Chapter Five - Fear

ELLA 

As her royal highness requested, I began to serve her lunch.

Painfully aware of her icy blue eyes dissecting every move I made. 

My hands trembled despite my best efforts to stay composed.

 I misplaced a fork just slightly you could barely notice. But the way the air shifted instantly, you'd think I committed an abomination. 

“What kind of incompetence is this?” blondie hissed, her voice dripping with disdain. “Is this the best you could find, Nonna?”

Maria or Nonna I didn't know what to call her at this point, remained silent. We both knew she hadn’t chosen me. 

We both knew I didn’t belong here either.

“Are you deaf and dumb, or just plain stupid?” the blonde woman spat.

I stayed silent. There was no right answer, only less dangerous ones.

Her anger built like a storm on the horizon. Without warning, she snatched a glass of water from the table and flung it in my face.

 I gasped, stunned by the freezing shock, and humiliation burned hotter than the sting of the cold.

Still, I refused to cry. I would not give her that satisfaction.

She then stood, one manicured hand lifting as if to strike me.

Maria’s eyes flashed with a silent warning. 

Don’t move.

I shut my eyes waiting for the blow to land. 

But before the blow could fall, the double doors burst open with a bang.

Grey eyes were the first I noticed. 

The eyes that looked me over at the auction. 

The light was poor but I would never forget this face.

The air shifted again, but this time, it was because he had entered. 

The room seemed to contract around his presence. 

Even the blonde woman who was so sharp, and so cruel seemed to shrink beneath the weight of his glare.

“What’s going on here?” he growled, his deep voice low and lethal.

“I was just testing the new girl’s capabilities,” she replied quickly, sugar coating her venom. “She clearly needs more-”

“And who gave you that right?” The man cut her off, his  voice cracking like thunder. 

“How the hell did you even get in here?”

“Adrian-”

He's Adrian?

The Capo?

His storm-gray eyes snapped to me.

“You,” he said, each word a warning. 

“Come here.”

With a heavily pounding heart and shaky legs, I stepped forward.

 He looked me over, his stare clinical but intense, like a man inspecting something that belonged to him.

“Mixing up utensils is an amateur mistake,” he said, The tone in his voice unreadable. “But it only matters to me… because you are mine. And you will only serve me. Do you understand?”

Mine?

His?

That single word shot through me, uncomfortable… but not in a way that felt wrong.

 If anything, it stirred something I didn’t want to name.

I nodded, unable to speak.

Adrian turned to the blonde.

“You do not touch what is mine. Not even when I’m dead. I won’t say it again.”

Then, without another word, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me from the room. His grip was firm, his pace so fast I had to jog to catch up and when we stepped into the hall, he released me as abruptly as he’d taken hold.

“Go and change!” He growled and walked away.

It was when I looked down that I realized the bitch made my blouse wet and my bra was on display!

I returned to my room after getting lost five times since this house was too damn big!

 I collapsed onto the bed, letting out a breathless, crazy laugh.

What was my life turning into?

Before I could think too long or get too comfortable, the door burst open.

And the sight in front of me made my heart drop like a stone.