Chapter 3

Arielle's POV 

What's going on? I mean, how did we get to this? The same man who claimed not to give a damn about me had his lips placed on mine.

I gently disconnected our lips and tried to push him away, but he held me tighter. "What are you...?" 

"Shh," he hushed me. "Play along. This is a little way you can pay back for my car."

Then he kissed me again. Much to my surprise, my lips slowly began to move in rhythm with his.

Oh goodness. I let a stranger have my first kiss. I didn't just let him. I was actually kissing him back.

When he finally let go of me, I was breathless, gazing into his eyes with shock. I was drowning in those deep blue eyes of his that reminded me of the ocean.

"Luciano!" A high-pitched female voice rang behind me.

Turning back, I was surprised to see an elegant lady staring at us with tears streaming down her cheeks. The man finally let go of my waist, and I regained my breath, although the thudding of my heart didn't cease.

Now I get it. He was using me to make the other woman jealous.

"Cosa ti prende? How could you do this to me?" she said, her accent coated with heavy Italian.

[What is wrong with you?]

"Oh, ti prego, Bella. Non sentirti troppo importante," he said flatly. "Maybe if you had come earlier, I wouldn't have called my girlfriend to come along."

[Oh please, Bella. Don't feel too important.]

Their argument was already attracting other people's attention. I stood there, transfixed, and glancing from one person to another, unable to understand what they were saying. I had lived in Italy for a greater portion of my life, and I never tried to learn their language.

He grabbed my waist again. "Now, if you will excuse me, I've got some catching up to do with my girl."

Your girl? What had I gotten myself into?

"I'll tell everyone about this. You'll regret this!" The lady yelled.

He chuckled. "What's the worst that can happen?"

I didn't fail to notice the hard glare the lady shot at me before stomping out.

Then I turned to the man. "I don't get it. Who are you?" The question left my lips.

"That should never bother you, principessa," he responded while staring into my eyes and cupping my cheek with his large palm. "You did well."

Anyone looking at us right now would think we were actually a couple.

His eyes darted behind again and narrowed. I couldn't even do a thing. I was just there, trapped in his cage and wondering who he was and the kind of authority he possessed.

"Mario!" He roared all of a sudden. Everyone froze and turned to look at him, but no one dared to look much longer. His voice alone commanded attention. It was as if the earth froze and everyone came to a standstill.

Can the ground just open so I can fall inside? What kind of attention seeker is this? 

The supposed Mario came forward, holding a camera. I could sense the fear in him as he stood before the man, Luciano. 

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Luciano snarled.

"Non volevo tradirti, capo, è tuo nonno." [I didn't mean to betray you boss, it's your grandfather.]

"You're working for my grandfather now?"

Mario pursed his lips. "I can't say no to him."

"Elimina quelle immagini." [Delete those pictures]

Mario flinched. "Tuo nonno potrebbe uccidermi." [Your grandfather might kill me]

Luciano swallowed. "Meriti di essere ucciso." [You deserve to be killed.]

Nonno. Okay, I caught that one. That's grandfather, but the rest were vague. I hated the fact that I was lost. I wished I could quietly walk away and end the strange event of a day, but his arm was wound tightly around my waist.

Mario bowed his head slightly. "I'm sorry."

Luciano's eyes seemed to soften. "What would you have me do?"

"Play along with her."

"Leave," he ordered in English, then Mario left. Then, he shifted his attention to me.

"What is your name?" He asked.

"Arielle," I replied, still shocked at the turn of events. I didn't want to answer, but I couldn't stop my lips from moving. Maybe because I was scared. The dark aura emanating from this man was terrifying.

"Where are you from?"

Why the sudden questions? But I answered anyway. "New York. What do you want from me?"

"You're going home with me," he said with a stoic expression. 

"Excuse me?"

"I don't need to overemphasize that. Grab your things and follow me."

He was damn serious.

"Okay, okay. This is absolutely crazy, you know. You have no right to order me around. I'm not going anywhere with you!" I screamed.

He didn't say a word, he just stared at me with hooded eyes—no expression.

"It's not a request. Follow me, Arielle," he said. The way he mentioned my name startled me. It sounded like an abomination on his lips.

"No," I replied boldly.

His lips curled into a smirk which disappeared as soon as it came. "I don't take no for an answer. You'll find exactly what you're looking for."

I squared my shoulders and shook my head in disagreement. "I'm not going with you."

"Fine," was the only reply he gave before striding out of the art gallery.

Large numbers of heavily bodied men dressed in black followed him. I thought those men were guarding the gallery, but they were Luciano's guards. 

Who exactly is this man?

I swallowed a hard lump that had formed in my throat and watched as every one of them walked out. Soon, normalcy was restored to the gallery, and everyone continued with their chatter.

I let out a sigh of relief then went to another painting. A warm smile appeared on my cheeks as I began to describe the painting, even though fear was clawing at the back of my mind.

Gabriel's POV 

"How can she say no to me? No one has ever defied my orders," I barked, pacing around the parking lot outside the gallery.

Everyone sensed my anger as they all avoided me except Alessio, my closest man who came forward, trying to calm me.

"I could have dragged her with me. In fact, I'm going back in there to get her," I continued ranting.

Alessio stopped me. "She is not willing to follow you. People will notice, and your grandfather wouldn't be happy."

I gritted my teeth. "If it weren't for her importance to me, I would have designed her very death by now."

"She's a woman," Alessio reminded me of my rule about not hurting women.

"I know, but she's getting on my nerves."

"Be a little more patient. We will get her for you."

I had used up a lot of patience just tonight. First was Bella, now this... Arielle.

The people started leaving the hall, and it was just me and my men, waiting.

For her.