Chapter 13

Aurea’s POV 

“Don’t you think we need to punish you, hmm, princess?" Velarius murmured, his large, heavy hand resting on my waist and possessively kneading the flesh there.

Before I could answer, Vincenzo's hand slid beneath my chin and forced my gaze upward.

"Tell us the truth," he said softly.

"I-I fell dow—"

"Think before you speak," Vincenzo cut in.

"I-it's sister Lyra," I said softly,

I doubted they even heard me. There was no response from them. They looked far too calm for my liking. It felt like the calm before the storm.

"Brother, don’t you think our princess is hilarious for thinking she can actually escape from us?" Velarius asked, a wicked, knowing smirk plastered across his lips.

The words hit me like a physical blow. Absolute horror flooded my chest. They know? That can’t be true.

A soft, dangerous chuckle echoed from right behind me. Velarius' strong arms wrapped securely around my waist, lifting me effortlessly off Vincenzo's lap only to deposit me directly onto his.

"Did you really think you could ever be free from our clutches, Aurea?” Vincenzo whispered against my skin, leaning forward to press a lingering kiss to my lips.

Simultaneously, Valerius's hand slid up to my chest, his fingers firmly squeezing my left breast. I instinctively grabbed at his hand, trying to pry his fingers away from my uniform, but resistance was entirely impossible. Vincenzo gathered both of my wrists into a single, unbreakable grip behind my back, forcing my spine to arch and pushing my chest out to their hungry, unyielding gaze.

A single, hot tear broke free and rolled down my cheek as Valerius continued to knead my breast while Vincenzo peppered open-mouthed, burning kisses all over my face.

"You are going to call Nina back, and you are going to tell her that you changed your mind," Vincenzo commanded, his dark eyes staring directly into my tear-stained face. "Do you understand me, princess?"

"P-please... leave me alone. I-I don’t want this," I sobbed out in a broken voice, but they paid absolutely no attention to my pleadings. Desperation drove me to the only weapon I had left. "If... if you don't stop this right now, I will report you to the police!"

Suddenly, both brothers stopped what they were doing. They went completely still and exchanged a long, silent look.

A tiny spark of hope flared in my chest. Did it work? Did the mention of the police actually scare them? I swallowed hard, trying to project confidence. "I won't say a single word about what happened if you just let me leave right now."

But the spark of hope was brutally crushed when both brothers suddenly burst into a fit of dark, mocking amusement. I stared at them in utter disbelief as their laughter filled the room.

"You really think the police can save you from us?" Valerius asked, his grey eyes glittering with genuine entertainment, as if I had just told the funniest joke he had ever heard. "Why don’t we make this incredibly simple for you, princess?"

He reached into his tailored suit pocket and pulled out a sleek, expensive phone, dropping it right into my trembling hands. "Take this. Call them immediately. Oh, and make sure you give them our full names: Valerius Rossi and Vincenzo Rossi."

I stared at the device, utterly bewildered. Have they completely lost their minds? Whatever the case was, I couldn't let this golden opportunity slip through my fingers. With a racing heart, I unlocked the screen. Since there was no passcode, I rapidly typed in the emergency number.

The line rang twice before a deep, authoritative voice answered in Italian. "Pronto. Qual è la sua emergenza?" (Hello. What is your emergency?)

I stared up at the brothers. Their intense, unbothered eyes were tracking my every move.

"Hello? Please, my name is Aurea Smith," I rushed out, my voice shaking violently. "please, I need to file a complaint!"

"Ah, yes. Please continue, signorina," the officer responded politely over the line. I could hear the distinct sound of a logbook rustling open on the other end.

"Some men... they are holding me against my will and assaulting me. I need to file a report against them immediately!"

"Understood, madam. Can you provide the names of the individuals?" the officer asked, his pen clicking.

"Y-yes... the Rossi brothers," I stammered, tears spilling over my lashes. "Valerius Rossi and Vincenzo Rossi. Please, help me."

The moment those names left my mouth, the line went completely, horrifyingly dead. A long silence followed.

I heard the officer suck in a sharp breath.

"Did you say... Rossi?"

When the man finally spoke again, his polite tone had vanished, replaced by sheer, unmistakable terror. "I'm sorry, signorina... but I cannot help you."

"But why?! You have to!" I cried out, my voice rising into a frantic, begging wail. "Please!"

"I am sorry. I cannot help you," the officer repeated coldly.

Before I could say another syllable, the sharp beep of a disconnected line echoed through the room. He had hung up on me.

Slowly, I lowered the phone, staring blankly ahead as the cold dread sank deep into my bones. I looked up to find the brothers watching me, dangerous, triumphant smirks playing on their handsome faces. I dragged in a trembling breath, a terrifying realization dawning on me as I sat trapped on Vincenzo’s lap.

Who on earth are these men... that even the law is too terrified to cross them?

If even the police couldn't save me...

Then who could?