CHAPTER 2

Solane

A loud scream escaped my lips as I scrambled close to where my father's lifeless body laid. I couldn't stop the tears that ticked down my face.

Father and I had sometimes disagreed on some things, but I had never wished him death, despite him being annoying and frustrating. In spite of all these, I love Father so much. He was the only one I have as a family in the whole wide world.

I raised my head and looked around. All my father's men went down as unknown gun men took all of them out. The horror played in front of me as they were being shot radically.

‘No! Maybe I had seen something wrong. Salvatore couldn't have killed father.’ I thought, shaking my head in denial.

But it happened right in front of me. My eyes met Salvatore's and I could see his eyes darkened. This is nothing like my boyfriend of two years. Who's this man before me?

The room fell into a dreadful silence as only my trembling voice could be heard in the room. One of the armed men walked closer to Salvatore and gave him a salute, placing his hands on his chest and bowed his head. “Rispetto (respect), Marcello,” One of the gun men said thrice.

Then the others chanted after him. Confusion overwhelmed me as I watched these play out. Salvatore's a Mafia? I just stayed there, sitting beside my father's body.

Salvatore came to my side. His hands held me up by the shoulder and hugged me. “It's okay,”he said as his hands stroked my back.

I pushed him away hurriedly, “Who the hell are you? my voice came out shakingly. “Oh no,I must be seeing things. This isn't real.You couldn't have killed Father, right?” I said,still doubting what I had just seen.

His eyes deepened, fingers ran through his hair, “He would have killed me if I didn't. Was that what you wanted?”

“And so fucking what? He was still my father,” I said, choking on my sob.

“Who are these people? Who are you??”

“I will explain later when we are out of here,” he said,his eyes softened as he stared at me.

“Out of here?” I muttered audibly enough for him to hear. “I'm not going any fucking where?”

“Don't make things harder, Sol.” He grabbed my wrist, pulling me to himself but I didn't move.

I kept screaming, thrashing in his hands like a wide animal. “Let me go! I hate you. I'm not going anywhere!” My voice cracked from shouting, painfully but I didn't stop. There's no way I'm going to follow my father's murders. My fist pounded against Salvatore's chest. Tears blurred my eyes.

“Calm down,” one of the men warned.

But I didn't.

I shrieked louder, yelling at the top of my voice. “I'm not going with you. Just leave me here.”

Then, suddenly… smack.

A hand struck the side of my neck,so my ears rang hard. My knees buckled and the world tilted. I gasped but no sound came out . The pain was sharp, searing, then nothing. Everything went blank.

****

When I opened my eyes,the cold, sterile brightness of fluorescent lights above me made me squint. My head throbbed and I sat up slugglishly and realized I was in an airport waiting area. Salvatore's men were nearby, watching me, distracted in a quiet conversation and Salvatore was not in sight too.

My lips trembled, but I forced myself to stay calm.

My voice came out with a tremble, “I need to use the restroom urgently,” I whispered, keeping my voice weak and pitiful.

He nodded, “Two minutes,” he said. “I would be watching you and don't try anything funny,”

I glared at him and didn't say anything. I scoffed as I entered the restroom while he guarded the door. If only the idiot knew he guessed right, he wouldn't let me out of his sight for a second because I was going to do something funny, maybe dangerous.

I stared at my disheveled hair in the wall mounted mirror. I needed to think fast on how I would bypass the guard and run far away from the airport.

I was still in thought when a chubby lady strode into the restroom with a dozen bags,she was wearing a t-shirt that had an NGO written on it. She seemed to be a talkative because why would she just approach a stranger and start talking about what she does?

An idea popped up. I lied to her that there were people in need of materials like clothings in my neighborhood and even added that I would love to help her NGO organization reach out to these people.

Her face broke into a happy smile and she was eager to help and started bringing out clothes from her bag. I grabbed a coat and hat immediately and wore them over my body.

‘This should do the trick,’ I said internally.

A shock expression plastered on her face as thanked the lady and hurried out of the restroom.

My plan worked,I walked past the guard and I wasn't stopped,he must have thought it was a different person. I hastened my steps and blended with the crowd as I didn't want to throw caution in the wind.

I continued running knowing fully well that they would have found out that I had escaped and would be searching everywhere for me. My legs were sore, unsteady but adrenaline fueled me.

Then, BAM.

I fell backward but before my body would land on the floor I felt a pair of strong arms holding me from falling.

“Whoa,are you okay?”

I looked up and my heart dropped. It was him. The man Father wanted me to marry. I had once seen his pictures on the net.

We were still in the same position as we stared at ourselves,he released my hands and was as shocked as me.

“You…” I breathed.

He frowned, “Wait,you are her? You are the one—?”

“What are you doing here?” I asked hurriedly, looking behind me every minute.

Alessandro wasn't given a chance. His father and mine thought combining power would solve everything but he doesn't follow orders and neither do I.

“Why are you here?” He asked,his eyes roaming my body.

“It's a long story. Right now someone is after my life. The same person who killed my father,” I said, looking over my shoulders for the hundredth time.

“I will fill you in later because right now I need you to help me. Get me out of here or anything,” I said, desperately.

Alessandro threw an uncertain look my way while I waited for him to give me an answer quickly before I thought of the next thing to do about myself.

He sensed my urgency and agreed on helping me in a condition; that I explained all that really happened and those who were after me.

I promised.

Alessandro helped me escape in his private jet. The ride was silent but not cold. He hasn't said much since I told him all that happened. Instead he treated me warmly, handing me a blanket without asking. Got me some food and water and made sure I was comfortable.

At some point, I curled in my seat, my cheeks pressed against the leather and I watched him from my half -lidded eyes as he worked on his phone, gaze flicking to me every few minutes.

If I had known he'd be this nice…

The thought hurts as it forms,regret filling my heart. Maybe…I would have obeyed my father. Father would have still been alive now if I had agreed to marry him.

It was already dawn when we landed. Dim light washed over the driveway of a massive estate. A mansion flanked behind iron gates,draped in elegance.

“You will be safe here,” he said, leading me into the mansion.

I followed my heart, finally settling in. I looked around the sprawled marble,high ceilings and exquisite designs. “Is this your house?”

He didn't answer.

We turned into a corner that looked like a study and I stopped. Everything stopped.

There, sitting in the center leather chair,one leg crossed over the other like he ruled the damn world —was Salvatore.

My body froze . My breath etched.

“Welcome home,principessa,”

I spinned towards Alessandro but before I could speak or run, he walked straight to Salvatore.

And then hugged him.