Chapter 5: Into the unknown

Adriana's mother, April, took a deep breath and held Adriana's hand tightly. "Adriana, baby, I have something to tell you. Jewel has been taken away from her mother.

"What do you mean, by Jewel has been taken away from her" Adriana asked, confusion cladding her thoughts. Jewel was the daughter of Antonia who was their cook. Jewel was the only female friend, Adriana had except for her thug friends.

Who took jewel?

Why was she taken away?. Different questions ran in Adriana's mind.

"Apparently, Antonia ran into debts she never told us about and she borrowed money from the Dark heart" April explained.

Adriana's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why didn't you help her? Why didn't you do something, when they came for her?

April looked down, her eyes filled with guilt. "It's because... it's because  they don't want the money anymore, he wants Antonia's daughter, not the money anymore. He's been using his influence to keep us from doing anything about it."

Adriana's anger flared up. "What? That's not fair! We have to do something! We can't just let him take advantage of them like that.

April tried to calm her down. "Adriana, baby, we can't just go up against the Dark heart  just like that. He's too powerful. We have to be careful."

"But why, you and Dad also have influence!" Adriana shouted.

"We are dealing with a Mafia Lord here, Adriana and we can't get ourselves entangled with these people. It's a dangerous world" April said worried that Adriana won't listen to her.

The word Mafia kept resounding in Adriana's head. "Mafia Lord". Then, out of  nowhere a smirk crossed her face. A dangerous one, laced with naughtiness.

"Don't give me that look, Adriana" April cautioned.

"Mafia Lord" she questioned.

"Yes, more reason why you shouldn't do whatever you have in your head to do" April said knowing her daughter pretty well.

"You know what mother, I will be fine. Just go make me the soup. I will take it and then I will rest for a while" Adriana said like a good daughter. April flashed her a smile and then gave her a kiss on the forehead before walking out of the room.

As her mother walked out she could hear her instructing the guards not to let her out of the mansion till she said so.

But  Adriana was too occupied with the thought of Jewel being held by some Mafia Lord  to care about what her mother was saying to the guards. She began to think of strategies.  If she must have  her friend out then she would need more than just the street thugs. She will need something stronger and more organized.

Only one face kept flashing in her head and the thought of him made the hair in her body stand in an alert.

Wait that can't be just mere thought. Adriana thought aloud, noticing the shift in the atmosphere.

"That motherfucker is messing with me" she muttered with gnashed teeth. To confirm her suspicion, the light in the entire mansion went off and Adriana jumped out of the bed her phobia almost hitting in. The light was quickly restored and she grabbed a pillow to herself.

"Is he, some type of ghost or what" Adriana questioned no one in particular. Just then her mother walked in to check if she was okay. Knowing how much she hates to be in the dark.

Days later......

Adriana has been under heavy guarding since her return. Her parents never allowed her out of the house, even moving around the house, guards followed her all around.

The past few days  have been hell for her,  she was concerned about her friend who was held captive and then the torment from Lorenzo never ended. She still felt his presence every now and then. She couldn't tell if he really came or it was just a trauma reflex she was having.

But today was worse, she was more determined to get out of her parents mansion. A whole lot of ideas have been running through her head and she was getting impatient to execute them.

She paced from one end of the room to another, thinking of a good way to get out of the mansion. She just needs to find her way out. She has missed a lot about being outside, her room was almost becoming a cage to her.

Boom!

An idea whispered into her thoughts. Adriana ran to the window and a bright smile ran across her lips.

Finally!

She was going to get out of this hellhole. Although, this idea was to her own detriment, if anything should go wrong.  Without thinking twice she made her way to the window climbing as fast as possible.

Adriana quickly climbed down the window, her heart racing with excitement and a hint of fear. She landed softly on the ground and looked around, making sure no one was watching. The staff quarter was just a short distance away, and she made a beeline for it.

She slipped into the staff quarter, trying to blend in with the other staff members. She quickly grabbed a uniform and changed into it, hoping to disguise herself.

With her new disguise, Adriana felt a surge of confidence. She walked out of the staff quarter and made her way to the gate, trying to look as nonchalant as possible.

She knew she had to get out of the mansion quick before her absences would be noticed and then the mansion will have to be put on a lock down.

Just as she slipped out of the gate of the mansion she saw a taxi and she quickly waved it down, without a second thought.

The driver looked at her in the rearview mirror, raising an eyebrow. "Where to, miss?" he asked.

Adriana smiled, feeling a sense of freedom and anxiety "Just drive, please. I'll tell you where to go later."

After driving for a long while and she was sure she was far from the reach of her mother's guards. She asked the driver to stop then it occurred to her that she had left without a dim on her. But to her surprise the taxi roared off at full speed without asking for money.

Everything was weird but she was too anxious to think about them. She quietly sat at a bench, observing the environment.

There was an ice cream stand not far from where she sat. She wished she could get some, but then again she had no money on her. She just sat there watching family have fun till her eyes caught something that got her attention.

A tattoo.

The same kind she saw in the wrists of Lorenzo's men. She quickly sat up and began following the suspects. He got into a car and she stole a bike running after the car secretly.

Adriana is heading a dangerous path.

Will she get answers she is seeking?

Will she make it?