beautiful girls walked in. I was confused because they weren't dressed like maids. 

They wore skimpy dresses and their faces painted in heavy makeup, the one with curly black hair pointed at me. 

"Are you the new slut Lucian brought in?" She scowled, the others also had that nasty expression on their faces. I felt like a rat in the midst of wolves, pulling Willow closer to me as they stalked towards us. 

"I'm not a slut" I replied and she scoffed as if I had said the wrong answer. 

"She looks and smells like trash," The one with silky red hair said glaring at me with disgust evident in her blue eyes. 

"I don't know where he dug you out from but I will tell you one thing, Lucian Giordano is mine. I won't stand a wretched wench from the slums coming in here to take my position. You will leave-"

"But I'm not here for him!" I cried out in frustration. 

"Shut your filthy mouth and let me finish! You will leave this house unless I won't be nice" She threatened. 

She calls this nice? 

"It's not my place to decide if I can leave" I tried reasoning with them but it fell on deaf ears. 

"I don't care, you must find a way to leave or you'll die along with that bony child in your hand. This isn't a place for garbage material

like you, I want you out of this house by tomorrow or you'll be leaving in as a corpse in a body bag"