CHAPTER 3

Solane

I watched in horror as the two men hugged each other. They were friends.

My legs felt rooted to the spot as my mind reeled at this unveiling. I thought I was being saved but instead I was tricked to the person I was running away from.

A sudden helplessness overshadowed me and I dropped to the floor in defeat. I was already in the lion lair and there's no way out.

“See you later, man,” Alessandro called over his shoulder as he walked away.

“What's going on,Alex?” I said,my voice barely above a whisper mixed with anger brewing in me. “This wasn't what we agreed on. Why did you do this?” I yelled.

Alessandro didn't give a reply but just walked past me.

No! I must be dreaming. This isn't real. How did they do it? My boyfriend and the person I was supposed to get married to. They are working together. They planned this and unfortunately, I felt right. Easily.

“Later, man,” Salvatore replied. The sound of his steps approached me but my gaze was the other way.

With every step he took, anger and hatred boiled in me, making me imagine several ways I could kill him in a swift way like he killed Father.

“My princess,” Salvatore said, brushing strands of hair that were on my face. As soon as his fingers grazed my skin I shrunk back.

I couldn't let those bloody hands touch me. Not ever again.

He breathed heavily looking at me, “I have missed you within the short time we were apart. I'm glad you are here with me now,” he said, smiling.

I raised my head looking up at him,” You killed my father, Salvatore,” I spat shakingly.

His lips pressed into a smirk, the one that made my heart melt like candy but what it did to my heart at the moment was fury.

“I see that you must have been stressed from the long flight. Get some rest and we will talk later,” he said. “And also, the name Salvatore doesn't exist here. You have to address me as Sir Marcello henceforth.”

“Later?” I let out a hysterical laughter. Reality dawned on me that the name I knew him as wasn't even his name but that isn't what I want to know now. “Why did you kill him?” I asked,my voice piercing the cold air.

He spoke with a velvet calm, ignoring my question. “This is your home now and I want you to embrace it because you will be by my side forever. Not going anywhere,” he said, tilting my jaw to lock eyes with him.

I glared at him,if only looks could kill. “I don't want to be here. Not with you,” I said, stubbornly.

“You change so quickly, Solane,”he said, icily. “You were willing to elope with me few hours ago,”

I blinked back unshed tears, “That was before you shot father dead,” I said. “And you want me to stay with you after all that? In your wildest dreams,” I said, defiantly.

He grabbed my jaw tightly,his eyes narrowed dangerously , something I hadn't seen in our two years of dating…and it scares me. I was finding it hard to believe he killed my father despite it happening in my presence but his actions didn't prove me wrong either.

“I see you are still being stubborn. Don't blame me for this,” he said but I wasn't done asking him the questions that were hot on my lips.

“Was this your plan all along? Why did you do it?” I said in a rush, wanting to get answers to my questions quickly. But he didn't say a word but just stared at me.

“Why???”I yelled, unable to hold the anger boiling inside of me.

“It isn't a story for today, moreso, you would have still been in support of your father if I were to die in his stead,” he said,his voice cold,laced with hurt and his brow furrowed in anger.

“What do you mean?”I asked, frustratedly. But he just stared at me like he was holding unspoken words back.

He stood up straight,then turned to the one of the men on guard, “Lock her up,” he said,coldly.

His words took me off guard.

“What!”I said, stepping back as the man grabbed me by the arm and pulled me towards the stairs. “You can't do this to me, Salvatore,”I said, struggling but the man was stronger.

I kept yelling but he didn't turn. “You asshole…”My voice echoed across the room.

*****

I sat still, not moving as tears trickled down my face as each seconds that passed reminded me about my father's lifeless body and each time, the hatred grew.

I gazed around the room, scrutinizing the things in the room from the polished marble floor, golden chandelier, silk curtains and golden framed painting making me wonder if they were real gold.

My throat burned with thirst making it hard for me to speak plus I was pressed so I crawled to the door and started knocking it with all the strength left in me. “I need to use the restroom,” I blurted out, my voice shaking.

The door opened and a guard entered with food and placed it in front of me with an expression hard as stone. “That’s the bathroom,” he said curtly, moving towards the door tucked away in the corner before walking out and the door clicked shut behind me.

My chest tightened as frustration and powerlessness set in, it was as if the walls were closing over me. Being here only meant one time; submitting to my father's murder even the thought of it made my blood boil.

My stomach twisted not just in anger but in hunger. I needed to eat so that I could come up with a plan. I grabbed the food and ate hurriedly.

Half way into my food, an idea popped in my head and dropped the food.

My eyes darted towards the bed. The bedsheets. My hands trailed over the strong, steady material. My heartbeat increased as I tore the sheets off the bed, fumbling,and knotting them together desperately. I tightened each knot together and tested its strength, determined to escape at all cost.

Deep down I knew the plan was a risky one but I don't care as far as I get out of this place.

I opened the window slowly to avoid it creaking and the night air slapped against my face. My hands trembled as I lowered the rope, watching it dangle into the shadow below.

It was still dark outside, quiet and eerie but was the only way my chance of being caught would be slim because of the advantage of the dark.

I swung my leg over the sill, gripping the rope with all the strength I have. My palm burned as it slid down, the knot bumping against my arm. I kept moving until my feet touched solid ground.

I heaved a sigh of relief as my legs finally touched the ground. “Yes. I can do it!” My lips curled into a smile, my heart full of courage.

I heard someone clapping and laughing, my heart jumped as I recognized the voice.

My eyes narrowed to see into the shadows but couldn't when he stepped out, my blood ran cold.

His hands were in his pocket, emitting a dark aura as his eyes locked on mine, pinning me into place. Salvatore.

“Knowing how stubborn you are, I'd never underestimated you,” he said, his voice calm, smooth and laced with something dangerous. “You really thought you could run away from me?”

The rope slipped from my hands as my heart beat with fear. That moment, it suddenly felt suffocating and the walls I'd just escaped seemed to close in again.