Chapter 7: A Crib for the Doll

Maria's POV

"I told you to stay with me." Luca said to me immediately I arrived at his penthouse.

I paused to look at him as an idea got to me.

"How do I know you didn't plan this?" I said him.

Luca was silent for a while, then he said: "You really believe I could stoop that low to have you by my side?"

He gently moved closer to me, slowly. His face expressionless like he was about to charge at me.

I try to stay tough, but the look on his face made me scared. I swallowed but he came closer. His masculine scent I could now smell.

"Who do you think you are, Maria Santina? Just because I find you interesting does not give you the right the insult my personality. I can have any woman..."

"You can't have me." I interrupted him.

"You might be able to get any woman you want, Mr De Rossi but not me." I repeated. "And you may not have orchestrated this attack on him but you are surely the reason I'm in this mess."

"And I apologise for the burden I've caused you but I can take care of it."

"Then take care of it." I fired. "So I can go back to my life. Like I never met you, Mr De Rossi. Because all my life, I've known safety. Safety and peace. Yes, I may not be rich and powerful and famous and scary as everyone is about you but I was safe."

I could feel my voice shaking. Tears choking me from talking but thankfully I finished my statement. I wiped the tears welling up in my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Maria if I made you feel unsafe..." Luca started as he handed me his handkerchief. I shoved past him, ignoring the handkerchief.

"But do you really think you were safe? All those years you lived alone in that place you call home and you call that safety?"

"Yes." I answered firmly.

"Then you are not as smart as I thought you were, doll."

I turned to him and watched him for a while. Then I shook my head and said, "I don't care what you think of me, Mr De Rossi. I just want to go back home."

"Then home you will go but at least let me make sure it's okay before you go back there."

"You'll remain here until I find out who tried to attack you. Until then..." he turned to Alex. "Alex, per favore, portala nella sua stanza."

"Si." Alex replied. Then he turned to me, "let's get you to a room now, ma'am."

********

Luca's POV

After I instructed Alex to take Maria to her room, I received a call.

"Hello boss." The caller said to me in Italian.

"Yes, Your guy came through for me today, Fabby." I replied him.

"I'm glad I could be of help to you sir. But I must confess, your little doll did hurt him a little."

I laughed, guess Maria is as strong as she looks, I said to myself. A smirk curled on my lips.

"Well then, compensate your man for any damages incurred. In the meantime, I need you to look into that faggot I sent you."

"Yes boss, I will. I already have my people working on him. But it'll be interesting for you to know that he's actually Italian sir."

"An Italian homosexual, I won't want to believe that."

"And what's more, his real name isn't Daniel."

I scoffed. "I don't care what his name is, I want to know what business he has with me. He said some things he shouldn't have and I want to know why."

"I'll get on it sir."

"Fabby?"

"Sir?"

"My shipment, I need something." I could feel the impatience in my own voice.

I heard Fabby sigh through the phone, "sir, whoever did this to your shipment did a clean job sir. They left no trace, no message."

"Emilio said they are not like my former attacks. Would you agree?"

Gabby sighed again, "yes sir, I think you might be looking at new enemies here."

I didn't say anything for a while. The last thing I need right now is a new enemy.

"Keep digging, I believe you'll find something soon."

"Yes sir."

I hung up immediately, inhaled deeply, then I heard Alex come back.

"I got her to the room sir." Alex said to me in Italian. I nodded and asked him to go get some rest.

I went up to my room and went straight into my bathroom. Inside it, I turned on the TV I had installed in the room just recently. There, I could see every bit of the room Maria was in, even the bathroom.

"I'm sorry, little doll, but I think I might just have to hold on to you a little." I said to myself.