RUTHLESS LOVE

MIRANDA

"Please don't go. What if he catches you?" Karen shivered, holding my hands.

"I won't let him see me. Just don't lose hope, sis. I'm going to get help and come back for you. Just stay safe, please," I promised, encouraging my kid sister.

It's been fourteen years since we lost our home and our parents to that monster called Don Vito.

A deadly, dangerous man. He wiped our family and took Karen and me as his hostage.

For fourteen years he has been maltreating my sister and me, threatening to end us both if we go against him.

This life of torment and suffering, I can no longer take it anymore. So, I came up with a plan to escape.

I planned on taking Karen along, but she's just too scared to move. She's afraid of Don Vito spotting and harming us both.

I can understand her fear. The poor girl has been in trauma for years. The pains, torments, abuse...

"Just stay here. I promise to bring back help. Together we'll leave this city and head to a better place, okay?"

"Okay," Karen nodded.

I don't want to leave my sister alone, but it's the only option I have.

If we want to be free from Don Vito, someone has to make a move.

Leaving my sister in the room we were kept in, I sneakily went through the door, and straight for the bathroom down the hall.

For years, I've been studying how the helpers of the home carry out their work, most especially the maids.

Every Friday, they take out a pile of dirty laundry in a portable barrel, out to the back where they'd clean up.

That's my ticket out of this place if no one spots me escaping.

And just as I planned, I found the barrel in the bathroom, loaded with dirty clothes.

Quickly, I got into the barrel, covering myself up with the dirty clothes, and waited patiently for a maid to come and get it.

In no time, I heard the sound of the door opening, followed by the movement of the barrel.

At last, I'm moving.

"Why's this so heavy?" I heard the maid.

My heart came pounding, as I prayed that she doesn't check the inside to see the cause of the heaviness.

That's when I heard the sound of a door closing up. I sneakily peeped to discover I was outside.

The maid is gone and no one is around.

Swiftly, I got out of the barrel and ran through the back gate.

Joy took over when my two feet touched the ground outside the walls of Don Vito's home.

I want to rejoice but I can't do that while I'm still near my captor's home. I needed to get as far as possible, but how?

Just then, I heard the sound of guards coming. I immediately hid myself in the bushes, carefully moving to avoid being seen.

I moved and found myself closer to the front gate. My heart sank with fear when I almost came out into the open.

"That was close." I hid back in fear of being seen.

But how was I to make my escape without Don Vito's guards spotting me?

That's when the heavens provided an answer.

Right next to the bush, I noticed a car parked right there.

"If I can just get into that car without being seen, I can make my way out of this place, " I planned.

This is my chance to escape this place for good. I carefully crawled out from the bushes and got into the back seat of the car, lowering myself from being seen by anyone.

My eyes fell on a gun, settled on the passenger seat at the front. I immediately grabbed it, only to hear the car opening from the driver's seat.

The owner is here.

Having a weapon in my hold...

"Drive." I pointed the gun right at the head of the fellow behind the wheels.

I glanced at his reflection in the mirror and recognized him.

Antonio Dante, another dangerous scumbag like Don Vito. He always likes to visit that monster like he's some kind of god.

Even though I had the gun pointing directly at his head, he didn't look scared.

His eyes were all calm—no trace of fear over his life.

Sometimes I wonder if men like him and Don Vito are humans or devils in human skin.

"Drive!" I ordered, trying to hide the fear engulfing me from seeing the glare in his eyes.

I heard him scoff before starting the engine. He drove away from Don Vito's mansion. I felt so relieved as we drew further away from that place.

"May I know what a lady like yourself is doing in my car?" He questioned with calmness.

"Just keep driving," I ordered.

"You look familiar," he said, glancing at me from the mirror.

The way his eyes shimmered at me; I could tell he recognized my face. After all, he always comes around when that monster is busy torturing me with his wipes.

Surely, he knows the state I'm in.

"My sister and I were captured by Don Vito for fourteen years. I need your help in saving her."

"And why should I?" He questioned.

Hearing him, I pressed the tip of the gun directly on his head, saying, " This is a serious matter here. I need to save my sister from that place and I need you to help me. You know Don Vito inside and out. Help me save my sister."

"Just like you said..." He stops the car. "I know Don Vito inside and Out. That man is my godfather. So, I can't help you in betraying him."

"You don't understand!" The gun came dropping from his head.

The moment it did, Antonio grabbed me by the hands and pinned me down to the armrest.

Fear took over me, as I thought he was going to kill me, but no. Instead, he just stared right into my eyes and repeated, "I will not betray him."

I couldn't make a move.

At this point, he's the only one that can help me get my sister out of that place. I need to convince him.

I sighed, saying, "Fourteen years, we have been in his hold. That man has tormented us like hell. I couldn't take my sister along while escaping, that's why I'm begging you. Please, help me."

His eyes remained on me. He hummed at me, saying, "I'm not going to kill you, nor will I take you back to Don Vito."

My heart glowed in relief.

Finally.

"But on one condition."

"A condition? What's that? " I asked, looking at him.

His eyes came trailing down my body, then back at my face. His hand made a sudden movement on my arm, leaving me in discomfort.

"You'll have to be my tool of pleasure in return.”