Chapter four; Breaking free

Aurora had been confused before, but now, seeing the way he was staring deeply into her ocean eyes, she was an epitome of confusion.

They should make a statue of her at this point.

“Oooohhhhhh!!… Kiss! Kiss!! Kiss!!!” The gang surrounded them laughing and clapping as they chanted.

Aurora stepped aside immediately, completely mortified.

Kiss??? They wanted her to kiss…him? This devil that kills without thinking? This pompous, dangerous, heartless criminal?

She did not care whatever games he was playing, she would not be handing out her first kiss to him. Never.

She stepped backwards again hoping to put as much space between them as possible, but this demon of a man gripped her neck lightly bringing her face closer to his...

Fear and disgust clouded Aurora’s mind. He was going to do it… he was really going to kiss her.

She looked around and no one was going to save her from getting her first kiss stolen by this monster.

Aurora spat directly on his face. She could hear the whole gang in the party gasp in shock. Good. If he was going to kill her, she would die knowing that she protected her virtue.

She wiggled from his hold and put some much needed distance between them. She turned towards the gang and her heart almost dropped to her stomach.

At least… 20 guns were pointed directly at her, even Axe had his gun pointed at her. The rest of them held their guns close to them, confused but ready to defend their master.

She stood there like a head in headlights beside the devil in the midst of the gangsters.

“Everyone, leave!” The monster beside her instructed the gangsters and they left. Immediately they left, he grabbed her neck tightly, smashing her back on the nearest wall, choking her till she saw stars.

“How dare you?” He said, his voice very low and cold. Aurora did not respond.

He closed the distance between their faces, but instead of kissing her like before he whispered into her ear “How dare you embarrass me in front of my disciples…”

Aurora smirked at his reaction but her victory did not last long.

Vincenzo pressed her deeper into the wall, his hands on her neck tightening dangerously till she coughed, struggling to take in breath till fears fell from her eyes as she choked.

“Please…” She struggled to say. “please. please…”

He looked like he was considering letting her go but for a second, but instead, he smirked that dangerous smirk again.

“Lick it…” Aurora could not understand what he meant until he repeated it.

“Lick the damn spit off of my face!”

He had to be fucking insane!!!

“Look here, I don’t think you know me, so, I’ll introduce myself properly…” Aurora whispered , still struggling to free his hand from her neck.

“I’m the General’s only daughter…Aurora Puro Puccaso…Do you really think you can take me away from my dad in this manner and he would have no idea? Do you think he doesn’t know I’m in this sinful place?”

Aurora summoned some more courage and said the words she has always wanted to say since she got to this godforsaken mansion.

“I am not Brielle. Your wife is dead.”

“Shut the fuck up! Brielle is alive!!!” His hands on her throat tightened even more, choking her harder….

But Aurora laughed through the tightness in her throat even though the sound was just a whisper.

“Alan or whatever his name is…. has defeated you.”

Vincenzo brought out his gun, pointing it directly into her mouth, his eyes red with fury…

“I am Vincenzo West Pecaminoso… Alan can never defeat me, I’m going to destroy him and feed his flesh to the vultures of the air. He will die. I promise you, if I find out the only woman I have ever loved is dead, I will destroy him!!” he yelled angrily, his fingers still on the trigger…

Aurora shivered. Was she really going to die like her mother? Won’t she get to see her father? And who the hell was Alan and what did he have to do with her? She shivered fearfully.

“Please…” She muttered, but Vincenzo was not having it…..

For a moment, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. Then, Vincenzo's expression twisted in rage, and he pulled the gun out of her mouth, and instead brought his face closer.

"You think you're clever, don't you?" Vincenzo sneered, his breath hot against her face. “The next time you go against me, you will loose your stupid father…”

Aurora’s heart failed completely.

Vincenzo walked away…leaving her with just goosebumps and his cinnamon scent still lingering on her skin.

Aurora coughed, gasping for breath and drawing in as much air into her lungs as she possibly could, while her hand instinctively rubbed at her aching throat.

Aurora’s eyes twitched in pure anger as she watched his retreating back. She needed to escape, she had to escape…

This place was never meant for her, this hellhole… was too filthy for her…. A general’s daughter in a criminal camp? Never!…

With a solid resolve forming in her head, Aurora walked out of the large, empty party hall. She did not stop when she got to her room. She did not stop when she saw the looming entrance of the large mansion. Instead, she began tipping her toes and walking forward towards the door.

Aurora walked slowly and steadily till she walked out of the door. She felt the instant chill of the night on her skin, causing her to shiver.

She heard the call and response of the crickets outside the mansion and the birds of the night crying.

It was obvious everybody had gone to their various rooms. The place was too quiet, which meant they were no guards loitering the area…weird. Where they all exhausted because of the party? Aurora did not wait to find out. She continued walking towards the gate.

As she approached the gate, the guard’s eyes widened in surprise. "Open the door for Lady Brielle," she commanded, her voice dripping with authority and a hint of venom lady Brielle always had in the videos she had watched.

The guard hesitated, his eyes darting nervously between her face and the darkness beyond the gate.

"My lady, it…it…it is not safe for you to go out at this hour," he stammered.

Aurora's eyes flashed with anger. "Should I smite your tongue?" she spat, her voice rising.

"Give me that gun." She said with the same fierce tone. The guard hesitated for a moment before handing over his weapon.

Aurora's eyes glinted with a fierce determination as she trained the gun on the guard. "The next time you interfere in my business , I'll kill you."

The gates swung open, and Aurora stepped out into the night, the cool breeze hitting her like a slap in the face, finally Freedom.