Chapter 4

“Strip” he commanded, his stare held her in place, heavy and unrelenting. Rose shivered hard, her heart racing so violently it felt like her soul was being torn apart. A dangerous warmth spread through her body as he closed the space between them, his hot breath brushed against her bare shoulder while he trailed slow deliberate kisses down the side of her neck. The soft sound of his mouth on her skin made her knees weak a quiet moan escaped her before she could stop it. She slumped slightly against the wall her fingers curling against the surface for support.

Then the teasing stopped.

He pulled away without warning leaving her breathless, lips parted, skin still burning where his mouth had been and the sudden absence of his touch felt almost cruel.

“Slut, be a good girl and touch yourself when I'm gone’ he whispered with a small knowing smile with his voice was low and rough. 

The moment he walked out and the door clicked shut her body finally relaxed, heat burned behind her eyes as she accepted the challenge in his words. She slumped back onto the bed, the cool sheets contrasting with the heat still lingering on her skin, her bare legs shifted restlessly. She could feel the wetness between her thighs undeniable and shameful. Her fingers slowly moved downward about to touch herself then she stopped herself hard gripping the sheets instead.

“Are you stupid?” she whispered into the quiet room voice shaking.

He’s a fucking stranger.  

A stranger.

She forced the thought into her mind over and over until exhaustion finally dragged her under.

---

In his office, Vincenzo sat back in the large leather chair, a faint satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. The image of her trembling under his mouth replayed clearly, what he had done would keep her thinking about him long after he left. He liked the way she had tried to fight the reaction in her body. 

As he thought, he picked up his phone and dialed Julian’s number 

“Boss?”

“Gather information about the lady from the toilet”

“Yes, boss”

As soon as the call ended Stefano’s name lit up the screen.

“What the fuck?” Stefano’s voice was sharp with disbelief. 

“Something came up!” 

“ You were at a fucking bar”

“What happened at the warehouse?” Vincenzo asked, his tone turning cold and flat.

“I will drop by tomorrow. We need to see each other” The shift in his voice made it clear the issue was serious. He ended the call and stared at the dark screen for a moment longer his mind already moving between the girl and the problem waiting for him.

---

Dark clouds rolled across the sky like an approaching army. Thunder rumbled in the distance low and threatening. Rose was trapped in the same nightmare again with tears streaming down her face as she watched the monster move through the dark. The knife in his hand dripped with blood, each drop hitting the ground with terrifying clarity. She hid behind the corner covering her mouth tightly with her palm struggling to stay silent even though every second felt like eternity.

Rain and wind slapped hard against her face coldy and relentless. The masked man dragged her parents into the store poured fuel over them without hesitation and set everything on fire. Their screams filled the night until they were swallowed by the rising flames and thick smoke.

In the present, Rose struggled in her sleep with her body twisting against the sheets and tears pouring down her cheeks as she muttered brokenly “Mom… Dad…”

Her phone alarm blared, sharp and unforgiving. She groaned and forced herself out of bed, her body still heavy with the weight of the nightmare. Her hands were slightly trembling as she pushed her hair back.

“Beautiful morning, Miss” Georgia said with a polite smile as she handed Rose her cleaned clothes from the night before. The fabric was neatly folded and the scent of clean laundry rising from them.

“Call me Rose please and uhh thank you" Rose replied quietly.

She got ready in silence moving slowly and headed downstairs. As she reached the bottom of the staircase, a non familiar voice made her stop in her tracks. 

" May 29th” Her fingers tightened on the rail as she looked in the opposite direction. A good looking man in his early thirties stood there his posture controlled and his presence heavy. For a second she expected something acknowledgment or a glance or anything from the master but Instead, she was met with a cold shoulder, he didn’t even look at her properly.

‘What was she thinking? That he would care about someone like her?’

“God, Rose!” Isabel’s voice pulled her back as she walked in, worry clear on her face and in the way she quickly crossed the room.

“I was worried sick about you. I called but you weren’t answering” Rose only groaned, pressing her fingers against her temple. Her head was still pounding from the nightmares.

“You’re so beautiful you know that?” Isabel said softly not pushing for answers. She hoped Rose would talk when she was ready. Her eyes searched Rose’s face with quiet concern.

“Thanks. You’re the best” Isabel handed her a warm cup of latte. The heat from the cup grounded her for a moment before taking a sip.

“What’s the plan for today?”

“I’m going to Victor’s” Rose answered after a short pause. “He says he has something important to show me” Isabel’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of unease crossing her features.

“You still signed that contract huh?”

“I had to” Rose replied quietly with her eyes dropping to the cup. “It’s killing me… It’s May 29th again”

The date alone made something inside her sink. Every 29th of May felt like a piece of her was still burning in that fire, trapped in the smoke and the screams.

“I love you so much okay?” Isabel pulled her into a tight hug, arms wrapping around her firmly. “I’m always here, always”

But Isabel’s voice began to fade, turning into a distant and hollow echo. The old screams rushed back without mercy louder than before.

“Mom? Dad?”

“Go hide baby. Whatever you see or hear don’t make a sound. We love you”

Tears burned Rose’s eyes as the panic attack hit hard. Her chest tightened painfully that Isabel noticed immediately and tried to calm her, her hands were on her shoulders and her lips murmuring some words to calm her but Rose couldn’t hear anything clearly. The blurred screams and her mother’s last words drowned everything out, she struggled to breathe with her vision narrowing at the edges.

In the memory, the masked man knelt down on the wet ground and left a clear mark on the bloody surface before disappearing into the night.

A voice cold final and ines

capable echoed in her head as the image burned itself into her mind

“AN EAGLE SYMBOL!!”